After all this time, I'm still a kpop fans for sure. I've been following k-pop since 2009, As I mention in my bio, my ultimate fave group are TVXQ and Shinee (sometimes Block B). But, maybe around 4 years ago suddenly I did not follow k-pop anymore. I didn't know which group was debut, which one was disband or which one release a new music. My ignorance level reach to the point that I didn't know some of new song from Shinee or TVXQ. However, starting last year, I suddenly go back following k-pop. But, despite many groups are having a great debut, I'm just back to Shinee (TVXQ is in army, so yeah..)
Jonghyun is my favorite in Shinee. Although I didn't follow much Jjong's activity (I don't know he's been a dj in a radio!), but every time he release an album, I always rejoice. There's no album from him that I'll give low score (if I have to review it). And this year, he's back with his story album collection. As a fan of his first story album collection, I just download the whole new album from Itunes without feeling the need to listening the audio post in Youtube first. I just know Jjong will not let me down. And he proves me right.
1. Lonely (feat. Taeyeon)
2. 1000
3. Just Chill (멍하니 있어)
4. Love Is So Nice
5. Blinking Game" (눈싸움)
6. Elevator (엘리베이터)
7. Let Me Out (놓아줘)
8. Fireplace (벽난로)
9. Our Season (따뜻한 겨울)
10. Where are you (바퀴) (CD only)
Once listening the whole album, this album immediately become my fave from Jjong. Believe me, every time Jjong release a new album, that album will become my fave. He's just getting better and better as musician.
This album is started by a duet ballad song with Taeyeon. With that, I know Lonely will not go in wrong direction. This song is very soft and smooth. I really love Taeyeon and Jjong's voice tone in this song. We all know that both of them are a great singer, but honestly no matter how much I love Jjong, there are times when I don't like the way Jjong sing. Like the voice he made in Love Belt. I loooveee the song, but his way delivering the song is not my cup of a tea. Of course there's nothing wrong with how Jjong singing his song, it's just my personal taste. And for Taeyeon, I prefer her low note voice than her high note, so I'm 1000% sold with this song. Jjong and Taeyeon sing beautifully and create a beautiful harmony in this song
Second song is 1000. What I love from this song is its simplicity. Jjong's voice (with the tone that I like) and guitar acoustic as music background gives a chill and relax atmosphere. It's the type of song that makes my head move left and right following the rhythm of the song.
Just Chill is just like its title. It's a perfect song when you just want to be lazy. Rolling around in your bed. I love listening this song in the morning, when I refuse to get ready to work. Jjong gives us a medium upbeat song after Just Chill. Love is So Nice is for someone who is in love. The mood is cheerful. I usually play this song and singing along when I'm in the kitchen as my mood booster to cook.
Blinking Game has a jazz touch. If someone ask me which song from this album that I least liked, I probably said this song. It's not because I hate this song, it's just because the other songs already fill the rankings above this song. I can imagine listening this song while dancing with my husband and accompanied by candles. It gives that feeling. And I know that will only be in my imagination because I know my husband will never say okay to do that.
Next is my ultimate favorite song from Jjong, Elevator. I always describe this song as a beautifully haunting song. It doesn't make me sad. But, there's something with the melody and how Jjong sings that gives a mysterious vibe. Just like End of The Day, I think this song is very suitable to be heard when coming back home after working or having a rough, long and tired day. However, End of The Day gives a comfortable feeling, thinking someone saying good job for you, while Elevator really just as a reminder that at that time we really tired of the work we do all day. Because I love this song very much, I listening this song all the time, in any kind of situation. When I cook, when I write, when I take a rest in office, anytime.
After that heart breaking song, Jjong pumps up our energy with Let Me Out. Well, it's not really an upbeat song, it's more like a frustration song from someone that still can't move on from his past girlfriend and just screaming his feeling out. Fireplace is come after Let Me Out. For me Fireplace is a sexy song that gives me a very intimate feeling (although from the lyrics, I think that it's not that kind of song). It gives the same vibe as Moon for me.
Our Season is another ballad from Jjong. The feeling that I got from this song is same with Lonely. Smooth and soft song. Lonely is a perfect song when you feel that there's no one in this world is beside you. Our Season is a song to listen while looking at someone beside you and thinking how grateful you are because he/she willing to accompany you in this cruel world. For me, it's the feeling when I woke up in the morning and looking at my husband's face. This song really fits for that moment ^^ (my husband definitely will look at me with his weird gaze if he read this paragraph)
Overall, I just love this album. Since it's released, I've been playing it all the time to the extent my husband recalls the melody of Lonely (and recognize Jjong's voice). I'm quite happy with that. Haha!
Beside downloading from Itunes, I also bought the physical album. When I know one of my friend was in Seoul around the time this album is released, I just immediately and impulsively asking her to bought me a copy. And yesterday the album was arrived!
By the way I choose the photo version, though I actually don't know the exact difference between photo and essay version. But, from the name itself, I just assume that photo version is filled with a photo that Jjong take or Jjong is in it. And essay version is filled with a poem/writing from him. Actually, if what I assume is right, I really really want to buy the essay version. I just want to read Jjong's writing. But since I know I can't read hangul and although there will be translation of his writing, I know the feeling will not be same if I read it in the original language, So yeah, I give up the essay version and order the photo version.
The album design is simple and dominated with white color. Here is the appearance of the album cover.
Inside the cover box there are 2 items. One is the photo & lyrics book, and the other is the CD. The one with the sea picture is the CD place.
And here are some content of the photo & lyrics book.
Ah, there's one song which is only available in physical album. Where Are You. It's another song with guitar acoustic as the main music. This song has different vibe with 1000. It really really gives an indie song feeling. And I just love it. The vibe of this song is very different from the other songs of this album. I'm really happy that I decide to bought the album.
With what Jjong gives in this album, I just can not wait to hear his next album (and Shinee of course). And I hope, his career in Korea will be long, so I have a chance to see his solo concert someday (or maybe please have Asian tour ^^).
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