TVXQ! – Keep your Head Down

Release date: January 5, 2011
Label: SM Entertainment, Avex Asia

Tracklist

  1. Why (Keep Your Head Down) [MV]
  2. 믿기 싫은 이야기 (The Story I Don’t Want to Believe)
  3. Maximum
  4. Crazy featuring Jay from Trax
  5. Honey Funny Bunny (Yunho’s solo)
  6. Rumor
  7. 고백 (Confession) – (Changmin’s solo)
  8. Our Game
  9. She
  10. Athena (Athena OST) [MV]
  11. Trip (Paradise Ranch OST)

DBSK comes back with current members Changmin and Yunho leading fans into a new era of DBSK. The title track Why (Keep Your Head Down) is catchy and has an edge that hooks the listener, drags them in and creates a desire for more. Maximum is another hard hitting dance track with a beautiful traditional instrument introduction.

Changmin and Yunho are lovely together as a duet, calming my fears of what they would sound like without the other three members. I enjoy the retro undertone to Crazy, and the simplicity of the rest of the song is a nice break after the complexity of the previous tracks. The album holds the DBSK sound, while pumping things up a bit at the same time.

Yunho’s R&B solo song Honey Funny Bunny helps slow things down in time for Rumor. I sometimes get bored with slow songs on albums, but I find the tempo just fast enough to keep me listening. Changmin’s solo ballad Confession is a beautiful and emotional track with simple piano and strings, which are very calming. Our Game has some nice electronic elements to it that are quite enjoyable without resorting to auto-tuning the crap out of the song. Let me also say, that there is very little auto-tune on this album, and that makes me happy. Maybe the boys will help get that out of Korea’s system.

All in all, Keep your Head Down has a great balance of dance tracks and slower songs, keeping the tradition of DBSK of having catchy tunes and amazing vocals.

Favorite track: Why (Keep Your Head Down)

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Preview on Xiami.com | Like it? Buy the album on YesAsia.com

Jenna

Part-time student, full-time media whore, fan of all things Asian.

10 Responses

  1. julili says:

    OOOOHHHH JENNA OSM REVIEW!
    Thank you, thank you, thanks you cus I could not have done it and stayed neutral. My review would have been all GA GA GAGAGAGAGGA *JIZZ JIZZ JIZZ*

    What I love about this album (and TVXQ in general) is that they always sound different from all other artists in the Korean music scene. No one has done or will do a song like Keep your head down or Maximum for that matter.

    Even JYJ who are coming out with their Korean album in 2 weeks, sound different.

    I hope that this album marks the beginning of an amazing Kpop year 2011!

  2. amy says:

    The review is good — maybe you should both switch your vices for objective reviews xD — and I must admit — to Julz specially — that the first single is really REALLY well produced. It’s what pop music should be worldwide.

    I’m rather disappointed though that the single is Jenna’s highlight. Gonna have to give it a go… once I catch up with all the music I’ve got lined up. By the way, is it available on iTunes or any proper music store… besides YesAsia?

  3. Julili says:

    Oi…. this new comment system is not that good… I can’t reply directly to comments… and why do I look like a monster?

    Well Amy, I suggest that u listen to Maximum as well! Very well done song.

    I would think that the Japanese version of the album is going to be available worldwide. Korean, not so sure. I might send the CD to you if u want hahah.

    To this day I think that Mirotic is TVXQ’s best produced album. All the songs are perfectly produced, there is an amazing vibe in the album and the sound is fresh.

    • yam magazine says:

      @Julili, didn’t you hear? The comment system got screwed up. Was asking for plugin suggestions… it’s been a sucky start of the year.

      This better? To change your avatar get/fix/modify your gravatar.com account (just use the email you’re using on wordpress).

      Btw, you know how I feel about the guys Japanese xD

      • Julili says:

        @yam magazine, Lol Funny thing is that they are releasing KYHD in Japanese. I heard it the other day and I’m prefering the Korean version. I’m so funny because for some reason I do prefer TVXQ in Japanese. But I think that is cus I heard the Japanese songs first. I can’t for the life of me listen to Mirotic in Jap hahaha

      • Julili says:

        @yam magazine,
        Yeah as long as we can reply then I think we are cool. I must have missed the memo…. pity the other comment plug in was really nice!

  4. ROXY says:

    I haven’t had the chance to listen to the whole thing but I agree on big thing. This single eases my worries about how they sound without the other three. To me Changmin and Yunho were the extremes of the group (the high vocals and the rapper.) So I’m glad this turned out cool. Keep Your Head Down is a sexy tune and the video is even more so but at the same time you can appreciate the vocal talent, it doesn’t get lost in effects or anything of the sort. LOVED Changmin rapping by the way ;D

    Now I’ll have to listen to the whole thing as soon as I can. Want to hear those slow tunes~

  5. K-RoK Rocks says:

    Sorry, but after several listens, Keep Your Head Down really is my favorite track. I like the deep vocals and the bass in the song. I enjoy the rest of the album, but it’s just the one that appeals most to me.

    • amy says:

      @K-RoK Rocks, finally listened to it. I think the only stand-out track, for me, is Keep your Head Down. But then again, people keep telling me that Mirotic is the best DBSK album, and I only liked the beat-driven tracks on that one.

  1. February 6, 2014

    […] is an R&B song from now duo DBSK, who have just released a repackaged version of their album Keep Your Head Down, released early January this […]

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