Here are my credentials (one more time): this is a bit of an interesting one. I’ve heard about VIXX from outside sources, a lot vaguely fear-mongery along the lines of “oh my GOD have you heard about that weird kpop group with the chains and the blindfolds and the BDSM contract in the album—” et cetera, et cetera. But I don’t like relying on other people for my opinions and I’m always wary of believing what random people say online, so I decided if I wanted this done right then I would do it myself. So let’s get into it!
EP #3: Shangri-La
I’d heard of Shangri-La before this deep dive, but never had the time to sit down and listen to or watch it. I’ve always found interesting how artists meld tradition and modernity together in music, especially when they come from a culture that’s thousands of years old, so I was excited for this one. And maybe my expectations were too high, because I think I like the idea of it better than I like the song itself. The chorus especially is a bit too empty for me. I really liked the instrumentation, though, and the way it blended EDM with flutes and strings. And that music video is just…utterly stunning. Its use of color and light, not to mention the dancing with fans? Incredible.
My thoughts on the EP were similar to my thoughts on the single; I liked the idea of it more than the songs in practice. That being said, I did enjoy the vocals throughout and especially in album closer To Us.
Album #4: Eau De Vixx
Scientist isn’t quite as much of a departure from VIXX’s main sound as other singles have been, but it’s a departure nonetheless. Operating on a synthy base with heavy moombahton influences and of course their now-signature drama layered on top, it’s minimal and almost relaxed, more so than they usually tend to be in their titles, but it does still sound like them. It’s not for me, but I can respect it.
Eau De VIXX is, as of now, VIXX’s last full album, and I was curious what kind of style it would go with, since they haven’t stuck to one so far. And it turns out it’s quite minimalistic and synth-based, just like the single, not necessarily a style I gravitate towards but still interesting. I enjoyed the club-ready beat of Silence, the trilling piano of Valentine, and the reach-for-the-stars fan song Navy and Shining Gold, which was my favorite, though I can’t say I had a hidden gem.
Single #9: Walking
Walking is, despite being listed in this review as Single #9, the first single to be on its own, with no b-sides to fall back on, something uncommon for 2nd / 3rd gen groups. From the start, my first thought was: “ah, this sounds like a ‘we’re going to the military for a bit but we love you guys! See you soon’ song”, and I was right. And even though I know that rationally, all songs like this are the same and are a taped-together ball of a bunch of platitudes, I still find myself moved by them every time. Seriously. It goes like this:
*Anna at 0:09*: ugh whatever, let’s get this over with—
*Anna at 2:59*: NO YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND THEY’RE HUGGING
Guess I’m a sap. Quick, everyone pretend to be surprised.
Single #10: Parallel
Parallel, as far as I could tell, doesn’t seem to have an official video, but it is VIXX’s last song as six people. Beyond that, though, it’s fairly run-of-the-mill, with a synthy opening and minimal production not dissimilar to Scientist. But while I could respect Scientist for what it was even if it went in different directions, there doesn’t feel like a lot of “VIXX” in here, if you know what I mean. Scientist still kept their core, but this doesn’t. It’s a perfectly fine song, I’m not denying that. I’m just kind of ambivalent about it.
EP #5: Continuum
Amnesia pulls from the minimalist sounds of the Eau De Vixx album and the sense of unease and creepiness from VIXX’s earlier work to make what’s what I think is one of their strongest titles in recent years. From the start, the track hums along in this off-kilter way that’s both engaging and unsettling. The chorus isn’t quite as striking as some of the past ones that have left such an impression on me, but it does comes close, especially with the post-chorus hook. I hope that if / when they come back next, they’ll continue on with something like this.
From the EP, I enjoyed the excellent build (and those harmonies!) in Chemical and the lovely vocals in Lilac.
Verdict: TL;DR
I’m glad I did this. I’d heard so much about VIXX but I’d never had the chance to really learn about them before, so I’m happy to say I changed that. It’s always tough to find interviews or content getting to know the members from older groups, but I watched their 13th anniversary live and a couple older interviews with all six members. If you have any recommendations, let me know! I had some great conversations with Starlights (VIXX fans) while writing this, including a friend of a friend who was very helpful. (Thanks Cari!)
My Top 5 songs were Error, Eternity, Voodoo Doll, Fantasy, and Time Machine, with Beautiful Killer as an honorable mention. VIXX gets an 8.25 out of 10 from me. Alright, now, before you grab your pitchforks, let me explain. This is one of those cases where a rating is much more influenced by what I like personally than how good a song is on its own. Maybe it was the constant concept changes, maybe it was the way that the things that made them so unique in 2012-2015 are now commonplace, I don’t know. But I just wasn’t grabbed in the way I expected after their early run of singles, and I don’t actually have a good reason as to why. Despite my opinions, though, there’s no denying just how much VIXX influenced the industry, from a willingness to explore dark concepts to the dedication with which they embodied their themes and storylines. Maybe my expectations were a bit too high.
Next time, we’re onto a soloist and a girl group/ Tschüss!
Let me know your thoughts!