[MV & Album Review] Suzy � 'Faces of Love'

AKP STAFF

SUZY � FACES OF LOVE

Track List:

1. I'm In Love With Someone Else
2. HOLIDAY (Feat. DPR LIVE)
3. SObeR
4. Bxatxh
5. Midnight
6. Confession (Prod. Jungkey)
7. Sleeplessness

Suzy already made a name for herself as the most visible member of now-defunct girl group miss A. Her first solo release 'Yes? No?' was released to critical acclaim. Now, she's released her second solo EP, 'Faces of Love.'

"I'm In Love With Someone Else" is a pre-release track, composed by Armadillo (TWICE's "Signal," Suzy's "Pretend"). Suzy's vocals rise and fall here, and she proves herself to be a powerful vocalist, with strong sustains and emotive pushes. My jaw hit the floor when I heard this one.�

Lush, laid-back R&B track "HOLIDAY" features up and coming rapper DPR LIVE, who made a splash last year even before his debut. The dreamy, echoey vocals are beautiful and match well with the somewhat muted music. DPR LIVE brings his own lyrics to the song, but his contribution is very short, and not a bad addition, if nothing special. Next up is "SObeR," which has some retro nods, and is nice and upbeat, and there's some wonderful insolence to the chorus.

"Bxatxh" is a faux-folk tune about wanting more attention from a boyfriend. It's an interesting direction, and the sweetness of the song belies the frustration expressed in the lyrics. Still, I really like the tune. "Midnight" is another tune I love, and the reason is that she sounds so vulnerable here. Her expressive vocals are laid bare against a piano, and there are no clashes or crescendos, no orchestra or guitar, just vocal pyrotechnics front and center.�

"Confession" is a collaboration with Jungkey, a composer known for his team-up with Whee In of MAMAMOO). He seems to specialize in ballads, and this one is beautifully realized by Suzy's talent. "Sleeplessness" is a nice R&B tune, soft, lackadaisical, and a nice finisher. There's a beat, but it doesn't undo the tone set by the ballads before it. This one left me with a warm feeling.

In an interview with Billboard, Suzy said that she's "changed slightly from a question mark to an exclamation mark" after working on this album. With this particular release, she's established herself as a singer/songwriter (having contributed some of the lyrics herself). With her solo work, Suzy has divorced herself from the limitations of dance pop, and this album is the result of being allowed room to grow. Nice work.

MV REVIEW

Watching this MV certainly gives you holiday vibes, and there are some striking locations that make this MV stand out.

It's not so much that it's original -- it's not. I can think of at least half a dozen others that do the same thing. But you do have some nice camera angles, and some beautiful shots of speeding to a holiday spot by boat, and Suzy singing while a jetty sits in the background. Not to mention piloting a seaplane to unknown vistas.

The sand, the canopied tables, the water, and the jungle all conjure images of a beautiful tropical resort, just the place to leave your troubles behind. Suzy's coos help you do that -- to unwind. No finals, just blue sky, sand, and drinks with umbrellas.

It's nice to get away, for 3 minutes at least. This should help you relax. If not, just take in the breathtaking scenery and listen to a beautiful song.