Akdong Musician – ‘Spring Vol. 1″ Album Review

Akdong Musician also known as AKMU, is a two member sibling group under the Kpop powerhouse that is YG. This group is known for its quirky, unusual folk-pop sound and relatable lyrics. In their long overdue comeback album, Spring Vol. 1, they do indeed infuse their colorful and optimistic energy into their work, with each song carrying a different shade of spring’s tone and vibe.

Track 1 – Re-Bye

Spring Vol. 1‘s opening is a laid back song that talks about saying goodbye without regret. Re-Bye opens with Soohyun’s sonorous voice and she sings until Chanhyuk joins towards the chorus. The song has a calm, groovy effect on the listener with thumping bass strings in the background. It takes less than a minute to fall into this song with its catchy melody and vocal thrills.

Track 2 – 사람들이 움직이는 게 (How People Move)

This is a fast paced dance number with enough brass sounds to get you moving in no time. How People Move literally talks about how people move parts of their body. AKMU point out that they can move their body any way they see fit and declare it as amazing. They’re encouraged to dance as a result, and they implore everyone to dance with them.

Track 3 – 새삼스럽게 왜 (Haughty Girl)

Haughty Girl talks about a tentative love between two people who aren’t really sure about their feelings. My favorite thing about AKMU is how they paint pictures in their music with a simple flow of words. The charm of this duo shines through clearly here as they use simple, relatable lyrics to convey their message. The beat of the song is relaxing, and although the melody is somewhat hard to follow, they more than make up for it with the facile delivery of the song.

Track 4 – 초록창가 (Green Window)

This is an upbeat tune that talks about wanting to believe in your dreams despite the discouragements from people and the world. I especially like Green Window because of the slight infusion of pop along with the vocals that project the hopefulness of the lyrics. The chorus can easily become a chant after a few listens; it’s definitely an enjoyable song.

Track 5 – 사소한 것에서 (Every Little Thing)

This track is yet another laid back classic tune from Spring Vol. 1 that talks about the little things that we tend to overlook. After listening to Every Little Thing a few times, I started to reminisce. It’s a warm song that inspires nostalgic feelings in the listener. However, other than the message, the tune is not very catchy; it’s a song especially made for those who think of the deeper meanings of things.

Track 6 – 주변인 (Around)

Around is a very nice folk tune that talks about the confusion one passes through when he is trying to understand himself and the world. The message of the song is rather sober, and the song makes you take a moment to reflect on life. I especially like it because it’s a great tune that you can enjoy both philosophically and just for music’s sake. What a great closure to Spring Vol. 1!

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