[MV & Album Review] The Boyz � 'The First'

AKP STAFF

THE BOYZ � THE BOYZ DEBUT ALBUM 'THE FIRST'

Track List:

1. Intro
2. Boy
3. Walkin' In Time
4. Got It
5. I'm Your Boy
6. Boy (Inst.)

The Boyz have dropped their debut EP 'The First!' They're a 12-member band under Cre.Ker Entertainment. The boys are Sangyeon, Jacob, Younghoon, Hyunjae, Juyeon, Kevin, New, Q, Juhaknyeon, Hwall, Sunwoo, and Eric. And they're sending six new tracks your way.�

"Intro" is a little pop snippet, complete with a drum machine. It's okay, but nothing particularly special. Once "Boy" cues up, you can hear what "Intro" borrowed from the title track. Truth be told, I was a little underwhelmed here. The chorus was okay, but this particular tune did not stand out. I felt as if I had literally heard it before. "Walkin' In Time" is the ballad of the EP. It's not bad, and there are some techno flourishes and a slightly different bongo beat to keep things interesting. The vocals are tender and heartfelt, without being overwrought. I rather like it.

"Got It" is an R&B piece, and I really like it better than "Boy." It's here where they feel the most comfortable. And I like the techno influences. The funky "I'm Your Boy" is an R&B jam. The chorus is given over to falsetto, and there are some nice rap parts and synth stabs. It's a pastiche of 70s era soul, and they do a nice job of emulation, with some distinctly modern touches.

Okay, so I wasn't a fan of the title track, as they tended to sound like everyone else. Finding an identity is hard in an oversaturated field like K-pop, and I felt the track was not up to par. Now the rest of the album isn't bad at all. The R&B cuts,�in particular, were quite well done, and they might do better sticking to those.

MV REVIEW

There's a plot here, however thin. In between the dance scenes, a narrative of sorts plays out, that sort of shows how the band was formed, or at least a fictional account of it (since most of those are done by audition). It shows the boys knowing or meeting each other, and all is not sweetness and light. At least until the end where they finally smile and form a cohesive unit.

Now the dancing is absolutely on point. The boys move with confidence, their limbs cutting through the air and their feet leaving the ground on occasion. I may not care for the title track, but I can't deny they have some awesome choreo.

The drama portion, as I said, is woven of gossamer strands, and doesn't make a whole lot of sense on the face of it. However, some of the boys have some tres cool dance moves in the individual shots, and the city streets don't look entirely fake.

Also, the transition between the night in the beginning and sunrise at the end is a nice touch. The dance moves look even cooler done in silhouette, and the MV gives you plenty to look at and enjoy. I'm putting my stamp of approval on it, at least for the dance moves and some of the artistic shots.