Album Review #3: EXO's XOXO (Kiss Version)

So the general consensus is that Chanyeol should sing more, the amount of lines (or lack thereof) Sehun got was pitiful, and this is the best album to come out of SM Entertainment since SHINee's first full-length album entitled The SHINee World. XOXO actually gives me so much music nostalgia because a good amount of the songs have the same soft RnB sound and hip-hop that SHINee was known for during their early years as rookies. Basically, this was the korean pop that I fell in love and since I have so many feelings for the album, here's a personal track by track review.

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Wolf (늑대와 미녀) - I think I've voiced out my initial dislike for the song when I first heard the demo version several months ago and actually, right after its official release, I still couldn't chew and swallow the song even though it's cleaner and far better than the leaked one. But fast-forward three weeks later, I can't stop listening to it! I even went as far as to learning the song and planning on making an acoustic version (lmao). Wolf is the kind of song that grows on you and I don't know if it's because it has a hook to it or because you can't help but learn to love it despite all the reasons to not like it (for example: the atrocious "ah saranghaeyo~") because you've listened to it for so many times already that it's practically ingrained in your brain. Even though you'll cringe at the first listen, give it a few more plays and you'll find yourself tapping along to the dubstep and the fast beats. 

Wolf is messy in nature, which is a given because it was produced by Will Simms, the same person who produced and composed SNSD's I Got A Boy. The similarities are striking, but in contrast to IGAB where there a lot of things that could've worked but didn't, with Wolf - everything strangely works in a way that it shouldn't but it does. Which is weird!!! Or maybe I'm just saying this because I've listened to it so many times already that I just mindlessly ignore how messy it is. Seriously though, I love the howling, the sudden changes in tempo, the high notes, the falsettos...there must be something wrong with me.

We can't really blame the song for how ridiculous it sounds compared to the rest of the album though because this wasn't made to be listened on its own. It was made to be performed on stage and it was made to be memorable, in a sense, what with EXO's abnormally long absence and somewhat nugu status in Korea. They need a song that's going to make people remember them and I think Wolf does a good job of doing just that (maybe because it's weird as fuck). Also, this song performed live just slays. 

Lastly, I'd like to clarify something since I get irked whenever someone makes fun of the boys' pronunciation of "wolf" in the song. They pronounce it as "ulf" because it's a wordplay between the English word wolf and its Korean counterpart/translation which is neugdae.

Baby, Don't Cry (인어의 눈물) - Oh, the irony of this song because how can you not cry while listening to Baby, Don't Cry? Even though this is nowhere near ballad perfection, I think anyone would find this beautiful, EXO fan or not. The blending, the minimalist piano, the powerful vocals, the flow of the song - everything is just simply lovely and the melody is sweet without verging on saccharine. The chorus is obviously the highlight of this song, as the verses tend to be a little bit generic-sounding, and I absolutely love the inclusion of rap in the bridge. Chanyeol's voice sent chills down my spine, I could burrow myself in his deep baritone for the rest of eternity oh my god. Probably the only problem I have with the song (and it's a very small problem in all honesty) is the overlapping of a "Cry" out of nowhere during one of the last few choruses because it was too in-your-face for me and served more as a distraction than an effective adlib. Oh, and Kyungsoo's "When you smile, sun shines~" /cue in tears because beyooteeful

Black Pearl - I have mixed feelings and contrasting emotions with Black Pearl. It's not exactly my type of song and I must admit there are times that I feel like skipping past this and just jumping over to the next song instead. However, I love how it starts out slow and soft at first before it gradually builds itself up with each line and stanza until it explodes into a powerful chorus with its fair share of strong vocals and the consistent "oh, oh, oh's" that seem to be a staple in every SM Entertainment song. Rap fell flat for me though. It felt really out of place and I think they could've done better with its placement instead of just going, "Oh, this song needs a rap. Let's place it here even though it sounds awkward." It was like it wasn't even there to begin with. But overall, still a good song and does not bring down the album whatsoever. Kyungsoo's and Baekhyun's adlibs and the use of their voices as instrumentals saved this song for me.

Don't Go (나비소녀) - Oh, this song gives me so many fuzzy feelings and emotional warmth. Some people have problems with Don't Go because it sounds like any other K-pop song but I personally think it is beautiful in its simplicity. Chanyeol's voice sounds really good here and and I hope that SM gives him even more singing lines because there is so much more to Chanyeol than just his clean pretty boy face and rapping abilities (although the latter quality itself is already redeeming because I am a firm believer that Chanyeol is SMEnt's best and most competent rapper at the moment). The chorus is so easy on the ears and even though I have to agree that the similarity of Don't Go to Into Your World is blatantly obvious in terms of structure, Don't Go has its own special charm. The breathy hoo hoo hoos~ are absolutely eargasmic and are a nice touch. And no, let's not talk about Sehun's only solo line in this song please because I made a lot of ugly noises the first time I heard his infamous "Listen" HUHUHUHUHUHUHUHU

Let Out The Beast - I have a personal endearment for this song mainly because I feel like it fits Kai and the performance beast that he turns into whenever he's on stage, when he sheds off Kim Jongin and becomes the human embodiment of all the sweat and blood and tears he poured out and invested into making sure his dreams came true. I know I'm not the only who thinks that Let Out The Best would've made a better comeback song as opposed to Wolf because the lyrics are all about performing and it's incredibly catchy without becoming overwhelming. The flow of the song is so smooth and even though it's upbeat in nature, it's not anti-climactic so it's not tiring to listen to. Also, there are a lot of poppy dance tracks out there that are gyrating on the ears and I love that Let Out The Beast isn't like that.
Going back to why this would've made a much better comeback song instead of Wolf, Let Out The Beast is actually...listenable, in a way. Even though Wolf is memorable and will make people pay attention to EXO, that attention can both be good and bad and can fizzle and fade away whereas if you promote a song like Let Out The Beast which has elements of a good dance track, it'd not only make people pay attention, but it'd keep people's attention trained on them. I made my brother listen to Wolf and he couldn't stop complaining about how bad it was. Then afterwards, I made him listen to Let Out The Beast and I actually caught him tapping his fingers along to the song. Plus, I feel like this is the kind of song that would be perfect for some killer choreography. Out of all the tracks in this album, this is the one I'm most excited to see performed live.

3.6.5 - I dare you to listen to this song and not smile even just once, I DARE YOU. Because I tried...and inevitably failed.
Despite the fact that this sounds like a rip-off from a certain English-Irish pop boy band (group?), I am so so happy to have 365 in this album. I must admit I wasn't such a huge fan of the song the first time I heard it but I've grown to love 365 simply because it sounds fresh and young and fun! Plus, this song is a breather from all the emotive ballads and RnB that this album's infested with. Oh, and I kind of feel like 365 doesn't exactly fit Baekhyun's and Kyungsoo's voices but Chanyeol makes up for it. He sounds good here. Heck, he sounds good in the entire album.

Heart Attack - This song is so slick, so so so slick and this might be an unpopular opinion but it sounds way better in Korean than in Mandarin. Chanyeol's voice sounds so fucking good here (ehem, here I am again) but I think that Chanyeol shines the most in Heart Attack because it's the kind of song that's made for idol rappers. I love how the English words fit perfectly into this song. The inclusion of "flashlight" and "flashback" in the first few stanzas is pure eargasm. The chorus is so smooth it flows like rich coffee in your ears. Also, this is probably the song that gives me the most SHINee nostalgia. It's really reminiscent of their earlier songs.
I love Heart Attack with all my heart :3

Baby - I don't really know what to say about Baby. I like it but not exactly love it, if you get what I mean. Everyone sounds wonderful though and I actually have a fondness for the chorus until it gets to the repetition of the word baby since I'm not really one for full-grown men singing about how someone's their baby lol. Bridge has a lovely melody to it and I think I could've liked this a lot better but it sounds like any other B-side kpop song out there. Basically, I don't think the song has its own charm but still a very good listen nonetheless. If you want to wind down and listen to some music that's easy on the ears, then Baby would be perfect but if you're looking for interesting music, you'll have to pass on this one.

Peter Pan - Peter Pan is one giant ball of cuteness and fluff and sparkles. I mean the lyrics are just so cute and endearing??? And the melody is so sweet but not too sweet that it's just the right amount to not be cavity-inducing. I squirm on the inside whenever I hear this because it's too much for my little fangirl heart to take, honestly. I love the chorus so much imma crey. Peter Pan sounds so pure and untainted and can I just hug this song? Guuuuuuuuh. I love the way the words "Neverland" and "Cinderella" roll off their tongues. Also, transition to the rap didn't feel awkward at all so that's a major plus.

This song is fantastic.

My Lady - Oh, this song. THIS SONG.
You cannot possibly fathom the immensity of the happiness I felt when they made it official that My Lady was going to be included in the album...but then I heard the full version and I was a bit hesitant with it? Like I wanted to love it so much simply because the first part of the song sounds absolutely perfect and I feel like this song was made for Kyungsoo but then I hit the chorus and I was just like "What?". I couldn't wrap my little finger on how strange it sounded.
But then you know, songs have a way on growing on you after giving them a few more listens and I've learned to appreciate the unfamiliar melody. I still think that the chorus does not give enough justice to the song as a whole but I love the sudden change from the chorus to the rap because the transition is smooth and effortless and suave. This whole song is suave in my opinion.
Kyungsoo's voice in this though...my heart is melting <3

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XOXO has been well-received by both EXO fans and casual listeners alike and I'm even going as far as to say that the long wait was worth it. If this is what a 13-months absence can do, then I'm all but willing to wait if it means I'll be getting good music in return.