Jae-Ha Kim
Variety
February 13, 2020
It’s no coincidence that the release date for Monsta X’s latest project “All About Luv” is on Valentine’s Day — title aside, all of its songs explore elements of relationships. But don’t call it a love album: for as many sweet nothings as the set contains, its most powerful tracks deal with breakups and deceit.
Another distinguishing trait of the album: it’s the rare instance — excepting BoA’s eponymous 2009 LP and JYJ’s 2010 release “The Beginning,” which included input from Kanye West and Malik Yusef — of a K-pop act singing entirely in English. Most groups wouldn’t attempt this. The Korean and English languages don’t share a common alphabet, which makes it difficult to enunciate certain words without sounding awkward.
But this K-pop twist works well on Monsta X’s 11-track offering, released by Epic Records. Full of throbbing beats, inquisitive lyrics and, yes, the international language of love, the Korean group’s powerful vocal delivery doesn’t get lost in translation. “All About Luv” is a sleek production that seamlessly blends soulful pop with elements of hip-hop and EDM.
Since their 2015 debut, Monsta X’s strength has been in the versatility of their rappers (Jooheon, I.M) and vocalists (Shownu, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon and Wonho, who is featured on this album, but no longer a member of the group). Both lines co-exist beautifully in almost every song.
“Is it him or me? / ‘Cause I can’t take the pressure anymore,” the group pleads in the opening track “Who Do U Love?” — which also closes out the album with a reworked remix by will.i.am. Originally released as a single last summer, Monsta X members trade lines with each other in falsetto, before stepping back to let rapper French Montana do his thing. Montana’s vocal style is catchy, but his lyrical input is a bit of a head-scratcher: “Show me the ‘Titty Boi’ / 2 Chainz / Now the beef cookin’ like Gordon Ramsay.”
Huh?
If that’s the version you listen to getting ready to go out, the will.i.am collaboration is the song you’ll want to hear when you hit the dance floor. With precise syncopated beats, the bass-heavy instrumental is the perfect backdrop for will.i.am’s droll delivery. He already knows the answer to the question he’s asking: “You’re the one I love / Come on, come on baby, baby tell me / Who do you love? / Talk to me girl.”
With “Love U,” the sugary delivery can’t disguise the fact that the song is about young love and, um, sex. “What can we do with all your friends around?” Jooheon impatiently asks. Wonho and Shownu wryly acknowledge that if they didn’t have to worry about being bleeped, the song would be more graphic than it is: “I really really wanna love you / But I can’t say the word I want to / Cuz they won’t play it on the radio / But I know you know.”
Monsta X switches into player mode with the gospel-like “Got My Number,” offering themselves up as willing side pieces. The table is turned for “Middle of the Night” as they sleep alone, fretful about having been replaced by other love interests. And in what could be the final song in this co-dependent trilogy, the piano-driven ballad “Misbehave” tells the story of a messed up relationship that revels in the euphoria of makeup sex: “Love it when we mess things up / Every time we argue / Straight into the bedroom.”
By comparison, “Beside U” — the highly-anticipated collaboration with Pitbull — is surprisingly lethargic and lacks the punch of the other tracks.
“Happy Without Me” will resonate with anyone who has ever been through a split. The passive aggressive lyrics are offset by the group’s lush harmonies. As each member offers platitudes (“I should really want the best for you”), Kihyun’s vocal arpeggio drops the truth bomb: “I hate to see you happy without me.”
With “All About Luv,” Monsta X has proven that K-pop transcends language barriers. And that’s something to be happy about.
“With the all-English ‘All About Luv,’ @OfficialMonstaX proves that K-pop transcends language barriers,” writes @GoAwayWithJae in her @Variety album review https://t.co/IhbEakCjjX
— Variety (@Variety) February 14, 2020
doing an all english song is not really transcending language barrier. It’s like saying if they made an english version of Parasite it transcended the language barrier.
That’s not what she said though. She said “With “All About Luv,” Monsta X has proven that K-pop transcends language barriers.” That means whether the K-pop bands sing in Korean or English or Japanese it’s still they are still Korean artists. Justin Bieber sang in Spanish but he’s still a Canadian singer right?
Great album. Jooheon is the mvp of this one!
I loved the album, was kind of prepared to not liking at least one song but I’m so happy that’s not the case. I love that like the Japanese we get to have an album in our language!
The Pitbull song was slower than what I expected but I still liked it!
Thank you so much for the review of Monsta X’s very anticipated english album ‘All About Luv’. Given that they typically sing in Korean (and occasionally Japanese) their pronunciation in english is phenomenal! Of course, they have been working hard to learn and it clearly shows through this album. Not to mention, their powerful vocals are an absolute delight and a treat to my ears.
Although, I have to agree with you on French Montana’s verse in Who Do You Love. It really makes no sense and the song could do without it. In all honesty, I would have preferred Changkyun or Jooheon to write their own verse for the song. Also their collaboration with Pitbull is a bit slower than expected but I think it makes sense. In my opinion, I think the pace of the song fits the overall mood of the album. If it had been more fast paced it would have felt out of place. Of course, this is just all my opinion.
In any case, I am grateful for the thoughtful review. I sincerely hope people have an open mind to give them a chance, they wont regret it!
Thank you so much for reviewing the album! I’ve been waiting for this for months and I’m so excited it’s finally here! Monsta X has amazing vocals and beats and I don’t care what language they sing in, I am there for it because their music is just that good.
Thanks for this review Jae! It got me to check a group I wasn’t familiar with. I’m not a huge Kpop fan but It makes me want to listen to their other albums.
I am listening to this nonstop. It’s such a great album and the boys did a great job with it!
Every album they release is a cut above the rest. This album rest exposes and explores all facets of Love both positive and negative. We cannot live this life without having experiencing these emotions. The beats , melodies, drops are all amazing . Every single song on this album is a hit. Monsta X strikes again .. sstraight to the the heart.WOW well worth the wait.
It’s an amazing album! The band is so diverse the more I listen the more I’m smitten.
Thank you for this review! It’s a great dissection of the album. Completely agree with the part about Montana, his rap was lacking on an amazing song.
The members have worked really hard to make this album, and we can definitely hear it. Their pronunciation is excellent, and their vocals so beautiful.
Pop or Kpop, Monsta X is killing it right now. I’ll try to contain my surprise if they don’t become one of America’s favorite boy groups soon. They’ve definitely got the looks and the charisma and this album proves they’ve got the vocals to back it up. But this review does confirm that these featured artists are just giving fans throw away verses. The music label should be giving them quality artists not just big names who aren’t givng their best because Monsta X isn’t well known in the western world. Thanks for this review!
This is definitely a concept album from Monsta X. It is a departure from their typical EDM sound. Though, they have always rocked the ballads! I hope this release introduces this great group to an even broader audience! These hard working men deserve all the attention and accolades.
Why? This review is for everyone and not just stans and people wanna know if Wonho is included on the album or not. If she just wrote that he was included, people would be asking if he’s still a part of Monsta X. Nothings wrong with writing facts.
lmao Why are people so pressed that Monsta X sang in English? They’ve sung in Chinese and Japanese too and did a great job and they did a great job with English. If this album was in Korean, they would’ve done a great job with that. Why are people so stingy about wanting to credit them with trying something new and succeeding? smh
Why do people consider it selling out if a group wants to be popular in the U.S.? Doesn’t everyone want to make as much money as they can? Are you selling out if you take a promotion at a job? Is that bootlicking? Armys what do you think BTS is doing with all their collabs and their songs in English? Did BTS sellout whenthey sang entirely in English on Waste It On Me?
For whatever reason they decided to do it all in English. They’re grown men who wanted to try it out. Why is that booklicking?
Interesting but do you have a problem with the review or the tweet that variety sent out because it looks to me that they took bits and pieces of her words and tweeted them out as a singular quote. Kpop is Koreans singing pop music. It’s Kpop if a Korean sings in Japanese or Chinese or English.
If BTS did an album all in English you’d be praising them for their hard work. But you hate to see another group get a little praise.
ARMY being petty. Ignore them.
uncalled for. We’re just wondering. i understand the review but the headline was misleading.
one question: since when music in English to English speaking market is considered transcending language barriers? or does it means that the guys nationality as Koreans is that makes their English pop album to be k-pop? so you just meant that kpop should conform to sing in english/whatever language speaking market they want to cross into.
good lesson. everyone should speak english.
Reaching
Really reading a lot into this aren’t you. Just be happy for them and move on. Your biases still rule the world so stop being such a complainer.
Some people made really good comments about the transcdencing thing but some also seem awfully precious about it not being worthy music if it’s not sung in Korean and that’s pretty small minded and just the flip side of racists who only want songs in English. Let the groups do what they want and follow their own creative paths. If that includes English I don’t care. I will figure out what they’re singing. If they want to capture more of the north american market with English songs let them. Jesus just leave them alone to do what they want!
When Kpop groups releases Japanese albums and videos no one blinks but Monsta X does an English album and they’re sellouts? gtfo
99.99 percent of the criticism of this album from armys is that BTS didn’t do it first. 🤮 If they had sung an entire album in English they would be bending over backwards to justify why it was such a coup! Monsta X is still a kpop group. Let them enjoy their success.
Love this album and this is a great article
All About Luv is the perfect Valentine’s Day present from seven men who have worked impossibly hard since before their debut in 2015. Monsta X are idols not just in name but in the way they always strive to be and do their best. I adore every track on this album and appreciate how they worked extra hard to release an English album as a nod to their international fanbase.
Monsta X are truly talented artists. Despite not being native English speakers they put in the effort to learn and study the language and it shows. What a wonderful article!Thank you so much, you have no idea how much this means to their fans.
MONSTA X sounds great in any language. They are so talented and hard working. This album is another amazing one to add to their library of music. Great job!