[Album & MV Review] Cosmic Girls - 'Would You Like?'

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COSMIC GIRLS - WOULD YOU LIKE?

Track List:
1. Space Cowgirl
2. MoMoMo
3. Catch Me
4. Tick-Tock
5. Take My Breath
6. MoMoMo (Chinese Ver.)

Cosmic Girls have debuted with their first mini-album 'Would You Like?' The group is multi-national, with 12 members split into four subunits according to their talents: Cheng Xiao, Bona and Da Young of Wonder Unit; Xuan Yi, Eun Seo and Yeo Reum of Joy Uni; Mei Qi, Lu Da and Da Won of Natural Unit; and Sweet Unit consists of 'Unpretty Rapstar 2's EXY, SeolA and Soo Bin. Each girl also represents a zodiac sign in keeping with the "cosmic" theme.

"Space Cowgirl" opens with space-age special effects and hints of the title track buried in synths. It's short, and it introduces the concept about as well as the title of the song does. I was a little let down that this was just an intro -- that title has definite full song potential!

Next up is the title track, "MoMoMo," an enormously catchy dance song. It sounds somewhat generic, but there are lively interjections, giving it more punch than it might ordinarily have. There's a slightly naughty rap section too that had me laughing: "If my father sees this, we'll get in trouble."

"Catch Me" is a very playful tune, with a driving hard synth and high-tempo rhythms. I like how the girls sound audacious and cocky here, a tone which gives this track much of its flavor. Definitely danceable, and the lyrics match the delivery: very flirty and fun-loving. I particularly like the way the bridge transitions from "hey girls" to "hey boys" in the second refrain. A fun song, though the English line "I'm coming out" made me snigger.

I don't think that means what they think it does...

"Tick-Tock" is a lively, funky tune that has a lot of its roots in soul. While the main verses are cute and sweet sounding, the frantic chorus "Tick-Tock Tick-Tock" is a bit jarring and makes the song ultimately disjointed. The song itself is about how their man is lying to them, and they want the truth now.

"Take My Breath" starts with a pounding beat, but morphs quickly into a light, bubblegum offering. It's radio friendly and is certainly the prettiest song on the album. It's also, ironically, the most generic, but for some reason the tune really resonates with me. It's about the girls crushing on a guy.

Overall, it's a nice effort, and there are some good tracks that lift it out of the standard generic debut. The songs are familiar, but just different enough to offer a fresh take on the pop genre, even if there are awkward moments. Most of the songs offer a smattering of brattiness that make this their signature sound. I like the cosmic concept, too, and I hope they take that and run with it. I think these girls could go far.

MV REVIEW

Watch the Cosmic Girls go nuts in outer space in "Mo Mo Mo."

The MV begins in a promising way with a "Welcome House" (which I assume is like an open house) and the girls shying away from being filmed. From then on, it becomes an aegyo-drenched production that only half makes sense. Apparently Lee Kwang Soo is an astronaut, trying to interact with the Cosmic Girls, who are aliens. He's frustrated in his attempts until the end, when he ends up inside the house on the alien planets where the girls mob him happily.

The nice thing is that with 12 members, you can set up some really great choreography, and it is a spectacle. All the girls dance in sync, and they have it down pat. Arranging all those girls can be a challenge, I'm sure, but the payoff is obvious.

The wardrobe ranges from cheerleader garb to the what a typical teen girl might wear. The astronaut was a nice touch, all decked out in bulky clothes designed to protect you from the rigors of outer space.

As an MV, though I said it was confusing, it doesn't mean it wasn't a lot of fun. Of course it helps that I enjoy the tune, but also the girls are cheerful and spirited. They mine the cosmic concept nicely. There are some genuinely cute moments, too, that should serve to bring a smile to your face. There's no symbolism here, just a lighthearted good time.

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