Eyelike: 9Muses, Minx, Miguel

9Muses targets club scene with new EP

9Muses “9Muses S/S Edition” (KT Music)

9Muses are a group known mostly for their stunning looks. Nicknamed the “model idol” group, the eight members boast an average height of 172 centimeters and are known for their sexy choreography in songs like “Dolls” and “Wild.”

On their new EP “9Muses S/S Edition,” the group continues to do what they are best known for, choosing consistency over variety. Thumping club-style beats underline both the lead track “Hurt Locker” and “A,” two similar tracks that, according to the members, were both candidates for the lead track designation.

The tempo picks up slightly and the mood turns sultry on “Fancy,” a song that capitalizes best on 9Muses’ sexy image. The heavy electronic and synthesizer sounds are turned down for “Yes or No,” an easy medium-tempo track. 

Although there is nothing extraordinary on 9Muses’ new release, the record shows that the group has been able to maintain their image and style despite recent member changes. The group is comfortable with sticking to dance, in an era where artists are expected to adapt to and pull off new and unusual genres. With its sexier, club/lounge feel, “9Muses S/S Edition” offers an interesting summer alternative to the deluge of poppy girl group albums.

By Won Ho-jung (hjwon@heraldcorp.com) 

‘Love Shake’ shows different sides of Minx

Minx “Love Shake” (Universal)

Girl group Minx was introduced last year by Happyface Entertainment, home to Dal Shabet. In many ways, Minx is similar to Dal Shabet in its early days, with cute and colorful promotions for songs like last year’s “Why Did You Come to My Home?” and this year’s “Love Shake.” On these songs, the tempo is upbeat, and the girls’ voices are high-pitched and nasal, milking the wide-eyed, innocent and pure image that generally serves as a safe starting point for new girl groups.

The first two tracks on Minx’s first EP follow expectations -- “Superstar Superman” and “Love Shake” are sugary sweet with lyrics like “You’re my Superman/You’re my superstar” and “my love like whipping cream.” However, once past those two tracks, the EP takes an interesting turn. 

“I, Like You” is a ballad that shows off the girls’ singing chops, demonstrating that the members can shed their cutesy look and provide depth in their voices when required. “I, Like You” is followed by “Shut Up,” a heavy track with hip-hop elements and hard-hitting lyrics like “Now get off my back” and “Hey you, shut up boy” -- a far cry from the sherbet and milkshakes alluded to in the title track.

“Love Shake” isn’t strong enough to hold up against more established girl groups on the summer charts, but as a first EP, it is a good introduction of Minx’s talents overall.

By Won Ho-jung (hjwon@heraldcorp.com)

Miguel doesn’t fit in, and he’s fine with it -- sometimes

Miguel “Wildheart” (RCA Records)

On his previous album, “Kaleidoscope Dream,” Miguel got to have it both ways, with an ambitious song cycle that flowed across the eras for inspiration while yielding a seductive radio hit, “Adorn.”

“Wildheart” is slightly less convincing, with more songs that ebb and flow between static and ecstatic, while juggling weirdness and familiarity that sometimes verges on cliche.

“The Valley” sounds like a Trent Reznor soundtrack for a pornographic movie. It’s the kind of audacity that makes Miguel such an intriguing artist, if a bit off-putting to fans who want to cast him as the latest incarnation of R. Kelly.

On “Deal,” he’s in straight-up Parliament-Funkadelic mode, with a big, scenery-chewing bass line and chanted vocals. “Coffee” returns him to the “Adorn” bedroom, with its steamy vocal melody and airy keyboards. But several songs settle on musical themes and don’t do much with them. 

Tracks such as “Hollywood Dreams” and “What’s Normal Anyway?” come off as more insular than they should, conveying complicated ideas with little concern for melody or arrangement.

On the closing trio of songs -- the erotic “Flesh,” the soul-folk “Leaves” and the guitar-stoked “Face the Sun” -- he builds solid intros into the kind of anthems that suggest Miguel has dreams of headlining arenas one day.

Just as the album is ending, Miguel finds the perfect combination of pop hooks and understated introspection. (Chicago Tribune/TNS)