[Album & MV Review] ASTRO - 'Summer Vibes'

AKP STAFF

Posted by eric_r_wirsing Monday, July 18, 2016

ASTRO - SUMMER VIBES

Tracklist:

1. Fireworks
2. Breathless
3. Growing Pains
4. Polaris
5. My Style
6. Breathless (Acoustic ver.)

After getting you to 'Spring Up' with their debut in February, ASTRO is back to give you those 'Summer Vibes.' Their summer comeback gives you 6 brand new tracks. So kick back, tip back that iced tea, and let's take this for a spin!

"Breathless" is the title track, and this song jumps right out at you. It sounds more energetic than "Hide and Go Seek" and gives you that chin-bobbing pleasure that good dance pop is supposed to provide. It's very hooky and catchy. Jijin and Rocky's raps add a lot of urban goodness to the tune. It didn't leave me breathless, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. The acoustic remix has everything I love about this tune, so it's worth checking out too.

"My Style" is the standout track with an ominous melody and storm sounds. It stands dark and defiant against the cheery and upbeat tone of the rest of the EP. That might make it even better as it took me by surprise. It certainly doesn't drag -- this tune is more about anger than sadness. The raps in here sounded particular angry, and even the harmonies are more direct and ooze frustration -- it's obvious they've been wronged here. Love this song!

The lead song is "Fireworks," which has a sweet structure. It reminds me of nothing so much as a 1D song, but goes a little deeper than that. I like the way the harmonies come storming in, when all the boys combine their voices. There's some great rapping in here, and these elements save the somewhat weak chorus.

The other songs on this disc are not as dynamic as the rest. There are flourishes which are fun, but not enough to rescue them from the absolutely average category. They're about what we've come to expect. Which is not bad, but not good, either. Still, the songs I talk about are totally my jams for totally different reasons. And that, to me, is a very good thing.

MV REVIEW

The boys wake up at the beach in a pile, but when a girl shows up who is thirsty, that's when the strangeness begins. They appear as orange soda bottles to her. When she puts them in her cooler, it's actually the boys from ASTRO who are tossed to and fro inside as she waves her cooler around. Similar hilarity happens as they're hanging in a net or cooling their heels inside a fridge, their outfits changing colors to match the drink.

If you have to put them in a box, do this. The dancing is not bad, what we see of it. At least they don't cut away when something cool is about to happen. Not grabbing themselves is also a plus.

I raved about their last video, and this one is no less madcap and funny. Did they spend a lot of money? No. But they used every won to great effect. This is wild and funny at the same time, and they seem to like what they're doing.

Put this one on my 'A' list.