After holding onto a draft for the album review for aespa’s MY WORLD for quite a while now as I was due review the album’s pre-release single separately ahead of the album review, I have decided to forgo those plans and post the album review now instead. MY WORLD is the aespa’s 3rd mini-album, led by the single Spicy, the pre-release single Welcome to My World and four additional side tracks. aespa’s vocals are a recurring element I comment on throughout the album, with their showcase of skills in this department being consistently superb throughout the album. MY WORLD also becomes my highest rated album this year. Find out why I thought so positively of the mini-album down below.

1. Welcome to My World (ft. nævis) – This alternative pop track is so dreamy yet has such a haunting vibe, both of come together to create an impactful and memorable piece. Part of this is thanks to the vocals, which I give two strong thumbs up for. Like come on, the harmonisations are so beautiful and breath-taking. The instrumental also contributes to that dreamy and haunting vibe, as well. The orchestral sequence at the ending makes for such a cathartic ending. Despite it being a more vocally centric track, Welcome to My World still manages to incorporate some synths into its backing. Nothing too crazy that disrupts or destroys the delicate nature of Welcome to My World, but just enough to make it feel like it could be branded as an aespa track. An easy 10/10, in my opinion. (10/10)

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

3. Salty & Sweet – Salty & Sweet starts off in a very bold manner, going for a darker and edgier vibe. The members do a really good job with channeling these vibes into their delivery, creating a very riveting and impactful track to listen to. The bass, beats and synth work in the instrumentational also has this trippy energy to it, making Salty & Sweet a very intriguing listen. (9/10)

4. Thirsty – Thirsty is another great showcase of vocals from aespa. Their vocals are just so sleek and captivating throughout this side track (if they hadn’t been yet in the other side tracks). Thirsty also revisits the dreamy vibes heard earlier in the first track of the mini-album, with their vocals also exuding this. The rapping felt so clean, as well. The instrumentation is basically your standard R&B backing, but the members really do take it to the next level. (9/10)

5. I’m Unhappy – I’m Unhappy is much more straight-forward track, in comparison to the other side tracks on this mini-album. The bouncier beat and bass in the instrumentation is quite consistent and felt playful. The squealy synth was a nice touch in cutting through this consistency. The vocal work and rapping felt uncomplicated. But nowhere along the way do I find I’m Unhappy to be a bore. It was all very interesting and another strong side track from the group. (9/10)    

6. Til We Meet Again – The final track steps away from synths and into acoustics and simple band instrumentation. The acoustics of this track creates a very warm and inviting atmosphere, while their vocals (which have been top notch throughout the mini-album) makes us stay with their comforting aura. Til We Meet Again also revisits another aspect from earlier on in the mini-album – stunning harmonisations that just felt like icing on the cake. (8.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 9.1/10