KBOYS x smart Magazine Spring/Summer 2015 Review

Japanese magazine "smart" has created a spinoff magazine that collaborates with Korean boy groups to model fashion. This collaboration, "KBOYS x smart," is a "Fashion Book of KBOYS" and features Infinite on the front cover for the Spring/Summer 2015 issue.

Here is the front cover without the yellow slip. The magazine has a matte finish and is really high quality, with thick front and back covers. It has 111 pages and is 8.3125" x 11.75".

Here is the backside, featuring BTS. This magazine was released on March 18th, 2015 in Japan, and I was surprised to see it at Seattle's Kinokuniya Bookstore on March 29th, just 11 days later! The listed price is roughly $10USD, and I bought it at $15.50 which is still pretty reasonable.

The first time I flipped through the magazine, I was wondering what these uneccessary blank sheets of paper were doing, and why they were different widths. It turns out, they're posters! I couldn't find a perforation to safely remove them though, so I'll keep them safely attached in the magazine.

The first one (with the shortest width, so I guess it's shorter than the other two) is of Infinite! Next is BTS, followed by Shin of Cross Gene.

On the credits page, it lists Kangho the Red Carpet as the hair and makeup team for Infinite. It's so cool that they used Infinite's regular salon!

The next page is the table of contents. The magazine is basically broken up into six sections, one for each featured group. The first section stars Infinite, then Block B, followed by Shin of Cross Gene (who I've honestly only heard of because they're always mentioned in these Japanese Kpop magazines, but I still have no idea who they are), then MYNAME, followed by B1A4, and lastly BTS.

Each section follows a similar layout. First it's that group's fashion theme; for Infinite, their concept is "Spring Has Come," with members dressed for the spring season.

Each member or pair (Myungsoo, Woohyun, and Sunggyu had their own shoots while Sungjong and Sungyeol, and Hoya and Dongwoo shared shoots) had their own specific fashion concept for spring. Hoya and Dongwoo are showing off "One Tone" fashion while Sunggyu coolly expresses "Casual" fashion. Myungsoo represents "Basic," Woohyun shows off "Sports," and Sungjong and Sungyeol wear "Relax"ing fashion.

Then there's one group photo to bring all the styles together. It's hard to see, but there is a lot of though into the page layout. On the bottom, they list the idol group (which is great for me who can only recognize Infinite), the page number, and the concept for that group.

Next is Infinite's Spring/Summer fashion guide, with what I assume is what each member would recommend. This section is unique to Infinite and isn't included in the other groups' sections. These outfits definitely look like each member's style, especially Hoya (top left) with his sporty jacket, Sungjong (bottom left) with his bermuda shorts, and Myungsoo (bottom left on the right page) with his plain black attire.

The last part of Infinite's section is their "Shooting Diary," which has Polaroids of the members, and their behind the scenes photos.

Fashion-wise, my most favorite photoshoot was from B1A4 and their "On & Off Fashion." Their "On" fashion is just on point, looking chic yet casual. The outfits Infinite was modeling...I don't see how they're fashionable.

Towards the end is an individual interview of all the members featured in this issue.

Overall, I'm so happy that Seattle's Kinokuniya had this Japanese magazine for sale, and within 11 days of it being release, especially since most of their goods take at least a month to arrive! It was also cool going to the Kpop section of the bookstore and seeing other fangirls - I'm not the only one! And for the magazine itself, it's well worth it for the quality and the content.

CNBlue: Can't Stop (Original Version) 5th Mini Album Review

In February 2014, CNBlue released their 5th Korean mini album named after their spectacular title song, "Can't Stop." CNBlue has always held a special place in my heart, and I love how the members write and compose the songs themselves and have their own unique sound as a band. This album actually has three versions, all released just a few weeks apart in February and March of 2014, with the same songs but just different packaging. I didn't really know the major differences between the three, so I decided to buy the original version. The second version, Can't Stop II, looks very similar in packaging, and the third version, Can't Stop Special, has a completely different look and comes in an LP format (like those old vinyl records).

This album has really interesting packaging I've never seen before. It's a square, 6.75" x 6.75" and comes in a transparent slip case. The overall concept has a monochromatic color scheme revolving around time and clocks.

This is the backside with the slip.

Here is the slip cover. The slip case is made of plastic sheeting (like those for overhead projectors), and it's really easy to get grease on it from your hands, from fingerprints to palm prints. I'm sorry I complain about the weirdest and more irrelevant things. The side reveals the tracklist.

This is the album without the slip, with the city as its design.

Oddly enough, the CD makes up the back cover; the backside is made up of two thick layers, and the CD is held by a plastic middle and embedded into the cover. I don't know why the CD is also so prone to fingerprints...also because of the plastic CD holder in the center, it gets in the way when putting back on the slip case.

I like how the back cover, including underneath the CD, continues the city look and the monochromatic theme.

Flipping over the front cover reveals the standing paper and photobook.

This version comes with one random member standing paper out of four, which is basically like a paper photo frame with a standing back. I want to preserve this, so I won't open up the backside. If you want to though, keep the standing paper faced down and fold the two vertical flaps upward and inward. Here you see I got Minhyuk's~

The photobook is absolutely gorgeous and is of the same high quality as the photoshoots from CNBlue's limited albums and Blue Travel photobook; at first I was having doubts for buying a non-Infinite album, but now I'm so happy to have this album for the songs and for the photobook.

The photobook is 54 pages long and includes three photoshoots at various locations. Their YouTube page also released the jacket making for this album, which includes two of the three photoshoots in New York. Each section includes a couple of group photos and several pages dedicated to each member. The first set is of CNBlue on Brooklyn Bridge. This is my favorite; it's impressive they were able to take these beautiful shots without others in the background, and the compositions are just gorgeous.

The second set is of the band on a luxury tour bus.

The last set is of CNBlue sauntering around Times Square at night.  I somehow have to link every post to Infinite: Myungsoo wore that same spotted jacket Yonghwa's wearing while Myungsoo and Yonghwa were both MCs for the 2014 SBS Gayo Daejun. It's a tough suit to pull off, but they both work it so well~

The last few pages are for the lyrics. I really like how they take the space to showcase the song lyrics, instead of cramming all six onto two pages. Each song has one page and is beautifully laid out.

Because the photobook is only connected to the actual album by gluing the back page onto the album, it is not strong. The further I looked through the photobook, the more the last page's binding broke apart. I definitely have to be careful next time I'm looking through it!

Here is the tracklist printed in the photobook. Yonghwa participated in creating all the songs except the fourth track, which Jonghyun participated in creating. I cannot express my love enough for the title song, "Can't Stop," as it has such unique combinations of sounds that make this song timeless to me. Just the amazingness of this song outshines the other five tracks. Those tracks also have a similar feel as the title track, as they're all more classical, slow, and relaxing, but they just don't compare to "Can't Stop."

The music video for "Can't Stop" is really amazing, with the band performing in pastel suits and in a European-inspired setting and in various other locations, like a dark basement and in a bright bedroom. There is also a parallel world linked by a mirror between Yonghwa and a Caucasian girl. I really like how FNC isn't afraid of using non-Asians as part of their music videos, such as CNBlue's "Love Girl" and now "Can't Stop."

Overall, I absolutely love this album. The photobook is one of my favorite photobooks included in a Kpop album. The title song is one of my favorites of CNBlue and adds to their always-impressive musical creations. Excuse my pun, but I honestly can't stop playing "Can't Stop"!

Infinite 2015 Season's Greetings Review

I finally ordered and received my 2015 Season's Greetings, despite being a few months late. I'm always hesitant about purchasing any Season's Greetings because they're about $35USD (32,000₩) if bought in Korea, plus a $15 shipping fee for international fans. $50 just seems too ridiculous for a one-year (and one month) calendar. So last year I finally bought Infinite's 2014 Season's Greetings in July and opened it at the end of August, and this year I found a great deal and ordered it online in early March, so only three months wasted! I ordered from "vipshopkorea," a Korean seller on eBay selling it new for $34.99 with free shipping, which is practically buying it at a store in Korea. It took just 11 days to arrive since I placed my order and I noticed the shipping fee really was roughly $15 for the seller so I got a great deal. Also I'm so pleased that it arrived in perfect condition despite the large size, which restores my faith in online orders.

What makes this year's calendar even more appealing is Dongwoo's unboxing video of it on his Instagram account^^ Just to have Dongwoo endorsing this product on his own makes it so much more special. Anyways, this Season's Greetings is very similar to last year's, packaged in a cardboard box with dimensions 12.25" x 9.125" x 1.75".. Though it's hard to see, the Season 2 logo is outlined and intended, creating a nice touch.

The backside has all the technical information. Something random I noticed, last year it was called "Season's Greeting" and this year it's called "Season's Greetings."

The contents are also similar to last year's, with the calendar on top, then underneath the DVD and scheduler on the left, and calendar photocards on the right.

Here is everything laid out. The cardboard box is especially nice and sturdier this year with the indented sections keeping the contents snug and well-packed. All four items are also nicely packed in their own sealed clear plastic bag.

This is listed as a "mini calendar," but it's more like monthly photocards. They're in this makeshift box. The size is really convenient to carry around with you, but I'm still trying to figure out how I could carry these around with me without damaging them.

Here is the backside of the box. The quality reminds me of the the box for the first press edition photocards from L's Bravo Viewtiful, because it's like a thin cardboard box that you'd make in elementary school. When you open the top flap (which is hard to do without ripping if you don't have the patience), all four flaps open to reveal the photocards.

Here are all 12 photocards, one per month, from January to December (left to right, top to bottom). All these photos are different from the calendar and scheduler. There was this black dot printed on Dongwoo's precious face and I kept scratching it to try to remove it, but it only left scratch marks...so I suggest being careful with these cards! As you can see, the photos are from both photoshoots (the cozy winter jacket one and the cute door frame one).

The backside of each card looks something like this, which is really helpful so I wouldn't mind bringing this along with me everywhere though I just realized smartphones have calendar apps...

The DVD comes in this square paper envelope.

Here is the DVD. It states that it's for Region 3. It's weird, my Region 1 laptop and DVD player both play last year's Season's Greeting DVD (also Region 3) perfectly, but it's not working for this year's Season's Greetings...I have to find a way to see it through my own disc and not just from YouTube...I finally found a DVD player that would play my DVD! The DVD contains the behind the scenes from the photoshoots, and is 11 minutes and 30 seconds long. It begins with a focus on each member's individual shots, and a short message from each member to the camera. Then there is footage from the various group shots, including the infamous part where Dongwoo slides his hand up Sungyeol's thigh...

The scheduler is very high quality, especially because it has a very thick hard cover and the overall elegance of its simplistic design.

The front cover has the Infinite logo embedded into the cover. On the spine is the logo and "Infinite Scheduler" in gold lettering, making the whole thing so elegant. The backside is simplistic as well.

The scheduler includes a 12 month calendar, then a yearly plan, then a monthly calendar with Infinite's birthdays and anniversary, then a weekly plan, followed by pages of lined, blank, and graph paper. I love how the monthly calendar (bottom left) includes "5th Anniversary" and how the pages are filled with the beautiful Season 2 logo.

Spread throughout the pages are two gorgeous photos of each member and one group photo. The first set of member photos are like on the left, with just the photo, and the second set is similar, and includes the logo and member's name. The only "disappointing" photo is the small, black-and-white group photo (different from the one I just mentioned previously) on the top left two photos above.

And on to the calendar! I tried to limit the pages I'd show on here, but I was so awestruck with each page that I ended up taking pictures of practically every page. This sounds weird, but I also really love the smell...like pages fresh off the press, just like Infinite's albums. Anyways, the calendar is 8.625" x 11" when it's upright.

The thing I hated the absolute most about last year's Season's Greetings was the theme of "Lovely Seven Boyfriends," and I am so truly relieved that this year the theme is "Style of the World," which is random but it's fine by me! There are several photoshoots, one being this one and another one where they're standing in the doorway, and a few more with similar outfits fitting the style.

Placed between the gap of the calendar is a sticker sheet for you to use to mark special dates throughout the year. It's the same sticker sheet SM provided in their 2012 wall calendars...

After the title page is a page displaying all 12 months and the birth dates and anniversary of Infinite, and then this simple but beautiful page. The overall theme of the calendar is very mature and professional, with the boys wearing timeless and simplistic outfits; here is now I can see the theme of "Style of the World."

Each month has two pages; the first page is a closeup in color, with the calendar as one line at the bottom and includes Infinite's birth dates and anniversary if it's on that month. The second page is of the same member or members, and the photo is more distant and in black and white, with the calendar on the side. Here is January, with Infinite H starting the year~

Each member gets one month, then there are three subgroups each with a month, Infinite H, Sunggyu and Sungyeol, and the remaining three, Woohyun, Myungsoo and Sungjong, and finally two months of group photos. I love these photos; they look like they could be in a fashion pictorial! Though Myungsoo's just being his dorky self in that photo^^

And Sungjong's black and white shot really stunned me the most; I love the vintage look, and Sungjong looks so much more mature and grownup from his photos last year, of him in preppy clothes and with frosting on his nose.

Here are two pages of the group photos. The right photo is my favorite group photo; they all look like they're having so much fun! And I love how Myungsoo's pose is so similar to the cover of Infinite F's album!

After December, there's another page for the 2016 calendar, followed by this last page of Infinite.

This time they sadly don't include a page for January 2016. The very last page has 2015 global calendars for China, the US, Taiwan, and Thailand, and includes those countries' own observed holidays. I thought it was funny how at the very bottom of the page, there's a disclaimer that states "The Global Calendar's national holidays may be different since the information was gathered in Korea."

Overall, I love the quality (everything is very thick and durable!) and the contents of this year's Season's Greetings, and especially the concept and photos. I didn't think the photos could be better than last year's, but somehow they just are! I can't wait to enjoy the remainder of the year with such a fabulous calendar.