SISTAR and Infinite Board The Mediocre K-Pop Train With "Touch My Body" and "Back"

July was looking like it was going to redeem the current banal state of K-Pop this year. Girls Day, B1A4, Dynamic Duo and Nu'Est dropped more than adequate tunes for my ears to genuinely enjoy. And then SISTAR and Infinite's comebacks happened...

Infinite "Request" Music Video

Samsung and Infinite have teamed up to promote Samsung's new Galaxy series of products, including the much-anticipated Galaxy Note 3 and Gear Smartwatch. Instead of doing a simple CF, Woolim commissioned a whole song and MV with "Request". The visuals aren't too impressive, it's pretty much them using the Galaxy products while preparing to tour but the song is pretty boss, especially after the kinda lackluster "Destiny."

Graded Song:Infinite "Destiny"

Infinite follows suit and makes another comeback a few months after their "New Challenge" mini dropped. Though "Man In Love" was quite successful, it wasn't their best song in the catalog and definitly paled in comparison to their previous "The Chaser". "Destiny" is the named of the single and Sweetune had no hand in the production this time around.
I'm quite torn about this. The song is different from the 80s soundtrack style production that Sweetune usually dishes out to them. The weird fauxstep flourishes seem out of place with the boys vocals. There aren't many vocal variations either (I like hearing Woohyun and Sunggyu's voices reaching for dem high notes) while Dongwoo and Hoya (yet again) try to recapture the rap duality that made "The Chaser" such a tune...and they fail again. However, I do like the epicness that the track conveys and the fact that while it is different, it's still what I would expect from an Infinite release. Too bad it's pretty average and sounds like every other cookie cutter K-Pop dance song.
Final Grade:C+
The music video was filmed here in the US (Las Vegas and Los Angeles) and really doesn't follow any specific storyline . According to some sources, there is supposed to be a 25 minute drama video coming out soon. Like always, their choreography is amazing and in sync, but not really feeling the styling.

Graded Song:Infinite "Man In Love" and MV

Only two short months after their subunit released their mini album, Infinite has made a full group comeback, complete with a more boy next door image and logo. After giving us teasers of the title track with each of the members, the full track and album "New Challenge" was released March 20th. After 2012's smash "The Chaser", does this new track do it any justice?
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! Infinite did not disappoint this time around. The production was a bit reminiscent of "The Chaser", but it was more 80s inspired. Woohyun's vocals are really at the forefront this time and he hit that high note..BOY, I'm gonna need that solo mini from him soon!!!. Of the raps, I feel that Dongwoo's was a bit more stronger this time around, but it was still pretty decent. The chorus towards the end could have benefited from a bit more editing as the group was kind of overshadowed by the instrumental. They have yet to top "The Chaser," but this comes pretty damn close.
Final Grade:A-
In the music video, we see the group doing seperate things for the woman that they are pining for: learning how to play the piano, shopping, cooking, etc mixed in with some killer choreo. One of the moves reminded me of the ripple effect thing in Boyfriend's "Don't Touch My Girl" when they put their hands down doo-wop style. I need a dance MV to really zero in on the moves though.

Infinite H "Without You" Music Video

The Infinite subunit have released the full music video for their song "Without You". One of the better (if not the best) cut from the duos mini album, "Fly High," the video is more toned down than the one for "Special Girl" The fashion is more sophisticated and Dongwoo, Hoya and Zion T (the featured artist) show a more subdued yet sensual side of themselves, with splashes of color. Watch the video below.

Graded Song: Infinite H "Special Girl" + MV

Another K-Pop song to review. I'm guessing some of you are getting tired of these but as long as they keep coming, I plan on reviewing. This time around it's the newly formed subunit of Woolliment's successful group Infinite, known as Infinite H (H being hip-hop). The duo, consisting of Dongwoo and Hoya have enlisted the help of 2Wins' Bumkey for their song "Special Girl." Is the duo's new song worth the hype? For starters, the groove of the song is nice. I enjoyed the piano over the funky guitar picking. The song kind of reminds me of a more downtempo version of B.o.B's "Nothing on You." I did expect the song to have more of a hip-hop element and have less R&B/pop, but that's just me being nit-picky I guess. Overall Grade:C
The music video consists of Hoya as a movie star and Dongwoo as a big CEO who both interact with the same girl, who seems to be more intimidating than she really is. It's intercut with very colorful sets and small bits of choreography. I liked that it went along with the song and didn't try to be too out there, but again, I would have liked more choreography (since "The Chaser," I expect anything with Infinite on it to have some hawt choreo to be honest.)