CLC – ‘Crystyle’ Album Review

After 4Minute’s unfortunate disbandment last year, CLC has become the sole girl group of Cube Entertainment. The stakes are at an all-time high for them. But despite this, they did not disappoint with their latest release Crystyle. Taking a completely different direction from the cutesy and innocent concept of their previous albums, Crystyle is an effortlessly powerful and well-shaped album. It’s a curious mix of edginess and poshness that creates a unique image of a diva with class.

Track 1 – Liar

Liar is a forceful, statement-making pop track with loud horns, distorted synths, and hip hop beats forming the backtrack. Liar will be a great alternative to the album’s title track, Hobgoblin, although it’s slightly less catchy and spunky in nature.

Track 2 – 도깨비 (Hobgoblin)

Unlike CLC’s past sweet and sugary pop tunes, Hobgoblin shocked me with its fiery vocals and sassy top-notch beat lining the whole way through. The buildup in energy as the song switches from the verses to the chorus is totally unexpected and original, and transcends CLC into the ultimate 4Minute successor, only more classy.

Track 3 – Mistake

Mistake is a flamboyant EDM track that is more than worth dancing to. The incongruity of the girls’ punchy voices and the vociferous melody is what makes it so groovy, and pulls you in until the very end.

Track 4 – 미유미유 (Meow Meow)

Meow Meow has a tropical feel to it, and shows a more tame side of CLC. It has radio-friendly vibes that can be the perfect background music on a hot summer night’s drive. What makes Meow Meow stand out from the previous tracks is that it’s calmer with a more American-ized beat drop.

Track 5 – 말이야 (I Mean That)

I Mean That diverts from the danceable course of the album thus far, being a melancholic, yet groovy ballad. It has the right amount of emotion and energy; there is barely anything boring about it.

Track 6 – 눈물병 (Depression)

Finally, Depression is a another melodic ballad that flaunts CLC’s raw emotion against a gentler rhythmic beat. However, it pales in comparison to the rest of the album, as it’s neither memorable or striking.

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