Far East Movement – Identity (Transparent Agency, 2016)
The anticipation of Far East Movement’s new release, Identity, had everything needed to impress its listeners. It promised to feature both American and Asian artists in its songs, creating a bond between two flourishing music industries from opposite sides of the globe. In this respect, Identity truly did a good job. With some songs featuring both K-Pop stars and renowned American artists, one cannot help but be intrigued when listening to it. Musically, however, Identity falls a little short. The album isn’t bad per se—in fact, many songs truly captivate the listener, like the pre-release single “Freal Luv,” featuring K-Pop group EXO’s Chanyeol and American R&B singer Tinashe, or the soothing “Church” with Elijah Blake. Despite its great and surprising variety of styles, rhythms and breakdowns, the album as a whole is still lacking that spark that would make us want to listen to it on repeat. Overall, Identity is a good album—it’s just too bad it’s not a great one.
Trial track: “Freal Luv” feat. Marshmello, Chanyeol and Tinashe
7/10