Junsu’s 2010 single, “Intoxication“, marks the half way point in the album, as well as the first active song since “Set Me Free”. Considering that I’ve had this song in my life since 2010, I’ve come to grips with how awkward it is. Granted, Junsu penned the lyrics himself (“squish you baby, let me feel your naughtiness/stroke you like an arpeggio, oh yeah“, lolwut), so I can’t say that I wasn’t expecting something less lolzy from him, but dude – this is beyond the scope of the common lulz, let’s be honest.
Anyway, what I enjoyed the most about this track is that it’s a remastered Korean version of the Japanese original. I’m not sure if I’ve been listening to a low-quality version of this song, I probably have, because this one features a lot more depth that I wasn’t aware existed. Mind blown, basically. It’s kind of amazing how a remaster can change so much in a song without really removing the core magic of it.
This song differs from the Japanese version in that it features a crisper, livelier guitar line. The sharp plucks and strummed arpeggiations turn this simple baby making song into a steamy, erotic moment fit for a filthy night in Spain. It’s an old song, but it might as well be crowned the song of the album, because all of its components work perfectly and blow the Japanese version out of the water.
The album continues with “Breath“, featuring Double K. This up-tempo brings back the string details heard in some of the other tracks and lightly sprinkles them among a very electronic, urban-pop beat. The production is fancy and very underground, but it works really well. It’s not exactly memorable, but I don’t think I would skip it if it popped up on shuffle.
“알면서도” slows things back down as the next ballad on the album. It’s probably the most unremarkable ballad, as it brings absolutely nothing particularly special to what we’ve heard already, nor anything fresh to complement Junsu’s vocal performance.
It’s an average, Disney-esque slow roller, and it didn’t help its impact that it was placed right before “Lullaby“, arguably the strongest ballad on the album.
“Lullaby” is the only ballad that draws inspiration from the R&B style that Junsu loves to play with in his lead singles. It’s plucked out straight from the 90s and for a Junsu song, the execution is superb. The verses are smooth as velvet and that chorus is the most sensual thing I’ve heard on this album so far.
For a song that lasts four minutes and forty-six seconds, “Lullaby” does a pretty fine job of keeping my full attention. Every hit of the snare keeps the momentum going, and with Dynamic Duo‘s Gaeko suggestively inhaling through his teeth just once in a rap section near the end of the song, it’s kind of like the ultimate hit to the G-spot, and I’m coming.
![gentleman-FFF [Converted]](http://mcroth.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/2013_psy_gentleman.jpg?w=45&h=45&crop=1){kind=small}
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I have only listened to the album once. That pretty much sums up how I feel about this album.
Good review. One of the things I dig about Junsu is his bold ambition. However, execution is something entirely different. There didn’t seem to be a consistent theme tying all the musical elements together in this album. It almost felt like three different mini’s: k ballad, dance & r&b. I kind of feel he should’ve done 3 separate mini albums. Even with the album’s weaknesses, I still look forward to more work from him. Decent first solo effort from him and I love “Intoxication” and “Lullaby” the most.
I pretty much agree with this review completely. When I first listened to the title track it took me a while to even identify where the chorus was since it barely stood out.
Indeed, Junsu is one of the most talented vocalist out there. I appreciate that he tries to do more and expand his skillset but please leave the producing to the real professionals. The production value of most of the songs in this album was so amateurish. I really only liked Lullaby…
FINALLY someone who has the same opinion as me… “The bare and haunting instrumental was the best aspect of “Tarantallegra””
so true!!!! i absolutely LOVE the instrumental it just LACK the awesome lyrics to fit the epic instrumental…
i love this album, it’s way better than “in heaven” imo. but i gotta admit, whatever they (jyj) trying to sell to us fans the next time, please don’t be a cheapskate… hire a proper producer to edit all this mess, work with more song-writers out here. if all south korea producers/song-writers chickened out, there’re tons out here who want to work with them if cjes/jyj looked them up seriously. and it’s not kanye west is the only one around. dear cjes, i know you’re doing business. i get that your boys could still sell million won with cheaper production cost. but if they truly are musicians, they can do better than this. no. they SHOULD do better than this.
Is it just me, or is “Around and Around” sound A LOT like a mash of OSTs, especially “fox rain” from MGIAG???
It feels like a cluttered album. And I love JunSu and his voice is beautiful, but I’ve had to listen to it a few times to pick out the good parts.