2013, A Busy Year for SHINee (Reviewing Every SHINee Album Part 5)

In 2013, SHINee released their next full length album, The Misconceptions of Us, in August. It was a compilation album, comprised of songs from Dream Girl - The Misconceptions of You and Why So Serious? - The Misconceptions of Me, which were released in February and April respectively. The two albums compiled, with bonus material, consisted of twenty songs: a huge release!

1. Spoiler - This song starts off with a similar sound to Sherlock. The song is really funny as the lyrics "spoil" the rest of the songs on the album, mentioning them by name. Jonghyun wrote the lyrics to this, which delights me to no end. He had a great sense of humor and was so clever. While the song is kind of a trailer for the album, it still stands on its own with a dramatic vibe. Key and Onew's vocals in the bridge before the crescendo of a chorus are particularly poignant. The outro is great, with the chants of "Let's go!" and "SHINee's in the house!" It hypes the rest of the album.

2. Dream Girl - Upbeat, retro sound combines with hypnotic vocals to create one of SHINee's biggest hits of all time. This song racked up the wins back in 2013, and there's no question why. The song has a universal appeal while remaining unique. It's incredibly catchy and fun. The hook, the repetitive chime of the words "Dream Girl" is very memorable.

3. Hitchhiking - This song has an aggressive electric sound, reminiscent of a drill, but it's not grating. The vocals are the best part of the song by a wide margin, though. The "oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh" that repeats through the song is catchy, and I like that they say the words "hitchhiking baby" because it makes the song easy to remember. The rap is as aggressive as the drill-sound in the backtrack, with a great flow, which is not something I note in most SHINee raps. The melody, in contrast to the backtrack, carries the retro feeling that Dream Girl has. I think that it gives the album a cohesive feeling, as many songs have that sound.

4. Punk Drunk Love - I love this song. It sounds like something you'd hear in an 80s Disney movie, like The Goofy Movie. "Punch, one-two," in the chorus is so jazzy feeling. I love the funky, old-school bass sound and the simple drum beat. Some more experienced music critics said that this song reminded them of Michael Jackson, and I could see that. I love Taemin's vocals before the funky little rhythmic chant portion of the song around the 2:45 mark, definitely something to listen for. Taemin continues to come into his own in this album, establishing himself as a true vocalist.

5. Girls, Girls, Girls - Oh my, this song is adorable. It reminds me of "Hello" from the second album. The bass is funky and prominent, but the charm point of the song is the sweet vocals. Taemin sounds like a precious baby in the opening lines, but everyone follows suit with soft, almost squeaky vocals. Minho's vocals suit the song particularly, with his almost meek singing. The rap is actually one of my favorite parts, as it sounds so playful. It's the perfect way to end the song.

6. Aside - If "Punk Drunk Love" reminds me of Michael Jackson, the this song gives a more mellow, Lionel Richie vibe. It's something that I could imagine hearing in the Wii Bowling alley, with it's nice chime-like back track. I like the vocals; they're simple in the verses and beautifully harmonious in the chorus. Onew and Jonghyun's delivery of the bridge is a highlight, followed by Taemin's soulful iteration of the pre-chorus. The rap from Minho in the outro is negligible, however. I wish he had not been short-changed in that way.

7. Beautiful - This is another favorite of mine. I think the song has a slow start, and I don't really enjoy Taemin and Jonghyun's opening lines, but it picks up the pace with Key and Onew before bursting into a powerful and catchy chorus. Key really owns every line that he sings in this song. The backtrack is fun and Minho's rap compliments it well, with a fun, upbeat, playful vibe. The song is retro in a sort of early 2000s electronica way, but definitely distinct and memorable from the other songs' on the album.

8. Dynamite - This song has a great live performance which can be viewed on YouTube, in which Minho rips his shirt off. That's neither here nor there, but I would be remiss if I didn't mention it at least. The song is dramatic and haunting sounding, the backtrack almost sounding like it's being played in reverse or something. Jonghyun ate this song up, by the way. Each line he sings, he puts his whole soul into. Taemin is quite impressive in the bridge as well, an excellent example of his vastly improved vocal ability. The only complaint I have of this song is that it feels kind of repetitive, which I think is the fault of the backtrack.

9. Runaway - "Hey love, let's run away!" These fun, playful lyrics are emblematic of the feeling of the song. This, like "Punch Drunk Love" sounds like it could be in an 80s Disney movie. The rap is particularly cute. I think the song is fun, but not one of the stand-out tracks in my opinion.

10. Selene 6.23 - This album is unique in that we've made it to track ten before encountering a ballad or slow song. I think that it's a good choice, because it makes the song stand out all the more. The song is beautiful and moving, with lyrics by Jonghyun. It makes great use of rests and pauses. This song was a collab with famous pianist Yiruma, and it shows. The instrumentals are gorgeous, standing strong alongside SHINee's powerful and evocative vocals. This song is really good live, if you have the chance to hear that version of it.

11. Nightmare - This song represents something of a shift in tone, taking on a darker tone than any of the previous songs in the album. I personally do not care for the electronic backtrack or the autotune on their voices. It has a sort of grating quality. I love Jonghyun's vocals in this song, however, and the chorus has a villainous sound that I quite enjoy.

12. Why So Serious? - This song has a retro sound akin to Punch Drunk Love. I love the harmonies on the chorus and Minho's half-sung rap lines, which he shares with Taemin at another point in the song. I think the title is corny, but it is incredibly catchy when they sing it in the chorus. Onew's voice shines in this song as he sings in a slighter lower range than typical. Taemin's and Jonghyun's vocals before the final chorus, around the 2:45 mark, are powerful and memorable. The song is upbeat and fun, but overall one of SHINee's weaker title tracks.

13. SHINe (Medusa I) - This song starts with a sound similar to Sherlock (like Spoiler on this album). "We are shining in the east, we are shining in the west," is the memorable hook in this song, cheesy as it is, but overall the song is kind of unremarkable. It's too similar to other songs on the album without standing out with any unique quality of its own. The most distinct is the sound of the backtrack which, at times, is reminiscent of a water level in a Super Monkey Ball video game.

14. Orgel - I like the xylophone-like instrumental in the song, which sounds mysterious and wistful at the same time. The harmony of the vocals in the chorus sound hushed and breathy. I don't get the title. I also feel like I spend the song waiting for the moment that it really kicks off, but it never has that moment for me. I like Jonghyun's adlibbed vocals in the outro, though.

15. Dangerous (Medusa II) - I hate the way the song starts, but once the sound effects end and the melody actually begins, it's much better. The stupid sound effect countdown parts interrupt what is otherwise a fun song. The song is memorable because of the lyrics and the repetition of the word "danger" throughout. The chorus is really good, with classic SHINee harmony and a retro vibe. The song has melancholic backing vocals, too. I really enjoy Minho's almost lazy, speak-rapping toward the end of the song. Definitely not a favorite for me, but the vocals are good as usual.

16. Like a Fire - This is one of my favorite SHINee songs of all time. It's super fun and has an incredible live performance associated with it which I highly recommend looking up. The chorus is supremely catchy. I love the instrumentals, with a nice baseline, fun synth, and something like an electric guitar. The verses are likewise good. I enjoy the rapped lines with the refrain of "hot, hot" and "my love" interspersed. The low-key pre-chorus is also genius, as it makes the bombastic chorus all the more impactful. Jonghyun's dramatic "saranghae" in the song's third act is memorable, as are his high notes. Onew's adlibs and the "baby baby baby" chant in the end is also iconic. No notes. For me, the perfect SHINee song,

17. Excuse Me Miss - This is another song with a great live performance associated with it. I enjoy the groovy, jazz vibe of the song. Jonghyun's vocals and delivery are show-stopping. Taemin plays well off of his performance as well. While the vocals are almost hushed at times, they are still strong, suiting the backtrack of the song. Key's rap is magnificent, with a quiet confidence. Minho takes over to close out the song with a bit more gusto. Both raps have good flow and are a great way to end this song.

18. Evil - This song has a harsh vibe, with a crunchy static sounding noise in the backtrack. The song sounds dark and upbeat at the same time. I imagine a junkyard gang dancing to the song in a teen musical. The chorus is super catchy. The heart beat motif contributes to the drama. I love Onew's breakdown about 2/3 of the way through the song. Basically, it goes hard from start to finish. Another song to enjoy a live performance of.

19. Sleepless Night - A complete tonal shift from the song previous, this is a classic SHINee ballad. This song is very organic, with simple piano instrumentation. The harmonies in the chorus are, of course, beautiful. Taemin's voice is particularly notable, with his delivery of the word "tonight." Layers of complexity are added with a violin as the song progresses. Minho gets a soft-spoken, almost whispered rap verse. Everyone's vocal abilities are on full display. Jonghyun hits some impressive long/high notes. It's a lovely song, but not super different from any other piano-forward SHINee ballad.

20. Better Off - The album concludes with another slower song. It sounds like it would fit in well on their first album in terms of the backtrack. Even the melody is the sort of thing I'd expect from 2008. I do like the refrain, and Key's unique vocal flavor stands out in this song. His thick, nasally delivery contrasts with the softer instrumentals. I also really like Minho's rap; the tone he takes on is kind of pitched up and nasally, too, but I wish it were more prominent against the background vocals. I would say it's not the strongest song to end the album with, but it's, obviously, still good.

I'm honestly surprised to reflect back on this album and see how many songs I truly love. I like the fact that out of the 20 songs, only 3 are slower, ballad-type songs. SHINee's vocal abilities are no joke, but upbeat, funky, retro-sounding songs are what really make the group stand out from other K-Pop acts, in my opinion. I would say that at least 3/4 of the album are what I would call "bangers." When this album was released, I was in college and preoccupied, so I didn't give it the attention it deserved at the time. Now, I can confidently say that this album is truly exemplary.

As if a 20-song album wasn't enough, SHINee came back in October 2013 with the mini-album Everybody, featuring another 7 songs.

1. Everybody - The song really leaned into the dubstep sound that was super popular at the time. The song is fast paced, almost blistering. The choreography is absolutely insane, with giant, calisthenic-type moves. The dance is probably the most notable thing about the song, which you can tell from the instrumental breaks. That's not to say the song itself isn't good or memorable, because it is. It's super catchy too, with the chorus, repeating the word "Everybody" being downright infectious. Jonghyun's vocals in the bridge are amazing as well. The song is "big" in every way, with long, high notes and bass drops and cool vocal effects aplenty.

2. Symptoms - An R&B style song, which is kind of slow to start, but it builds quickly into a rather sexy sounding chorus. The pre-chorus is my favorite part, the way it builds with fast, choppy lyrics. I like the way the song flows almost erratically and irregularly at times. The bridge contributes to the discordant yet cohesive sound. The song ends with vocals that almost sound moany before fading out.

3. Queen of New York - This song is sort of odd to me, honestly. But I think it's cute, especially Key's contributions, including his intro wherein he says, "this girl, she like a queen." The chorus has an old school SHINee vibe. Portions of the verses are half-rap, half-sung with auto-tune effects, and the rest feature classic, strong SHINee vocals. I can hear them saying "New York" several times in the chorus, so it helps me to remember the song. It's nice to find those tether points when identifying songs in a foreign language.

4. One Minute Back - The backtrack is kind of mysterious sounding with something like a somber slide whistle. Otherwise, the song is almost hard to describe. The clicking clock sound, with the acapella-style harmony that breaks up the song is memorable, as well as the boxing bell ring effect. Minho's rap is cool, too; I wish it was longer. It has a very modern rap sound. The bridge is kind of out of place, with simple piano instrumentation, but it ends abruptly before heading back into the very punchy chorus.

5. Destination - I love the heavy beat and the fun rhythm of the vocals. I like the "la la la la" in the chorus, as it's especially catchy. They repeat the word "Destination" multiple times, so it's easy to know what song you're listening to. This song seems like it would fit in with some of the songs from Misconceptions of Us, with a Disney movie sound, with the exception of Minho's rather lengthy rap verse. This song is a favorite of mine.

6. Close the Door - I like the backtrack, with the swelling strings in the beginning followed by an old-school keyboard once the vocals begin. It's a cute-sounding R&B song. It's slower, but still fun. I love Onew's vocals in the outro.

7. Colorful - This is a cute, happy song, with fun electronic, almost 8-bit sounding backtrack. It also features pretty chimes. The vocals are syrupy. I love the lyrics, "I think you're magical, I think you're wonderful!" The rap is so super fun, too. Key's rap verse is especially cool. This song got a special music video as a thank you to the fans and holds a special place in my heart for that reason, but aside from that, it's just a nice, cheerful song. "You make my life colorful" is a beautiful sentiment to end the EP on.

Everybody was the last Korean mini-album that SHINee released as a group, and I wonder why? As the group's activities have slowed down in recent years, I wonder if they simply don't have time for smaller releases, especially in light of everyone's solo careers? Regardless, this EP was a nice entry in SHINee's discography with some memorable and fun songs.