The album starts off with a bit of a bang. "Radio" is a more upbeat sound than a lot of the album, and has a strong potential to become a single. The comparison of a person to a radio has been done before, but that's not what makes this song so fun. It's his particular way of pronouncing words and pacing himself that draws people in. We first got a good taste of this with "Jealous", but this song is an even better example.
This track is followed by his previous two singles, "Jealous" and "Never Ever". "Jealous" is one of the best songs on the album, and in a creepy stalkerish way may be one of the most relatable songs on the entire album. It outlines the struggles of a man who is in love with someone from afar who has no idea they exist, and details his jealousy for even those that he rejects. "Never Ever" was a bit weaker when compared to it's predecessor, being about a love that made him do a complete 180 from player to full time lover.
What is strange is that the opening three songs set us up for an epic upbeat and dark sound, but that isn't exactly what he delivers. In place, we get an array of slower, much more sincere tracks that give this artist depth beyond what I had thought possible. Take "Shooting Star" for instance. While not a ballad, it is much slower, but it's message is timeless. It helps remind people that they are never alone as long as that special person is in their hearts.
Another fantastic song that bends the limits my tastes is a track entitled "Cheap." You would think a song about a hookup would be much faster paced, but this one may surprise you. "Cheap" is a very barren song, but that is what makes it work. It doesn't have much of a back track. It leaves Kim exposed and alone, giving the song further meaning beyond just trying to find a quickie to cover up the pain of life. This is one of the prime examples of what can be accomplished in indie pop. It's pure art, and exactly what the artist wants to make.
Now, I am trying to write this review without sounding sappy, but I have to say that the mid-tempo track "With Me All Along" is one of the only songs that has made me cry. I know it's lame, but it's true. The song has a lot of different ways it can be interpreted, the main one being that the real "you" is going to be inside of yourself and has nothing to do with money. Another way it could be looked at is trying to cover up the pain of losing someone with material things, only to discover that trying to forget them was what was hurting you all along. By the end of the song, he claims to be in rags and happier for it.
Honestly, one of my main gripes with the album (of which there are few, of course) is that there are far too many slow songs. They are all amazing, but given that it's summer, many people are looking for tracks to blare with their windows down, and this album doesn't deliver on that to a great extent. There are songs like "Tarantula" and "Zombiez", but neither are close to being the best that the album has to offer. The true beauty lies in the more heartfelt ballads like "Love Condensed", but are not exactly club bangers.
That's not to say that I don't like the album. In fact, I find it a bit of a relief. This is more artistic than many releases today. It wasn't written or recorded with some ulterior Billboard Top 40 motive. It was simply the style and pace that Kim wanted to create. This may be one of the best examples of what can be accomplished by one with a vision, and I do believe he accomplished exactly what he set out to do. Is it for everyone? No. Some people may find it too boring. Others may be looking for high BPM techno. They won't be finding that here, but what they will be finding is an album full of heartfelt and insightful tracks. What they will find is something to be admired because it was someones dream taking a physical form.
You can snag the album off of iTunes.
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