1. BLACK DRESS
2. Like that
3. Distance
4. To the sky
5. Seventh



CLC is dressed to slay on their 7th mini-album "Black Dress." They've come a long way since debut, and the members are taking an even more active role this time around. Yeeun had a hand in the lyrics for all 5 tracks, and Eunbin contributed lyrics for "Like that."

"BLACK DRESS" is their title track, and it's definitely a club banger. It's got noisy synths during the chorus and a chugging beat -- all wonderful things to my ears. There's an awkward rap which is mercifully short but the vocal pyrotechnics make this tune really pop. And "black dress!" is a really effective hook to belt out and annoy your roommates with. Especially near the end. "Like that" starts out with the oft-heard half-rap-half-cheer style vocals, and turns into a somewhat quieter pop tune during the main verses. The chorus is drenched in synth goodness and reverb.

"Distance" is a sweet, softer pop tune. If you needed to come down from the synth-fueled rush of the first couple tunes, then this is the tune for you. It's still exciting and high-tempo but is more majestic and controlled. While it lacks the vocal highs of the other songs, their harmonies more than make up for that. "To the Sky" is a pre-release track that just screams fun! It's just as high-energy and ebullient as when I first heard it and fits well with this album. It's a good palette cleanser.  

"Seventh" is a ballad, done folk-style with an acoustic guitar. It's never too slow (except maybe in the beginning), but just nice, calm, refreshing. And the girls' voices blend sweetly. It's a nod to the fact that this is 7th EP, and you can just see an MV in your head showcasing good times and smiles. "Seventh" is a nice ender to the whole thing.

Overall, this album is a bit uneven, but it's not that noticeable (other than the drastic shift in tempo after the first two tunes). But the songs are well-crafted for all that (well, except for the rap in "Black Dress"), and fall pleasantly on the ear. When they slow it down it never becomes boring either. Frankly, each of them should wear a black dress -- so they can celebrate a job well done.

MV REVIEW

The girls are in various outfits for this one. If there's a narrative, it's a bit impenetrable. There are a variety of images like keys, a quill pen, and the girls cutting their locks (the leavings of which rain all around). There doesn't seem to be a coherent story at all. But there doesn't have to be.

The outfits range from slinky black dresses to tuxedo pantsuits (complete with ties) to short skirts, jackets, and belly-baring blouses. The girls are in fantastic form here, and I didn't see an awkward look in the bunch.



The dancing was sort of meh. They used their arms as much as anything to hide the fact that you can't really dance in heels. Some bands can, but it's possible CUBE didn't really want to chance it. Which is fine. I'd rather not have the girls break something during promotions. But it doesn't mean they danced any better.

Did they use the same room for all the location changes? No clue. Some of the lighting was pretty adroit if they did, transforming one room to another at the drop of a hat and a shift of the props. And a lot of the shots were just sheer artistry.

Regardless, from bedrooms to dance floors and other areas, this MV never leaves you bored.  

Score

MV Relevance...........8
MV Production..........9
MV Concept..............8

Album Production.....9
Album Concept.........8
Tracklisting...............9