Author: kpopreviewed

Hi, my name is Tony and I am the man behind the site, kpopreviewed. Currently an university student who wants to introduce people to KPOP and if you are already into KPOP, different groups and bands.

[Album Review] House of Tricky: Trial and Error (3rd Mini Album) – xikers

Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged Leave a comment

xikers is gearing up for another comeback early next month. So, I thought I would take this opportunity to finally review their last album, House of Tricky: Trial and Error. Released in March of this year, House of Tricky: Trial and Error features the title track We Don’t Stop, the second promotional single, Red Sun, and 3 additional side tracks. Per usual, the link to the full review for the title track is below, as well as my thoughts on the 4 other songs the mini-album also features. Overall, another positive mini-album from xikers, proving to me (once again) why they should be on our radars.

House of Tricky: Trial And Error Album Cover

1. Trial and Error (whereabouts) – The mini-album starts with an instrumental piece that lasts just over 30 seconds. The electronic synths and breathy vocalisation create a haunting vibe that builds tension towards the first full track.  

2. We Don’t Stop (Title Track) – Click here for the full review for We Don’t Stop. (8.5/10)

3. Red Sun – Red Sun was selected as the second promotional track from this era. Unfortunately, I will not be reviewing Red Sun separately despite it having its own performance video. Hearing the instrumental end of the song and considering the energy that Red Sun exudes, it is clear to me that this track is more of a performance piece. However, that doesn’t stop me from appreciating the rest of Red Sun. Hip-hop returns in Red Sun, but with more of a hype intent to it. Every time the chorus of Red Sun pops on my playlist, I find myself really getting into MINJAE and SUMIN’s punchy rapping and its flow. SUMIN, in particular, reminds me of BOBBY from iKON in both a visual and rapping sense in the song. Aside from the rapping, the song also features some good vocal moments. They provide some stability, but I wish they did this in a way that maintains the hype energy from the rapping rather than slowing down the song. (8/10)

4. Supercalifragilistic – The rush of energy that Supercalifragilistic gives is what kept me repeating this side track. The heavy bass, groovy beats and intense EDM backing have the adrenaline coursing through my body. It’s bold and super-defined, never letting up at any moment during the track. Definitely, a track you would be expecting at the height of a night at the club or a rave. But if there was any moment in which Supercalifragilistic did let you down instrumentally, the members were there to pick it right up. Their vocals and rapping were top-notch. Yechan’s rapping in the second verse is one of the best examples of this top-notch delivery. Seeun, Junmin, Yujun and Jinsik’s flow when it came to the ‘Get up on the flow… You know what you want? …’ part of the chorus is definitely another. While the anthem ending is done regularly in KPOP nowadays, Supercalifragilistic’s anthemic ending was just the icing on the cake for me and maintains the adrenaline-inducing energy throughout the track to the song’s end. (10/10)

5. Every Flavor Jelly (온갖 맛이 나는 젤리) – Every Flavor Jelly’s placement after Supercalifragilistic was not ideal, especially since I tend to expect the succeeding song on any album to exceed the song prior. Unfortunately, this expectation impacts my thoughts (and this review) of Every Flavor Jelly. I thought the song’s arrangement was a bit messy. I’m unsure why, but Every Flavor Jelly could have been a little tighter to achieve a cleaner and tidier profile. The members continue to be energetic and intense as per the previous tracks (which I like), though they could have been clearer in their delivery and not slur their words as much as they did in this song. That energy and intensity the members put into the song became lost during Every Flavor Jelly’s choruses. The central piece felt paced, holding the members back from realising their full potential in this song. (7/10)

6. Break A Leg – Closing out the mini-album is Break A Leg, a rock-influenced track that takes you back to the early 2000s. A great throwback, with guitar riffs that bring out some great textures and forward propulsion. The vocal work was solid. JINSIK’s part in the bridge was awesome and was a perfect peak for this track. For the most part, the rapping was solid, as well. I wish the members with a whinier rapping style didn’t sound as whiny in this song. Some of it was warranted, but I felt there was too much of it. I do think Break A Leg had the potential to go further. But it was still pretty good as it is. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.3/10

House of Tricky: Trial And Error Teaser Image

[Weekly KPOP Chart] 2nd Week of August 2024

Posted in Weekly ChartsTagged Leave a comment

Welcome back to another Weekly KPOP Chart post! It also been back to my normal routine and work wiped me out mid-week (hence why I didn’t post for two nights). Hoping that won’t be the case for this week (though to be honest, there is a high probablity it will happen again). I have been preparing some extra posts over the last day and will continue to do so today to reduce the impact of work on my ability to write and post reviews – especially since I am very late on some aspects of the blog (Did anyone figure out where the time has gone? How are we already in August?). Anyhow, here is a simple Weekly KPOP Chart post for the 2nd Week of August 2024. Let’s go!

Non-Korean Song of the Week

As my focus on this blog is primarily on KPOP songs, I draw attention to a particular song that isn’t in Korean in this part of the Weekly KPOP Chart post. That song is the top-ranking non-Korean song on each Weekly KPOP Chart post. Last week’s non-Korean song is one of JAEHYUN’s pre-release singles, Roses. It ranks in the 4th position this week.

The Charts

fromis_9’s long awaited comeback with Supersonic lands in the top song on the Weekly KPOP Charts for the 2nd Week of August 2024. Congratulations to fromis_9!

PositionSong TitleArtistChange
1Supersonicfromis_9(NEW)
2Tell My MommaKARD(NEW)
3Chk Chk BoomStray Kids(▼ 2)
4RosesJAEHYUN (NCT)(NEW)
5JJAMStray Kids(▲ 1)
6Brought Back The HeatENHYPEN(▲ 7)
7DandelionJAEHYUN (NCT)(NEW)
8GoneBANG&JUNG&YOO&MOON(▼ 5)
9Strawberry RushCHUU(▲ 33)
10CosmicRed Velvet(▲ 12)
11JUSTICEDreamcatcher(▲ 54)
12MOUNTAINSStray Kids(▼ 9)
13SHOCKALL(H)OURS(▲ 4)
14CuriousUNIS(▲ 21)
15Don’tLEE CHAE YEON(▲ 50)
16WalkNCT 127(▼ 4)
17DiveYOON SAN-HA (ASTRO)(▼ 9)
18I Do I DoKARA(▲ 47)
19SUPERPOWERBLITZERS(▲ 46)
20Bye,ByeSons (F.Cuz)(▲ 45)
21Bloom(G)I-DLE(▲ 44)
22Klaxon(G)I-DLE(▼ 8)
23Tiger (New Flavour)n.SSign(▲ 42)
24DebutKATSEYE(▲ 20)
25TouchKATSEYE(▲ 1)
26CRUSHIVE(▲ 39)
27POM POM POMwoo!ah!(▼ 8)
28POSE!LIGHTSUM(▲ 37)
29My TypeLee Sunghoon (WINNER Hoony)(▲ 36)
30Te QuieroKISS OF LIFE(▲ 37)

[Double Review] Dandelion + Roses – JAEHYUN (NCT)

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , 3 Comments

Earlier this week, JAEHYUN (from NCT) pre-released two songs, Dandelion and Roses, before his upcoming solo debut on 26 August. The music video released alongside the two songs features both tracks, creating a unique situation. Because of this, I will review both songs, Dandelion and Roses, in a double review format.

Dandelion

If you want to listen to Dandelion’s full version – click here.

Dandelion is a bright, mid-tempo R&B track with a good rhythm and a pronounced beat that brings out an upbeat energy. But despite being the more upbeat track of the two songs, Dandelion’s mid-tempo pace makes it feel standard and generic. As such, I feel it falls behind in the ‘appeal’ department. Don’t get me wrong, Dandelion is still a good song, but it’s just not as strong in this area as compared to the next song. I did appreciate the brief spurts of the string synth towards the end of the song, which served well as a strong hallmark of the impending end of Dandelion alongside JAEHYUN’s ad-libs. On the topic of JAEHYUN’s vocals, it must be mentioned that he was clear throughout this track, and the melodies made Dandelion feel smooth. The latter actually contrasts nicely with the backing of the song.

Roses

If you want to listen to Roses‘ full version, click here.

The stand-out element that gives Roses an edge is the chorus. The choruses sounded so good, especially the choral vocals echoing JAEHYUN’s delivery of the song’s title. It just makes Roses so impactful and memorable. The melodies also evoke a sensual swaying motion, making the song stick even more in my head. JAEHYUN’s airy delivery and the variety of sounds throughout Roses strengthen the song. His falsettos just oozed so much charisma. Thanks to the synths, the instrumental features some extra texture, making Roses a compelling listen. All in all, Roses was just the superior track by my standards – so much so that I returned to Roses more times throughout this week than compared to Dandelion.

Music Video

The music video features a small segment of each song. First up is Dandelion, which is the brighter portion of the video. It looks at the idea of love blooming. The contextual text at the bottom of the screen, while the images flash at the start of the video, speaks to this. We see a couple holding hands and embracing each other while JAEHYUN is all smiles and hangs out with small children. The children’s presence suggests purity and innocence, which we associate with the idea of new love. At the mid-point of the video, JAEHYUN takes a dive, and we see a quick montage of the couple pulling apart and releasing each other’s hands (amongst other things). From there, we enter the Roses portion of the music video, which takes on a darker and moodier atmosphere. Captioning this section of the video is the line ‘Even the things that love can hurt you‘, giving you a strong idea of what Roses is about. Here, JAEHYUN (who looks very handsome during this portion of the video) stands on top of a building at night with the cityscape behind him. I liked the idea of the bounce that he and the background people do, emphasising the choral parts of the choruses. The video ends with JAEHYUN taking another plunge, which may represent the idea of new love and love being a source of pain occurs in a continuous cycle. The contrast between the two sides of the music video made for an interesting watch, and the concept was quite unique.

Dandelion
Song – 7/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 7.8/10

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

[Review] Tell My Momma – KARD

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 1 Comment

It has been over a year since May 2023’s ICKY. Since then, they have been on a world tour, and BM released his first solo mini-album, Element, led by the single Nectar (which features Jay Park and is a single I have yet to review – check back in the future for that review). Earlier this week, the co-ed group returned with Tell Me Momma.

I will always support artists trying something new, but it must be compelling enough to get me coming back. Tell My Momma is KARD’s most subdued and softest title track yet. It is an interesting deviation from their usual output, which has been much more intense and powerful. When they hadn’t gone down that route, they kept their music upbeat, which has enticed me to return for more. Tell My Momma ventures into new territory but doesn’t compel me to return. I found everything up until the BM’s section to be quite good. JIWOO’s opening lines made for a good start, and the first run at the chorus built up the song with a heavier beat. But when the song reverted to the verse for BM’s rap, Tell My Momma became stuck for the rest of the track and never found its way out of the same sound. Very quickly, it became unexciting and bland. From there, I found the melodies and hooks to be forgettable. The instrumental felt generic and offered nothing new or different to make Tell My Momma interesting. While the arrangement of Tell My Momma enables a greater focus on JIWOO and SOMIN (the group’s vocalists, who both sounded decent throughout), it also served as a double-edged sword for BM and J.Seph. Underwhelming delivery with autotune used to ‘fit them into’ with the song, constriction of their parts, and generally poor usage of the two rappers just didn’t help the song grow on me. Truthfully, I held myself back from making these exact comments immediately after Tell My Momma‘s release on Tuesday. I hoped (for KARD’s sake) that Tell My Momma was a slow grower, even if it did so slightly. But unfortunately, the song has not budged from these thoughts even days after Tell My Momma’s release and I found no reason to hold onto these thoughts. I doubt it would change into the future.

Just like the song, the music video for Tell My Momma felt generic and didn’t offer anything that I thought was interesting—just closeups and choreography scenes. The video could have been a little creative, perhaps building on the fourth wall perspective we got during BM’s solo shots and extending that to the other members’ shots. I think that would have made the video interesting. Besides that, all four members looked good throughout the video despite all going blonde for this comeback. I liked how there was still variety in their looks, which helped the members bring a bit of individuality to the all-blonde concept they have going on. There were also some visually appealing shots, especially of JIWOO and the outside of the building where the video is predominantly shot.

The song’s softer tone and slower pace allow KARD to explore a somewhat sensual energy in its choreography. It is definitely not full-blown sensual, but the swaying movements do bring on a flirty atmosphere and a subtle sensual touch, which goes hand-in-hand with the song’s lyrics about taking the next step in a relationship.

Song – 5.5/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 6.5/10

[Album Review] WHU IS ME: COMPLEX (1st Mini Album) – HUI (PENTAGON)

Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged , Leave a comment

A month ago, I finally got around to reviewing HUI’s solo debut single Hmm BOP, which was released very early on in 2024. In that post, I confirmed an album review would be coming your way. It has taken a little extra time than what I had hoped for, but said album review is finally here. Hmm BOP is featured on HUI’s first mini-album, WHU IS ME: COMPLEX, and is amongst four songs on the mini-album.

While it is a bit early days for me to probably say this, but I reckon HUI has one of the best album releases in 2024. Two songs on the mini-album recieved 10/10 (find out which ones down below) and the other two were also quite strong singles. To me, this highlights two key points. Firstly, HUI deserved solo promotions many years backs. The fact that it took 8 years to finally hear about a solo debut for HUI is ridculous. Secondly, he is a really good artist and definitely deserves some attention.

Continue reading the album review for WHU IS ME: COMPLEX.

WHO IS ME: COMPLEX Album Cover

1. Hmm BOP (흠뻑) (Title Track) – Click here for the full review for Hmm BOP. (10/10)

2. MELO (ft. PARK HYEON JIN) – The instrumental of MELO is definitely the winner. Piano and dreamier elements served as the underlying layer in MELO’s background. But it becomes very robust and complex with its funky synths, detailing and deliberately placed pauses. My favourite bits are actually the instrumental bits following the choruses, when all of the above is given to us in isolation. Now don’t misunderstand my words – the rest of the track is definitely solid. HUI’s vocals are smooth and sound so blissful throughout MELO. No surprises there. Park Hyeon Jin’s featuring grounds the song and gives MELO a bit of stability and balance. (9/10)

3. Cold Killer (ft. JINHYUK (NOWADAYS)) – Cold Killer takes us into rock territory with a deep and grungy rock style that feels fitting for HUI’s repertoire. Unfortunately, I personally felt the main vocalist underdelivered slightly. His delivery lacked a bit of angst that would have worked well in Cold Killer, and I wished his vocals soared a little more at various points throughout the song. On the other hand, I lowkey expected a spectacular high note to really peak off the song, and HUI definitely delivered that during the bridge. There are some more high notes at the very end, which helped end Cold Killer in an awesome and intense manner. JINHYUK from NOWADAYS (a newly debut group under CUBE Entertainment which I will get around to reviewing) provides Cold Killer with its rap sequences, which complemented the rock sound so well. The addition of scratchy rock-esque synths was clever. (8/10)

4. A Song From A Dream (봄이 오면 겨울은 지나가) (ft. WOOSEOK (PENTAGON)) – In the final track, we see HUI reunite with fellow PENTAGON member WOOSEOK. Staying in the rock realm but taking on a ballad approach, A Song From A Dream allows HUI’s vocals to shine so beautifully. The vocal parts in the bridge, the pre-choruses and choruses are just solid evidence of this. The way he harmonises with himself in the bridge and pre-choruses was just so captivating. But what gave A Song From A Dream an edge for me is the featuring of WOOSEOK and how it fits in so well with HUI’s delivery of the song. WOOSEOK’s vocals and rapping give off additional passion to what HUI already offers us, while the energy and chemistry the pair brings to the song makes it reminiscent of past PENTAGON songs and pulls A Song From A Dream altogether to be a highly recommended track. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 9.3/10

WHU IS ME: COMPLEX Teaser Image

[Review] Supersonic – fromis_9

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 4 Comments

It has been over a year since we last heard from fromis_9 through their #menow comeback and Unlock My World album. While a comeback for this group should have been sooner, it took one member (Chaeyoung) to complain publicly in May about their lack of comebacks for their company to announce the group’s comeback for this month. That resulted in the release of Supersonic, which is the focus of this review.

It took me two listens to fall for Supersonic. I acknowledged how good the song was on the first listen, but Supersonic hit really hard upon the second listen. It has been on repeat since. The instrumental is a relatively simple aspect of Supersonic. The pulsing Miami bass beats give Supersonic so much body, while the percussive synths are wonderfully light yet textural enough to give the track added vibrancy. One of the things that surprised me was how much I enjoyed the consistent instrumental. It was all very similar throughout Supersonic. Normally, I would have commented on how it negatively impacts the quality of the song. But the producers of Supersonic do just enough in that space to ensure it doesn’t feel that way. A good example is the backing of Jiwon’s part in the second verse. It ‘roughened’ the trajectory of Supersonic briefly, with Jiwon’s lines delivering her lines perfectly. Talking about delivery, the standout elements in Supersonic are the members, who were extremely charming throughout. Once Supersonic‘s chorus started, Supersonic felt like a fromis_9 song to me. DM flashed into my mind during my first listen, and it is always the first song that comes to mind when I think of fromis_9’s sound. The melodies of the two songs are different, but their delicateness is a common factor throughout both songs. The dragged-out words in the opening line of the chorus were done so well and emphasised a refreshing vibe in the song. Supersonic manages to also infuse a slightly edgier vibe to it, which was intriguing. Even the ‘Super Super, Supersonic, Supersonic‘ rap-speak hook was done so softly (which aligns with the idea of fromis_9’s sound being delicate) but yet so punchy simultaneously. Put all of this together, and Supersonic is a strong addition to fromis_9’s repertoire.

The video captures Supersonic‘s refreshing vibes extremely well. The slight breeze in the music video, the group’s casual attire, and the water explosions provide a sprinkle in the final set of choreography scenes. All of this just makes Supersonic an ideal video for the summer season. The members themselves look amazing throughout the video. I just kind of wished there was a bit more to the video. It just doesn’t feel complete to me. But truthfully, I am not entirely sure what the music video lacks.

Choreography-wise, I thought it was good. That delicateness that I mentioned in the song portion of this post felt reflected and worked nicely with the song’s vocals. The first move during the ‘Super Super, Supersonic Supersonic‘ part was somewhat familiar – NewJeans’ Super Shy came to mind. BUT fromis_9 took it in a completely different direction after that move, so don’t get me wrong. I also liked how the members ended the performance, standing in a singular line and walking off to the sides like models as the song finished.

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

[Weekly KPOP Chart] 1st Week of August 2024

Posted in Weekly ChartsTagged Leave a comment

Welcome back to another Weekly KPOP Chart post! I took the last two days to pack up my things and return home (and get my life in order now that I am back at home—which included clearing out a fridge of food that had gone off while I was away on sudden personal business). Before I head off for the night (as I am back to waking up early for work from tomorrow), I thought I would sneak in the Weekly KPOP Charts for the first Week of August 2024.

Non-Korean Song of the Week

As my focus on this blog is primarily on KPOP songs, I draw attention to a particular song that isn’t in Korean in this part of the Weekly KPOP Chart post. That song is the top-ranking non-Korean song on each Weekly KPOP Chart post. Last week’s non-Korean song is, once again, JEON SOMI’s Ice Cream. It ranks in the 10th position this week.

The Charts

Stray Kids’ Chk Chk Boom returns to the top song on the Weekly KPOP Charts for the 1st Week of August 2024. Congratulations to Stray Kids!

PositionSong TitleArtistChange
1Chk Chk BoomStray Kids(▲ 2)
2Sweet DreamsRed Velvet(▲ 15)
3GoneBANG&JUNG&YOO&MOON(NEW)
4MOUNTAINSStray Kids(▲ 15)
5Ice CreamJEON SOMI(▲ 6)
6JJAMStray Kids(NEW)
7WhoJimin (BTS)(▲ 20)
8DiveYOON SAN-HA (ASTRO)(NEW)
9TANG TANG TANG90TAN (BTOB)(▼ 2)
10SABOTAGEKWON EUN BI(=)
11T.P.OYOUNGJAE (GOT7)(▲ 49)
12WalkNCT 127(▼ 9)
13Brought Back The HeatENHYPEN(▼ 12)
14Klaxon(G)I-DLE(▼ 2)
15FOREVERBABYMONSTER(▲ 1)
16ABCDNAYEON (TWICE)(▲ 14)
17SHOCKALL(H)OURS(▲ 43)
18No Sad Song For My Broken HeartK.Will(▲ 23)
19POM POM POMwoo!ah!(▲ 41)
20LOSERNIve(▲ 40)
21Pretty MobCSR(▲ 39)
22CosmicRed Velvet(▲ 2)
23Last NightJEONGHAN x WONWOO (SVT)(▲ 29)
24XO (Only If You Say Yes)ENHYPEN(▼ 15)
25ZOMBIEEVERGLOW(▲ 35)
26TouchKATSEYE(▲ 34)
27Perfect StormYAMASHITA TOMOHISA ft. TAEHYUN (TXT)(▲ 33)
28BURN ITFT ISLAND(▲ 32)
29COOL DownDIGNITY(▲ 31)
30PICKYJANG YEEUN (ft. Bang Yongguk (BANG &JUNG&YOO&MOON))(▲ 30)

[Review] Gone – BANG&JUNG&YOO&MOON

Posted in KPOPTagged , 1 Comment

It has been a long time coming, but it brings great pleasure to say that B.A.P has reunited! It has been six years since the group disbanded upon leaving their former company, TS Entertainment. Today, the group reunites as a quartet: BANG Yong Guk, JUNG Daehyun, YOO Youngjae, and MOON Jongup. Fellow former member ZELO is not part of this comeback due to his military enlistment. However, I saw a message of support from ZELO in the comments to the music video released alongside their new single, Gone (which leads me to believe we might see five members together in the future). Gone is the lead single off their new mini-album Curtain Call.

Gone is very unlike any B.A.P release I have heard before (as far as I can remember). It is much more sentimental, which makes perfect sense given the lyrics convey nostalgia as well as the thoughts that this moment with each other may be their last. In Gone, the music is a lot more subdued than usual for the group (for reasons already mentioned), and there is more focus on acoustics and band instrumentation. I actually quite enjoyed this, especially since the lesser presence of synths sounded refreshing. The softer sound also enables the group to showcase their vocals, which they all do quite well in Gone. While it isn’t that powerful as I had hoped for, you can really hear the passion behind each member in Gone. I have always thought that each member of B.A.P was born to be on stage. The passion and subtle emotion that delivery in Gone is testament to that. JUNG DAEHYUN and YOO YOUNGJAE’s vocals were strong and steady as always. I liked how softer BANG YONG GUK sounded in Gone, and his vocals parts brought nice texture to the song. But the standout member, in my opinion, is MOON JONGUP. I haven’t really paid attention to MOON JONGUP’s outputs since 6 years ago, but he needs to keep up with whatever he has been doing as he has shown the greatest improvement in the group with this release. My only critique about the song is that the melodies could have been a bit stronger and more developed to be more memorable. But aside from that, it was great to hear B.A.P again (sans ZELO) in Gone after 6 years.

The video sees the members reunite and hang out with one another. The video opens up with the members meeting in a diner. They have their banter in the diner before going onto a road trip to a stage where they will perform with one another again. They stop at a service station that has a sign that says ‘Closing Down, Thank you for the last 12 years‘, which is represents the time that has passed since their debut in 2012. While raiding the service station, the video snaps to a Korean barbeque restaurant which sees the members, again, enjoying a meal and each other’s company before we are taken to the stage where we can see the members perform for the first time in a while. The KBBQ scene does highlight some nerves they have since they are returning to the stage after a long time. The video ends with the members back at the restaurant, pleased and proud with the resulting music video on their phone. Despite the song’s lyrics as mentioned above, the members remain with one another at the restaurant, telling us that this wouldn’t be the last time we see the members together again.

To match the sentiment of the song, the choreography for this comeback is rather flowy. And I like how logical that is. Most of the dancing itself was handled by the dancers, allowing the members to focus on the vocal work that comes with a song like Gone. But the parts the members do participate in had this powerful aura to it that reminds me of their past.

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

[Review] Sweet Dreams – Red Velvet

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 1 Comment

At the start of this month, Red Velvet celebrated its 10th year as a KPOP group! A huge congratulations for reaching this milestone! As part of the celebrations, Red Velvet released Sweet Dreams as part of a newer version of Cosmic (their 7th mini-album released in June this year, led by the same-name single).

Sweet Dreams is indeed a sweet song. The group sings about their journey with their fans, likening it to a child who has reached the age of 10 alongside them. For long-term ReVeluvs, this is sure to be a heartfelt song. Sweet Dream‘s instrumentation is a mellow and hopeful pop track. While the instrumentation isn’t exactly the most riveting piece of music out there, I did like the use of the heavy beats and synths. The song is already quite light overall, so the heavy beats were helpful in anchoring Sweet Dreams down, while the synths provided a nice complexity and texture to the song. As mentioned earlier, the song is sweet, and this comes down to the members’ vocals. Very light and airy on this side of Sweet Dreams as well. Like the heavy beats, the rap-like deliveries we get interlaced throughout Sweet Dreams help anchor the track down, while their high ranges bring out that high range quite nicely. I can’t pinpoint exactly if it is the instrumentation or melody, but something within Sweet Dreams reminds me of a nursery rhyme of some kind. Given the song’s analogy towards a 10-year-old kid growing up alongside Red Velvet, this felt appropriate for Sweet Dreams.

There isn’t a formal music video for this release. Instead, we got a ‘special video’ of Red Velvet recording Sweet Dreams, presented in a scrapbook format. Around these recordings were moments from past music videos, behind-the-scenes shots and the song’s lyrics, all presented in the same format. This concept worked well with the song and was a nice way to reflect on 10 years of music videos and other content. A proper music video would have been more satisfying if I were honest. But this works just as fine.

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

[Review] Dive – YOON SAN-HA (ASTRO)

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , 1 Comment

YOON SAN-HA made his solo debut eight years after debuting as part of ASTRO. His debut consists of the mini-album Dusk and the lead single Dive. This follows ASTRO’s surprise 8th-anniversary song Circles and their strong focus on solo work—CHA EUNWOO’s solo debut with STAY, a string of songs released by JinJin through his JIN LAB Project, MJ’s musical/OST works and a drama for the member of focus of today’s review.

It is great to hear from YOON SAN-HA after so long. I honestly thought Fantagio had forgotten about him – especially since he has grown considerably as a vocalist since ASTRO’s debut in 2016. It would be a pity for him to be absent from the music scene any longer. Dive is an alternative R&B track with a prolific chorus and heavy bass that gives so much definition to the song. I quite enjoyed the instrumentation as it is. I like how the verses simmer while Dive‘s full potential is reached in the chorus. YOON SAN-HA’s vocals can be described similarly. There is a nice deep tone to the new soloist’s vocals during the verses that match the tone of the background wonderfully. As for the chorus, YOON SAN-HA soars up high alongside the background when its powerfulness kicks in. I also like the emotions he puts into his delivery throughout Dive. It makes the song sound so much more powerful and passionate. However, Dive does have two problems in my mind. The first is the lack of a strong hook or clean melody to make the Dive more memorable. Everything I heard in Dive that could have served as a strong hook or clean melody just doesn’t feel fruitful enough. Secondly, I continually expect a bridge and final chorus once Dive ends. I don’t know if this feeling will be lost with further listens, but I keep expecting something more at the end of Dive to finish the song satisfyingly. But what we do get in Dive already makes it a strong solo debut release.

Dive expresses the loneliness caused by the departure of a loved one from one’s life. From what I got from the lyrics, his feelings for that person linger, and he regrets how things ended between them. In the music video, we see YOON SAN-HA alone in all of the scenes, depicting the loneliness he continually mentions in the song. But his acting really shows the emotional fatigue one gets following a breakup, and in the context of the song, processing that lonely feeling. With that in mind, however, I am not exactly sure what in the video would make me want to revisit it down the track. It is one of those videos you need to watch once, and you know the gist of things. It doesn’t help that it is straightforward and has only one constant theme throughout the scenes.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 7/10
Overall Rating – 7.6/10

[Review] MOUNTAINS – Stray Kids

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 5 Comments

Over the last week, Stray Kids have celebrated STAYs in their annual STAYweeK event. Amid the behind-the-scenes video, special dance practice of their latest single, Chk Chk Boom, and other special videos, Stray Kids have also released music videos for two side tracks from their recently released ATE mini-album. The first was MOUNTAINS, which is the first song on the mini-album.

Stray Kids knows how to select a song to kick off the album! MOUNTAINS is an explosive hype track that will undoubtedly get the crowd roaring when performed live during their world tour later this year. One thing that has me addicted to MOUNTAINS is its instrumentation, which features a mixture of rock influences and some hip-hop on the side. The stomping drum beats definitely bring on the adrenaline, while the electric guitar keeps an ongoing vibrant and electrifying factor in MOUNTAINS. The rapping from CHANGBIN, HYUNJIN and HAN was very boastful and powerful. If you have been a Stray Kids listener for a while now, you would know they are more than capable of this. But something in MOUNTAINS just took their delivery to a whole new level. BANGCHAN, LEE KNOW, SEUNGMIN and I.N’s vocals sounded very crisp and fresh. Some of their parts coincided with the less powerful moments of MOUNTAINS, giving us great moments of reprieve from the explosiveness of the track. But later on, they roared when carrying us through the chorus and delivering shouty yet memorable lines like “Mountains, Mountains, I woke up on the mountain“. But FELIX’s deeper and raspier vocals were the best out of the team. It gave MOUNTAINS an aggressive texture suitable for the rock influences that MOUNTAINS channelled. With the praises (and the lack of criticisms), it is safe to say that MOUNTAINS is one of my favourites from the ATE mini-album, for the hype it brings and how well Stray Kids executed it!

MOUNTAINS speaks to where Stray Kids are now in their careers—their journey now leads them to the top of the mountain. In the video, FELIX and HYUNJIN create their own content, alluding to their self-producing reputation. HAN roams around people who aren’t interested in them (which speaks to their beginnings in the industry), while BANGCHAN has lasers pointing at him, representing the hate and criticisms that Stray Kids got. I also like how the lasers are pointed at him only and not the rest of the group, indicating that he would do anything to protect the rest of his team. Later in the video, the same people HAN was walking around join Stray Kids at the foot of the mountains, creating a path for Stray Kids to walk up the mountain to reach the top, which is undoubtedly where they are in their careers. Elsewhere in the video, some other members are playing chess with buildings and interacting with a smaller city. I’m not sure the exact meaning of this, but I think it has something to do with the power they feel they have now – they can control the weather and the city. The ending (per the featured image) shows the group peering over a bright, cloudless city, which I assume represents their fandom. On their faces are proud looks. I’m not sure if my interpretation is correct, but I like the confident messaging that the video sends and the energy it boasts throughout the video.

Song – 10/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9.6/10

[Weekly KPOP Chart] 5th Week of July 2024

Posted in Weekly ChartsTagged Leave a comment

Welcome back to another Weekly KPOP Chart post! I know I said to expect another hybrid Weekly KPOP Chart across 2 weeks last week, but I have found time today to assemble a post for a singular week. Merging 2 weeks together for this segment has been a great help while I deal with something personal in my life. I think I will return to my usual transmission next weekend, so the week-by-week Weekly KPOP Charts are back on! Just be aware I may need to merge 2 weeks again for this segment unexpectedly. Anyhow, that’s my mini blog update. Let’s get to why we are here – my Weekly KPOP Chart post for the 5th Week of July 2024 (spanning 28 July to 3 August 2024).

Non-Korean Song of the Week

As my focus on this blog is primarily on KPOP songs, I draw attention to a particular song that isn’t in Korean in this part of the Weekly KPOP Chart post. That song is the top-ranking non-Korean song on each Weekly KPOP Chart post. Last week’s non-Korean song is JEON SOMI’s Ice Cream. It ranks in the 10th position this week.

The Charts

ENHYPEN’s Brought The Heat Back is the top song on the Weekly KPOP Charts for the 5th Weeks of July 2024. Congratulations to ENHYPEN!

PositionSong TitleArtistChange
1Brought The Heat BackENHYPEN(NEW)
2If I’m S, Can You Be My N?TWS:(▲ 4)
3Chk Chk BoomStray Kids(▼ 2)
4Strawberry RushCHUU(▲ 16)
5HeavenTAEYEON (SNSD)(▲ 4)
6WalkNCT 127(▼ 4)
7TANG TANG TANG90TAN (BTOB)(NEW)
8Small GirlLee Young Ji ft. Doh Kyung Soo (D.O – EXO)(▲ 11)
9XO (Only If You Say Yes)ENHYPEN(▼ 5)
10SABOTAGEKWON EUN BI(▲ 5)
11Ice CreamJEON SOMI(NEW)
12Klaxon(G)I-DLE(▼ 9)
13StickyKISS OF LIFE(▲ 5)
14Smeraldo Garden Marching BandJimin (BTS)(▲16)
15JUSTICEDreamcatcher(▼ 5)
16FOREVERBABYMONSTER(▲ 17)
17Sweet DreamsRed Velvet(NEW)
18SUMMER FESTAIVE(▲ 54)
19MOUNTAINSStray Kids(NEW)
20Shooting StarKep1er(▲ 23)
21JealousyROCKY(▲ 19)
22LegendKAVE(▲ 50)
23Badder LoveEVNNE(▼ 10)
24CosmicRed Velvet(▼ 7)
25Stray KidsStray Kids(NEW)
26Boom Boom BassRIIZE(▲ 12)
27WhoJimin (BTS)(▼ 19)
28SupernaturalNewJeans(▲ 6)
29Tongue TiedKEY (SHINee)(▲ 6)
30ABCDNAYEON (TWICE)(▼ 8)

[Review] TANG TANG TANG – 90TAN (BTOB)

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , Leave a comment

Late last year, it was announced that BTOB was leaving CUBE Entertainment after 11 years and setting up their company (BTOB Company) for group and members’ EUNKWANG, MINHYUK (otherwise known as HUTA), LEE HYUNSIK, and PENIEL solo activities. YOOK SUNGJAE and LEE CHANG SUB remained part of the group but took their solo activities elsewhere. Since then, there has been a steady stream of music from all BTOB members (one of which I have reviewed – YOOK SUNGJAE’s BE SOMEBODY). Earlier this week, two members (EUNKWANG and MINHYUK) launched a new unit called 90TAN and released their debut single, TANG TANG TANG.

Right off the bat, TANG TANG TANG jumps right at you with its energetic throwback to 90s hip-hop and hype energy. The latter was intentional, as I read from a few sources that the song is freshly minted specifically for HUTA’s recent Waterbomb performance by MINHYUK himself! I like how explosive the track feels. The instrumental is one element behind this explosive energy. But I also put it to the energy that the members bring, which is evident by their individual rap performances in TANG TANG TANG. MINHYUK’s powerful and clean rap performance is something I want to highlight in particular, while EUNKWANG does what he does best and infuses his rapping with singing as he makes his way through the second verse with ease. EUNKWANG also balances the track with smooth vocals during the pre-choruses, leading well into the pair-led chorus. I liked the texture that MINHYUK brings with his vocals in the choruses, while EUNKWANG’s vocals soar up high to further drive the energy of TANG TANG TANG up. My only gripe about the song is the lack of a hook to really sink our teeth in and have it on repeat in our minds after TANG TANG TANG is over. Had said hook has been used in the track, I think TANG TANG TANG would have been more memorable and prolific on our playlists.

A funny music video accompanies the energetic song, channelling the energy of the song in a light-hearted way. In the video, the 90TAN pair go on a heist to steal from the person who stole their heart. I liked the fun bits of the video, such as when EUNKWANG requested tools, and MINHYUK completed the hand heart, the lights-on-off stare-off with the security guards, and the subsequent chase scene between the 90TAN pair and the guards. The good news was it was a successful heist, and the members took back what had been stolen from them – lollies. I would have been right with them had I known that it was stolen in the first place! In the less comedic moments of the song, the pair channelled the 90s with their hip-hop attire. Also, it would have been nice to have Jang Wonyoung appear when she popped up in the lyrics.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.6/10

[Review] Ice Cream – JEON SOMI

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 3 Comments

Just a couple of days ago, it was announced that JEON SOMI would be making her comeback in just a few days. Those few days have passed, and JEON SOMI officially returned with a special summer single, Ice Cream, today. This is her first release since Fast Forward last year.

I have given Ice Cream a few listens since its release earlier today. My first impression was that the new song was disappointing. But interestingly, repeat listens have warmed me up to the music – even though that wasn’t the song’s message! Though the one thing I am sure of is Ice Cream won’t be a song I will necessarily go out of my way to listen. I find everything, from the instrumentation to the vocals, too consistent. Ice Cream comprises of constant rhythmic percussion, crunchy brass, and a singular tonal vocal approach from JEON SOMI. Aside from the one-dimensional comment, I am not upset with the instrumental. However, I wish the producers did something more in Ice Cream as it progressed. We got a hint of tropical influences in the pre-choruses and bridge (similar to the style we have heard in What You Waiting For, which I think the producers could have used more of in the song, especially since it worked well with the rest of Ice Cream. JEON SOMI’s vocals are unique, and Ice Cream does show off her vocal tone well. But I wish it wasn’t just the one tone throughout Ice Cream. It also didn’t help that her vocals sounded miles apart from the instrumentation, and they didn’t meld with one another to make Ice Cream a cohesive piece. I also wished her delivery was clearer – what she sings in the pre-choruses sounds different from what the lyrics say. The autotuned line ending the chorus and the chanty end to the song does give some variety, but it all felt the same and never pushed any boundaries. Overall, Ice Cream is a so-so track. It might get a few more listens out of me, but as alluded to above, I don’t think I will be head over heels for it any time soon.

The concept for this release was initially apparent, but then it got weird. Essentially, the song speaks to the hot weather, and the only way to combat it is by seeking ice cream from JEON SOMI herself. We see the people in the video swelter and later cool themselves off with some ice cream. Logical. Then, one of the people in the video drops their ice cream. All hell breaks loose in the community (big furry fake animal catching on fire, fights and the casual astronaut falling from space), causing the heat to rise to ‘heat-warning’ levels. Even JEON SOMI’s ice cream can’t cool them down. But a special appearance from actor Park Seo Joon saves the day, promoting JEON SOMI’s business and getting everyone to cool down again. I suppose the video is meant to be light-hearted and not taken seriously, especially since the song’s message is about cooling down (i.e. being chill).

The few listens I gave the song coincided with the music video, which does feature some choreography in it. At first, I also thought the performance was rather basic and boring. But it has grown on me. I did end up enjoying the shimmy and shakes. I was expecting another Fast Forward routine, which blew me away last year. A definite focus was on being pretty in this routine, which probably preoccupied the choreographer a bit when designing the routine.

Song – 6/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 7.5/10
Overall Rating – 6.9/10

[Review] Brought The Heat Back – ENHYPEN

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 4 Comments

Two weeks ago, ENHYPEN returned with XO (Only If You Say Yes) and their second studio album, ROMANCE: UNTOLD. Today, the group dropped a second music video for the side track Brought The Heat Back.

When you compare XO and Brought The Heat Back side by side, the difference between the two is very obvious. The former was more mellow and pleasant, while the latter was more energetic and flirty. I quite liked the upbeat nature of Brought The Heat Back, which feels fitting for the summery season when more dynamic music comes through. This upbeat nature results from the funky disco instrumental that drives the dynamism behind Brought The Heat Back. The members complemented this with their prominent vocals shining through, boldly delivering the song’s hooks and melodies. The “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” hook was particularly catchy and addictive. I have it on repeat in my mind as I write this review. The flirtiness results from the members’ delivery and the lyrics, which speak to their jealous feelings. For the most part, Brought The Heat Back was a solid track. But Brought The Heat Back has some elements that I find myself on the fence about. The vocal processing felt a bit hit-or-miss to me. During the chorus, the autotune brought character to ENHYPEN’s vocals, which made the chorus and its hooks stand out even more. However, in other parts of Brought The Heat Back, the autotune was applied a little too thickly, slurring their delivery and this did not sound as great. I am in a similar mindset regarding the trap-based instrumental break of Brough The Heat Back. Part of me liked the edgy factor that it brought, but another part felt like it was a drag. Either way, it doesn’t negate the bridge ended with an impressive high note from JAY. Overall, I like Brought The Heat Back – a totally different vibe from their title track, but much appreciated.

The music video for Brought The Heat Back was definitely a fun one. But instead of being visually fun (i.e., through the use of colours, imagery, etc.), the ENHYPEN members took a comedic direction with the video. It is different and somewhat refreshing, as that isn’t done as much in the industry. But the members pulled it off! The jealousy depicted in the lyrics makes them compete with one another to find the black cat ‘missing’ in the video (who I assume represents their lover). Falling coffins, flying fish, elevators turned into freezers and nailing coffin lids with multiple nails so there was one less person to compete with to achieve their goal was quite funny. They are so into this black cat that they all rose from the dead to find it, showing us how infatuated they are with it. This is further backed up by the dance break, where the members don glow-in-the-dark cat eyes in their attire. Remember, their lore is about vampires, not felines. I really liked the members’ acting in the video, which conveyed that jealousy feeling well.

Brought The Heat Back’s performance is much stronger than XO’s. They showed off much more style and encapsulated the funk and groovy vibes. I enjoyed the chorus, which showed us some of ENHYPEN’s style quite well. But the dance for the outro really sold me on the performance and (once again) ENHYPEN’s skills in this department.

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

[Album Review] EVERSHINE (7th Mini Album) – CRAVITY

Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged 1 Comment

Another album review is here – this time for CRAVITY’s EVERSHINE. This is their 7th mini-album and was released back in February of this year. It features a total of 6 songs, including the title track Love or Die and the secondary promotional track C’est La Vie. Overall, another quality output by the group with some good and great songs on the mini-album. Continue reading to find out my thoughts on the individual songs that make up EVERSHINE.

In more recent news, CRAVITY also released new music (single is titled Show Off) in Japan and the group will be appearing the revamped Road To Kingdom show.

EVERSHINE Album Cover

1. C’est La Vie – Click here for the full review for C’est La Vie. (7/10)

2. Love or Die (Title Track) – Click here for the full review for Love or Die. (9/10)

3. Cherry Blossom – When you think of cherry blossoms, you tend to think of light pink colour and perhaps even a soft breeze to brings out a crisp Spring air. Cherry Blossom encapsulates all of that quite well. It features bubbly synths with a dash of funkiness, all the while maintaining a lightness that feels fitting for the concept of cherry blossoms. I do think the producers could have gotten away with a slightly heavier dose of funk, just to give the song more boldness, edge and tenacity (but also maintaining the lightness of the song). The members themselves sounded sweet and the melodies made Cherry Blossom quite comforting to listen to. (8/10)

4. Mr. – Mr. is my pick for this album’s highlight. It takes on a 2000s EDM club banger style, which ended up feeling nostalgic to me (given I grew up in that era). Odd to think that EDM can elicit a nostalgic feeling… Anyhow, I do like how the producers didn’t overdo the EDM, which keeps Mr. refined and approachable. I liked the bass of the single, and how well that contrasted with the smooth vocals and melodies. The rappers were also in their zone in the verses of Mr., driving the song forward themselves when there was not a whole lot going in the background (relative to the choruses). The beat also works with the current funky and groovy trends, and the hooks were catchy. There was a lot to like in Mr.. (9/10)

5. Worst Thriller – A movie-like whistle and psychedelic rock takes the helm of Worst Thriller. It is a different sound profile that I am not sure anyone else in KPOP has done before, but the dreamy effect is very familiar. Definitely an interesting and unique direction. The slower pace of the track and the multiple subtle increases in the pacing at the end of the song made Worst Thriller feel quite unsettling, but in an intriguing way. At first, I found it odd. But I will admit that the song has grown a fair bit on me. The members handled the song well. I particularly like the backing vocals, which also set the unsettling and intriguing atmosphere further. (8/10)

6. Over & Over – Over & Over ends the mini-album with a familiar pop rock sound. While the track isn’t the most innovative or ‘different’ song on the mini-album, I really appreciate the straightforwardness of the track. The CRAVITY members definitely did a really good job on the vocal and rapping fronts. The instrumental just had the right amount of energy. Put all of that together, and Over & Over comes out to be a worthwhile listen. Altogether, a very comfortable end to the mini-album. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.2/10

EVERSHINE Teaser Image