kpopreviewed

[Review] Angel – IZ

May 4, 2018Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged IZLeave a comment

This is my first time hearing about IZ, yet they made their debut last year (which I somehow did not notice or completely missed). IZ is a 4-member boy band under Music K Entertainment who debuted with All You Want in August 2017. Jihoo, Hyunjun, Junyoung and Woosu returned on May 1st for the first time since debuting with Angel.

When you listen to this song as it appears on your playlist, it actually sounds decent. However, it is when I start making notes in my head for these reviews that I start noticing flaws of the track. The song lacks memorable elements. It fails to have a powerful hook that grabs your attention. While what we have does ring in your head for a while, it isn’t necessary that same sensation as you get with a really catchy song that engraves its hook into your mind. This just barely scratches the surface. Another thing that the song lacks in is energy. I feel like intensity was there but I felt like it there was a more powerful hook, it would have made the song much more interesting. Instead, it felt like it was going back and forth. The vocals were okay and the rapping was decent. But while it may sound like I don’t really like the song, I am not too troubled by it when I am listening to it when doing homework or working on other stuff. (I know it is odd but that is my honest opinion about the song).

While the music video does seem to feature that same generic issue that the song also faced, it felt fitting with the seriousness of the song. Once again, the same sets are used. I think my take on the plotline of the video makes it interesting for me. It seems like the members are finding this ‘angel‘ who has left feathers from her wings behind and a pearl necklace, which on the members hold onto. But it seems like the serious nature of the video/song and the microphone wires binding to the members, this person is no ‘angel’. That’s my take on it. I may be completely wrong.

Song – 6/10
Music Video – 7/10
Overall Rating – 6.6/10

[Album Review] Void (1st Mini Album) – The Rose

May 3, 2018Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged The RoseLeave a comment

The Rose probably is high up there on the list of underrated artists that need recognition fast for their talent. This is especially since after their latest comeback with Baby (link below). They have a unique sound that is unheard of on the KPOP platform, which makes them stand out. So, it only makes sense to have a closer look at their very first mini-album, right? Well, that is what we are doing today! Also featured on the mini-album are their two past title tracks, which I have very brief comments regarding them in the review below (since I have not done a review for them).

1..Candy (So Good) – What really draws my attention to most of The Rose’s songs is the British Pop and indie feel, which they were first known for. It is extremely unique in both the KPOP and Korean music scene. Candy features really husky yet nice and interesting vocals. It is the literal icing on the cake for this song. As for the song, I thought the song would have built up but it remained relatively consistent. While I have mentioned this being an issue for past songs, this is a key charm of this tracks. Its only main flaw is its shortness. (9/10)

2. Baby (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Baby. (9.6/10)

3. I.L.Y. – What this song is a beautiful ballad. It starts off extremely slow (which works really well) and then the introduction of the drums (and some energy) into the ballad really gave it a fresh breath of life. The chorus was also extremely nice with harmonies throughout the chorus giving the song that beauty to making it beautiful. (9/10)

4. Sorry – Sorry was released back in August 2017. It features an awesome opener (which is also the start of the choruses) that really grabs your attention from the get-go. Their vocals were also a defining moment of the song with the huskiness on display (but not as much as in the first track). I found the chorus to be a great section of the song to just ‘rock’ along with. Since its release in August, I found that I would continually come back to this song. Even until this day, I haven’t grown tired of it, which shows its longevity and quality. (10/10)

5. Like We Used To (좋았는데) – Like We Used To was released in October. Unfortunately, out of all the tracks that they have released thus far, this one is the least interesting (in my point of view). The instrumental does stand out as there were plenty of good moments within the song (despite the depressing lyrics). The vocals, on the other hand, were lacking and just plain. (6/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.7/10

[Review] LATATA – (G)I-DLE

May 2, 2018May 2, 2018Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged i-dleLeave a comment

There is a new girl group in town. (G)I-DLE, which has been shortened from GIRL-I-DLE, is the latest girl group from Cube Entertainment, which houses KPOP idols such as Hyuna, BTOB, CLC and Pentagon. Their debut single is LATATA, which is featured on their first mini-album titled as I Am. The group consist of 6 members: Miyeon, Minnie, Soyeon (who has debuted as a solo artist and participated in Produce 101 Season 1), Soojin, Yuqi and Shuhua.

It seems like Cube Entertainment has taken notice of the disappointing performance of CLC’s cutesy tracks that they started off with. LATATA takes on a more fierce and strong sound, which aligns well with the more popular and successful sound that is garnering CLC attention at the moment. It starts off with a very minimal instrumental but quickly builds up to the intense chorus. I find the way they sang the first verse very interesting. And while it was interesting, it also did capture my attention. While the chorus wasn’t that strong in my point of view, I am enjoying the post-chorus instrumental, which is definitely the catchiest moment of the song. The ‘LATATA‘ part of the chorus seems okay but I am unsure whether it will grow on me or not. The vocals and rapping were quite good. I really liked the combination of the two during the bridge of the track, which was a great moment for the song. Overall, LATATA seems to be a strong track for a debut and it definitely puts the girls on the map, in my opinion.

The music video seems to be a weak point for this debut. It feels very typical and doesn’t really offer anything new to get the audience’s attention. Like the visuals are nice and the members all looked good. But I expected something a little more from the background that would have either enhanced the member’s visuals or enhanced the song. None of that happened in the video. Instead, we see a lot of overused sets and some cheesy acting (though the acting did add a twist to their strong and fierce concept).

The post-chorus instrumental featured some nice choreography. It was probably their strongest part as well. The rest of the performance was okay but it just doesn’t live up to the same standard as the post-chorus choreography.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 6/10
Performance – 6.5/10
Overall Rating – 7.1/10

[Special] LOOΠΔ Predebut Solo Song Reviews – Part 1

May 2, 2018May 2, 2018Posted in KPOP, Reviews, SpecialTagged LOOΠΔ, LOONA2 Comments

Please note these special posts are designed to be long and may require some time to read (if you plan on reading the entire post). To help shorten the length, the music video will be inserted as hyperlinked titles, so feel free to click the title of each section to watch the video.

After multiple requests about LOOΠΔ and reviews for their pre-release singles, it is time to start focusing on what seems to be a very promising girl group. Each Wednesday for the month of May, I will be releasing a special set of reviews for the LOOΠΔ members, which will focus on both their main and side-tracks as well.

LOOΠΔ is a 12-member girl group under Blockberry Creative. While they have yet to officially debut, their pre-debut promotion is extremely unusual. Starting in October 2016, each month a new member of the group is unveiled to the public. This continued until the end of March 2018. And with the completion of this pre-debut promotions, the group will be preparing and gearing up for their official debut which has been rumoured to be October this year.

Once I heard the project, I decided to wait for all the songs to be released (similar to what I did with previous project releases). I just didn’t anticipate for it to be such a long wait, as they also unveiled subunits made up of the already revealed members along the way, which drew the project out even longer. Talking about subunits, this is not the first time I have spoken about LOOΠΔ, as I have taken some time out to review and look closely to their subunit releases, which you can find out below.

LOOΠΔ 1/3 – Love & Live & Sonatine
LOOΠΔ Odd Eye Circle – Girl Front & Sweet Crazy Love

Today’s post will look at the main tracks from the 6 members who were revealed first. I will be focusing on the song and music video standalone, as I am interested in doing another special post focusing on the connections between their music videos.

ViVid – Heejin (October 2016)

Opening up the entire project is Heejin with ViVid. And I personally cannot think of any song that would have been able to leave such a strong impression on me. It is extremely catchy with its unique chorus and jazzy instrumental. The “Oh My God, Yes” just repeats in my head since I first heard it. The song was also spoken, which gave it character and uniqueness. I also really liked the music video. From the obviously high production value, bold colours and eye-catching choreography, what more can you ask for!

Around You – Hyunjin (November 2016)

Hyunjin’s song is more soothing and less dramatic with its sound. Unfortunately, right off the bat, the song did fall on the dry end of the spectrum for me. She had nice vocals, which was nasally. The ballad-like song had a nice instrumental but it just felt like a let-down, especially after the eye-opening ViVid track. The music video opens up in the POV of a cat and the music is muffled here (to give the effect of listening to it via radio or CD). The audio kicks back into normal mid-way. Not exactly sure what happened in this music video with the many cat heads and the hairdresser guy. But I can say the hazy nature of the lighting did match the song’s style.

Let Me In – Haseul (December 2016)

Following Hyunjin’s song is Haseul, who kicks the standard up back to the level set by Heejin. What we have is a tango and classical based song and a grand feel that you cannot avoid. This was particularly felt leading into the chorus and as a whole, producing an epic feeling. It also compliments her very nice vocals. I really liked how she ended the song with a sort of whispering, which was also quite chilling. With regards to the music video, I absolutely love the scenery. Everything from the transition between the outfit she wore outside to the white outfit on the black background to the crashed plane, everything was purely breathtaking.

Kiss Later – Yeojin (January 2017)

Yeonjin seems to be in charge of the innocence and cutesy side of the group. I love the retro and showtime vibes that the song is channelling. Her vocals don’t really seem to be her strongest point but they do contribute to the overall cutesy charm of the track. The speak-rap that was similar to Heejin’s but more traditional in nature. Overall, I thought it was rather catchy and had a cheerful tone. The music video was fitting for the song. It did creep over to the odd side of things, especially how she was crushing on the gigantic frogman. I particularly loved the ending scene, where they were going in for a kiss but Yeojin turns away and vomits out the rainbow soft serve. So cutesy and such a funny video.

Everyday I Love You (ft. Haseul) – ViVi (April 2017)

ViVi’s song starts off as a ballad like (with echoey vocals) and surprisingly develops into a pop dance track. It was a decent song. The pleasant-sounding chorus works really well ViVi’s vocals and becomes the main attraction with its more upbeat melody. The verses could have been more interesting. I feel like the rapping was good, preventing the song from becoming too repetitive and literally saved the song from feeling too ’empty’. The music video was also quite nice, set in a retro rollerskate park. There were some scenes (like when Haseul and the other members were featured) that reminded me of the style of the 90s KPOP music videos. The choreography was also quite nice to watch.

Eclipse – Kim Lip (May 2017)

Kim Lip leaves a very large impression on you with her unique vocals. With the music, Eclipse is a very aesthetically pleasing R&B styled song. While the verses did seem plain, the chorus had an amazing melody. I really enjoyed the way she sang the word “Eclipse”. I also thought the bridge was really well done, showcasing the best moments of both her vocals and the instrumental of the song. The music video was extremely artsy, with the bold red colour being very eerie, but at the same time, very aesthetic. There were two sections of the video which I liked, including the transition at 1:16-1:17 and the change in colours at 1:08-1:09. The choreography was nice. It was sexy yet elegant at the same time.

Check back in next week for the 2nd part of the LOOΠΔ reviews!

[Review] O.M.G – HALO

May 1, 2018Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged HaloLeave a comment

Making their first comeback in almost a year is HALO with O.M.G. They were last on stage with Here I Am, which was released in July last year. Last time I mentioned how I missed some of their past releases but this time I endeavoured to put them on the site as soon as they released their new song. So without further ado, here is my review for O.M.G.

O.M.G is a truly funky track with its addictive instrumental. It is a disco-pop track with added synths and electric guitar which all contribute to the funkiness and grooviness of the track. I am absolutely liking the chorus for exactly that but also for its energy. The verses were a little underwhelming when compared to the chorus but they hold nicely on their own. Their vocal work was also quite good with the bridge of the song bringing out their potential. The rapper also put out an amazing rap section for the song, which fitted in nicely with the rest of the song. There was one missing aspect that seemed to be noticeable as I was writing this review. The song lacked a catchy hook, which may be the reason why I don’t really get into the song. Yes, the instrumental was good but that is only ‘one half’ of a song. But overall, the song was still quite decent to listen to.

Filmed purely on a helipad on top of a skyscraper, this music video was extremely cool from the setting standpoint. Just want to point out while the view is really nice, all the buildings in the background are very similar. Other than that, there really isn’t much to comment on content-wise. So I will move onto the performance section of this review.

Around the 10 second mark of the music video, I see the members throwing in a little Michael Jackson into the mix. Overall, the performance was okay to watch. There wasn’t anything impressive or worth mentioning from what I could see. But it wasn’t terrible, so don’t misunderstand.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 6/10
Performance – 6/10
Overall Rating – 6.8/10

[Review] Time For The Moon Night – GFRIEND

April 30, 2018Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged GFriendLeave a comment

Making their comeback today is GFRIEND with Time For The Moon Night. This is the title track and title for their 6th mini-album, which I yet to decide whether I will be writing an album review for (the highlight medley sounded really good). Hands up if I should!!! 2017 was a very busy year for the group with hits like Fingertip, Love Whisper and Summer Rain.

Time For The Moon Night initially felt very underwhelming. It just lacked energy in my point of view. But after a couple of listens, I think it is safe to say that Time For The Moon Night is definitely growing on me. Joining their usual dance side with classical-based instrumental, the group managed to showcase great vocals from each member. Yuju’s high note was superb. The chorus is still growing on me but there is definitely a nice ring to it. I like how Eunha sang the first part of the chorus at the start but it had a completely different feel, which was definitely interesting. Also, the lyrics take on a very depressing note. The song is described as being about thinking about a lover during the night. To me, it felt like the members were wondering about their friendship with this person who is no longer by their said (for unknown reasons). Do check out the lyrics to the song when you get a chance to listen to the song and see what you think of it. Overall, it was a nice song to listen to.

I think watching the music video first influenced my take on the lyrics. We see Eunha spending a lot of time alone during the video. This may be because her friends (the other members) all left here (for unknown reasons) and she imagines them being there. Sowon kisses her on the head when she sleeps like how someone would say goodbye to someone (and no, it isn’t a good night type of kiss). Eunha realizes she is alone at 3:23 of the video and the members are shining a light into her eyes but she is unfazed (they are also outside). That is my take on the video. I actually thought the dried up grassland was a nice place to set the video, with the room’s colour matching the colour of the grassland. Overall, it is also a nice video to watch.

I love the start of the performance with Eunha facing the front and the others are in the curved formation that shows the ascending moon. The chorus was quite fast-paced but their moves remained graceful. Just mildly disappointed by the length of the dance break just before the bridge (which has always been my favourite part of the performance).

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.5/10

[Album Review] What Is Love? (5th Mini Album) – TWICE

April 29, 2018Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged TWICELeave a comment

TWICE returned a few weeks back with What Is Love? and like their past tracks, it is undeniable that they have taken over the charts once again. This is my album review for their album release, including the physical album only song, Stuck. It is also long overdue that I focused on some album reviews for the female artists and TWICE’s album was the first one to peak my interest. So let’s get going with the review.

twice-whatislove-2 — *What Is Love?* Album Cover

1..What Is Love? (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for What Is Love?. (8.8/10)

2. Sweet Talker – The song does have some negatives and positive aspects to it. The instrumental, which was quite upbeat, seemed to be similar to a video game soundtrack or almost like 8–bit (with a few extra elements). The vocals were good and the rapping was quite nice. Talking about rapping, the pre-chorus was my most favourite part of the track. I did expect it to be a little catchier, especially with its upbeat nature. The hook was good at first but felt repetitive towards the end. It typical pop sound did also feel a little bland, in my opinion. But it was a good song overall. (7/10)

3. Ho! – What really screams out loud is the retro vibes that feature in the song. What I also liked was the vocal work by the main vocalists for the chorus, which really pushed the song further. When compared to the chorus the verses do feel a little flat but standalone, they were quite nice as well. While I don’t have much else to say about Ho!, the song does shine quite well on the album. (9/10)

4. Déjà Vu – Starting off the song are some rapping but I am not too keen on that part of the track. It just didn’t sit well with me. The verses were a little quirky with the instrumental, which sounds like old country music played on a banjo. The song gets a little confusing as it progresses due to its random transitions yet returning to its original sound. For example, that EDM instrumental break just felt to heavy in comparison to the rest of the song and I question why it is there. Hence, it creates a messy atmosphere, The drums for the “Na-Na-Na” hook were nice but rest of song was too confusing for my taste. (6/10)

5. Say Yes – Normally, I am not too much of a fan for these types of songs. However, Say Yes showcases great vocal work and gets you swaying along. It is a soft pop song, with a great ending to the song with the guitar and vocalisation. I think the song would have benefited from some harmonies, which would also prove to some listeners out there, their ability to sing (which they don’t really focus much in their title track). (8.5/10)

6. Stuck – But out of all the songs on this tracklist, Stuck was the ultimate song. While I have limited comments for this track, I pick this as the literal hidden gem of the album, as you can only find this track on the physical album. It showcases amazing vocals (which was heard in the previous track but it sounds so different when comparing the two). I actually thought some of the melodies (particularly in the chorus) were nostalgic of some of their past tracks. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.2/10

twice-whatislove-3 — *What Is Love?* Music Video Screenshot

[Weekly Chart] 4th Week of April 2018

April 29, 2018April 29, 2018Posted in Weekly ChartsLeave a comment

I really need to figure out a new way to start this post. But welcome to the 4th week of April 2018. And it is Sunday (or Saturday, depending on where you live). So you all know it is time for the weekly charts! Before this gets any cheesier, let’s go forward with the post!

Topping this week’s chart is VIXX’s Scentist, which was released last week. Also released last week is IN2IT’s Snapshot, which I can say now is extremely addictive. Shine by Pentagon has been on the charts for a while but this is their first week in the Top 3 since its release. Last week’s number 1 song (What Is Love? by TWICE) drops down to fourth place, while Eric Nam’s Honestly completes this week’s lineup of the Top 5.

Last week I acknowledge some of the songs that jumped up quite a large amount of positions. We saw the same thing this week with Wanna One’s IPU and BSS’s Just Do It, with both songs jumping over 30 positions to return to the Top 30. Just missing the mark this week in 31st and 32nd place is Mad Clown & Ailee’s Thirst and Winner’s Everyday respectively.

For more of the charts, scroll down below.

	22nd Apr – 28th Apr 2018
	Title	Artist	Status
1	Scentist	VIXX	(▲ 13)
2	Snapshot	IN2IT	(▲ 13)
3	Shine	Pentagon	(▲ 5)
4	What Is Love?	TWICE	(▼ 3)
5	Honestly	Eric Nam	(▲ 6)
6	Call Your Name	JBJ	(▲ 7)
7	That Day	Lovelyz	(new)
8	I.P.U	Wanna One	(▲ 39)
9	Tulips	Snuper	(new)
10	Boomerang	Wanna One	(▲ 13)
11	Jealousy	Monsta X	(▼ 5)
12	Just Do It	BSS (Seventeen)	(▲ 34)
13	Dally	Hyolyn	(new)
14	District 9	Stray Kids	(▲ 2)
15	The Light	IMFACT	(▲ 18)
16	Dreams Come True	WJSN (Cosmic Girls)	(▲ 2)
17	Sense	UNB	(▼ 8)
18	Only One	UNB	(▲ 13)
19	Still Love You	Lee Hong Ki (FT Island) & Yoo Hwe Sung (N.Flying)	(▼ 12)
20	Giddy Up	The Boyz	(▼ 8)
21	Blooming Days	EXO-CBX	(▼ 18)
22	Easy	Wheein (Mamamoo) ft. Sik-K	(▲ 3)
23	Mirror	Stray Kids	(new)
24	Starry Night	Mamamoo	(▲ 4)
25	Lo Siento	Super Junior ft. Leslie Grace	(▼ 15)
26	Look	GOT7	(▼ 4)
27	Lady	EXID	(▼ 22)
28	Crazy, Gone Crazy	Berry Good	(new)
29	Baby	The Rose	(▼ 8)
30	The Only Star	Hwang Chi Yeul	(new)

Songs leaving the chart this week and will not appear on the charts starting next are:

True Love – Kim Sung Kyu (Infinite)
Mamma Mia – SF9
Dreams Come True – WJSN (Cosmic Girls)
Baby Don’t Stop – NCT U
One and Only You – GOT7 ft. Hyolyn
So Do You – Seo Eun Kwang (BTOB) & N.CA

Hope you all have another fantastic week!

[Review] Crazy, Gone Crazy – Berry Good HeartHeart

April 28, 2018April 28, 2018Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Berry Good, Berry Good HeartHeartLeave a comment

Some of you may not know of Berry Good, who had many great underrated songs in the past. If you haven’t heard Angel, Don’t Believe, Love Letter and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo, it’s best to get back to YouTube and experience all of their glory (just don’t focus too much on Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo‘s music video). The group’s first release of 2018 is a subunit (named Berry Good HeartHeart), which features Taeha, Gowoon and Sehyung.

Crazy, Gone Crazy seems to be a solid song, in my opinion. The main point of a subunit (if we consider the past subunits of KPOP) is to go down a different route than what their entire group would probably never go down. This is exactly what we have here. Berry Good has had scattered concepts and sounds in the past, which seems to focus on innocence more than anything. HeartHeart’s sound is much more seductive and mature, which was a present surprise within the first few seconds. The vocal work, while not as impressive as in the past, does compliment the song’s style quite nicely. The bridge is probably my go-to point within the song to prove this. The instrumental itself does seem sluggish, at first. However, it does get better with multiple listens. The song is quite flowy, especially the hook of the song, which you don’t really hear until after the first chorus. There was some rapping but I think the song would have benefited with something a little more tempo and intensity, which would have contrasted nicely. But my initial comment stands.

There really isn’t anything that special about the music video. It honestly felt too cliche, in my opinion. Slow movements in the acting, the saddened faces. They are always done every single time in these videos. I don’t actually blame them. I failed to mention earlier how typical the instrumental felt before and I think because of that, the video was shot in a way to match that typical side. The only part that seems to be promising is the choreography shots and the flashy lights. But even that is very typical as well.

The choreography seems okay. I did like the telephone gestures they made for the chorus. It too did suffer from the typical nature of the song but it was still watchable and pleasant.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 6/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 6.7/10

[Review] Mirror – Stray Kids

April 27, 2018Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Stray KidsLeave a comment

Stray Kids have had a pretty successful debut so far with District 9. While there doesn’t seem to be too much competition with other new male groups so far this year, Stray Kids have already made a name for themselves in the overseas market. To keep people talking about them, Stray Kids will be following up with Mirror, which is a track off their debut mini-album, I Am Not.

Mirror seems to follow their previous title tracks with its dance-based songs. Interestingly, this song is less intense than their previous songs and it leans toward a pop sound during the chorus. It is an interesting mix, going back and forth to the EDM. Even more interesting is the fact there was a complete slowdown during the bridge, which my opinion worked nicely. This particular sound does allow for the vocals to be heard and they did flourish. We got a taster in District 9 but it would have been interesting to hear more of the vocals (since their songs are already rap dominating), particularly on a different canvas. While I understand that this may be a little plain for some people, it proved one thing for me. Despite their deep voices and dance-centred title tracks, versatility might be another aspect to keep an eye out. But going back to Mirror, it was a pretty good song overall.

We don’t really have a music video. Rather, earlier this week, they dropped their ‘performance version’, which serves as the promotional video. I feel that while the video looks like it is in line with their debut and pre-release, they could have added something more to make it interesting. For example, a set change for when we launch into the chorus would have made this video pop more and become more memorable. Despite that though, they did do a great job channelling the tough vibes.

What makes the video interesting is the performance rather than the visuals of the video. I really like the mirroring at the start and how they ended the performance in a similar manner to the start. Their formations looked really cool and it was extremely captivating to watch.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 6.5/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 7.8/10

[Review] The Only Star – Hwang Chi Yeul

April 26, 2018Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Hwang Chi YeulLeave a comment

Hwang Chi Yeol’s last comeback, A Daily Song, did extremely well at the time of its release, topping charts and earning him his first music show win. This week he returned with The Only Star, which is the lead title track off his second mini-album, Be Myself.

As expected, The Only Star goes down the ballad route, which is what Hwang Chi Yeul is known for. And boy, does he make it sound so good. His voice is so addictive with its raspy sound being so appealing. While raspy sometimes can be undermining, the soloist somehow glides his way through this song (and the rest of his releases). When we turn to the instrumental, it is a different story. While it does highlight his vocals, it just feels really standard and typical. It takes on a classical feel, which I reckon, was good. The bridge was nice, with the staggered buildup, subtle electric guitar and the high note (being the cherry on top). Overall, it was your typical ballad and once again, his vocals do shine through (being the main focus of the song).

The music video tells a nice romantic story. We see Hwang Chi Yeul go through the stages of love (i.e. confession, dating, marriage) which probably gave viewers some moments of fluttering hearts and smiles. However, the truly beautiful moments of the video is at the start and end. We see an old man (later revealed to Hwang Chi Yeul) crying over his dead lover, who sits behind him in church and ‘goes on’ after shedding a few tears. At the end of the video, we see Hwang Chi Yeol reciting his vows to his dead lover, filmed in a way to match the wedding scene where he first read his vows. While the video isn’t saddening to the point of tears, it was still nice and lovely to watch.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.4/10

[Album Review] EAU DE VIXX (3rd Studio Album) – VIXX

April 26, 2018Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged VIXX1 Comment

Smelling beautiful for their comeback is VIXX and their 3rd studio album, EAU DE VIXX. The new album features 12 songs, including Scentist and Shangri-La (links below). I only reviewed 11 as the 12th track is the instrumental version of Scentist. This is another long review, so let’s get right into it!

vixx-eaudevixx-2 — EAU DE VIXX Album Cover

1..Scentist (향) (Title Track) – Click here for the full review for Scentist. (8.8/10)

2. Odd Sense – There were parts of the song which I liked, while there were parts I wasn’t a fan of. Let’s start off with the positives. I really enjoyed the build-up during the pre-chorus and at the start of the song (0:10-0:13 of the song). The way the chorus actually ended was interesting and unique sounding. Also, Ravi’s rapping overall in this song was quite cool, slaying with each line. Moving to the negatives. Unfortunately, the vocals felt standard and the verses were quite plain. The song also felt dragged out. It also didn’t feel that catchy. (7/10)

3. Silence – Unlike what the title seems to allude to, the song is not ‘silent’. It opts for trap elements and a pretty good beat. It also has a very appealing sound as it doesn’t go overboard with obnoxious drops (which would have worked in this song). The build-up to the chorus was awesome. The vocals and raps were amazing. It was quite catchy, with the English lines in the chorus being my absolute favourite. The only aspect which I didn’t like was the bridge but it was still one great song. (9/10)

4. My Valentine – This song has a seductive sound yet a somewhat minimalistic instrumental. I really like the short piano moment between the vocals and raps during the verses. Once again, I thought the verses were boring and that extremely deep ‘How Do I Know That?‘ line was unfitting for the majority of the singing (which was at a higher pitch). I did like the falsetto singing but it wasn’t enough to win me over. (5/10)

5. Circle – Circle is a slow-ish R&B song that sadly is another miss for me. It just felt bland and doesn’t really draw any attention to itself. The song, too, focuses on falsetto vocals, which were okay. I did like how the song ended with a subtle hint of piano, while the word ‘Circle’ repeated throughout did echo in my mind afterwards. (6/10)

6. Good Day – What makes this track stand out on the album is its upbeat vibes and the energy. In addition, I really liked the guitar in the instrumental. Unfortunately, I thought the vocals were kind of meh and the raps weren’t that memorable. But despite that, it was a funky track and the instrumental did its bid in making this song enjoyable. (8/10)

7. Escape – Like in the previous track, there are guitars in the instrumental. However, this song features guitars that are more fitting for the seriousness. Jumping out at me is how ‘VIXX’ the song is. Over time, they have managed to develop a certain sound that I associate with them and this song fits perfectly into that association. The vocals were good but not the best on the album. However, the raps do stand out quite a bit. The song didn’t have a strong hook but I can’t explain why I kept coming back for more. The ‘Run Away’ whisper at the end as the song faded out was also quite cool and definitely left an impression. (8/10)

8. Trigger – I thought the song had a smooth yet classy R&B sound to it. For the first time in this review, the verses were really cool and the pre-chorus was equally as awesome. The slight delay before the drop was used quite well here and it showcased an extremely catchy chorus. Great vocal work and Ravi’s rap (per usual) is amazing. Another great song on this album. (9/10)

9. Resemble (닮아) – This is the mandatory and only ballad featured on this album. It just isn’t really a strong track for the group and out of all the songs on the album, this was the least interesting/most skippable. The song did have an instrumental that was somewhat jazzy. And that felt like the most interesting thing to point out. (5/10)

10. Navy and Shining Gold – To give some background information, the two colours in the title are the official colours for VIXX and fandom. Using that information, it is clear that this song was for their fans. The upbeat chorus just makes you want to dance along. All the members showcased great vocals. It is a song that is aimed to make you feel good and that it does well! (8.5/10)

11. Shangri-La (도원경) – Click here for the full review of Shangri-La. (8.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.5/10

vixx-eaudevixx-3 — *EAU DE VIXX* Teaser Image

[Review] Dally – Hyolyn ft. Gray

April 25, 2018April 25, 2018Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Gray, HyorinLeave a comment

Making a very hot comeback at the start of this week is Hyolyn with Dally. This is Hyolyn’s second comeback since leaving her former company, Starship Entertainment, after the disbandment of popular girl group Sistar. Dally is also the second part of her three-part Set Up Time project. The first being To Do List, which I haven’t written a review for. She also recently featured on GOT7’s pre-release track, One and Only You.

Dally, to me, seems plain. I felt like the instrumental was quite generic and doesn’t really give much impact to the song. While there was some build-up, it didn’t feel that captivating for me. Gray’s featuring raps did enhance the song from a standard hip-hop track to something with a little more energy. It just wasn’t enough, however, as the song returned to its initial vibes whenever Hyolyn returned. There was a changeup towards the end when they stripped the most of the song’s instrumental, which did give some nice contrast. What I did like the song were Hyolyn’s vocals. Somehow, she manages to fit into whatever genre song she is making a comeback with, which definitely proves how versatile her vocals are. I liked how raspy her voice is throughout the song and the ad-libs that featured were also nice touches. If only the instrumental was stronger and more interesting, I think I would have liked the song a lot more.

Hyolyn attracted attention for her teasers and will definitely attract some attention for her music video. I am not too fussed about the sets and her outfits, which all seemed fitting for the concept and song’s sound. If I didn’t know any better, it felt like a commercial for some urban or fitness wear. I want to focus more on the dancing, which dominated the video. Well, you don’t really need to focus too much to see what is going on. It is the reason why the video got a 19+ rating. There was a lot of butt action in her video, which felt bold and definitely took hold of your attention. There wasn’t much else to say about the performance, except for the very obvious statement that it was extremely sexy.

Song – 6.5/10
Music Video + Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7/10

[Review] Tulips – Snuper

April 24, 2018Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged SnuperLeave a comment

Snuper makes their comeback with Tulips and their 5th mini-album, titled appropriately as Blossom. The members were last on stage with The Stars of Stars. Some of the members did participate in the recent survival shot The Unit: Idol Rebooting Project, however (from memory), they were eliminated in the earlier episodes of the show. Despite this, I am still interested in them for many of their recent releases have been favourites of mine.

Let’s start with something that caught me off guard. I thought that they mispronounce ‘Tulips’ as ‘Your Lips‘ throughout the song. It took me a while to realize that this completely deliberate and thought it was quite smart after I realized. When I listened to the song for the first time, it felt weird. I was not sure if I liked the new hip-hop vibes that they were going for. However, with a few extra listens, the song does grow on you. It is nice to hear something completely new from the group. The verses do sound quite nice yet it still does sound foreign. Like all songs, the chorus does attract my attention. I thought it sounded classy and cool. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, I will admit that. The vocals were nice and the rapping was quite good. Overall, Snuper’s new song may be different but it works perfectly.

It occurs once in a while where I don’t really enjoy the urban or industrial vibes for the music video. This is one of the times. As mentioned before, I thought the chorus was classy and cool. I just didn’t get that in the video. For me, I think the video would have been better if they were dressed up in suits and maybe presented tulips to every girl they saw. While the suits parts were covered in the music video, it was rather limited. Just listening to the song, I just don’t get casual wear vibes. It might just be me but that was what I felt. However, the video was well shot and still looked nice.

Going back to the styling, the choreography works better in suits. I really liked the flower shape that they make with their hands and the lip rubbing felt quite appropriate. Nothing much else to say.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 6/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 7/10

[Review] That Day – Lovelyz

April 24, 2018April 24, 2018Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged LovelyzLeave a comment

Lovelyz have made their return to the stage with a brand new song, titled as That Day. It is the title track off their 4th mini-album, which is titled as Heal. This is the girls first comeback since Twinkle, which was released at the end of last year.

With the warmer weather in South Korea, That Day is a suitably bright and energetic song. The sound reminds me of their earlier works, which is something that I have noticed with many of their songs. They are quite consistent with their bright and cutesy sound. Not going too overboard but not diverting to something completely unexpected either. What makes this song unique is their chorus. While I can make standard comments regarding the energy and brightness, I want to take a moment to appreciate the way they sang some of their lines. The “hwa” and the “hoo” is extremely ear-catching and it makes the song quite catchy (for me, at least). Vocally, I thought they all sounded great. The instrumental did seem to overpower some of the vocals at certain parts throughout the song but it didn’t seem too troubling. The verses did seem a little boring in comparison to the rest of the song but once again, nothing too concerning. Overall, That Day is another great song that fits snuggly under their portfolio umbrella.

The music video is distinctively bright, which is something that I like quite a bit. It suits the song perfectly. No unnecessary filters and lighting, it sets the video up to be quite promising. I really like the cartoon effects for the ‘Hwa” and the “Hoo“. I have mentioned that recently those do look childish but it looks fine here. Actually, it might even be subtle. For the circus or theme park set looked quite cool as well. Not exactly sure how it fits in with the lyrics but overall, it was a great video to watch.

The choreography was decent. Once again, I thought it was fitting for the song and the chorus was probably my most favourite part. There just wasn’t anything that impressive. Maybe the performance will grow on me? I don’t know, but it was a fair performance to watch.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 6/10
Overall Rating – 7.9/10

[Album Review] Boyhood (1st Mini Album) – UNB

April 22, 2018April 21, 2018Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged UNBLeave a comment

UNB is the male unit formed from the survival show The Unit: Idol Rebooting Project. They recently made their debut a few weeks back with double title tracks, which you can find down below. I have also made a series of special posts dedicated to The Unit, which you can find here by clicking any of the links (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3). Below are my thoughts on their new album. The female unit (UNI.T) will make their debut sometime in the near future, so keep your eyes peeled for their title track and album review!

1..Sense (감각) (Title Track) – Click here to read full review for Sense. (8.7/10)

2. Only One (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Only One. (9.5/10)

3. Ride With Me – The hip-hop styled song was incredibly catchy. It did sound underwhelming at first, however with multiple listens, the song becomes quite addictive. The song had a really cool melody, shining the most during the chorus. My favourite bit was the second half of the chorus, with the catchy line “Left, Right…“. The song had great vocals and the rapping was quite decent. While it does lack impact in some ways, the song does become addictive. It could potentially have been a contender for the title track if it had somehow had a little more energy inserted into it. (9/10)

4. Rebooting (믿어줘) – Rebooting falls on the standard side of the spectrum. It is the most passable track on this album as it does feel quite plain. The pop sound was still pleasant, however and its features a modern instrumental. The rapping was good and the vocals were nice. The chorus was by the far the most interesting part due to its upbeat nature but it made the verses seem empty and plain. The bridge was also commendable but it too felt like it was going towards the ‘standard zone’. (6.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.4/10