LABOUM — 'I'M YOURS'

Track List:

1. Turn It On
2. Heal Song
3. Between Us (Original ver.)

Laboum has just dropped their single album 'I'm Yours.' It has three tracks on it, the title track "Turn It On," "Heal Song," and a version of the previously released track "Between Us." This is the group's 6th single album. 

They start out this one with the club-banger "Turn It On." One of the things I like about Laboum is their songs are starting to sound classier. This is no less danceable than any other club hit, and I love that full-bodied, bold chorus. You can hear some acoustic strings in the main verses, which makes the tune even better. It's catchy and a serious jam. 

"Heal Song" is a billowy, high-sounding ballad (as you might expect, being the second song on the single. It's got the characteristics of most ballads, but there's a nice chugging beat in there once it gets going, and it doesn't quite cross into standard ballad land entirely. There's less of the screaming to be heard over the pounding orchestra, so it turns into a more emotional affair, and more original than most other bands. "Between Us" is the original version of the title track to their July release, sung to an acoustic guitar. The vocals sound a little different than the pop version. You can tell there was some production thrown at this version too, but it doesn't make it any less sweet. The song was soft and soothing to begin with, this version is even more relaxing.

MV REVIEW

The scene starts in the woods, where one of the members appears to be pursued by a zombie (Jun of U-KISS fame). She runs into the other girls, one of whom shoots the zombie (in an awesome CGI bullet sequence) and they take the zombie back to their headquarters. The scene also culminates in this intense "reflected in your eyes" shot as the video starts in earnest and they cue the music. They're zombie-hunters!

At home, they try to humanize the monster, spraying it with perfume to improve its scent, and placing headphones on him (forcing him to listen to Laboum? — you wouldn't have to force me), cleaning him up, dressing him, and serving him food.  But when you flirt with darkness, you might be consumed by it (in this case literally). Add to this a surprise ending and a blooper reel, and you have a winner.

Laboum isn't the first band to do the zombie thing. I remember the same trope used in TWICE's "Like Ooh-Ahh" MV. However, I like how they changed it up. I don't think I've seen anything quite like this one, and that's what made it cool. I have to ask though: why now? I can understand this kind of thing being done in October leading up to Halloween, but we're well past Thanksgiving in and making our way to Christmas in the states. TWICE and Red Velvet have also had similar horror-themed MVs recently.

Still, I really have little reason to complain. We got a great MV out of it, along with a great song. How cool is that?

Score

MV Relevance.......8
MV Production......8
MV Concept..........8
MV SCORE:  8.0

Songwriting..........8
Composition.........8
Impression............7
ALBUM SCORE:  7.6

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