BIg Bang "Tonight" Mini Album Review
I love you Big Bang, really I do, I love your sexy, I love your cool. I love that you have all these high ideas about wanting to be artists and to have growth, but when you say that I want to see…well…growth and not just the artistry of G-Dragon.
The Big Bang mini came out, I hope if you have even a tiny interest you bothered to listen, because this is the result of waiting for 2 years for them to release something in their native language. It’s not bad, but it’s definitely not the epic album we’ve been waiting for and YG keeps pushing back. I think I finally know what going on here, but lets save that till end yes?
INTRO (Thank You & You): I enjoy it, I kind of love it. The beat is well thought out and definitely fits in with the many Big Bang intros that have become a staple to the albums and minis. It’s not my favorite Intro, but it’s break top 5, and probably does the best of melding what Big Bang is known for with the new Techno sound they’ve been favoring in their Japanese releases for the last year or so.
Hands Up: Moving from the intro to Hands Up was a smooth transition, but I think when Hands Up came out in its Japanese version I listened to it once or twice intentionally. I feel the same for this version (even with TOP’s change in vocals towards the end) I won’t jump out of my seat to turn it off, but I probably won’t say, man I need to listen to Hands Up right now. It’s not bad, it’s just mediocre.
Tonight: This is the thing everyone was waiting for and unfortunately I think the expectations of the VIPs got the better of them. I like it, it’s new for Big Bang, but as a person who’s always been a big listener of Techno and Electronic music since the early 2000’s, you can pretty much predict how this song is suppose to go and as a Techno/Electronic song it’s not very innovative. I still enjoy it, but I’ve heard better stuff playing DDR.
Somebody to Love: Is more of the same, but since I actually enjoyed this on the Beautiful Hangover single, I’m looking forward to having this on disc and learning the Korean version. This is definitely more of the same, but when you compare it makes it really obvious TOP is only confortable working in Korean (which is not good for a group looking to debut in the U.S. in the next couple of years…YG you’ve got him at least doing a jig now how about some Japanese and English lessons …need to get our boy up to snuff.).
What is Right: Takes out a lot of the autotune and tries to get back to some earlier lighter Big Bang, but unlike those other songs, this just doesn’t do it for me. I get bored after the 2 minute mark and the chorus starts to get on my nerves. This isn’t going to get a lot of play from me just because of that and that’s unfortunate because the arrangements of the verses are nice.
Café: This is my stand out favorite on the mini. It’s very cool and letting TOP begin this and Daesung lead vocal this track was a welcome change from the rest of the album that sticks firmly to its Big Bang formula (I’m now kind of clamoring for a TOP Daesung mini). The falsettos I barely notice cause they blend into the production of the song so they’re not overly obnoxious for me.
Overall: This is a flash in the pan, it’s doesn’t satisfy the appetite for new Big Bang music the way Sueng Ri’s VVIP and Tae Yang’s Solar did. I like it. I’ll be listening to Café and Tonight as well as the intro for a while, but it’s not the epic Big Bang album everyone wants for these 2 major reason:
1. Autotune: I have an aversion to Autotune when it’s used to mask the fact that the person can’t sing. Autotune in an electronic club sense doesn’t bother me so much. The unfortunate thing many artists haven’t realized yet it that listeners are going to be sensitive to even the slightest use of autotune even if its used for it’s original purpose to correct pitch. Big Bang or rather GD is getting way too happy with voice effects on everyone’s voice and not letting their natural quality shine through which is a shame. It’s ok in moderation and small bits like Café and What is Right, but can become over kill on the other tracks.
2. Not enough Daesung and Sueng Ri: Maybe at one point these guys were wet behind the ears and so Tae Yang along with GD and TOP had to take over most of the major singing and voice work in title tracks and such, but these guys have proven time and time again that it’s time to let them lead on more tracks because it can only make the songs more dynamic (a group that doesn’t bother to change up it lead vocal line up is like a football team that constantly decides to use a 50 year old quarterback). Café was good, because Daesung with his strong chest voice really knows what he’s doing so how about we let him loose on the Noonas who want ovarisplosions.
Again with all my criticism I can’t say enough that I love Big Bang and this was a worth it purchase (even if you only get it a couple of tracks off iTunes). I think right now Big Bang is experimenting and trying to figure out the next chapter. They don’t want to flop but you can tell from the constant push backs, the sudden news they were releasing a mini, and the unit and solo work that there’s trouble in creative paradise and the producers, artists individually, and Big Bang are questioning their artistry and the only one sure about direction seems to be G-Dragon. I know where they’re coming from experimenting with a new style and showing it to the world is tough, but like my friend said yesterday that’s called doubt and it hurts more than it helps.
I hope the producers and YG are looking at not just expert criticism but fan criticism as well because the talk from this mini will help with the album release later.
Oh and stop trolling! It’s sets you up for failure.
I got my finger smashed in a window Monday and today I'm starting to have pain in the palm of my hand. So it was kind of hard to type this....this is totally to guilt you to read it and I'm sure it's not working.