REVIEW: F.Cuz - For Century Ultimate Zest

Why hello there! It's J here, and I'm back with another review and this time it's none other than the 'For Century Ultimate Zest' album by F.Cuz! "Who? F what?" you might ask.

F.Cuz might be a little underrated it seems, but I would like to say that this album is a faaaaantastic album consisting of 5 tracks and 1 remix track, and that F.Cuz, who debuted back in January of 2010 with "Jiggy", really did a great job with this. The addition of their new members Raehyun and Daegeon was definitely a good move, IMO. Without further ado, I present to you 'For Century Ultimate Zest'!

The size of it is a little larger than your normal CD case, and it has a star cut-out flip cardboard case. The cardboard isn't flimsy at all, so +1 for that, and another +1 for the unique cut-out cover! I'm a real sucker for packaging and design. :(

Contained inside the foam barrier you get your standard photobooklet, the CD, and a bigger than normal photocard/postcard. Though I would've loved a Yejun photocard, can't complain at all with Kan's. :')

Inside the booklet are amajjjinggggg high quality photos, and I've taken a few photos for your eyes to feast on - you're welcome. :P The photo below is also the photo featured on the poster!

The title track in this album is "No. 1", WHICH I KID YOU NOT IS A HELLA KICK ASS SONG. If you have not listened or watched it yet... Click on the link below like, nao.

The girl in the MV is fully ninja and kick ass and basically just slays everyone. It's epic.

I would very much like to recommend another two tracks from this album which have been on my repeat playlist ever since this album came out, and they are "전화좀 받아 (Answer The Phone)" and "있을때 잘해봐 (Be Good To Me When We're Together)". The latter track is the Korean version of their 2nd Japanese single "Luv Holic" back when it was only Jinon, Yejun, and Kan. To be honest, I prefer the Korean version over the Japanese version so much better, but maybe that's just me.   

 Oh, HQ, how I love you so.

This is definitely a koala-tea album, and if you're looking for some fantastic melodies with catchy beats, do give this album a chance.

Til next time!
J

Review: Teen Top, Infinite, VIXX, JJ Project...and Underwear!

Hey there!

Ton here! What's up? :D

So today I've realised: I'm in love with the mail man! He seems to be the only one who knows exactly what I want to hear when I wake up in the morning! "Parcel".

Yes, I went shopping again, and yes, this is another shopping review!!

So here's a quick list of the things I bought this time:

Kpop:
- Teen Top's 3rd mini album 'Artist'
- Vixx's first single (or is it a mini album too?) 'Super Hero'
- JJ Project's first mini album 'Bounce'
- Infinite's 3rd mini album 'Infinitize'

Other items (Imported from Korea, of course. Classy.) :
- 3 sweaters, "Born Factory design by Lee". Interesting..
- "K'Sox". Korean socks, maybe?
- Calvin Klein underwear for 9 bucks?!?! Amazeballs.

So first I'd like to start by saying OMFG. This underwear is amazing. It might just be the fact that I still own (and wear) clothing that I bought in primary school, but I've honestly never worn undergarments as soft as these!!

Now, considering that I bought these online, and they only cost me 9800 won, each (around 8-9 AUD), I think it's safe to assume that these are most certainly bootleg (fake merchandise). At any CK outlet, the underwear will usually cost AT LEAST 40 Aussie dollars! $39.95 if they're on sale. That being said, I don't think I'll ever buy true branded CK underwear again. Unless I win the lottery, I'm certainly not going to pay quadruple the price for something if I can get it literally 4 times cheaper online!

Look at the pictures and tell me if you can spot the difference between real and fake! You can't, right? You can, however, feel the difference. I do have a pair of real CK undies (yes, just one) and the fakes are much, much softer. Yes, you read correctly. The fakes are better.

It may just be the price influencing my senses, but I'm very, VERY happy with this purchase! However, remember that these are just my instant thoughts. Count a month or two, and I'll post again to see how quickly the quality deteriorates. The packet says that it's 97% cotton, and 7% lycra, so hopefully it will last a long time!

Some issues with the seller:

I didn't quite receive exactly what I asked for. Everything was fine, mostly! However,  I was supposed to receive 5 pieces of the same design, but in different colours. Instead, they sent me 4 of the same design... plus this.

HAHHAHAHAHAHAHA. That's hot. I'll definitely wear those to my next Brazilian wax appointment.
...which I totally get all the time. (insert sarcasm font)

If you'd like to buy a pair for yourself, here's a link to the seller that sold it to me!

 http://english.gmarket.co.kr/challenge/neo_goods/goods.asp?goodscode=277308860

He/she is definitely a reliable seller and I recommend checking out the store! The items were shipped promptly, and apart from the weird Brazilian underwear, I didn't have any problems with this seller at all. I assume the reason for receiving the wrong order was because my choice was out of stock, but even so, I would have appreciated at least a notification and the option to pick a new colour, or receive a refund. But hey, it was 10 bucks. I'm not complaining.

Now moving on to those "Factory Born" sweaters.

Here's a quick shot of what they look like!

Yes, they're the same design in different colours, I couldn't decide which to get, sheesh. My camera's settings make the items look a lot better than they actually are. The red sweater is actually a pretty awful maroon colour, and the white one is more of a beige. My carpet (the background) is supposed to be grey, but it looks white in the picture, right? Damn camera, making things look good.

So I'll start by being nice! The sweaters are actually kind of cute. I've been really in to sweaters lately, which is why I bought three in one order. If you shop at YD (a male clothing store here in Australia), a good looking sweater can cost about 60 AUD, at the cheapest. These were 28000won each, which is around 27 AUD; a pretty huge discount!

Now, originally, I thought I was buying these for 12 dollars each, because that's the price that was displayed. It said "discounted price, $12.41", and I'll link you to the store, so you can see how ripped off I was! http://english.gmarket.co.kr/challenge/neo_goods/goods.asp?goodscode=223530359

I don't know why, but I wasn't given that discounted price (I should probably learn to read Korean), and after receiving the items, I'm not very happy. For 12 bucks, the clothing is great! But for 27...

Firstly, the fabric is way too thin to keep a person warm. These are definitely more of an accessory than a proper sweater. They don't look horrible, and they fit nicely! There's just no point in ever wearing them, because they're too heavy for summer, and too light for winter! Maybe I'll take some nice photos in them and pretend it's money well spent..

Also, I was given this extra sweater as a free gift, which was nice! It looks just like the other maroon sweater that I bought, except not a v neck design. Yay for two sweaters that I'll never wear! :D

I do appreciate the gesture, but considering I bought 3 XL size garments, I can't see why the seller thought it was a good idea to send me a free L sized sweater.. Idiot. I guess I'm doubly not wearing that one!

On another note, I also bought these "K'Sox" from the same seller!

These, I am definitely happy with! I'm not sure what they're actually called (Invisible socks? Super low-cut socks?), but they were just 2000 won per pair (a little less than 2 AUD).
They're one-size-fits-all and super stretchy, but with amazing grip at the top! I have a few of these already, and they ALWAYS roll down! These definitely sit much tighter (but loose at the toes), and I'm expecting a lot more uses out of these! Also, the beauty of these, is that they have small strips of silicon at the heel to prevent the socks from rolling! Amazeballs! I'm just a little scared to run them through the wash, but considering they were 2 dollars, I'm not that concerned.

Here's a link to the seller again!

http://english.gmarket.co.kr/challenge/neo_goods/goods.asp?goodscode=223530359

Unfortunately, if you're just after the socks, you can only purchase them as an 'additional option', which is like "extra stuff for a a few more bucks", so you can't just buy socks. Overall, though, I was pleased with the seller, just not very pleased with my choices. The shipping of the items were delayed, but I was notified of the delay straight away, and was given an estimated shipping date. Thank you, seller! I appreciate the communication!

Last, but not least, it's time for the K-Pop album reviews! Yay!

The back of the albums, all with the official gold sticker! Nice!

First on my list, JJ Project's 'Bounce'! Check out some shots below!

I'd like to start by saying that albums with crap-tastic packaging PISS. ME. OFF. When I first unwrapped the plastic, I died a little inside. I LOVE Bounce! It's one of my favourite songs right now, and I was really keen for a hard cover album! Unfortunately, that's not what I got. The album jacket is pretty dodgy. It's made of really cheap, easily scratch-able, plastic-like, thin, cardboard material. Disappointing.
However, on opening the album, disappointment gone! Despite the lack of quality on the cover, the inside is absolutely amazeballs. I like how it opens vertically, rather than left-to-right like most albums! I was impressed to see how easily the album can be taken apart and put back together, unlike EXO's new mini album, 'Mama', which is just folded paper! C'mon, SM. Invest some money in a better album jacket, seriously.

I was also really happy that I got both members, and the group photo cards! I knew I bought 3 albums for a reason! Let's hope I can get the other 4 photo cards without any doubles!

Unfortunately though, I think this seller ran out of posters, as I didn't receive any at all. Nooo! I've checked other websites too, and they all seem to be out of stock! Oh well. I'll order earlier next time!


Another rookie group, VIXX, has totally caught my attention! Their title song 'Super Hero', at first, I thought was really mediocre sounding. After listening to it a few times, though, it's actually super catchy, and the lead vocalists have some seriously kickass voices! Check out some photos of the album!

I'm not entirely sure what those robot stickers are, or why anyone would want one, but hey, if it's free, I'm not complaining. The album is pretty typical! Opens like a book, CD on one side, photo booklet on the other. It's not really a spectacular purchase, but I'm happy with it nonetheless!

Oh! It came with a pretty cool poster, too! If only there was space on my wall, I would totally hang this up!

Infinite's 'Infinitize' was much the same, in way of design! Check out the shots!

Let me just say, the photo book is freaking awesome! Infinite totally know how to model! The album is super typical, but it's exactly what I like when it comes to album covers. Hard. Oh, and shiny.
However, apart from 'The Chaser' and 'Infinitize', I'm not really a fan of any of the other songs on this album. Considering the fact that 'The Chaser' has racked up nearly 300 plays on my iPod, though, I figured I should buy it! Don't forget to support your favourite artists, right? No sales = no new songs after all, and I definitely want to hear more of Infinite!


Finally, Teen Top's 'Artist' comes last on my list of purchased items for today. I'm a huge fan of 'To You', and just recently a huge fan of Teen Top! Damn, those kids can dance!
The album jacket itself is no different to most, with regards to the design and packaging, but the album concept is really cool, and it suits the band so well! Check out the photos!

The poster is freaking huge ^

A note about the seller:
I only ever buy K-Pop merchandise from Synnara. If you're thinking about purchasing an album or anything K-Pop related, from Gmarket, opt for Synnara where possible! I've been buying from them for more than 2 years now, and I've never had any major issues! All of their merchandise is official (you can tell by the gold sticker on the back), and they always come in perfect condition. The seller guarantees next day service, which means they'll ship your items to the Gmarket warehouse within one business day of confirmed payment! For international buyers, that means you could have your K-Pop goodies within just 3 business days.

A helpful tip:
For quickest service (Australia only), place your order on a thursday. It will be shipped to the warehouse by friday, and at your door by monday! If you place the order on a tuesday, your order may be left sitting at your local post office over the weekend!

The only downside to Synnara, is that they have a blatant disregard for posters. They keep the albums in good condition, but will not hesitate to squeeze as many posters into a tube as possible!

I break a sweat every time just trying to get my order out of the damn tubes!

Here's a link to the seller's store!

http://english.gmarket.co.kr/minishop/MinishopMain.asp?cust_no=zE0OR38TNzgxNg01NDQ1Mjg1MTR/Rw==

I guess that's all for now, but I'm definitely scheduled to return soon! New comebacks = new orders! New orders = new reviews, so stay tuned for more!

I hope this was useful to you, but until next time!

~ Ton.

REVIEW: 8-bit pixel (sun)glasses

Ladies and gentlemen, lo’ and behold…

The legendary 8-bit pixel glasses that have been gracing the faces of many idols in these recent months. And I have managed to finally grab two pairs – in both glasses and sunglasses form! These glasses are absolutely adorable and funky, and are totally reminiscent of the Super Mario Bros, back in the day... *faraway look*
 

I had been eying a pair (or two) for months after I saw B.A.P wearing these specs, and when they were finally available... I thanked the heavens and immediately ordered them. 

THERE WERE SO MANY VARIETIES AND COLOURS TO CHOOSE FROM. It was a difficult choice deciding which to choose, however in the end I chose just good ol’ classic black, with matte frames! The sunnies too. 

At first, I was a bit concerned they would be too flashy to wear in public, but surprisingly they are quite casual and match really well! I wear the sunnies out a lot more than the glasses, and apparently the sunnies have UV400 protection! Protecting my eyes AND looking fashionable? Win-win, I think yes. (Though the majority of sunglasses out there protect the eyes and are fashionable. But just… *pauses* okay? HIMYM fans put your hands up!) 

Although looking fashionable could be debatable, as I’ve received a few mixed responses –

“They look like 3D glasses!”

“Why are you wearing 3D glasses out? *inserts wtfareyoudumborwhat look*”

“You look like a stalker.”

“You look like a pedophile.”

“You look like a pedophilic stalker.”

Geez, thanks guys. WHATEVER. Haters gonna hate! I myself think it looks pretty boss. However, if the all-black isn't for you, you can always go for the wide range of other colours and varieties (such as leopard print!).

If you love glasses, sunglasses, accessories, or just want a little something to spice up your look, definitely give these mega cool 8-bit pixel glasses a chance.

Rock on! 

J

REVIEW: Taetiseo - Twinkle

Girls’ Generation TTS (Taetiseo) 1st Mini-Album

Twinkle

Taetiseo, a three-member sub unit comprised of Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon, Tiffany and Seohyun come streaming ahead with a very impressive 1st Mini album that packs character and value for money in a neat, wonderfully designed package sure to satisfy Sones, fans and album collectors alike.

With neon colours, out-there costumes and a very retroesque sound uncommonly found in mainstream K-pop, bold is indeed the only word I can find fitting enough to describe this piece of eccentricity. Gone are the white t-shirts and skinny jeans so typical of Girls’ Generation, instead you get the three ladies delving head first into a very charming, feminine concept that exudes class and sophistication mixed with a little bit of playful.

At first glance at the album, you’re met with a mixture of monochrome and colour, two melding schemes that dominate the majority of the front cover. No doubt, there is a lot of artwork, so much so that it’s quite overwhelming, every piece of art popping out, all vying for the opportunity to catch your wandering eye. Hold the rectangular box in your hands and you’ll realise it’s quite heavy and thick, likely to be heavier than most albums out there. The girls’ pink, purple and orange themes run through a fair bit of the album art, much to your displeasure or pleasure, I’ll leave that up to you to decide.

One thing is for sure, SM entertainment certainly did not leave out the little details, with even the album sides adorned with intricate art. If you don’t want to spoil yourself, shield your eyes from the photos below and skip to the end of the review.

There are three parts to the album, the plastic cover sheet, the backing photo and the actual album box itself. The image on the plastic cover sheet and the backing photos fit together to create a complete piece of artwork on the front and back of the album, which I personally thought was pretty nifty and clever. The plastic does scratch easily, however it’s barely noticeable if used with the backing photo.

The album box itself is made of paper and when you open it, you’re met with another colourful photo of the girls. Now, that photo you see actually serves as a paper cover for all the other material underneath. To get the material, you need to take that cover out, which I admit, was no easy task. The cover is designed in a way that it literally tucks into the box, so you can’t really pull it out with your fingers, unless you are gifted with long, slim fingernails.

 A good thing about it is that well…nothing can ever drop out, keeping everything nice and neat within the album box. But the bad thing about it is that for me, a pedantic person who treats albums like glass, I found getting the cover loose quite difficult. After minutes of trying to pull it off without damage, I gave up eventually and ended up turning the entire box upside down, shaking it to get everything else out. A beautiful feature yes, but rather impractical.

The CD jacket is very, very bright, with the girls’ neon concepts literally shoved very evidently in your face. Depending on whether you like the concept or not, it can either tickle or not tickle your fancy. However there is no denying that it is very intricate, with beautiful watercolour painted pictures adorning the entire booklet. I particularly love the design on the actual CD, although I am till now, still undecided about Taeyeon’s protruding orange afro that dominate large portions of the inner jacket. The booklet folds out and contains lyrics to all the songs written in fitting, complimenting grey font.

I personally really adore postcards and to my pleasant surprise, this album has many, many, many of them. I guess with Taetiseo only having three members, the three of them are gifted with the luxury of having multiple, individual postcards. All three members wear sets of complimenting outfits, differing style, colour and image. There are three individual photo sets and one group photo set, with even the postcard backing imprinted with a photo of them. This many postcards will equal to a very impressive looking display wall if you ever decide to put them up.

Typical of SM entertainment, there are photocards, this time with two versions of each member. Pictured below is a photo of only one version of Taeyeon and Tiffany. There are six in total to collect, with the cards having printed signatures of the members behind them.

All in all, despite the impracticality of some parts of the packaging, I thought (despite all my biasness) that Twinkle was a very beautiful looking album. I loved the melding plastic cover photos and the intricacy of every single piece of art. You get a lot of material inside and SM certainly did not skimp out on the variety of the girls’ photos.

I will admit that the neon concept will not appeal to everyone’s taste, but I found the old-school, old fashioned watercolour and sketch detailing unique and elegant, very fitting and reminiscent of the music style that Taetiseo produces in this record. It will serve as a bright addition to anybody’s KPOP CD collection and will satisfy even the most die-hard of Sones.

Title Song: Twinkle

Recommended Songs: Baby Steps, OMG (Oh My God)

Ps. DON'T THEY LOOK BEAUTIFUL? <3

C.