Month: February 2019

[Album Review] XX (1st Repackaged Album) – LOONA

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LOONA returned last week with XX, which featured the title track Butterfly. It also features 4 other new tracks (which I will be reviewing today), on top of the tracks featured on their ++ release, which we first saw in August of last year. Their company has been teasing this comeback for some time. The first teaser was released in October and it featured the ending of the Hi High music video but in reverse. Interestingly, the order of ++ songs on XX is actually been reversed as well. While I think I may have cracked that code, there is still a lot more cryptic messages to work through. In the meantime, here is my review for XX.

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XX Album Cover

2. Butterfly (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Butterfly. (10/10)

3. Satellite – Satellite is a very interesting track. It combines several appealing techniques to really make the song feel quite bold (but in a subtle way). The song starts off with a bouncy instrumental and very clear vocals. The pre-chorus takes a slight turn with a short yet sweet build-up, layered on top of a rolling drum beat. The chorus is what got my attention. It starts off with very melodic and wave-like vocals, which later moves onto a faster beat which provides a nice rush of energy to the chorus. It isn’t a combination that doesn’t really seem fitting, but it works effortlessly in this track. The rap sequences that make up majority of the second verse was also another well-done section, adding some texture to the track. I particularly like the inclusion of Kim-Lip’s section which sound like an electronic powering down (sorry for my unimaginative descriptions of each section). The rest of the track continues the same standard. Personally, Satellite is a very strong track if you are looking for something aesthetically pleasing. I also think this is a wonderful addition to their portfolio thus far. (9/10)

4. Curiosity – Curiosity throws a hip-hop feel to their aesthetic works that we got during their pre-debut period. It does create an interesting mix, to be honest. I just felt that there seemed to be a lot to focus on during the chorus and the instrumental, while it featured a deep sounding synth that sounds somewhat unique, was overpowering the vocals at times. But hey, that was my first impression. With more listens, the song is getting slightly better. But the one feeling that has remained from the start was how lacklustre the rap sequence felt. I wanted more. More definition and something to really kick the song up a notch. (7/10)

5. Colors – Colors is undeniably their most colourful work on the entire album. I attribute that to the certain level of brightness that you could feel during the chorus. The instrumental had a lot going on as well, which I think also contributed to this feeling. Once again, the instrumental did feel somewhat overwhelming, especially for the vocals of this track, which opted for a soft approach once again. However, I did like the instrumentation for the track, particularly the rolling drum beat during the chorus. The song also features a very conflicting dance break. It just doesn’t go with the rest of the song but for some reason it draws attention to the song in a way that I cannot really understand. To me, it attracted some good attention rather than a negative response (in my case at least). (7.5/10)

6. Where You At – Where You At is an R&B dance track that actually has a very addictive chorus. There isn’t much going on within the song, but it was still a very strong track overall. The ‘Where You At’ repetition within the chorus instantly gets me singing along. Come to the think of it, the entire track is quite pleasant, and I think the soft nature of the song is a major charm that they played right. The instrumental is on the more typical side of the spectrum, but I still thought it was nice. The vocals had this electronic filter applied to it, which also gave it a nice effect. It isn’t as extreme as autotune and worked well with the soft nature of the track. Interestingly, the track does not feature a rap. I personally think this was a good move as it would cut the softness of the track. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.5/10

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[Review] Because I Love You – Kang Min Kyung (Davichi)

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It has been over 10 years since Davichi made their debut as a duo. And now finally, the last of the two have finally made her solo debut. Kang Min Kyung embarks on her solo career with Because I Love You, the lead title track off her first mini-album, Kang Min Kyung Vol. 1. The other member of Davichi, Lee Hae Ri, made her solo debut 2 years back with Pattern and Hate That I Miss You. In other related news, Davichi’s last comeback was last year with Days Without You, which also celebrated the duo’s 10 year anniversary.

Because I Love You is a ballad, which was expected as Davichi is widely known for their ballads in the industry. But to me, the ballad felt very similar to what Davichi usually releases. I lowkey was waiting for Lee Hae Ri to come into the song and start singing. While that may not be a bad thing, I don’t see Kang Min Kyung’s individuality within the song, which was slightly disappointing. The ballad features a typical ensemble including orchestra and acoustic guitars. However, we got to hear more of Kang Min Kyung in the song and her slightly raspy vocals really made this track beautiful. She also did a good job of making the song heartfelt. I did like the melody and thought there was a decent buildup towards the end to really bring the track together. Overall, it was a nice ballad to listen to, especially on a cold day.

The music video shows Kang Min Kyung alone on this certain day. Many things she does within her day (a stroll through the forest, swimming in a hot spring etc.) leads to flashbacks to her previous relationship.  All was good up until the guy calls it quits and leaves her. But before he goes, he leaves Min Kyung with his watch (I think) and she still wears to this day, showing to us that she hasn’t moved on. The scene at the end where she pulls herself underwater and when she stopped the time on her clock confirms this (I think). That is my interpretation of the video. Unfortunately, I don’t have English translations to the lyrics to back this up and the ending seems to be a lot more than her stopping time, along with the fact that we see the guy a lot gazing out of the window and sitting alone. Regardless, I thought the video was beautifully shot for the ballad.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8/10

[Review] Senorita – G(I)-DLE

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Last year’s monster rookies have returned with their first comeback of 2019. G(I)-DLE was thrown into the spotlight thanks to their catchy LATATA debut track and continued their popularity with the unique Hann (or Alone). Now, the girl group from Cube Entertainment has returned with their second mini-album, I Made, and the title track, Senorita. Since their last comeback, the group received multiple Rookie of the Year awards, while Soyeon has been busy with collaborations including Wow Thing! (with Sin.B, Chungha and Seulgi) and SHINee’s Key’s upcoming solo release next month.

Given the title of the song, it was expected the comeback will be with Latin flair and that is exactly what we got. The song opens with a very obvious tango influenced sound and this continues throughout the song. I thought the brass in the instrumental was very delightful and adds colour to the already colourful genre that they went with. I enjoyed how the rapping was incorporated into the song, with the verses becoming very sensual with the paced delivery. The chorus had catchy hooks but my favourite would have to be the Senorita and brass combination. Interestingly, the bridge and end of the song contained very little lyrics. Only a repetitive ‘yuhuhuhuu’ was utilised. Not sure why this was the case but it did have charm. The only thing that I wanted more of was a buildup. There seemed to be a suspense-building pre-chorus but I thought a stronger buildup would have made their chorus more explosive.

The music video is quite dangerous. You can say that the girls made you sweat a little through their very close brushes with death in the video. I guess the sweat suits the heated genre of music they selected and the near-death experiences were great to get the attention of the person they are singing about. Once again, I thought the colour within the video was really nice and that applies to both their outfits and sets. I also did notice some product placement within the video with the Kaja cosmetics. It was very difficult to see but after rewatching a few times, it appeared quite frequently.

I thought the performance was very suiting for the song. They went with moves that we commonly associate with the Latin genre and tango itself, which I think was smart. They didn’t necessarily do it a cliche way and mixed over moves into the choreography as well.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.4/10

[Album Review] Hush (2nd Studio Album) – Miss A

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One of the good things about doing this ‘Past Album’ reviews segment is that I am able to readily revisit groups who are now disbanded. These non-active groups have amazing albums and songs that just need some attention, even after years of release. The first now-disbanded group that I will be looking at is Miss A with their 2nd studio album, Hush. Hush shares the same name as the album’s lead title track and it also features some songs from the group’s first mini-album (Touch) and second mini-album (Independent Women Part III). For today, I will review only the songs that were present on the Hush album. As for the other songs on the mini-albums, I will return to them another week.

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Hush Album Cover

1..Come On Over (놀러와) – Come On Over begins the album with a seductive sound. The track isn’t your most bombastic opener but it does do a good job of introducing the album. I really like the vocals in this track. They are quite breathy and this contributes to the sensual nature that I can detect. The combination of the R&B instrumental and vocals remind me of Uhm Jung Hwa’s songs. But the winning element for me is the rapping which I think is perfect for this track. (9/10)

2. Hush (허쉬) (Title Track) – Usually, I simply put a link to the review for the title tracks. But today, I have decided to offer an explanation. Times have changed and over the years, the song has grown on me immensely. It has grown so much that it has become my most favourite Miss A title track. Hence, I have decided to bump the original 8.5/10 to a 10/10. Obviously, all of my previous thoughts regarding the track have changed however I have decided to keep the original review as is. Click here to read the original full (but now practically invalid) review of Hush. (10/10)

3. Love Is U – One of my favourite tracks on the album is Love Is U. I thought the introductory was very misleading, as soon after the song becomes quite energetic. Showcased from the beginning of the song to the very end is the vocals of the group, which I thought was spectacular. The rapping was equally as nice. The chorus, even though it repeats the title, was my favourite part. I especially liked the ‘Love Is U, U, U’ part of the chorus. (10/10)

4. Spotlight – Spotlight follows the energetic sound from the previous song. I like the brightness of the track, which is quite fitting for a song titled Spotlight. While I did like the song’s pop instrumental and vocals, the song did feel rushed, particularly between the verse and chorus. I also did think the song was repetitive, especially after many listens. The best part of the song was the bridge with the ‘Oh Oh Oh’ and the rap sequence, which I think gave the song some much-needed intensity. (8/10)

5. Hide & Seek – Hide & Seek is another favourite of mine. It brings back the edgy vibe that Hush delivered but it goes with a rock-pop vibe, which I thought was quite addictive. The hooks did not help ease that criterion as I clearly remember the song being engraved into my mind when it was first released in 2014. The rapping just before the chorus was my favourite part of the track because it brings the best out of Jia, who is often overshadowed by the rest of the groups. (10/10)

6. (Mama) I’m Good – Do you see something about the album thus far? Even Track Number 6 is a favourite. It is a feel-good track that really makes you smile regardless of how you are feeling before the track. The instrumental is extremely bright, as you would expect from this type of song. Once again, the vocals are on full blast with this track being their best effort on the album. It is also very catchy. (10/10)

7. Like U – Like U brings back that sensual vibe through another R&B number. It provides us listeners a break from the energy filled album thus far but also serves as a great ‘interlude’ to the rest of the album. The vocals are brought back into play with no rapping within the track, which I thought was a suitable omission for this track. Unfortunately, this track wasn’t a favourite as it didn’t have that memorable element to hold me with. But it was still nice nonetheless. (9/10)

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Touch Album Cover (Source: Mithunonthe)

9. Touch (터치) – Once again, I am here to offer an explanation. The original score was a 4/10. But that included the music video and performance, which to this date, I still do not like. Likewise, my original thoughts regarding the song still stand. But back then, there was no breakdown of the final review score and I do not believe a 4/10 represents my thoughts then or now in regard to the song/music. Hence, I have decided to bump the score to a 6.5/10. Click here to read the full review of Touch. (6.5/10)

10. Over U– Repetition may be this song’s main charm. ‘Over U’ is repeated during the chorus and while you may think this might get annoying, it becomes engraved into your mind. Trust me on this one, as it is one memorable song. The verses are what keeps the song moving along as it is rather different. Their vocals also bring some freshness as it moves along, especially Jia’s rapping which I think adds a kick to the song. (9/10)

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Independent Women Part III Album Cover

11. Time’s Up – Time’s Up is also another addictive song. To me, it feels like a shuffling song (and here I show my age). I also liked the pre-chorus slowdown, which I thought really gave the song an intriguing turn. The post-chorus instrumental break was quite dynamic and showcased a burst of energy. I also thought the ‘Bye Bye Bye’ was a very delicate touch to the harsh club/dance beat. The rest of the song was equally as good, I just don’t have the space to write all about it! (10/10)

12. If I Were A Boy – If I Were A Boy features a much slower R&B instrumental and raspier vocals from the members. And while we have seen this combination elsewhere in the album, I just cannot seem to really enjoy this song. It is paced so slowly that it feels unfitting for the album, which has featured an overload of energy. To think of this track as a breather doesn’t really help its case. It just isn’t a memorable song and it still has some nice moments. (7/10)

13. I Don’t Need A Man (남자 없이 잘 살아) – Click here to read the full review of I Don’t Need A Man. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.3/10

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Hush Teaser Image

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[Album Review] Take 2. We Are Here (2nd Studio Album) – MONSTA X

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MONSTA X returned last week with Alligator and the second half to their second album, We Are Here. The first half of the second album was titled Are You There? and featured their hit track, Shoot Out. I was a little confused as I did not register that this was a two-part release at first. I honestly thought Are You There? was an album on its own due to the number of songs already on the album. Nonetheless, they have returned and that is what matters. On with the album review!

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Take 2. We Are Here Album Cover

2. Alligator (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Alligator. (7.5/10)

3. Ghost (악몽) – Personally, I liked how the song takes on the ‘Ghost’ title and really give the song some creepy vibes, which I think make this track even more powerful. For the most part, I found the track to be satisfying. The whisper-like ‘Ghost Ghost Ghost’ keeps on ringing in my head after the song is finished and I think this is purely their intention. The chorus had this repetitive nature, which I thought was really cool. It wasn’t overdone in a way that it got annoying, so it is a plus for that. I just felt the song could have used a breakdown or some sort of intensified injection to really bring the track together and make it even more impactfully creepy. (8/10)

4. Play It Cool – Play It Cool is a collaborative track between Monsta X and Steve Aoki. And this collaboration resulted in a very clean and stylish track. Opening the track is Joohoney (formerly Jooheon) with his vocals. After their Versace On The Floor performance which Joohoney pretty much rocked the fandom with, I have been dying to hear his vocals in full within their next release. Well, here is that track and it does not disappoint. I thought the vocals in this song were good, pairing well with the club vibes the song featured. I really like the chorus drop, which gave the song that centrepiece that attracts attention. I also thought I.M and his deep voice got to shine more with Joohoney singing in this song. And his deep voice shined brightly. (8.5/10)

5. No Reason – No Reason gives an opportunity for the group to really showcase the vocalists of the group (particularly Minhyuk, who got a fair amount of line this time around). Instead of power vocals which would be unfair for some members, the members do with an easy-going yet slightly different tone (i.e. higher) than usual to keep the song interesting. They do keep the electronic instrumental as per their usual style but keep it extremely light and hence not overpowering any of the member’s voices. The rappers do their thing but they aren’t overly powering or too dominant in order to keep that light balance that the song has. (8/10)

6. Give Me Dat – Give Me Dat returns the hard dance style that we associate with Monsta X. I did find that Give Me Dat fails to really offer anything new to listeners, however, which is a little disappointing. I wanted the song to have a kick as the song progressed but that didn’t get fulfilled. It remained too consistent for my liking, like my straight-line analogy that I used to refer to often. The vocals and rapping in this song were quite ordinary and once again felt too consistent. I don’t hate it for that, but it is a pretty much passable track considering what Monsta X has done in the past. (6/10)

7. Turbulence (난기류) – Turbulence doesn’t get turbulent in the instrumental. It is more to do with their crush is the cause of all their turbulence in their lives and them wanting more. It does still feel safe as I expected the instrumental to really go hard or haywire but that did not happen. Instead, it kept its cool and I think that makes the track a little more direct rather than what I thought might have happened. I also found the vocals and rapping style in this song a little more interesting than the previous song, which gives the song a nice appealing sound. I thought the rapping was more impactful in this song and the build-up to the final chorus was extremely satisfying. (7/10)

8. Rodeo – Prepare to be blasted with Rodeo. It kicks off with some Spanish guitars and quickly progresses into an intense hype track. To me, the song reminds me of Big Bang’s Bang Bang Bang, where both songs would get a similar response from the crowd. I really liked the “Boom’ in the chorus, followed by Joohoney’s short Korean phrases. Quite impactful and very memorable if you ask me. Come to the think of it, the song has the familiar intensity that I think really suits Joohoney’s style. I also think the vocals in the song during their respective parts were really good, particularly since they aren’t the main attraction (that honor goes to the already discussed chorus). (9/10)

9. Stealer – Stealer is also quite intense but it is a different intensity that hasn’t been touched upon in this album. And it has a kick that I wanted before making this a very memorable track to my ears. The ‘Dang Dang Dang…’, ‘Bam Bam Bam…’ in the pre-chorus and the repetition of the title in the chorus was extremely addictive. The instrumental had the intention of being ‘in your face’ but it still managed to stay in the background of the track and not overpower the vocals/raps. Talking about the vocals and the raps, I thought they were very dynamic in this track. I am not too fond of the pauses right after the first chorus as they do cut the flow but they do provide some relief after a jam-packed first verse/chorus. (9/10)

10. Party Time – Drawing the album to a close is Party Time, which features a casual and more relaxed tune. I honestly thought that this would be more of a party anthem, given how the album has been mostly filled with dance tracks. But it opts for a R&B beat and soft vocals. Even the rapping was toned down to fit the song. I liked the melody of the chorus and ‘Dalala-lala-lalala’ hook that follows the chorus. I also liked how they also sing part of the chorus together and that hook that I just mentioned. It is a pleasant sound that eases us off the album well. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.9/10

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Take 2. We Are Here Teaser Images

[Weekly Chart] 3rd Week of February 2019

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Another jammed pack week as gone by and we have reached another Sunday, which means we need to find out which who and what song topped the charts for the second week of February 2019. And we saw a lot of artists return this week including Monsta X, LOONA, Hyomin, SF9, Seven O’Clock, Yoon Ji Sung, along with the debut of TREI. The respective reviews for their comeback tracks can be found on the home page of this blog.

Rising to the top of the charts this week is Dream Catcher’s PIRI, which rose 21 spots to take over the top seat from CLC’s No, which dropped down to the fourth position this week. LOONA’s comeback single, Butterfly, takes the second position, while Hwasa’s Twit remains steady from last week in the third position. Finally, the top 5 is completed with ITZY’s DALLA DALLA. For more of the charts, scroll down below.

17th Feb – 23rd Feb 2019
Title Artist Status
1 Piri Dream Catcher (▲ 21)
2 Butterfly LOONA (new)
3 Twit Hwasa (Mamamoo) (=)
4 No CLC (▼ 3)
5 DALLA DALLA ITZY (▲ 5)
6 Alligator Monsta X (new)
7 Sunrise Gfriend (▲ 1)
8 Go Away Seven O’Clock (new)
9 Better Do Better VANNER (▲ 23)
10 We Must Love ONF (▼ 8)
11 Enough SF9 (new)
12 Allure Hyomin (T-ARA) (new)
13 Clock Infinite (▲ 10)
14 La La Love WJSN (Cosmic Girls) (▲ 6)
15 All Night ASTRO (▼ 10)
16 Want Taemin (SHINee) (▼ 7)
17 Gravity TREI (new)
18 Home Seventeen (▼ 14)
19 Q&A Cherry Bullet (▼ 13)
20 WiFi SATURDAY (▼ 5)
21 Valkyrie ONEUS (▼ 7)
22 Only U IMFACT (▼ 4)
23 Wake Up TST (▼ 16)
24 TicToc NEONPUNCH (▼ 3)
25 Gotta Go Kim Chungha (▼ 9)
26 Ya Lee Minhyuk (BTOB) (▼ 13)
27 I Wanna Know Roh Taehyun (HOTSHOT) (▲ 2)
28 Tonight (With Melody) Lee Minhyuk (BTOB) (new)
29 In The Rain Yoon Ji Sung (new)
30 Lonely Night KNK (▼ 18)

Songs leaving the charts this week are:

  • One Day – Jiyeon (T-ARA)
  • Truth – TVXQ
  • Candle Light – NCT Dream
  • Walking – VIXX [Leaving Charts Early]

Thank you for another fantastic week once again and see you all next week!

[Double Review] Because I Love You + If You – Yesung (Super Junior)

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Yesung finally makes his first return as a solo artist since his 2017 promotions of Hibernation and Paper Umbrella. But if you are expecting a return to the South Korean stage, then you have to come back next month as he will be returning then. In the meantime, Yesung recently releases his first solo album in Japan titled Story. The album features two title tracks (Because I Love You and If You) and both are connected via the music videos (hence why today’s review is a double review). Yesung also recently collaborated with Chungha for Whatcha Doin’ and Bumkey for Carpet.

I am not sure if I have ever reviewed any Japanese ballads before so this may be a foreign land for me. Both songs are of this nature and both are quite similar to the ballads we commonly get in Korea. For Because I Love You, we get a jazzy-like style instrumental which I thought was nice. Though I did think his raspy vocals were a little too soft towards the beginning and they were on the verge of being drowned out. The ending was a lot better as you can hear him pushing himself and this resulted in his voice standing out on top of the instrumental a lot better. If You takes on a typical approach with its ballad. A very nice but pleasant sounding instrumental made up of guitar and an orchestral touch. I really like his vocals here as they seemed clearer.  It also has a nice melody that gets me swaying along. The only flaw is that it feels too ordinary. I think if I were to pick one of the two, If You would be my clear winner.

Because I Love You starts off our story. Yesung is probably holidaying in a European country and passes by this lady who attracts his attention. She is in a rush, so he doesn’t get a chance to talk to her. Later, Yesung stops by a restaurant and the exact same lady from before is his waitress. He becomes nervous and distracted from his work and slowly begins imagining them dating. After his little daydream, he rips a page out of his diary and writes a message. He leaves it on the table and leaves. The waitress comes out, clearly interested in him and finds the note. This leads us onto the If You video. If You shows Yesung waiting around for someone, presumably the waitress. She is seen walking around holding the note that he left for her. Both of them visit different places that appeared in his daydream and both end up meeting each other at the same place where his daydream ended (at night by the river). She hands the note over, revealing to the audience that he wrote ‘Because I Love You’ on it and they both share a smile. I liked how both videos tied in with each other and allowed the story to really progress rather than jamming it one video and making it confusing.

Because I Love You
Song – 7/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 7.8/10

If You
Song – 8/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.4/10

[Review] Get Away – Seven O’Clock

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Returning to the stage yesterday is no other than Seven O’Clock. Their last comeback saw various changes to the lineup of the group. This one shares that similarity. But instead of losing members, the group actually gained new member (Andy), thus returning the group to a 6 member lineup. Their comeback single is titled as Get Away and it is their first comeback since their double song return with Searchlight and Nothing Better.

Get Away is a different track to most. No, it isn’t anything new but its lightness is really something unique in this day and age. Get Away has a simple pop instrumental, featuring guitars and a light sprinkling of synths. Essentially, that is it. There isn’t anything more to the instrumental, which may repel some listeners. But don’t judge a book by its cover. The song manages to incorporate a very catchy hook (the English lyrics), nice vocals and nice harmonies. Together, it is a very carefree track that is light in nature and very easy on the ears. I am actually quite addicted to the catchy hook, as I find myself singing along to it. Even the rapping was done in a way that matches the lightness of the track. I also like how they added a bit of intensity through the bridge. It does feel a little odd for the track overall but I think it gives the song an intriguing touch. If you want to get away from the electronic trend but still want a decent dance track that is easy to follow, then this one is for you.

The video may seem weak due its low budget, based on the quality of the final product that was released. But I think they made do with what they had available.  The music video compromises of a bunch of close-ups and choreography scenes, which seems boring considering how the song is in regards to holding onto someone from the past. They could have added a plotline to the video with a model but that would have taken away from the carefree vibes of the song and created a loaded atmosphere. I think by approaching in a simplistic manner and not adding content to the video made it work. Though, I am not sure about the random aegyo towards the start (within the first chorus).

It was a nice performance to watch. Nothing to amazing but I liked the enthusiasm and energy they brought to the stage.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 8.3/10

[Review] Better Do Better – VANNER

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Once again, I am late with another review. This time last week, VANNER would have been a newly debut group with one day under their belt already. They make their debut with the song, Better Do Better and more interestingly with a full studio album, V. This is a very ambitious release, considering most debuting groups only release singles or mini-albums as their first step. VANNER consist of 5 members (Ahxian, Youngkwang, Taehwan, Gon and Hyesun) and are currently under VT Entertainment.

Better Do Better is your standard pop song with the instrumental filled with tropical influences, a now very common sound in KPOP. The song features nice vocals, which is one of the drawing points to the song. It doesn’t help that the hooks (‘Do Do Do Better‘) and melody (particularly around the pre-chorus) are quite catchy and do end up making the song memorable to an extent. I wish I can say the same thing with the rapping though. It was rather plain and while the song seemed bright and happy, the song needed some intensity to keep it grounded and the rapping didn’t provide that. I think the next aspect that didn’t leave me impressed as the vocals were the flow of the track. For the most part, it was good. It is just that abrupt transition to the bridge that really catches me off guard every single time I listen to the song. And it cuts the energy that the song had channelling, which leaves me disappointed. Overall, it was a good debut track in my opinion but it had some noticeable flaws.

The music video seemed to show a mini storyline but it was pretty much so minute that I could barely tell what was happening. They were all hanging out when they saw an attractive lady walk into their mini-party. I think the video shows them as shy around her though I am not too sure as they seem to be more upfront with their feelings towards her. Based on the lyrics, it seems like they are encouraging her to express her feelings as well. Though the video doesn’t seem to show this. I am also not sure how the love triangle ties into the rest of the plotline. It was a good video with a casual feel, which suits the light nature of the song.

The song was definitely energetic, given its bright nature and its chant-like chorus. But the performance didn’t really reflect that and I am a little disappointed. I guess they focused more on their live vocals and rapping (which I must commend them on that as they sound just as good as the studio version). I would have liked a more dynamic choreography, however.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 6/10
Overall Rating – 6.8/10

[Album Review] The End of Nightmare (4th Mini Album) – Dream Catcher

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Dream Catcher made their comeback last week with Piri and their fourth mini-album, The End of Nightmare. Today, we will have a closer look at all the other tracks on the album because based on what I have written shows that they deserve attention as well. The album features 6 tracks in total, including an introductory track and the instrumental to Piri. Per usual, I have forgone the intro track but if you want to hear really catching opener to the album, this is the one for you. It mashes up their rock style , a classical sound and progresses somehow into an EDM track without any kinks along the way. But that’s that and we go forth with the review!

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The End Of Nightmare Album Cover

2. Piri (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Piri. (9/10)

3. Diamond – Diamond follows their usual rock dance style and it has what it takes to be a contender for the title track position. From the very start, you could tell that this was going to be extremely intense and they really delivered with that promise as you listen to the song. The style is a little more dramatic than usual, with the chorus going for this vibrating like texture, which I think was unique. The lead up to this was really cool as well. I thought the vocals were their usual style, which is always extremely fitting for songs of this nature. Dami’s rapping was, as always, top-notch, with her deep tone really suiting the song. One of my favourite bits of the song is the part of the pre-chorus where they take strip all the intensity, which kind of felt like a ‘calm before a storm’ concept. I also really like the ‘Untouchable… Unbreakable’ line in the chorus. (9/10)

4. And There Was No One Left (그리고 아무도 없었다) – If you want uniqueness in a track, then this one is for you. My description of the track will not do the song any justice, so definitely check this one out regardless of how you interpret this review. We commonly associate Dream Catcher with a rock sound but this is completely different. The members (including Dami) opt for more delicate vocals. The instrumental is very intriguing. There is a mix of acoustics and orchestra in the song, which gives the song a softer sound. It felt like a very minimalistic approach, as the song felt stripped of a number of elements but it manages to hold together. The chorus was very unexpecting drop that features some horns of some kind and feels a little odd yet sassy. I found the title to be very intriguing as well, as it sounds quite creepy. The song does an amazing job of showcasing the creepy vibes by pairing the soft vocals with the instrumentation. I am a little confused about the lyrics of the song as I can’t really tell what they are trying to convey to us. They sing about an inescapable dream and tells their lover to stay with them despite that. Very creepy indeed. (9/10)

5. Daydream – Daydream is that mandatory ballad that we all know KPOP must have in some form on their albums. Dream Catcher’s take this time around on the genre was pleasantly beautiful. It is also a departure from their harsher style, as I found Daydream to be smoother in texture. The instrumental is more straight-forward, with the piano shining amongst the rest of the instruments. I think the song also does a good job showcasing the vocals of each of the members in a more innocent and charming manner. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.8/10

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The End Of Nightmare Teaser Image

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[Review] Enough – SF9

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Also returning today is SF9 with their newest title track, Enough. It is featured on the group’s 6th mini-album, Narcissus. This is the group’s first comeback since their amazing Now Or Never comeback back in August 2018. Since then, the group has embarked in Japanese promotions for Now Or Never and held their first concert in South Korea. On top of that, Chani, the maknae (youngest) member of the group has recently gained popularity for his impressive acting on Sky Castle and has also drawn attention to the group.

Unlike Now Or Never, it actually took me a few listens to really get into the song. Enough is still a powerful song, however. It just took a little longer to really build up to a part that really feels impactful. The song mixes various genres including reggae and EDM to create a very dynamic sounding instrumental. It is very interesting and I really liked this mixture aspect of the song. The vocals and rapping were quite good, particularly during the chorus, I thought the ‘Ya Ya Ya‘ ending to the main lines in the chorus was really catchy. The really impactful section was the dance break, which provided a nice burst of intensity for the song. Altogether, the song was quite impressive. Unfortunately, my standard for their releases is based on Now or Never, which may seem a little unfair. I think it is going to be really hard to top that but Enough was a fair attempt at doing so. Don’t worry, as I still enjoyed the song and will be coming back for more in the coming weeks.

The music video showcases the members looking at themselves in the mirror. The whole idea of the album is in regards to Narcissus, who was known for his good looks and self-confidence in Greek mythology. The song essentially tells oneself or a lover that they are beautifully already and don’t need to do anything else to ‘improve’. I am not too sure about the start but I am sure the ending is about letting those thoughts about needing to improve one’s look, especially when the mirror cracks and one of the members ruin the reflective surface of the small pond they were staring into. Interestingly, the music video was quite dark for the most part and shot in within concrete walls and very bright white sets. The contrast was interesting and I think managed to show different sides of the guys in the different lights.

The choreography for this comeback looks really good. I liked how masculine the moves during the chorus looked. The dance break may be short but it really gives the performance a rush of energy and thus kicking it up a notch. And as they went faster, the fact they still managed to stay in-sync looked really cool.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9/10

[Review] Allure – Hyomin (T-ARA)

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Hyomin has returned once again with the lead title track to her latest mini-album, both of which share the title Allure. We previously saw her earlier this year through her single release U Um U Um, which I quite enjoyed.  The same single and Mango (her comeback single for last year’s promotions) are also featured on the Allure mini-album.

Hyomin has been a very versatile solo artist. She hasn’t stuck to one style since her solo debut years ago. This time around, Hyomin went with a retro sound, throwing us back to the 60s. And like the artist, the song seems to take a few turns of its own. The verses start the song off as well-paced before the song launches into a faster tempo chorus, which ultimately became faster in its second half. And it is this second half of the chorus that I think was my favourite bit of the song. And the buildup was quite worth it. The song itself is about using one’s charm to make another happy. I like Hyomin’s vocals in the song. They do sound cutesy and feminine but I think that was just her using a higher tone than usual for this song. But it does suit the retro sound quite well. I enjoyed the song quite a bit, making the song’s message quite successful.

The music video shows Hyomin in a bold black dress. A waiter delivers a certain make-up product (which I am not too sure what it is, though my guess would be a lipstick as the alternate title for the song is Lip Colour). After she uses this product, she gathers the attention of the people surrounding her, to which they all follow her. I really like that ending, where they are all copying her whilst following her in a single file. It really showed a cool look and I wonder if that is part of the choreography. I also like how she managed to blend into the retro-themed video given the bold nature of the red dress.

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We do not see much of the choreography in the music video. We did see some and those parts look fine to me. I am particularly drawn to the second half of the chorus, which I think was nice. I also hope to see that single file we saw at the end of the music video in the choreography, for reasons I stated above.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8/10 [To Be Updated]
Overall Rating – 8/10

[Review] In The Rain – Yoon Ji Sung

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After the disbandment of Wanna One earlier this year, fans have anticipated the different routes that each member would take. Most will be returning to the stage as artists. Others have announced that they will be taking breaks, while others have embarked upon musicals and start acting careers. For this review, we will be looking at Yoon Ji Sung’s solo debut single, In The Rain. He is actually the first member to return. Yoon Ji Sung has also been confirmed for a musical and will also enlist in the first half of this year.

In The Rain is a neat ballad that lets Yoon Ji Sung shine brightly. As Wanna One was a large group, we don’t really get an opportunity to see him stand out. Through this ballad, we get an opportunity to hear his vocals in a more clear manner. The ballad is quite pleasant and is actually mostly light-hearted. While I do find emotionally driven ballads more enticing, pleasant sounding ballads that aren’t too focused on the emotions and vocals are often refreshing, which is the case for his debut single. That being said, he does have a nice voice. Also, I found myself swaying to the music, which I think makes it a pretty successful ballad in my books. I personally think the melody could have been a little stronger to really make the song more memorable but it good as it is.

I think I am more used to the ballad music videos having this hazy filter that really reflects the sad nature of the song. In this video, however, the music video features a whole of colour, which was a little foreign for me. I also liked how the music video reflected the peacefulness of the verses and then once the song built up to the chorus, it changed into an overload of pastel colours. In the video, it seems like he is awaiting a special someone, though that is my view of the music video given that I can’t find any translated lyrics as of yet. It is a nice video that goes nicely with the song.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 7/10
Overall Rating – 7.6/10

[Review] Butterfly – LOONA

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After debuting with Hi High, LOONA has returned after 6 months with their repackaged version of ++. The mini-album, now titled as ××, features the title track Butterfly. While this is good news for the group and Orbit (the fan club name of LOONA fans), there has been some unfortunate news recently. In the lead up to the Butterfly release, Yves and Yeojin were injured during their concert in a stage accident. Yves has been confirmed to continue promoting, while news regarding Yeojin’s participation hasn’t been confirmed yet. Best wishes to Yeojin for a fast recovery!

Butterfly seems like it is in line with the aesthetics we got in their pre-debut works. It also features a mature sound and stands out for a variety of reasons. The first is the song’s instrumental. The song takes on EDM in a very unique manner. It combines different sounds together to create a very dynamically powerful instrumentation that really allows for the chorus to stand out. I also like how they used a very high pitched ‘Fly Like A Butterfly’ as part of the chorus. It does sound like screeching but you can make out the words and it really adds a depth of colour to the song. The second reason would have to be the vocals. It is that one line again that I think really makes the song stand out, this time slightly lower pitch for the members to be able to sing. The rapping also has to be commended as it isn’t a powerful approach but rather more delicate. But it works well with the rest of the song. I also found it rather interesting that the vocals/raps were minimalistic, as it is usually the instrumental. The third and final reason why the song stands out is the lyrics. They are all about finding oneself and usually, songs of this nature earn applause from me. Overall, Butterfly is uniquely different but so amazing.

The music video zones in the meaning of the song but puts it into focus alongside the LOONAverse (which I actually have previously theorised about). The music video features people from all around the world, who are trying to find themselves in a complicated world. We see a lot of imagery from the LOONAVERSE throughout the video including apples, cassette tape players and eye patches to name a few. Scenes from the music videos were also imitated, while the exact locations in Hong Kong, Paris, LA and Iceland were also revisited. To me, this is a way for LOONA to tell their fans that they are also able to enter the LOONAVERSE and be together with them, while also be able to show their individuality like in LOONA”s pre-debut singles.

Matched alongside the unique yet amazing sound of the song is the choreography, which looks equally as dynamic and intense as the song. I thought the lying down at the start was really cool and the moves during the chorus looked beautiful, especially for dance moves during a music drop.

Song – 10/10
Music Video – 10/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9.8/10

[Review] Gravity – TREI

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A new boy group has entered the industry. TREI is a 3-member male group debuting under Banana Culture Entertainment, which also features EXID in its lineup. The new group features Jaejun, Changhyun, and Juntae. Despite the group just debuting today with Gravity, the group has been around since 2017, as seen through their profile, which you can view here. Jaejun, who is the leader of the group, was formerly part of the now disbanded C-Clown, which was another group under Banana Culture Entertainment (then Yedang Entertainment) between 2012 to 2015.

I personally thought the opening sequence to Gravity was amazing. The acoustic guitar and breathtaking vocals really set up the song and do a good job of introducing the new group. After the introduction, the song does lose the acoustic nature and becomes slightly more upbeat with the introduction of a soft pop rock influence. They kept this breezy vibe to the song, which I quite liked and they also manage to maintain the melody, which I enjoyed. The vocals were nice and the rapping was good. Paying close attention to the sound, you can feel the sorrowful nature of the lyrics. They did a good job of presenting us with that through the vocals and rap sequences. It is a good debut song, overall in my opinion. The one thing it does lack is memorability. It doesn’t really stand out the pack and the mature tone of the song doesn’t automatically scream out as a hit. But I still like it nonetheless. I am definitely putting this on the replaying list.

I mentioned the song had a breezy vibe to it, quite laid back and chilled. The music video, I personally think, does a good job of portraying this. The video is shot away from the hustle and bustle of city life, giving it a peaceful feel. It is the editing and filter that I personally do not like. It did give the video a likeable indie appeal but it made the music video seem ‘noisy’ and messy, in my opinion. I didn’t like how they made the screen space smaller by putting still borders around the video. It just cut the members out of frame and looked awkward. Surely, it was done to be artistic but I felt it just didn’t work.

The performance actually looked peaceful and flowy to an extent, which I think is very fitting for the song. Also, I am surprised that for a trio, they didn’t use any backup dancers. Usually, with groups which low numbers of members, they use back up dancers to kind of fill the emptiness around them. But their move did most of that, which I thought was excellent. It is a performance that I wouldn’t mind watching again.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.7/10

[Album Review] Just Right (3rd Mini Album) – GOT7

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The next artist that I have chosen to review as the “Past Album’ segment is GOT7. Previously, it was meant to be another group but due to the recent news of the upcoming debut of a new GOT7 unit, made of JB and Yugyeom (JUS2), I decided to do some reshuffling to prevent an overlap with their promotions (and have it not look like I am favouring one particular artist). The album I chose was their Just Right mini-album, which featured the title track of the same name. It was released back in July 2015 and was a departure from their usual sound as it went with a bright pop image.

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Just Right Album Cover

1..Just Right (딱 좋아) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Just Right. (9.5/10)

2. Before The Full Moon Rises (보름달이 뜨기 전에) – Before The Full Moon Rises is dry for my liking. It has elements that I find very pleasant, however. The instrumental of the track takes on a mid-tempo R&B sound. The vocals were soothing and clear, while the rapping had this chillness to it that I quite liked. There seemed to be a shift in focus towards the vocals but it didn’t feel like the vocals were showcased to their full potential. The song isn’t as memorable, with a melody that doesn’t really keep me swinging back for more. Furthermore, the identified dryness in the song doesn’t really help. (6.5/10)

3. My Reaction (온몸이 반응해) – While My Reaction takes on that same mid-tempo R&B sound as the previous song did, I liked their approach a lot more. This time around, everything I had identified as a flaw in the previous song was done better. The melodies and hooks in this song feel more inviting. I also liked how the vocalists of the group could show more with their voices in My Reaction, while the rappers were given an opportunity to shine even brighter than before. It does, however, still lack that memorable element and I felt they could have done more to really make the song even more appealing than what it already is. (7.5/10)

4. Nice – I think the best way to describe Nice is that it is rather bouncy but extremely repetitive with its sound. If you managed to listen to the song until the end of the first chorus, you wouldn’t miss out on much if you paused it then and went onto another song. That being said, I did enjoy the atmosphere of the song. It is a lot more enjoyable than the previous two tracks. The rapping was nicely laid out throughout the song. I also liked the “Dam Dam Dam Di Dam Da Di Dam” repetition in the song, which I think I did enjoy when it was first released. (7/10)

5. Mine – Apart from the title track, Mine is one of my personal favourites from the album. It starts off with a heavy drum beat and well-paced hip-hop influenced rap sequence. I also liked the roiling drum beat in the pre-chorus. The chorus takes a turn going towards a pop sound that you would have heard mostly during the 2000s and I like it. Interestingly, most of the members can be found in the verses, while Youngjae was the only member to take control of the chorus. And he does a really good job, showing us why he is the main vocalist of GOT7. (8.5/10)

6. Back To Me – Back To Me is the other favourite from this album. It starts attracting my attention for its bright pop sound and atmosphere. But it doesn’t go down the cutesy route that the title track went for, as I think the album had enough of that vibe from the one song. The chorus was quite catchy and the hooks make the song quite memorable. The “Back-Back-Back To Me” is my favourite bit of the song. I like the vocal and rap work from the members, with Yugyeom’s bridge part standing out for me. (8.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.9/10

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