01. 이 지금
02. 팔레트 (Palette) (Feat. G-DRAGON)
03. 이런 엔딩
04. 사랑이 잘 (Can’t Love You Anymore) (With 오혁 Ohhyuk)
05. 잼잼
06. Black Out
07. 마침표
08. 밤편지 (Through The Night)
09. 그렇게 사랑은
10. 이름에게
IU is known as Korea's little sister or The Nation's little sister.... The key word "was" might need to be in somewhere in this sentence. Palette is clearly IU making a statement. A statement that she's trying to break away from the cute submissive image that got her to stardom in Korea. The title track also titled Palette is the most direct approach that she takes to telling fans to except her as she is. What I noticed also about this song is that she still tries to mask her convections with being cutesy. Probably because she's not strong enough to take the backlash if she went back to singing those dark ballads that she sang during the beginning of her career. Even so, the track is catchy with a high replay value. This song was the actually reason I even gave this album a listen. G Dragon is a good rapper but his part doesn't do much enhance the track. He's only there to get more people to listen to the collaboration since the pairing is so unlikely. Him being chosen might also be apart of IU trying to change her image. Good choice, just an unneeded Rap part.(Don't kill me G Dragon fans. I love him as much as the next fan.) Black Out was another track that's a new direction for the singer. She's taking on a more and more mature sound that could make or break her. Stronger vocalization will be required as she sings more songs like Black Out. The Club Pop sound of Black Out doesn't really suit her voice to me but she plays it off well. The moments of vocal expansion was enjoyable too. Oh Hyuk's collaboration with IU was a great track. The track not only brought IU into a more mature place but Oh Hyuk vocalizes like he was born to sing with IU. For the first time, It actually transforms IU into a grown women instead of a twenty something girl trying hard to come off as a women in her music. Soul and Jazz are big elements in this song. Oh Hyuk feels at home because of the sultry soulful voice he possesses while IU sounds willing to challenge herself in a new found style of music. Palette as an album creates a musical production that picks out all the key instruments you would find in a Jazz orchestra. A lot of the instrumental breaks contain a piano solo or a guitar solo to get the listener fully engaged in the flow of the music. IU should be used to this type of music production as she done it before. Things just weren't as bare as they are in her 4th release. Through The Night as well as the other ballads on this album are safe songs for her. If its not a ballad involving violins that deepen your sorrow as IU sings, then its IU and an acoustic guitar crafting one of the prettiest quality of sounds ever. I liked how many of the ballads are more of a folk style compared to her older ballads that had a classical music production.
Once again, back to my statements about IU still having a cute edge to her music. It has more to do with her voice than something that she's doing on purpose. She's made her career as that cute girl who sings about sweet love that gives listeners cavities. I fell in love with her music because she has a cute voice that has a wide range. Girl can hit some pretty high notes in perfect pitch no matter if you like her music or not. Her voice can be a problem to an extent because it sounds incredibly cute. Her clear high voice doesn't sound right with songs about more mature themes. I don't believe her when she tries too hard to be mature either. Stick to what you know then slowly ease your way into the music style of your choice. An explanation isn't needed either. You want to change your musical direction, do it and own your decision. Some fans will like it and others won't(me included). That's life. Shaking off that cute image she's worn on her sleeve for so long will be hard. Too bad her voice is perfect for it. Bear in mind that I'm not saying she shouldn't become more mature. Going about it the right way will be important so she doesn't come off as trying so hard. Ballads are defiantly her home territory though. When she sings a note passionately, a beautiful vibrato is unleashed. I can't listen to IU sing ballads without feeling what she must be feeling. A raw acoustic album from IU would be interesting.
Palette brought back the main reasons to like IU. I constantly keep replying the title track for its soothing aura and commanding tone. Got to go listen to Oh Hyuk's music too. Any recommendations?
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