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.

[Review] In The Mood – Whee In (MAMAMOO)

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Leave a comment

Whee In returned last week with her first solo studio length album, IN the mood. The title track off the album is titled In The Mood, as well. This is Whee In’s first solo release since last year’s Make Me Happy and D-DAY (which I never got around to reviewing).

In The Mood is a pretty nice track, overall. I would definitely describe this track as pleasant sounding and rather breezy, with the latter feeling very appropriate for the start of the Autumn season when the weather is still quite nice and enjoyable (just without the heat). In the Mood is described as being a medium pop song with R&B vibes, and that description succinctly sums up the song. I really like the subtle groove the track features overall, which makes it nicely upbeat. I also like how In The Mood is rather synth forward and how the beats are rather soft and chill as a foundation. As an example, the bridge features a deep wub wub synth, which I thought served as a nice brief alteration to the wider instrumentation and keeps In The Mood from falling into a consistent state. The ending of the music video also features an instrumental version of the song also highlights the presence of the synths quite nicely, as well as the pleasantness of the track. Whee In herself is very smooth throughout In The Mood, with the combination of her breathy vocals and falsettos being absolute charms throughout the song. The melodies were also quite nice and comforting to listen to. Overall, I quite enjoyed the likes of In The Mood.

As mentioned earlier, the track has this breezy-like vibe to it. And we do get a breezy shot of Whee In, whilst travelling with friends in the car. These are the most vibrant shots in the entire music video, and this alone made it them the most memorable shots in the entire video. Aside from the breezy shots, the music video also shows Whee In having a good time at a party, whilst listening to her own song through her headphones. Despite the party not hearing the song, the party becomes more alive and upbeat from the moment her headphones are on, compared to when she was not listening to her song. Elsewhere in the video, she is enjoying her life with a couple of friends or by herself. The choreography shots in the video were also quite good, as well.

The performance was nice. Obviously with Whee In, her focus was always going to be on her execution of live vocals and so the choreography was never going to be as involved to other artists’ performances. But what I saw matches up well with the pleasantness of In The Mood and her live vocals were stable throughout.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 7.5/10
Overall Rating – 7.9/10

[Weekly KPOP Chart] 2nd Week of October 2023

Posted in Weekly ChartsTagged Leave a comment

Welcome back to the Weekly KPOP Charts, this time for the 2nd Week of October 2023. Another short intro to get right into the post, as I have some posts to draft and schedule for this week. And the usual Sunday chores. So I am going to get right to it with the Weekly KPOP Chart post for the 2nd Week of October 2023.

Recap of the past week

Here is a recap of what I posted:

Joining all those new releases above this week are the following songs:

  • Take Care – Kim Dohee
  • MEDUSA – JUST B
  • Do or Die – Lim Young Woong
  • RA TA TA – Ailee ft. Lil Cherry
  • f – Bobby (iKON)
  • With UNIVERSE – PENTAGON
  • IFEELGOOD – Woo Jinyoung
  • Sugar-holic – ITZY
  • Don’t Be Jealous – Seo In Guk
  • Vision Getting Blurred – BÉBE YANA
  • FIRST CLASS – 82MAJOR
  • Invincible – EVOLution (tripleS)
  • C’mon – JINI ft. Aminé
  • Dazzling – POW
  • Break the Brake – Xdinary Heroes
  • HOODIE E BANBAJI – Lee Hyori
  • Moon Shower – NELL
  • ABCDLOVE – BOYNEXTDOOR

Throwback Song of the Week

This week’s throwback song is an underrated track from 2013, Ra.D’s Thank You. Ra.D is a South Korean producer, who has produced songs for IU, 2PM, Gain (from Brown Eyed Girls) and Jooyoung. He is also an South Korean indie artist, as well.

Non-Korean song of the week

Mark Tuan’s Everyone Else Fades is top Non-Korean song of the week. It ranks in the 10th position this week.

The Charts

Congratulations to ONF and their comeback single Love Effect for rising to the top of my Weekly KPOP Charts for the 2nd week of October 2023. For more of the charts, keep on scrolling down below.

Pos.SongArtistChange
1Love EffectONF(▲ 1)
2Fact CheckNCT 127(▲ 3)
3Chasing That FeelingTXT(NEW)
4FULL METAL JACKETEPEX(▲ 37)
5Honey or SpiceLIGHTSUM(NEW)
6HeartDAWN(▲ 54)
7Either WayIVE(▲ 13)
8In The MoodWhee In (MAMAMOO)(NEW)
9BaddieIVE(NEW)
10Everyone Else FadesMark Tuan (GOT7)(▲ 50)
11Off The RecordIVE(▲ 1)
12Back For MoreTXT with Anitta(▼ 2)
13ICE CREAMTFN(▲ 31)
14I’ll Hold YouAilee(▲ 46)
15Pop PunkBIGONE ft. Dive & Do Hanse (VICTON)(▲ 31)
16SKIP OUTRoa (Rocking Doll)(▲ 44)
17Angel EyesNCT 127(▲ 43)
18PADONCT U(▲ 42)
19BubbleSTAYC(▲ 5)
20PANORAMAiKON(▲ 40)
21You’re BeautifulTHE ROSE(▲ 14)
22TimeJaechan (DKZ)(▲ 38)
23TROUBLEEVNNE(▼ 22)
24Baila ConmigoONEUS(▼ 21)
25GalileoKep1er(▼ 14)
26StarDAWN ft. 10CM(▲ 34)
27Gold Gold GoldJEON SOMI(▲ 33)
28Social PathStray Kids ft. LiSA(▼ 24)
29MEDUSAJUST B(NEW)
30C’monJINI ft. Aminé(NEW)

Songs leaving the charts

The following songs have wrapped up their nine week run in the charts system, and will no longer be on the charts from next week:

  • Drive5 – Hwiyoung (SF9)
  • My Sunshine – CHEN (EXO)
  • OUTLAW – BZ-BOYS
  • blessing in disguise – Huh Yunjin (LE SSERAFIM)
  • Told You – DKB
  • All Yours – DKB
  • BE – Jooyoung
  • Sara Sara – SEVENTEEN
  • Pop Punk – BIGONE ft. Dive & Do Hanse (VICTON)
  • Billionaire – Queendom Puzzle
  • Last Piece – Queendom Puzzle
  • Bubble – STAYC

[Review] Chasing That Feeling – TXT

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 6 Comments

Also making their comeback this week/yesterday was TXT, who returns with their 3rd studio album The Name Chapter: FREEFALL. Leading the charge on their latest album is the single Chasing That Feeling. We last heard TXT on the Korean stage through their promotions of Sugar Rush Ride and The Name Chapter: Temptation, and more recently through their international collaborations with the Jonas Brother (Do It Like That) and Anitta (Back For More) – both of which are featured on The Name Chapter: FREEFALL, sans Anitta (the TXT version of Back For More is featured instead).

Chasing That Feeling is a pretty decent synth-pop track. It is rather straight forward and doesn’t miss a beat from the very moment it begins. It isn’t the perfect track, however, as Chasing That Feeling is missing one vital element – the climax. Every time I put the song on, I am hoping that there is a peak to the song, but it just never gets there. Instead, we get a pretty neutral and generic vibe in Chasing That Feeling as a result. And this is quite disappointing. Apart from that, Chasing That Feeling features a decent set of vocals from the members, with some clean melodies. Though some more powerful vocals could have taken Chasing That Feeling to the next level. The ad-libs at the end were pretty good, however. I like the splash of extra instrumentation for the chorus, which helps makes the central piece stand out more in this neutral piece. While the melodies are good, the song also lacks a hook to really get our minds to grab onto. In addition to the inclusion of a proper climax, more powerful vocals and meatier hooks, I would have liked to hear more interesting 80s synth pop tropes in the instrumental to give it some flair. While Chasing That Feeling definitely has the set up to be a strong song, more is definitely needed to get it there.

The music video see the members crashing into Earth (more specifically, a sewer) and chasing after these orbs of light separately. And while the members try very hard to chasing these orbs of light, the orbs ends up bringing the members together again (and whilst not shone, fuses into one). My guess that it shows the members are strongest when they are together and not alone, no matter where they are. Apart from the storyline, the music video also features some really cool post-production effects. The best of it is shown at the end where the buildings and roads undergo some alternative dimensional changes despite everything around the members also going on as normal. It gives off Dr. Strange vibes, which I personally think is one of the cooler Marvel movies out there.

The choreography, to me, is quite good. Sure, it probably isn’t their most memorable piece ever, but I like the fluidity of the movements and the smoothness of the overall routine. It is still a performance to watch, as it still shows off TXT’s performance skills. I like how effortlessly the routine goes with the music, which very much carries a similar vibe, as well.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.8/10

[Review] Baddie – IVE

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 2 Comments

IVE is one of the many groups and music acts that made their comeback this busy week in October. The popular female group returns with their 1st ever mini-album I’ve Mine and the title track Baddie yesterday, following two pre-release tracks – Either Way and Off The Record (both of which I reviewed earlier this week). This comeback follows on from the group’s promotions of I AM and their first studio album, I’ve IVE.

IVE has been successful with pop numbers since their debut, so I am unsure why they needed to stray from it. To me, their pop songs have been comforting and likeable, but also punchy and catchy. Sure, IVE can definitely explore other genres if they want, but the producers should ensure the song is fit for IVE. Baddie takes on a hip-hop style that I believe doesn’t suit IVE. When I listen to the song, I don’t get any sense of character or individuality from Baddie, and their delivery feels pretty generic overall. Sure, Baddie is successful in showing an edgier side of the group via the instrumentation. The instrumental break serves as a good example of this and is probably the most dynamic aspect of Baddie. The pelting synth in the post-chorus hook was also an interesting and bold addition to the instrumental, and another good example of edginess. And I am pretty satisfied with the vocal centric pre-chorus (however, I would have liked it more if the second pre-chorus wasn’t cut short). But everything else, from the vocals and rapping elsewhere in Baddie, to the chorus, to the hooks etc. all sound bland and uneventful. ‘Stuck in neutral gear’ is how I would describe Baddie. Honestly, I am not even sure if there is potential for Baddie to grow on me with even more listens. And that says a lot to me.

The music video is an odd one, given its concept. Essentially, IVE is causing havoc in the world for being “cat humans”. They supposedly cause all sorts of trouble, attract attention in public and scare people off. What is interesting is that at night, they come together to carry out some kind of ritual that awakens bigger cats. I would have liked to see more of the havoc, trouble and these bigger cats that they awaken throughout the video, as I think there could have been a decent story in all of this. But as the video is only 2:48 minutes long, the producers have to gloss over the details to fit it all in such a short time frame. A more profound edginess to the video wouldn’t have hurt and could have boosted that intention in the song as well.

The performance aspect of the comeback was okay. It isn’t a resounding yes from me, but it suffices. The performance does focus more on looking good, rather than showcasing anything edgy, which I think the song does calls for. I did particularly like Wonyoung’s change of expression and moves during her “I’m thriller, so villain” line. That was pretty cool highlight.

Song – 6/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 6.5/10

[Album Review] ISTJ (3rd Studio Album) – NCT DREAM

Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged , 6 Comments

I am moving some things around today as I am feeling a little unwell. So instead of posting tomorrow’s album review tomorrow, I will be posting it today. Song reviews will be posted tomorrow, instead. And as you can tell from the title of this post, the album review is for NCT DREAM’s ISTJ, their 3rd studio album. This album dropped in July of this year. Featured on this album is the title track ISTJ, the pre-release track Broken Melodies and an additional 8 tracks. For my thoughts on the tracks of this album, keep on reading below!

ISTJ Album Cover

1. ISTJ (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for ISTJ. (8/10)

2. Broken Melodies (Pre-Release Track) – Click here to read the full review for Broken Melodies. (9/10)

3. Yoghurt Shake – Adding some sweetness and youthful energy to the album is the single Yoghurt Shake, the track in which NCT DREAM followed up promotions of ISTJ with. It is a bright pop track, almost bubble gum-like thanks to the light and delightful instrumentation and melodies. This very much could have been a track from their early days. But there is a hint of maturity in Yoghurt Shake that makes it fit in with NCT DREAM discography today. Also, Yoghurt Shake also puts the vocalists in the forefront, with their vocals and harmonies being the main selling point of the track. (8/10)

4. Skateboard – EDM and hip-hop takes over in Skateboard. I really like the upbeat energy that this track exudes. I also like the 2000s flair the track brings. The hip-hop aspect of Skateboard, which comes through the beats and the members’ delivery, was very pronounced and the EDM was energetic but not overwhelming, which makes Skateboard so easy to get into. My pick for favourite track on this album. (10/10)

5. Blue Wave (파랑) – Blue Wave serves as the sequel to the single Dive Into You (which was featured on the group’s first studio album, Hot Sauce). It is also referenced during the outro of this track. Blue Wave is a very tropical sounding single, thanks to the pan flutes in the background that adds a level of freshness to the track. I really execution of the fast-paced lyrics/melodies in the pre-chorus, and the harmonies during the chorus of this track. A fun and pleasant track. (8/10) 

6. Poison (모래성) – The sensual track video for Poison that was released in the lead up to the release of ISTJ shows a completely different side to the group, miles away from where they started off with. And those sensual vibes come through the entire R&B song. I like the groovy bass in the background, along with the body-wave vibe the chorus exudes. I also like the flirty rapping and the smooth vocals that feature in Poison. Whether this release alludes to even more mature sounds/concepts in the future is still to be seen, but I honestly wouldn’t mind seeing the group venture down this path at least once in the future. (9/10)   

7. SOS – The group takes us down a more experimental direction with SOS. The track itself features hip-hop beats and the EDM creates suspense. The booming bass in SOS also gives the track a dynamic flair. I really like the very breathy whisper that kicks off the chorus. The rappers really have a strong hold in this track and nail their parts. I wish the vocalists had more presence in the track, as it felt like they were missing from SOS for the most part. (7.5/10)  

8. Pretzel (♡) – Pretzel’ssynth line was very bold – it sounded very crunchy, but also spongy and dragged out a tiny bit. It makes for a very interesting backing to the track. Elsewhere in Pretzel, the members stay very much in hip-hop territory, which I think all members (vocalists and rappers alike) do an amazing job in embodying in this track. The bridge was also very delectable, just like the references to the baked good in the lyrics were. (9/10)

9. Starry Night (제자리 걸음) – We enter mellow territory towards the end of the album, with the first of the last two tracks taking on a R&B pop sound. Starry Night also features bossa nova influences, which contributes to a softer direction in the verses and bridge. But Starry Night also features pop leaning choruses that takes things in a slightly bolder approach. Together, the two meld together quite cohesively to create a nice vocal-centric track. (8/10)

10.  Like We Just Met – Written by all of the members, Like We Just Met features more of an acoustic R&B sound. The instrumentation was beautiful, from the acoustic guitar that starts and end the track to the orchestral peak. In addition to that, you can hear the sincerity behind the members, their vocals and lyrics. The all-in chorus was very fitting, especially following Jisung’s vocals (which is a moment I find myself returning to constantly). It is hard to fault song a like this. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.7/10

ISTJ Teaser Image

[Album Review] THE UИSEEN (1st Mini Album) – SHOWNU x HYUNGWON (MONSTA X)

Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged , Leave a comment

Today, I am posting another album review – this one is for MONSTA X’s first subunit SHOWNU x HYUNGWON. Their first mini-album, THE UИSEEN, was released at the end of July 2023. This mini-album features the title track, Love Me A Little, and four other side tracks. To me, THE UИSEEN is one of those albums where the title track was the weakest track of all and the side tracks all surpassed the standard created by the title track. There is definitely a side track on this mini-album that would have served better as the title track. To see which of the side tracks I thought had what it take to be title track material, continue reading below.

THE UИSEEN Album Cover

1. Love Me A Little (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Love Me A Little. (6.5/10)

2. Love Therapy – Love Therapy would have made a far more convincing title track than the actual title track. Grungy vibes feature in Love Therapy thanks the ongoing presence of a very texturally crunchy synth. But as the song enters chorus territory, Love Therapy becomes groovier, which a very cool development in the song. The duo comes off as very charismatic in Love Therapy, with strong vocals from both. SHOWNU really oozed a lot of sleekness and style through his vocals, while HYUNGWON’s rap-speak moment in the bridge was a highlight. I think the song could have benefited from a more robust hook that isn’t repetition of the song’s title. But as it is, it is quite a strong side track already. (8.5/10)  

3. Roll With Me – For me, there was a fair bit to like in Roll With Me. The element that resonates the most with me in this track are the soft and gentle vocals from both SHOWNU and HYUNGWON. There is just something so captivating about their vocals and the melodies that rolls along in Roll With Me. However, as equally as strong as the vocal work, the instrumentation was quite something. The haunting vibe and striking piano makes for a solid base, and the contrast with the vocals made Roll With Me even more compelling to listen to. (9/10)

4. Play Me – Groovy and funky vibes take over in Play Me. I like how the track keeps the soft trajectory going from the previous track. It is a motif that I find works well with SHOWNU and HYUNGWON, especially when it came to the post-chorus sequence of the song. The falsettos were also a nice touch to the song. I would have liked to hear more riveting melodies, as this would have helped take Play Me to the next level. But what we got was pretty good already. (8/10)  

5. Slow Dance – Ending the mini-album is Slow Dance, which is a R&B track. There isn’t much to talk about in this song, other than it is a solid effort from the duo. Once again, they take the soft direction and the groovy air does remain in Slow Dance. But I do like the upbeat nature and the oomph they do put into the chorus, which makes it more charged and appealing listen. But once again, punchier hooks and stronger melodies would have made Slow Dance even better. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8/10

THE UИSEEN Teaser Image

[Album Review] 2023 S/S Collection (5th Mini Album) – Kim Sung Kyu (INFINITE)

Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged , Leave a comment

The next album to be reviewed on the blog belongs to Kim Sung Kyu’s 5th mini-album. 2023 S/S Collection, which dropped in June of this year. There is a total of 6 songs on the mini-album, including the title track Small Talk. There is one recurring element on this mini-album that I consistently come back to. And that is Kim Sung Kyu’s vocals. Trust me, you will not be disappointed by his voice in any song on this mini-album So, if you are looking for some amazing vocal work, I highly recommend you check out this album release (and honesty the rest of Kim Sung Kyu’s discography, as he has some really great songs throughout his solo career thus far).

S/S Collection 2023 Album Cover

1. Intro: Time Lapse – Kicking off the mini-album is a very atmospheric and calming introductory instrumental piece. Time Lapse features the sound of waves crashing onto a shoreline or beach, synths and band instrumentation that builds up the track into a very pleasant opener.

2. Small Talk (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Small Talk. (8/10)

3. It Will Be – I really liked the captivating mix of orchestration and synths in It Will Be. The combination isn’t anything new, especially for Kim Sung Kyu. But the execution of the pairing makes for an interesting background piece. The backing vocals add so much depth to the song in the chorus, while Kim Sung Kyu himself just stuns me throughout with his vocal delivery that adapts to the changes in the music so effortlessly. (9/10) 

4. Jump – Jump sounds like it is going to be a dynamic and active track. But what I did not expect is the amazing balladry melodies that features in this song. These are brought to life by Kim Sung Kyu’s heavenly vocals, turning Jump into a beautifully and soft euphoric number. The harmonies and high note was amazing. The instrumentation of Jump puts a piano dominant orchestral piece with band instrumentation, which is pretty much Kim Sung Kyu’s style, to create such a beautiful backing piece. Another captivating listen from the soloist. (10/10)

5. Go Again – Go Again is the mini-album’s most upbeat number. Synth-pop rock influence instrumentation serves as the backing of Go Again, moving away from the orchestral touch that featured in the previous two tracks. I really like the foot-tapping energy that is given off by Go Again. Kim Sung Kyu sounds like he is having a good time delivering this track, and I like the vocals used as part of the instrumentation, which adds a fun element to the song. The best part has to be at the 3:08 mark, where he utters the words ‘Let’s go again’ to lead us into the final chorus. Simple, but highly effective. (9/10)

6. Sometimes – Alterative rock instrumentation kicks into play with Sometimes. Again, I quite like the upbeat vibes of the song (though it is a bit more subdued that compared to Go Again), especially how straightforward the chorus of Sometimes comes across. The straightforwardness of the song does mean, however, that Sometimes doesn’t have much else going on. That being said, Kim Sung Kyu adds a bit of oomph into this song, particularly towards the end, adding a tinge of complexity and cool energy to the song. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.8/10

S/S Collection 2023 Teaser Image

[Review] Honey or Spice – LIGHTSUM

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Leave a comment

It has been almost a year and half since we last heard from LIGHTSUM on stage, with their last comeback being in May of last year with Alive (a comeback which I have not reviewed, as I pretty much forgot about its existence very quickly). Since then, LIGHTSUM reformed into a six-member female group (with the departure of Huiyeon and Jiah) and Sungah participated in recent Queendom Puzzle survival show (but was quickly eliminated). Today, the group ends their 1.5 year hiatus with their second mini-album and new title track, both of which are titled Honey or Spice.

I have decided to proceed with reviewing LIGHTSUM’s comeback for two reasons – so I don’t forget about the comeback entirely and I think LIGHTSUM deserves some attention from me (and in general). To me, they are practically the forgotten group of Cube Entertainment. And I hope Honey or Spice helps turns that around, especially since the song goes with a somewhat bombastic instrumentation. Some of the beats throughout Honey or Spice go for a more emphasised and bold touch, which I do find to be quite cool and it does potentially add some ‘spice’ to the song. But on the other hand, however, I do feel like it is quite overused in the chorus, and so the effect does become lost. The post-chorus “Honey Honey Honey Honey” and “Hurry, Hurry, Hurry, Hurry” sequence is probably my favourite part of the song. Its addictive and is a catchy hook. The “Follow me” start to the verses was also a likeable moment in the song. I like the atmospheric touch in the instrumentation to the beginning of the second verse. The rest of Honey or Spice does fall short however, with both the verses and choruses being practically unmemorable. The vocals and rapping don’t excite me in these parts, nor do the hooks and melodies have a similar hold on me as the post-chorus did. Overall, I welcome Honey and Spice‘s reintroduction of LIGHTSUM with a bolder sound, but the execution of the final product is just not there.

The group shows both a ‘honey’ (youthful, cutesy) and a ‘spice’ (mature) side to themselves in the music video. The video depicts a guy falling for the group, after he bumps into them and is given a taste of both sides of the group. It ends off with the guy humming to the LIGHTSUM’s new song, and I like that ending. It is a bit neutral, but it strikes a balance for the two sides of the group depicted in the video. I really liked how smooth and clever the way the song started in the video. The “Follow me” lines were definitely well utilised. Also, as a foodie myself, I really liked how they used food to depict the sweeter vs. fiercer side of the group. It is logical and makes complete sense.

The choreography for Honey or Spice was decent. I liked the chorus routine, but there really isn’t much for me to comment on in that part or the wider routine. The only thing I can say is that the choreography feels and looks like it suits the song, which you expect (or hope for, at the very least).

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 7.3/10

[Double Review] Either Way + Off The Record – IVE

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 2 Comments

Later this week, IVE will be making their comeback with Baddie. But before that, I have two of IVE’s pre-release singles (Either Way & Off The Record) that I need to review. I will doing that today. Either Way is the first pre-release single, which dropped on 25 September 2023. Off The Record is the second pre-release single, and was dropped on 6 October 2023. Baddie / Either Way / Off The Record follows on from IVE’s first studio length album, I’ve IVE, which featured the title track I AM.

Both Either Way and Off The Record takes on a subdued sound, something that IVE hasn’t really promoted with ever. I also find both releases to be the blandest IVE releases to date. They do both have their individual charms, however. For me, Either Way is the prettier of the two pre-release singles. And I put this down to IVE’s vocals and the melodies in the song, which the combination of sounds immaculate. There is something to the variety of melodies that the members do a good job of delivering in Either Way and the distinctly more nasal tone than usual. When it comes to the chorus, the song becomes more vibrant and profound, particularly thanks to Yujin’s contribution to the chorus. This boost the song up quite nicely, and helps add more variety in the song. The “I, I, I” and “My, My, My” hooks were pretty striking, as well. But apart from that, nothing else really stands out in Either Way. The slow and paced synths instrumental was interesting take on the balladry sound, but there isn’t anything memorable coming out of it. Maybe it is atmospheric when I think back on Either Way retrospectively, but that doesn’t come to me as a first impression.

Off The Record is the opposite – in the sense the song’s charm is actually the instrumentation and the vocals don’t do anything to me. The instrumentation for Off The Record is a lot punchier thanks to its underlying groovy vibes. Off The Record ends up settling for a mid-tempo upbeat nature, which I find to be quite pleasant. The bridge of Off The Record features an interpolation of The Cardigans’ Lovefool, which admittedly is the biggest highlight in both songs that I am reviewing today. Elsewhere in the song, the rapping in Off The Record was also quite well done, with the soft rap-speak motif adopted in the song quite fitting for the mid-tempo atmosphere and pleasant vibes I just mentioned. But as mentioned above, the vocals are the weak point of the song. I just didn’t find them interesting and I honestly have no memory of them once the song is over. It is quite disappointing, especially since Either Way proves they are capable of sounding beautiful.

Either Way‘s lyrics has the message that “we cannot be free from other people’s gazes”. For the most part, we see the members alone. But the scene with all the other members staring at Leeseo through the mirror was a very clever way of depicting the people’s gaze. This causes an internal struggle that leads them to isolate themselves from the rest of the world. In the end, the members come to term with this struggle and put it behind them in the decorated room. What I do find to be quite interesting is that the music video starts in that exact room with the gazes mentioned above, so I think that represents that this is a struggle the members feel on a day-by-day basis and gives meaning to the “we cannot be free” part of the song’s message.

The music video for Off The Record is a lot brighter and light-hearted. Essentially, we see the members confess their secrets during a late night slumber party to one another. And their secrets happen to be about the person they love, based on what I could make out from the video. But rather than being something quite innocent, which is what the video attempts to convince you of, the secret appears to be a bit more scandalous, with the members splitting up another relationship to be with the person they love. I am unsure if it was successful or not, but it was definitely a sinister and unexpected secret to see the members confess to.

Either Way
Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.7/10

Off The Record
Song – 7/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 7.8/10

[Album Review] ★★★★★ (5-STAR) (3rd Studio Album) – Stray Kids

Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged 4 Comments

After a series of posts reviewing the side tracks from ★★★★★ (5-STAR), I am finally getting around to posting the entire album review for ★★★★★ (5-STAR) today. Slight apologies in the delay, as this was supposed to be posted on Sunday, but I become preoccupied with some personal stuff yesterday night. So I have rescheduled it for today instead. ★★★★★ (5-STAR) dropped in early June 2023 with S-Class leading a total of 12 songs. Many of the side-tracks, as mentioned above, have their own song review post as they had their own music video. But there are a few tracks that hadn’t received a music video, so my thoughts on throe songs are contained below. Overall, ★★★★★ (5-STAR) is a very positive and dynamic listening experience. One might even say – there is not a bad song on this album release!

Oh, as a side note, guess what officially announced last week – Stray Kids comeback for November 2023 with 樂-STAR (ROCK-STAR). So I most likely will be doing multiple Stray Kids review in the near future all over again.

★★★★★ (5-STAR) Album Cover

1. Hall of Fame (위인전) – Kicking off Stray Kids’ 3rd studio album is Hall of Fame. And it does so with a very bold approach. Felix’s lyrics “Shaking the industry, Quaking reality” actually sums up Hall of Fame quite succinctly, with the group making sure to do just that in its opening track. It brings together R&B and trap metal, the latter is actually a unique sound in KPOP as far as I can remember. The rapping works extremely well in the track, channeling the energy very well. The vocals were iffy in some parts, but powerful at other moments. (8/10)

2. S-Class (특) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for S-Class. (8.5/10)

3. ITEM – The fact that ITEM doesn’t have a music video is a massive mysterious for me. To me, ITEM is the most recognisable track following the title track. And it due to the aggressive nature of the chorus. It is BOLD, shocking to the core and just so damn memorable. The vocals help balances out the track, so it isn’t too much. I also like the piercing end of the vocal lines in the choruses, which helps its rise to the same level of the rapping. And the rapping had amazing flow and fire to it. The arcade-like sample in the background is also a memorable aspect of the song. (10/10)

4. Super Bowl – Super Bowl ended up having a music video, but as part of its Japanese release (but I will be passing that up to review Super Bowl in this album review post). On ★★★★★ (5-STAR), however, Super Bowl is an all-English track. From what I am reading, Super Bowl was the original God’s Menu. The whispery aspect of the song reminds me of ASMR, with cooking featured heavily as part of that trend. The rapping and all-member parts were very cool. The chorus is also quite iconic, given it features both whispery and all-member delivery that I liked in the track. (8.5/10)

5. TOPLINE (ft. Tiger JK) – Click here to read the full review for TOPLINE. (8.5/10)

6. DLC – Click here to read the full review for DLC. (8/10)

7. GET LIT (죽어보자) – Click here to read the full review for GET LIT. (9/10)

8. Collision (충돌) – The final track that did not get a music video is Collision. But no music video is fine here, as the R&B track still manages to capture my attention with its jazzy vibes, saxophone feature and the vocal-centric approach. The rapping in the track is equally as good, but I think the jazzier sound helps the vocalists flourish in this song more so than the rappers. (8/10)  

9. FNF – Click here to read the full review for FNF. (8/10)

10. Youtiful – Click here to read the full review for Youtiful. (9/10)

11. THE SOUND (Korean Version) – I previously reviewed the Japanese version of THE SOUND and will be carrying my thoughts/rating from that review to this review. Click here to read the review for the Japanese version of THE SOUND. (9/10)

12. Mixtape: Time Out – Click here to read the full review for Mixtape: Time Out. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.6/10

★★★★★(5-STAR) Teaser Image

[Review] Hear Me Out – EXO

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 1 Comment

As mentioned the other day, if I am ‘going back in time’ to review a pre-release single that I hadn’t review yet, it is a strong indication that I am gearing up to review the album the song is on. With me reviewing Hear Me Out today (which was the second pre-release single on EXO’s EXIST studio album, following Let Me In), I can confirm an album review for EXIST is coming to the blog some time later this month. But for now, here is my thoughts on Hear Me Out.

When Hear Me Out is was first release in June 2023, I didn’t have much to say about the pre-release. It was enjoyable and pleasant, but there was nothing really to fan over, in my opinion. Three months on and I still don’t have much to say about Hear Me Out. In no way do I mean this is a bad or negative way. Hear Me Out is a rather straight forward chill R&B track. The instrumental has this subtle grooviness to it, which keeps the track mid-tempo throughout. The grooviness, which comes from the presence of the bass guitar in the background, gave the track some character. The members’ vocals sound velvety and smooth, while the rappers came off as easygoing in the song. The melodies were quite light and nicely done, and the lyrics conveys one’s honest heart to their prospective partner who is hesitating to open their heart for love (taken from Soompi). Overall, Hear Me Out is a fine pre-release and side track on the album.

The video shows the EXO members hanging out with one another. I am not entirely sure how the video relates to the song, but my best guess is that the group continues to hang out with one another until their prospective partners open their hearts to them. We see them tired, lowkey and literally just hanging about during the day, as if they are waiting for something. But as soon it is becomes night and there is no sign that something is going to happen, the members come together to play games, go bowling and even take pictures in photo booths. But if that is not the case, then Hear Me Out serves as an easygoing background track to the members having fun. Also, it is absolutely nice to see KAI one more time before he enlisted into the military and miss out on the Cream Soda comeback.

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

[International Song Reviews] JUN (SEVENTEEN), TFN, Mark Tuan (GOT7), TXT & Jonas Brothers

Posted in International Song Review, JPOP, MPOP, Western POPTagged , , , , , 3 Comments

Another International Song Reviews post. This was supposed to be posted yesterday, but I was feeling very tired for some reason (like to the point where I could barely open my eyes at the grocery store, where there is a lot of stimuli that should have kept me awake). Decided to have a nap for an hour to write this post, but ended up over-napping to dinner. But I am feeling awake right now and ready to tackle the post, which will cover releases from JUN (from SEVENTEEN), TFN, Mark Tuan (from GOT7) and TXT and Jonas Brothers collaboration single! This post follows on from my review of Stray Kids’ Social Path (ft. LiSA), TXT’s pre-release single Back For More (with Anitta), Jung Kook’s newest release 3D (with Jack Harlow) and aespa’s Better Things.

PSYCHO – JUN (SEVENTEEN)

Language: Chinese
Release Date: 4 July 2023
Release Type: PSYCHO (4th Digital Single)

JUN’s PSYCHO is an instant like for me and I found myself playing the song constantly to relive the amazing instrumentation, vocals and atmosphere within PSYCHO. The entirety of PSYCHO is very well executed by JUN and the producers, but the best part has to be the chorus. Firstly, the transition from pre-chorus to chorus is flawless. With the chorus, the rhythmic bass beats and the twinkling instrumental elements creates such an alluring and hypnotic effect that pulled me in for more. The combination also creates this haunting feeling which goes so well with the PSYCHO theme that JUN features as the concept for this comeback. The instrumental bridge serves as an extension of what we hear in the background of the chorus, with further work to it to make it edgier and more suspenseful. This leads into the outro where JUN uses his raspy tone in a shouty manner that sounds so good. PSYCHO is definitely one of the best songs of the year, in my books.

Whatever you think of JUN as part of SEVENTEEN, on-camera or behind the scenes, put that to one side. His acting in this video is so good, playing a psycho so well. The editing definitely helps, but props to JUN, who is also an actor (in case you didn’t know). In addition to his acting, JUN has his body on display throughout the video and looks amazing in all the outfits we see him in. The video ends on a very interesting note, with the car looking like it is going to run into him. Amazing editing here, as I don’t think JUN was actually going to be hit in the car. As for the choreography, I really like how that hypnotic vibe was carried through with the twirling finger in arm move. I also really like the idea of the exaggerated smile within the choreography and basically the rest of the routine. There might be enough for a dance performance nomination at the end of the year (hint hint).

Overall Rating – 9.8/10

ICE CREAM – TFN

Language: Spanish
Release Date: 17 August 2023
Release Type: ICE CREAM (2nd Spanish Single)

After last year’s onslaught of multiple singles and releases, TFN has been very quiet in 2023. Prior to ICE CREAM‘s release, the group only released one single and one mini-album (both of in Japan) this year. Anyhow, what makes ICE CREAM super interesting is that it is a Spanish release, which to me felt like the next logical market for KPOP to expand into, simply because of the massive Latin influence KPOP had a few years back. Aside from the different language (which isn’t a first for KPOP believe it or not), I really like the pompous energy and beats in ICE CREAM. It makes for a super fun and dynamic listen. The brass elements adds to all of this, as well. The vocal and rapping work was equally as bombastic as the instrumentation, which isn’t a bad take on the song. They actually work well with the instrumentation. My only problem with ICE CREAM is that because it starts off and maintains the same energy throughout, the song does get repetitive towards the end. The instrumental break, which goes for a more dance approach to its instrumental – different yet fitting, does help cut the repetition. Altogether, ICE CREAM sounds like a song you would hear at a party. And given all within it, I wouldn’t mind celebrating to it.

As just mentioned, the music video is set at a poolside party, which is a fair call. That is where ice cream would taste best on a summery afternoon. It also looks like the pool is attached to a nice set of villas. The only time the setting changes is for the dance break/end of the song, where the daytime becomes night time and the villa becomes to the setting (not the poolside). Aside from that, the video features some fun closeups of the members. However, I wished there was more to the video. For the most part, the choreography could have been more dynamic and fun. Instead, we got pretty weak delivery from the members (I don’t know if they were tired or being cautious of something, but it looked like minimal effort was being put into the performance) and the moves that look like the choreographer had put together moments before the music video shoot. The most dynamic bit of the choreography was during the dance break, which looked cool. I wished the rest of the routine was just as dynamic and upbeat as the dance break.

Overall Rating – 7.4/10

Everyone Else Fades – Mark Tuan (GOT7)

Language: English
Release Date: 1 September 2023
Release Type: Everyone Else Fades (Digital Single)

The newest release on this post is Mark Tuan’s Everyone Else Fades. As soon as I listened to this song, I knew I had to cover it on the blog in the near future! Well, I have elected that day in the near future to be today. For the most part, Everyone Else Fades fits within the R&B pop genre. But it is the presence of rock in the chorus, that I like the most in the track. It gives the preceding line to the chorus “Everyone else fades into the background” so much more impact and delivers some oomph to the track, which in turn helps the track resonates with the listener. Mark Tuan’s vocals throughout Everyone Else Fades felt very raw yet soothing, delivering a heartfelt message of being around a person they love and having the focus be on them. with everyone else fading into the background. The harmonies stay in my mind after the song finishes and the impact of the central line keeps on replaying in my head. It is definitely a relatable and meaningful song, and also an effective one, as well.

The music video features Mark Tuan and actress/model Davika Hoorne at the beach. Despite the video featuring both of them, I like how it was edited to ensure that Davika Hoorne was the focus, which helps emphasise the lyrics and its message. The lack of other people in the video also helps. Even Mark Tuan, who should have been the focus of the video given that it is his song, felt delegated to the background during those shared shots. Don’t come at me though, as the video does offset this with solo shots of Mark Tuan elsewhere in the video, and I would like to know the meaning off the floating papers, as I felt that was pretty intriguing elements during his shots. But overall, it is a music video that picks up the message and gives effect to it quite well.

Overall Rating – 9/10

Do It Like That – TXT & Jonas Brothers

Language: English
Release Date: 7 July 2023
Release Type: Do It Like That (Digital Single)

Due to my massive backlog of songs to review, I hadn’t had a chance to review Do It Like That yet. This collaboration single between TXT and the Jonas Brothers (which I found to be quite unexpected pairing) is such a fun, light and fluffy listen, making it appropriate for the summery season where you don’t want something too heavy. Instead, Do It Like That is a very easygoing number that remains upbeat all throughout. I like the use of falsettos and bright tone to the instrumentation to maintain the song’s lightness. It actually took me a while to figure out that the different between the band and the group, they just sound so alike to me in Do It Like That. Not entirely sure if that is a good thing, but I wasn’t bothered by that. Overall, a neat collaboration between TXT and Jonas Brother.

The music video is fairly simple, with the Jonas Brothers playing their instrumentation whilst singing and TXT was dancing whilst singing, over white background. This to me matches the simplicity and lightness of the song. Anything more would have felt a bit too much for the song. The outfits worn by the two artists popped out over the white background, which was a nice effect to have in the video. It would have nicer to see TXT and Jonas Brothers interact with one another, but that would have only been possible had they come together to shoot the video (which was not the case). As for the choreography, the parts we did see in the music video (i.e. the chorus sequence designated for becoming a TikTok trend) is not complex by today’s standard. But it wasn’t until we saw the entire routine on their Lollapolooza stage did I fully realize how fun and lighthearted the choreography was. I quite liked it and how fitting it felt for Do It Like That.

Overall Rating – 8.5/10

[Weekly KPOP Chart] 1st Week of October 2023

Posted in Weekly ChartsTagged Leave a comment

Welcome back to the Weekly KPOP Charts, this time for the 1st Week of October 2023. Another short intro to get right into the post, as I have some posts to draft and schedule for this week. So I am going to get right to it with the Weekly KPOP Chart post for the 1st Week of October 2023.

Recap of the past week

It has been a busy week this past week. Here is a recap of what I posted:

Joining all those new releases above this week are the following songs:

  • Magic Hour – TOZ
  • Never Try To Look Back – Lee Jinsol
  • Synchronize – CNBLUE
  • F-R-I-E-N-D-S – FTSILAND
  • Paradise – Jueun (DIA)
  • WIND – Wony & Yeonseo – (We;Na)
  • FULL METAL JACKET – EPEX
  • You & Me – JENNIE (BLACKPINK)
  • Scented Things – Yesung (SUPER JUNIOR)
  • Sure Thing – 82MAJOR
  • How Was It – Kino (PENTAGON) & Fudasca lentra
  • I WANT THAT – (G)I-DLE
  • Don’t Go Insane – DPR IAN
  • Off The Record – IVE

Throwback Song of the Week

This week’s throwback song is a much more recent release, but as it isn’t part of the Weekly KPOP Chart system anymore, it becomes eligible to be part of this section of the Weekly KPOP Chart posts. The song in question is SHINee’s The Feeling, which coincides with the album review for SHINee’s 8th studio album, HARD (link above).

Non-Korean song of the week

Social Path, the Japanese collaboration between Stray Kids and LiSA, continues its reign as the top Non-Korean song of a third week on its run on the Weekly KPOP Charts. It ranks in the 4th position this week. There are a few more weeks ahead, so let’s see if it can get to a fourth week.

The Charts

Congratulations to EVNEE and their debut single TROUBLE for rising to the top of my Weekly KPOP Charts for the 1st week of October 2023. For more of the charts, keep on scrolling down below.

Pos.SongArtistChange
1TROUBLEEVNEE(▲ 37)
2Love EffectONF(NEW)
3Baila ConmigoONEUS(▲ 5)
4Social PathStray Kids ft. LiSA(▼ 3)
5Fact CheckNCT 127(NEW)
6LET’S DANCELEE CHAE YEON(▲ 24)
7SUPER BOWL (Japanese Version)Stray Kids(▲ 75)
8Killin’ Me GoodJIHYO (TWICE)(▲ 23)
9Get A GuitarRIIZE(▲ 2)
10Back For MoreTXT with Anitta(▼ 6)
11GalileoKep1er(▼ 5)
12Off The RecordIVE(NEW)
13LIP GLOSSTHE BOYZ(▲ 60)
14I Love My BodyHWASA (MAMAMOO)(▲ 41)
15Good & GreatKEY (SHINee)(▲ 75)
16CHEEKYEL7Z UP(▲ 74)
17NEW TOMORROWFANTASY BOYS(▲ 18)
18N.Y.C.TTaeil & Haechan (NCT)(▲ 24)
19SomebodyD.O (EXO)(▼ 16)
20Either WayIVE(▲ 36)
213DJung Kook (BTS) ft. Jack Harlow(▼ 16)
22Better Thingsaespa(▼ 15)
23Baggy JeansNCT U(▼ 8)
24BubbleSTAYC(▼ 22)
25On My WayKIM WOOJIN(▼ 6)
26Ready or NotCRAVITY(▲ 11)
27FEARLESSRolling Quartz(▲ 63)
28Vroom VroomTEMPEST(▲ 39)
29DALALAYUJU(▲ 61)
30Golden AgeNCT(▼ 14)

Songs leaving the charts

The following songs have wrapped up their nine week run in the charts system, and will no longer be on the charts from next week:

  • DUBI DUBI – ARTBEAT v
  • SUPER BOWL (Japanese Version) – Stray Kids
  • Mirage of Flower – CHEN (EXO)
  • Don’t Leave Yet – Eric Nam
  • SPEED UP – Elkie
  • Love Me Again – V (BTS)
  • Rainy Days – V (BTS)
  • Wanderer – NELL
  • HEARTBEAT – TAN
  • Fly Moon Night – W

[Album Review] HARD (8th Studio Album) – SHINee

Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged 2 Comments

Next album on the blog to be reviewed is SHINee’s HARD, their 8th studio album that celebrates the group’s 15th anniversary since their debut in 2008. The studio album features a total of 10 tracks, including the title track HARD and the pre-release track The Feeling (which I have binging as part of the preparations and writing for this review). For me, I found the album to be a mix bag of tracks – some of them were very good (and most songs on HARD leaned towards this end of the spectrum), whilst some others were rather weak. Find out where the side tracks lie on the spectrum down below.

HARD Album Cover

1. HARD (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for HARD. (8/10)

2. JUICE – JUICE is quite overwhelming from the first second, with so much going on in the instrumentation alongside the vocals. The track is obviously designed to be bold and ‘hit hard’ from the first second, but it just took over and it all sounded jarring. As JUICE progresses, the EDM and hip-hop song does settle a bit and becomes a little more appreciable. However, it does feel like it could become too much at any moment. The different detailing in the instrumentation already, along with the softer direction of the bridge does turn JUICE into a messy affair, and I guess I wished there be more cohesion in the track. On a more positive note, the members do sound quite good with their bold vocals in the chorus, and the hooks are definitely all there. (6.5/10)

3. 10X – Following on from JUICE is 10X, which production is much more streamlined and cleaner. The breathy vocals throughout the chorus or MINHO’s deeper vocal repetition, along with the jazzy influence from the piano, makes 10X so groovy. I had a hard time getting this track out of my head. (9/10)

4. Satellite – Satellite is such a smooth number, one that I can listen to again and again. The vocals at the start and throughout the chorus just brings the members together so well. The vocals elsewhere in the track follows a similar direction and each member sounds so good in the song. I also really loved the wavy flow of Satellite that just propels the song forward. Altogether, you have one dreamy track in Satellite. (10/10)

5. Identity – The synth instrumentation here makes Identity interesting. There is a funkiness to the song that is a good starting point in making this track. The flourishes help liven up the track and creates a dynamic piece. Some of them are quite punchy, as well. The vocal work follows a similar set up as per Satellite, with the members singing individually in the verses and all the members coming together in the chorus. In both cases, the vocals are tenacious, which makes it a strong track. (9/10)

6. The Feeling (Pre-Release Track) – Click here to read the full review for The Feeling. (9/10)

7. Like It – Just like in Identity, the funkiness in the instrumental starts off Like It strongly. But it is the shrilly-like synth in the chorus that really makes the song pop out. The electric guitar at the end was also a really nice touch. Like It is the type of track you expect to hear on the dance floor, and I would gladly dance along to the music should I ever hear it pop up. The vocals, particularly in the chorus, felt nostalgic and were definitely a solid effort from the members. The melodies and hooks were quite pleasant, as well. Another strong track, overall. (9/10)

8. Sweet Misery – Sweet Misery could have been a stunner. Vocally, I quite liked where the song was going. I really love the wispy and soft ‘Sweet Misery’ in the chorus, which I find to be an iconic aspect of the track. The rest of the vocals that follow through in the chorus were nicely done, as well. The verses were sounded so good, as well. But the instrumentation in the latter parts of the choruses does overwhelm Sweet Misery and detract it away from what should have been a vocally beautiful track. (6.5/10)

9. Insomnia (불면증) – Insomnia enters R&B territory with a sensual and smooth number. I really like the jazzier moments in the instrumentation. SHINee has proved themselves vocally with R&B numbers in the past, and they do it again in Insomnia. The harmonies add to the appeal of the track, while the rapping parts keep the song interesting and intriguing. (8/10)

10. Gravity – The final song on this album is Gravity. It is a soft pop track, with the members’ vocal work and melodies feeling so comforting and inviting. I like how the members add to the softness of the track, by keeping the vocal work consistent through and through. The only exception “Gravity Gravity” pierces through the softness, creating a bold moment in the song that keys the song’s title and hook into your head. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.3/10

HARD Teaser Image

[Album Review] THE WORLD EP.2: OUTLAW (9th Mini Album) – ATEEZ

Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged 1 Comment

ATEEZ returned in June this year with their 9th mini-album THE WORLD EP.2: OUTLAW. If you haven’t guessed it by no by looking at the title of this post, this mini-album is the focus of this album review. The title track featured on this mini-album is BOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS), and there is an additional five side tracks on the mini-album. All my thoughts on the song are down below, with a few songs getting a 10/10 from me. Also, intensity is the recurring theme in all of the song on this mini-album, featuring in some form in each song.

THE WORLD EP.2: OUTLAW Album Cover

1. This World – Opening up the mini-album is This World, which features such an intense and electrifying set of synths. The way the song starts and ends with the incline towards the fast tempo was quite striking from the get-go. When This World reaches its chorus, the song turns into an equally intense rock sound appears. The vocals and rapping were all so riveting all throughout, from the soft vocals at the start to the powerful and explosive rapping at the song’s peak. A very strong opener. (9/10)

2. Dune – Where does one even begin with Dune. It clearly continues the group’s exploration of intense and aggressive synth work that they featured in the previous track and even some of their past tracks (like Guerrilla from last year). But ATEEZ always introduces something new to differentiate their tracks. And for Dune, that comes in the form of the very interesting guitar-like instrument at the start. It is quite ear-catching and gives off a very unique sound. This is followed by San’s falsetto ending pre-chorus, which I found to be quite memorable. The group then takes things to a whole new level of intensity with its chorus, but it is not until the bridge and final chorus sequence that I just completely blows me away as I am always convinced that ATEEZ cannot do more. Yet, they prove me wrong once again. The deeper and rougher vocals from Yeosang in the chorus was super cool and his presence alongside Jongho’s vocals in the final chorus was perfect. Jongho’s high notes and ad-libs pierces through. The blastful and rush of energy from the instrumentation was also just so intense that it felt blissful. I found so much to enjoy and be in awe within Dune. (10/10)

3. BOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS) (Title Track) – Click here for the full review for BOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS). (8/10)

4. DJANGO – Taking the mini-album down a notch ever so slightly is DJANGO. I do appreciate the faintest relief that DJANGO provides the mini-album, especially following Dune and the title track. That being said, the track is still super intense in its own ways, like how it subtly built intensity by way of atmospheric synths (or is a choir background?) in the bridge. I also found like the vocalists got a chance to shine by the melodies in the chorus (which is my favourite aspect of DJANGO). Sure, the vocals do come off shouty to match the synth intensity and boldness, but they really do hold their ground in the track. The rappers themselves do an amazing job nonetheless to still give DJANGO that a powerful hip-hop and hyped edge that makes it another captivating listen overall. (10/10) 

5. Wake Up – That faint relief in DJANGO didn’t last long, with DJANGO ending its run with intensity on par with what was present prior to DJANGO starting. Wake Up adds to the intensity, once again. You got Jongho’s high notes in the choruses, the rapid synth drumming, Hongjoong’s fast pace rapping and the other members shouting in the background behind said high notes all contributing to the intensity in Wake Up. On the other hand, I also did like the dips that Wake Up provided via the verses, heavenly vocals in the pre-choruses and the autotuned chanting/background harmonisations that kicks off the choruses. It balances it all out so Wake Up isn’t another overwhelming number on our ears. A well conceptualised track on this mini-album. (9/10)

6. Outlaw – Outlaw ends with what felt like the album’s blandest track, simply because I found it to be the least intense track of the bunch. I wished for cohesiveness that Outlaw followed through on this front. For the most part, it didn’t. But I did like the balance between vocals and rapping in this track. It wasn’t until the bridge of Outlaw does things get interesting. It sees some piano work, Jongho’s dragged out high-note, some bouncier synths and a sharper chant to end the track on. Some of these elements (i.e., the chant) was heard earlier in the song, but the end just adds a bit more body to make it punchier and impactful. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 9/10

THE WORLD EP.2: OUTLAW Teaser Image

[Review] Fact Check – NCT 127

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , 4 Comments

One of the group releasing new music at the end of the week (i.e., today) is NCT 127, who makes their second comeback of the year, following on from Ay-Yo in January 2023. This time, the group returns with their 5th studio album, Fact Check, and is lead the title track of the same name. This comeback also follows from NCT 127’s participation in NCT’s 4th full group studio album Golden Age which was released back in August of this year.

If I am basing Fact Check on my past experience with NCT 127 title tracks from the first release of an album, I am going to be disappointed by it. I much prefer the title track of the repackaged version one of their albums, which I have no clue is happening this time around. However, interestingly, I am not disappointed by Fact Check. I actually find the instrumentation to be quite rhythmic, especially during the chorus with the well-paced beat and percussive elements. And there is no obnoxious synth (looking at you, Sticker) to ruin the song for me. The post-chorus segment was also quite an entrancing listen, especially at the end of Fact Check. Elsewhere, I liked the suspense and tension created during the vocal-centric pre-choruses of Fact Check and its background. The vocal work in Fact Check‘s bridge was a standout moment and I liked the powerfulness it yielded from Doyoung, Jaehyun, Taeil and Haechan. The rapping that follows from Mark and Taeyong, along with the further dramatic drumming and orchestration, was quite cool, as well. There are still weak points to Fact Check. The rapping at the start of the song could have been a little less in your face and the chorus’ hook could have been more compelling (even though I do find it catchy). But overall, Fact Check is one of their better works in recent times.

Cool is the recurring word I would use to describe this music video. I am not a big fan of the initial look that Mark donned in the video. But elsewhere in the video, Mark and the other members all looked fine. My favourite set of outfits has to be the one that are more of a traditional colour that are worn at the traditional palace location. Talking about locations, I found the sets and locations throughout the video are all very stylish and cool in their own way. Even the post-production looks cool (but I question why it looks like Mark is holding a goat that has been CGI into the video – did they run out of budget for a real goat?).

From what I can see from the choreography aspect of this comeback is that it very much embraces the rhythmic aspect of the song. There is also a subtle bounce to the choreography, which keeps in line with the upbeatness of the track. The best bit, for me, however is the t-rex-like walk (sorry, I don’t know if there is a properly name for the walk, but the way their arms are reminds me of a t-rex’s short arms) during the final post-chorus.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.4/10