AL1 review
AL1 (2017)
The sixth part of my SVT discography review! This track-by-track review was written in the spring of 2023, but my opinions haven't changed much.
Ranking system:
🍇 - 10.0 BNM one of their most iconic slays
🍉 - fantastic song that made me feel something
🍓 - eating, a few flaws that are either easy to overlook or a bit charming
🍊 - good background music but i wouldn't seek it out
🍌 - it does nothing for me but isn't outright offensive
🍐 - does nothing for me and is offensive
🍈 - so bad that it almost wraps back around to good just bc i was laffing so much
(note: tracklists are not in album order. they are very loosely ranked)
🍊 SWIMMING FOOL
Okay, I guess this isn't 100% a breakup album because perfu are here to have some FUN! Hoshi getting a chorus about asphyxiation all to himself I just know he was happy. I miss this sorta production a bit, can you believe I'm NOSTALGIC FOR 2017??? That's where we're at in a post-covid world. This isn't much of a…how to say…it's nice but it's kinda giving me H&M? Like I could pick out a really neat shirt while this was playing. But like good for them, we needed a little reprieve after 3 bitter breakup anthems in a row.
🍓 CRAZY IN LOVE
Speaking of svtcore…here's this…they're really CRAZY in love aren't they. All I can think of when I hear this song is Jeonghan wiggling his little ass on stage like rent was due. But yeah this is funky /kpop and fresh…Vernon asking what I'm gonna do about his excitement…probably nothing, king…soz…also Dino is eating that little bit in the prechorus. Mingyu's part in the bridge is kinda hilarious to me lol. This song is what getting a boner feels like in audio form. CRAZY LOVE CRAZY LOVE CRAZY LOVE!
🍓 MY I
Jun sounds good on that prechorus. Also why is this song so romantic is that just me? The lyrics are so…like…passionate lol. Junhao wrote them w the producer w/o woozi being involved so I'm assuming that has something to do with the whole fate/destiny life or death aspect of it lol. It's very spiritual lol and good for them getting a cute lil solo after barely getting lines on the albums so far. I rly like the choreo for this song btw. It's a nice breather from all the svtcore stuff on this albi it's very different and I appreciate it for that.
🍓 IF I
The instrumental is eating. I guess that's a good thing because there are instrumental sections so you can contemplate how devastated HHU are that you broke up with them. Love the little electric guitar wails. Also Wonu is kinda a slayer? I guess I didn't realize because he raps less and less as time goes on, but he should do it more often cuz he's good at it. I think the bridge is kinda cool, how the synth sings along w them, that's neat. This whole album is kinda…a breakup album…ain't it…ah, to be 20 again and experience heartbreak for the first time and be THIS offended. It's not the best song ever but I like HHU's petty, bitter side lol.
🍇 DON'T WANNA CRY
I am, for better or worse, a DWC stannie. I think this song is great and better than whatever inferior version the Chainsmokers shat out. Kudos to Woozi for improving upon their formula. Everyone sounds great here and there's some serious PASSION…like do you FEEL that emotion? Glad to have a good drop, too - a rarity in kpop, it seems…also shout-out to the Jeongcheol verse they sound great together. Josh did a good job w the falsetto this time. Booseok on those prechoruses is undefeated…the best part by far is that BRIDGE though…absolutely iconic. Wonu TORTURED CANCER. Mingyu ATE that autotune. And of course we jjfs ADORE the jeonghan climax of it all…great song it's tragic it's tortured it's beautiful it's a high point.
🍇 HABIT
One of their best songs, imo…if she weren't here, DWC would be this album's crown jewel, but…habit is just so BROKEN. Jeonghan's prechorus is magical and probably one of my fav vocal moments of his…the way it's all petty and bitter and dreamy and explodes in an emotional booseok bomb of pain…are there other kpop songs that sound like this? I genuinely can't think of anything. I also like how josh is utilized on this track, he sounds very resigned and it suits him. Woozi, on the other hand…do you HEAR him on that bridge? Whoever inspired this song has some questions to answer because holy shit that is genuine pain of the soul…you RUINED HIS LIFE…he can't forget and it's slowly eating him alive…kinda song of the life…