1. My Heaven
2. Overcome
3. In Fact
4. By Bickering
5. ONEKIS2



They focused on Japanese releases in 2015, but NU'EST is back in Korea for their fourth mini-album 'Q is.' This time it's a concept album, where the tracks are put together like puzzle pieces, each song revealing a story. Baekho produces on this outing, and the other members lent their pens to many songs on this album.

"My Heaven" kicks off very slow, with smooth vocals, but 22 seconds in is where it picks up and becomes a proper banger. The hook is "my heaven is you," which pretty much tells you what the song's about. JR delivers an awesome rap, high-quality and aggressive.

The title track "Overcome" starts out very R&B, smooth and soulful, but soon switches it up into an exciting, belted chorus. This tune is all about conquering obstacles and being together despite them. I like how Minhyun's silky voice opens the song and contrasts with Baekho's pipes. It's great to hear Baekho's vocal chords in tip-top shape again.



"In Fact" is the third track, that has a definite soul melody, but there are some EDM tricks -- echos and stuttering -- that make this song pop. Like the song, the lyrics are playful, talking about a girl who seems to care way too much about how she looks and trying to convince her that "everything looks good on you."

"By Bickering" is a mid-tempo pop tune with glossy vocals and jazz-blues overtones. The boys harmonize skillfully, and of course JR has a rap in here. With some sassy horns and the boys' tenors, this tune is about a couple who have been together awhile. They fight a lot but they're going to fix it -- by bickering.



"ONEKIS2" is the last song on the EP, and the slowest as well. Done to a piano riff, this ballad is very heartfelt, with each boy seemingly baring their hearts for the girl to see. Even the chorus is fervent and rich. And it has a hook, too, which is rare for a ballad -- "One kiss for love." Whatever he did in "By Bickering," it worked, because he is again together with her.

I like the idea of the album telling a story. Often we hear albums where it seems there's a story in there somewhere, but it's often by coincidence. This is by design, and how cool is that? The vocals seem stronger here too, like they're more confident. That may have something to do with the members taking part in the songwriting and producing, but whatever the reason, it works. This is a pretty solid album overall, and it's even more personal since they essentially had a hand in making it. And kudos to Pledis for taking a step back and handing the members the reins. I look forward to hearing more albums like this.  

MV REVIEW

The MV opens to scenes of desolation, snow (or is that cinders?) blows through a window, and debris litters the floor. When the boys are apart, we have isolation, despair, and travail. The only thing that offers redemption is a girl, who seems to be just out of reach.  

The wardrobe is fairly simple, though effective. It ranges from suited-up 'GQ'-style to homeless chic (I never thought I'd be putting those two words together). Ren sports long hair again, returning to that beloved flower boy look. We have various other hairstyles from mop-tops to fades. Everyone looks absolutely on fleek.



Love the dancing -- everyone's on point and in sync, and the moves look like they have a modicum of challenge to them -- I've been seeing some lackluster dance moves lately, but their dancing adds some dash to the whole thing.

This MV works on several levels. First you have a pretty awesome song that it's paired with. Next we have the post-apocalyptic setting. And the symbolism of the girl and the pocketwatch, along with obstacles they have to surmount in order to even catch a glimpse of her, makes this a joy to watch. The scenes are filmed pretty well, with good use of slow motion and deft scene shifts. I guess you could say that this video 'overcame' my reservations. 

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