May 2019 – Page 2 – KPOPREVIEWED

[Album Review] A New Journey (3rd Mini Album) – Nam Woohyun (Infinite)

May 17, 2019Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged INFINITE, Woohyun (Infinite)Leave a comment

Today’s album review will be focusing on Nam Woohyun’s latest solo mini-album, A New Journey, which also features the title track Hold On Me. In the past, Nam Woohyun’s releases have revolved around the ballad genre. But with a fitting title such as A New Journey, it is implied that a new direction is taken. And with the intro track and title track suggesting a more upbeat route, it is definitely ‘A New Journey‘ for the Infinite member in terms of solo releases. So let’s follow Woohyun and see what songs are included on the album.

namwoohyun-anewjourney-2 — *A New Journey* Album Cover

2. Hold On Me (ft. Junoflo) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Hold On Me. (9/10)

3. Rain – The song is a mixture of different sounds. However, I don’t think it is an overwhelming mix. I just think it could have been tied together more nicely. The few changes it did feature were very obvious in nature and it created a messy atmosphere as a result. I think the track was going towards a dynamic vibe and a more cohesive approach (if it is possible) would have really benefited the main appeal of the track. It starts off with an acoustic-like electric guitar introduction and slowly builds to a Latin-inspired chorus with both electric and acoustic guitars at the forefront. The song remains in this mode up until a brief pause at the end and it changes completely. So different that I thought a new song had started. The first listen was overwhelming but that feeling died down after multiple listens, as suggested above. I thought the vocals were well presented in this track, with that being another highlight. (7.5/10)

4. Stranger – While this track does sound a little typical, the rush of energy that we get from the chorus makes it sound so good. Personally, I think this song ticks all the boxes on my checklist for an amazing song. Great vocals, great energy, great beat. Everything was great! It just felt like it was missing one element. I did lowkey expected a rap sequence during the instrumental break. And I think that could have made the song a little more interesting. The instrumental break did feel like a small void and it would have helped if it was filled up in some way. (9/10)

5. Crying Baby – While I did mention that the album took an upbeat approach (and this song is no exception from that), Crying Baby’s verses made it feel very ballad-like. But that doesn’t hold for long, as the song takes a turn (though I don’t remember exactly if this turn was expected or unexpected for me). I am glad that the majority of the singing for this song was during the verses, making way for an empty-ish chorus to be filled with loud dubstep effects. I find this a well contrasting mix due to its differences in softness and loudness; delicate and rough; ballad and electronics etc. If any major singing parts were to occur during the chorus, no doubt that Woohyun voice would have been drowned out. (8/10)

6. Just Look At Me (넌 나만 바라봐) – The first thing that really pops out at me in this track is Woohyun’s airy and lower toned vocals. It is a lot different than his vocal approach in any other song on the album, so it is different intriguing. I like the instrumental for this track, as well. The synths are a little loud, which at times did feel like it was drowning out vocals. They did attempt to combat this by incorporating some loud backing vocals (that he does a good job harmonizing with), which expelled a very dominant retro vibe to the song. This was successful to varying degrees along the track. But overall, I thought it was a nice track. (8/10)

7. Flower – Flower is probably the most ‘expected’ track off this album to fit into Woohyun’s existing portfolio. It isn’t strictly a ballad, however. But I find the song to be consistent with a softer nature and more traditional instrumentation that you expected for a ballad. It is also the one song on the album that provides relief from the loaded energy that we have coming from the album. And this relief is much appreciated. Flower ends up being a typical café style and almost-jazzy number, which I enjoy time to time. Because of the energy I mentioned just a moment ago, this is a good example of when I enjoy this type of song. A part of me says this is a lacklustre song to end with, due to its standard nature. But at the same time, it is definitely pleasant. (7/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.1/10

namwoohyun-anewjourney-3 — *A New Journey* Teaser Image

[Review] Feedback – Ladies Code

May 17, 2019Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Ladies CodeLeave a comment

Despite approaching the end of the week, we continue to see an influx of releases. To avoid adding to the massive backlog of reviews from early in the week, I will tackle a release from today. The release chosen for this review is Ladies Code long-awaited comeback with Feedback. It has definitely been a while since we heard from the trio. I was shocked to find to their last release (The Rain) was three years ago. Since then, the members embarked on their solo careers with Sojung and Ashley making their respective debuts with Better Than Me and Here We Are (both of which I did not review).

While I did expect Ladies Code to make a comeback with something to go beyond the mature yet aesthetic nature of The Rain, it was rather interesting to hear something a little more towards the original roots of the group. We aren’t going back to their catchy retro days, however. Feedback does take a page out of that chapter and combine it with the mature sound from their more ‘recent’ releases. Together, we get a jazzy and lively track. If we were to compare Feedback to previous releases from other groups, it does sound like a cliche sound to return with. But Ladies Code has the amazing vocals to fall back on, which I think did appear in this song. But not to the extent that I hoped for. I felt towards the end of the song, they could have gone even further with high notes and ad-libs, as this would bring an additional dimension forward. It is also the vocals that also reminded me of The Rain, as I heard some similar moments (like the pre-chorus) I felt the chorus was also catchy and definitely made this song pleasant. I can definitely see myself listening to this track to get myself into a good mood, especially with all the work I need to complete.

I want to say it is was a nice video. But given my comments that I am about to make in a moment, I think I may be a bit generous. Once again, not the most impressive or mindblowing video out there. But I think they did a good job of showcasing that vibrancy that I mentioned before. I liked the golden lighting, which really made it feel Summery. I didn’t really care for their scenes with the guy or the solo shots of the members doing their own thing (they were forgettable for the most part). It was the choreography shots that really made this video good. Not sure why this is the case, as these only made a small portion of the video, but I guess it was the most lively moments of the video.

As indicated above, the performance was quite lively and animated. I enjoyed watching it and thought their moves were decent. The moves seem to really allow the members to focus on their vocals, which I think allows them to shine the most on stage.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 6.5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.6/10

[Review] Dramatic – BVNDIT

May 16, 2019Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged BVNDIT2 Comments

Joining yesterday’s rush of music (and music video) releases yesterday is BVNDIT’s surprise comeback, Dramatic. For those who don’t remember who BVNDIT are, they are a new female group who debuted last month. Consisting of five members (Yiyeon, Songhee, Jungwoo, Simyeong and Seungeun), the group made their debut with Hocus Pocus, which is featured on the group’s debut single-album, BVNDIT, Be Ambitious!.

Unlike the song’s title, Dramatic was not as dramatic as I had expected. I thought the song would be more loaded and heavier. But the song ended up being on the light side. However, besides that, I thought it was a pretty ear-catching song to follow up with after their debut track. I think the best aspect of the song is its instrumentation. I find the rough dance up and down rhythm to be very intriguing and addictive. The short bursts of flute gave a nice detail to the verses. which I personally thought was a cool addition to the song. The way the song was presented meant that we didn’t get an opportunity to hear their stronger vocals. But given that logic, I thought the rappers fared better and did shine in this song. I think the only thing that could have really made the song better was a hardcore dance break. I was low key expecting that to occur. Despite the fact that it would be a cliche move, I think it would have given the song a more dramatic vibe and definitely made the song more appealing with an additional rush of energy.

Unfortunately, we do not have a full-fledged music video with this release. Instead, the ‘music video’ was a performance video, with some additional close up shots. But the main focus is on their choreography (and hence I shall discuss that section of the review here as well but I will rank them separately). This focus isn’t the end of the road as I think they do a pretty good job. One example is through their outfits, which were very fitting. The olive green coloured and black coloured outfits definitely matched the vibe of the song. As for the choreography, I thought their overall routine was extremely suitable for the song. There is a slightly edgy vibe in the song which they channel well. I really enjoyed the moves for the chorus and the post-chorus hook. I think they were the coolest out of the 3 and a half minutes.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 7.6/10

[Review] Ah Yeah – WINNER

May 16, 2019Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Winner4 Comments

Also making their comeback today is Winner with Ah Yeah. This is the group’s first comeback since their Millions single, released back in December of last year. Ah Yeah is also the title track off the group’s second-ever mini-album, which is titled as We. Interestingly, both EXID’s and Winner’s mini-albums released today share the same name. I am not sure whether this will be an issue or everyone will ignore it. But definitely an interesting situation. (Note that EXID previously had a title track titled Ah Yeah as well).

But we are here to focus on Winner’s Ah Yeah for now. Ah Yeah has this brightness that just pops, making it perfect for a Summer’s release. And given that style, I think it picks up nicely from where Millions left off. The way the song starts with the guitar doesn’t seem to be as refreshing as you want. It felt very ‘done before’ and lacked ambition. But once the song starts picking up during the pre-chorus, the song slowly gets interesting. It just doesn’t last too long, however, as the chorus feels very standard in today’s tropical trend. I did think the chorus did fare a little more better as it gave the song that brightness mentioned before and the repetition of ‘Ah Yeah‘ was quite catchy. The vocalists were good but I think the song allows the rappers to really zone in both their rapping and vocals. I did like the background chanting of the chorus at the end of the song, which once again, brings the track together to add an extra vibrant aspect. But other than that, I think the track falls short due to its alignment with the typicalness of today’s trends.

Matching the bright and vibrant atmosphere of the song is an equally bright and vibrant music video. The members all seem to have fun, while playful introduce the song’s lyrics (My interpretation of the lyrics is after a breakup, they can no longer be friends with their ex and rather become strangers, even though their lover wants to remain as friends). There were some wacky moments during their playful poke at the song’s message. I think the weirdest has to be Mino’s lobster hand and leg. Especially the leg. That made me laugh.

Based on what I see in the music video, their performance seems simple in comparison to other choreographies. Not that I am complaining because their instrumental doesn’t really call for anything complicated. Simplicity is key sometimes and I think this is one of the times (and they nailed it). The dance still looks fun, which goes hand-in-hand with the song.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.8/10

[Review] ME & YOU – EXID

May 15, 2019Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged EXID3 Comments

EXID returns today!. If you haven’t heard yet, EXID will be entering an indefinite hiatus as Hani and Junghwa chose to not renew their contracts with their current company, Banana Culture. Despite the label changes, the group will be remaining together (just under various companies). But given how groups who are scattered between companies don’t make comebacks, it does look quite grim for EXID (even though they are still contracted in Japan as a five-member group and seem confident that they will be returning as a quintet sooner than later). But this means that this will be their last comeback for some time. And as an avid EXID fan, I am very saddened to hear this news.

Their latest title track is titled Me & You and I think it is another fantastic song to their portfolio. It is a little different (like I Love You) from their more popular hits like Up & Down and Ah Yeah. Firstly, the song seems to conform to trends in the industry nowadays. I am referring to their instrumental only chorus, which I thought was a really good beat drop. It particularly contrasted nicely with the more acoustic start and almost still-like verses. Secondly, I also liked how the song focused more on vocals/raps, rather than repetitive hooks. In particular, Hyerin managed to use her vocals that she built up during Solji’s absence in the song, which I was slightly worried that she would not be able to anymore. All other members sound really nice and LE’s rap provided a very appealing rush of energy and intensity. I like that buildup to the party-like and dynamically instrumented ending of the song, once again contrasting nicely with the verses of the song. It does cap off the energy well. Personally, I don’t find the song as catchy as their previous tracks. But I do predict that the song will become very addictive very soon (especially after writing this review due to my repetitive listens).

I think the contrast between the verses and the more upbeat chorus/ending was shown well in this video. The verses were highlighted by the use of black and white scenes, along with the lack of movements within the red sets (with the latter being very elegant looking). I thought the members looked very beautiful in their wedding inspired outfits during these closeup scenes. But the chorus and end take a turn by showcasing more of the choreography, shaky camera shots and the neon party outfits. Both are highly fitting with their parts of the song. I like the music video and thought it was rather cool.

Due to an injury, LE’s participation in the performance was quite limited. While this can’t be helped, I did miss her during the chorus. I really like the elegant nature of the choreography during the pre-chorus, before they get into the more intensive chorus. I thought the ending section was really cool and definitely the moves made the ending feel more bombastic.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.8/10

[Review] Picky Picky – Weki Meki

May 15, 2019Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Weki Meki3 Comments

Yesterday, Weki Meki made their return to the stage with their latest single, Picky Picky. Once again, I was a tad busy to actually write any reviews yesterday. But it is here today. This is Weki Meki’s first comeback since the dynamic release of Crush in October of last year.

Picky Picky continues their ‘girl crush’ sound that they had as part of their Crush release. I thought the track had a nice edgy tone, which I really enjoyed. A prime example of the edginess came during the start and end of the song, which I thought was very addictive. The autotune really helped out with this section. The main hook of the track, the ‘I’m So Picky Picky‘ repetition was also quite nice but it wasn’t as impactful as the intro and outro of the track. But as the hooks drew my attention to the song, the verses became very forgettable. I am not sure why that is the case though. I thought the vocals were nice but they weren’t as memorable. The rapping was amazing but that is because I am already biased and the rapping in the song was mainly the intro/outro of the track (which I have already stated that I really enjoyed a few times). Overall, the track had a pleasing rush of energy and ended up being a decent track to follow on from the likes of Crush.

But I was not impressed was the schoolgirl concept they went with. Compared to the previous comeback (which is my standard for this review, if you have not realized), the use of a school girl concept for an edgy concept was rather odd and looked out of place (especially since they went with a private school girl look). Maybe it was their intention to be different but it just doesn’t work for me. What also didn’t work for me was their use of aegyo in the video, which also seemed out of place. It isn’t as overwhelming as other videos but there was enough to cause a negative reaction. As for the plotline, the girls blow up the science lab; get detention (which forced them to clean the music room); they ended up discovering a whole bunch of guitars, and started their band. I liked it as it went with the edgy sound but did not see where the aegyo really fitted in. For the most part, it is bearable but the above are thoughts I have in the back of my mind.

While I thought the verses in the song were forgettable, the opposite happened when it came for the choreography. I thought the moves for the verses looked dynamic and more interesting than the chorus. The main hook of the song felt slightly awkward for some odd reason. I really liked the final set of moves, where they moved as a group with the exception of one member. On top of that, I thought how they ended with the start was rather cool.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 6/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 6.9/10

[Review] Reminisce About All – ONEWE

May 14, 2019Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged ONEWE4 Comments

It is a new week and we have a new group kicking off the many releases of this week. ONEWE, formerly known as MAS, is a brand new band under RBW Entertainment, which is also the company of Mamamoo, VROMANCE and ONEUS (who also made their earlier debut this year). ONEWE is a five-member band consisting of Yonghoon, Harin, Kanghyun, Dongmyeong and Cya. Previously, the group was part of The Unit: Idol Reboot Program, with Dongmyeong being the highest representative of the group, ranking in 16th place. Today, they released their first single-album, 1/4, and the title track, Reminisce About All.

I think if you want to be part of RBW, you need a lineup that boasts great vocals as this is evident by the band’s labelmates. ONEWE seems to be the perfect addition. I was drawn to the song within the opening seconds of the track. The vocals were captivating and I enjoyed how it built along with the song. The harmonies between the two singers in the group were probably one of my favourite parts of the song. But that is the vocal side of the song. Now, let’s move onto the instrumental. Not often do I think a ballad has the capability of being dynamic in nature. But dynamic is probably Reminisce About All most accurate descriptive term. The song starts off as a ballad. A simple piano and violins. Paired with the vocals, I think this was a breathtaking section of the song. Slowly, they added more instruments. The guitar crept up on me and I didn’t notice the moment it was added to the song. The drums were the most prominent addition, coming in during the peak of the track. This order of instrumentation is different from other bands and I think this is a pretty unique way to start. Overall, I found the song to be very aesthetically pleasing and appealing to my affinity of ballads.

The golden brown colour in this video is extremely suitable for the tone of the track. Since it is a song about reminiscing, a reflective atmosphere was desired. But using the golden colour tone, stillness in the video and slow camera movements, this reflective set up ended up being very aesthetically pleasing as well. There isn’t much to the video besides the fact the members are positioned in a circle and they are simply performing. But altogether, it was a well thought out video.

Song – 9.5/10
Music Video – 10/10
Overall Rating – 9.7/10

[Album Review] D-HOURS AM 7:03 (3rd Mini Album) – Kim Dong Han

May 12, 2019Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged Kim Dong Han (WEi)Leave a comment

Here is the album review for today! (It is on time, so I am quite happy). Today’s album review will be for Kim Dong Han. This is the first time I am writing an album review for him, since his debut last year. And I managed to skip his first two mini-albums as I didn’t find them interesting enough to talk about. I was planning on skipping this mini-album as well and focus on other artists. But I had an empty slot and needed a short album to review, so I decided to go with it. I did enjoy a few of the tracks on the album, as you will see below.

kimdonghan-dhoursam730-2 — *D-HOURS AM 7:03* Album Cover

1..Bebe – Bebe kicks off the album with a groovy R&B tune. I would have described the song to have a smooth texture but the instrumentation they went with didn’t really have that smoothness. Instead, the vocals are the main driver for the smoothness in the track. Talking about the vocals, they were nice. Kim Dong Han doesn’t strike me as the best vocalist of all time, but Bebe manages to showcase a pretty good set of vocals. The build-up to the high note at the end of the bridge was impressive. I just wished he changed up the final chorus a bit to really carry that same momentum, instead of returning to something we have already heard a few times. (8/10)

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

3. Make Me Crazy – My first impression with Make Me Crazy was that it was a typical pop R&B track. Nothing too special. But it is one of those songs that you need to listen to it a couple of time to really get into it. I thought the instrumental did have dynamic appeal through its use of many synths and effects. From what I heard, some were quite in-your-face, while others were subtle in nature, which created a very loaded yet appealing atmosphere. I also enjoyed the acoustic guitar in the instrumentation. I did like the bright energy that came from the song as well, which made it even more appealing as I listened to it some more. His vocals were really nice, especially that short falsetto at the start of the chorus. (8/10)

4. Everyday, Everyday (매일매일) – Once again, the mandatory ballad returns. Everyday, Everyday is a soothing and delicate ballad, which forces Kim Dong Han to take a completely different route when it comes to his vocals. Like most dance tracks, Kim Dong Han’s vocals tend to be very rough and harsh, fitting for the dance style of music. But in this track, he opted for a more fragile and pleasant touch, which is obviously more fitting for the slower genre. But while the instrumental provided the slowness, it was rather light. This made his vocals become the centre of attention. And this is his best presentation of vocals thus far on the album (and in any of his other title tracks). (9/10)

5. Idea – Idea returns Kim Dong Hand to his usual dance style. But the track seems to conform to the current Latin trend that is still ongoing in KPOP. It isn’t as strong, with the trend being quite subtle in nature. There is a certain level of brightness to the track, which I think was a drawing point for me. I also like the quirky nature of the instrumentation, especially during the chorus. It isn’t a crazy style of quirkiness, as the song does have a definite matureness to it. But it is enough to make the usual synths feel very different and showcases a different effect on them. I am not too into the hook of the track, which I thought attempted to be impactful but ended up being weaker than expected. Similarly, his vocals share the same comment. (6.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.1/10

kimdonghan-dhoursam730-3 — *D-HOURS AM 7:03* Teaser Image

[Weekly Chart] 2nd Week of May 2019

May 12, 2019Posted in Weekly ChartsLeave a comment

Welcome back to the Weekly Charts segment on my site. Unfortunately, it is going to be another quick one this week, so I can fit in another album review and possibly song review today, whilst also completing some other tasks for my studies. So let’s get right into it!

Topping the charts this week is NU’EST latest comeback, Bet Bet. They rose one spot from last week’s second position. In this week’s second position, it is Oh My Girl with The Fifth Season (SSFWL), which is a new release for this week. TWICE’s Fancy dropped down from the top position to the third position this week. The Boyz’s Bloom Bloom and Hold On Me by Nam Woohyun complete this week’s Top 5 songs.

For more of the charts, scroll down below!

	5th May – 11th May 2019
	Title	Artist	Status
1	Bet Bet	NU’EST	(▲ 1)
2	The Fifth Season (SSFWL)	Oh My Girl	(new)
3	Fancy	TWICE	(▼ 2)
4	Bloom Bloom	The Boyz	(▲ 2)
5	Hold On Me	Nam Woohyun (Infinite)	(new)
6	Focus	Kim Dong Han	(▲ 13)
7	Runaway	Eric Nam	(new)
8	Danger	Super Junior D&E	(▲ 21)
9	You	Xiumin (EXO)	(new)
10	Violeta	IZ*ONE	(▼ 5)
11	Four Seasons	Taeyeon (SNSD)	(▲ 37)
12	L.O.V.E	Park Ji Hoon	(▼ 8)
13	Miroh	Stray Kids	(▼ 6)
14	Woowa	DIA	(▲ 4)
15	Hollywood	AB6IX	(▼ 2)
16	Beautiful	Target	(▲ 12)
17	From Now	VERIVERY	(▼ 7)
18	Hard To Say Goodbye	Bae Jin Young	(▲ 22)
19	Universe	Minhyun (NU’EST)	(▲ 3)
20	Bomb Bomb	KARD	(▼ 8)
21	Pinky Star (RUN)	GWSN	(▲ 33)
22	Kill This Love	BLACKPINK	(▲ 23)
23	I’m So Hot	Momoland	(▼ 20)
24	Boy With Luv	BTS	(▼ 16)
25	Blossom	Eunha (Gfriend) & Ravi (VIXX)	(▼ 4)
26	Feeling	Jeong Sewoon ft. Penomeco	(▼ 9)
27	gogobebe	Mamamoo	(▲ 19)
28	Cat & Dog	TXT	(▼ 1)
29	Suffering In Love	Eden	(▲ 25)
30	Sha La La	Pentagon	(▲ 2)

Songs leaving the charts this week are:

I’m A Star – Wooseok X Kuanlin
Pinky Star (RUN) – GWSN
Spring – Park Bom ft. Sandara Park
gogobebe – Mamamoo
Hakuna Mattata – DreamNote
Dear Diary – Yeri (Red Velvet)
Still Loving You – 100%
Suffering In Love – Eden

Thank you once again and see you all next week!

[Album Review] Veri-Able (2nd Mini Album) – VERIVERY

May 11, 2019Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged VERIVERY1 Comment

Apologies for the delayed release of this album review. It was meant to be published yesterday but I decided to focus on my assignment last night (as I was one task away from completing it). Now that has been wrapped up, I can spend my weekend catching up on these posts! Today’s focus is on VERIVERY’s latest mini-album, Veri-Able. I never got around to reviewing this first mini-album (Veri-Us) as I passed over to it because I didn’t find any songs interesting. This time around, however, I did find some songs interesting enough to talk about, so that is why we are here today.

verivery-veri-able-2 — *Veri-Able* Album Cover

1..From Now (딱 잘라서 말해) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for From Now. (8/10) – Note that I did mention that in the From Now review that I wanted to hear something that was different. I have bumped up my rating from a 7.5 to 8 on the review, as I realized (after listening to this album) that retro does pretty much suit them and the album pretty much shows off variety.

2. Love Line – To me, Love Line sounds like a typical pop track. But there is more to track than its typicalness. The song kicks off with some keyboard and it gradually builds to its catchy chorus. I like how the track is smooth and the melody just comes off with ease. The vocal work was pretty good and the rapping complimented the melody and overall vibes of the track. I think this would be a good song to follow up with after promotions end for From Now. I can see a very pleasing performance to match the song. I think I like the ending the most, where they all come together. It makes the song feel very inclusive and really supports the hook of the song. (9/10)

3. All I Do (나 집에 가지 않을래) – Changing the energy of the album is All I Do. Coming from two fun and upbeat songs, this ballad start was very unexpected (I did expect slight ease from the upbeat songs prior to this one). And like most songs, All I Do manages to change it up a bit, which I was grateful. The ballad start was good, but I couldn’t see 3 minutes worth of it. The song ended up transforming into this 80s pop ballad, with retro synths. And I quite enjoyed it. I liked how they kept the momentum going for the second verse but opted for a middle area between the two styles, so the track didn’t depart entirely from its opening parts. I also enjoyed the layering in the with the vocals and the raps, giving it a very nice texture. (8/10)

4. Get Ready – VERIVERY’s pitch to us is retro-sounding tracks if you have not realized yet. Get Ready is probably their strongest pitch that really reminds me of the 90s. It is a fun track, loaded with energy and intensity, which are all things I like. It is also quite fast-paced, so it does become overwhelming slightly. But it isn’t too overpowering as you get used to it eventually. The track also boasts strong vocals and rap sequences, which I think adds to the fun side of the song. I also enjoy those deep sounds in the background (that the members make with the help of autotune). Interesting textural element and it adds a quirky vibe that I cannot forget. (9/10)

5. Light Up – The song that the group did opt as a secondary title track during their first week of promotions was a slow building tropical house track. Their retro pitch thus on the album was really good and I wanted them to continue this moment. So to see them end the album with a track that conforms to modern trends rather than play on that retro pitch was disappointing in a sense. And because it was slow building, the track felt it was their weakest. I guess I wanted a strong drop and something to really continue the energy from the previous track. But I liked the crispness of their vocals and the rapping was nice. (7/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.2/10

verivery-veri-able-3 — *Veri-Able* Teaser Image

[Review] Runaway – Eric Nam

May 11, 2019Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Eric NamLeave a comment

Here I am, slowly catching up on reviews once again. If you noticed, I didn’t release an album review yesterday. That will be released later today! But today, we are here to have a closer listen to Eric Nam’s Runaway. This is the male soloist’s first release since Miss You back in October of last year. More recently, Eric Nam started a podcast called K-Pop Daebak, which talks about the recent releases in the industry. I personally have not listened to it yet but since it is growing in popularity, I might start once I have more free time.

It seems like the industry is slowly approaching the warmer seasons. Runaway is best described as a tropical based dance track, which has been KPOP’s go-to sound for the Summer season for past few Summers. But it uses some acoustics within its instrumental to really make this track feel different from the rest of other typical tropical dance tracks. Together, Runaway ends up being laid back and refreshing, which is perfect for the fast approaching heat. Eric Nam’s voice was very calming and delicate, which I think suited that laid back and refreshing vibe. The melody was very nice and the chorus was very catchy in my opinion. I think the only disappointing aspect of the song has to be the shortness of the track. I am not sure how it would turn out if it was longer but I did want more, as it went by quickly. Overall, Runaway was a pleasant track that gets me excited for the Summer season of music ahead. Note that I am currently suffering in the cold as Australia is currently in Winter.

The music video was filmed with a home video concept. You know, the home videos we all have of a holiday in another city or country with our family. The one that we don’t want anyone to see because you were doing some weird because you were with family (i.e. those you are most comfortable with). I thought it was a nice video. It was light, matching with the song’s overall vibes. While the song talks about wanting to run away with your significant other, Eric Nam and his friend in the video is shown to be running away to have fun. I also liked how the majority of the video was shot at night and the lighting also helped with making it light and refreshing video.

The performance was nice. The main focus was on his vocals and the choreography comes second in this case. I thought the dance moves were relatively simple and that goes well with the light and laidback vibes of the song.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 7.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.2/10

[Review] You – Xiumin (EXO)

May 9, 2019Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged EXO, Xiumin (EXO)1 Comment

Once again, we return to the topic of military enlistment. This time around, the male group in question is EXO and the member enlisting is Xiumin, the eldest member of the group. While Xiumin said his goodbyes to the members and fans yesterday, he bids farewell once again today through this week’s SM Station release. The song dropped a few hours ago and is titled You. A fortnight ago, Chanyeol releases his solo single SSFW (so if you haven’t heard it yet, click the title!). But we are here for Ximin, so let’s start the review!

Xiumin’s message in You is very simple. He expresses gratitude to everyone around him. And in order to sound meaningful, it is obvious that the ballad route would be chosen. The ballad ended up being typical in nature. That would be the best way to describe it. The instrumental was just plain but I think it did enough to really provide that blank canvas for Xiumin’s voice. We all know that Xiumin isn’t the most talented vocalist of EXO but I think he has an overshadowed voice. There have been songs by him in collaborations and units that do bring out the best of him. You does that as well. I really like his raspy vocals, which really made the song a tiny bit more interesting. I like how he manages to go along with the building instrumental and ended giving the song that needed climax. But I am not particularly drawn to the song melody wise nor do I find it memorable. But I am sure fans of the artist (and group) will.

A lot of the video seemed to be just a reflection for Xiumin. We see Xiumin staring off into the distance, taking in the sights and the fresh air. There isn’t really anything to talk about. The reflective nature matches the song’s message and tone. But other than that, I think I would be rambling on.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 6.5/10
Overall Rating – 6.8/10

[Review] The Fifth Season (SSFWL) – Oh My Girl

May 9, 2019Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged OH MY GIRL3 Comments

Returning yesterday is Oh My Girl, with The Fifth Season (SSFWL). This is the title track off their very first studio album, The Fifth Season. Based on the title of the album (and lyrics), it seems like the members are making reference to Love being the fifth season, in addition to the commonly known Spring, Summer, Fall (or Autumn) and Winter. The idea of the 4 Seasons seems to be a popular concept this year, with Taeyeon and Chanyeol each releasing songs about the seasons. But we are here to review SSFWL, which is their first comeback since Remember Me.

SSFWL returns to the fantasy-theme tracks that have been the centre of Oh My Girl’s portfolio. And I found this return to be quite strong, supported with amazing melodies and beautiful vocals. The chorus was by far my favourite part of the entire track. The melody at the start of the chorus was very profound and woke you up from the slightly bland verses. The second half of the chorus (i.e. the ‘La La La…‘) gave an extra kick to the song. And it was this combination that really made the chorus feel bold but perfectly fitting for the fantasy sound they were aiming for. And as I said, vocals were very nice, as proven by the chorus (and bridge). Mimi’s rapping was probably the surprising limit. I really liked how husky her parts were and this was quite impactful. I also enjoyed how they ended the song, which really the cherry on top for SSWFL. I think it is extremely safe to say that I really enjoyed this song and wouldn’t be surprised if this dominated my playlist for the next few weeks.

The music video shows the members in sets that can easily be identified as the different seasons. Binnie is experiencing Winter, due to the amount of snow available. Hyojung is in Summer, shown through the availability of a refreshing drink from the fridge and the vibrant green fauna. Fall is experienced by Jiho, who is on a train in appropriate attire, surrounded by a warm golden vibe, while Spring is experienced by Arin, as she walks through the fields and flowers. I assume YooA, Seunghee and Mimi are in certain seasons as well. But it is when the members join each other, does the fifth season (filled with joy and happiness) come apparent. Thought it was a very nice video to showcase this.

I thought the performance was pretty good. I really thought that running-like move in the chorus was cool. The entire performance looked very graceful, which fits in with the fantasy tone and concept of this comeback.

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

[Review] Hold On Me – Nam Woohyun (Infinite)

May 7, 2019May 8, 2019Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged INFINITE, Woohyun (Infinite)1 Comment

One of the groups that I want to continue to see in the future is Infinite. Their releases in the past have also been outstanding and with the military enlistment period upon the members, I want something Infinite related in this Infinite-drought. Woohyun is probably my favourite member and it isn’t just because he is the one to break the Infinite-drought. Woohyun returned today with Hold On Me, his third solo title track.

While Woohyun is my favourite member of the group, his previously ballads quickly wore off after their respective releases and reviews. You can’t really help that if all you release are ballads. However, Hold On Me departs from this ballad train and jumps onboard a more upbeat and energetic train. Kicking off the track are some guitars that really perk your interest, particularly if you were expecting a ballad track. We were treated to some of Woohyun’s vocals but I did not expect such an early featuring of Junoflo right after. I liked the raspy texture he gave the song and the way they managed to blend together was very interesting. I think the best bit of the song has to the pre-chorus and chorus combination. The buildup was nice and the chorus had a rush of energy/colour (thanks to the vibrancy of the guitar), making the track quite memorable for me. Woohyun’s vocals were really nice, with the bridge of the song probably showcasing his vocals the best in the entire song. Overall, Hold On Me serves as a great drought-breaker and provides a fresh take of Woohyun!

The music video shows Woohyun remembering a past lover. Woohyun looked like he never moved on from his breakup, as the static on the television reminded him of his girlfriend and his place doesn’t look like he ever stopped drinking since that heartbreaking night. Towards the end, he does find her. But she seems to be a memory within his mind and the static effect is shown alongside her, representing the fact that she is now just a memory (and not a partner). I thought it was an interesting video. I did like the choreography set (I don’t think it was a real cityscape, which was rather disappointing). I think it would have been better with an actual cityscape, like his solo shots.

The choreography looks good. It isn’t as intense as other Infinite releases in the past but it is getting there. I think Woohyun focuses more on this vocals for these performances, which I think is the more appropriate thing for Woohyun, as his vocals his main weapon (though his dancing is as well).

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 7.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.4/10

[Album Review] Happily Ever After (6th Mini Album) – NU’EST

May 6, 2019Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged NU'EST1 Comment

For the past three years, we have seen NU’EST in a number of forms and media. Firstly, four of the members participated in Produce 101 Season 2. The show led to the formation of Wanna One, which featured Minhyun as a member. This resulted in Baekho, JR, Ren and Aron forming NU’EST W in the meanwhile to promote the group. So for the last three years, there has not been a straight NU’EST release. Until last Monday, when the group made their return as a five-member group with this very mini-album and Bet Bet. So, I join fans today to admire their new release (and review it as well).

nuest-happilyeverafter-2 — *Happily Ever After* Album Cover

1..Segno – Segno is a very soothing track to listen to. The song is about longing to be with their partner and the lyrics were very fitting to be their first song in three years as a full group. While it is soothing, I liked the direction that it went in with (as the song manages to incorporate multiple dance break hooks that were creaky but had a very rustic feel). I really enjoyed the vocals in this song, with all members (including JR) singing. I particularly like the line ‘Baby Don’t forget about my mind, Don’t forget about my heart’. The harmonies and delicacy make this line so memorable and impactful for me. (8.5/10)

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

3. BASS – BASS is probably my pick for the best song on the album. Before writing these album reviews, I have already listened to the album to decide whether it is worth reviewing. BASS was the very first song to draw my attention. The most important aspect of BASS is, well, its bass. Together with its very sleek and aesthetic approach with its sound, I would describe the song as very dynamic. The vocals were so nice and the main centrepiece of the song. JR’s rapping definitely provided the smooth song with some texture, but I felt it was rather limited (I wanted more!). The repetition was definitely a memorable highlight of the track, along with the instrumentation. (9.5/10)

4. Talk About Love – As I have always stated before, I always find there to be a ‘weak’ song on the album (note the quotation marks). In Happily Ever After, it comes in the form of Talk About Love. The song is probably their tamest work on this album as it doesn’t really emit that much energy. However, you can feel the smiles that come from the members in this track by the time the song wraps up. I thought it was also a good track to showcase their vocals, with JR providing texture to the chorus. I just wanted more substance to the track to really bring it to the same level as the rest of the album. (7/10)

5. Different – Different is something that I haven’t heard at all yet. It is very… different. The most obvious section that needs to be talked about is the chorus. It is where the song strays away from the majority of other strong. I like the energy that it emits and the lead up to it was superb. Overall, it is a groovy song to dance to (or in my case, awkwardly move my body around). The vocals were sleek and I thought the rapping really added to the song. JR’s I Like That was probably the biggest standout point, apart from the chorus. And the best thing about the track? Its uniqueness gets you to come back for more! (10/10)

6. Fine – This is the song that plays at the end of the Bet Bet music video, where Minhyun wakes up and rejoins the members. Despite its heaviness in terms of the instrumentation, the song manages to give off a very light feel. I think is because the heaviness came during the chorus (with the dubstep-like instrumentation), whereas the vocals and raps during the verses gave the song that lightness. Together, it is a very intriguing contrast. And since it was felt, it was pretty successful. I really enjoyed the powerful side of the vocals, something that hasn’t really been shown us just yet on this album. Baekho really blew me away in this track. A performance for this track will definitely be highly requested by fans and I might join in on this request! (9/10)

7. Universe (별의 언어) (Minhyun Solo) – Click here to read the full review for Universe. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.9/10

nuest-happilyeverafter-3 — *Happily Ever After* Teaser Image

[Weekly Chart] 1st Week of May 2019

May 5, 2019Posted in Weekly ChartsLeave a comment

Due to time constraints, I have decided to drop the Tuesday ‘Past Album’ review segment for the month of May. If all works out well, the segment will return on the first week of June.

Welcome back to this week’s Weekly Chart Post. Unfortunately, I am quite busy and cannot stick around to really update you all on my busy life (still busy but still reviewing!). So let’s get right into the charts for this week!

Topping the charts this week are TWICE, with their latest track, Fancy. Song after song the female group have released have topped the digital charts and it was no doubt that they landed back on the top of my Weekly Charts. Following closely behind is NU’EST’s long-awaited five-member comeback with Bet Bet, which is going to be an interesting contender for next week! I’m So Hot by Momoland returns to the Top 5 this week by sliding right into the third position, while Park Ji Hoon’s L.O.V.E rises back into the fourth position. Last week’s number 1 song was Violeta by IZ*ONE and it dropped down to complete the Top 5 for this week!

For more of the charts, scroll down below!

	28th Apr – 4th May 2019
	Title	Artist	Status
1	Fancy	TWICE	(▲ 1)
2	Bet Bet	NU’EST	(new)
3	I’m So Hot	Momoland	(▲ 7)
4	L.O.V.E	Park Ji Hoon	(▲ 4)
5	Violeta	IZ*ONE	(▼ 4)
6	Bloom Bloom	The Boyz	(new)
7	Miroh	Stray Kids	(=)
8	Boy With Luv	BTS	(▼ 5)
9	Bon Bon Chocolat	EVERGLOW	(▲ 26)
10	From Now	VERIVERY	(▲ 7)
11	Another Night	Yoo Youngjae	(▲ 11)
12	Bomb Bomb	KARD	(▲ 3)
13	Hollywood	AB6IX	(▲ 15)
14	4:44	Park Bom ft. Wheein (Mamamoo)	(new)
15	Spring Again	Golden Child	(new)
16	Tu Eres	NEWKIDD	(new)
17	Feeling	Jeong Sewoon ft. Penomeco	(▲ 4)
18	WooWoo	DIA	(▼ 14)
19	Focus	Kim Dong Han	(new)
20	After Party	SPECTRUM	(new)
21	Blossom	Eunha (Gfriend) & Ravi (VIXX)	(▲ 23)
22	Universe	Minhyun (NU’EST)	(▲ 11)
23	I Wanna Be	Key (SHINee) ft. Kim Soyeon ((G)I-DLE)	(▼ 4)
24	Hocus Pocus	BVNDIT	(▲ 2)
25	Pinky Star (Run)	GWSN	(=)
26	Focus On Me	Jus2	(▲ 29)
27	Cat & Dog	TXT	(▲ 19)
28	Beautiful	TARGET	(▼ 23)
29	Crown	TXT	(▼ 9)
30	Thrilla Killa	VAV	(▲ 6)