[MV & Album Review] BTOB � 'This Is Us / Only One For Me'

AKP STAFF

BTOB � THIS IS US

Track List:

1. Call me
2. Only One For Me
3. Yeah
4. Blue Moon
5. IceBreaker � Minhyuk, Peniel, Ilhoon
6. 1, 2, 3 � Eunkwang, Changsub, Hyunsik, Sungjae
7. The Feeling

Veteran idols BTOB have just unveiled their 11th mini-album 'This Is Us.' The EP includes 7 tracks, including the title track "Only One For Me," which was co-written by Hyunsik and Eden; the same team that worked on the mega-successful "Missing You." The title track is meant as a companion piece to that one. Can they build on that success?

"Call Me" is an R&B-inspired track. It's okay, but I didn't think it hung together all that well. It's light and happy, but I wasn't as impressed with this one as I was hoping. The title track "Only One For Me" is much better packaged, with some absolutely sick raps by Ilhoon and Minhyuk. Nice attitude there, and some awesome rapid-fire flow. The chorus is nice and bold with all 7 of them singing, and features a great hook. It just contributes to my enjoyment that much more. "Yeah" has some similarities to "Call Me." You can't say that they're not consistent, I guess. It's got much more of a tropical house beat to this one, with not much to shake it up or make it original. I wanted more oomph in this one.

"Blue Moon" is a power ballad, with some interesting piano breaks. It starts with a sort of dinner piano, and then it turns into an R&B dance tune. This is highly original and fun, and I found myself easily sucked in and grooving alone. "IceBreaker" features Minhyuk, Ilhoon, and Peniel. This is a cute hip-hop tune. It's not so much sick as it is endearing. It's got a playful vibe, and I absolutely love the ending.�

The track "1, 2, 3" highlights Eunkwang, Changsub, Hyunsik, and Sungjae as balladeers. Each of these boys just hits it out of the park vocally, and there's a nice line distribution on each chorus, though Hyunsik steals the show a bit. "The Feeling" is soft pop, nice, refreshing, and billowy when it needs to be. The beat takes a bit to come in, but when it does this tune really picks up.� When they all come in on the chorus they really slay it. It is a finishing tune, and they do it well. Not bad for a pre-release track.

So the album started weakly but it more than redeemed itself in the remaining four tracks. That's not to say there aren't glorious moments here: the title track is an awesome jam, but the songs surrounding it not so much. Still, "Blue Moon," "IceBreaker," "The Feeling," and "1, 2, 3" are great bops. I just wish they'd been able to milk that groove all the way through.

MV REVIEW

The MV starts all dark and serious. The members enter a shadowy hotel sweet and sit. One of them grabs a bottle and moves to the other end. Another falls back on the bed and closes his eyes in weariness. And soon we end up on a houseboat type arrangement, complete with a car and other accouterments (that change as the MV goes). They also switch adroitly between a resort location and on the open bay.

Such a contrast between the low-energy members we see in the beginning! The BTOB on the bay parties and dances for all they're worth, while the city slumbers in the background. One thing I love is blue skies and sun. Another thing I like is the lights at night -- Yes, I like 'em both. The members are framed by some gorgeous visuals. It's simple but effective.

I enjoyed this a lot more than I was expecting � once it turned into more of a party MV than a pity-fest. They played fast and loose with the rules, but at least I got some smiles out of it. �

Score

MV Relevance...........8
MV Production..........8
MV Concept..............9
MV SCORE: 8.3

Album Production.....7
Album Concept.........8
Tracklisting...............7
ALBUM SCORE: 7.3