"Overdrive" by I.M (review)

 OVERDRIVE BY I.M

Welcome back to prod.v1nny! It has been a while since I've written... the true reason behind that is that I've been studying and getting ready for my junior year, so I haven't really had the time to explore any new music but I did discover an album (obviously mentioned in the title) "Overdrive" by I.M, who is a part of the group MONSTA X. Before we begin, I think its important to mention that I don't only listen to K-pop but I also listen to K-rnb a lot, I've probably been listening to it more than K-pop these days and although this album has been assigned the genre as K-pop I believe it definitely has some rnb vibes/ sounds to it. Straight to the details:

Overdrive is the 2nd EP/ album released by the South Korean rapper, I.M, also known as Im Changkyun (his English name is Daniel). The album was released by Sony Music Korea on June 23, 2023. It consists of 6 songs, including the lead single of the same. The beat of each song is set to "slow", and the synths sound moody & melancholy, while I.M's voice filters through a vocoder. Overdrive's soundscape feels one-note, but at the same time, the mood of each song differs, which makes the EP more interesting to listen to since the lyrics of each song sort of tell a story. 

The EP's visual concept is also quite appealing, particularly the title track's unique usage of automotive imagery in the music video and lyrics. The chorus of Overdrive, "Heat my engine harder 'til I die, Speedin' on my lane, go overdrive," makes the most use of the automobile as a metaphor. Additionally, there is a theme of a "blue flame" color that is shown in a number of different ways. The first is obviously, I.M. dyeing his hair blue, followed by the MV having that color, and the concept photos in the physical album are also related to the blue flame idea. 

Now getting into a little more depth about each song on the EP, the title track "Overdrive" has a really strong mood but the ending of the song is toned down, where the BPM is slower. Something I really liked about this track was that in the intro you can hear this clicking noise in the background that sounds like a clock is ticking, the extra detail really sets the mood for the song. 2. Then comes "Blame" one of the most 'ear candy' songs as I like to call it, according to I.M he wanted to "add hints of disgusted sultry tones, the type that has a tragic end," it's melancholic and sensual at the same time which I love. 3. "Dumb" The song with lyrics that surprised me the most...Getting a little technical and detailed here, as I.M describes it "It feels like an R&B song when you listen to the guitar and leads, but the drum line is rooted in the drill, so the contrast makes a fascinating combination." A head-bopping song truly, I particularly like the ending of the 2nd verse here. 4. "Habit" This track is completely I.M's vocals, whereas the other tracks are a mix of rap & singing, There are hints of jazz and also a saxophone session at the end, it's not my favorite as I'm not an avid fan of jazz but his vocals make it all better. 5. Almost coming to an end we have "More" the MOST ear candy song for me I love listening to this one despite the sensual lyrics and mood, I.M calls it a "mattress song" It's a nice song to listen to when laying down and I 100% agree with that, again it's really sensual and intimate, I think it really fits with the album's vibe. 6. Finally, "Not Sorry" This one also feels pretty jazzy, kind of like a dance song too. The verses of this song are slow and have piano and saxophone in the background whereas the tempo speeds up during the chorus, which is what makes the song very different to listen to, this last track is extremely unique from the rest especially when it comes to its tone. And that's the entire album!

Can't believe I finally bought myself to finish this, I HIGHLY EXTREMELY recommend this album, it's so worth a listen just for fun, It is also perfect for a late-night listen with the lights dimmed or a candle lit, a night when you want to completely relax and wind down. If you've read it so far thank you so very much and please look forward to more in the future!!! xx.

**LINK TO ALBUM** OVERDRIVE

An extra note- Everyone has their own way of how they perceive music. Sometimes people focus on lyrics, sometimes we focus on just how a song sounds, and sometimes, if not most, our attention is grabbed by both the lyrical and sonic aspects. For Overdrive, I'm not going to lie I liked the lyrics and sound of each song, but I was attracted to how each song sounded more than the lyrics, the lyrics definitely got me hooked though because this album has been my most played this month. What I want to say is, that everyone has their own way of perceiving music. For me, personally, the sonic headspace I'm in right now, and the sounds I'm into currently made me love this album. It might not be the same for you if you're reading right now and it doesn't have to be! I just liked this album enough to review it.

-v <3