NEONPUNCH made their comeback yesterday with TicToc. This is the group’s first comeback since their debut single, Moonlight. Since then, the only major piece of news that has affected the group was in regards to Terry leaving the group for unspecified reasons. However, NEONPUNCH has been able to remain as a 5-member female group due to the addition of the Dohee this year.
The first thing that comes to mind when I listen to TicToc is that it is a rather fun song. There is no serious tone to the song whatsoever. Instead, it gets onboard the 90s train and really pops with its vibrant sound. I thought the ‘Na Na Na‘ was a very memorable part of the song and it definitely is my pick for the catchiest moment of the song. I thought the lead up to the chorus was quite nice and dynamic. The chorus was a little disappointed, as I expected something a little more loaded and energetic. But it was still good enough for the song. I thought the vocals were really nice on this track, going nicely with that said vibrancy. I think the song could have done with a longer and intensified rap sequence, as that could have kicked it up a notch. But I quite like TicToc as it is right now.
It seems like the main theme for this music video is time warps, as that is what we are thrown into at the very start of the video. Besides that, the emphasis is largely on clocks, which I think makes the most sense given the title. I liked how fast paced the scenes were in the video, matching the fast tempo of the song. I also thought many of the closeup shots made the members look pretty and highlighted their visuals.
I think the choreography during the ‘Na Na Na‘ part was really well done. It kind of has what it takes to be the next trendy move. As for the rest of the choreography, there really isn’t anything memorable to mention. It was nice but quite passable for the most part.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 6.5/10 Overall Rating – 7.7/10
It is time for another album review! SEVENTEEN made their return to the stage with Home last week, which is featured on their 6th mini-album, You Made My Dawn. The album also features Getting Closer, which the group previously performed at some of the awards shows they were invited to. The album also refocuses on the 3 units of the group (Vocal, Hip Hop and Performance) and I will be having a closer look at each of these songs.
You Made My Dawn Album Cover
1..Good To Me – Kicking the album off is Good To Me, which is an R&B dance track that really brings out the vocals and rapping capabilities of the group. I really liked the chorus for its rush of energy and the melody that portrays. But while I do like their execution and the song overall, I did think it was standard in comparison to the title track and the pre-release track, which are tracks that really stand out for their uniqueness when it comes to Seventeen’s discography. (7.5/10)
3. Hug (포옹) (Vocal Unit) – We now turn to the individual units of Seventeen. Hug focuses on the vocalists in a light that is quite delicate and fragile, which isn’t anything we usually get from the members. I liked the acoustic nature of the instrumental, which provides a feeling of warmth throughout the song. I was expecting it to pick up but I liked how they kept with the guitar throughout the track, as this lets us focus on the vocals of the Vocal unit primarily. (8/10)
4. Chilli (칠리) (Hip Hop Unit) – Chilli attempts to spice the album up. And it manages to just do that. Like I have mentioned numerous times before, I am not a major fan of autotune. But I personally do not mind it in this song. It contributes to the instrumental and creates what I think is a fun sound. It does maintain that hip-hop feel that the unit promises to bring along. The track also manages to be quite upbeat but in a rather subtle way, which I think is one of its appealing points. I also enjoyed the soft delivery from each of the members. (8.5/10)
5. Shhh (Performance Unit) – I think out of the three unit tracks on the album I am most satisfied with Shhh. The main reason to why that is the case is that while the Performance Unit focuses primarily on their dancing, the 4-member team also manages to bring good vocals and raps to the song. And their track has a very attractive instrumental that really fits their main goal. It is upbeat and techno, like their previous tracks. But that is also an aesthetic appeal to the track, which I quite liked. (9/10)
Picked as the runner up for Most Underrated Artist of 2018 in the 2018 KPORPEVIWED Awards, CLC has returned with their latest single, No. It is featured on the group’s 8th mini-album, No. 1 (read as No One). After their amazing Black Dress release last year, I was wanting to hear more from the group. Today, it was revealed that the group was planning a comeback after Black Dress but that was ultimately cancelled. If their company could learn anything from their other groups, it should be that CLC will benefit from multiple promotional activities in one year. They deserve some attention for their edgy uniqueness.
And No is basically just that. I find it very edgy, which is in line with their more recent releases and it has this unique tone on to it, which I think draws listeners into the song. The song kicks off with a checklist, to which the members respond ‘No’ to. It is a very bold way to start the song and I quite like it. The chorus is the next best bit, with the “I Love Me‘ line quite memorable for me. The vocals are quite good. But I think the winning element, once again, is the rapping. It just works wonderfully in this track and it gives the edgy song even more edge! The instrumental reminds me of a confident model strutting their stuff on the runway. I attribute that to the deep bass in the background It also felt like it was Madonna or Kylie Minogue influenced as well. Overall, I thought No was that confident song that the group needed, especially following up from Black Dress. My only major complaint is that the song felt too short and that it went by too quickly!
Going back to how the song felt like a model strutting their stuff on the runway, it is the exact visual we get in the music video. I thought the video was quite powerful, especially when they came to the point of burning everything in the said checklist. I also like the coloured sets, which contrasted nicely with their black outfits (which added the edge to the video). I think they could have had more edge to the video (if I was going to be critical in any way) but what they did was pretty good itself.
The performance looked really cool. Not only does it feel 100% fitting for the song but they seemed to put their own modern take on some voguing in their routine. I thought that was cool. Of course, they do some strutting as well. I also like the sexiness they bring without it going overboard in any form.
Song – 9.5/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 9.3/10
It is time for me to quickly write up another review for a release many days ago. Today’s focus will be on LU:KUS (formerly L.A.U), who returned with Faker on the 14th of January. Faker is actually a previous Japanese song of the group. It has also been a while since I last reviewed them for their comeback track, Break Ya. A lot has happened since then including the group moved companies, lost and regained their original name (hence why they promoted with the name L.A.U for a while), had lineup changes and multiple comebacks that I have somehow all missed. Currently, they are a four-member group comprising of J.One, Donghyun, Kyungjin and Choi.
Faker is a mid-tempo dance track that uses guitars primarily in the instrumentation. I thought the use of guitar was very interesting as it manages to express the emotions from the lyrics quite nicely. I read somewhere that it sounds ‘tortured’ and I thought that was a nice way of describing the song overall. For those who don’t know, the lyrics are about not wanting to depart from a one-sided relationship. I personally like the chorus a lot. The song starts off quite acoustic but once the choruses come into play, they insert some energy into the song, contrasting in a memorable way. The melody was also quite catchy despite it being quite short and not that explicitly strong. I also liked the vocals and the raps in the song. Putting my thoughts aside, I would understand why some people would not enjoy the song as it does lack an appealing element (i.e. it is quite plain). But I am on the side of the fence that hears the great execution of song, from its lyrics to its fitting atmosphere.
The music video managed to fit in a small plotline, alongside the use of those overused sets we see commonly in music videos. Two of the members, along with the lead actress, work together in a car garage that specialises in car tinting. At the start, they seem to be shown as close friends. The two fall for her but she chooses to be with the grey-hair dude. This causes the other guy to become jealous, causing a rift in the three’s friendship. After a while, I guess they realized that their friendship is broken and they all trade in their rings, thus breaking their bond. My question is when did the black-hair guy get his ring? Slightly confused for that part but I thought it was still a good storyline to watch.
The choreography for this comeback looked quite fitting for the song. I did think it was rather weak at times but I am not too sure if that was due to the song. I really like the hand movement across the face when they sing ‘Faker” in the chorus, which kind of indicates a mask. I also like the post-chorus body roll that they remade.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 7/10 Performance – 7.5/10 Overall Rating – 7.6/10
For this week’s Past Album Review, we will be diving into a HIGHLIGHT (or BEAST, as they were commonly known during that part of career) album. While I do plan to slowly go through their earlier releases, I chose Hard To Love, How To Love based on my enjoyment of their title track for this album, which is Shadow (link below within the actual review). The album also contains an introductory track but like most album reviews, I have left it off.
3. How To Love – How To Love was promoted in the final week of promotions for this album, as a special follow up. A music video dedicated to fans was released to accompany the extra week of promotions. While the song takes on the ballad route, it is bright and pop-ish (unlike their other ballads) and definitely very catchy. I remember the ‘How To Love, Love Love…” line being engraved into my mind for that week. I also really liked the vocals in the song, which added a sweet element to the song. The instrumental was also quite soothing and easy going, which was quite appealing as the other songs on the album did have a harsh side to them. (8/10)
4. Be Alright – If you want a little bit of electronic mixed into a pop song, then Be Alright is your song. When I listen to this song now for the review, I realised the song reminds me of their Good Luck days. It might be due to the electronic synths they used in the song. But on top of that, they applied a filter on top of the ‘It’s Gonna Be Alright’ part of the bridge to stagger the sound, which I thought was a nice way to cut the repetitiveness of the track. Once again, the vocals for the song were nice but the winning member was Junhyung, whose tone is perfect for a song of this nature. (8/10)
5. I’m Sorry (Pre-release Track) – This was the second track revealed from the album prior to the release of the album. And this is more of the sound that I like from Beast when it comes to ballads. They do sound best when they have emotions backing their vocals and this is exactly what they demonstrated in the song. I really liked how Junhyung is used as a backing during the chorus, which I thought was interesting given the contrast between deeper and higher tones. I also liked the guitars in the instrumental. I think the song could have been had a little more impact to bring it up to the standard of their more successful pre-releases, but this was still good nonetheless. (7/10)
6. Will You Be Alright? (Pre-release Track) – This was the first track revealed from the album prior to its release. While I did like the ballads that Beast (their name at the time of the releases) released, this one was easily forgotten and passable when I listen to the album. Why do I think that? Well, everything felt okay. And that just didn’t really do much for me. The song contained a nice melody and was quite pleasant. The vocal work was also quite nice but it wasn’t the most amazing piece on the album. And the instrumental felt standard, at best. So it was good, overall, but not their best sound. (6/10)
7. Hate You – I liked Hate You for its instrumental. The song falls into the standard pop domain but there is something about the instrumental that makes the song quite appealing to me. I am not really 100% sure what this certain element is but I did like the laidback nature of it. I thought the heavy nature that the title alluded to went nicely with the light tone of the music. The vocals and raps here were quite nice. There was also a nice melody. I think the main issue about the song is that it feels very standard but I think all the other elements make up for it. (7.5/10)
8. Encore – Wrapping up the album is the most techno-based song on the album. Encore. It does throw you back to that era when techno music was the big thing of the music industry. Encore felt cheesy but that was the descriptive word that I would describe most trendy techno-pop songs from back in the day. I have to admit that the vocals and raps in the song were really well done and I am slightly surprised that they weren’t more autotuned. It gets the blood pumping for the end of the album, leaving us all with a high. (8/10)
Welcome back to this week’s Weekly KPOP Chart post. Once again, I am a day late with the publishing of this post due to last minute errands yesterday. Apologies for that. But I did manage to push out an album review as I had promised (ASTRO’s All Light). Everything should be back on track starting tomorrow (including this segment), so keep your eyes out for all my reviews and album reviews!
And now, it is time to find which artist and song topped the charts for the 4th Week of January! Taking this week’s number one spot is SEVENTEEN’s Home. They are definitely no stranger to the top spot! Following behind them is Cherry Bullet’s debut track. Q&A. Kim Chungha returns into the Top 5 with her single, Gotta Go. Rising to the fourth position this week is GFriend’s Sunrise while rounding out the top 5 is La La Love by WJSN (Cosmic Girls), who dropped three positions down from last week.
For more of the charts, scroll down below!
21st Jan – 27th Jan 2018
Title
Artist
Status
1
Home
Seventeen
(new)
2
Q&A
Cherry Bullet
(new)
3
Gotta Go
Kim Chungha
(▲ 3)
4
Sunrise
Gfriend
(▲ 7)
5
La La Love
WJSN (Cosmic Girls)
(▼ 3)
6
Lonely Nights
KNK
(▼ 2)
7
Only U
IMFACT
(new)
8
%%
APINK
(▼ 3)
9
Loca
Favorite
(▼ 1)
10
Ring Ring Ring
VERIVERY
(▲ 10)
11
All Night
ASTRO
(▼ 2)
12
I Wanna Know
Roh Taehyun (HOTSHOT)
(new)
13
Valkyrie
ONEUS
(▼ 12)
14
Love Shot
EXO
(▼ 4)
15
Ya
Lee Minhyuk (BTOB)
(=)
16
Wind Flower
Mamamoo
(▲ 5)
17
MILLIONS
Winner
(▼ 5)
18
Getting Closer
Seventeen
(▼ 15)
19
U Um U Um
Hyomin (T-ARA)
(new)
20
Say My Name
ATEEZ
(▼ 13)
21
No Air
The Boyz
(▼ 3)
22
Dream About U
NATURE
(▲ 8)
23
RBB
Red Velvet
(▲ 11)
24
LOST N FOUND
Lovelyz
(▼ 5)
25
I’m OK
iKON
(▼ 11)
26
Blue Rose
UP10TION
(▲ 1)
27
Days Gone By
DAY6
(▼ 10)
28
Turn It Up
Laboum
(▼ 5)
29
Truth
TVXQ
(▲ 14)
30
Help Me
NU’EST W
(▼ 5)
Unfortunately, I have lost the list of songs leaving the charts this week. Some of the few that I do remember from the top of my head are:
Help Me – NU’EST W
RBB – Red Velvet
Wind Flower – Mamamoo
No Air – The Boyz
Fiance – Mino (WINNER)
I will update the rest of the list once I am able to retrieve it from my files.
Thank you once again and I will see you next week (hopefully, at the same time).
With their growing fanbase, I spent the last year awaiting a comeback from the one and only ASTRO. But we were left with a special album that was barely promoted in 2018, which was a disappointment (not at the album but rather their lack of promotions). But now, the male group from Fanatigo returned last week with All Light, breaking their promotional drought. It features 10 tracks in total, one of them being the title track All Night, which I have enjoyed since its release. Today, we have a little closer look at the group’s album release.
All Light Album Cover
1..Starry Sky – Starry Sky is an R&B dance track that starts the album off on a bold note. And by that, I mean the song is very defined and robust. I like the thumping instrumental and the small details within the instrumental, which really gives off the effect of a beautiful night sky. The vocals were really good. The rapping was also quite good but it felt ordinary. I felt like the song could have benefited from a rougher or stronger rap sequence, showing off the rappers even more. (8/10)
3. Moonwalk – The deep pounding in the instrumental continues in Moonwalk. And this is one of the biggest attractions of the song. There is something about that really pulls me into the song. I thought the choppy nature at the start of the song, the use of autotune throughout the song, the pounding instrumental and their vocals/raps really create an aesthetically pleasing track. Overall, it left a very strong impression on me and it is a track (other than the title track) that I would personally recommend. (10/10)
4. Treasure – Treasure continues the electronic touch to the album thus far with a nice dance track that has influences in tropical house. It isn’t as strong as other songs in the same sphere, which I think is quite nice. I liked the small details scattered throughout the track such as the whistles and the layering of vocals and raps. I think the track could have benefited from a better hook, as this would have made the track more memorable. But other than that, it is another good track. (9/10)
5. Roleplay – Taking a break from the electronic nature of the album this far, Roleplay is an acoustic R&B track that really stands out. It is a style that sounds extremely mature for the group and I personally would like to hear more of this. I like the chill nature of the instrumental, fitting neatly into an urban setting. The vocals were quite nice. Interestingly the song contains no raps, which I think was unfortunate because a rap sequence could have done wonders to this song, if it was executed right. (9/10)
6. 1 in a Million – This song is probably an example of what many people would think boy groups do. It is bright, youthful and very energetic in nature. The electronic instrumental returns once again, this time it has pop-infused into it. I don’t mind this song, but it does feel rather generic, like it is a go-to style of song. I thought the rapping was nicely done in this track and the vocals were amazing, like everywhere else on the album. The chorus was catchy, so what more could you ask for! (8/10)
7. Love Wheel – Once again, we depart the EDM direction with a sweet pop track. Sure, the song fits ASTRO’s profile perfectly. The track has a very consistent instrumental but it doesn’t feel repetitive as each section (apart from the chorus) sounds slightly different but remaining tight together. The vocals were nailed, and the rapping was perfectly fitting for the song. It is one of the songs where despite you not being able to understand the meaning of the lyrics, you are able to smile along. (8/10)
8. Heart Brew Love – Another great pop song on the album. I can’t really find much to say about the song besides repeating a lot of the things I have said thus far on this album review. I must commend the rappers for doing a really good job of really ensuring the song doesn’t become too repetitive. Vocals were nice. I think the song could have had a stronger hook but I am happy with what we can hear based on the instrumental of Heart Brew Love. (8/10)
9. Merry-Go-Round – I really like the cheerful nature of the track. And this cheerful nature is quite infectious, given the major repetition of the song’s title as the main hook of the song. It is another song that fits ASTRO’s profile perfectly. Harmonies at the end of the song were nice. I think the verses could have been a lot more memorable, but I am not sure how. But that is me nit-picking at the smallest details. (8/10)
10. Bloom (피어나) – We come to the end of the album and we have yet to hear a ballad. Well, Bloom ends the album with just that genre. The instrumentation to this track is quite beautiful and somewhat dramatic. The vocals were really nice. Started off quite husky but soon built up alongside the instrumental. The rapping is a different story, however. It felt too heavy for a ballad of this nature. Rocky’s rap speak section just didn’t really click with the song. But apart from the rapping, everything was quite good. (7.5/10)
It is always disappointing to see persistent groups try so hard but not get far with their careers. One of these groups is IMFACT, whose recent music has grown to be favourites of mine (regardless of what I have written in their respective reviews). And now, the group has returned once again with a brand new single, Only U. This is their first comeback since their NANANA comeback in August of last year.
To me, Only U is in line with NANANA and The Light, both of which were released last year. There is a westernised feel that makes IMFACT’s songs quite unique. Only U is a very grounded deep house song. The instrumental does provide the song with a blank canvas despite it being a very familiar and standard tone. But it is the vocals and the rap sequences that act like paint strokes and making this song into a decent painting. Their vocals are quite nice, especially during the chorus. The ‘Only U‘ repetition packs a punch with some unique energy. I really like the hoarseness of the rappers’ voice, giving a really strong texture. But the best bit of the entire song has to be the bridge and onwards. The sudden focus on some nice singing and then the sudden flick towards the EDM buildup was actually a very attractive section. And finally, that soft ending contrasts interestingly with the rest of the electronic based song, which I also quite like. Overall, another great song from the group.
I am not exactly sure what the music video is about but it feels like IMFACT are the girl’s guardian angels, helping her and protecting her throughout the video. We can see what they are doing but she cannot – but she is able to sense them. At the end of the video, we see both parties (i.e. IMFACT and the actress) interact, which I guess is that she believes them to be her friends but she doesn’t not about their guardian position. My only issue with the video was the kitchen scene. An exploding pot of boiling hot water does not equate to a food fight. But that is me being picky.
I wanted them to have a more impactful routine, to match that drop we get in the chorus. Instead, I felt like the choreography ended up weak. There were good moves but I don’t think it was enough to really give that fitting feeling.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 7/10 Performance – 5.5/10 Overall Rating – 7.2/10
Hyomin has returned with another solo single, U Um U Um earlier this week and today we will be having a closer look at this comeback. We last saw the female soloist through herMango comeback last year. Once again I have included T-ARA in the title as they are still together. Hyomin recently expressed in an interview that the group wants to regroup for fans during their 10-year anniversary this year, which further highlights that they are still together as a 4-member group. But until then, let’s dive into the review.
U Um U Um is a dance song that actually has a very easy going and pleasant vibe. The instrumental is in no way heavy-handed, which is a departure from other dense and heavy sounding dance songs out there. But, this lighter style choice is quite deliberate. Hyomin’s vocals are much higher than what we have heard and the lighter instrumentation really compliments her vocal choice. The vocals, despite it being different than usual, manages to fill up the song quite nice, so it doesn’t seem like the song is lacking any elements when it comes to the vocals or instrumentation. I also really like the melodies in the song, which were made possible by the two identified elements that I have spoken about thus far. It gives the song that appealing flavour. I also like the deep ‘Um’ in the background during the choruses. They give off a nice texture that contrasts nicely with the rest of the song. Overall, this is something that I wouldn’t mind returning to often.
While the music video’s style has been attempted before, it has been a while since we last saw the one-shot take, so it is quite refreshing. And I think this makes everything run a lot smoother. It may have also given the song that smooth touch as well. I also liked how during the second verses, only the male dancers appeared to really highlight the fact that this is a one-shot music video as this would give Hyomin time to quickly change into another outfit, delivering a different atmosphere to the second half of the one-shot video. I thought this was rather smart and different from the rest.
While it was a one-shot type of video, the entirety of the video was choreography based. And I like this choreography because it brings back the sexy side of her, which we weren’t really treated to during her last comeback. It feels more fitted for Summer but I am not too troubled by that.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 8/10
This review focuses on the solo debut of Roh Taehyun from HOTSHOT. He is a familiar face to the many as he previously participated in Produce 101 Season 2 and placed 25th overall. After Produce 101 Season 2, Roh Taehyun returned to HOTSHOT and has promoted as part of the group since then. He also later went on to debut as part of the now disbanded JBJ, the ‘fan-imagined’ group of Produce 101. Today, Roh Taehyun made his mark as a solo artist by debut with I Wanna Know, which is featured on the mini-album, biRTHday.
I Wanna Know is a fun hip-hop track that really shows off a different charm that I know of Roh Taehyun when he is a part of HOTSHOT. I only know HOTSHOT based on their two recent tracks and Roh Taehyun is a very serious fellow in these two tracks. But to hear him do something playful and energetic, I thought was a rather cool change. He brings his vocals to the song, which I think is rather nice. The instrumentation was a little plain for my liking but the melody of the track was quite catchy. I personally think the song can benefit from a rap sequence as it could have added an extra texture to really give the song some definition. But still, what we got is pretty good.
I usually make comments for the inside of the video (i.e. the content within). All of that lines up with what the song felt like. Fun, friendly and playful. So I really can’t say much about that. Just the title for the video uploaded onto Roh Taehyun’s personal YouTube page just dulls any effects the music video had going on. They put the wrong title up. Instead of the song’s title. they put the album’s title. And as a KPOP follower for a number of years, stuff like this don’t really help with promotions. I felt I just needed to write that despite it not being any of my concern as a KPOP reviewer. But other than that, a well-suited video.
I actually like the choreography for this performance. As the song and video, there is a fun and playful tone in it. Also, like I mentioned in the song review part, it is rather nice to see a more energetic and hyper Taehyun on stage as opposed to the serious side that I have commonly seen. I liked how he managed to slide in some popping and his moments with the female backup dancer were my favourites.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 7/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 7.7/10
The album review is for today is on schedule!! Woo!! Today’s album review is focused on GFriend’s latest release, Time For Us. The group made their comeback last week with the title track of their 2nd studio album, Sunrise. The new album also features the Korean version of the group’s latest Japanese single, Memoria. There is a fair bit to get through, so let’s get cracking!
2. You Are Not Alone – I personally think this track could have been a potential contender for the title track. It is quite up to par with Sunrise when you think about it. It is vocally driven, and the instrumental adds a dynamic dimension to the song. I really like the rock elements in it, despite it being what I would consider a relatively pleasant sound. Together, there is a very interesting depth to the song, which makes the song very interesting. Those ad-libs at the end are phenomenal and its melody was a standout. All of this contributes to the album’s first perfect score. (10/10)
3. L.U.V (기적을 넘어) – There were certain moments of the song that I quite liked. And then there were moments that I thought the song was a little too typical. The verses are an example of the great parts. They featured this hip-hop vibe in, which I thought was a unique touch as it doesn’t really conform to a lot of their previous work. The rapping was my highlight for the song, basically for the exact reasons mentioned. The chorus was my pick for the typical moment. Following the verse, the chorus took a very melodic route that I thought was rather safe and didn’t really carry the same vibes over. (7/10)
4. GLOW (만화경) – GLOW, to me, does what the title suggests. The song does glow extremely brightly with its cute voices for the chorus and an instrumental that does pop out. Throw in a catchy melody and you pretty much have a winning formula. I find the song suitable for all climates as it showcases a warming vibe for the colder months but also a refreshing vibe for the hotter months. The only thing that does let me down is the sudden ending. (9/10)
5. Our Secret (비밀 이야기) – Opening up Our Secret is a very addictive high pitch whistle synth, which I really like. It pulled me into the song straight away. The vocals were quite nice, giving the song a lot of different appealing factors to really grab onto. The chorus itself felt fun and energetic (in a subtle way), which was another element that I liked about the song. Altogether, the song was a gem itself, earning the album’s second perfect score. (10/10)
6. Only 1 –Only 1 doesn’t offer much within the verses. It felt rather typical and didn’t stand out. The first half of the chorus also shared the exact same feeling. But it is the second half of the chorus that really draws my attention to the song, as there was a choppy effect that I have never heard of before. While this does sound rather messy, it works extremely well and felt just right for this song. I thought the instrumental was nice, especially around the bridge of the song. (7/10)
7. Truly Love – Truly Love brings back the cutesy sound in their voices and this gives the song a sweet vibe, which I thought was rather pretty. The song also allows for the focus to be on the vocals with its minimal instrumentation. I like the chorus of the song. It isn’t as strong as their previous tracks on the album, but it was rather pleasant. The instrumental was also another likeable element to the song but I am not really sure how to describe it. (8/10)
8. Show Up (보호색) – Show Up has this aesthetically pleasing vibe surrounding some bits of the song, which I find to be quite interesting. It is the rap-speaking verses that I find very intriguing as it isn’t something you hear all too often, especially from GFriend. Unfortunately, the rest of the song felt like a standard pop song, losing that unique touch. The only other memorable part is the second half of the chorus, which was quite memorable. Everything else just didn’t really felt appealing. (7.5/10)
9. It’s You (겨울, 끝) – It’s You is a good song but it isn’t their best. It is another passable song on the tracklist as there really isn’t much development to the song, where stillness might be its biggest charm. But as a result, the song doesn’t become appealing due to its lack of momentum. I did like the soft R&B style that they went for and there was a slight warming touch, thanks to their vocals. (7/10)
10. A Starry Sky – A Starry Sky is a soft pop ballad that showcases the best of the member’s vocals. The instrumental is very calming and soothing. The harmonies were equally as nice. And like most ballads that I enjoy, there is a slight swaying effect to this song. But that is basically it to the song. To me, there really isn’t much else to discuss regarding the song. (7.5/10)
11. Love Oh Love – Love Oh Love takes me back to their debut days. The song just gives off those vibes and I thought was rather cool. There also seems to be a girl group retro influence in the instrumental of the song. I thought the vocals were amazing in this song and managed to give a pretty and freshening characteristic to the song. I like the chorus for its pack of energy and catchiness. I also really liked the ending of the song. (9/10)
NATURE kicks off their 2019 year with the release of a brand new single and concept, Dream About U. This follows the group’s debut with Allegro Cantabile and SOME (You’ll Be Mine) from last year. Unfortunately, this is a late review as the song was released over a week ago. In other news, NATURE was nominated in the 2018 KPOPREVIEWED Awards for Best New Female Group. To see if they won and see who else won, click here.
To me, Dream About U is a step in the wrong direction. It isn’t a terrible song, so don’t get me wrong. However, both their debut track and SOME were slightly unique, so I don’t really get the idea of going with a very typical sound for a girl group. The entire song features this cutesy vibe, which I do think fits NATURE very well. But since the song itself conforms to that standard cutesy sound that most girl groups attempt some point in their careers, I just simply pass over this song. If they did it in a way that was rather unique and different, like their previous two title tracks, I think the song would have been better. But let’s finish up on some positives. Vocals are really nice in this song, showcasing their capabilities. The instrumental was actually quite nice, with the violins. And together, these two elements to create a very bubbly atmosphere.
It would be unfair to say the exact same thing about their music video but my feelings are basically on the same line. However, I thought the music video was rather fitting for the song. The cutesy concept is definitely a change from their SOME concept, which I thought was rather nice and refreshing.
Likewise with the choreography. Like the song, the performance was pretty much passable. I wasn’t too keen on their wands that they were holding. It felt cheesy but fitted well into their cutesy concept.
Song – 6/10 Music Video – 6/10 Performance – 5/10 Overall Rating – 5.8/10
As the album contains 14 tracks, this album review has become quite lengthy.
This week’s ‘past album’ review (I really need a new name for this particular series) is Infinite’s 2014 releases Last Romeo (which featured the title track Last Romeo) and Be Back (which featured the title track Back). I chose Infinite for today as they tend to have a number of cool non-title track hidden in the midst of their album releases, alongside that amazing title track they return with each time. This album is not an exception, with my attention immediately drawn to Last Romeo when it was first released. The album also contains releases from subunits and solo members, some of which hadn’t even had their respective debut at the time.
4. Diamond – What I tend to like about Infinite’s title tracks is the fact that they tend to collaborate with an orchestra for a special performance, resulting in a beautiful performance in one form or another. Diamond takes on that orchestral instrumental and while it isn’t a title track, it deserves recognition as it is one of Infinite’s best b-side tracks ever! It places Infinite’s vocals into the spotlight in a jaw-dropping manner that captures your attention. Dongwoo was especially surprising, with his high note. I really like the piano in the instrumental and the dramatic sounds during the bridge. (10/10)
5. Follow Me – Follow Me combines a violin instrumental with some rock elements and what I suspect to be the a few seconds of a standard pre-loaded ringtone (i.e. the first 3 seconds of the song). Together, we result in a nice song that reminds me of Infinite in the older days. The vocals are good, with some harmonies present in the chorus. I think the first rap sequence was unnecessary but the one in the bridge (with the echo effect) was cool. To me, the song doesn’t feel spectacular, but it is still good. (7/10)
6. Rocinante (로시난테) – Within seconds of the song starting, I was pretty much sold on the song. There were upbeat vibes, brightness and energy just coming off the son. Perfect for a song about motivation. I really like the synth-based instrumental for this pop track, especially with that electronic effect during the bridge, which gives it some detail. The vocal in this song was ideal, perfectly stable and fitting for the song. I liked the rapping, but I thought it could have been more powerful and intense for the song. (8.5/10)
7. Breathe (숨 좀 쉬자) – Interesting theory is that this is song is about the saesang fans. Those who don’t know, saesang fans are those who become obsessive and stalks their ‘idols’. To the point where things can become life-threatening to the idol. I personally do not consider them as fans as they are dangerous to themselves and the people around them. Putting the topic aside, the instrumental is quite edgy. There seems to be a little bit of funk mixed into the song. The combination becomes quite addictive and the simple melody from the vocals aid in that. (8/10)
8. Light (Sunggyu Solo) – Kicking off a series of solo and unit works is Kim Sung Gyu, whom at the time of the release of the album, already started his solo career. It is a change up from his usual style, going for an acoustic approach. The instrumental doesn’t shine as much, leaving his vocals to do all the heavy lifting for the song. The way he vocalises throughout the song keeps it interesting. Not entire his best release but still decent. (7/10)
9. Alone (Infinite H) – Infinite H took a more melodic and flowy approach to their unit song on the album. I personally found the song to be disappointing as it lacks in colour and remains too consistent throughout, leaving us hearing the same tune repeatedly. It goes for a hip-hop R&B sound with rap-singing, but the track fails to inspire or really lift off. I don’t hate it but it is the track that I just want to skip over since it is so boring. (5/10)
Be Back Album Cover
10. Memories – Memories, to me, feels like that Summery ballad-y track that you often get as a b-side track on the album for an album released during the Summer period. It showcases Infinite’s vocals in a light and refreshing manner. The instrumental could essentially be described in a similar fashion. I particularly liked the harmonies in the song. That extra intensity provided by the raps was nice, My favourite part would have to the pre-chorus ‘Ddu Ddu” part. (9/10)
11. A Person Like Me (나란 사람) – Based on the first few seconds of the song, you can tell that this song is going to be a emotional ride. And essentially, it is a ballad backed by another orchestral instrumental that does just that. Personally, I felt like the vocals were just slapped onto the track. They didn’t feel like it fitted 100% neatly. Sunggyu and Woohyun stood out the most but everyone did an awesome job. The harmonies with each other when they paired up, along with the backing vocals were really nice. (8.5/10)
12. Reflex – Based on the title of the song, Reflex sounds to be the coolest song on the album. Overall, the sound of the song reminded me of KPOP back in the day. To me, the song felt weak as I expected sharpness and something fast-paced. The instrumental seems to go in that direction with some of the smaller details in the instrumentation going for something more electronic but was held back for the vocals. Once again, I don’t mind the song, but it is in no way my favourite. (6/10)
13. Crazy (미치겠어) (Infinite F) –Infinite F, at the time of the release of the album, had yet to make their unit debut. They made that jump at the end of 2014 with Heartthrob. If you are a seasoned KPOP fan, this is what you would call rather ‘standard’. Nothing to special about the song in a nutshell. There were some effects (such as after the first chorus) but they felt mismatched for the song. The vocals for the song were okay. Compared to their unit release that occurred afterwards, I think the song failed to really push their limits. But that is just my opinion. (7/10)
14. Close My Eyes (눈을 감으면) (Woohyun Solo) – I think out of the solo and unit songs on the album, I am most impressed with Woohyun’s. It is an emotional sounding ballad that really allows Woohyun to standout. I really like the sudden mix of electric guitar right after the chorus, which gives the ballad some uniqueness (This is usually saved for the bridge). Woohyun didn’t make his solo debut until the year after, so the question that should be asked is why didn’t he get on sooner? (8/10)
15. I Need U Back (소나기) – Going back to the start of this review where I mentioned Infinite’s classic sound (dance track with the potential to incorporate orchestral instrumentation), this album may just prove that if the song has just that factor in it, it is would be enough to sell as an Infinite song. The song contains 70% electronic components and synths to really make it upbeat and fast-paced, giving the song some individuality. The lyrics don’t match this, however, going for another emotional fuelled message. It ends the album on a good note, though. (9/10)
Apologies that this album review is 2 days late. I had some unexpected things to take care of on Sunday (when this was originally intended to be published) and this caused things to become a little out of place on Monday. But despite that, there will be two album reviews (this one and the ‘past album review’) coming out today. ONEUS’ is RBW Entertainment’s latest boy group, who made their debut last week with Valkirye. Given their amazing title track, I decided to check them out, which resulted in this album review.
Light Us Album Cover
1..LIGHT US (Intro Track) – I usually don’t review the introductory track. Simply because it is usually an instrumental piece. But LIGHT US contains vocals, so there is that to at least to comment on. I like the classy feel the track has. Adding the pretty cool vocals and that rough texturized voice from the rapper, it is a very nice track to start off with. (7/10)
2. ZigZag (삐뚤빼뚤) – This, along with the title track, pretty much got me wanting to write an album review. This one is so damn good. Opening the song is the main hook of the song (just in a completely different edited and electronic filtered voice). But it, along with it in normal vocals, is super addictive. The chorus is equally as catchy. Within just a few listens, I was already humming along. I liked how crisp the vocals were and those raps were just right! Overall, an absolute favourite for me. (9/10)
4. Red Thread (붉은 실) – The song started off as a ballad. There was a sense of stillness from the instrumental, quite slow moving. You do expect the song to gradually build up but the chorus was rather unexpecting. I personally find it capable of fitting some nice choreography and it felt like it contained some dance influences. But while I do think that, the song does allow the members to focus on their vocals and raps. The delivery and all was just magnificent. (9/10)
5. EYE CONTACT – EYE CONTACT is probably the song that is closest to a trend at the moment. It is quite bright and vibrant if I were to use words to describe the song. It features an EDM-based instrumental that I quite like. The song has nice vocals and the rapping gave the song a hip-hop influence, which once again was quite likeable. I did have a slight thought that the song was borderline on the repetitive side as the same drop was used throughout the song and there weren’t really any new additions to give the song a ‘changeup’. (7/10)
6. HERO – Like EYE CONTACT, HERO is an EDM-based song. But the words I would use to describe it isn’t similar to the previous song. Instead, I would pick words such as serious (due to the lack of vibrancy as compared to the previous song) and weighed down (the instrumental felt heavier in this song). For the most part, I thought the song was rather passable as I didn’t really connect with the song, no matter how many times I go back to it. What I did like was the rapping during the bridge and the vocal ad-libs during the final chorus. But apart from those elements, I am not too crazy about this song. (8/10)
7. Crazy & Crazy (ㅁㅊㄷㅁㅊㅇ) – And that last line leads perfectly into this song. The Hangul, which you can see next to the English title of the song, is just the consonants of the word ‘Crazy’ in Korean. That is rather unique and drew my attention to the song. The song has this darkness to it, which I think was well done. The hip-hop influences were also quite dominant, creating an enjoyable and engaging atmosphere. I just wished the instrumental could have been a little wilder to really give the song a hype or lit feeling. But other than that, I did like this song very much. (8.5/10)
It is time to review a brand new group in the KPOP industry. And this particular group comes from FNC Entertainment, which is widely known for FT Island, CN BLUE, N.Flying, AOA and SF9. They are Cherry Bullet and is the company’s first girl group since the formation of AOA. The 10 member girl group consists of Haeyoon, Yuju, Mirae, Bora, Jiwon, Kokoro, Remi, Chaerin, Linlin, and May. They made their debut with the single Q&A on the 21st of January. So, let’s dive a little more into their debut package.
Q&A is what I would call a bubbly song with a very nice typical yet refreshing instrumental. I say that because the instrumental is rather techno-infused pop and isn’t that mind-blowing when I think about it. But I love the direction of the song. The verses were quite nice. The pre-chorus rap sequences were very ear-catching. To also add to the fun of the song, the chorus was very catchy with its melodies and amazingly addictive hook (I am already humming along to the ‘DaDaDa’ despite listening to it a few times. The bridge really brings out the vocals capabilities of the group, which I think were really nice. I think if they added an extra element into the instrumental to make it really pop and colourful, the song would have gone extra miles for me. But other than that, this is one rocking debut track.
Cherry Bullet’s debut music video is a fresh take on AOA’s music video for Bingle Bangle. Both music videos feature the retro video game concept. Instead of going completely 8-bit, Cherry Bullet’s video went with a retro-futuristic video game, which I think looked really cool. Added on top of that, they managed to make everything look and feel high-tech, which I think would be appealing to the audience of today. I really like the backdrop for the choreography shots for this music video, as they looked like the coolest parts of the music video.
The choreography was quite good. Nothing too new or mind-blowing here, once again. But it seemed energetic and lively, like the song. I personally like the skip they did during the chorus to get out of the formations and that they genuinely looked like they were enjoying every second of their time on the stage.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 8.5/10
After the highly anticipated release of their darkest sound and concept (Getting Closer) yet, all fans are waiting to see what SEVENTEEN would promote for their upcoming album release. Well, the wait is over as SEVENTEEN is officially back with a brand new song, Home. It is featured on the group’s, You Made My Dawn, which is a continuation of their 2018 album You Make My Day (which features their previous Korean comeback title track, Oh My!).
Home is a rather interesting track, mainly because we haven’t heard anything just like it KPOP. Based on what I am reading, the song is an R&B urban fusion. And this a fusion that I would gladly check out in the future, as Home is quite memorable. The song doesn’t feel as hard-hitting as their previous title tracks. Instead, there is an emotive side to the song that you can just sense. It creates an interesting atmosphere. The chorus was probably my favourite bit. With SEVENTEEN’s songs, you expect them to go with a hard-hitting drop. But with this track, the chorus felt more spaced out and aesthetically pleasing. We don’t get that kick until the end, which I thought was very appropriate. Once again, the vocals and rapping were amazing. I think the winning members of the song is either Wonwoo, who got to sing in this song as opposed to his usual rapping, or DK, who voice just stands out from the pack. Overall, Home is another solid track from the group.
I just watched the music video very briefly. But I don’t see much connection between Oh My!, Getting Closer or Home. The earlier two videos were shown to be connected. So I am interested to see how Home fits in, as the aesthetics from this video seem to point towards the same producers of the other two music videos. One clever individual on YouTube noticed that there were elements from every SEVENTEEN music video to date within Home, such as the sofa from Pretty U, the beach imagery that was shown in Don’t Wanna Cry etc. I really like the start with individual shots of each member and then the cinematography throughout the rest of the video.
Every time I write a review for SEVENTEEN, the comments when it comes to the performance section of the review is basically the same. Amazing choreography to really draw in the crowd. And this is no exception. I like how they made the routine chill at the start and once the kick at the end was delivered, the performance also featured a kick in energy and power.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 9/10
KPOPREVIEWED 