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.

[Weekly KPOP Chart] 4th Week of August 2023

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Welcome back to the Weekly KPOP Charts for the 4th Week of August 2023. I am a bit behind on my day today, so it is going to be quick intro. So here is the Weekly KPOP Chart post for the 4th Week of August 2023.

Recap of the past week

This past week, I posted:

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

  • Love Lee – AKMU
  • PERFORMER – VANNER
  • RUSH – MUST B
  • Picture – HYO (SNSD)
  • Red Diamond – XIA
  • Ima -Even if the world ends tomorrow- – SEVENTEEN
  • Time to Shine – H1-KEY
  • T.T.M – iKON
  • PANORAMA – iKON
  • Unbeatable – TIOT
  • Bambambam – Yerin
  • Remember – January
  • STARLIGHT – SECRET NUMBER
  • Time – Jaechan (DKZ)
  • The 6th Summer – PLAVE
  • You’re Beautiful – THE ROSE
  • let it be summer – Young K (DAY6)
  • Homeboy – xikers

Throwback Song of the Week

This week’s throwback song is JYJ’s Get Out. That was released back in 2011 and just brought back so many memories for me.

Non-Korean Song of the Week

Each week, I feature the highest ranking non-Korean song by a Korean artist in this part of the Weekly KPOP Charts. For the 4th Week of August 2023, that song is aespa’s Better Things.

The Charts

STAYC’s Bubble is the top song and artist for this week’s Weekly KPOP Charts. For more of the charts, keep on scrolling down below.

Pos.SongArtistChange
1BubbleSTAYC(▲ 2)
2MemoriesRIIZE(NEW)
3BONA BONATREASURE(▲20)
4SLAYEVERGLOW(▲ 2)
5Golden AgeNCT 2023(NEW)
6Drive5Hwiyoung (SF9)(▲65)
7LOLOYugyeom (GOT7)(▲ 64)
8Fly Moon NightW(▲ 59)
9PERFORMERVANNER(NEW)
10Better Thingsaespa(▲ 37)
11MOVET5 (TREASURE)(▲ 2)
12PsychoJUN (SEVENTEEN)(▲ 28)
13ISTJNCT DREAM(▼ 2)
14WE GOThe Wind(▲ 57)
15ETANewJeans(▲ 28)
16In BloomZEROBASEONE(▲ 4)
17Sara SaraSEVENTEEN(▲ 54)
18YoutifulStray Kids(▲ 53)
19PlanetBXB(▲ 43)
20Six7eenHORIZON(▲ 37)
21Killin’ Me GoodJIHYO (TWICE)(▼ 16)
22LIP GLOSSTHE BOYZ(▼ 21)
23SevenJung Kook (BTS) ft. Latto(▲ 8)
24Do or Diexikers(▼ 12)
25Fast ForwardJeon Somi(▲ 5)
26CAKEITZY(▼ 22)
27Cream SodaEXO(▼ 10)
28HARDSHINee(▲ 18)
29Touch+tripleS +(KR)ystal Eyes (ft. Sohyun)(▲ 14)
30blessing in disguiseHuh Yunjin (LE SSERAFIM)(▲ 28)

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:

  • Over The Rainbow – Hi-Fi Un!corn
  • 4:ever – TEAM 24:00
  • EXCEL – 8TURN
  • Last Night – ABLE ft. Owen
  • HARD – SHINee
  • Don’t Leave Me – Eunice
  • Hate Rodrigo – CHOI YENA ft. YUQI ((G)I-DLE)
  • Dive Into – Han Seung Woo (VICTON)
  • Touch+ – tripleS +(KR)ystal Eyes (ft. Sohyun)
  • House On A Hill – Eric Nam

[Album Review] I’ve IVE (1st Studio Album) – IVE

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IVE’s 1st studio album, I’ve IVE, is today’s album review focus. It released back in April of this year and features the pre-release single Kitsch, the title track I AM, and nine additional side tracks. 11 tracks in total, it is clear that this album full to the brim with new IVE songs – a nice change since IVE has only released single albums up until the release of the studio album.

While the presence of more songs from IVE does excite me, the studio album was more of a mix bag for me. There are some standout songs (one of which is the title track) on this album, but there also some fairly so-so and weak tracks on here that I am personally not a fan of. Find out which songs falls on which side of the spectrum by continuing to read my thoughts on the songs below.

I’ve IVE Album Cover

1. Blue Blood – Kicking off the studio album is Blue Blood. From the very first second and the presence of those strings, you can tell the instrumentation tries to set up Blue Blood to be a striking track. And I am very happy to say it does achieve this goal. However, I did think the vocals could have been less processed and a lot sharper, and those vocals embedded in the background in the verses could have been lost, for Blue Blood to reach that striking impression sooner. But a strong opener nonetheless. (8/10)

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

3. Kitsch (Pre-Release Track) – Click here to read the full review for Kitsch. (8/10)

4. Lips – Lips reminds me of a more defined Alcohol-Free, especially thanks to its beachside vibes and the bossa nova touches. It is a very chill number that you could relax to poolside. I do like the brief pause before the chorus of Lips and how that sets up the central sequence of the track. But it is IVE that holds back the song for me, as their vocals felt very dull and don’t really evoke much excitement from me. The instrumentation was there, but the execution was plain. (6/10)

5. Heroine – I personally would describe Heroine as a low-key track, as there isn’t much going on. But it is one of those that manages to stick in your mind thanks to the memorable melodies and hooks. The low-key vibes come about from the use of higher registers and a much lower tone used during those descending hooks during the post-choruses. The synths keep a low profile but also are aesthetic at the same time. (9/10)

6. Mine – Mine is an alright track. It is an example of a song that is quite linear and never really strays away from its backbone. We did get a bridge where everything was stripped back to vocals and a light presence of guitar. But in a soft pop track like Mine, it isn’t really a major change up. I did like the pleasantries from the instrumentals and the breathy vocals at the start and during the bridge. But everything else in Mine felt muted and uneventful. (6/10)  

7. Hypnosis (섬찟) – For me, Hypnosis my most disliked track on this album. Its elements just don’t seem to meld with one another and everything just felt jarring and distinct. There also seemed to be no attempt to try to bring everything together. Aside from the instrumentation, I wasn’t vibing with the members’ vocals as well. While the members did introduce some much-needed smoothness via their vocals to Hypnosis, their vocals lacked emotion and just didn’t have an appealing effect to them. (4/10)

8. NOT YOUR GIRL – Korea is currently in its final weeks of Summer (though at the time of releases, they were gearing up for Summer) and the weather is ever-so-slowly warming up where I am. No matter what, I am enjoying the summery vibes that NOT YOUR GIRL was bringing to the album from the get go. There is a very bright energy coming from the song, and the instrumentation feels very tropical. I liked the energetic delivery by the IVE members and how well it compliments that aforementioned summery vibe. (7/10)

9. Next Page (궁금해) – Next Page is an interesting but enjoyable mix. I really liked the deep drumming in the background of the pre-chorus, and how this contrasts with the more pleasant and melodically flowy chorus that follows. The chorus also has a much cleaner production to it and there were backing vocals to help heighten the melodies they members bring via their own vocals. This is in comparison to the verses of Next Page, which went down a similar route as the choruses, but ended up feeling more boring as it went without the aspects that made the choruses stand out. (7.5/10)

10. Cherish – Good old plain R&B takes over completely in Cherish and I am all for it. I really like how the instrumentation doesn’t confuse, saturates or muddles the R&B sound in anyway. It is straightforward and direct to the point. the softness of their vocals in this track was impeccable, and the melodies are so smooth. This helps makes the chorus stand out. The rapping, an element in many of the above songs that I haven’t really touched on, was well executed in Cherish’s choruses and was a winning element overall in Cherish. (9/10)

11. Shine With Me – Per usual with most albums, the final track on the album is a song for the fans. And I’ve IVE is no exception. I actually liked how the chorus of Shine With Me steps up a level (relative to the verses) and the chimes add a very beautiful effect to the song. The strings in the bridge added a nice hint of dramatism without overdoing it. Their vocals were dreamy and lovable. It was a nice track overall, which I am sure their fandom adores. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.5/10

I’ve IVE Teaser Image

[International Song Reviews] Kep1er, DRIPPIN, New Hope Club & P1Harmony & WayV

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Welcome to another International Song Reviews post. Last time I covered Japanese and Western releases from NCT Dream, Jackson Wang, Amber Liu and TVXQ. This post will cover Japanese, Western and Chinese releases from Kep1er, DRIPPIN, P1Harmony (who collaborated with British pop trio New Hope Club) and WayV, of which were released earlier this year (or in the case of WayV, released in the final days of the 2022).

I Do! Do You? – Kep1er

Language: Japanese
Release Date: 15 March 2023
Album: Fly-By (2nd Japanese Single Album)

I Do! Do You? is a neat track. The instrumentation is very groovy and cheerfully upbeat, tapping into the current trends of KPOP (not sure is this is a trend in Japan though). Their vocals strikes a balance by bringing in a cutesy and youthful tinge without ever stepping into cutesy territory (which is a direction that I would believe the song easily be directed towards. More definition would not have hurt to give the song more boldness The melodies and hooks are catchy and fun, complimenting the grooviness of I Do! Do You? that I already highlighted. But I do find I Do! Do You? to be somewhat linear and it gets slightly boring as it progresses, as it is just a repeat of whatever we heard earlier on in the song. A pleasant single, overall. The music video sees one member falling for a guy, with the rest of the group envisioning themselves in the main members’ stories. The rest of the group helps her get ready for the party, but is left heartbroken after the guy ends up asking another person out at the party. This leads the group to stick up for their heartbroken member and leave the party in unison. I read somewhere that this video does feature some shoplifting and violence, which I thought was a funny takeaway (but factual, as they do occur) from the video. Asides from that, it was a fun and enjoyable video to watch. As for the choreography, I thought it was okay. The moves were rather soft and this leads to the choreography looking a little weak. I am not looking for sharpness or over-the-top energy. I just think the moves could have been slightly stronger to look better from our point of view as the audience.

Overall Rating – 7.4/10

Hello Goodbye – DRIPPIN

Language: Japanese
Release Date: 15 March 2023
Album: Hello Goodbye (2nd Japanese Single Album)

DRIPPIN’s Hello Goodbye continues the group’s clear distinction between their Japanese and Korean releases. Just compare the likes of bright pop rock sound in Hello Goodbye with their darker and intense SEVEN SINS Korean comeback from earlier in the year. However, I do feel like we stepping closer to what DRIPPIN usually releases in Korea with the more prolific and heavier presence of rock in the song, particularly around the choruses. It gives the song’s strength and power, which is something DRIPPIN does focus on when they promote domestically. The vocals and melodies were, once again, nice. I found this department to be fairly straightforward, so I wished there was a more interesting element in it. You can hear the positivity and vibrancy behind their vocals, but it doesn’t feel enough. The filter over the opening of the second verse was a step in the right direction, but it did feel a little cliché. The one thing I do think Hello Goodbye does lack outright is something memorable. Yes, the melodies are nice, but there isn’t anything really pulling me back that isn’t the satisfying rock energy in the instrumentation. And there are other songs out there that delivers both that rock energy and that memorable element(s), so Hello Goodbye has a tough job. As for the instrumentation, it is great to see the smiles on the members’ faces and the group hanging out/having fun. But there isn’t anything else to the video, which makes it one of those where you only got to watch it once. As for the choreography, it was a good showcase of what to the group has to offer in terms of lighter tone and vibrant energy. But nothing really stands out to me.

Overall Rating – 7.5/10

Super Chic – New Hope Club & P1Harmony

Language: Western
Release Date: 24 April 2023
Album: Super Chic (Digital Single)

I like how unexpectedly fun and feel-good Super Chic is. The old-school vibes of Super Chic felt nostalgic. The vocals from both New Hope Club and P1Harmony were light-hearted and breezy, with the falsettos and higher pitched tones being a memorable aspect of Super Chic. The melodies were quite smooth and flowed along quite well, while the hooks were catchy. I particularly enjoyed the entirety of the pre-chorus, which was punchy in comparison to the rest of the song and had notable lyrics about sweetness. The rapping in the bridge, which was partially in Korean, was a nice change of momentum. But the two groups made it work and blend it in with the rest of Super Chic by maintaining a pace that is aligned with the rest of the song and the rappers didn’t stray away too far from the rest of the song. Overall, Super Chic was a great collaboration that I don’t mind bopping to. The music video shows the two groups coming together to record this song and then behind the scenes shots of P1Harmony’s concert in New York City (which New Hope Club supported the group at). But this wasn’t the first and last time the pair had joined forces, as the two groups have performed with one another before and P1Harmony also supported New Hope Club’s Seoul stop of their tour (which occurred after the release of Super Chic).

Overall Rating – 8.5/10

Phantom – WayV

Language: Chinese
Release Date: 28 December 2022
Album: Phantom (4th Mini Album)

I return to 2022 briefly to cover the final song of this post – WayV’s Phantom. It was the first release by WayV in over two years and also follows on from the announcement of Lucas’ hiatus (which later concluded with him leaving WayV/NCT). I found Phantom to be quite an intriguing single that was pulled off well by the WayV members. The thumping percussion in the verses had nice rhythm and I liked how the pre-choruses ramped up the song towards the choruses. The choruses features the cliché yet fitting choir vocals and orchestral strings in the background to give off a heavier and more profound suspenseful feeling, while the synths helps bring a modern textural feel to Phantom that compliments the intensity and mysteriousness that Phantom is endeavouring in bringing to our minds whilst listening to the song. The deep vocals in the verses and the flow of the vocals elsewhere was helps glides the song along, despite the instrumentation. I do feel like Phantom lacks a more impactful rap sequence that could have delivered the song more bite. What we got from YangYang was great, but I wanted more of it. As for the music video, I quite liked the sets for the solo and choreography scenes. It works well with the concept the group was going for and brings forth a creepy and mysterious atmosphere. Choreography-wise, Phantom had intensity, and the members’ brought charisma to the stage. While it is doesn’t top the likes to their more widely known routines like Kick Back, it was a strong showing, as always.

Overall Rating – 8/10

[Review] But I Like You – BOYNEXTDOOR

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Continuing my coverage of releases I should have reviewed much closer to when they were released is BOYNEXTDOOR’s But I Like You. It was one of three singles off the group’s first single album, Who!, all of which had an accompanying music video and were promoted on the weekly music shows. The other singles include One & Only and Serenade (the latter I have yet to review, and will return to review on another day). In other related news, BOYNEXTDOOR is due to make their comeback next month.

But I Like You is a fair song. Not as punchy as One & Only, but it does the job as an introduction to the group, given it was the first of the three singles to be released. But I Like You features a held-back form of pop rock. The beat keeps the song bouncing along, but there isn’t much else to the song to build excitement. But I Like You just doesn’t have enough meat to really deliver on that front and I wish it had that oomph as it does slightly frustrate me when the rest of the song is quite good. Vocally, the members sounded very nice. Their vocals had the right amount of texture to fit that pop-rock motif and they give enough energy to give But I Like You a vibrant flair that adds to the song’s appeal. The melodies and hooks had a catchy tinge, just not to the same degree as One & Only. Had the instrumental not been suppressed, I think the reach of melodies and hooks could have heightened. My only other two gripes of the song occurs at the end – the fact But I Like You is very short (it only goes for 2:17 minutes) and it has an abrupt ending that leaves you hanging for more. And that craving is never satisfied, as the single album goes onto the next song. Overall, But I Like You is decent and it is clear to me more could have been done on many fronts to make go further.

But I Like You is all about the feeling of falling in love. In the music video, the members all express this feeling after falling for the same girl. Not a foreign concept in KPOP, but it feels like it has been a while. We see the members sit around at the start, explaining their interactions and excitement to each other. However, those interactions are quite brief, such unintentional physical contact, glimpses from afar or with one another and short text messages. They all get invited to a party and realize their feelings are for the same girl. An awkward second occurs during the party, before the members appear to play it cool and leave the party. A short video, but I liked how succinctly yet effective the story was. And this is in addition to the choreography scenes.

The members did a super good job at making the song appear more vibrant and poppy. Their chemistry with the camera and one another does not allude to the fact the group were a newly debut group. I also like how they express themselves in the performance, with a youthful and cheerful vibe to compliment the song.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.5/10

[Review] Blank Effect – PARK JI HOON

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A couple of months back, PARK JI HOON made his solo comeback with his seventh mini-album Blank or Black and the title track Blank Effect. Apologies for the delay in getting around to reviewing that track, but there is a reason for this delay which I will touch on in a moment. Blank Effect is PARK JI HOON’s first comeback in six months following the release of NITRO and The Answer in October 2022. It also follows the high praises he earned for starring in the successful K-drama Weak Hero Class 1, which turns the tables against PARK JI HOON’s widely known cute image (more on that a little later, as well).

In the intro paragraph to this review, I alluded that there is a reason to why I am reviewing Blank Effect four months after its release back in April. And the reason is very simple, I just forgot about the song’s existence. And listening to Blank Effect for the purposes of writing this review, that forgettable impression of the song still stands. Not only that, but I had hard time writing about the song today – there is barely anything notable to mention. Blank Effect lacks foundation without anything in the song sticking out as being memorable. This easily could have been resolved with a meaty melody or hook would really grab my attention. But even that was lacking. Even when it comes to the instrumental, aside from the fact that Blank Effect is dark and intense, there isn’t much to remember it by. PARK JI HOON, himself, was decent. His vocals had the subtle touch of hoarseness and this brought a really nice texture that works well with the dark nature and intensity of Blank Effect. Beyond that, there isn’t much else to mention for Blank Effect.

The music video for Blank Effect is much more interesting than the song itself. The video sees PARK JI HOON in a much darker and more mature lense, which probably captialises the darker turn his image took through his leading role on Weak Hero Class 1. The lyrics are about showing the true side of you as you get deeper into a relationship, with the video exploring PARK JI HOON’s transformation into a darker and more manic person as the video goes on. I applaud his acting in this video, as he does an amazing job of conveying this desire and emotions. The ending was particularly creepy, with PARK JI HOON catching on fire to complete the transformation mentioned above. There was also a some steam coming from the video with his interactions with the women in the video. The red-orange lighting also brings forth an evocative vibe, as well.

The lack of anything exciting or notable in the song did mean I didn’t pay attention to the live performances when the song was first released. And truthfully, upon watching a couple of the performances for Blank Effect today, I won’t be paying attention to them any time soon. The performance just didn’t have anything to it, and felt lethargic. I wish there was more to the song to really help out this routine be better and compelling.

Song – 5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 5/10
Overall Rating – 5.9/10

[Review] Golden Age – NCT 2023

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The release of Golden Age, the title of one of the two title tracks off the same-titled studio album of the NCT 2023 release, follows the news that NCT will no longer be an expansive group, with the lineup of NCT to be finalised following the the debut of the next unit (NCT Tokyo – the lineup of this unit has yet to be confirmed and any members debuting for the first time under this unit is not included in promotions for this NCT 2023 release). It is also follows the news that Sungchan and Shotaro are no longer part of the NCT lineup and have left the group to debut under RIIZE, and Lucas who departed from the group following controversy. We last saw NCT perform together as a group as part of their 2021 album release Universe with the single Beautiful.

I was surprised by both the teaser and start of the Golden Age, which alluded to a potential balladry direction of the lead single. Golden Age opens up with a soft piano melody of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 8, “Pathétique” 2nd Movement and harmonies from Doyoung. But this allusion was brief. The song then launches into some heavy electronic synths and less than memorable rapping (from Mark, YangYang, WinWin, Jeno and Taeyong). We then re-enter softer territory with a vocal-focused pre-chorus featuring Xiaojun, Renjun, Haechan. The members of NCT then all join forces to deliver an equally soft chorus, which features some comforting harmonies and melodies from everyone, that soft piano from the start. Yuta and Ten also gets some solo moments during the first run of the chorus. I will admit that the chorus didn’t have the level of impact I hoped it would, with the reversion to soft pop makes the song too mellow and drifty in my opinion. The rapping/synths verse, followed by the vocal pre-chorus and whole-of-group chorus, repeats itself, with Jaemin, Hendery, Jisung, Johnny, Jungwoo, Jaehyun, Ten, Haechan and Kun getting their own moments during this repeat sequence. Finally, Taeil, Chenle and (more) Xiaojun, YangYang, Jeno, Doyoung and Haechan are featured in the bridge, which brings the two sides of the song together pretty nicely. Golden Age then ends with a couple more lines of comforting harmonies, rather than a repeat of the chorus. While I like the potential of another beautiful song, the idea behind Golden Age and understand the complexity of incorporating 20 members into the song in a way where each member is given a fair go, I found Golden Age doesn’t come off as well as their past whole-of-group singles have like Beautiful or Resonance. I wished there was more memorable zing to the song (without disrupting the softness and flow of the track, as I think Golden Age has that covered as it is), just to make it more appealing and compelling to return to listen to.

I did like the two sides of the group that is shown in this video. On one hand, we have a softer and golden tinge to one half of the video (which mainly consist of the vocalists). On the other hand, the rappers appear in the video with an edgier tinge of darkness and red lighting. I would have liked to send more intersection between the two sides, but we do get some through the very brief interaction between Jaehyun, Ten and Jungwoo. I do want to know more about the keys the members are holding in hand. Some of the members hold onto theirs (i.e. Mark), but other members throws theirs into the fire (i.e. Jungwoo). I presume it might relate to the idea of the group now ceasing their international expansion and that they are becoming a fixed group without the need to open more doors. But that is just speculation from me.

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

[Review] Memories – RIIZE

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Earlier this year, it was announced that Sungchan and Shotaro would be leaving NCT and debuting as part of SM Entertainment’s newest male group that will not be associated with NCT. Since then, it has been announced that new male group is named RIIZE and the rest of the seven-member lineup has been confirmed (Eunseok, Wonbin, Seunghan, Sohee and Anton join the two former NCT members). Officially, the group won’t be making their debut until early September. But they have teased their debut with the performance video for Siren and the pre-release single Memories (the focus of today’s review).

Surprisingly, I am not too upset with Memories. There are parts of the song that I really like more than others, and I do agree that there are some parts that do weaken the song. But despite those (and I will expand on them in a second) weaknesses, I didn’t go away from Memories with too many strong feelings about the song. Memories‘ chorus was very well done, bringing forth a very notable pop influence. If you have read this blog for a while, you probably could have guess that this is the segment of the song that I like the best and find super enjoyable. I like the impression of a faster tempo that came from the beat of the chorus, and the brightness and comfort the melodies and vocals brought to the song. On the other hand, Memories‘ verses were very hip-hop centric. While I thought the display of hip-hop in the first verse and pre-choruses were fine, it is the swap between pop to hip-hop in the second verse and bridge that I found to be clashing and jarring. They were good examples of the group’s potential approach into the hip-hop genre, and shows that the new group could potentially one day release a song that might be similar to the hip-hop style that is synonymous to NCT 127. But they just don’t mix well with the rest of the song. Overall, Memories does show promise for the new group in different areas. Memories doesn’t show much of it, but I am intrigued with this idea of ’emotional pop’ that SM Entertainment is marketing them with. I am also hopeful and looking forward to seeing what that style exactly means and what RIIZE has that separates them from the current groups.

The music video shows the group as a bunch of youthful teenagers hanging out with another. It is a decent introduction to the members and I hope what we saw showcases the members’ personalities to some degree. Something personalised would help start off their careers with a more relatable connection with the audience and also potentially be unique, so I think that would really help separate out the group with its competition somewhat. Apart from that, I concur with the recent articles that reported the group was being criticised for their dated hairstyles. I am sure the members have very little say in this, but some of the hairstyles in this music video (along with the outfit styling) looked very dated. I am also intrigued by the closing segment of the music video, which I presume alludes to their upcoming single Get A Guitar that is due to be released two Mondays from now.

While I found the switch between pop and hip-hop clashing in terms of music, I liked how they maintained some bounciness in the choreography for both sides of the song. It made for a seamless blend of styles on stage. I also enjoyed their fresh energy they brought to the stage.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.8/10

[Album Review] LOVESTRUCK! (4th Mini Album) – Kep1er

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I begin this new week with an album review. And over the next few weeks, you will see more album reviews posted during the weekdays in another attempt by me to get across the backlog of albums I personally want to review. The focus of this post is Kep1er’s fourth mini-album, LOVESTRUCK! which was released back in April this year. Leading the mini-album of five songs is the title track Giddy.

Interestingly, Kep1er has been very consistent with their album releases, with my way of making that determination is by comparing the album ratings I give at the end of each mini-album. All of Kep1er album releases have leaned towards the generic side, with the presence of a great odd track or two. LOVESTRUCK! appears to be a bit of an outlier though, with the lead single off this mini-album holding back the rest of the mini-album, and the side tracks each making more potential than the title track. Let me know if you agree with this (and my individual thoughts on each song below).

LOVESTRUCK! Album Cover

1. Giddy (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Giddy. (5.5/10)

2. LVLY – LVLY is a definite improvement from the title track. I really like instrumentation of this track, which makes the track dynamic and a fun listen. The reggaeton approach to the song’s beat makes for an intriguing and cool track. The presence of the more electrifying synths later on was super cool, and I enjoyed the touch of Latin that features in the background. As for the members, they bring a matureness to the track that felt very well executed, and the hooks/melodies were catchy. The track does not feel like Kep1er one bit, but I appreciate the step-up it brings. (8/10)

3. Back to the City – When I listen to Back to the City, I really like how I can imagine myself listening to the song whilst driving in the city, which I am sure is the intention behind Back to the City. The 80s synths were incredibly light but also makes the track very pleasant and upbeat. I also like how the track flows, gliding from start to finish effortlessly. The rapping works in tandem with the instrumental to be a bouncy component of the track. The vocal work was very warm and I like how it all brings a smile to my face when I listen to the track. Back to the City is easily the best track of the mini-album. (10/10)

4. Why – Kep1er steps into R&B territory with Why. I liked the 90s synths and touch that feature in the track, and the vocals make it an appreciable listen. There were also some good hooks in Why, as well. I just feel like the track feels safe and lacks something punchy to take to the next level. (7/10)

5. Happy Ending – Happy Ending closes out the mini-album, and takes us into coffee-shop territory. It is a little more upbeat than usual coffee-shop tracks, but the instrumentation could easily blend into such a setting without much eyebrow raises. Kep1er’s vocals and rapping in this track are probably the most interesting showcase from the group on this mini-album (and probably their discography thus far). They really nail the higher pitch/falsettos/lower registers that were all present in the song, which proves to me that they have a lot more to offer than what is shown in their title tracks. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.7/10

LOVESTRUCK! Teaser Image

[Album Review] SELF (10th Mini Album) – APINK

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APINK’s SELF mini-album is the next on the reviewing block. SELF serves as the second generation’s 10th mini-album since their debut back in 2011 and this dropped in April of this year as the group’s first official five member release. SELF features the title track D N D (one of my favourite tracks of the year thus far) and four additional side tracks, all of which contributes to a very solid mini-album. For more of my thoughts of the mini-album, keep on reading below.

SELF Album Cover

1. D N D (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of D N D. (9/10)

2. Withcha – The production of Withcha feels very clean. From the leading vocals to the harmonies to the R&B pop instrumentation to the little details in the background, everything sounded distinct but also cohesive at the same time in Withcha. I liked how playful the hooks and melodies were, with the repetition helping the song become one of the more recognisable side tracks on this mini-album. Adding to the playfulness is the faint whistling and retro tinge the instrumentation has. But even in the midst of all of that, Withcha remarkably maintains a mature persona that allows the song to fit neatly with APINK’s current sound. (9/10)

3. Me, Myself & I – I start swaying along to the melodies as soon as this beautiful track begins. The instrumentation features a mixture of strings, along with beats and synths that makes it a pleasant and chirpy number. The vocals are amazing and are truly a highlight for me in this track. And the combination of everything that makes Me, Myself & I creates a riveting and stunning listen in the midpoint of the mini-album. (10/10)

4. Candy – Candy is a more typical pop track for me. It was a very pleasant and likeable track, with some sweet vocalisation from the members. I also enjoyed the falsettos that the members add to the song, and the rapping is a nice surprise. But on the melodies and hooks front of Candy, I can’t help but describe those aspects of Candy to be rather plain and ordinary. But still a decent track. (7.5/10)

5. I Want You To Be Happy (나만 알면 돼) – I Want You To Be Happy was actually a single released last year to celebrate the group’s 11th anniversary. I Want You To Be Happy takes the form of a ballad and it is a touching one for their fans. The music video that was released last year also features shots of now-former member Naeun (who left the group early April), and so the song can also be taken as homage to the former member. The melodies were heavenly and heart-warming, while the vocals were very touching and comforting. The strings and drums came together to create a delicate and beautifully orchestrated piece. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.7/10

SELF Teaser Image

[Weekly KPOP Chart] 3rd Week of August 2023

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Welcome back to the Weekly KPOP Charts for the 3rd Week of August 2023. I hope you all are having a great weekend, wherever you are. It has been another busy week for me, but I am trying my best to work through the backlog of songs and albums. So let’s hope for more productive weeks ahead on this blog. I sure will. But until then, there is an album review coming up on the blog today, and here is the Weekly KPOP Chart post for the 3rd Week of August 2023.

Recap of the past week

This past week, I posted:

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

  • 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
  • Truth or Dare – Roa (Rocking Doll)
  • Light Of My Life – CHEN (EXO)
  • ICE CREAM – TFN
  • ONE LOOK – LEO
  • INEEDYOURLOVE – LOCO
  • Girls’ Capitalism – LOVElution (tripleS)
  • Haze – LUCY
  • Rowdy – SORN ft. Seungyeon
  • Better Things – aespa
  • LAFFY TAFFY – PRIMROSE
  • ULALA (Spanish Version) – LAPILLUS

Throwback Song of the Week

This week, I spent a fair bit of time on INFINITE’s live concert album for their Infinite Effect world tour that occurred back in 2015. Performed at that concert was Destiny – one of the group’s best title tracks ever!

Non-Korean Song of the Week

Each week, I feature the highest ranking non-Korean song by a Korean artist in this part of the Weekly KPOP Charts. For the 3rd Week of August 2023, that song is Eric Nam’s House on a Hill.

The Charts

LIP GLOSS and THE BOYZ are the top song and artist for the second week in a row as part of this week’s Weekly KPOP Charts. For more of the charts, keep on scrolling down below.

Pos.SongArtistChange
1LIP GLOSSTHE BOYZ(=)
2TAXIJo Yuri(▲ 33)
3BubbleSTAYC(NEW)
4CAKEITZY(▲ 24)
5Killin’ Me GoodJIHYO (TWICE)(NEW)
6SLAYEVERGLOW(NEW)
7Hate RodrigoCHOI YENA ft. YUQI ((G)I-DLE)(▲ 63)
8None Of My BusinessITZY(▲ 68)
9The FlashKwon Eun Bi(▲ 12)
10ONE MORE TIMEBBGIRLS(▲ 66)
11ISTJNCT DREAM(▼ 1)
12DO or DIExikers(▲ 19)
13MOVET5 (TREASURE)(▼ 6)
14Summer ComesOH MY GIRL(▲ 51)
15HEARTBEATTAN(▲ 61)
16Super ShyNewJeans(▲ 31)
17Cream SodaEXO(▼ 6)
18Get LitStray Kids(▲ 58)
19BLUE MOONJAY (iKON)(▲ 57)
20In BloomZEROBASEONE(▼ 17)
21ShhhKISS OF LIFE(▼ 4)
22Highern.Ssign(▼ 8)
23BONA BONATREASURE(▼ 17)
24All The Way UpThunder(▲ 52)
25YOUR TIMEPEAK TIME TOP 6(▲ 18)
26House On A HillEric Nam(▲ 36)
27Roller CoasterNMIXX(▲ 49)
28Do It Like ThatTXT & Jonas Brothers(▲ 20)
29dangdangMAMAMOO+(▼ 14)
30Fast ForwardJeon Somi(▼ 28)

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:

[Album Review] House of Tricky: Doorbell Ringing (1st Mini Album) – xikers

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The next album to be reviewed on the blog is xikers’ debut mini-album, House of Tricky: Doorbell Ringing. This was released back in March of this year, and features the title tracks TRICKY HOUSE and ROCKSTAR. Alongside those tracks are 3 side tracks and two instrumental tracks that serves as an intro and interlude to the mini-album. The seven track mini-album successfully kicks off xikers’ career with a strong setlist of songs, and immediately introduces the group as one that embraces intensity and powerful sounds. Each track on this mini conforms to that description. So if you like your intensity and powerful sounds in your music, then do check out the tracks below.

House of Tricky: Doorbell Ringing Album Cover

1. The TRICKY’s Secret – Creating suspense from the very first second is the intro track, which runs for just under 2 minutes. The TRICKY’s Secret begins with some haunting music box twinkling and some eerie yet captivating narration that introduces the xikers’ debuting concept. From there, the synths build into the song and we are given an intense rush of synths that feels euphoric. No score will be given to this track, but it is a bold and cool start to both the mini-album and xikers’ career.

2. Doorbell Ringing – It took a while for the next track to really get somewhere. But when Doorbell Ringing gets to it, it knocks my socks off. The start of the track continues that haunting vibe that we heard in the intro track. As it is something we have heard before on the mini-album, the start does come off a bit boring. It isn’t until the second half of the chorus where Doorbell Ringing builds up its intensity and energy does the track really wakes me up and delivers a banger. The first half of the chorus is very hip-hop centric and playful, but the background is a little too empty for my liking. From there, the rapping and vocals becomes more appealing and the intense instrumentation becomes more interesting. But the final chorus was definitely the highlight, with everything from the build-up to the eventuating energy coming together well and strongly closes out Doorbell Ringing. (8/10)  

3. TRICKY HOUSE (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of TRICKY HOUSE. (7.5/10)

4. Dynamic (淸亮(청량)) – Dynamic serves as an interlude track, introducing the rock that is about to come in the mini-album. This instrumental track was super energetic and fast-paced. The guitar work is quite crunchy at the start, and develops into a purely electrifying element. The drumming is also awesome.  

5. ROCKSTAR (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of ROCKSTAR. (9/10)

6. XIKEY – xikers spit fire in XIKEY, with the rappers really standing out in the verses. That haunting vibe returns in the pre-chorus segments (and later on, in the instrumentation of the second verse), but it isn’t exact replication of what we heard earlier on in the mini-album, so it doesn’t become off as boring. The choruses are super rough and the contributing members are very hoarse in the central piece of XIKEY, which makes for a deep yet intriguing centrepiece. After the second chorus, the song changes and I am not entirely sure what to think about that. The bridge of the song unexpectedly switches up for a lighter tone, with the vocalists given a chance to come to the front. It does balance out the track in a way, but it just too many steps away from what precedes and succeeds the bridge. The lighter tone does make way for an explosive end that turns the track into a powerful and robust anthem. (7/10)  

7. Oh My Gosh – After the likes of XIKEY, I am glad the mini-album ends on a more cohesive note. That being said, there are some changes to the momentum as Oh My Gosh progresses, but it isn’t as wild as the preceding track. The chorus has this bombastic feel that does not disappoint. The use of EDM in this hip-hop track opens up the track to some dynamic energy and enables an upbeat dance track at the same time. The track also gives the rappers opportunity to spit their fire once again and the vocalists are given multiple moments to shine (really enjoyed the bridge in this one). Yet there was no cost to the energy and intensity of Oh My Gosh, which stays pretty high and consistent throughout. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.1/10

HOUSE OF TRICKY : Doorbell Ringing Teaser Image

[Review] Killin’ Me Good – JIHYO (TWICE)

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JIHYO is the second member of TWICE to release solo music, following the footsteps of NAYEON, who debuted last year with POP! JIHYO’s lead single is titled Killin’ Me Good and it is contained on her first solo mini-album, Zone – both of which dropped yesterday. JIHYO’s solo debut also follows TWICE’s early 2023 comeback with READY TO BE, TWICE’s Japanese comeback with Hare Hare and the debut of the group’s first unit (MISAMO) in Japan.

First impression of Killin’ Me Good yesterday is that JIHYO captivates in this solo debut project. Her vocals stand out from the very beginning and are an absolute highlight. I also like the fact that the vocals are bold and doesn’t waver at any point, which helps makes Killin’ Me Good a compelling listen. Her vocals also help propel the song forward, which also gives the song tenacity and drive. The instrumentation sits firmly in the R&B realm of music, but there is also a groovy presence to the song. While this combination isn’t anything new, the instrumentation of Killin’ Me Good feels amply upbeat and its boldness does work well with JIHYO’s vocals. My first listen to the song yesterday did deliver the impression that there might be a bit too much to the instrumentation, but that thought is officially long gone from my head. I am absolute in love the post-chorus sequence of the song that features the line “You’re making me feel something new“. It is more so how that sequence manages to switch up the momentum, and that JIHYO and the producers does so in a flawless and successfully manner without disrupting the song. Without a doubt, Killin’ Me Good is a successful solo debut in my books and I cannot wait to check out the mini-album and hear more from JIHYO.

The music video shows the breakdown of a relationship. At the start and for the majority of the video, we see the relationship between JIHYO and the male lead appear as strong as a rock. But once we enter the bridge of the song, the relationship breaks down with unanswered calls and text messages. Ultimately, this leaves JIHYO to call it quits and become a new version of herself. Upon reflection, I feel the lyrics of the song can be interpreted both ways. A relationship can make someone feel good (what the literal meaning of the lyrics are), but it can easily be dangerous (what the lyrics could potentially mean if you read between the lines). The fact that the music video does provoke thoughts about the lyrics and its meaning is pretty cool. I also really like the choreography scenes and JIHYO’s solo shots. She looks very pretty throughout and her outfits felt bold.

JIHYO’s command of the stage and stage presence made for a stage to watch. She killed it all departments, from vocals to dance moves. I really like how she doesn’t shy away from the routine at any point, and the moves were perfectly executed in both strong and sexy points of view. If you want to take anything away from this whole comeback, it is simply that JIHYO was born to be on stage.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 9.2/10

[Review] SLAY – EVERGLOW

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EVERGLOW’s last comeback was with PIRATE back in December 2021. Then the group went on a 20-month hiatus, with minimal releases and zero promotions (but they did perform at some festivals and concerts) during that time. Well, EVERGLOW’s release drought finished yesterday, following the release of their fourth single album ALL THE GIRLS, and the title track SLAY.

Let me start of by saying I am glad EVERGLOW is back and isn’t no longer stuck in ‘no comeback’ limbo (which usually ends up in disbandment for those who have been in such a state for a long time). But with a song titled SLAY, you kind of expect the song to … well … slay. And knowing what EVERGLOW is capable of from their past releases such as LA DI DA to PIRATE, that expectation is definitely a given. But SLAY did not meet those expectations nor slay, which leaves me disappointed. While SLAY does have the hallmarks to really live up to those expectations, the song itself just doesn’t fully realize its potential. The synths could easily have been bombastic with additional definition, bass and bolstering. SLAY also lacks memorable melodies that could have helped the song be more appealing. The repetitive ‘Na Na Na” that dominates SLAY is too typical for my liking. And while the rapping was definitely a highlight in SLAY and the song is designed to be more of an anthem of female self-confidence, I do think the song could have benefited from a presence of stronger melodies, which would have highlighted their vocals strongly. And what we did get in terms of vocals in SLAY could have been taken to the next level had it too been bolstered. Some soaring high notes to accompany the start of the choruses would have ‘slayed’ as well. That being said, I did enjoy the more vocal moments of the song, such as those during the bridge and pre-choruses. They give SLAY bring a nice touch to the song, and if there is to be an alternate and stronger version of SLAY, then I wished those to be retained. While SLAY does appear to head in the right direction, it pretty much lacks the execution on both the members’ and production side to really go anywhere.

The music video looks good. There was a striking nature to the video and the solo shots of each member that works really well. When you consider their 20-month hiatus and the growth of KPOP over this same period, the music video for SLAY also serves as a re-introduction to the group for many new listeners. And I think the striking visuals and boldness of the video successfully does that. Kind of wished the song was like that. But apart from that, there isn’t much else to the video. I am not too troubled by it, as what I have already mentioned does feel enough and anything more could have been overwhelming or questionable.

I quite liked the performance. While nothing stands out specifically in the performance, their energy, sychronisation and sharpness really makes for a cool performance to watch. I also liked how during the vocal moments of the song, the choreography also incorporates some moves that provide a smoothness and gliding-like texture, which I thought brought a nice change of pace to the routine.

Song – 6.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.3/10

[Review] Bubble – STAYC

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STAYC made their comeback earlier this week with their 3rd mini-album TEENFRESH and the title track Bubble. It is their second comeback of this year, following the release of Teddy Bear in February.

For me, I love how unapologetically pop and fun Bubble is, especially when it came to the chorus. The hooks and melodies in the central piece of Bubble feels comforting and pleasant, whilst the instrumentation does a good job of keeping the song upbeat and vibrant. I particularly like the presence of the slightly rougher synths used in the background of the second half of the chorus, which boosts Bubble and gives it some interesting texture without ruining the pop flair. The “Bubble Bubble” hook is catchy and a few more listens can really cement Bubble into a memorable song. The members themselves brought a cutesy sweetness to the song that doesn’t feel overbearing or overwhelming, while the instrumentation elsewhere maintains that upbeatness and momentum of the song quite well. The strings at the start, while don’t appear to add much value to the song than just being the intro, actually serves well as an introduction and leads well into the track. While Bubble is very much an ‘all-good’ type of song and I really enjoyed it, I do think Bubble could have been taken further. Some harder synths and melodies would not hurt Bubble and could have helped bolster up the final product, delivering an even better track. But as it is, Bubble is definitely a bubbly track.

In the music video, we see what appears like a Disneyland-esque park, which draws a crowd of people waiting to enter. STAYC is a group of students living in a dorm, and they ditch their dorms for one day to join the line. From there, they have a fun day out and enjoy their time at the park with everyone else. I liked how they kept the storyline light on and focuses on the fun nature in a light-hearted and enjoyable manner, which reflects well on the song.

The choreography is very bubbly and playful. Like the music video, the performance fits well with the song. Nothing really stands out on its own, but there were some good moments and cutesy elements to the choreography that didn’t feel too heavy.

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

[Review] Freakin’ Bad – Xdinary Heroes

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Xdinary Heroes made their comeback way back in April this year, but I am only getting around to reviewing the lead single from this comeback now. Again, apologies for the lateness of this review. Freakin’ Bad leads the charge as the title track, coming from the band’s 3rd mini-album, Deadlock. Following the release of Freakin’ Bad, Xdinary Heroes also released additional music videos for some side tracks off the same mini-album, and I have intentions to review those songs/music videos in separate reviews in the future. But as for now, here are my thoughts on Freakin’ Bad.

Freakin’ Bad didn’t make much of an impression on me when it was first released in April. It actually took a while for me to get into the song through multiple listens. But now, I find Freakin’ Bad to be an exciting rock track that feels very Xdinary Heroes. I like that Xdinary Heroes has managed to find a distinct sound with their unique vocals and energetic instrumentations, both of which comes together to give a quirkier sound to your usual band/rock songs. Freakin’ Bad definitely feels like something that only Xdinary Heroes can pull off. The band instruments bring a continuous 80s vibe to the song that feels very straight-to-the-point and forward. But what makes Freakin’ Bad even better within the instrumental realm are the solo/instrumental break sequences, like Ju Han’s guitar solo midway and the synthesizer and drumming at the end. Vocally, I do think the higher pitch the members are executing feels ambitious. For the most part, they pulled it off well and I am impressed with Jooyeon’s scream and the chanty sequence at the end of the song. (As a short tangent, that “If you seek it, why owe you” line doesn’t make much sense, but was a clever way to adding some ‘freakin’ bad’ language into the song). But some other parts felt a bit too screechy for my liking and felt unpalatable. Had Freakin’ Bad somehow refined those screechy moments but maintain the energy and dynamism of Freakin’ Bad, then this comeback could have been even more defining for the group.

The intense energy of Freakin’ Bad is transferred well into the music video with its more rough camera work and edgier concept. And I quite enjoyed this music video. In the video, we see the band getting caught in the mall for some unknown reason, before they are questioned and taken away to jail. On the way to jail, the band utilise their instruments and speakers to blow up the police truck to escape and run away. And while they do celebrate their successful jailbreak, the ending shows the members setting off the alarms once again, proving that they are up to no good once again. Plot-wise, I could have used a bit more detail, just to round it out a bit. But apart from that, I enjoyed how the members’ solo shots were effectively and efficiently weaved into the story without it feeling stop-start and that the video flowed super well, as a result.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.4/10

[Review] TAXI – JO YURI

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Last week, we saw the return of JO YURI with her latest mini-album Love All and the title track TAXI. This new release follows her October 2022 comeback with Loveable and the announcement that she will be joining the upcoming season of Squid Game.

TAXI is a rather straight forward pop song and I think more can be done with it to really take it to the next level. But what we got in terms of vocals and melodies earned massive points for TAXI. pleasant and brings a memorable ring to the track. I really enjoyed how effortlessly smooth and pleasant JO YURI’s vocals were, with that slightly raspy tone she has being well utilised in making TAXI more appealing. This lead into the pop melodies that JO YURI brings to life in TAXI, which gives the track a fun, bright and enjoyable motif. The instrumental was a bit dull and typical, in my opinion. But it had enough to create a bubbly and upbeat number. I particularly like that deep repetitive piano piece in the verses and the added vibrancy the synths in the chorus gave TAXI. However, I felt the song could have added a bit more zing, either by a more ear-catching detail to the instrumentation, or a post-chorus hook that could have reiterated the catchiness of TAXI. But what we got in TAXI is pleasant and enjoyable as it, and that is absolutely fine.

The music video sees Jo Yuri take a taxi to meet her crush, which she uses as a metaphor for “one’s feeling of wanting to run to one’s crush as fast as they can” (taken from Soompi). In that same Soompi article, she makes the comment that if something urgent was to happen or if she needs to see someone, she would think of taking a taxi as that is the fastest route for her. And we see that reflected in the music video, which can be split into two halves. The first half sees her trying to get her drivers license, but she fails her test. This leads to the second half of the video, where she just misses her crush (who I presume she was supposed to meet at the restaurant), but he isn’t there. Instead, someone knows where he is and gives her the address. And because she can’t drive, she needs to take a taxi (or a tow truck, given there is no driver). In the end, she meets up with her crush. Overall, it is a lighthearted and cute video that plays well with the lyrics and meaning behind the song.

I like how refreshing and summery the choreography and stage performance for this comeback feels. Obviously, it suits the current season quite well, as well as the upbeat nature of the song. Nothing necessarily stands out for me, but the overall performance was enjoyable nonetheless.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.6/10