It has been a long awaited comeback from Girls' Generation, being more than a year since we have heard an ounce of Korean music from them. They're back and boy, this sure is a comeback and a half! They have collaborated with ''The Underdogs'' an R&B/pop production duo composed of Harvey Mason, Jr. and Damon Thomas. They have previously worked with stars like Beyoncé and Justin Timberlake, providing them with commercially successful songs. It's a no-brainer that The Underdogs are working with Girls' Generation, after all, they are THE most popular girl group in the eastern world with hit after hit which with this album will be another hit to add to their highly successful discography.
''Mr.Mr.'' is a mini album which contains tracks that are very
reminiscent of the girls' styles from their older albums. There is a sense of
pureness to the music with soothing voices from all of the girls reaching our
hearts. Recently, Girls' Generation have been releasing a lot of fast paced electro-pop music from their Japanese singles, however this is a nice change with songs that are more slower paced and laid back.
Album Review
01. Mr.Mr.
Mr.Mr. is without a doubt one of the greatest choices that Girls' Generation have made in terms of genre. This RnB pop song is nothing short of addictive and well engineered by the sound mixers. It is less experimental than last year's schizophrenic ''I Got A Boy'' which not only became subject to much criticism from many listeners but also became a new trend in the K-pop industry with songs from popular groups coming out with similar styles. This time, there is a formula and one that works well with a chorus that is as catchy as ''Gee'' and as hypnotic as ''Genie''. As previously stated, the album is reminiscent of the older albums of Girls' Generation. While the song ''Mr.Mr.'' is the furthest away from that sound, it still has similarities with the girls' first single, ''Into The New World'' with a dance break after the second chorus. It also has that signature pitch change on the last chorus which rises and becomes more intense with a dramatic finish. ''Mr.Mr.'' is a well crafted piece of music and The Underdogs need a round of applause in creating the lyrics to suit all nine of the girls (as stated by themselves) and also designing the music specifically for their type of intense choreography.
02. Goodbye
The beginning of ''Goodbye'' really reminds me of ''Top Secret'' from the girls' ''The Boys'' album. It sounds very spy-like but very soon becomes a very happy sounding song, something that you can play during a road trip, getting away from all the stresses of life and driving to freedom! The Chorus puts a smile on your face with the lyrics ''Really, really good, goodbye''. It's a track that you hear and think ''these are the girls, our girls' original style''. With this song, we begin a series of nostalgic sounds throughout the rest of the album.
03. Europa
''Europa'' is what defines the original sounds of Girls' Generation. It sounds very retro and brings back old memories of the girls before their reach to national fame after their hit single ''Gee''. This is Girls' Generation in its purest form, a track filled with wonderful voices and a complimentary beat with a slight retro feel. ''Europa'' is without a doubt one of my favourite songs within the album, a nostalgic feeling from start to finish, reminding us who Girls' Generation are and where they came from.
04. Wait a Minute
''Wait a Minute'' contains a very catchy ''Ooo da- bi- da'' at the beginning of the song which carries on through during the verses but what is striking is how much we hear the evolution of the voices from these nine singers. Their voices have truly matured and this is a track that demonstrates this. Tiffany also gets to show off her signature husky vocals and all of the girls overall begin to bring out what they have learnt over the years in terms of vocal technique. They are able to control the flow of their voices and harmonise together to create a wide sound stage.
05. Back Hug
''Back Hug'' is a gift to all of us S♥NEs who have spent the years supporting our girls through thick and thin. The girls certainly appreciate us and they return the favour with a back hug, a feeling of warmth just like the song itself. ''Back Hug'' is a very relaxing and slow paced song which gives us a break before we are hit with a strong, fast paced track. The voices in the beginning ''Hoooooo, hey, yeah, yeah'' is so soothing to the ears, it keeps you playing back the song again and again just to hear it. This part of the song really is an extension of Girls' Generation's angelic charms which resonate throughout the entire track.
06. Soul
‘’Ladies, it is time for lift off’’ gets us ready for the explosive song
that ‘’Soul’’ is. It is hyper fast and is certainly something that could be
played during a workout. The song was originally in Mandarin for an online
video game, however this translation isn't a disappointment and the syllables fit well within the song. ‘’Soul’’ is clear evidence that Girls’ Generation can
deliver explosive lyrics with controlled vocals and also brings us back to the
present style of Girls’ Generation with fast beats and lyrics that keeps us
engaged and in awe in how well they are delivered. This song is a perfect
way to end the album, a nostalgic ride from the past to present.
In conclusion ''Mr.Mr.'' album has given us a trip down memory lane and is a testament of Girls' Generation's success. It is a demonstration of how the girls have evolved during the course of their careers within a short amount of time just like the running time of the album. Although ''Mr.Mr.'' is a mini album, it features tracks that are solidly produced, right down to the audio engineering. There are no filler tracks and each song can be considered a title track for the album. Although some may say that ''Soul'' can be considered filler, I however believe it isn't. The song is too awesome to not be heard by Korean listeners that it HAD to be translated and put into the album. Girls' Generation have done it again, another hit which will sure remind the fans of who Girls' Generation are and give new comers a taste of their entire discography with tracks which resemble the girls' original style.
Reviewed by Kazi Zaman
Where can I buy?
Physical Copy
K-Pop Town
Synnara
Lees Music
Apple Music
Aladin
Kyobo Book
Yes 24
In conclusion ''Mr.Mr.'' album has given us a trip down memory lane and is a testament of Girls' Generation's success. It is a demonstration of how the girls have evolved during the course of their careers within a short amount of time just like the running time of the album. Although ''Mr.Mr.'' is a mini album, it features tracks that are solidly produced, right down to the audio engineering. There are no filler tracks and each song can be considered a title track for the album. Although some may say that ''Soul'' can be considered filler, I however believe it isn't. The song is too awesome to not be heard by Korean listeners that it HAD to be translated and put into the album. Girls' Generation have done it again, another hit which will sure remind the fans of who Girls' Generation are and give new comers a taste of their entire discography with tracks which resemble the girls' original style.
Reviewed by Kazi Zaman
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Kazi Zaman is a video editor (Girls' Generation: A History) and writer for TheSoneSource. He has followed Girls' Generation's activities since pre-début. He is also a filmmaker and an aspiring cinematographer.
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Where can I buy?
K-Pop Town
Synnara
Lees Music
Apple Music
Aladin
Kyobo Book
Yes 24
