Finally, I am crossing off another album off my ‘Coming Soon’ page. The main attraction of this album review post is ONF, who recently released their very first studio album since their debut back in 2015. The album is titled, ONF: My Name and it features Beautiful Beautiful as the title track, My Name Is as a pre-release track, the English version of Beautiful Beautiful (which I have chosen not to review), a 2021 version of Lights Up (which I have also chosen not to review as it is on part of the physical version of the album) and seven other new songs. This won’t be the last time we will be seeing ONF in the immediate future, however, as WM Entertainment has confirmed ONF will be returning with their first repackaged album last this month. In the meanwhile, here are my thoughts on ONF: My Name.
3. Thermometer (온도차) (ON Team Version) – Thermometer is brought to us by the ON team, which includes Hyojin, MK and E-Tion. Thermometer is a very pleasant-sounding ballad that ticks the swaying criteria that you may know I have for this particular genre. It brings out the vocals of the three members. It isn’t the album’s standout song, but it is still one worth listening to if you enjoy your ballads. (7.5/10)
4. Secret Triangle (비밀) (OFF Team Version) – The OFF team features J-Us, Wyatt and U, and they bring us Secret Triangle. Secret Triangle is the better of the two unit songs on the album. You might think it is because it is more upbeat than the ballad that preceded Secret Triangle, but you are only partly right. There were some really good moments such as the dynamic descending drop, Wyatt’s deep tone rap-speaking entrance (which led into the equally as awesome rap sequence from Wyatt), the whisper-like vocals that started off the bridge courtesy of Wyatt and U, J-US high note, and the rock-influenced closing sequence. (9/10)
5. The Realist – The Realist has that synth pop vibe that you would associate with The Weeknd. And that is an amazing feeling, as The Weeknd has really amazing songs (see Blinding Lights as an example). I also feel that The Realist would have been a really great alternative for ONF as their final song on Road To Kingdom. What I really like about The Realist is that ONF are the vocals. The really sleek and sly whisper-like vocals in this song really amplify the synth pop instrumentation. I really like the vocals at the ending as well, which have this sensual yet punchy feeling to complete the song. The electric guitars really helps concentrate everything towards the end, adding a layer of oomph to the already strong song. (10/10)
6. On-You (Interlude) – On-You returns the album to the bright and cheerful tone that the album started off with in Beautiful Beautiful and My Name Is. To me, the energy at the start of the song felt contained and plain. It was only until the second verse when Wyatt and MK were rapping did I become interested in this interlude. And then everything else following (despite it being a replication to the first verse and chorus) felt more playful and enjoyable. Aside from the song’s ‘turning point’ for me, I also enjoyed the ending when all the members sung together. (8/10)
7. Trip Advisor (누워서 세계 속으로) – Trip Advisor is another upbeat and bright song to fit in with the group’s brighter profile. Trip Advisor, to me, is very enjoyable and features a lot of really good elements. The instrumental has brass (many ticks as a result of this inclusion) and a retro feel-good vibe which I find very appealing. The vocal work from the members show off a lot of technique and skills. Trip Advisor also has some really addictive and fun hooks, which helps tick off the memorable box on my criteria list for a really great song. (9/10)
8. Feedback – Feedback also fits into their brighter profile. It is a sweet sounding R&B track that brings out their vocals. I didn’t find anything interesting in this song, apart from a clear and strong melody. But that, compared to the rest of the album, doesn’t make Feedback a strong song. But Feedback was still enjoyable. (7/10)
9. I.T.I.L.U – I.T.I.L.U (I Think I Love U) is another ballad on this album. This one is more straightforward and typical of the ballad genre. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it is a bad song. I.T.I.L.U’s backdrop is this stunning orchestral piece. It had everything you would want in an orchestral ballad instrumentation. On top of this background are powerful vocals from the members. Each member, to me, shined really brightly in this song. I also really liked how they, one-by-one, kept on repeating the Korean word for ‘Forever’ at the end of the song. (10/10)
Due to some last minute changes, I will posted the promised ONF album review a day late.
As promised for this long weekend, I will be tapping into some of the releases that I have yet to review yet but have flagged on my Coming Soon page that I will be reviewing. For this particular post, I have selected My Name Is by ONF, in preparation for their upcoming album review for their first studio album, titled ONF: My Name, which I will be posting soon. The music video for My Name Is was an unexpected drop two days prior to the release of the album and Beautiful Beautiful (the album’s title track) as far as I could remember, as we didn’t get any news of a pre-release for this album.
But My Name Is was a welcome surprise, especially with how fun the song ended up being. You might need to have watch the music video for My Name Is to really grasp what the lyrics of the song are about. Essentially, the members took turns in their own sections to introduce themselves. It was quirky, but definitely enjoyable. And it is also interesting to hear such a carefree and light tone to the group, since their past title tracks have predominately been intense EDM based songs. I enjoyed the lighthearted nature of the instrumental mix. Nothing from the strumming and plucking of acoustic guitars to the horns that gave the chorus a substantial backing to the pop instrumental underlay felt like a huge commitment (this is a compliment!!). Everything worked together to give us that lighthearted tone. What I also enjoyed about the song are the vocals. For the most part, each members vocalised their part. Even Wyatt, the resident deep voice rapper, did his share. It brought a nice playful colour to the song, as I expected for more rap or sing-spoken delivery in the song. Overall, My Name Is was enjoyable, fun and a unique personalised song that reintroduces you to the group. There is something for everyone in this song, regardless if you are a long time fan or just hearing of them for the first time.
The music video was very inviting and casual. Fitting for the song, the video was shot in the same sets as the Beautiful Beautiful music video. Just everything in this video feels fun and lighthearted like the tone of the song. Their smiles and interaction (i.e. Wyatt and MK’s awkward hug) throughout the video really emphasised this. I also really enjoyed the handdrawn visual effects that were added to the song. They added a bit more to the casual side of the video, which made the video even more enjoyable.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 9/10 Overall Rating – 9/10
It is time for another album review this weekend. As mentioned last week that while we are currently in the Easter long weekend and that I am on a break, I have scheduled this and another album review for publishing this weekend. First up is one of the many studio albums that we have seen so far this year. More specifically, I am talking about Chungha’s first studio album, Querencia, which was dropped 15 February of this year. Originally scheduled for release even earlier in the year, Querencia was postponed to mid-February due to Chungha’s COVID-19 infection in December. However before then, Chungha has been teasing us with this comeback through releases such as Stay Tonight, PLAY and Dream of You. In addition to those songs, Chungha also features BICYCLE and 17 other songs on the album. With such a long tracklist, we better get cracking.
Querencia Album Cover
1. Side A (Noble) – Chungha kicks off the album with a short intro track which introduces us to the first part of the album, Side A (Noble). In the span of a minute, Noble exudes dramatic flair and a mysterious vibe amongst the clanging and brass. Chungha does some narration but it adds an additional layer to Noble’s and the album’s intriguingness.
3. Masquerade– Masquerade reinfuses the Latin influence that dominated KPOP for a while. Chungha also recently touched on this trend with the release of PLAY last year, which is also featured on this album. What makes Masquerade really nice, despite going for an overused influence, is that the song doesn’t really shortchange on the Latin dosage. This is thanks to the trumpets that dominate the instrumental for Masquerade. I think it is a bit of an understatement to say the song blasts us with it. In addition to the trumpet, there is also the signature guitar in the mix and the Latin’s trend all important upbeat energy. Chungha also sounds fantastic throughout the song. (9/10)
4. Flying on Faith – Flying on Faith hits me hard (in a good way). It is also the first of a number of all English songs on the album. I really liked the different textures that makes up the instrumentation, such as the guitar that opens the song and dominates the verses, the synths that made up the percussion in the chorus, the moments where the instrumental is stripped back to nothing, and the beautiful piano at the end. Flying on Faith also makes Chungha stand out in a spectacular fashion. She sounds crisps and the vocals melodies just really pop out. (10/10)
5. Luce Sicut Stellae – Luce Sicut Stellae (Latin for ‘Shining brightly like a star’) is a simpler song, in comparison to the songs that preceded it. It is more pleasant and doesn’t blast you with its instrumentation. While I do prefer the more ‘louder’ songs on the album, it doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy this song as much. It is a nice closer to this section of the album, providing that much needed relief by showcasing an easygoing tune and Chungha’s vocals. Her falsettos were really nice and the rap-speak that is featured in the chorus just gives the song some much depth. (8.5/10)
6. Side B (Savage) – In this one-minute instrumental interlude, Chungha embraces more of a pop sound with what sounded like background music for a runway fashion shoot. It is exciting and definitely sets the tone for the songs to come next.
7. Stay Tonight – Since the release of Stay Tonight, the song has grown on me. Hence, I am changing the original song rating for Stay Tonight from the original 7.5/10 to 10/10. I am hoping to update ratings in a future segment. Click here to read the full review for Stay Tonight.(10/10)
9. Bother Me (짜증 나게 만들어) – Bother Me is your more typical pop release. But it has a great thrill to it that makes the song enjoyable. The instrumental feels like it could be an extension to Stay Tonight. It just is not as bold and confident as the pre-release was. Still, I think Bother Me would make it a great performance piece. The bass really transforms the song. I also enjoyed how the instrumental extension piece at the end brought a bit of a funky touch to the song. Chungha’s vocals were pretty good as well. I really like how her delivery seems like one of a kind in this song, particularly the that slightly faster pace vocal line in the pre-chorus. (8/10)
10. Chill (Chill해) – To me, Chill sounds like your feel-good pop song. It is another straight forward pop song, with bright energy and a message that encourages you to chill. The inclusion of the choir as backing vocals also to be quite interesting and also adds to that feel-good feel. Most importantly, nothing felt heavy in this song, which makes it a nice song to chill to. Unfortunately, being straight forward also had its drawbacks. The song felt plain overall and I felt this the most with Chungha’s vocals. Chill is still a nice song to kick back to. But it isn’t the most exciting song on the album. (7/10)
11. Side C(Unknown) – Side C (Unknown) goes a little harder than the other interludes. It is a very loaded mix with a lot going on. You can’t really know what is going to be coming after the next synth, so it is truly a track full of ‘unknowns’. I honestly thought it would go down the EDM route for the first few seconds, but it felt like a remix of a playfully bright song by the time it wrapped up.
13. Demente (ft. Guaynaa) – Demente also taps into the Latin sound. But before you think “another one?”, take a listen to Demente. You will notice that the song is in Spanish and hence going down the Latin route is pretty much justified. Chungha does a really good job, though I wished her vocals had a bit more oomph to it. She was quite smooth, but I just want something with a bit more zing to help make Demente more memorable. The song also features Puerto Rican singer Guaynaa, who adds a rap sequence and also sings along side Chungha towards the end. (7.5/10)
14. Lemon (ft. Colde) – The next song on the album is Lemon, which features Colde, an indie hip-hop artist. It is an upbeat R&B track. I found this song quite enjoyable, which may or may not stem from my love of lemon flavouring or lemons in food. Aside being titled after a favourite fruit of mine, Chungha also sounds very different in this song, singing at a much higher pitch than usual in the chorus. This doesn’t deter me away from the song, as I do think this change in sound adds to the enjoyable side of the song and also adds a bit of variety to her usual sound. I also like it when the two artists sing together in this. It was a pleasant combination. (8/10)
15. Byulharang (160504 + 170607) (별하랑 (160504 + 170607) – Byulharang is the first ballad on this album. It takes a form of a pop ballad, however, with it never going into a classical or orchestral mode which most ballads do. At the centre of the instrumental are acoustic guitars, which really stole my attention from the first second. Paired with her vocals, Byulharang really sounds amazing. The song’s title also features two dates, which are the dates in which she made her official debut. 160504 corresponds to when I.O.I made their debut, while 170607 is the date in which she made her solo debut. With that in mind, you can tell that the song has this reminiscing tone, which I think Chungha delivered very nicely throughout the song. (10/10)
16. Side D (Pleasures) – Side D (Pleasures) seems to be the tamest out of the interludes on the album. Sure, the mysterious vibes are back. But Pleasures seems a lot simpler and easygoing in terms of intensity and sound than the rest.
17. X (걸어온 길에 꽃밭 따윈 없었죠) – X was a pre-release single that dropped mid-January, a few weeks prior to the release of this album. I never got around to writing a review for it. But X definitely caught my attention since its release. I really like how smooth the English is in this song, especially with the line ‘You got to love me at my worst to love me at my best’. That line also is a one-line summary about what the song is about. Chungha’s delivery is so good in X. Her vocals were quite airy and they felt almost whisper-like. It gets even better as the song progresses, with her rapping in the bridge and high note during the final chorus. The instrumental feels just right, existing in a limbo between ballads and pop (but never falling into one or the other). (9/10)
18. All Night Long – All Night Long taps the album back into the R&B scene. Personally, it isn’t my cup of tea. Compared to the other songs on the album, All Night Long doesn’t really have that memorable factor to it. I wished every element had a bit more to themselves. However, it doesn’t mean I am saying it is terrible. It is just plain and straightforward, which doesn’t work for me this time. (6/10)
19. Everyone Has – Everyone Has is also another pre-release to this album, dating back to March 2020. As the song has been out a whole year now, I can’t remember my first impression towards Everyone Has. But I do remember being surprised that Chungha also does ballads now. I guess it was a tease to what was to come on this album. Everyone Has has that sway that I look forward in ballad. But like the previous song, it is also a plain and straightforward ballad that doesn’t really offer anything new or amazing. (7/10)
20. Comes N Goes – The vocal progression in Comes N Goes really makes this song stand out for me. It adds that ‘something different’ to the mix that I am looking for in new songs. I really like how it seems to continually throw us forward unexpectedly into the chorus. But to make it work takes really great vocals, which Chungha has continually demonstrated throughout the album. I also like how the atmospheric the instrumental sounded, which complimented Chungha and her vocals. (10/10)
21. Querencia (Epilogue) – And we have reached the end of the album. Chungha gifts us with a minute and half epilogue. I am personally not sure what the purpose of this epilogue is, but it felt suspenseful and was gripping. It starts off with some percussion that adds back that intrigues and mysterious vibes that took hold of us with the album’s interludes. After a half minute worth of silence (in which we also hear Chungha utter the title of the album), we are treated to more atmospheric music before it closes out definitely.
KPOPREVIEWED 