My boys from Monsta X have come back with a full album, so it is time for a review. Although I stupidly missed their last release, Shoot Out gets stuck in my head all the time to this day. It is probably one of the catchiest songs of theirs that I have listened to to date. When Monsta X Take 2: We are Here was announced, I was pretty excited. Let’s be real, more catchy music? I’m all in!
I ordered a copy of the album from an eBay seller in the US. This is a link to the exact one I’ve ordered. I got one of the copies (there are 4) for $24.99 plus free shipping. Plus, with eBay, you can save a little bit of money by using the E-Bates extension on your browser, as it will save you 2% on all album purchases, which definitely adds up.
What is E-Bates?
E-Bates is a cashback site that gives you money for purchases you may have already made. They even have an extension for multiple browsers so when you go to a website that uses Ebates, it will automatically pop up the cashback button to make sure you are saving money. I use this all the time, and I got over 80$ back from them for purchases I was going to make anyway. That’s about 3 more albums I can buy!
If you’ve never used EBates before, you can use this link to get $10 when making a qualified purchase of $25 when using EBates. You will also get whatever percent cashback is being offered from the site you are purchasing from. Sephora, typically has 4% cashback, through here. Sokoglam typically has 3%. These percentages Many other major retailers are on there as well.
Can I get it on Amazon?
Yes! You can pick up a copy using this link here for about 29 dollars (not as good of a deal), with free shipping if you have Amazon Prime.
If you don’t have Amazon Prime, you can get a 30-day free trial using this link here. I will not lie, the free 2-day shipping, plus all of the free music and videos are totally worth it. I also now use it for books for my Kindle Paper White too, and it is honestly a life saver. They have a program called Kindle Unlimited where you can check out 10 books at a time, read them, and put them back in the Kindle library. The program cost $7.99 a month, and you get the first 30 days for free with this link.
How do I read this post?
I recommend that you put the album on in the background, and read through it while listening to the track that I am talking about. It will help you understand what parts of the music I’m referring to when I talk about different instruments and different vocal parts. This is what I recommend for all of my song reviews.
Monsta X Take 2: We are Here Track By Track:
Intro: We are Here
So, per usual, when a track is called an intro, it seems to only be a minute long or so. What I do like about this track is the time ticking down that is used to keep the beat throughout the song. On top of that, I also enjoy I.M’s (at least I think that is I.M) talking in the track. His voice is extremely pleasing. Once the beat drops in this track, it’s fire. It is on point. More importantly, I love how they use people taking a breath in to drop the beat. It’s so interesting and different. For a short intro into the album, this is honestly really good.
Alligator
Moving on to the album’s single! I have already gone and reacted to the MV for this. If you want to watch it, you can do so here:
I love how this track starts with that really hard, “evacuate the nuclear reactor” beat. This song perfectly fits that hard, manly sound that is so Monsta X. The title to the track is really unique, as who would have thought to sing a song about large reptiles. It draws you in from the start! Once you get to the chorus, I really love how the singers are really using syncopation to add interest to the chorus before get to the repetitive “Alligator” part.
Once you get to the second verse, I’m not going to lie, I live for Jooheon and IM’s rap. Both of them are such strong, talented rappers that it is hard to not fall in love with any rhymes that they rip. To be frank, I envy their ability to speak that quickly in rhythm. I can’t even complete a sentence at normal speed without mixing up half of my words, and they always beautifully rap… unless someone else attempts to rap with Jooheon, then he forgets the lyrics.
I do really enjoy this track, but if I had to compare it to Shoot Out, I live Shoot Out better, as that song gets stuck in my head all the time, and this one isn’t nearly as catchy. Still definitely enjoy it, and the music video is fire!
Ghost
A track about the thing that Jooheon is most afraid of: Ghosts! Okay, I really love the really eerie beat in this song. If I were to describe it, it is like a deep distorted hum. This sound is contrasted nicely with that high pitched xylophone and the vocalists. I can very easily point to the moment where I fell in love with the track, and it is where they sing “니가 보여” (I see you). This part begins at around 55 seconds into the song. Those high notes are absolutely gorgeous! Very well executed with good technique as well.
Other things that I love about this song: The ASMR that beautifully contrasts the gorgeous high notes. The beautiful descant (a descant is those high pitched runs you hear) that starts during the second chorus. The contrasts between the instrumentation and the vocalists makes me extremely happy. I will not lie. Honestly, I think I like this track better than Alligator because it is interesting and different. I think it would have made a decent single for those gorgeous high notes alone.
Play it Cool (feat. Steve Aoki)
Is it just me, or is half of the KPop industry working with Steve Aoki right now? I’m not complaining. I’m all about the crossover. Hopefully, more and more artists get to work with Western artists and we can bridge the gap between the cultures more and more. This track departs a bit from Monsta X’s typical style, as we have a bit more of a groove here. I’m quite fond of it. It is smooth, and it is totally different from what we normally hear from the group.
Yet again, I really love this track! I love how it is easy to dance to. I love the dance break where he’s “shaking and moving” you. This track is the perfect roller rink jam where some who is not me, and can actually wear roller skates dances to the beat. This is me every time I try:
But you should be doing this:
I think you get my gist about this track. I love it. I’m all about it. It really departs from their typical style, and it’s nice to hear it.
No Reason
Yet again, Monsta X has departed from their typical style and presented us with a more soft, pop sound. Although this track still has the typical Monsta X percussion, the rest of the instrumentation is much softer. It has those 4 typical chords that I have mentioned in previous posts that you find in a lot of pop songs. Despite that, because the track departs so much from what we typically hear from them, I’m okay with it.
Yet again, I’m impressed with the high notes in this track. They’re clear toned and well executed. It’s a good, simple track, which departs from their original style. I dig it.
Give Me Dat
Back to another track in the Monsta X, club style. I will say, yet again, I do really like it! It has a killer beat that makes me want to move while dancing with light sticks like Terry Crews in White Chicks!
I must say I love the ASMR in the track. This track has a serious N*SYNC early 2000’s feel with a modern twist to it. What makes it more modern for me? The rapping and the instrumentation. Jooheon and I.M’s rap have a really interesting pattern this time, as they are performed much slower than usual. It’s a nice change from what they typically do.
The only thing that I was this track had that isn’t very prevalent: the beautiful soaring high notes. Despite that, the track has some excellent vocal harmonies during the choruses that make up for it. Yet again, big fan of the track.
난기류 (Turbulence)
I love how Monsta X always has a we are going to have to run at some point during this track as a theme in their songs. The intro had a clock ticking down, and this one has an alarm at the very beginning. As such, if you ever have to run, listen to Monsta X and you will feel as though you are running from danger! I never really noticed until this album how well Monsta X harmonizes! I think part of that has to do with how well the mixing has been done on this album. Sometimes on albums the vocals are drowned out by the background music, but you can clearly hear them in this album!
Moments that I love in this album: That modulated deep voice that interrupts the first verse. I have never heard a track that has this that I don’t like. On top of that, the gorgeous chorus high notes have returned, and I’m in love. Their vocal technique is so good! How have I never noticed this before! Color me impressed, K-Nuggets. They go for these crazy high notes with no strain in their voice and sound as though they are hitting them all effortlessly. On top of that, these beautiful high notes are accompanied by some amazing harmonies. Love it again.
Rodeo
We have a Wild West intro on this one that drops into an excellent hard beat! This song would be amazing for working out! I really love the strong electronic beat in this song. This track has some great, tight harmonies throughout the first verse and the hook. Once the beat drops in the chorus, you can’t help but yet again, dance like Terry Crews.
Once you get through the first verse, they drop some more ASMR to round out an amazing dance track. Overall, this track is just a fun, let’s jump around like a crazy person song. I can dig it
Stealer
So, the beginning of this track is slow and starts with a heart beat and someone cocking a gun, which is cool, but has the feel that the beat is going to drop at some point in the track because it is too chill. As I anticipated the beat picks up after Jooheon and I.M’s rap in the first verse, as you move into the hook. Once the beat finally drops, I think this is the first track on the album that I’m not a fan of the beat once it drops. I wish that there was a bit less treble in the instrumentation to highlight the vocalists more.
Other than that, I do like the track. The guys display some excellent harmonies. On top of that, about 80% of this track is in English! Yay for all of the non-Korean speakers out there! A track you cal all sing to sans much issue. This is a decent track, but doesn’t make it anywhere into my favorites. There’s too much going on in the track.
Party Time
The final track on the album starts out really chill, as if you are chilling on a boardwalk in California on a hot day. It has a wee bit of that electronic feel too it, but the guitar arpeggios are the main highlight of the instrumentation until you reach the hook into the second verse. I must say, that hook from the chorus into the second verse I’m in love with! It’s completely different and adds contrast to the track.
This track overall has a really good feel to it. You could do Kihyun style body rolls through the whole track.
It isn’t my favorite song on the album, but I definitely enjoy it for the deep bass through the song, for the dalala’s, and for Jooheon’s rap. I think they could have dropped that high pitched electronic sound in the song. It isn’t necessary, and adds too much to the song. Sometimes less is more. Other than that, good job guys.
K-Points: 32/5
Even though I was writing this post while being forced to play Mario Party with my family, and a dog half lying on my lap, the good quality of the music outweighed the extenuating circumstances. Every track on this album was solid. So, why am I not giving it more than a 32 out of 5? Because I could nitpick at some of the instrumentation in the second half of the album. That’s the only reason.
So should you get yourself a copy of this album? I got a sneak peek at the album, and I believe that there are some fantastic photos that are a part of the photoshoot. Yes, I was able to nitpick at the album, but it was still pretty good, and I think worth adding to your collection if you are a Monsta X fan. Should you stream it? Absolutely. There are a number of excellent tracks on this album. A number of them made it onto my Workout playlist on Apple Music! Just for that, I definitely think you need to take the time to listen to it.
Which track off of Monsta X’s new album is your favorite, K-Nuggets? Let me know in the comments below!
사랑합니다!
–Rachel
