All

Kmusic Review: DBSK’s 6th Album “Catch Me”

September 29, 2012

A year and a half has gone by since we last heard from the gods, but DBSK has finally returned with the release of their 6^th album “Catch Me.” It’s quite impressive that they decided to release a full album instead of a single or an EP. With the amount of fans they have, it’s a no brainer that this album will be sold out in a flash. “Catch Me” contains eleven tracks that explore many genres of music but that signature DBSK sound is very present in the album.

“Catch Me” is the title song of the album and sets the tone for the rest of the album. When I first heard it, I instantly thought of Trance music from the 90s due to the breakdown of the orchestration and Max’s vocalization at the beginning. There are also components of Dubstep that are implemented into the song as well, with the breakbeat being audible during the chorus. The song depicts a man who is frustrated over the fact that he has been crazy over this woman for a very long time but she has never paid him any mind. So he decides to coax her with the alluring phrase “Catch me if you wanna~”. This song is interesting and almost mystical. Though it’s not my cup of tea, give it a try.

“Viva” follows up with a stronger Hip Hop influence due to the way Yunho’s rap is arranged. However, upon reaching the buildup of the song, it then turns into more of an electro R&B/Pop song. The vocalization of “woah” makes the song sound like something Rihanna would sing. The word viva comes from the Spanish language, meaning to live long and it is also a positive expression that exclaims joy and happiness. Therefore, the song expresses the success and victory that DBSK has experienced for the past nine years. It’s a confident powerful song that I’m sure all Cassiopeias are proud of.

The third song, “Destiny,” begins with this clear bass that grabs the listener’s attention. It has a RnB vibe about it, with a hint of soul and jazz; this combination adds up to make “Destiny” a very compelling love song. The song is about falling in love at first site and the confession that takes place. The harmonization of Max and Yunho’s voice, something that DBSK is unassailable in, also adds quite a sensation to the emotion of the song. It is a very nice sounding song and it is one of my personal favorites.

“Like a Soap” is the fourth song of the album. It has this slight soft rock feel to it with the obvious band resonance in the back. There’s also this smooth electric guitar piece in the background that is very appealing and it probably defines the overall sound of the song. It’s a cute but also endearing song that expresses the frustration of being in the friend zone. The situation is so pathetic that the person who is in this one-sided love compares themselves to a soap bar; just lying there and always available to clean up the dirt off someone’s back. Oh how we all love that feeling. If you understand as well as I do then listen to this song, learn it, and sing it to that dimwitted special someone.

Next is “I Don’t Know” and it has this music arrangement that sounds like something from the late 80s and early 90s. The 4/4 strum pattern of the guitar that is present in the song is quite catchy and will probably stick around in your head after you finish listening to it. The fact that the song also picks up really quickly at the end, with the intensity of the electric guitar getting higher, makes the song more exciting as well. This track is also another song that talks of instant love when meeting for the first time although it’s a bit bolder than “Destiny.” I like this song; you’ll have a thrill listening to it.

The sixth song in the album is a remake of Chani Mini’s “Dream.” This new version is just as good as the original despite the fact that Max has less of a ‘rocknroll’ voice as opposed to Chani Mini’s vocalist. Just like the title, “Dream” sounds inspiring and adventurous like an intro song from an anime series. It’s a moving song and when Max sings “it’s alright,” it’s very reassuring. Most will have fun listening to it, especially while walking because it feels like you’re going on a master quest!

“How Are You” sounds quieter than the rest of the songs with a gentle tempo and piano accompaniment. It’s a sweet song, reminding me of the days when DBSK was first debuted as a five member group. The song is about the regret one feels after they comprehend the measure of their mistakes during a past relationship. This song is easier on the ears than the others so if you’re looking for a calm song, give this one a go.

As opposed to the quietness of the previous song, “Get Away” is loud and proud. Although other songs in this album are inspired by some aspects of rock and roll, this one is more heavily influenced than the others. Max’s electrifyingly high notes and Yunho’s screamo session also reinforces the rock and roll vibe. The line “Can you believe it?” will probably be the phrase that fans will be repetitively singing when listening to this song. So if you like heavy metal, you’ll probably enjoy this piece. I think the duo pulled it off sufficiently.

It’s scary how similar “I Swear” sounds to Alan Jackson’s “Remember When” despite the obvious difference between a Korean Pop song and an American Country song. I hope there are no controversies over this because there seems to be no news of “I Swear” being a rendition or cover of any sort. In fact, all that was gathered about this song is how Max actually wrote the lyrics for the song. Other than this troubling resemblance, the song is rather nice. It has a pretty piano intro, resulting in a homey and safe feeling to surface. It’s a nice change of pace compared to the song that came before it. Very nice vocals can be heard from Max in this pure song.

“Gorgeous” has this pop rock sound to it with heavy drumming but the tuning of the song makes it easier on the ears and more main stream sounding. There are also electronic influences in it. It’s a song that illustrates the manners and thoughts one would have towards a person who is gorgeous and beautiful. This song actually exposes a better vocal range for the two singers and so it’s quite the ear candy. Yes, that’s what I said, ‘ear-candy.’

The last song that closes for the album is “Good Night” which works rather well as far as the title goes. In fact, you can come up with an entire story with just the titles of these tracks alone if you’re creative enough. Anyway, this song goes back towards RnB and also comprises electronically synthesized music that is used in the background. It’s slower paced and easy to rock to. If this song was played in a club, it’d be one that people can slowly grind to.

Although there were some songs that did not particularly grab my interest, this album is still pretty solid. It’s undeniable that DBSK is still one of the legends and untouchables in the Kpop industry. Even though many Cassies are still hurt by the fact that five has turned to two, we have to understand that DBSK is still very much alive. This album proves this point with the superb composition and arrangement of the songs. Max and Yunho also never put us to shame by always delivering an immaculate performance both vocally and visually. Remember to always keep the faith and continue to support DBSK by purchasing their album, ‘Catch Me!”