(ALBUM REVIEW) 2PM - NO.5

우리집 [TITLE]: It's been a while since 2PM had a single I really liked. How long has it been? Well, let's just say the sound of a heartbeat is a pretty good indication. It isn't that 2PM hasn't been releasing good songs, I just haven't really loved them. This song however, may finally break that streak. The song is really catchy, and I like more than the hook. What I don't like is some of the lyrics. Call me sensitive, but I really don't like the idea of anyone ever saying "I know you want it," unless it has been expressed by the other party directly. I get that "Blurred Lines" has made that line more than okay right now in people's thoughts, as wrong as it is, but I certainly don't want to hear it. If I listen to the song without thinking about the lyrics or if I imagine they got permission from the person they want to take home, I'm head over heels for this song. The music video certainly doesn't help. But overall, I'm betting this song will do well. And I'll probably end up with it on my phone, but every once in a while I'll remember what the lyrics say and be thoroughly creeped out. 

Nobody Else: If you've read any of my previous reviews, you'll know I'm not a huge fan of rap, but strangely, I really like it in this song. Not as much as I like the chorus, but considering when the rap portions usually come up in a group song I find myself groaning, the rap is really nice. The rest of the song is really, really repetitive though. And by really "repetitive," I mean "I'm beginning to think these guys can't say anything else." Those parts are good, sure, and I can imagine them shaking their hips to it, but they'll probably need pelvic x-rays after performing this song, they'll be shaking them so much. Not that I would mind watching it though.

환각: I'm not entirely sure what to make of this song. On one hand, it sounds like a really good 2PM song, on another, it sounds like a song I'd expect to be given to a girl group. And on an even weirder, third hand, there are elements of funky Christmas music I am hearing. I don't know what's happening, but I kind of didn't want it to stop, and I particularly didn't want it to end in narration. I hope there's a dance or music video in the future to explain what in the world this song is and why I like it. No seriously, take it away from me. Or give me presents to open.

너만의 남자:  Is it just me or beginning a song with narration seem very 90s? And why am I reminded of NSYNC in yet another review? The beginning just feels like an NSYNC song. I should probably mention at this point that NSYNC was my favorite boy group in my early musical years if I'm going to keep mentioning them. Eventually, the song does start to feel a little more like 2PM, but I just can't shake that 90s feel. And I just can't bring myself to listen to it again. I'm afraid I may end up getting distracted by "Space Cowboy." Oops, I did.



여름보다 뜨거운 너: More narration, dang it. It's like JYP said "If I can't have my whisper, someone's going to be saying something cheesy at the beginning of the song!" The song would be fine without it. In fact, it would be better. Almost any song would be better without narration. But to each their own, I suppose. For me, what makes this song is the chorus. I'm a sucker for harmonization. Also, this takes me back to the 2PM I liked, but with a new spin. I only have one problem with this song and it's the line "She's hotter than July." One, because there are places where July is quite cold, and two, calling someone hotter than a month is such a weird mixed metaphor I can't help but giggle. I'm probably going to think about that line occasionally for the rest of the day and laugh a little.

미칠 것 같아: Holy synthesizers. Batman! There is so much noise in this song! I'm sure there will be many people who like this song, and it would probably sound great in a loud club, but as for me, I am more than grateful this song is relatively short. There are so many effects and random sounds, I can't handle it. Is that the point? Am I supposed to go crazy too? I didn't want to.All the animals within a mile of me certainly did.

RED: Oh 2PM, you are so suited to this sound. You've been rocking the R&B/dance thing since you debuted in a way no one else has. The harmonization is exactly what it should be, and I can feel the impressive dance moves already. I just have one thing to ask: why did you ruin a good thing with such a strange rap in such a strange place? Take that bit out and you would have me hook, line, and sinker for all eternity, and I'd be happy. So, since you asked me "why" the whole song, I'm going to turn it on you: "Why is there such a weird rap?"

Wanna Love You Again: I hope and pray they perform this song live at least once. And that someone records it and puts it on the internet. Any outlet would be fine, as long as I get to hear them sing like this live. Seriously, this is the song that makes people that love well-composed music fans of you. The musicality is just impressive. And even the rap break suits the song. I was wondering how long it would take for me to find a song where I absolutely loved the rap break, and 2PM has done it. Congratulations! I have a question for fans, near the end, who was the one vocalizing/ad libbing? That guy has some great lungs. My heart is racing.



Know Your Mind: There was a split second at the very beginning of this song that I thought "Oh no, the disc is skipping!" (Yes, I'm that old; I remember CDs skipping). But by the second time that sound happened, I was prepared. Besides that initial panic that forced me to listen, the rest of the song is fine. If it had been placed before "Wanna Love You Again," I probably would have liked it better, since that is quite a song to follow. "Know Your Mind" is a good filler song for the album though. Plus, the worried feeling of a guy telling me they "know my mind/know what I want" has returned, which is a great harken back to the beginning of the album, even if I don't like it. I never will like those lines, honestly, sorry, songwriters.

Magic: Another sudden start, and this time it woke my dog up. There really isn't much to this song besides that, though I would like to mention that whether it's the way it's said or how the rest of the song sounds, it actually reminds me of Secret's "Magic" a little. Otherwise, it's just another filler song. If this becomes a title song later, I'll be a little disappointed.

Jump: Did anyone else kind of hope for a remake of Van Halen's "Jump" or was that just me? Did everyone else pretty much expect a club song? You probably did. I've got to say, I really don't think the club song sound suits 2PM. They do them well, but it seems like such a waste of talent. This song has its merits: if you're looking for a pick me up song or a pump up song, this will do it, but this is the 2PM sound that I'm not really a fan of. But this song will probably end up on everyone's work out mix, let's be honest.

Good Man: Interesting way to end this album. If it had been me, I probably would have put this song just before "Wanna Love You Again," since it has a similar feel, but still isn't as good, and ended the album with "Jump." Having a slow song at the end of an album seems a little dated to me (the "rise, fall, rise" tracklist being the more popular way right now, and the fade out ending makes it seem even older. By itself, this song is good, but unforgettable, in my opinion. I enjoyed the saxophone more than anything else.

Overall: A good album. There are some songs that are much better than others, but 2PM sounded good in all of them. The producing was more off than anything. There were some really awesome songs and some not so good ones, but I feel like everyone will have a different opinion on which is which, and honestly, that's pretty cool. It's a little boring when everyone loves and hates the same songs. Which were your favorites? Your least favorites?