It feels like it’s been a decade since their Korean debut, but luckily, C.N. Blue is back with some new material and are ready to grace the innards of my iPod. They released their latest album BlueLove on May 19 with “Love” as its title track.

There’s a very familiar ambiance in the title track. It echoes the components that created “I’m a Loner,8″ but C.N. Blue have taken all those familiar parts and spawned a much more up lifting track. It suits the season and it adds a stretch of dimension. It’s kind of like they’ve taken the warn out corpse of “I’m a Loner” and breathed a completely new life to it.

It’s a nice, laid back song. I particularly enjoyed the idea of incorporating the participation of the audience through the lyrics, i.e. clap, clap clap. We all know how those details pan out - Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” anyone?

“Sweet Holiday” is a pretty song. It’s got charm left and right. Personally, I could have done without the rap (something I can say for a big chunk of this album). The song has a streaming flow to it right from the beginning, and the rap kind of splashed everything around when it arrived. I believe YongHwa sings most of this song, but I would have loved (!) if JongHyun had taken over completely. He’s my preferable pick as best voice in this group. It’s got a nice resonance that I enjoy listening to in a singer. That very trait though, is why he isn’t the lead vocalist. YongHwa has a much wider range and can reach the higher notes that mainstream listeners swoon over. It makes sense.

C.N. Blue understand their style and know how to craft arrangements that allow their voices to shine extremely well. “Black Flower” is a clear example of what I’m talking about. The two vocalists (YongHwa and JongHyun) have mastered how to work off each other’s voice. It was apparent in their previous album, but it really flourished here. They sound unified through and through. “Black Flower” is up tempo and “Tattoo” keeps the same momentum rolling. The verses are more interesting than the rap and chorus. Melodically, this song lacks just a tad of spice that you can find the previous three songs. Instead, it lends itself to a much more eccentric instrumentation. The guitar gets a sweet solo near the end.

So, by the time “Love Light” came around, I swear the Heavens had heard me asking for more JongHyun, because he’s all over this one. Of course, YongHwa took over the chorus, but in its entirety, I adore the vulnerability and mellow charm that this song possesses. It’s a definite ‘sway’-er. It has a light Jason Mraz influence, with beautiful and engaging folk elements.

And as an ode to all their English listeners, the closing track (Let’s Go Crazy) features a chanting and quirky invitation to go crazy. It’s a fun song filled with playful melodies and fun lyrics. It’s carefree and a fantastic way to end ‘BlueLove’.

C.N. Blue have done it again. They show all sorts of sides to their music. They prove to understand their fortes and ability to handle different styles all while remaining in their own sound. As with their first album, ‘Blue Love’ is a breath of fresh air and definitely worth giving it a few listens from start to finish.

Most powerful moments: Love, Sweet Holiday, Love Light (and everything else!)
Rating: 5 out of 5