[MV & Album Review] Nine Muses � 'Muses Diary Part.2 : Identity'

AKP STAFF

NINE MUSES � MUSES DIARY PART.2 : IDENTITY

Track List:

1. Identity
2. Remember *Title
3. Pastry
4. Two of us
5. Hate Me
6. Remember (Inst.)

Nine Muses turns a new page in their diary with the release of their EP 'Muses Diary Part.2 : Identity.' Hitmaker Jung Chang Wook ("Lip 2 Lip") is back, along with Avenger Seung and e.one. Together they've crafted the group's sixth mini-album to date.

"Identity" is one of those intro tracks that wakes you up and makes you pay attention. They really turned things up to 11 here, with echoes of their title track and a scorching metal guitar riff. More intro tracks need to be this good.

With the opening strings, I initially wasn't too fond of "Remember." It just seemed a little slow. But that last line before the chorus belted by Keumjo is simply chilling. And the chorus is an absolute gem. The rest of the song doesn't lose momentum after that initial rush, either, becoming quite rousing to match the chorus.

"Pastry" is where they kind of go back their roots. They still have the guitar picking that seems to be the recurring theme. But they quickly shed that in favor of a lively chorus, before returning to it on the main verses. This tune is lighter-hearted than the previous two tracks. This tune reminds me a bit of tunes like "Ticket," and definitely brings back good memories. I like this one.

They jump back to a more modern, sleeker sound on the banger "Two Of Us." It's catchy and danceable, and nicely high-octane. The only issue is that it lacks much of a hook, which is part of the magic formula for a club-banger. Which unfortunately relegates this high-potential song to near filler status.

"Hate Me" is a cute retro tune. It's a rock song, but the beat and pace sounds for all the world like a show tune, ala "New York, New York." At least until they hit the chorus. But the sweetness and majestic nature make the breathy hook "hate you" almost ironic, and give a dark twist to an otherwise light-hearted song.

This EP has a distinctly gloomier sound, darker and edgier than their previous offerings. It's sharper and more focused too. And yeah, this is just what the doctor ordered. They may be promoting as a foursome right now, but they more than make up for what they lost. Kudos all around. We should 'remember' them for awhile.

MV REVIEW

The MV melds sexual imagery with deadly ones, from Kyungri's murderous streak to Keumjo's victimization, this MV is sure to shake things up. Of course, it doesn't stop at the beginning, either, as Sojin poses for photos and Keumjo's hiding out. Of course, all of them end up wet and in tubs in the end. And the mysterious man who winds his way through the occasional shot here and there? He's in a burning tub, looking through photos, while the teddy bear that Kyungri shot is burning as well.

It was probably the same teddy bear the Keumjo clutched while running away. So how did it end up not with her? And was the teddy bear also the guy? And if so, how did he end up in the burning tub? I don't think we're supposed to make sense of this MV. I already have a headache.

That's not to say it's a bad video. Not at all. The sexy imagery combined with the lethal ones really gives this thing an edginess it wouldn't have otherwise. A lot like the song itself. There's a darkness that found its way into the song, and they made an MV to match.

And frankly, they did an amazing job. The shots are all well done, the imagery is spot on, and the girls play their parts well. The delicious look of evil on Kyungri's face is enough to stop a few hearts in any case. This is one of those MVs that's meant to make an impact. In my case, they did just that.