• Home
  • Korean Ent
    • Korean Music Reviews
    • Korean Drama and TV Reviews
    • Korean Interviews
    • Korean Film Reviews
  • Japanese Ent
    • Anime
    • Japanese Music Reviews
    • Japanese Interviews
    • Japanese Drama and Film Reviews
  • Chinese Ent
    • Chinese Music Reviews
    • Chinese Drama and TV reviews
    • Chinese Interviews
  • Misc.
    • Light Novel
    • espressOH!
    • Editorials
    • Gaming
  • Join Us
No Result
View All Result
OH! Press
  • Home
  • Korean Ent
    • Korean Music Reviews
    • Korean Drama and TV Reviews
    • Korean Interviews
    • Korean Film Reviews
  • Japanese Ent
    • Anime
    • Japanese Music Reviews
    • Japanese Interviews
    • Japanese Drama and Film Reviews
  • Chinese Ent
    • Chinese Music Reviews
    • Chinese Drama and TV reviews
    • Chinese Interviews
  • Misc.
    • Light Novel
    • espressOH!
    • Editorials
    • Gaming
  • Join Us
No Result
View All Result
OH! Press
No Result
View All Result

Album Review: PSY – 4×02=8

Mogwai by Mogwai
May 12, 2017
in Korean Entertainment, Music Reviews
0
PSY 4X2=8

Release Date: May 10, 2017

Tracklist:

  1. I LUV IT
  2. New Face
  3. 마지막 장면/LAST SCENE (Feat. 이성경/Lee Sung Kyung)
  4. LOVE (Feat. 태양/Taeyang)
  5. BOMB (Feat. B.I, BOBBY)
  6. We Are Young
  7. 팩트폭행/FACT (feat. G-DRAGON)
  8. Rock will never die
  9. 기댈곳/REFUGE
  10. 오토리버스/AUTO REVERSE (Feat. TABLO)

Total Runtime: 00:35:31

Recommended for: Anyone curious enough to listen to other aspects of PSY’s surprisingly versatile and diverse music beyond his goofy title tracks.

NOT recommended for: Those who are tired of Gangnam Style‘s… style… and/or are completists who enjoy putting whole albums on repeat.

PSY has always been quite the divisive figure in Korean music. He’s been on the receiving end of a unique combination of ridicule as well admiration for his global relevance through Gangnam Style. His newest 8th album, 4×2=8, led by double title tracks, I LUV IT and New Face, features plenty of “young blood,” such as iKON’s B.I and Bobby, as well as ZICO.

Track 1 – I LUV IT

First of all, if you’ve never been a fan of PSY’s viral Gangnam Style, I highly doubt either I LUV IT and New Face would impress. Neither impressed me and this is coming from someone who actually does secretly enjoy jamming to Gangnam Style every now and then. Co-composed by ZICO and PSY, I LUV IT, especially, sounds like an attempt to recapture the magic of Gangnam Style, with its use of synths and repetitive hook. But while it’s slightly the lesser of two new title track evils, it hovers around the annoying side of the spectrum instead of fun. On the other hand, Gangnam Style somehow manages to straddle squarely in the middle of that spectrum.

Track 2 – New Face

New Face doesn’t quite feature a Gangnam Style-esque hook, but its tongue-in-cheek lyrics and sound are definitely distinctively PSY-like. But one of its biggest problems is its disappointing chorus. Like the latter, PSY follows his own tradition, and recruits Naeun of Apink as the star of his music video. Unfortunately, neither the song nor the music video concept possesses the same staying power as its far more oddly compelling predecessor. Furthermore, it’s definitely far more on the annoying end of the spectrum. At least Naeun looks pretty in the music video.

Track 3 – 마지막 장면/LAST SCENE (Feat. 이성경/Lee Sung Kyung)

Having heard nothing of actress Lee Sung Kyung’s singing prior to listening to this album (I do know that she was on King of Masked Singer), her voice in LAST SCENE is a pleasant surprise. It’s a little disconcerting to jump from a song as high-energy as New Face, to a song as mellow as this one. But considering how underwhelming the two title tracks are, it’s a welcome change of pace. For me, this is where the album truly begins, even if it isn’t really much of an ear-worm.

Track 4 – LOVE (Feat. 태양/Taeyang)

Well obviously, PSY has a bit of a love theme going on, considering the album artwork and one of his title tracks. Luckily, LOVE is one of the best tracks from this album, if not the best. Taeyang’s distinctive voice perfectly complements PSY’s rapping in this one. And all the finger-snapping makes me want to finger-snap along. Alas, I can’t finger-snap. Still, that didn’t impede my enjoyment of the song in any way, of course.

Track 5 – BOMB (Feat. B.I, BOBBY)

I have mixed feelings about this one. BOMB is built on a fun, interesting beat, but the use of autotune in its pre-choruses felt a little jarring. That aside, I do enjoy the combination of the three rappers’ varying styles, especially Bobby’s verses.

Track 6 – We Are Young

There’s something uplifting about the pop-rock-influenced We Are Young, even though its title is really the only I can understand about it. Its hook makes me feel like I have all the time in the world. That is, before the song ends, and then I remember that, unfortunately, I really don’t.

Track 7 – 팩트폭행/FACT (Feat. G-DRAGON)

Admittedly, I wasn’t particularly enthused when I first heard of the list of collaborators for this album. Not because I’m a fan of PSY and expected more, but mostly because Taeyang was the only one who interests me in any way. But it was FACT, featuring G-Dragon, ironically enough, that ended up being the song that made me give this album a chance. This track showed more of PSY’s biting honesty, which may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I definitely appreciated it.

Track 8 – Rock will never die

Rock will never die is a fun rock number, but it feels a lot like I’ve heard of this one before. It’s a nice injection of nostalgia, but I’m unlikely to give this one more than a few listens, or pay much attention to it if it ever comes up on shuffle.

Track 9 – 기댈곳/REFUGE

After the more hard-hitting Rock will never die, REFUGE feels a little out of place, and more like an obligatory slow song. It could probably benefit from a little rearrangement. I would concede that it does seem in character, at least, considering PSY’s style of going against the grain. Still, I’m not going to save this one in my library. For me, it reveals PSY’s weaknesses as a singer a little too much.

Track 10 – 오토리버스/AUTO REVERSE (Feat. TABLO)

PSY’s 8th album comes to a brilliant close with AUTO-REVERSE, yet another stand-out track. Everything about this outstanding collaboration with Tablo is perfect, especially its beautifully arranged instrumental. It’s a song that needs to be experienced, rather than read about, because no words could possibly describe how good this is. Placing this one right at the end was a good call.

Tags: 4x2=8B.IBobbyG-DragonGangnam StyleI LUV ITLee Sung KyungNew FacePSYTaeyang
Share130Tweet81
Mogwai

Mogwai

Writer by day, cat's humble servant by night.

Related Posts

Hit It: K-Pop Songs You Can Play When You Feel A Cloud of Rain Over Your Head
Korean Entertainment

Hit It: K-Pop Songs You Can Play When You Feel A Cloud of Rain Over Your Head

March 22, 2020

Life isn't always full of rainbows, glimmering pixies, and flying unicorns. A lot of times, you'll often find yourself faced by life's curveballs which leave you stuck or frustrated from all the things that are happening around you. Aside...

Tap That!: Idols on Instagram That Will Refresh Your Mundane Feed
Korean Entertainment

Tap That!: Idols on Instagram That Will Refresh Your Mundane Feed

October 9, 2018 - Updated on July 21, 2019

Aside from strong choreography, high-quality productions, and infectious beats, social media also plays a consequential role in K-Pop culture. It's one of the reasons why Korean entertainment continues to spread further across the globe and capture the attention of...

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

About Us

OH! Press

OH! Press

Asian Entertainment Bloggers & Translators

We offer unsolicited yet correct opinions as well as other exclusive and original content on Asian Entertainment.

Categories

  • Anime (42)
  • Announcement (10)
  • Beauty & Fashion (8)
  • Chinese Entertainment (87)
  • Drama Reviews (72)
  • Editorials (237)
  • espressOH! (48)
  • Events (11)
  • Featured (151)
  • Featured Corners (33)
  • Film Reviews (10)
  • Gaming (30)
  • Guides (1)
  • Interviews (39)
  • Japanese Entertainment (240)
  • Korean Entertainment (814)
  • Light Novel (42)
  • Light Novels (72)
  • Manga (47)
  • Manhwa (2)
  • Music Reviews (247)
  • New Music (34)
  • News (41)
  • OH! Chart (128)
  • OH! Press Picks (3)
  • OH! QUIZ (6)
  • Op-Ed (11)
  • Other Asian Entertainment (6)
  • Translations (74)
  • TV Reviews (24)
  • Unboxing (2)
  • Uncategorized (1)

Popular

  • Food Wars: Meeting the new Elite 10 Council of Totsuki Teahouse Culinary Academy!

    Food Wars: Meeting the new Elite 10 Council of Totsuki Teahouse Culinary Academy!

    36268 shares
    Share 14507 Tweet 9067
  • Is the ending of Reply 1988 really that unbelievable?

    9829 shares
    Share 3932 Tweet 2457
  • The Ultimate Guide to the Different Positions in K-Pop Groups

    5808 shares
    Share 2323 Tweet 1452
  • The Ultimate Guide to K-Pop Albums and its Types

    5385 shares
    Share 2154 Tweet 1346
  • Classroom of the Elite Volume 3 – Prologue

    5279 shares
    Share 2112 Tweet 1320
  • Home
  • About
  • Press Team
  • Forums
  • Contact

© Copyright 2020 OH! Press – Bringing you exclusive and original content on Asian Entertainment.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Korean Ent
    • Korean Music Reviews
    • Korean Drama and TV Reviews
    • Korean Interviews
    • Korean Film Reviews
  • Japanese Ent
    • Anime
    • Japanese Music Reviews
    • Japanese Interviews
    • Japanese Drama and Film Reviews
  • Chinese Ent
    • Chinese Music Reviews
    • Chinese Drama and TV reviews
    • Chinese Interviews
  • Misc.
    • Light Novel
    • espressOH!
    • Editorials
    • Gaming
  • Join Us