GOT7 are a rookie group under one of the biggest record labels in South Korea. While I peronsally really enjoy their music, they're constantly under a bit of scrutiny for not being very successful and their music is pretty much like marmite - you really like it, or you don't. I clearly enjoy their music for this to land in at #10 on my EP list.
1. Hello - 7/10 Hello is the album opener, and if I'm being totally honest, it's not much of an album opener. The verses have a great hip-hop like production and it leads to a pretty smooth pre-chorus and by the end of the song I end up bopping and getting my life. So while it's not my favourite, I still like it enough to not skip it.
2. Girls Girls Girls - 7/10
This was the single from the EP, and again it's not their greatest. I initially wasn't a fan of this when it was first released, and even though I do enjoy it now, it's definitely not their best and typically only listen to this when I'm listening to the album as a whole, I wouldn't generally listen to this track by choice.
3. I Like You - 6/10
This is my least favourite from the EP. It's not bad, but it's definitely not a stand-out. Luckily it has a cute chorus which almost redeems it, but in general the whole song doesn't do much for me and the EP could do without it.
4. Follow Me - 10/10
This is the turning point for this album. I can't emphasise how fun this song is. The chorus has a childish feel to it, but that's what gives it it's charm, even though it's in a different language, it's almost an instant sing-along when you hear it, it's so catchy. The fun production carries through the whole song and really makes this song stand out from the rest.
5. Like Oh - 10/10
This song is a lot less "fun" but equally as good as the previous in a different way. The verses are fairly chill, they're catchy and they lead into one of the best choruses GOT7 have done. Definitely one of, if not the best song on this album. Amazing song, really a turning point in their career.
6. Playground - 6/10
This is a cute song, but I think the EP could have finished in a much more climatic way, but this is a really cute midtempo guitar-ish ballad. The chorus isn't too special, but a nice way to round up the album.
46/60 - 76.7%
This album is great, while it starts off rough, it has really good moments in the middle, and over time the whole thing eventually becomes great, definitely a grower.
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Album #10:
Release Date:22/08/2014
Ariana really slayed me with her first release, Yours Truly, but I'll be totally honest, with Problem not being an instant click with me (love it now) and getting into other artist this year, I kind of brushed her album to the side initially. However I gave it a listen and enjoyed it enough for it to land at #10 on my album charts.
(I haven't heard the deluxe tracks - so only the standard edition.)
1. Intro / Problem - 10/10
I just threw these two together since I wasn't going to rate the intro as a sole track. Problem initially did nothing for me. The build-up felt so uneventful and her shrieks vocals were really off-putting for me. After a while and a couple of revisits I realised how good it is. The production is trendy and fun, I can't help but dance and bop along to this when I hear it. It's so good. Well done Ariana and Iggy!
2. One Last TIme - 8/10
One Last Time is great, definitely a future single option for Ariana, one of my favourite tracks from her, she really brought it with this one.
3. Why Try - 8/10
This is great too, although I do think that after two great song, it lacks a little bit of impact, but the chorus is so sweet to listen and the production in this is super great, so good done.
4. Break Free - 9/10
Break Free is one of my favourites from this record. I initially wasn't here for her doing dance music with Zedd, but upon hearing it, she killed the track and it is really fun, so I'm glad she ending up recording and releasing this, and hopefully she'll do more dance stuff in the future.
5. Best Mistake - 6/10
This is where this album sort of slips for me. The verses in this track are really great but the chorus is just a total drag for me and Sean's parts are really off-putting, I wish she'd got a better collaborator or just done this track herself. Oh well.
6. Be My Baby - 6/10
This is similar to Best Mistake for me - I just don't think it's a good song. It's lacking so much compared to the first four tracks, there's just aspects that are missing from these tracks compared to others and it just makes these a lot less enjoyable.
7. Break Your Heart Right Back - 7/10
It's at this point the album gets back on track. The verses are fun, the simplistic production definitely makes you bop and the meaning of the song is pretty fun. The chorus production annoys me since I feel like there should be a bigger build up and it should go somewhere else, but it's still fun and I end up bopping when I hear it.
8. Love Me Harder - 10/10
I'm gonna go ahead and say this is the magnum opus of her career. This is her best song, hands down. The verses are a constant build up and the chorus has so much impact it's just incredible. I want this song to be a massive success, it deserves to be. Both of their vocals shine on this song and overall just an incredible track.
9. Just a Little Bit of Your Heart - 8/10
Not much to say about this, other than it's really a beautiful track. Ariana can bring it with her ballads, since vocally she's so brilliant. And this song is one of her best ballads, it's so easy to listen to and written so beautifully.
10. Hands on Me - 7/10
This reminds me a really tacky pop song from the 90's or early naughties, and it's just so fun. Not the best on the album, but I'm definitely getting down when I hear it. The synths in the chorus just set me off. Such a fun track.
11. My Everything - 7/10
As a closer, it's a really great ballad. The chord changes give off a massive amount of impact while it's still so simple at the same time. Whoever wrote this should get a medal for that. However, compared to other tracks, especially Just a Little Bit of Your Heart, it definitely pales in comparison.
86/110 - 78.2%
I don't think this is as strong as her first effort, but still a great pop album and she's definitely keeping me interested in what she'll do in the future, hopefully it's just as good!