[MV & Album Review] Rainbow - 'Prism'

Recently senior girl groupRainbowcame back to the scene with"Whoo"off their new 'Prism'album. "Whoo" is a little more youthful and old-school in sound but quirky in style! Similar to MVs likeEXID's "Up & Down"and evenStellar'srecent"Sting,"the girls play around with unique motions, subliminal messages, and vibrant colors turning spoiled and black! Many were awaiting the comeback but I feel for some, the lead single may be slightly disappointing.

"Whoo"isn't horrible as it has an uplifting quality that is motivating and gets you going. The electric guitar's strength paired with the beat of the drums and traces of the piano give it a real, live, band flavor you don't always see in today's trending songs. When the girls chant "Rainbow-- Ah~" it really is irresistible to start jumping on the bandwagon of singing this verse, too. The song's chorus is at least a little bit ear-candy worthy, but I can agree withalim17when she says it seems like a children's upbeat youth group song.

Although the rest of the lyrics are charming, it is nothing out of the ordinary as "Whoo" describes a girl's love-crazed feeling when a boy loves her and holds her heart captive."I can't sleep at night, it's all about you" and "What can I do? You're holding on to my exhausted heart"are accurate feelings but it is nothing we haven't heard before. Perhaps the MV's imagery may lead to something deeper but some of it may fly over people's heads. The constant reference to the color black possibly relates to the suffocating feelings a relationship can bring when you're the only one crazy in love.

In regards to the MV, "Whoo" is pretty low budget in my opinion. They went from extravagant town-like sets in"Tell Me, Tell Me"to this! It isn't a wrong route to try simplistic but they dumb it down so much that it looks almost like a low budget MV intended for a rookie group, which is underwhelming. There is nothing that really makes the MV stand out in quality or the song stand out in sound. The song doesn't really put much use to the members' vocals which have grown over the years. Although there wasn't much to show in regards to choreography, the glimpses we get here and there leave little to go crazy over as they are sexy but a bit generic. The change in tempo towards the2:10mark makes the song a little more fun, and I wish it kept this more strong, electric-guitar sound going. The song becomes more enjoyable after a few more listens, and perhaps a live performance (if more impressive than the MV) might snag this song a spot on your playlist!

The album as a whole offers something more than "Whoo" gives, thankfully! With over 5 different tracks, "Prism" shows the girls have more to offer and taps deeper into their talent with the array of ballads and lively songs."Even The Words I Miss You"is a powerful ballad that is well received the moment it plays! Everyone's vocals are spot on and collectively sounds better than great! The song is one of those wondrous ballads that can truly offer you comfort in a time of missing someone and wanting to know if their okay, better off, or simply missing you too.

"Black & White"has a strikingly retro-funk that will get your body moving! It starts off soft, with the misleading intention of being a ballad but it has a grey area"in the shadows"where it suddenly transforms into something more exciting and playful! "Black & White" has great potential to be a promotional track as well, even the lead single! However, one can hope Rainbow further promote their powerful ballads as well.

The fast-paced bass strums and sassy trumpets of"Click"have a real spunky and energetic feeling. The jazzy vocals matched with the low toned"mmms"making it a quick addiction, especially alongside the"Click, Click" and "Dream, Dream"chorus! The song is a simple dose of fun the album needed! The quirky instrumentals matched with funny added noises make "Click!" a memorable piece.

"Eye Contact"comes out of the blue with an almost alluring and seductive sound. The synthesizing sounds matched with an echoing whistle, and guitar strums make it a real smooth R&B track. The sexy snaps and the subtle"Oh"throughout the track make "Eye Contact" a must-play song for any lover of R&B!

"Prism"is full of charm and offers something for any fan of various music genres! Can Rainbow's lead single "Whoo" dominate the charts? Maybe, but there is a small doubt sinceRainbow BLAXXhad more style and potential with their sub-unit's hit over this song. Still, it is great to see Rainbow back on the scene and hopefully they can climb to the top 10 on the charts!