Monday, 24 September 2012

[MISC] MAN THAT READS ARTISTS VOL.2 - INFINITE

STILL REMEMBER KOREAN MUSIC CRITICS REVIEW ABOUT INFINITIZE ALBUM?

120517 - Twitter - @nohjy (Noh Junyoung - Music critic)

인피니트의 [INFINITIZE] 는 심플함의 미학입니다. 전작들이 어깨에 힘을 주고 색깔을 만들어 내는 데 주력했다면, 이번 미니 앨범은 강렬하면서도 심플한 이중적인 매력을 드러내며 색다른 감수성을 선사하고 있습니다.

The simplicity of Infinite’s [INFINITIZE] is esthetic. It gives strength to their previous work and focuses on making their color, while being intense, this mini-album gives a simple twofold charm, it has an unique sensitivity.

제일 중요한 건 멤버들의 색깔을 만들어 내는 구성적인 면인데요, 이 부분에서 부족함이 드러나지 않아 좋은 작품이 나오지 않았나 보고 있습니다^^ 앨범에서 제일 중요한 건 전체를 아우를 수 있는 균형감입니다. INFINITIZE 는 이런면에서 뛰어납니다

The most important thing is the composition side that forms the members’ color, it didn’t lack on that side and made me think that a good work was released^^ In this album the most important thing is the balance that matches with the overall. INFINITIZE is outstanding on that side

THE SAME MUSIC CRITICS WROTE THIS ABOUT INFINITE...VOL. 1 IS ABOUT SHINEE AND VOL. 2 IS ABOUT INFINITE..THIS IS ABOUT INFINITE MUSIC REVIEW FROM DEBUT ALBUM TO RECENT ALBUM...I WOULD LIKE TO QUOTE SOME OF THIS MUSIC CRITICS WROTE ABOUT INFINITE.

"NOW I'D LIKE TO GIVE THEM THE TITLE, NOT OF IDOLS BUT OF ARTISTS. THIS WAS A STORY FOR INFINITE, THESE WARM, SIMPLE AND HONEST MEN WALKED THEIR OWN WAY AND CHOOSE COMMUNICATION OVER FANCINESS!"

Reply 1997! It’s not a pink romance in the music industry, it’s picturing the 1st generation of idols led by S.E.S and Fin.K.L, H.O.T and Sechs Kies. They’re the ones who created the current company system and fandom culture, you will even be able to see the starting point of the K-Pop storm, actually striking the whole world. After that, while keeping various nutritious elements, the K-Pop industry was constantly shaken and in the middle of the 2000’s, it fell into its second idol shock. The idol groups with a bit more evolved image, kept on pouring out and started to monopolize the music charts. Supported strongly by the young generation with better purchasing powers than previously, the 2nd generation of idols grew as the main leaders of the K-Pop trend. They’re of course receiving love from Korea, as well from all over Asia. And between these 2nd generation idols promoting, there were protagonists who flew towards the victory of this competition in good faith against them. Inspiring a fresh flow in the K-Pop industry, they’re the men who are matchless among the 3rd generation idols! It’s Infinite, armed with a different music and style!

Infinite

Noun

1. The heroes who newly defined idols’ style with splendid performances and unequaled music

2. The trend setters leading the 3rd generation idols groups’ flow

3. Recognized for their simplicity and honesty and researching their musical direction

2010 : Introduce the start of an Idol with color

First should we go back to the moment when Infinite’s history began? Infinite debuted in 2010 with album [First Invasion]. Although they were the Infinite that let their faces be known before debut with the program ‘Infinite! You are my Oppa,’ in the album they didn’t show the will to win with the concept of ‘reality type.’ Just like it said album, In other words they showed the side of them communicated with the public with a musical concept and color.

Although their title song, ‘Come Back Again,’ showed a new musical completion with the new attempt of mixing the vintage and retro style feeling guitar line with the electronic sound, the members powerful vocals that could catch this song’s keys had no lacking to catch the many of the public’s eye. In 2010, amidst the music world become more and more similar, the public’s option was hindering. Under the word ‘trend,’ only songs that seemed to become a hit were coming out repeatedly, and many people craved for something new. Infinite’s ‘Come Back Again’ was a number that was enough to break the hardening reality. With just this song alone Infinite was able to be recognized as an idol with color that will compete with a new attempt.

However ‘Come Back Again’s’ reaction wasn’t as much as the ones from the songs that are released now. An artist with strong originality was first faced with an element of strange. The public was like this too. Perhaps these people didn’t even realize but they were expecting something obvious but with infinite’s new color felt awkward and Infinite options’ built cross points. Like other idols, they set off advertising with broadcasting medias and they were giving the choice to either follow them or to go on their own route. These boys, warmly enough, didn’t choose the result that was predicted. That is why they were able to start their history in 2011.

Beginning of 2011 : Research musical directivity with Janus charms

Amongst these situations the long awaited 2011! The route that Infinite chose was without a change, musical differentiation. Of course with their concept they gave off a Janus charm with their manly image and friendly image that was oozing with cuteness.

First, with ‘BTD’ Infinite portrayed an image of a lonely man that is trying once again to grab the woman he loves. This song fit the concept well by growing in the direction of the electronic pop generation and portraying heavy weight. Especially here the choreography that seemed sharp as a knife gave Infinite the honorable nick name of ‘choreography-dol,’ and they also showed the side of becoming an artist that satisfied both the visual and audio at the same time, which became a never ending topic after the 80’s.

Infinite’s stage that did not hinder in both performance wise and live (vocals) which dispersed the heaviness was a stage that if anyone saw felt it was sufficiently charming and Infinite starts walking out one foot at a time from here. You can say it was a flare that sent them to be a summit-level male idol group.

Now, after the Janus charm a teaser follows after. For a while they threw away ‘BTD’s’ heaviness and with ‘Nothing’s Over,’ for a while they wore an image of a fresh boy. After the start of the Youtube generation, many concepts that were made so that they could friendly and comfortably head towards the general public were receiving the spotlight but honestly ‘BTD’ was not a side that comfortably walked towards them. Instead of walking forwards to them, it was an appropriate song that that straightened the identity of the group Infinite. That is why in order to match more closer with the general public, ‘Nothing’s Over’ is suggested. While it being a public appeal, for it was easy to take in because they daringly introduced up-tempo feel’s pop sound, this song also showed the public that Infinite has a different colored side to them by also not losing the musical fun with the sophisticated melody line, and it also gave them an opportunity to get close to the public. The only thing left for Infinite, who from the beginning of 2011 showed two different types of charms at one time and presented both anxiousness and relaxation simultaneously, was to now apply the results from their experiments.

End of 2011 : Infinite’s own musical route after completing research

July 2011, the great shot’s blow that Infinite brought was ‘Be Mine’ and ‘Paradise.’ Already finished with directivity research, they brought out the music that could describe Infinite best and took charge. The result was too obvious. First off, ‘Be Mine’ was a well-made number that could not be heard from the existing idols’ music.

The retro style code that penetrated the 80’s was alive and, the trendy code that is hitting us now was alive as well. In one word, it was a track that melted the past with the present. To be honest, in the pop world the retro style oriented songs always received love. Like Duffy, Pixie Lott, Plan B, etc., artists who reinterpreted the past’s inheritance in a modern way show a good side of themselves by each demonstrating their outstanding musicality.

Infinite digested the retro style concept in the most progressed manner that the Kpop world can show. Of course musically. Although ‘Be Mine’ was a good song, if the Infinite members had not tried to perfectly release this song on stage, ‘Be Mine’ would not have lit. What made this song complete were the member’s remarkable performance skills and live stages. Above else, the members that correctly understood music raised the degree of completion of ‘Be Mine’ one more step and it became the foundation of them being the generational trend. They walked the road that was different fro the other idols and these that completed their directivity, confirmed their way of life here.

2012: With the most Korean influence, they found K-Pop’s way.

In 2012, the K-Pop wave stormed all over Asia, as expected, Infinite turned into the leading role of the K-Pop wave. But the way they did it is a bit different from what the other idols would do. As opposed to the many idols who accepted the American trend, Infinite had the sense to go to the world with the most Korean method. It’s exactly ‘The Chaser’, with this song full of Korean elements, Infinite affirmed once again that they were different. There are many ways to convey a K-Pop feeling but on the basis that the best way to do so is the Korean way, wouldn’t they accept the trend’s developed side? Walking by themselves on this warm path, Infinite managed to show a different side of the K-Pop wave. No matter what they do, these men are always different, isn’t it why there’s no way you can hate them?

Instead of following the trend, K-Pop has to make the trend. We have to built our own steady originality, and based on this originality, we have to make a successful independent musical based in our own way. Infinite’s ‘The Chaser’ was a challenge to become an example for this big goal. Because they found K-Pop’s way in the most K-Pop-ish direction.

Even Infinite’s starting point was different from the other idols’, and their way to proceed was also different. They developed a bond of sympathy with the public with a steady musical achievement, they showed their own appealing points and created their originality. This process took some time but they conveyed a cautious attitude, they had no lacking points, and they could create the current Infinite. Now I’d like to give them the title, not of idols but of artists. This was a story for Infinite, these warm, simple and honest men walked their own way and chose communication over fanciness!