REVIEW (EP): Touch – Miss A

Miss A always seems to be on the cusp of greatness. Yet despite their rapid ascent into K-pop’s elite something always seems to prevent Fei, Jia, Min and Suzy from entering that rarified air of superstardom, a la Girls’ Generation or the Wonder Girls.

With some artists, the problem might be their material. That doesn’t seem to be the issue here; Park Jin Young has continuously penned a string of feisty pop/R&B gems for the group, all while catering to the quartet’s rebellious yet playful nature. And he continues to do so admirably in Touch, Miss A‘s 4th release under his JYP Entertainment imprint. The unconventional title track – with its eerie synths and oddball choreography – is definitely not as in-your-face as the group’s prior hits, but what it lacks in punch it makes up for with memorable hooks (2PM‘s Heartbeat, anyone?) and shadowy eccentricity. Interestingly enough, the slowed-down Newport Mix of the single is arguably the stronger of the two versions, as the extra sprinkle of minor chords and marching drums add an element of painful intensity that seems to be missing from the glossy performance edition.

And when Park happens to reach out for songwriting and production assistance, he gets contributions that are strong and in character – Fuego (Chris Brown’s Turn Up The Music, Jason DeRulo’s Whatcha Say) gets the girls to absolutely sizzle the dance floor with Lips, while Over U and No Mercy exude heaps of that trademark syncopated drum sass we’ve come to expect from the foursome.

Miss A‘s problem doesn’t lie with the goods they are given, it lies with the members themselves. All four are relatively competent singers, with remarkably comparable voices. And although JYP does a good job keeping these ladies in their respective vocal lanes – breathy tones, easily bendable soul stylings and no over-extended notes – their delivery can only reach a certain level. Look at Rock N Rule, for example – the song is enjoyable enough and filled with sing-a-long Teen Nick sweetness, but any girl group today can pull that whole rigmarole off. Taking that point further, can you imagine how much more effective lead single Touch would be if it were sung by an artist/artists that had more vocal prowess? Singers that could take any number of vocal liberties, like some compelling adlibs or a mind-blowing power note or two?

Collectively, Miss A is a capable vocal group wrapped in a pretty Idol package. JYP continues to pull rabbits out of his hat with artistic and conceptual ideas, but it remains to be seen where he can take this quartet with a seemingly limited ceiling.

Touch – Miss A

Touch (Newport Mix) – Miss A

Lips – Miss A

Over U – Miss A

No Mercy – Miss A

Rock N Rule – Miss A