NGHT - Redefine

It's always interesting to see what band members create after a group breaks up. In the case of the Ark, lead singer Ola Salo went solo with music very similar to that of the band. He was always the face, though, and seemingly the driving force behind most of the Ark's music. Jens Andersson and Mikael Jepson played keyboards and lead guitar, respectively, and have brought both of those skills to this new track that they produced under the moniker NGHT. Redefine is a departure for the guys. It's far more influenced by dance and club music than anything the Ark did. But it's not the newer, trendier EDM that they're taking as inspiration. Instead, it seems to be the simpler, campier stuff that was popular in the late nineties. The high pitch of the vocals in the chorus reminds me a little bit of Scooter, but not annoying like most Scooter songs were. Honestly, I'm not sure how I feel about the song as a whole yet. It has a very inorganic, produced feel that kind of puts me off, but I do love that hook and beat.

Darin - Nobody Knows (the music video!!!)

This is definitely not a new song. In fact, it was released over three (!) years ago. But it is Darin's best song, in a career of pretty awesome songs. I was always upset that it never got a music video back in 2012. The thing about brilliant songs, however, is that they're bound to get discovered and revived eventually. This time it's Asia, with its excellent taste in music, who has taken to Nobody Knows. With this new push comes the big budget music video the track always deserved. Justice doesn't always happen in pop music, but this whole story has made my day. The track sounds as brilliant now as it did three years ago.

VIXX LR - Beautiful Liar

VIXX has had an interesting year so far. Instead of coming back as usual, they released a cover track back in February and now this unit track, which combines two of the more recognizable (yet very different) members. Honestly, I didn't know what to expect, and I kind of just wished they'd come back as a whole group. It turns out that the new mini album is a mixed bag. There is one full group track, which is very good, and then a couple of middling solos. The title track itself is a nice dramatic ballad, with a heavy American influence. The best thing about it is actually the artistic and dark music video, which is beautifully shot and acted. The visuals grab you from the get-go, especially the lonely piano surrounded by the blackness of night. It makes me thirst even more for a full-group comeback.