[Review] M.I.B - “ILLUSION” 3rd release

I was so happy to hear that the M.I.B boys are back!!! Personally I find them to be a perfect escape from the typical “k-pop sound” that we’re bombarded with. Yes I love k-pop but MOST “k-pop fans” are simply that: K-POP fans… not Korean Music fans. And even then, most only listen to SM, YG & JYP (with Cube, Pledis, FNC & DSP as secondaries). *I just sigh* M.I.B are from Jungle ent. A company with more TRUE hip-hop and RnB than most idol stars would dream of. I’ve been an M.I.B fan since the beginning and only now have I just realised…

M.I.B filled the gap that 1TYM left.

YG ent used to be more than just autotune, designer clothes and famous names.

There was REAL hip-hop and RnB back then, back when 1TYM were active, back when Se7en used to sing ballads, back when GDYB featured everywhere in the company, even as recent as Big Bang’s older songs. I know as time moves on, music changes… but do you really want to have no choice but to sit listening to people’s voices that sound more fake and robotic than VOCALOIDS? Cuz things are going in that direction! Music is like life, sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad but you need variety to REALLY experience it.

And now back to the Illusion album review~ ^^
I’ll start with the songs previously released
on the “Celebrate” single (which I LOVED btw!!!)

[Celebrate (feat. Yoon MiRae)]

This song has been stuck in my mind since it’s release! Once summer started for me… you couldn’t stop me from playing it while singing and dancing. It’s a great song! It’s catchy, the content is good (seriously check out the [lyrics]), the way it’s been put together it has a really party feel!!! And of course the Legendary Yoon MiRae lends her vocals making the song even more interesting.

Now for the MV! I liked their casual clothes more than the stylish jackets and stuff… and I actually liked the gas masks! *they remind me of Psycho Mantis from MGS* XDDD But anyway~ everything was pretty low key! Plain setting mostly… the moving pattern backgrounds kinda mimiced the beat of the music!!! THAT was a genius move! I dunno why they kept throwing glitter and stuff at the woman though! XDDD (At one point I was wondering if that was YMR o.o) When they’re throwing the colour powder (paint powder? O.o) and glow in the dark paint at each other it really looks like they’re having a lot of fun, making the song even more fun!!! And of course… who can celebrate without champagne and party poppers? XD Love it!

My score: 100% enjoyable

[Celebrate (feat. Yoon MiRae & Bizzy - Konrad OldMoney Remix)]

I seriously LOVE this version too! It’s like a “more intense version” pretty much because of the “let’s get drunk tonight, we’re gonna party all night” part. X] But seriously it’s like a super dance mix version! I feel like the original is like for TV, celebrating at home… but the remix is like for clubs ne? Partying time!!! XDDD I really like the way it slowed down for the “everybody come and celebrate” part! Very nice interlude there!!!

My score: 100% enjoyable

[G.D.M (Feat. Tiger JK, Bizzy - Konrad OldMoney Remix)]

I’ve been more into the dance type songs these days… and I’m liking this remix more than the original. Sure GDM was catchy, but it had no real impact sadly. I’m loving the new raps in this!!! I love the “oh oh-oh~” adlibs in the background! The song keeps a strong amount of the original song but alters the flow and lyrics for a more dynamic sound!!! Seriously one of the BEST remixes of a song I’ve ever heard!

My score: 85% (out of 100%)

Now… the new songs!

[Celebrate (Feat. TEM - Dubstep Remix)] (I couldn’t find this one! TT^TT)

[더치페이 (Dutch Pay) feat. Hafsa]

One of the reasons why I like M.I.B: Kangnam’s voice. There is a quality in his voice that makes it more versatile… a slight Japanese style edge; not too strong, just enough to make his vocal style unique! Three more reasons why I listen to M.I.B: 5zic, Cream & SIMS. From the start their raps have been easily distinguishable yet not confined to one static style! ♥

I can’t comment too much on the lyrics because I couldn’t find them (제가 다음을 서치… 하지만 난 가사가 없어요). But we all know the meaning of Dutch Pay ne? Fit that with the english intro… and it’s reminiscent of Se7en’s “Money Can’t Buy Me Love”. I can’t pick up on all of the lyrics by ear, but I think I hear: “날 반 와 너의 반, 이제는 더치페이” in the chorus. I think it means like “your half now - dutch pay” (as in the meaning of dutch pay). So I think it’s more like… putting your half into the relationship.

The music is really interesting in the intro, and I really like the vocal harmonies in the background. And the rapping is so smooth~ the 1st verse with Cream & SIMS alternating then into the catchy chorus. 5zic’s voice and rapping is really strong here! I still laugh a bit about them spelling dutch pay. (What is it with hip-hop songs and spelling? XDDD)

[낙화 (落花)] (I read that this meant “blossoms” which makes sense
from ‘花’ meaning flower but when I translated ‘낙화’ I got “peanut” O.o)

Once again… no lyrics TT^TT (왜요? I don’t know if the album been officially released yet. 8X) But yeah… ^^”

This song is so beautiful. It starts off like a ballad then the music picks up and the rap flow gets more and more intense!!! The music perfectly compliments their voices! Once again… great harmonies! People wouldn’t expect harmonies in a song with so much rap ne? But to appreciate music you need to listen to songs and REALLY hear them.

The song builds so much I was a little disappointed at the anti-climactic ending. But besides that, I really liked it.

[나만 힘들게 (Only Hard for Me)] <—- ‘Title Song’

This brought me to a new level of respect for M.I.B! This song couldn’t have been more perfect for a comeback!!! It’s catchy enough, doesn’t have too much english, they haven’t compromised at all to appease the market! It has such a classic sound, the rapping is flawless; flowing perfectly into each chorus. This in my opinion has beat SO MANY of the recent k-pop comebacks! B1A4, Block.B, B.A.P to name a few, and I’m a big fan of Block.B & B1A4!!! This song is so epic. From the piano, to the guitar, the harmonies (that they always excel at), the composition, and the way it sounds so… together! I usually dislike when groups have ONE person singing the chorus, because it often sounds disjointed and everyone sings separately rather than “in a group” to display how their voices combine. But with M.I.B, they have such a ‘together’ sound!!!

The MV surprised me. I’m SURE they’re in the USA… LA maybe? It doesn’t look like NYC O.o I dunno. (*edit* watching it a few more times I saw a bus that said UCLA behind SIMS so I WAS right!!! >D) But it seems so casual, so personal, so emotional. The shots of them walking down the road (like the part with the pigeon) just reminded me of… home, of those calm relaxing days in my city! 8’]

I give this song a *special award* putting it on the list
of my ultimate favourite songs! 110% enjoyable~♥

M.I.B are VERY underrated, so check out their songs ne! ^^

★ CK :: REVIEWS .

[Review] M.I.B - “ILLUSION” 3rd release