The Legend
“Sound Up!”
(Loen Entertainment)


It’s almost a shame that “Sound Up!” wasn’t boy group The Legend’s first EP. Making a 180-degree flip from rookie group’s original pained, brooding image, “Sound Up!” brings out the commercial pop appeal of the group, who had previously had trouble getting off the ground despite the tall, handsome looks. 

The five-track EP kicks off with the lead track “Crush on You,” a funky, fun and brass-heavy dance track about a guy who falls in love at first sight with a girl at a club. Playful and catchy, the track is pulled off smoothly with an addictive hook. 

The fun beat of “Crush on You” is balanced out by the following R&B track “I Want You Back,” which leans closer to The Legend’s previous style but manages to shed the overbearing weight that had tied the group down. The EP includes different arrangements of previously released tracks “Like This” and “Nail,” both less bass-heavy than their earlier versions, helping to make them more accessible. The last track “You & I” by songwriter and producer Park Sun-joo is the very opposite of “Crush on You,” a harmony-heavy ballad track designed to showcase the members’ vocal talents. 

The Legend had a rough start, but this just might be the record to turn it all around.

By Won Ho-jung (hjwon@heraldcorp.com)