Summer Magic is the sixth extended play by South Korean girl group Red Velvet. It was released on August 6, 2018, by SM Entertainment. The EP contains seven tracks, including the lead single "Power Up". Summer Magic marks the first release of the group following the addition of member Yeri. The album is also the group's first special extended play, following the release of similar format albums with The Red Summer and Rookie. The EP received positive reviews from music critics, who praised Red Velvet's versatility and the album's refreshing and lively sound.
The EP received positive reviews from music critics, who praised Red Velvet's versatility and the album's refreshing and lively sound. Summer Magic also achieved commercial success, peaking at number three on the Gaon Album Chart and number two on the US World Albums chart. The lead single "Power Up" was also a commercial success, topping the Gaon Digital Chart and peaking at number two on the Billboard World Digital Songs chart.
Amulet Book 5 Review
I just got a chance to read Kazu Kibuishi's Amulet, Book 5: Prince of the Elves tonight. Like most good YA books, it hasn't gotten nearly the press it should in the comics news circles, so I'm going to try to do my part to help rectify that.
I've been on board with the Amulet series since Day One, primarily on the strength of Kibuishi's previous Daisy Kutter book. (Which he's re-releasing through a recently successful Kickstarter.) Amulet, though, is decidedly in the fantasy realm, whereas Kutter was a Western. Different genres, but great art and storytelling.
The basic premise of the Amulet series is that Emily and her family stumble into a Wonderland-type world in which Emily becomes a stone keeper of great power. She eventually comes across and is helped by her great-grandfather's old friends, some robots and anthropomorphic animals. Book 5 specifically focuses on the history of the Elves, the prepartions for the impending battle/war, and a little more insight into the mysterious "voices" of the stones.
On the down-side, this is probably the weakest of the Amulet books thus far. Not as a fault of Kibuishi per se; it's just that the overall story is to the point where readers need a little more exposition and that happens to fall just before the impending climax. I suppose you could argueably claim that Kibuishi could have paced the story a little differently, so that some of the exposition got spread around a bit more, but I think it will work well enough when the entire series is viewed in its entirety. I don't think many people would deliberately START on Book 5, so Kibuishi has built up enough character investment over the previous four books to warrant a slower moving chapter like this.
Note that it's not written badly by any means; it's just not as viscerally engaging as the previous installments.
Irrespective of the story, the artwork is fantastic. All of these books are goregous, but each one seems to be more gorgeous than the last. A lot of that is immediately and most obviously attributable to the digital painting throughout. This is no mere coloring job; the colors add a very clear sense of place and feel and tone. The full-bleed slash pages in particular are incredibly striking.
But less obvious, I think, but equally significant is the depth that Kibuishi puts in the panels. There's more than a simple foreground/mid-ground/background set of elements; there's always a sense of flowing depth with objects weaving in and out of a very three-dimensional space. Even figures that, for all intents and purposes, are standing next to each other have just enough variation to put one a little closer to the reader than the other. Often, this is barely perceptible, but in the larger scheme of things, it gives the book a richness that many others lack.
Along those lines, Kibuishi provides a wide array of perspectives for his characters. He doesn't have one or two standard close-up shots, and one or two medium shots, etc. Every panel has a specific and almost unique staging that contribute to the aforementioned depth, but also give a greater sense of movement that might be actually occuring. By continually circling around the characters, the reader doesn't realize that they're really just standing around talking.
Despite this being a weaker Amulet book on its own, it still ranks more highly than many other comics I've read. I think this series as a whole is going to hold up very well for a long time, in much the same way Bone has. The first of this series came out in 2008 and I daresay that the kids who grew up reading this are going to be writing college essays on it by the end of the decade.
Kazu Kibuishi is the creator of the #1 New York Times bestselling Amulet series, which is available in 21 languages. He is also the creator of Copper, a collection of his popular webcomic that features an adventuresome boy-and-dog pair. Kazu also illustrated the covers of the 15th anniversary paperback editions of the Harry Potter series written by J.K. Rowling. He lives and works near San Antonio with his wife, Amy Kim Kibuishi, and their children. Visit Kazu and Amy online at boltcityproductions.com.
The concept for Summer Magic focuses on a bright and upbeat theme, reflecting the idea of summer. The title track "Power Up" is an energetic and catchy song with a mix of pop and dance genres. Other tracks on the EP include "With You", "Mr. E", "Mosquito", "Hit That Drum", "Blue Lemonade", and a English-language version of "Power Up". The lyrics of the songs center around themes of love, happiness, and enjoying the summertime. Overall, Summer Magic is a vibrant and refreshing EP that showcases Red Velvet's musical versatility and charm. The album's catchy tracks and bright concept make it the perfect soundtrack for the summer season..
Reviews for "Stay Hydrated with Red Velvet Infused Watermelon for Summer"
1. Sarah - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with the Summer Magic Red Velvet album. The songs lacked originality and seemed like a rehash of their previous work. The title track "Power Up" was especially lackluster and didn't have the catchy hook that I was expecting. Overall, the album felt rushed and didn't meet my expectations for Red Velvet.
2. John - 2 stars
I found the Summer Magic Red Velvet album to be a letdown. The songs were forgettable and didn't leave a lasting impression. It felt like a generic pop album with no standout tracks. Red Velvet usually delivers with their unique sound and experimental style, but this album lacked that innovation. I was hoping for more from them.
3. Emily - 1 star
I can't believe how disappointing the Summer Magic Red Velvet album was. The songs were generic, the lyrics were uninspired, and the album as a whole felt like a cash grab. Red Velvet has proven in the past that they are capable of creating amazing music, but this album fell flat. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
4. Alex - 3 stars
While I didn't hate the Summer Magic Red Velvet album, it didn't leave a lasting impression on me either. The songs were pleasant enough to listen to, but they lacked the replay value that I usually associate with Red Velvet's music. It felt like a filler album rather than a solid release. I hope their next album will be more memorable.