[Review] Mamamoo - Yellow Flower EP

One of these days, I will review a studio album and it will be glorious. However today is not that day. Instead we'll check in with Mamamoo because they're a group I love and also at the top of the girl group ladder. I'm going through their "Yellow Flower" EP for the first time, jotting down my thoughts on the songs as they go by. Since I'm beginning and planning to publish this on Friday, I'll probably have three listens at most for each track. This is about as pure and unfiltered of a review as I've ever done. Let's go.

2. Star Wind Flower Sun

Ignoring the intro "track" which lasts a whole 24 seconds, "Star Wind Flower Sun" leads off the EP. Given the current weather in New England, it's appropriate because it's a relaxing ballad. Besides the fact that it's mid-March and spring is theoretically around the corner. Anyway it's a pretty simple ballad but Moonbyul singing with her alto tones at 1:22 caught me so off guard. Her section of the song is by far my favorite. The song reminds me of EXID's ballad "Like The Seasons" mainly due to their Korean titles being four words. Obviously this is much slower and more flashy from a vocalist standpoint but still. We're starting off wonderfully.

3. Starry Night

"Starry Night" serves as the title track for the EP and right away I'm digging those R&B-esque tones which are really more akin to folk and Latin American vibes. Once again, Mamamoo is doing some experimenting while staying true to their formula. Except Moonbyul is singing again woah! We fans do not deserve this, but Moonbyul certainly does. Unlike another song on the mini, I felt that they used the prechorus buildup / crescendos much better in "Starry Night." Mamamoo songs don't usually have dance break choruses but they pulled this one off rather splendidly. Only thing I'll say about the music video - besides New Zealand being gorgeous - is that Moonbyul didn't deserve the pumpkin treatment. It's not too bad in the MV but on Weekly Idol that looked tragic.

4. Be Calm

Did someone say Hwasa solo? Hell yeah. Hwasa solo with R&B overtones? Double hell yeah. Hwasa's full voice can compliment a variety of genres but this is definitely one of her stronger options. Some of my favorite songs / appearances for her have been songs like "Piano Man" and "Love Comes" so "Be Calm" is right up that alley. Similar to "Star Wind Flower Sun,"this track is soothing and relaxing, perfect for a warm and quiet afternoon. Another simple yet sophisticated song which lends to Hwasa's strengths.

5. Rude Boy

Out of all the tracks so far, I like the opening and instrumental of this the most. Yes, even more than "Starry Night." Not sure what primary instrument is being used in the backing track but I love it. I also love yet another Moonbyul rap-singing line. Hopefully this is a pioneer (teaser?) for all girl group rappers in the future. Unfortunately, we have a case of Twice's "Cheer Up" here with Mamamoo pronouncing "rude" as "lewd" which makes the chorus take an entirely different meaning. The bridge is beautiful, and merely adds to the dismay that is a single mispronounced word hurting the song heavily. So far these have all been lowkey jams and while that's awesome, I'm hoping the last two will have something a little different.

6. Spring Fever

Well if this start is to be any indication, it'll be more of same here with "Spring Fever" haha. Not that I'm complaining, especially not with MORE MOONBYUL. Seriously, I'm at the point where even if the songs on this EP were mediocre they'd all be forgiven for having so much Moonbyul singing action. Though for the first time this album, her rap break eclipses her singing. Even though said rapping uses her higher register - and most find her lower range more attractive, myself included - it's that very same higher voice making this rap unique compared to her other masterpieces.

7. Paint Me

"Paint Me" was released earlier so I had peeked this already. My first impressions was that the song stayed in neutral the whole time despite being loud. The constant repeating of the same note progression didn't help. Listening to it again a week later, my opinions remain unchanged. Because the instrumental is mainly piano, the repetition is more evident and quite frankly makes the song seem far longer. It's like they threw in those progressions at random. Other ballads in "Yellow Flower" were simple yet effective, but "Paint Me" takes simple a little too far and falls flat as a result. This is definitely a step below the other tracks on the mini album due to its repetition but it's not a disaster. Only a disappointing ending, and that's only because I've been writing this review in track order.

Your opinion on this EP will likely depend on what you're looking for. If you wanted diversity and the tacky Mamamoo style, this is probably not the tracklist for you. On the other hand, if you wanted to see solid theme and execution you'd be hard-pressed to find an album this year that could match what Mamamoo did here. I am more in the former category, but I still appreciate the consistency of the tracks across this release. "Starry Night" and "Rude Boy" are a strong 1-2 punch, while the heavy dosage of Moonbyul singing and Hwasa solo are solid. Outside of the lackluster "Paint Me," this is slow tempo Mamamoo at high quality. An 85 score is nothing to be ashamed of. Good work, ladies.