JYP’s 7 member boy group GOT7 are back with their newest comeback EP called FLIGHT LOG: DEPARTURE this is their last major comeback since the incredibly popular ‘Just Right‘ which is currently the most viewed music video on JYP Entertainment’s official youtube and their more bad boy release ‘If You Do‘. With members hailing from Korea, America, Hong Kong & Thailand respectively, they strike a chord with fans from all over the world with not only their language skills but their incredibly fun and playful personalities. FLIGHT LOG: DEPARTURE is something new for GOT7, they are dulling down all of the bright colours and pop influences for something much more mature with more of a trap sound.
Check out the album trailers:
The release of the new album has been met with acclaim from fans and is currently in the Top 10 of U.S. iTunes Top Albums. I’ll be breaking down and reviewing each song from the album starting with the title track “Fly”
1. Fly
This song starts of with a glitchy sound, it is fresh and clean and completely well produced. This song does an amazing job of showcasing the groups rappers, Jackson, Mark & Bambam all get the opportunity to show their own techniques, Even Yugyeom who is primarily a vocalist and dancer tries his hand at rapping. This hip hop/R&B sound suits each of their styles well. The song then transitions into a smooth chorus, the vocalists in GOT7 are particularly well known for their polished and almost creamy sounding voices which harmonize well with one another. This title track really does allow GOT7 to show off their strengths and fly above the rest.
2. 못하겠어 (Can’t)
This song at first sounds much more familiar to fans of GOT7, this mixture of stereotypical k-pop with a slight hip hop sound and incredibly cheesy lyrics is what made GOT7 famous, but still the undercurrent of the song, particularly the bass line is much more complex than in other albums and the chorus explodes out of nowhere, it’s the well known GOT7 sound but produced to a completely other level.
3. 빛이나 (See the Light)
This song seems to bounce between your ears, it has a high pitched electronic sound that reminds me of Fireflies by Owl City, it is utterly addictive to listen to. This song is definitely one of my favourite tracks on the album, it’s so mellow but still manages to glisten with GOT7 brightness.
4. FISH
The next few songs on the album are definitely more Hiphop based, and I love that, this song starts of the rappers showcasing their thing and then the song slows down and the vocalists, particularly JB and Youngjae carry some powerful and high notes but then, completely unexpectedly, with a hit of xylophone that sounds like something has just fallen into water and a simple ‘la la la’, the bass drops and the song completely changes. It’s incredible.
5. REWIND
This song is without doubt, my favourite from the album. It’s got a sound that GOT7 had not explored prior to this. It starts off with the sound of a cassette tape being rewound and then drops right into the heavy electronic and bass sound, there is no build-up with this one. It and ‘Fish‘ are definitely the most hip-hop sounding tracks on the album but Rewind has that edge.
6. Beggin on my Knees
Begging on my Knees sounds like it would have fit in on GOT7’s previous EP ‘Mad’ which was all about a frustrated boyfriend. But, like all songs on this album the chorus changes the tone, it seems to soar in this song, Rather than being angry, it sounds freeing, which completely counteracts the songs lyrics. I feel like this song seems like the song that gives the most energy, it is a great song to go running to.
7. Something Good
This song is the album’s resident dance tune, it has an almost 80’s sound about it, this is something that is incredibly popular in all music right now, but it manages to make it sound completely modern by mixing it with a soft and tuneful guitar riff. This song is 80’s disco meets suburban coffee shop and somehow, it completely works.
8. Home Run
The last song ‘Home Run’ looks like it is going to be the next single from the album, it is not currently released but is slated to be out in April with a new music video. So there’s more to come!
Overall, this album is fantastic, it came out at the right time of year, it’s got a very airy feel and many songs do feel like you are flying when you listen to them. In my opinion, It is the best produced album GOT7 have done to date. One listen is definitely not enough when it comes to FLIGHT LOG: DEPARTURE. The addictive songs with have you coming back for more.
