Finally, I am ready for Solar

It has taken a while, but I am back by Taeyang's side with a smile on my face. For someone who claims to adore Taeyang as much as I (often platonically), you may be wondering why there has been a total lack of reaction to the fact that he has just released his first solo full length album, Solar. If so, you and me both. I thought the release would send me wild a la T.O.P, have me typing to the point where I was almost sick down myself from my joyful garggles. But this didn't happen. I'm still not sure why. Maybe this was always going to be the case. I mean, if I insist on listening to songs like Where U At and Wedding Dress on constant repeat then these songs being on the album is hardly going to blow my mind in the same way hearing/seeing the songs the first time round did, and other songs are always going to have a fight to stand up to them. Essentially, I just was not blown away. I think I wanted something rap-ier, harder, not so much of the love songs which I ended up with.

And the single I need a girl wasn't quite what I was craving either, even with the GD rap. The original MV is nice, lots of Taeyang and Dara (2NE1) and GD in bowtie and comb over and later a lepeoard print shirt...
but it still wasn't what I was looking for. Taeyang didn't even change his hairstyle or loose the frontal shave, though he claims that that (and the terrible facial hair) are down to him being too busy and not caring enough about what he looks like. I'm not sure that I believe him, but I'll agree to it to save myself the upset that his style intuition is not quite that of T.O.P's.
The live stages too, I could take or leave really (sorry!).

But then I started to listen to the album properly, not just the advance release teaser tracks, and it began to grow on me. Albums are put into a certain order because they work well in that way, and this is definately true for Solar I believe. The intro works great (I've blocked the few seconds of creepy children), asking me if I'm ready for solar, as it actively prepares me; it calms my rushing k-popped pulse rate a little, which is good for me I know, and takes it down a notch or two for what is to come.
Superstar, track two, didn't thrill me at first, but it's a real grower that has taken root. Then there's I need a girl. Once you get past the nervous, hungry and desperate title, his voice is lovely, and it is a nice song. Remember he also plays the piano. I like to imagine him playing along, rather than dancing around with the creepy stubble beard. And again, GD gambling and rolling around the floor in the video helps.

I like the harp at the start of Just a feeling and, again, it is a really lovely song. Very summery.
Next up, You're my. At first I didn't like this, mostly because of the (terrible)English lines. "You're my chocolate, my sweetest chocolate, I really wanna have you-u". A little suspect if you ask me - ignorance is bliss in such cases, had it been in Korean I would have had no qualms. But his voice IS that of velvety chocolate. Get past the dodgy English shock to the system and you'll learn to love it.

Now it starts getting good, with good ol' Teddy (1TYM) let out of his cage, "this is for the ladies!"
I'm actually obessesed with this song, Move. Not a banger in the conventional sense, but fantastic. And Teddy's lyrics KILL me:

...and your body is my wonderland,
I could play all night,
(so just move move, baby don't stop it)
I cock it and I load it,
call me mister big rocket,
you so precious, face shinin' like crystals,
I'm so vicious like Sid with my Sex Pistols...

...Niagra falls, baby I got you wetter than...

Go Ted. So sexual, so punk. I never expected so much from him. God knows what the live performance will end up sounding like though. If you've heard him on GD's Shine a light Leaders you'll know what I'm getting at - over excited child at a party.

Ah, Breakdown, more like let down. It sounds like it's going to be epic, for the first few seconds at least, some proper hard rap, and then it just gets a bit.....jokey, for want of a better adjective. But even this is growing on me, or I'm softening. Either way.

After you fall asleep, in translation, is the next track, and it totally has me. Repeat worthy and all. I can assure you that I will be doing some more research into this Swings fellow.

So yes, after that is Where U At andWedding Dress(both prior digital releases) and Prayer and another off the mini album released last year. As afore mentioned, no surprises but all super songs.

And last, certainly not least of all, Take it slow. Don't laugh, but it reminds of my childhood and Annie Lenox whilst actually making me feel mid-coital activity. I don't understand it either. And maybe too much, sorry, but it really does. It's so beautiful, but it's almost too much. So slow but with the capacity to have my heart race like some of the best club bangers.

Anyway, I'm sorry. No more.
But I guess what really consolidated all this was LISTENING TO THE LIMITED DELUXE EDITION on repeat in my car all weekend. Yes, you read right. Bless Tower Records.

I don't know how much I like the T-shirt itself, but really, just to have it and know it's mine. GD blates has one, and does T.O.P for sure. If it's good enough for them...

Oh yeah, and the YG FAMILY card! I'm so happy/proud/excited to have this in my wallet. All I need now is an A.N.Jell/You're Beautiful one and I'll be off.

I don't really know what the card or serial number means. But I will be researching this too. And the one of however many photos I got was the one with leather gloved hand to mouth, and "God Bless You" 'hand written' in the corner. How sweet.

It's times like this when my imminent departure from Japan breaks my heart.