footballfina 29,566 Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Between Two Nerds By Madeleine Lee and Daniel Montesinos-Donaghy (op: this is a really long article but I think it brings up some important and insightful points about f(x) as a group) Last month in Seoul, the K-pop quartet f(x) held an art exhibition. f(x)'s record label SM had hosted exhibitions before, but this promotional gambit felt particularly suited to their group. Like the gallery space they took over, f(x) represent something refined, exclusive even. They’re not just one of the most distinctive groups in South Korea; they're one of the planet's most exciting pop acts. Assembled by SM in 2009, f(x) rounded the regular South Korean idol circuit—TV shows, mobile phone campaigns, forays into other Asian markets—until truly coming into their own in 2013. That year’s Pink Tape LP was stunning, a technicolor blow of surreal humor, engaged performances, and boundless imagination. 2014's Red Light lessened the surprises, but it too was full of stunning moments that crowned f(x) as K-pop's premier album act—a point echoed by Noisey contributor Jakob Dorof last year, when he called them "the standard to beat, for everyone." Despite these successes, however, f(x) are often viewed as underdogs and outsiders. That image is partly due to a lack of attention from SM in comparison to the agency’s other stars like EXO and Girls Generation, but it also comes from their music being less accessible than that of their peers. This view was intensified when their Red Light campaign sputtered to a halt when Sulli, arguably the face of f(x), left the group. SM hastily debuted another girl group to cover the sudden gap, and f(x) retreated from the spotlight, their future thrown into jeopardy. Now they’ve resurfaced as a four-member group with 4 Walls, an album that may be their greatest yet—and, if rumors are true, their last. With questions looming about f(x)'s place in Korean pop and the legacy that they might leave behind if they do indeed call it quits, critics Madeleine Lee and Daniel Montesinos-Donaghy sat down to discuss the group and their excellent new album. ~ Daniel: Off the bat: Can we call f(x) one of South Korean pop's vanguard acts? Madeleine: Among fans in South Korea and abroad, f(x) have a reputation as underdogs, when in reality they're quite popular—their singles always win on the weekly music show circuit and their members are individually known to the public, which is more than can be said for the majority of idol groups. This perception is probably partly due to the way SM has neglected the group and its fans as compared to the agency's other artists; f(x) have been around for six years but were only given a solo concert and an official fanclub name (normally a necessity for any group that survives its rookie years) for the first time this year. But it definitely is also due to their image as less accessible than other K-pop artists, both in their music and in their visual concepts. Compare them to SM's other major girl group, Girls' Generation, who are on the opposite side of the accessibility scale. Additionally, without getting too much into this, I think f(x) are marketed less explicitly toward male fans than other girl groups like Girls' Generation. So yes, f(x) are definitely one of the vanguard acts of K-pop in that there is nobody really doing exactly what they do—and definitely not on the major-label scale SM can afford. Concept-wise, groups like Brown Eyed Girls are similarly avant-garde, but it's rare to find a group that experiments in the way f(x) does; their songs are usually assemblages of sounds and ideas with melodies on top. Their albums, particularly outside of the singles, ping from genre to genre: Consider the titular witchy trap single from Red Light. If they aren't seen at the vanguard, it's only because of the marketing. Sulli's departure interrupted Red Light's promotional campaign, which was a blow. There are all sorts of gossipy reasons as to why she left, but ultimately, her heart wasn't in music anymore. However, in a way, her timing was perfect for f(x): 4 Walls is the fourth full-length album for a now four-membered group, a group that some people weren't sure would come back at all, given the way SM seems to feel about them already. How do you think it stands up to the rest of the group's discography? Daniel: Pretty well! It’s interesting you mention f(x) songs by and large assembling interesting sonics in lieu of traditional pop catchiness, because 4 Walls sounds like—get this—a collection of pop hits. Familiar collaborators abound—crack industry songwriter Kenzie, publishing powerhouse Jam Factory—but new blood keeps the enterprise fresh. Carly Rae Jepsen donates a cut from her E-MO-TION album sessions, Zico of popular idol group Block B appears for a sleek cameo, and production outfit LDN Noise (behind SM bangers like Red Velvet’s ) make 4 Walls feel different from past f(x) records. Greg Bonnick and DJ Hayde C of LDN provide three songs, including the lead single and title track, and their glistening pop-house compositions act as anchors throughout the album, almost dividing it into three acts. It’s interesting to wonder if SM were themselves uncertain about the group’s future after Sulli’s exit. A rumor circulating earlier this year that 2015 would be “a make or break year†left me considering whether or not the the overall cohesiveness of this new album is a response to internal pressure. As a foursome, f(x) feel more on trend, dealing more exclusively in the sounds that have taken over the charts in the UK (appropriately the first location they performed in as an official quartet). The vast number of pop-savvy post-Disclosure offshoots on UK radio serve as notable inspirations here, as opposed to the scattershot genre gumbo of the group’s previous albums. As a Brit, pop-house is something I’ve grown sick of, but the group strive to make familiar sounds interesting again. On songs like "4 Walls," the group’s romantic fervor fulfils the euphoria that drives some of the best house and pop music; later on in "X" they’re at their cheekiest, giggling melodies over bubbling Richard X-style Europop. When EDM touches pop up on "Cash Me Out," it’s jarring if only for its dated bursts of wub-wub breaks, but it makes more sense within the context of the surrounding material than when it happened . By the album’s midway point, it’s evident f(x) have adapted into a more cohesive unit by making a straight-up dance-pop album. They sound tighter as vocalists—particularly fan-fave rapper Amber, who used to be awkwardly shoehorned into post-chorus 16s but has grown into a confident presence on her own accord. Importantly, they sound like they’re having fun, which was not always the case on their previous work. Red Light felt suffused with danger, with abrasive blasts, percussive handguns and horror-movie screams peeking out from the mix. 4 Walls’ best song, the retro-fitted ballad "Traveller," uses the group’s ease with unease to tap into something different: restlessness, longing, melancholy. Their comfort zone used to be in ambition; with that toned down, they’ve transitioned into subtlety. What do you think, Madeleine? Does a turn towards more accessible sonics fill you with as much optimism as it does me? And if this does end up being f(x)’s swan song, did they matter? Madeleine: Yes! For all the reasons you mention, 4 Walls is their strongest album yet: more cohesive than their previous albums, without sacrificing the diversity that has become the backbone of the group’s sound. I would argue that their music has always been in pursuit of a trend, just not always the right or most current one. A large chunk of Pink Tape is predicated on the same kind of hybrid rap-EDM as 2NE1’s “I Am The Best,†for instance. So pop-house, which is probably the global sound of the moment, is a great choice, and it helps that labelmate SHINee’s LDN Noise-penned single was a big hit earlier this year. Listening to 4 Walls, I was struck by how often one song seemed to complement a previous one; for instance, “Rude Love†has a similar pop-house pulse to “4 Walls,†but the mood is less mystical and more wistful. If this ever happened on previous albums, it seemed coincidental, rather than part of the design as it does here. Even “Papiâ€, which most people agree is the worst song—and I don’t even think it’s that bad!—has a great rap from Amber over electro-swing. “Glitter†is the worst song to me for being the least ambitious, but perhaps its position as the second song helps announce that the approach is going to be different this time. As for f(x)’s place in K-pop history, it helps that this would be a hell of a note for them to end on: 4 Walls debuted at the top of Billboard’s World Albums Chart and is already the number two best-selling girl group album of all time in South Korea. Musical influence in the K-pop industry tends to spread due to trends, but I think f(x)’s influence can already be felt in SM’s newest girl group, Red Velvet, who were hastily debuted around the same time f(x) went on hiatus last year. Their poppy, color-blocked debut felt similar to f(x)’s , and they’ve already released The Red, an album that balances a conventional take on R&B and pop alongside f(x)’s experimental approach; “Cool World†would be the calmest cut from 4 Walls. However, it’s hard for me to think about f(x)’s legacy when, with 4 Walls, they’ve embarked on a new phase and new musical direction. Now seems like a tough time to quit, if it does indeed happen. And even as prominent Korean pop acts have hit a point of being more idiosyncratic and individual right now than ever before, that growing wave of individualism would make the loss of pioneers like f(x) stick out even more. Daniel Montesinos-Donaghy is a writer living in London. Follow him on Twitter. Madeleine Lee is a writer living in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter. http://noisey.vice.com/blog/fx-4-walls-album-review-discussion?utm_source=noiseytwitterus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Libidinosa 2,756 Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Hipster concept is lame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) 148 Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 tl dr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cloud Of Perception 12,466 Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 I think Fx is given a lot of credit they are one of the most popular groups in kpop as well as one of the better reviewed kpop groups. Their last three albums have been loved not just by fans but others as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twisted 1,236 Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Yes, but the thing is they are not underappreciated by the public, they are underappreciated by their company. Only now things seems to get favorable for them, like the solo concert in January and earning a fandom name soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atlkpopfan 2,451 Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 How much more appreciation do you think they need??? It seems they get mostly praise from everyone. Just because they don't outs sale all of their peers, or top every list you can name doesn't mean they aren't appreciated it. I could think of dozens more groups who truly are under appreciated and have little to no public recognition. They're in a good place I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chase 136 Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Like 2NE1, they are underappreciated by their company and country. But by fans, as well as general K-pop fans, they are far from it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DemonicPotato 2,197 Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 4walls is far from being the best f(x) album though. I feel like what happened with Shinee earlier this year is happening again; people realized they were making good music... but their previous albums were much better. I also don't understand why SM is blamed for f(x) not being popular enough (which is already a bit ridiculous, because they are very popular), when the only thing f(x) is praised for is their music... which is given to them by SM. Like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qri 4,063 Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 "Among fans in South Korea and abroad, f(x) have a reputation as underdogs, when in reality they're quite popular" Pretty much, no they're not under appreciated, they have a very large fanbase, their songs consistently do well on the charts and they are fairing a lot better than most other K-pop groups. And imo, their "hipster, tumblr-esque" concept only really sprung up during the Pink Tape era with their 'Shadow Art Film'. Before then, they had been consistently releasing very standard pop songs (i.e. Electric Shock, Hot Summer, Pinocchio, Nu ABO) - don't get me wrong, they were all great songs, but they were hardly experimental. And even then, when Red Light came out (which was no doubt their most experimental song at the time) fans complained that the song was too disjointed and preferred the aesthetic of the album to the actual songs. And now with '4 Walls', I would still argue that it isn't an experimental album, but rather just a shift in genre from electropop to house music. Sure, f(x)'s aesthetic is very different to the general look of K-pop girl groups, but then again 2NE1 and 4Minute were also known for breaking the mold back in 2009 and not having a generic "cute" or "sexy" concept like most groups had back then alongside f(x), but I wouldn't necessarily classify those groups as being experimental either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Stupid Jellyfish 1,913 Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 4walls is far from being the best f(x) album though. I feel like what happened with Shinee earlier this year is happening again; people realized they were making good music... but their previous albums were much better. I also don't understand why SM is blamed for f(x) not being popular enough (which is already a bit ridiculous, because they are very popular), when the only thing f(x) is praised for is their music... which is given to them by SM. Like? Agree with this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zhang Yixing>You 867 Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Underappreciated by sm appreciated by fans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*lesigh* 6,759 Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 They're not underrated or underappreciated. I wouldn't even say they're underpromoted, they get one comeback a year and often times they're unable to promote those comebacks fully for reasons SM doesn't have full control over. SNSD is SM's mainstream girl group that appeals to the masses and f(x) is SM's semi-experimental girl group that appeals to the hipsters. f(x) is obviously quite popular, they can sell around 100,000 copies of an album which is unheard of for most girl groups. The only thing about f(x) is that SM hadn't given them a solo concert or a fandom name, which SM seems to be doing now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noon 20,968 Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 You can't say they are underappreciated and then go brag about their impressive album sales. I love f(x) but I do feel like the "underappreciated narrative" has blinded people to a lot of their achievements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellectrified 3,571 Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 I don't think they're underappreciated. They've gained recognitions for their latest albums, got amazing first week sales for the current one, and I've seen many reviews regarding their latest releases. I mean, for me, that means the girls got enough appreciation. Underutilized? If this question came before this comeback, I would say yes, but now look. SM gave them a full album comeback, and now us f(ans) will get fandom name and a solo concert soon. So I don't think they're underutilized. I think people just have to see that f(x) indeed is a group with edgy music and style, but they still garner success even so. That shows something. Also, "hipster is lame"? lmfao When you come to this thread, you've already shown your interest, so just embrace it. Don't hide it and then get all hypocrite lmfao Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesclues 5,048 Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 I like the image of inaccessibility and no mindless sexy (or innocent) concepts that companies always revert to for a quick buck in general (male) popularity once the members are of age (or worse when some still aren't). And even being from SM, they don't feel like an SM group. They're popular without the overbearing and excessive mediaplay or a fandom trying to prove they're royalty. It's refreshing and that reverberates with how well liked and appreciated they are by official fans, casual fans, and the GP IMO. They're the Switzerland of kpop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yeongwonhi 1,416 Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Hipster concept is lame. wtf is a hipster concept Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOONBIN 877 Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 the have a big fanbase so no, they have high album sales and are often praised for their music and albums being called as 'bibles'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
...~ 111 Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 The underappreciated one is TRAX & CSJH, not f(x) hun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovelikewhitney 1,667 Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 tl dr Also..."heroes" of kpop? Who are the villains? They're a kpop group, not batman xD I'm laughing at the title, not F(x). Just putting that out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nowhere Boy 2,431 Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 no Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minechin 915 Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 The underappreciated one is TRAX & CSJH, not f(x) hun. Mte #JusticeForCSJH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yunhae_yunhae 792 Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 As a foursome, f(x) feel more on trend, dealing more exclusively in the sounds that have taken over the charts in the UK (appropriately the first location they performed in as an official quartet). The vast number of pop-savvy post-Disclosure offshoots on UK radio serve as notable inspirations here, as opposed to the scattershot genre gumbo of the group’s previous albums. As a Brit, pop-house is something I’ve grown sick of, but the group strive to make familiar sounds interesting again. Agreed. For years I've been saying "I hate house music!" but in the last year or two it's grown on me, and SM's house songs have forced me to admit that I actually kinda love it (or maybe it's just SM doing it well) It would be great if k-pop stopped focusing on breaking the US so much and turned to the UK instead, because this music fits in really well here (plus we actually like pop groups) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dissonance 350 Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Agreed. For years I've been saying "I hate house music!" but in the last year or two it's grown on me, and SM's house songs have forced me to admit that I actually kinda love it (or maybe it's just SM doing it well) It would be great if k-pop stopped focusing on breaking the US so much and turned to the UK instead, because this music fits in really well here (plus we actually like pop groups) i feel so late... I'm just getting into house music got any recs?? (non kpop) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STORM 7,555 Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 No, they're not. They have been one of the top girl groups of the last few years. What more do you want? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nancy mcflurry 2,385 Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 You can't say they are underappreciated and then go brag about their impressive album sales. I love f(x) but I do feel like the "underappreciated narrative" has blinded people to a lot of their achievements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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