Jang Woo Hyuk Vol. 2 - My Way

My Way opens with probably the most unabashedly catchy track of the album, Mr. Jackson. And, yes, it does refer to that Mr. Jackson. What makes this song work is quite simply that it's ridiculously addictive. The lyrics are almost hilariously earnest - ranging from the overarching adulation of the Gloved One to some pure unintentional comedy ("Where my dawgs at yo?!") - but with Jang's rapping, the vocals of Supersta's Nam Hoon and Park Jang Keun, and that infectious mixture of strong beats, hip hop, and R&B, the song is just fun to listen to. Honestly, Mr. Jackson is the biggest reason I'm writing this pick. For the past few months, I've found that the "running running running running" refrain of this song keeps, well, running through my head, and I need an outlet. I also find it amusing that the rap lyrics refer to the number 35. (H.O.T. goodwill lives on.)

My Way pretty much retains the same tone and energy all the way through, making it the rare album that has no down moments. That's right, no obligatory ballad. "Real Man" (Track 2), "Into the Storm (One Way)" (Track 4), and S Scenario (Track 7) are all loud, hip hop tracks in the same vein as Mr. Jackson, with strong rap segments, catchy refrains, and notable guest vocals. "Into the Storm (One Way)" is composed by PJ and Min Woong Shik and written by Park Jang Geun, the same team behind Jang Woo Hyuk's previous hit "Sun That Never Sets". The song's melody itself sounds a bit derivative, but the overall delivery is on the mark, and Esther brings a welcome touch of soul. S Scenario, meanwhile, offers a Korean interpretation of that essential club track, complete with heavy beats, some electro, and lots of frivolous lyrics ("My name is Player/What's your name?").

Sunny (Track 3), "The Man in the Yellow Shirt" (Track 6), and Oh, No! (Track 8) bring an easygoing, reggae feel to the album. Sunny is the most lighthearted offering on the track list, with a sound that reminds of early Orange Range, but the overall effect is a bit too strummingly cheesy for this album; up-and-coming singer J's parts in this track are also on the generic side. Oh, No! fares better by stripping down the sound and slowing things down. The best of this lot though is "The Man in the Yellow Shirt" which samples the classic 60s song from Han Myung Sook (the artist, not the PM). The melding isn't entirely successful, but certainly makes for an interesting track, and the contrast in audio quality between the crisp new and the vinyl-like old is a nice, if predictable touch.

For something comparatively softer, "Last Leaf" (Track 5) is more of an R&B track with an ear-pleasing melody, off-the-beat rapping, and positively K-drama lyrics ("knockin' on heaven's door" for a love who has left). Guest vocals Jung In and Rado particularly shine here. The final song, Last Game (Track 9), pretty much ties everything together with a whole line-up of artists, including Nam Hoon, Park Jang Keun, Esther, Rado, and Cee-Jay. Though less innovative than some of the other songs - the opening is particularly generic - the track features great arrangement, bringing a variety of voices together while keeping each distinctive. There's also that catchy refrain again.

Dance hip hop is a fairly crowded genre in Korean music, but this album far surpasses most efforts. What I did wonder for a while though was whether the album's success could be attributed to Jang Woo Hyuk the solo artist given the long list of people onboard. He invited various industry names to feature in all of the songs, making for an undeniably fuller sound for the album, but also somewhat diminishing his own voice (though his rapping is as good as it always has been). In My Way, the "Jang Woo Hyuk" style has become clearer, yet oddly more of a group effort. But this perhaps shows that he is becoming more aware of how to shape the direction of his music, collaborating with the right people to make his album stronger. Regardless, My Way is a fun, high-powered, instantly likable album, and really that's what matters the most.