Earlier this month I posted a review on EXO-CBX’s Japanese release, Magic. Because the Japanese know how to ship music albums like nobody’s business, my copy of Magic that was ordered is already here. In fact, it got here last week. I’m just now getting to sit down to write the post. I write a lot of posts about EXO. EXO is my favorite K-Pop group. So let’s add one more un-boxing to the collection.
Because this is a Japanese release, my copy of this was actually ordered by a friend who has an Amazon Japan account, and it was shipped to my house. You can find a copy on Amazon US here, but it may be more expensive. They also have limited options here without spending a fortune. To be honest, it would be easier to get a friend who speaks Japanese than to try and find a copy of this yourself for a reasonable price.
Things you need to know about this album:
- There are 4 versions:
- Xiumin
- Baekhyun (this version)
- Chen
- All 3 with a DVD
- The album comes with:
- Booklet with a few pictures
- Photocard
- CD
- Paper with some kind of QR code on it (promotional, maybe a digital download)
- Japanese albums in general are not as intense as Korean albums. The photo books are typically way smaller, and they don’t have nearly as many photos.
- They also go for a completely different aesthetic that would match the Japanese market. Basically, it won’t look like their Korean releases.
K-Points: 393/5
This is most likely because the Korean albums’ packaging spoil me, but I find Japanese releases underwhelming. They don’t have many photos, this book has max ten photos. The designs are totally different though! I like the fluorescent vibe they went for on the cover. I don’t think it matches the old Hollywood stage vibe on the inside though. I just don’t think it is as cohesive as the Korean releases.
Do I still enjoy having it? Absolutely. Is it worth purchasing? For a hardcore EXO fan, yes. Should I stream it? Definitely. You need to have some serious dedication to track down a copy of this though, as it may require making you new friends. It also may require you to learn a new language! The new language for me is the side effect of finding friends who speak Japanese. You go out to eat with them, and all the jokes don’t happen in English, anymore.
Where do you go to track down Japanese albums? Let me know in the comments, K-Nuggets!
사랑합니다!
–Rachel
