4 Walls
4 Walls | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
f(x) | ||||
Released | October 27, 2015 | |||
Recorded | 2015 | |||
Studio | SM Studios, Seoul, South Korea | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 35:18 | |||
Language | Korean | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
| |||
F(x) chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from 4 Walls | ||||
|
4 Walls is the fourth
Upon its release, 4 Walls received favorable reviews from
To promote the album, its titular track was released on October 27, 2015 to both critical and commercial success, peaking at number two on both the
Background
South Korea-based girl group
Release and promotion
f(x) was announced to be working on its then-forthcoming studio album on September 11, 2015, when the group traveled to
Following the release of the album, f(x) appeared and performed on several
Composition
The album, in the words of
"Rude Love" is described as a
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Billboard | [5] |
Pitchfork | 7.3/10[21] |
Spin | 7/10[19] |
The Star | [20] |
4 Walls was subject to favorable reviews from music critics. Jeff Benjamin from Billboard shared that despite the fact that the album was "arguably worse" than f(x)'s previous albums Pink Tape (2013) and Red Light (2014), it allowed the other members to showcase their vocal abilities more following the departure of Sulli. He praised it as a "rarity in K-pop to do once" by "finding the right sonicscapes" and appreciated the "house and trendy dance" production.[5] Benjamin subsequently named 4 Walls the second best K-pop album of 2015, writing: "Known for crafting some of the best full-length K-pop albums, f(x) did not disappoint with their long-awaited 4 Walls comeback."[24]
Sheldon Pearce on behalf of Pitchfork labeled the record a "superficial rebirth" following f(x)'s lineup change and commented that the other members had the chance to express their talents more, particularly with Amber's alto "harmonies" on "Rude Love".[21] Jakob Dorof, upon reviewing the album for Spin, disliked the songs "Deja Vu", "Papi", "Cash Me Out" and "When I'm Alone". He nonetheless labeled them "minor misgivings" and complimented 4 Walls on featuring "sophisticated and innovative" musical styles that could "signal a surprise second life for the world's greatest living pop group."[19] Echoing Dorof's viewpoint, Chester Chin of The Star was not impressed by the inclusion of the "derivative" tracks "Glitter" and "Cash Me Out", yet expressed his admiration for the "solid and edgy" album's "more cohesive" sound as well as "more polished and sharper" beats.[20]
Commercial performance
4 Walls was a commercial success in South Korea, and also charted in Japan and the United States. It debuted atop South Korea's
Track listing
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "4 Walls" | Lee Seu-ran |
| LDN Noise | 3:27 |
2. | "Glitter" | Lee Seu-ran |
|
| 2:59 |
3. | "Deja Vu" | Jo Yoon-kyung |
|
| 3:40 |
4. | "X" |
|
| 3:23 | |
5. | "Rude Love" | 100% Seo-jeong |
| LDN Noise | 4:18 |
6. | "Diamond" | Young-hu Kim |
|
| 3:59 |
7. | "Traveler" (featuring Zico of Block B) |
| The Stereotypes | The Stereotypes | 3:38 |
8. | "Papi" | Kenzie |
|
| 3:05 |
9. | "Cash Me Out" | Kenzie |
|
| 3:21 |
10. | "When I'm Alone" | Jo Yoon-kyung |
|
| 3:23 |
Total length: | 35:18 |
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Monthly chart
Year-end chart
|
Accolades
Ceremony | Year | Category | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Golden Disc Awards | 2016 | Album Bonsang | Won | [38] |
Album Daesang | Nominated | |||
Korean Music Awards | 2016 | Best Dance & Electronic Album | Nominated | [39] |
Seoul Music Awards | Bonsang Award | Nominated |
Accolade
Critic/Publication | List | Rank | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
Billboard | The 10 Best K-pop Albums of 2015 | 2 | [40] |
Release history
Region | Date | Format | Distributor |
---|---|---|---|
South Korea[9][10] | October 27, 2015 | CD, digital download | KT Music
|
Various[8] | Digital download | SM Entertainment |
References
- ^ "Amber Liu admits there are 'no plans' for an f(x) reunion as she talks 'angry' new single Hands Behind My Back". Metro. October 1, 2019. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
- ^ "K-Pop: f(x)". Korea Tourism Organization. Archived from the original on January 8, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ^ "The 3rd Album 'Red Light' by f(x)". iTunes Store (GB). July 7, 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
- ^ Ha Soo Jung (July 25, 2014). "SM Releases Official Statement Announcing f(x) Sulli Will Stop All Promotional Activities". Translated by Yeawon Jung. Mwave. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Benjamin, Jeff (November 2, 2015). "f(x) Doesn't Miss a Beat on '4 Walls'". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
- ^ 설리, 에프엑스 활동 중단 1년만에 공식 탈퇴 '연기 집중' [Sulli withdrawn from f(x) following one-year hiatus]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). August 7, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
- ^ Lee Seung-rok (September 11, 2015). [단독] f(x), 오늘(11일) 제주서 극비리 뮤비 촬영…컴백 프로젝트 시동 [f(x) started filming a secret music video today]. My Daily (in Korean). Retrieved March 3, 2016.
- ^ a b "'4 Walls' – The 4th Album by f(x)". iTunes Store (US). October 27, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
- ^ a b "에프엑스 f(x) – 4 Walls" (in Korean). Hanteo. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
- ^ a b "4 Walls – The 4th Album" (in Korean). Melon. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
- ^ Jeon Su-mi (October 27, 2015). "f(x) Sweeps Music Charts with ′4 Walls′". Mwave. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
- ^ "Program: K-Pop Connection". KBS World Radio. Archived from the original on April 19, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
- ^ Park, Soo-yoon (July 11, 2018). [음악계 우먼파워] ③SM엔터테인먼트 민희진 이사 [[Woman Power in the Music Industry] ③ SM Entertainment Director Min Hee-jin]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved July 28, 2022.
- ^ Park Su-jeong (July 30, 2015). "f(x) 퍼포먼스, 유명 안무가 카일 하나가미 작품 '역대급 무대'" [f(x) performance choreographed by famous choreographer for 'ever-class stage']. TenAsia (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 19, 2017. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
- ^ Selasa (November 10, 2015). "Tanpa Sulli, Tandai Comeback dengan Full Album Keempat" [Without Sulli, the first album as a quartet]. Pontianak Post (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on June 4, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
- ^ "f(x) concert a huge success". The Korea Times. February 1, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
- ^ Won Ho-jung (February 1, 2016). "f(x) goes all out at first exclusive concert". The Korea Herald. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
- ^ Jung Min-kyung (March 1, 2016). "f(X) wraps up Japan tour with success". The Korea Herald. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Dorof, Jakob (November 4, 2015). "Review: The Ever-Inventive f(x) Are Gunning for World's Greatest Pop Group on '4 Walls'". Spin. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e Chin, Chester (January 3, 2016). "Review: 4 Walls by f(x)". The Star. Malaysia. Archived from the original on April 7, 2016. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
- ^ a b c Pearce, Sheldon (November 18, 2015). "f(x): 4 Walls | Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
- ^ a b c d Lee Eun-ho (October 26, 2015). "오늘은 f(x) 데이!'…f(x), 27일 0시 4집 '포 월즈' 전격 발매" [Today, f(x)'s '4 Walls' released (October 27)]. TenAsia. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
- ^ Lee, Madeleine; Montesinos-Donaghy, Daniel (November 9, 2015). "Are f(x) the Most Underappreciated Heroes of K-Pop?". Noisey. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
- ^ Benjamin, Jeff; Oak, Jessica (December 30, 2015). "The 10 Best K-Pop Albums of 2015". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
- ^ a b "Gaon Album Chart: Week 45, 2015" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ^ a b "Album Chart: October 2015" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
- ^ "Gaon Album Chart: November 2015" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
- ^ a b "Album Chart: 2015 (Year-End)" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
- ^ a b "Oricon Weekly CD Rankings". Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on November 11, 2015.
- ^ a b c d Benjamin, Jeff (November 5, 2015). "f(x) Snag Second No. 1 on World Albums Chart With '4 Walls'". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
- ^ "World Albums: November 14, 2015". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
- ^ "Heatseekers Albums: November 14, 2015". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
- ^ "Gaon Digital Chart: Week 45, 2015" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
- ^ "Gaon Digital Chart – October 2015" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
- ^ "Gaon Digital Chart – November 2015" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
- ^ "World Digital Songs". Billboard. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
- S.M. Entertainment. 2015. SMK-0569.)
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link - ^ "History". Golden Disc Awards (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 8, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ^ "2016 Korean Music Awards – Best Dance & Electronic Album Nominees". Korean Music Awards (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
- ^ "The 10 Best K-Pop Albums of 2015". Billboard.