BoA stays true to her style with ‘Kiss My Lips’

BoA
“Kiss My Lips”
(KT Music)


BoA, arguably hallyu’s most iconic star, shows ease and maturity with her eighth studio album “Kiss My Lips.” The album is steady and true to BoA’s style, with generally predictable melodies and easy beats that hit smooth with listeners.
The 12-song album starts out with “Kiss My Lips,” which has a strong beat but trades in power and punch for a more seductive, sultry vibe. The rhythm turns funky with “Smash,” and dreamlike with “Shattered.”
BoA’s 15 years of experience shines through on “Fox,” written by the artist herself. The lyrics are playful and flirty without getting syrupy, and BoA’s voice effortlessly bounces through the dynamic melody. Her vocal talents come out in “Home,” a slow song that showcases her control and color.
BoA’s collaborations with male artists from other genres also deliver tracks that are solid, if unspectacular. The double title track “Who Are You” features Gaeko of Dynamic Duo, whose rhythmic rap balances out BoA’s bubbly ’90s-style performance.
In “Double Jack,” BoA teams up with romantic singer-songwriter Eddy Kim. BoA’s tangy voice seems to clash at first with Eddy’s smoother tone, but the song overall is an easy mix of pop and acoustic.
The album deserves respect because of BoA’s confidence in her own style. She is able to evolve without forcing any drastic transformations to remain current, unfazed by the fast changes in Korean pop. “Kiss My Lips” is unsurprising, but familiarity does not detract from the listening experience.
(hjwon@heraldcorp.com)


Snoop Dogg’s funk-inspired album hits right mark

Snoop Dogg
“Bush”
(Columbia Records)


Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Williams made magic together more than a decade ago, and now the rapper and producer are doing it again.
Snoop Dogg and Williams, who collaborated on the infectious hit “Beautiful” and the chart-topping “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” is impressive on “Bush,” Snoop Dogg’s 13th studio album. Williams, the Grammy-winning hitmaker, laid down the tracks for the entire album with the help of his Neptunes partner, Chad Hugo.
Snoop Dogg continues to venture away from his gangsta rap persona, singing for much of the 10-track album, which is full of easygoing funk melodies. In typical Snoop Dogg form, he sings about the West Coast on the standout songs “This City” and “California Roll,” with Williams on the chorus and Stevie Wonder playing the harmonica.
The 43-year-old rapper, who changed his stage name back to Snoop Dogg after a brief stint as reggae artist Snoop Lion, talks about living a stress-free life on the enjoyable “Run Away” with Gwen Stefani. Known for his marijuana-smoking ways, Snoop Dogg shows his infatuation with weed-infused baked goods on the T.I.-assisted “Edibles” and the disco-flavored “Awake.” And first single, “Peaches N Cream,” is an upbeat party song that features frequent collaborator Charlie Wilson.
From start to finish, the ultrasmooth Snoop Dogg doesn’t lose a step. Kudos to Williams for putting Snoop Dogg in a position to make that happen. (AP)



‘Pitch Perfect 2‘ soundtrack not so perfect

Various artists
”Pitch Perfect 2: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack”
(Universal Music Enterprises)


There is such a thing as being too clever.
The Barden Bellas and the Treblemakers, who return in the film “Pitch Perfect 2,” have found a way to cram even more songs per square airwave in their mash-ups. Although the tunes are neatly stacked and folded into each other, they don‘t always work outside a visual medium. The reason is their brevity, two lines and they’re on to the next song. Thus listening turns into a race to recognize the song.
The tunes span decades and genres and are deftly mashed into new entities. Some take flight, like the pleasant “Back to Basics” sequence that includes a cappella versions of “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” “Lady Marmalade” and “Mmmbop.” However, “Riff Off” starts with an enjoyable rendition of the “Thong Song” and cycles through a dizzying array of booty-praising tunes in a short span, losing its head to its own ingenuity.
The song that everyone keeps on coming back is Jessie J‘s “Flashlight,” written by Sam Smith and Sia. The ballad, poignant and memorable, is one of the album’s highlights, while singer-songwriter Ester Dean brings a modern EDM feel to the comedy with “Crazy Youngsters.” And the unexpected Snoop Dogg rendition of “Winter Wonderland” feels like a good gamble in an otherwise predictable sound.
For fans of a cappella, this will be a treasure trove of inspiration; for fans of the film, a serviceable memento; and for the rest of us, just an OK album. (AP)