B1A4- ‘Good Timing’ Album Review

After being busy with individual activities, the talented boys of B1A4 are finally back with their latest studio album more than a year later. Good Timing sounds different from their previous albums exploring a variety of genres and musical elements such as house and reggae that they haven’t dabbled in before. With 12 songs that demonstrate the members’ maturity and growth, Good Timing is a diverse album worth listening to.

Track 1 – Intro – Time

Time opens our ears to Good Timing with a pounding beat joined by playful synths and light piano chords. It’s a kind of ambient genre that focuses on the dreamy sound to express the memories. The tempo slowly builds up, but then abruptly stops, leaving me wanting to hear more.

Track 2 – 거짓말이야 (A Lie)

At first, A Lie sounded like the ultimate road trip soundtrack for summer with its 16-bit synthesizer and house rhythms. But it turned into a heartbreaking pop ballad during the chorus, with anthem-like chants that added yet another flavor to the already multi-dimensional song. The high notes and the rap part were my favorites, making me want to listen to it again and again.

Track 3 – 너에게 한 번 더 반하는 순간 (Moment I Fall for You Again)

Moment I Fall for You Again contains lounge-like 80’s synths that is surprisingly relaxing despite the bouncy hip hop beat. Though it’s not as fast-paced and more laid back compared to A Lie, it doesn’t bore you. The song keeps its steady pace and occasionally surprises you with a few high notes that are not overpowering its chill vibe.

Track 4 – Good Timing

Good Timing is a fast tempo track that is more like B1A4’s typical style. It’s a fun crossover between 80’s synthpop and funk rock. The bouncy beat and chants give off a party atmosphere. Good Timing then ends beautifully with an electric guitar solo which separated it from other party rock songs.

Track 5 – 악몽 (Nightmare)

The next track, Nightmare, is definitely not a nightmare with its nostalgic, reggae-inspired hip hop rhythms. Though the verse sounds a bit like Why So Lonely by Wonder Girls , it does feel good to hear B1A4 experimenting outside of their comfort zones in a good way. The toning down of the rich guitar and organ sounds during the bridge is the highlight so you can enjoy B1A4’s pure vocal talents.

Track 6 – 꿈에 (In Dreams)

B1A4 turns things down a notch with the next track, In Dreams. In Dreams is a subtly sentimental ballad track adorned with B1A4’s clear falsettos and beautiful vocals. The chimes give off a dreamy vibe to the song as the boys sings about the sadness of missing one’s love.

Track 7 – Sparkling

Here we have another party track in Sparkling, which appropriately starts with the sound of popping open a soda can. Sparkling is an adrenaline-inducing track with a banging drum and bass beat, but unfortunately lacks a climax for a high-energy song, leaving me feeling not totally satisfied.

Track 8 – To My Star

To My Star is a mid tempo mellow R&B track that showcases the boys’ amazing vocals, specifically their falsettos. Other than that, there isn’t much to exciting elements to look forward to as I think the melody played on the safe side.

Track 9 – 멜랑꼴리 (Melancholy)

Melancholy starts with distorted and powerful synths which sounded out of place once you’ve listened to the entirety of this sadness-filled track. The verse and bridge sound nice individually, but there are a lot of things happening in this track, making it sound messy and confusing to me.

Track 10 – 내가 널 찾을게 (I’ll Find You)

A smooth rock ballad comes next and caught my attention again. I find I’ll Find You to be a sexy track because of the falsettos and subtleness of the vocals that matched really well with the slower-paced guitar riffs. I’m amazed to see B1A4 pulling off this type of song. This is a great bounce back from the previous lackluster tracks.

Track 11 – Drunk on You

Drunk On You belongs in the future bass department with swag rap followed by mellow tunes during the verse. There are also some chants in this number, which at this point seemed like an overused element in this album. There’s nothing ear-catching from this song other than the catchy, “drunk on you” hook in the chorus.

Track 12 – 함께 (Together)

A fairytale-like intro welcomes us to Together. Together is a soft ballad with vocal blending in the chorus that made it special. This track sounds like the closing soundtrack to a feel good friendship movie, perhaps because it’s made with the fans. This is the sweetest track for me and a perfect closure to Good Timing.

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