Kep1er’s Shooting Star is nominated for Best Pop Song in the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support Kep1er and Shooting Star by clicking here to vote for them today.

Kep1er’s first studio album, Kep1going On, is up for a review today. It is their first Korean studio album release since their debut in 2022. It features the title track Shooting Star, as well as the Korean versions of their Japanese title tracks Grand Prix and Straight Line. Kep1going On is also the last album release from Kep1er to feature Kang Yeseo and Sakamoto Mashiro, who did not renew their contracts to continue as part of Kep1er and subsequently made their quick debut under the new group MADEIN.

Kep1going On is not the most amazing release ever, but it is honestly what I had expected Kep1er to release. They did blow me away with Shooting Star and one other side track on the album (continue reading to find out which song that is). Following Kep1going On, the group returned as a seven-member ensemble with Tipi-Tap (which I have yet to review).

1. Last Carnival – I wished Last Carnival was a full track and not an intro track. The atmospheric tone and soft EDM instrumentation were amazing. Kep1er’s vocals were stunning throughout, and the pop melodies were a fantastic lead into the title track that follows. (9/10)

2. Shooting Star – Click here for the full review for Shooting Star. (9.5/10)

3. Curious – Curious is a decent R&B pop song. I liked the energy that most of the track featured and the vocal work in this one. It feels very lovable and cute-sounding, without going overboard in that department. My only gripe is that the chorus should have built on the momentum that came before it. The chorus could have been a little brighter, as well. This would have made Curious more appealing. (8/10)

4. Flowers, Flutter, Your Heart – Kep1er leans more into the R&B territory with Flowers, Flutter, Your Heart. I will admit that the song is more typical. But I really liked the violins in this one. I also enjoyed how engaging both the members and melodies were in the song. Still, Flowers, Flutter, Your Heart is a good example of how doing something really well speaks more volume. (8.5/10)

5. Double Up! – Double Up! changes up the momentum of the mini-album by featuring a groovy deep house instrumentation. And I am digging the instrumentation! I can’t help but have a mini dance when Double Up! comes on. It just has a great party energy that is hard to deny. The trap moments also work well in this song. A stronger hook and melodies could have really boosted the song to 10/10 territory. What we do get is catchy enough, but I think Double Up! could been perfect had these been fleshed out more. (9/10)

6. PUSH BUTTON – I can see PUSH BUTTON being an addition to Kep1er’s lineup of Japanese singles. It has potential to outperform their previous singles, especially if there are improvements to the song. PUSH BUTTON has the mature vibe heard in their Japanese tracks, is more approachable and has a decent ring. It is a bit more elementary and noticeably lacks oomph, but these are the improvements that could see PUSH BUTTON exceed expectations sets by their previous Japanese singles. (8/10)

7. PROBLEM – The 90s retro vibe in PROBLEM sells me this track. Since the album’s release in June, PROBLEM has become my favourite. I enjoyed all aspects of it – vocals, rapping, instrumentation, melodies and hooks. I particularly thought Huening Bahiyyih and Xiaoting’s lines in the verses were amazing. I also enjoyed the R&B turn in the bridge by Chaehyun and Mashiro. A definite recommendation. (10/10)

8. Dear Diary – Given its position on the album and the fact it is titled Dear Diary, I am not surprised that the track is of a slower motif and is dedicated to their fans. The track has a nice, overall. The R&B instrumentation is touching and soothing, while the vocals were appreciatively delicate. Even the rapping was well-thought out and incorporated into the fan-dedicated song. (8/10)

9. Grand Prix (Korean Version) – Click here for the review of the Japanese version for Grand Prix. (5/10)

10. Straight Line (Korean Version) – I made promises to review Straight Line before, but never got around to it until today. I personally liked Straight Line as a track. But there is a lot going on, and I can see why many people may think the song is overwhelming. It is a blend of genres and influences – Latin-influences, hip-hop, R&B and probably a few more. While the track attempts to hold itself back from being overwhelming by keeping the vocals and melodies ‘consistent’, the sheer number of changes the song go through doesn’t help. That being said, there are some good moments in Straight Line. So, perhaps the producers should have stuck to a just a few style (or each separately) to help Kep1er shine. (7.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.3/10