article / is song minho truly a genius? the reason why ‘take’ is one of the best albums of the year

Link : http://naver.me/5loKPxq1

 

I would absolutely recommend playing every single song on the album. It’s easy to listen straight through from the first track to the last without feeling a loss of concentration or a break in the flow. The lyrics are original yet honest, the genres are diverse, the songs take unexpected turns –– all of these factors come together to create a masterpiece. And that masterpiece is ‘TAKE’, the sophomore album from WINNER’s Song Minho.

 

Like its namesake, 12 different ‘takes’ of Song Minho came together to create one movie on October 30.

 

Even just looking at the tracklist, which includes his title track ‘Run away’, gives you a good idea of how much thought Song Minho put into the exact order of the songs.  One can only imagine how difficult it must’ve been to choose the title track, especially as every single song on this album has been written and composed by Song himself, elevating the album’s overall level of completion. 

 

#Varying Shifts in Music-Genre

When you say Song Minho, you immediately equate him to hip-hop. And though the core of this album rests in that genre, what makes ‘TAKE’ different and interesting is that it is also an infusion of a handful of other genres.

 

In ‘Ok man’ and ‘Love and a boy’ Song Minho gives us ‘tougher’ hip-hop, while in ‘Hop in’ and ‘Pow!” things are more easy-going and flexible. Then you get to ‘Run away’ or ‘Lost in a crowd’, two tracks that will stir up your emotions. And ‘Wa’ creates a dream-like atmosphere, while ‘I want to’ is a sexier number.

 

But more than anything else, it is Song’s utilization of various instruments and melodies with brand new charms that make this album so fun to listen to. Each song has such a different charm to it that in fact, you can’t help but be surprised that they were all written by Song himself.

 

And it is worth applauding that the switches in the tracks are refreshing and not over-the-top. ‘Click/Han river view’ takes two independent songs and creates a hybrid-remix out of them to birth a new track. The impression that this song leaves is impossible to ignore, especially as the mood literally shifts as soon as Song says ‘click.’ This move, if it’s done even slightly wrong, could feel awkward or overambitious. But Song Minho achieves a clever balance that’s just right by mixing appropriate amounts of trendiness and personal musical capabilities.

 

The use of guest spots in the album is striking as well. In ‘Wa’, Zion.T puts on his lesser-known persona as a rapper rather than a vocalist, and [in ‘Hop in’], DPR LIVE’s utilization of Wonder Girls’s  ’Tell Me’ makes his verse one of the best he’s ever done.

 

Of course, we can’t forget Bobby. ‘Ok man’ is MOBB’s first work since 4 years ago when the duo officially promoted as a duet, and here, in the album’s third track, Bobby displays a strong sense of self-confidence that overflows with wit. 

 

#Honest Lyrics

You can potently feel how much Song Minho has matured in personality and sensibility, even in the lyrics. What stands out the most is that not a single rhyme in this album feels like it has been forcibly created and shoved to fit together. Rather, Song writes out this album the way you would a journal, and the sincerity is delivered in between the lines of the lyrics.

 

“An ashtray piled up like a bowl of rice,” “Fold you up a few times, put you in my pocket,” are completely original, yet familiar figures of speech that become another element to draw your attention. In the case of ‘[Kyobo] Book store’, the title itself is an immediate point of interest. But you listen to the song and see that this is the track in the album where Song’s metaphors are displayed at their peak.

 

In ‘I want to’, Song gets straightforward and reveals a sexier side to him, while in ‘Pow!’, he draws out visualizations of bloody noses and quick jaunts to outer space in the process of unraveling his emotions. In this particular track, the inclusion of ‘><‘ in the lyrics is also a key point.

 

You feel a clear sense of Song’s loneliness and solitude in ‘Click/Han river view’, ‘Sunrise’, and ‘Lost in a crowd’. The passions of a cruel love in ‘Run away’ contribute to the relatability of the album. The delivery of these emotions isn’t done in a manner that makes your fingers and toes curl. Instead, thanks to Song’s smooth, clean vocals and expressions, you get to feel them at a much deeper level. 

 

#Elite Visuals

This album’s impressive aesthetics only affirm Song’s well-known presence in the art and fashion industry. Starting with the utilization of 3D scanners in the teaser contents of ‘TAKE’, he gave plenty of opportunities for delights not only to the ears but to the eyes, as well. 

 

But above all, the music video for ‘Run away’ will have you mesmerized. This video combines computer graphics and special effects with Song’s honesty to create art in and of itself. A scene where he runs away from a massive wave, and another where a pair of shoes run away without its feet, are particularly memorable. They evoke the works of Michel Gondry, who is well known for his perfect, witty physical transformations. Besides bold fashion choices and impassioned acting, Song also features sunflowers in his music video, a flower that has become his signature and symbol.

 

 

All of these have come together to produce an album that is not just a good listen but also pleasing to the eyes. Wit, creativity, imagination, and sincerity that is only unique to Song Minho are combined to mold a true masterpiece.

 

The title of ‘artist’ truly suits Song Minho. And through this album, he’s shot the most heartfelt ‘TAKE’ within the filmography of his life.