Infinite: Be Mine Single (Type A - Solid Version) Review

Infinite released the Japanese single to "Be Mine" back in April 2012, and I gave an overview of the albums in my review of Type C, the Innocent Version here. I also blogged about Type B - Pop Art Version here. I really don't want to repeat everything about these albums again, so you can either check out my previous post or also feel free to ask me questions^^ All four versions of this single are a lot more expensive now, but I managed to buy Type A, the Solid Version and the only version that comes with a DVD, for $35 new from samurai_media_JPN4US, a Japanese independent seller on Amazon.com. It took exactly two weeks to arrive since I ordered it, and it came well packaged in a padded paper envelope twice the album's size and then in another bubble wrap envelope.

As you can see, the Solid Version is the rocker image. It's definitely so different from the Pop Art and Innocent versions. The album is about the same dimensions as most of Infinite's other albums, except this version is just a bit thicker than the Pop Art and Innocent versions because this also comes with the DVD.

The seller stupidly put their own stickers on top of the album sticker, which covered up precious information! Luckily I was able to remove the more obnoxious sticker. And of course L's postcard is used as the back cover^^

Here is the back sticker, which shows all seven member postcards, the group postcard, and all seven random member postcards. Also included is information about the DVD, like it's 60 minutes long (!) and that it's for Region 2.

I never noticed it, but on the side of the album, there's the album info and version specification as well. I always put that side face down, but maybe that's supposed to be the side that you display.

Because of the way this album is packaged, I used an X-Acto knife to slice down the side with the opening in order to preserve the stickers. From the backside, the contents are the postcards (the individual members starting with L and then oldest to youngest, the group card, then the random member card), the booklet, and the CD and DVD case.

Here are all nine postcards in the order they came (left to right, top to bottom), and as you can see I got Hoya's random card. Also, this group card is a different image than the cover. These cards are a bit hard to put back into the casing and the edges easily get damaged sadly.

The front is matte while the back is a glossy gray.

The booklet has a rustic front cover and all the credits and other information on the back cover.

The first page includes a group photo and both disc's tracklists.

The booklet is 10 pages long and has a page for each member that includes their profile information and a page for each of the song lyrics. I was never drawn to this rock concept especially with their hair so messy and unnatural, but then I turned and saw L's page and just died! It is worth it just for this picture. (I keep saying L because this is really...L, not Myungsoo!)

This is the case for the CD and DVD.

The backside of the case has the song tracklist.

This case is really nice; the Infinite logo and splash of paint are not printed on the box, but it's like 3D and has a plastic coating over it. The Innocent Version just has everything printed onto the case.

Inside the case are two sheets of paper. The first sheet contains all four versions of this album, including all of the possible postcards. The backside has Infinite's Japanese discography and DVD list.

Another sheet I believe is for a promotion event in Japan.

Inside the case lists the tracklists for both discs. I'm surprised at how much content is on the DVD; included are the three versions of the "Be Mine" music video (Japanese, Korean, and Korean dance), and Infinite Japan Story, which is a feature about Infinite promoting BTD in Japan! I'm happy to see such a long special feature on one of Infinite's album DVDs. I could only get through part of Day 1 because my DVD player doesn't function well, so sadly I couldn't watch most of the contents. Here's what I'll say: the main menu has the scene selection and the option for Japanese subtitles. Because there are no English subtitles, it's hard not to just go onto YouTube and watch a subbed version instead. The Infinite Japan Story is the behind the scenes and footage from the promotional events for the Japanese version of BTD. It is broken down into days 1 to 7. They mostly spoke in Korean to the camera, though at times they'd practice their Japanese or practice singing BTD, and of course during their events, like a press conference, they spoke (though sometimes cutely stumbling) in Japanese. I loved seeing the members being themselves and having fun.

Overall, just that one photo of L in the booklet is all I need to make the album worth it, but in general the album is worth it. The DVD is really nice and there are so many things that Inspirits reference but I never knew where it's from (ie. during the press conference Myungsoo introduced himself as a vocal of Infinite, and that he likes udon. I didn't actually know this until they dramatized this part in the DVD, so I watched the English subbed version on YouTube and found out lol). I hope someday I'll get the Pop Art version to complete the limited versions of Be Mine.

Note to self: I really hope this is the last time I change my watermark, people will start thinking that none of the images are mine...

Infinite: Dilemma Single (Limited) Review

On December 24th, 2014, Infinite released a completely new song, "Dilemma," as a Japanese single. This song is special because a Japanese guitarist, Tomoyasu Hotei, worked on the song and this is his first song for a Korean artist. There are two versions of this Japanese single, a normal version that comes with a photocard, and a limited version with a DVD; both come with a 16-page photobook from different photoshoots. There are also special music connecting cards, one per each member, that you must buy separately and it comes with an online code to access that member's audio message.

I pre-ordered the limited version from YesAsia for about $27 (CDJapan sold it for about $20 after shipping, but I had to use up my YesAsia credit). It took 16 days to arrive, and was packaged well in two layers of bubble wrap and then inside a waterproof envelope lined with another layer of bubble wrap.

The album cover reminds me of Infinite's Comeback Teaser 2014 here. I didn't think this teaser, released in March, had anything to do with their Last Romeo or Back promotions, but it finally relates to this one.

Here is a close up of the information sticker.

The Infinite logo and album title on the spine and front cover shine beautifully, like their Last Romeo single Type A album.

I personally was not excited about this album cover, I liked the normal version one more. But then I saw this back cover and fell in love with the whole photoshoot! The tracklist is included ("Dilemma" and the Japanese versions of "Back" and "Diamond"). "Dilemma" is definitely a lot more rock, and everything about this song sounds so great. I've been listening to the original version of "Back" on repeat, so it's nice getting a slightly different version of such a beautiful song. The DVD list is also included, with the music video and making. I'm so happy to finally be able to see the official music video, since Woollim never posted one! Also the back cover says that this DVD is for all regions!

This album format is exactly like Infinite's Last Romeo Single Type A, with a sleeve holding the photobook on the left and the two discs on the right. It's the same size as most of Infinite's albums.

The tracklists are also printed on each disc. The CD (left) is so pretty with its shimmering silver, and the DVD is black with the logo reflecting. The CD is practically impossible to take out...I really don't want to put it back because it'll be so difficult to take out the DVD to watch over and over again. The making is a full 20 minutes, with the first 12 minutes 45 seconds being the music video making. It is mostly the "Dilemma" instrumental version playing while focusing on each member during their solo scenes and within their group dance scenes. Each member does their own greetings to the camera except for Sunggyu; this is all done in Korean with Japanese subtitles. The remaining time is for both photoshoots with the instrumental version of "Diamond," which is gorgeous. Dongwoo was so adorable during his individual photoshoot, and 2Woo at the end were so adorable, ending the DVD on a happy note.

If anyone cares, underneath the discs are the Infinite logo and DVD information.

The photobooklet has a simple cover and is actually 14 pages long (I don't count the plain front and back covers).

The entire photoshoot is in black and white, there is one photo per member, two group photos, and three pages for the lyrics.

Inside the photobooklet are two slips of paper. The black one is information for Infinite's promotional events for the album, while the blue sheet is information for Infinite's upcoming Japan Tour in February.

All the credits for this song are from a Japanese team, and the lyrics were originally written in Japanese, not Korean with a Japanese translation, and the tracklist doesn't state this song as the Japanese version. I'm guessing that this is the start of Infinite releasing songs only in Japanese, rather than converting their Korean songs into Japanese. But who knows, maybe "Dilemma" will be on their next Korean album! I really do hope that "Dilemma" will be made into a Korean version so that we'll be able to see the dance more often, but I hope it won't be a title track so that Infinite can release more new hit Korean songs.

Overall, I love this album! The song has been on repeat since I received the album, the photos are gorgeous, and I love having an official copy of the music video.

Returning Damaged Merchandise to YesAsia

I had to deal with my YesAsia package that arrived with my two albums both damaged, which I explained in this post here. While it really is a hassle and it takes awhile for the problem to be resolved (you have to send the package back, 2 weeks, and then wait for your new package to arrive, another 2 weeks), it is well worth the aggravation and wait because damaged merchandise is something that shouldn't be tolerated. Here is my guideline of how to handle returning damaged merchandise to YesAsia.

How to Begin Resolving the Issue
My albums were broken, so I sent an email to the YesAsia customer service saying that I wanted to return my defected items. Their policy is that you can't get your money back, but you can return your package for new items. Instead of waiting for an email reply, I then called the customer service number and explained my situation, and then they told me to send them a detailed email (photos are best) thoroughly explaining the damage. Within about 8 hours, they accepted that my albums were damaged and sent me another email giving me instructions on how to return my broken items. (Actually the first person I spoke with sent me instructions for YesStyle, instead of YesAsia, so I had to call back until I got a smart person on the phone). I was given an identification number that I had to place on my return package. I placed everything (including the fragmented plastic pieces) back into its originally crappy packaging, and then placed that into a secure box and put newspaper padding, and added a note explaining what good, secure packaging looked like (because their email stated to send the items securely...something they should have done in the first place). Then label the package with their address, which is given in the email.

Shipping the Package
The email also states that YesAsia will only reimburse the return shipping if you're using regular airmail, and nothing fancy (ex. registered, courier service). My post office however only offered First Class Registered Mail for international packages, and cost $22.30 for the cheapest option. I didn't want to just throw stamps onto my package and send it off, as the email also wanted a copy of the receipt.

Waiting for YesAsia
Two weeks after sending out my return package, YesAsia emailed me that they received it and that I should reply with my shipping receipt to calculate the reimbursement. I emailed them a picture of my receipt, and within 13 hours they emailed me back saying they'll credit me my full $22.30USD, which will be processed within 3-5 days. In just over two full days, YesAsia sent me an email saying that they credited me back for the full $22.30. Four days after receiving my package, they reshipped my package, hopefully in better condition.

Receiving the Reshipped Package

I finally received my package after 18 days, and the packaging looks better compared to the last time. My albums arrived inside a waterproof envelope lined with a layer of bubble wrap, and then my two albums were placed inside a bubble wrap bag, and then inside another bubble wrap bag. My albums arrived in pristine condition, with no bent corners or anything! I'm so happy that I went through all this trouble and got new albums in perfect condition.

[Update 2] Aberdeen Mall: Tony Moly and a Clothing Store

Just after the new year's I visited Aberdeen Centre in Vancouver, Canada again (original post here and an update here on the mall) and found a couple of really nice surprises! On the second level near the doors to the parking garage, I spotted a Tony Moly! I actually didn't know that they are slowly starting to open branches in North America, and they don't really have a website for their North American locations. I can't believe I found a Tony Moly so close to me now!

This store is very small and similar in layout to many other Korean cosmetic stores. It is a rectangle with displays of products (no endorsers) on the walls and an island in the center with more displays. There were signs on the storefront advertising that this is a grand opening with a special sale from December 25th to January 4th. Inside was very busy and there were workers floating around, handing customers with mini baskets to entice them to buy more. They had so many products on display, but I honestly only spent about a minute in there doing price checks. The products seem to be significantly more expensive than buying them in Korea obviously, but they're comparable to other Korean cosmetic stores in North America, but still more expensive that online. The blueberry lip balm was $9.50CAD, and the red apple, green apple, and tomato were all between $14CAD and $16CAD. It's still so refreshing to see a Tony Moly in Vancouver though, and Aberdeen Mall is finally becoming more like a real Asian mall that reflects those stores in Asia.

And also towards one end of the mall on the second floor near the food court is a clothing store, Kokko, with lots of designer brands that caught my attention.

The storefront printed brands on the window that I know Infinite has worn before. These brands include Balmain (Infinite has worn these during performances and also as their own clothes, like at the airport), Julius (the designer behind Infinite's Last Romeo outfit set...the Myungsoo cow outfit set...), Mastermind Japan (I saw Sungyeol wearing one of their shirts at his restaurant), Pierre Hardy (worn on stage and on their own), Raf Simons (Sunggyu and Woohyun who some at the airport), and Rick Owens (Sunggyu wears it often). Also peaking into the store, I see HBA (they've worn it for recent promotions in 2014) and Comme Des Garcons (Myungsoo wears this brand often).

Since I don't come to Aberdeen Centre too often, I feel like with each new visit there will be more and more great change! I can't wait to see what's here next time. UGH after coming back to the States, I look at the directory and see there's now also Artbox, a popular stationary store in Korea. Ugh next time I'll definitely check that out!