Album Review: 이효리 - It’s Hyorish / Hyori Lee - It’s Hyorish

sky | August 17, 2008

Info

Album: It’s Hyorish (Buy Album)

Artist: 이효리 / Hyori Lee

Release Date: June 24, 2008

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Tracklisting:

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(Thanks Vince Jeong for the translation)

Review By: sky

Review

Following the controversy over her last album, “Dark Angel“, which was released in February 2006, Hyori Lee has been pretty quiet in the Korean music scene. She released a few singles here and there in the year 2007, namely Anycall and Toc Toc Toc, but fans were unsure about what would happen to their favorite sexy Korean idol. In May 2008, Hyori Lee broke the silence by collaborating with Jung JaeJyung in singing A Cat on the Roof. This digital single strayed from Hyori Lee’s image from previous albums, and allowed fans to see a dramatic change in her. The question on everyone’s mind was, did she change for the better? That question was answered with the release of her third and latest album, It’s Hyorish in July 2008. The album was met with mixed reactions, and it’s really up to the listener to decide if they like it or not.

The first track, 천하무적 이효리 (Unrivaled), comes across as a sophisticated track. The second track, Lesson, is more upbeat, and more poppish. Both these tracks show the listener that Hyori Lee has become more diverse in her singing since her last album, and make the listener wonder what surprises lay in store ahead. U-Go-Girl, the third track, is more hip hop-ish with slower beats, and shows that Hyori has not neglected the hip hop aspect of her fan base. Ensuing is 사진첩 (Photo Album), and is a slow track that leans towards the jazz. She even does scanting at the end of the song ( in some broken English) and if one listens closely enough, you can hear beatboxing too. This reviewer takes it as a sign that Hyori is trying to fuse hip hop and jazz, which to me is a pretty wicked fusion. 이발소 집 딸 (A Barbershop’s Daughter), is a more cheerful song, with the voices of children in the beginning. They have brief chatter before the actual song, and also join in during the chorus. I think this song is a piece of work, because I’m a sucker for choruses, and the voices of the children blend quite well with Hyori’s voice. Don’t Cry returns to the sophisticated beat of 천하무적 이효리 (Unrivaled). 괜찮아질까요? (Do You Think It’ll Be Ok?) is a slow jam featuring well known hip hop artist Wheesung, and is quite easy listening.

In the ensuing tracks, SexyBoy and 빨간자동차 (Red car), Hyori returns to an upbeat tempo, and even tries her hand at reggae in 빨간자동차 (Red car), which is quite an interesting genre to hear her sing. Hey Mr. Big is a techno-ish track that can get stuck in one’s head. P.P.P (Punky Punky Party) is my vote for the most annoying song of the album, but somehow balances out the album that one has heard thus far. My Life is an interesting track that seems to be Hyori’s autobiography in the album, and is quite catchy. Lastly, to conclude the album, she returns to her hip hop roots with Unusual. Perhaps it’s a statement to tell all her fans that no matter how many changes have occurred, she’s still Hyori Lee.

I for one found this album a really good buy. At first I thought my favorite Korean artiste had gone mainstream like most other good singers that I had liked previously, but after listening to it more and more, I feel that this album has just added another list of genres that could be defined as the Hyori Lee sound. Don’t just take my word for it, buy the album and decide for yourself!