Music / Idols

The MBLAQ Comeback: 100% Ver. Album Review

Written by Nabeela On January 13, 2012

We here at Seoulbeats have been buzzing a lot about MBLAQ lately – and why wouldn’t we be? The comeback photo for their mini-album 100% Ver. had Gil saying WTF, and the It’s War MV gave Patricia plenty of opinions. MBLAQ’s comeback is the first big name comeback for the new year, and all of us, quite frankly, didn’t know what to expect.

1. Run

“Run” is a very interesting song. The first couple seconds of theatric sound affects do well to introduce the dark theme of the song and to jump start the album. The ringing chorus is both interesting and catchy, and I always appreciate hearing a little more G.O. and Seungho. The use of synthesizers as well as the sound effects blended together surprisingly well with the melody of the song, which is noteworthy considering the wealth of variety in the musical components, as well as the song’s potential to be complete disaster.

2. It’s War

What I absolutely love about “It’s War” is the use of the harsh, cutting lyrics set to orchestrated and instrumental music (versus synthetic beats). The music functions well to illuminate the agression in the lyrics, and the lyrics do a good job in conveying the emotion of the music. I really don’t care much for the music video — it doesn’t do the song any justice because the music video was just too cliche for me. Since Patricia already gave her two cents of the song, I’ll leave this one short.

3. Scribble

A lot of people sometimes ask why it is as that MBLAQ isn’t as popular as other groups who debuted around the same time they did or even later. I think of the reasons that may be is because MBLAQ’s music is not predictable pop. While it still is very much pop, a lot of their music also has European influences and instruments that makes the melodies sound very unique. I happen to love the European influences in MBLAQ’s music, while others — especially fans who are used to mainstream pop and know exactly what it sounds like –may not care for the unique details of MBLAQ’s songs. But in reality, these unique details are what make MBLAQ’s material.

“Scribble” opens with the harmonies of the French accordion, and then continues on with wonderful composition of acoustics. I love the chorus of this song especially because the rhythm is slow and simple and catchy. I also love that this song features a lot of Mir rapping in all the right places and G.O. keeping the vocals to a higher pitch. If you are going to listen to anything off this album, listen to “Scribble.”

4. Giddy Girl

This song is okay. Mir’s talking bits throughout the song are unnecessary, but I like the chorus and the happy feeling this song has, relative to the other tracks on this album. But still, this song is nothing too special.

5. Hello My Ex

This song may seem a bit nonsensical, but I liked it more than I thought I would. It’s very cute and the repetition in the chorus is mad catchy. Again, nothing daringly original here, but it’s a nice melody and an easy listen when you’re not in the mood for the agression of the other songs on this album. For this song, its a couple pop beats and some strings on an electric guitar, but it came together nicely.

As a package deal, 100% Ver. is a nice mini-album for MBLAQ to come back to the mainstream scene with. Given the current state of the scene, MBLAQ even looks like they’ve got a solid chance of pulling through at the top of the charts as major competitors seem to be elsewhere. I really love these boys, and it would be nice to see this comeback be one that boosts their popularity. We’ll just have to see if their stage performances this week of It’s War can shore up in to the song’s intensity and popularity. If all goes well, we may find ourselves asking: Could this be the year MBLAQ steals the mainstream love and limelight?

TAGS: MBlaq

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1415567288 Fernanda McCain

I really hope they win every award, they deserve it so much
Allltinhh

ha, sb is trying to suck up to the A+s now that they’re losing traffic.

Keep trying.

http://colourmesplendid.wordpress.com Ree

…or maybe Nabeela genuinely likes the album’s music? Not one of us ever dissed the actual music MBLAQ released.
Anonymous

You do realize each of the authors has their own opinion, right? Also, this is what Patricia wrote at the end of her article (which was solely focused on critiquing the MV and not the music):

“And for all my distaste for the video, I really enjoy “It’s War” as a song and it’ll probably make for some great live performances. I haven’t listened to MBLAQ’s new mini-album yet (it’s only been a few hours since it dropped; cut me some slack!), but I expect good things.”

I see no contradiction nor backpedaling here. People just tend to filter out what they process when they read through an extremely emotional lens.

http://twitter.com/MiszJajarose rossaGO

MY OPINION… THIS IS THE STRONG COMEBACK FROM MBLAQ AFTER BLAQ STYLE & MONALISA.. YOU CAN SEE MORE MBLAQ THIS YEAR…HELLO BABY :)
ME

For once, I strongly disagree with SB.
You have wrote length and far, more than one articles to express how much you disappointed over several MVs those made in the boxes or very different from the teasers or cheap budgets.
Also, express your wish to have more diversities in Kpop other than regular shuffle, auto-une, dubstep, etc…

I think MBLAQ ’100% Ver’ deserve a better and fairer review.

But, everyone for their own opinion, I respect just about that.

So, for my personal taste, ’100% Ver’ is a more than average good.
The MV already caught my attention. Not only they did that in details, have good angle, good story line, DRAMATIC (yes, it should served the purposed of catching their existing fan-based AND new fan, even for those who never knew this group), the good editing and flow between the drama and the dance, the outfit. As for the casts, they are no actors but they fit the purpose of the promotional music-video.

The comeback, I saw one in KBS Music Bank midnight (in my country).
They opened it with Scribble and continued with It’s War. Did they perform it good?
Definitely yes. They sang right notes (related to pitch or miss the beat), the dance is accordingly to its concept (several moves reminded me of ‘Cry’ choreography), the outfit and make up also had my approval (not fish net, frilly feather (not recommended for ‘war’ song), or over the top eye shadows). The rhythm and the move matched, not overdoing it (related to dance choreography overshadowed the song, which in some cases you love to see the performance but have to mute the music/song).

The songs in the mini?
Oh, how glad I am that MBLAQ and its agency decided NOT to follow the over-saturated auto-tone and whatever there are going on in Kpop right now. More glad that they don’t continue with ‘Monalisa’ or ‘Cry’ or ‘Y’ or other previous concept but comeback with a different one.
Which is I really expect from top-list idols – such with the comebacks of WG, IU,

They made effort with doing It’s War with orchestra, and not just kind of copy paste the song to fit to the orchestra. Hello My Ex is more simple and easy listening (but again no auto-tune), the rap is part of the song, not just a simple filler or insertion. Scribble is a nice pairing to It’s War, kind of Fact to Fiction. Giddy Girl, just simply not my kind of song. 4 good songs out of 5? It’s a 4.5/5 stars for me.

Again, this is my PERSONAL view.

With this progress and if MBLAQ stays true to their music, I really wish they stay in the top position for long time to come. Hopefully, album/song selling in itunes or other digital stores for their abroad fans show how much we love this kind of album & artist/KGrouo. I can’t say the same for Korea, especially in terms of winning awards. Winning awards in KPop industry does not always relate to quality, mostly based on quantity.

If this is what to expect in 2012′s comeback, I embrace it.
Thank you MBLAQ for fulfill my expectation.

Yours sincerely,
ME
PS: Not a die-hard fan of MBLAQ, but a die-hard for fairness and good appreciation.
Anonymous

Yeah I agree,
MBLAQ isn’t as popular as other groups in Korea because they don’t just release crappy catchy songs that are similar to many other pop songs, MBLAQ actually release absolute quality music~ Hope MBLAQ get the recognition they deserve soon!! <3
Renie

I like this album, it’s really good compared to most idol groups. I still think BLAQ Style is better though. I hope they make another comeback later this year, but this is a great start for the year!
melody

this album is very good, but i personally think blaqstyle and monalisa mini album is a bit better music wise. and at first i dont like run and this is war but after listening to them more theyre growing into me. and i noticed the songs i like in the album are usually different from my other A+ friends. all of them prefer run compared to giddy girl but im the other way around. i love fresh light music like this song and hello my ex. but then again, my cup of tea isnt necessarily others cup of tea :)
http://twitter.com/Laava90 Lava

This album had to grow on me a bit I’ll be honest, ‘scribble’ and ‘this is war’ I really loved straight away but the other three songs I had to listen to a few times before I really liked them and now I really like them a lot, but I do think that the Mona Lisa album was better, although I didn’t like the song Mona Lisa that much, the rest of the songs on the album are awesome. The part that made me a bit confused about the ‘this is war’ mv was the part where the lyrics are saying that the girl left and it’s literally at that part that Joon had just left, that cracked me up just a little bit lol. The album is completely their style though, I thought is was a cross between blaqstyle and mona lisa when I heard it and I’m glad they managed to stay true to their own sound even thought Chance produced the whole thing. I do think that this album is more appealing the majority of kpop fans than mona lisa though so hopefully they do well with it.

http://twitter.com/Laava90 Lava

Ok I just have to fix my comment here, I love 100% version as much as the mona lisa album now possibly even more considering I love ALL the songs on this one, and while I like Mona Lisa and it was the title track, it just wasnt as good as the other songs on the album.

Meanie

Like some other’s said Blaq Style is my favorite, Mona Lisa (single) had to grow on me, but I did like the album and I’m digging 100% ver. Run, when I first heard it I loved it because it step a little outside from what they normally do on albums. Also if they ever do a MV to Run MBLAQ would have to step out of that choreographed comfort zone and I would loved to see them pull it off.

If they could get Khasan Brailsford to to choreograph Run– http://youtu.be/Ipq3lZ7d1Mg & http://youtu.be/YrVkmLDN10E

Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan! :)

Of course I know i’m asking alot but I think that MV would be hot!

Khasan Brailsford

I would love to choreograph for them, it would be a pleasure.

Khasan
(yes this is really me http://www.facebook.com/khasanbrailsford)

alohatay

it most certainly is MBLAQ’s year!!!! i hope they finally get the attention they deserve because they have worked so hard and i love each and every one of them! MBLAQ FIGHTING!!
Anonymous

MBLAQ is the best, that’s my personal opinion..
They are not idols who sells music.. But they are artists that creates and give justice to music!
I don’t like kpop before, but when i met MBLAQ i totally love them.. Why? They have extraordinary talents that i don’t see on others.. And what makes me love them the most is that they don’t need to change their music style to the common idol type songs just to get famous.. I don’t want MBLAQ to win because of just mass popularity votes on music shows.. I want them to win by their talents as an artist and charisma.. So their recent comeback will surely make them win! Let’s fight A+ they really deserve this.. :)
#MUSICADDICT

From a new fan of the group due to these 2 songs namely It’s war that made me wanna dance along with them especially on the chorus part…. and of course the song scribble… i say omg!!! they must have an award for this… that’s is what im hoping for u-kiss too… these groups are good and must be recognized a lot more than some idol groups out there… i think u-kiss and mblaq are friends. im not really sure about it… coz im a fan of u-kiss way back 2009 when i heard u-kiss and the other group which i remember was mblaq were friends i ignore mblaq coz i said that that time that i am a loyal u-kiss fan and no one to listen and like but only u-kiss… but it came to a time when u-kiss has no other new song, i tend to listen to other groups and i began to like few other groups like bigbang, beast, F.T. Island and last were 2pm. they are the only groups i think has real talent in them. then i learn to love girl groups too like 2ne1, Miss A, Sistar, Brown Eyed Girls and 4minute. they are the only few groups which i think has talent and real entertainment.

and just now when i heard these two songs…. i finally add up another 1 boy group on the list and that was MBLAQ.

I’d Say REal music comes along with these artist on limelight.
-U-kiss
-Bigbang
-Beast
-F.T. Island
-2pm
-Mblaq
-2ne1
-Miss A
-Sistar
-4minute

i also want to commend those solo artists that are also talented in my eyes were
- Seo In Guk
-Gummy
-Baek Ji Young
-Tablo(The Epik Tablo) i really like Dear TV song of his.
-last was Fat Cat

with these artist in kpop and even in world music… i can never tell to myself that music is never been boring…

#MUSICADDICT

#MUSICaddict

SORRY FOR ADDING UP SOME GOOD ACTS HERE… I JUST CAN’T HELP MENTIONING THE ARTISTS THAT I THINK IS VALUABLE IN KPOP INDUSTRY… YOU CAN FORGET OTHER ARTIST NOT MENTIONED :)
#MUSICaddIct

I MUST ALSO SAY THAT “SCRIBBLE AND “ITS WAR” ARE THE RARE SONGS I TEND TO LIKE WHEN I FIRST LISTEN IN TO IT… SOME NEEDS TO BE LISTENED TWICE OR THRICE WHILE SOME EVEN 3 TIMES ITS SOUND REALLY SUCK!

whatthefrell

“A lot of people sometimes ask why it is as that MBLAQ isn’t as popular
as other groups who debuted around the same time they did or even later.
I think of the reasons that may be is because MBLAQ’s music is not
predictable pop. While it still is very much pop, a lot of their music
also has European influences and instruments that makes the melodies
sound very unique. I happen to love the European influences in MBLAQ’s
music, while others — especially fans who are used to mainstream pop and
know exactly what it sounds like –may not care for the unique details
of MBLAQ’s songs. But in reality, these unique details are what make
MBLAQ’s material.”

There music also seems to have a lot more soul, less affected soul, as proven in BlaqStyle.

… and like GenesisA said earlier… “MBLAQ isn’t as popular as other groups in Korea because they don’t just
release crappy catchy songs that are similar to many other pop songs”

There songs are a lot less predictable than your typical K-pop tune, and I am relieved that
they managed to keep along the same vein this time around. There have been a few exceptions, which brings me to another thing about MBLAQ that I truly appreciate…
it’s something that also gets them into trouble — if they’re not feeling a song, you can so tell. You can’t pay them enough money to fake it.

It’s what I love about them, they are as real as they come, and it doesn’t always work in their favor, but hey, that’s why we love them so much.

http://twitter.com/Laava90 Lava

Oh I just came across your comment here aswell, and I was just wondering which songs you didn’t think they liked that much themselves also?
Obv after that interview its clear they weren’t too happy about g.o.o.d luv but other than that lol

Jinah Heo

gaaaah I love~~~~ MBLAQ!

I really hope that they keep their really unique style and superb music influences and not succumb to the predictable trash pop..

MBLAQ 화이팅~~!