Init_Music: Inbox: 오지은

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Inbox: 오지은 - 지은

Inbox features items that I have recently purchased or received.

So, when I checked out Oh Ji Eun's first album, I decided that I really liked it. In fact, I liked it enough to get her identically titled second album. (And they're not even in different colors, so I can't call it the "grey album".) However, I can tell you that her second album is noticeably different from her first, just in production quality alone, but I think the album was made with more money because the overall sound really opens up.

Despite the fact that the album sounds richer and more expensively produced, thanks to the greater orchestration and instrument fills, the songwriting core is very much the same. Which is to say that Oh Ji Eun's voice and songs are at the center of each song, the instruments crafting a rich bed of sound upon which to rest her voice. Much like her past album, her songs tend to range towards more introspective quieter songs, although a couple tracks feature some pretty fiery composition, performances and vocals.

That said, I think the improved production is both a plus and a minus. I think part of what I found charming about Oh's first effort was the intimacy of the production combined with the intimacy of the songwriting and performance. Now that it's opened up a bit more, it's still quite likable, but doesn't have that same feel of being right there and listening to her. On the other hand, the album is several times slicker and sounds much cleaner than her last album. It also gives Oh the freedom to build upon her previous compositions and explore more aurally interesting territory in terms of instrumental performances. All the same, I think my favorite tracks are those that still somewhat smaller in scope, like the pretty "익속한 새벽3시". And I still like how sincerely she sings her songs. Definitely worth a listen if you like her intimate singer-songwriter styling. 8/10.

Tracklist: