[MV & Album Review] Seventeen � 'Teen, Age / Clap'

AKP STAFF

SEVENTEEN � SEVENTEEN 2ND ALBUM 'TEEN, AGE'

Track List:

1. Intro. New World
2. CHANGE UP (SEVENTEEN LEADERS)
3. Without You
4. CLAP
5. Bring It
6. Lilili Yabbay (Performance Team)
7. TRAUMA (HipHop Team)
8. Pinwheel (Vocal Unit)
9. Flower
10. ROCKET
11. Hello
12. Campfire
13. Outro. Unfinished

Releasing a slew of songs and MVs in October as various parts of their 'Seventeen Project,' the boys of Seventeen are back with their 2nd full album 'Teen, Age.' The songs that you heard recently all made it on this album, and there's a brand new title track, "Clap," as well.

"Intro. New World" is very much that. It starts out slow, but ends up just my speed, with all sorts of EDM nods. It's a great lead-in to the horn-laden "CHANGE UP" (SEVENTEEN LEADERS). It's interesting to have all the different styles mashed up together, with raps sharing time with smooth vocals and falsetto. Probably the strangest title would be "Without You." There's some nice techno in here, but it seems a little awkward, trying to be all things to all people, and it disrupts the flow, abruptly changing styles.�

"CLAP" is the title track, and it keeps an awesome guitar riff throughout. It's a great club-banger�and a killer bop. "Bring It" has a tune that's as edgy as its title. This is a pure hip-hop track that could have been done by that subunit. It's also drenched in attitude -- I love this tune! "Lilili Yabbay" (Performance Team) starts out a little bland but soon becomes an autotuned wonderland of electronic effects. It's ideal to dance to (and if you haven't seen the MV, check it out).

"TRAUMA" (HipHop Team) has a lot of R&B for the hip-hop team. It's not bad, but I liked "Shoot Me" better. "Pinwheel" (Vocal Unit), is a ballad and it's done tenderly. It's one of the best tracks on the album and it's very soothing. "Flower" has some title track qualities -- it really shows off their vocal prowess. It has an epic style, particularly in the chorus.�

"ROCKET" is one of those songs that meshes all their different styles -- and this time it works. It's got a rock vibe to the main verses, even when they're rapping. "Hello" brings it back down to soft pop. It's got a pleasant piano riff that's soft around the edges and works well with their vocals. "Campfire" is an uplifting tune to it. It's mostly acoustic, and features the boys at their best, crooning away to the music. It makes you want to hold someone's hand and shout�Kumbaya! "Outro. Unfinished" is a scorching rock piece that sounds anything but unfinished. It ends with a finality that lets you know that the LP is done.

As usual, SEVENTEEN has put out another high-quality product. I may not have liked every single song, but most songs were pretty damn good. They bring their usual rough vocals together with raps and the smooth croons altogether. And as usual, it works.

MV REVIEW

The beginning is quite cute, with a little fantasy sequence with cartoon-style noises. Then...lightning strikes and cue that electric guitar riff. They appear to be VHS video makers, and film commercials and other such things.

There are aspects of this MV that are rather clever, such as the other songs on the album being written on the labels of tapes in the antiquated VHS format. They're wearing hoodies some of the time that say "Specialized Videotape Technology, Inc" -- SVT *wink wink*.

They also appear to be having more fun than an otherwise tedious job might allow. The dancing is absolutely on-point, the wardrobe slick, and reactions might range from cute to cool. The only quibble I might have is the video glitches with computer error messages -- that's a huge fear in my book, so it caught me off-guard.

But all in all, dynamic colors, awesome dance moves, and a kickin' soundtrack make for a seriously lit MV.