[Album & MV Review] Lovelyz - 'A New Trilogy'

AKP STAFF

LOVELYZ -- 'A NEW TRILOGY'

Tracklist:

1. Moonrise
2. Destiny
3. Splash
4. Bookmark
5. 1cm
6. Heart (*Handle With Care)
7. Doll

Lovelyz are back in fine form. After giving us a taste with their 'Lovelinus' album, they're back with a mature look and sound with 'A New Trilogy.' As the title suggests it is the first of a trio of interconnected albums. Onepiece and Yoon Sang ("Candy Jelly Love," "Ah-choo") wrote and composed the title track "Destiny."

"Moonrise"
This is their intro track, a lush and fully realized tune. I'm not so sure there weren't lyrics to this at one point. It's got elements of electro pop and some EDM nods in there as well.

"Destiny"
Word is they were going for a more mature sound, and they've traded out the synths for orchestral sounds and strings, at least during the chorus. The synth is present during the main verses. The net effect is that it is more mature, but still has that playful youthfulness that we've come to know and love. The chorus is absolutely fire. The song itself is about unrequited love.

"Splash"
The tune sounds like it has real instruments with guitars and strings. The trademark vocals are present, and there's a unique bridge where each member has her own part. Even if it is slightly awkward, they get points for originality. The takeaway is they want the guy to show some interest.

"Bookmark"
It's a ballad about what most ballads are about -- a breakup. It's got a pretty piano driving it, and it's sort of slow to mid-tempo, so the song has a little more punch than a standard ballad. The piano is fairly clear through some of it, I like the bells and synths that come in. The rap is sweetly done as well.

"1cm"
This mid-tempo song begins with an intriguing synth ping. The pinging presages the chorus, which is staccato and breathy all at once. And the chorus is totally worth the buildup, dynamic and NRG up. The bridge at the end slows it down before a nice transition back to that luscious chorus. The message? They want the guy to come just one centimeter closer.

"Heart (*Handle With Care)"
This is the club banger on the disc. We have frenetically sung main verses that build up a feeling of tension. The chorus isn't too bad, though it could use more hooks. As for what the song's about:

"Confessions that have been crumpled
And my heart that still lacks love
Put it all carefully here
I give it give it present it to you"

"Doll"
This track has that music box tune that is eerily appropriate. Even when the music fills out, it doesn't dull that creepy feeling, despite the sugary voices and beats. There's a couple levels this works on, neither of them particularly reassuring:
1) she's literally a doll
2) she feels lifeless because the guy is the typical emotionally constipated man

Lovelyz has that cute charm that comes through bright and clear in their music, and I think this is one of their better albums, even if we're missing the solos. They work best as a team, and their efforts on this disc prove it. They've cemented their place in K-pop, and I can't wait to hear the next album in the trilogy

MV REVIEW

The girls of Lovelyz sing about loss in their newest MV. Lots of spherical imagery in the MV, from marbles to circles drawn with a compass to light fixtures swinging in a circular pattern. Even the girls are filmed in a round pan technique, making them appear to revolve onscreen. All the while, it's interspersed with dance sequences.

The dancing was not as good in some of their other MVs, and rookie bands are giving them a run for their money. They did a fairly good job, but again the camera cuts away, only to show the result of a move we should have seen. True, it's all staged, but the MV should not give that impression.

The wardrobe was okay, with pretty pink dresses and lacy things. There were enough individual shots in different outfits to keep you from getting bored. They seem to favor white, though.

Jury's out on this one. It was enjoyable partly because of the song, but I was mostly confused trying to describe it. There are some brief special effects in the beginning, but then it just tapers off into unique shots. I think it was merely okay, but nothing to write home about.

Score

MV Relevance..........7
MV Production.........8
MV Concept.............7
Album Production...9
Album Concept........8
Tracklisting..............8