[Album & MV Review] B1A4 - 'Good Timing'

AKP STAFF

B1A4 � GOOD TIMING

Tracklist:

1. Intro- Time
2. A Lie
3. Moment I Fall For You Again
4. Good Timing
5. Nightmare
6. In Dream
7. Sparkling
8. To My Star
9. Melancholy
10. I Will Find You
11. Drunk On You
12. Together
13. When It Snows (CD Only)

Busy with Japanese activities earlier this year, the boys of B1A4 show off their 'Good Timing,' putting out a full Korean album just in time for the holiday season. Their third studio album has 12 tracks, fresh as new fallen snow (13 tracks if you bought the physical disc).

"A Lie" is a song that you can't help but groove along to. It's got an easy beat and melody. It starts out deceptively soft with Jinyoung on vocals, but masterfully layers and builds to an expansive chorus. That's where the hooks are. And Sandeul uses his trademark falsetto to give the tune some emotional heft. It's fair to say I like this one.

"Moment I Fall For You Again" is a pleasant, laid-back tune. That doesn't mean that it's not fun and poppy, but there's less urgency to it, like you're sitting back listening to the boys tell you a story. It's a nice, medium-tempo song. Once again the emotional chorus tends to steal the show, cresting and breaking like a wave, and bringing us back to soothing main verses. If this was the intended effect, it does its job well.

Judging by the title, "Good Timing" was likely intended as the title track. I'm not sure what made them switch that up, but frankly, I like this one the most out of what I've heard. It's a club banger through and through, with easy hooks and a chantable chorus perfect for live performances. I particularly enjoy the guitar solo that ends it.

Far from being about vampires, "Sparkling" is a bit of naughty fun. Starting with the hiss of an opened can, this tune is upbeat and uptempo right out the gate. They've got a great nonsense hook and their vocals are right in line with the song. They sound happy and in good spirits. I know it put a smile on my face.

"Melancholy" starts out promising but quickly switches to a different song. The intro instrumental shows up again in the chorus, but it doesn't erase that awkward transition in the beginning. As I said, it sounds like someone just changed to a different song after a few seconds, and that threw me off. It's not a bad song overall, but I felt a bit cheated.

The 13th song is "When it Snows." It does not show up on my digital copy so I can't really review it, but I know the song is a fan favorite that they've sung live, usually with the talented Park Boram. The live version is a gentle winter ballad that warms your heart.

This album was a true group effort. Each of them had a song they wrote, composed, or arranged. Jinyoung had a hand in nearly every song. Other than "Melancholy," each song is pretty high quality and slickly produced. When you take ownership of the music, that's when you produce something memorable, rather than just cranking out what someone told you to. And it shows here. It took a bit, but this album gives the members a chance to shine�and is indeed good timing.� �

MV REVIEW

These are the kinds of MVs that I love. Yes, it's a song about the fact that they lied when they told her to go, but the scenes here are mostly of what was rather than the aftermath.

There are absolutely adorable scenes of a couple on the beach, running, chasing each other playfully, walking along a dirt road, and just enjoying their time together, told through the frame of a home movie. Of course, it's with a different member each time. I'm a sucker for these kinds of things, so it's a no-brainer that I'd be into this one. Showing empty spaces and downcast faces are a good contrast to the happier times.

This is well-filmed and timed, and the scenes of desolation are inserted nicely. Even the girl isn't completely happy. The downer scenes don't dull the overall effect, which is a wistful ode to the past when the two were together. It's completely appropriate, and I'm thankful there were no dance scenes -- that would have pulled us out of the narrative, and I'm all about immersion.

Good song, good MV, what more could you ask for?