OUTGROW
Artist: BoA
Album: OUTGROW
Musicians: BoA (vocals)
Composer/Lyricist:
Release Date: 15 Feb 2006
| BoA – OUTGROW Tracklisting: 01. Silent Screamerz *Bold titles – recommended listening |
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OVERVIEW
OUTGROW is the fifth Japanese studio album from the cross-cultural pop superstar BoA. After the success of her previous four albums, she continues to deliver with this album. Debuting at #1 on the Oricon charts for the fifth time in a row, the Korean-born singer has set a new record for foreigners in the Japanese market, making her an equal of the big names in J-pop, including Utada Hikaru, Amuro Namie and Ayumi Hamasaki. In this album, she attempts to experiment a bit, using more electronic effects and distorted vocals. Unfortunately, however, these attempts don’t work as well as they could have. Ultimately, it’s classic BoA that truly shines: powerful, sweeping ballads and upbeat pop.
THE GOOD
DO THE MOTION
This song is one of BoA’s best to date. The entire song has a Latin/swing feel, and the dance beat of this song is almost contagious; simply listening to it makes you want to get up and “do the motion.†Her voice is perfect in this song, and it really compliments the up-beat tempo and feel of this piece. The intro is extremely catchy; it serves as an excellent beginning to the piece. The chorus is instantly memorable; listeners will be humming along and tapping their feet to this song by the second chorus. The feel of this song is perfect; the vocals are just where they need to be: not flat, not sharp. BoA delivers a contagious, catchy and easy-to-remember instant pop hit with this song. “DO THE MOTION†is definitely the most memorable song on OUTGROW, and one of the best.
Everlasting
“DO THE MOTION†showcased BoA’s best as a pop singer; “Everlasting†demonstrates her ability to deliver strong, moving ballads. The song starts out soft, with her almost whispering. After the first verse, the song slowly builds louder and louder, and the chorus just overflows with power. This song is typical BoA; beautiful vocals, complemented by a simple melody and basic instrumentation. The softness of the verses contrasts the power of the chorus; truly, it makes you feel as if she’s singing of love everlasting. The vocals sound as if they’re etched in stone; incorruptible, clear and powerful. A sweeping, beautiful ballad, “Everlasting†shows her at her best as a singer.
LONG TIME NO SEE
This song is a fusion of types. On one hand, the verses are soft, akin to those of “Everlasting,†while the chorus is up-beat and more “pop-yâ€, such as those found in “DO THE MOTIONâ€. She does a very nice job contrasting the two styles, using soft, almost loving vocals in the verses. During the chorus, the beat becomes stronger, her voice becomes louder, and the feel of the song changes. The song itself, as suggested by the title, is a tale of sadness and hope. While the verses express her regret and longing, the chorus shows her hope for the future. Through this song, she really conveys a feeling of longing with a tinge of sadness. A nice fusion of both sides of BoA, “LONG TIME NO SEE†is also one of the best songs on the album.
THE BAD
OUTGROW ~ready butterfly~
It is truly unfortunate that this song was the title track of this album. One of the most overrated tracks in the entire album, this song displays everything BoA should never be: experimental, jarring, and “on the edgeâ€. The song starts out noticeably different from all of her other works: sharp, atonal, modulating. The melody of this song is overly complex, with far too many electronic effects. Her voice is scratchy, hoarse, and also heavily altered by electronics. During the entire song, she sounds slightly off key. The instrumentals are all over the place; they sound chaotic, unorganized and unpleasant. Her voice is akin to the sound of nails scratching on a chalkboard. This song is memorable: it’s her worst work to date. The only redeeming quality is this song is that it’s the shortest track on the album.
The Rating: 8
Reviewed by: Akira
