A review by Noh Junyoung, a music critic, former editor of Mnet and general editor of WinnyK Star magazine
Actually, the criteria applied on him was rather harsh. The fact that he’s a member of an idol group created a kind of prejudice around him. Perhaps, that’s why people looked at him with questioning eyes for his rock genre challenge with [I] released in January. However, he did show plenty of potential with [I]. The fact that he was able to attempt rock music was outstanding and he was able to draw a rough sketch for the identity of the album that he thought of. Therefore, what he needed to do with this regular album was to paint the rough sketch in colors. If I have to say the conclusion first, Kim Jaejoong succeeded in drawing a variegated watercolor painting. Listening to the whole album, you will feel like he was daringly picking up a paintbrush, attempting to paint the colors, and his hand didn’t shake even once. It’s that bold, yet a sensible touch overflows here and there all over the album.
He said that his 1st solo regular album [WWW] talked about love. Kim Jaejoong wrote lyrics of 10 out of 13 tracks, making effort at storytelling. Though everyone can feel that way, the thing called ‘love’ has various aspects. Sometimes, it’s like a spring breeze that makes your heart flutter but sometimes, it’s just cold like a harsh winter. The essence of this album is the way it represents these varied colors of love. Kim Jaejoong mixed bright songs and sad songs, progressing with speed control. As if he wants to express a double-edged-sword-like love.
The center of this color sketch is ‘Just Another Girl’. This song, flavored with rock beat and pop melody, makes Kim Jaejoong’s powerfully extended singing method stand out. The intense feeling is there but the relaxed feeling is also retained. Thanks to that, people who approach the genre for the first time can give it a try without any burden. The first tracks ‘Brighter’ and ‘Don’t Walk Away’ are full of cheerful yet refreshing feelings. Especially, though ‘Don’t Walk Away’ is a rock number of dance-tune style, Yong Junyoung’s stylish rap makes its completeness more well-defined. ‘Butterfly’ brings you to Kim Jaejoong’s fresh vocal tone. Compared to previous tracks, ‘Rotten Love’ and ‘Shiny Day’ give out softer feelings. ‘Rotten Love’ has an odd harmony of melody and guitar riffs, creating a unique imagery. Rather than giving a long explanation, I will say that it’s a song you will love immediately after listening to it once. In addition, there’s plenty of tracks you should listen to and go beyond: ‘Let the Rhythm Flow’ that shows Kim Jaejoong’s appealing voice, ‘Now Is Good’ which is at a high level of completeness as it was written by Yoon Dohyun, ’9+1#’ catching both your eyes and ears with strong feelings, ‘Luvholic’ with Ha Dongkyun that materializes the hybrid music, rock n’ roll track ‘Modem Beat’ – the gift of GLAY’s Takuro… This album is the cream of the crop which can more or less ensure an admiration beyond expectation from anybody.
This is an album where Kim Jaejoong’s competence and various synergy effects coexist. The album also points out the fact that, instead of prejudice, now is the time to look forward to the image of artist Kim Jaejoong. The coloring after sketching is so beautiful. I get my expectations up for him who goes forward with his own color. It’s not easy to bring to people such excitement. I will keep watching the steps of this man who want to tell his stories through music.
Editor Noh Junyoung
www.dizcul.co.kr
www.winnykstar.com
Source: blog.naver.com/nohy
Translated by: Hannah @ PrinceJJ
Shared by: PrinceJJ + JYJ3
meme & JYJ, your wish has been granted!
Now I this is by a professional and this is how you write a review,
My heart is blossom reading this review. I found myself nod my head to every statement he/she wrote. What way more important is the writer itself is an expert in industry music (not random contributors of some websites). I’m glad this album is well recognized and acknowledged by the ‘real’ critics. More over this album is indeed fabulous. Congratz Kim Jaejoong ❤
” …instead of prejudice, now is the time to look forward to the image of artist Kim Jaejoong. ”
Since day1, I have already seen the great artist in him 😉
The coloring after sketching is so beautiful. I get my expectations up for him who goes forward with his own color. It’s not easy to bring to people such excitement.
Jaejoong must read this line, not from his crazy fangirls but from a music critic!
Yes JJ, now that you’ve found your own color, it’s no wonder you’ve got that oozing confidence and charisma now onstage and you’re a lot happier, I haven’t seen those playful smiles before, (the kiyomi is getting hotter even if you’r getting tired of it 🙂 ) …
GO JJ, enjoy the ride!
Hi kris, I smiled reading your comment, the same caught my attention too… his own color… Jaejoong Color… like like like
This album is so full, so over the top, it’s hard to truly rate as a whole because every single song is mind blow.. you need to listen over and over and still can’t get enough of it.. his voice does something to your every sense. Part of the beauty of his creation is the personal touching experience he shares.. whether bold and beautiful or raw and painful or desperate and desire.. just so many emotions.. too incredible.. I still can’t get over the excitement of WWW and his solo concerts.. his performance brings to life the songs he creates.. elevated to a level of his own.. one with his fans.. he can claim it.. only legends go there (the big diff from the over-rated over popular t-bop fans who bring their idols to exaggerated fame with no talent, mass production of song and idol to gen pub in masses, so great in numbers but so lacking in substance, marketing wins for small shallow easy to capture teen mass <– I should delete this neg remark from this great pos feel but somehow I want to make a point on how real talent will shine even though the marketing of the bops win in number game, sorry)
Another beautiful experience of this album is in choosing a favorite song.. almost impossible to choose just one.. at first I thought no not possible.. pass.. but the songs I just keep repeating first is Let the Rhythm Flow ~ this song is just way too much feel makes me weak.. oh and when the fancams showed him singing this.. it went ahead of 9+1# and Rotten Love.. haha how did he create such a perfect song, want it for song of the year.. his most lovely desired voice showcased in that song..
Thank you Editor Noh Junyoung for a very nicely written review. (though the rough sketch was the best of the year until WWW)
Like the writer, I too.. "will keep watching the steps of this man who want to tell his stories through music." (I keep feeling that Jaejoong is my asian John Lennon)
Jaejoong Color this year is most beautiful…
And I agree kris, he does look happy 🙂
@IjyjNjoy
I miss reading your musings about Jaejoong, it seems like I’m reading my thoughts which I cannot express in words, lol
Jaejoong Color this year is most beautiful…
Definitely, it started with ONE KISS, his mini-album I/Y, his fanmmeet/mini-concerts tours, his Yokohama finale,
there was a period of Jaejoong’s drought but came the Sunny Day and the birth of the Butterfly…….and it’s ascending to a greater height……hope it will go on and on 🙂
The weakness of this album is till now I can’t pick which is my favorite song. Heck it keeps changing depend on my mood!
The last part is soo true. He’s doing his memoir using his musics and I couldn’t loved his music more! And wow, I think everyone’s favourite is Rotten Love! I’m happy ❤ ❤ ❤
Every track has delivered just like Jaejoong wanted with his own genre。This whole album shows not the potential talent towards to rock music,but the real talent。He gained so many male fans with this album。Great success,so proud of Jaejoong。
Very nice and correctly stated! That’s right! )))
A little flowery, but i totally get his point. Excellent!
Nice review and well written..to the point but also gave some depth about Jaejoong as a singer and song writer. I enjoy reading album reviews and hoping to read more reviews about this perfection that is WWW.
thank you for sharing^^
thanks
interesting ….