Author: kpopreviewed

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

[Album Review] FACE (1st Mini Album) – JIMIN (BTS)

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Today’s album review focuses on JIMIN’s solo debut mini-album, FACE, which was released back in March of this year. As we all know, BTS is currently focusing on solo endeavours as they are near (or currently are) carrying out their military enlistments. And since that announcement, each member has been releasing solo music. JIMIN is the 3rd member to do so, with a mini-album that features the title track Like Crazy, the English version of the title track, a pre-release track titled Set Me Free Pt. 2, an interlude and two side tracks.

While the mini-album appears to be light on, FACE is pretty loaded with high quality tracks. The two side tracks I just mentioned both earn a 10/10 rating, while the interlude earns high praises from me. And if you remember my posts on the pre-release and title track, then you know my thoughts about those songs. But apologies if you don’t, as it has been a while since I put those reviews out. To see my thoughts on each song, including links to those two reviews, keep on reading below.

FACE Album Cover

1. Face-off – Beginning the mini-album is Face-off, which is an edgier and grungier side of Jimin that feels very unexpected and different for Jimin himself. This doesn’t mean the song is bad. Rather, I think Face-off is a very strong song and gives off such a dark aura that just feels very compelling. The plucking synths and the trap-based instrumental was subtly intense, and Jimin’s vocals and delivery was very intriguing throughout Face-off. His delivery is also very emotionally charged, to the point where you can feel his anger and distrust. (10/10)

2. Interlude: Dive – Dive begins by rapidly reversing, before a simple knock on the doors signals the true beginning of this 2-minute instrumental track. I really like how sensory the track is. We hear an audience cheer as Jimin speaks on stage, then footsteps, then a car engine start and drive off, and finally the pouring and swallowing of water at the end. I presume this is all post-concert, with Jimin retiring back home for the day. All of these audible sounds occur over an atmospheric set of instrumentation, creating a unique interlude track.

3. Like Crazy (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Like Crazy. (8.5/10)

4. Alone – Alone goes for a softer pop approach. I found the track to be so captivating to listen to and a clear standout on this mini-album. From the very first moment, we hear delicate vocals. As the song progresses, more is added to the track. Jimin’s vocals become more defined with the addition of backing vocals and the instrumentation becomes more layered. That descending distortion at the end of Jimin’s vocals was another intriguing element on this mini-album, but it was a punchy and alluring aspect of the song. (10/10)  

5. Set Me Free Pt. 2 (Pre-Release Track) – Click here to read the full review for Set Me Free Pt. 2. (7.5/10)

6. Like Crazy (English Version) – Refer to link above to the review of Like Crazy for my thoughts on the song. But the English version is still linked below.

Overall Album Rating – 9/10

FACE Teaser Image

[Weekly KPOP Chart] 2nd Week of August 2023

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Welcome back to the Weekly KPOP Chart for the 2nd Week of August 2023. It is going to be another short introduction, but there is an album review is on its way today. But as usual, here is the Weekly KPOP Chart.

Recap of the past week

This past week, I managed to post:

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

  • Unforgettable Memories – Kim Dohee
  • Vuja De – Yunho (TVXQ)
  • On The Road – CHEN (EXO)
  • Horizon – JAEHYUN (NCT)
  • TAXI – Jo Yuri
  • Wormhole : New Track – n.Ssign
  • Beautiful Monster – HEEO
  • Fly Moon Night – W
  • DUBI DUBI – ARTBEAT v
  • Mirage of Flower – CHEN (EXO)
  • Don’t Leave Yet – Eric Nam
  • SPEED UP – Elkie
  • Love Me Again – V (BTS)
  • Daily Rain – V (BTS)
  • Wanderer – NELL
  • HEARTBEAT – TAN

Throwback Song of the Week

I actually didn’t get around to listening any old songs. Usually, I have them in my ear while working. But it has been so busy this week that I didn’t have time to. So for this week’s throwback song is from a couple of weeks back – MAMAMOO’s gogobebe.

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 2nd Week of August 2023, that song is JUN’s PSYCHO.

The Charts

LIP GLOSS and THE BOYZ are the top song and artist (respectively) of this week KPOPREVIEWED’s Weekly KPOP Charts. For more of the charts, keep on scrolling down below.

Pos.SongArtistChange
1LIP GLOSSTHE BOYZ(NEW)
2Fast ForwardJeon Somi(NEW)
3In BloomZEROBASEONE(▲ 7)
4Love Me A LittleSHONWU & HYUNGWON (MONSTA X)(▲ 57)
5New EmotionINFINITE(▼ 2)
6BONA BONATREASURE(▼ 2)
7MOVET5 (TREASURE)(▲ 6)
8BOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS)ATEEZ(▲ 3)
9PSYCHOJUN (SEVENTEEN)(▲ 10)
10ISTJNCT DREAM(▼ 4)
11Cream SodaEXO(▲ 13)
12DesignerVAV(▲ 39)
13Love Me AgainV (BTS)(NEW)
14Highern.Ssign(▲ 35)
15dangdangMAMAMOO+(▼ 8)
16Koongxikers(▲ 32)
17ShhhKISS OF LIFE(▲ 3)
18BLOSSOMENHYPEN(▲ 43)
19Misfits’ SundayJooyoung(▲ 42)
20VoyagerLUN8(▲ 9)
21The FlashKwon Eun Bi(▼ 19)
22MADABLUE(▲ 39)
23WE GOThe Wind(▲ 24)
24HARDSHINee(▼ 10)
25Firework&TEAM(▲ 36)
26Break OutCHEN (EXO)(▲ 35)
27Love SongYong Junhyung(▲ 34)
28CAKEITZY(▼ 23)
29YoutifulStray Kids(▲ 32)
30Turn It OffNINE.i(▲ 31)

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:

  • Lime & Lemon – TVXQ!
  • Remember – JOO WON TAK
  • Like a Movie – 2Z
  • Let Me In – EXO
  • R.U.N – Suzy
  • Designer – VAV
  • Ready To Move – REN
  • WALEEN – Villain
  • Firework – &TEAM
  • Contrail – Baek Yebin
  • I Need Love – DKB
  • Epilogue – Jung Seung Hwan
  • My Soles Worn Out – Jooyoung
  • Wild Heart – LUN8
  • Voyager – LUN8
  • Marshmallow – MISAMO (TWICE)
  • Walk & Shine – QI.X
  • BOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS) – ATEEZ
  • DLC – Stray Kids
  • FNF – Stray Kids
  • Can’t Leave – Park Je Up

[Review] ROCKSTAR – xikers

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xikers made their debut at the end of March of this year with the mini-album HOUSE OF TRICKY: Doorbell Ringing and one of the title tracks from their debut mini-album was TRICKY HOUSE. The other title track is ROCKSTAR, and is the subject of this post. Since their debut, the group has also returned with their second mini-album, HOUSE OF TRICKY: How to Play, which is lead by the single DO or DIE and Koong (the latter will be the subject of another review in the future).

Their recent release of DO or DIE took on a punkish rock sound that I described as thrilling to listen to. But DO or DIE isn’t the first time that the group trekked into rock territory. xikers previously did so with the single ROCKSTAR, which is equally as thrilling (if not more) than DO or DIE. At times, ROCKSTAR felt like a more dynamic and vibrant take on what ATEEZ would sound like if they did a rock/dance track (i.e. Guerrilla). The main difference between them and their more senior labelmates is that added dynamism and vibrant tinge that I had just mentioned, which gives xikers an opportunity to make the intense rock sound and style their own. And they did so successfully. The energy that comes off ROCKSTAR is super powerful and intense. Their execution felt elevated and polished to the point where they did not feel like a newly debut group. The vocals were a little muffled due to the processing to match up with the rock intensity, but the rapping really benefits from the energy driven nature of ROCKSTAR. The first half of the chorus was features a grungier sound, while the second half of the chorus (i.e. when the head-banging rock comes into play) shows a relentless approach to the rock sound. I also equally enjoyed how intensified it got at the very end of the song. Such an ender just gives ROCKSTAR the chance to signal the end and feel complete the song without repeating everything we had heard earlier on in the song. That would’ve ruined the song, and I am so glad that the producers only thought of how ROCKSTAR could have gone up from there. Overall, ROCKSTAR is a very strong showing to why xikers is one of the male rookie groups to look out for in 2023.

The lyrics of the song are about youth and chasing one’s dreams (taken from Soompi), and we see the group go from schoolboys to (what I presume are) artists at the end. The energy and passion, as per the featured image of this post, comes from the members’ hearts and that their desire to become artists is within them, waiting to be unleashed. And in the end, the storm and eye helps the members unleash the that power and desire. I would have liked more explanation of the eye and/or storm (but I am presuming both are the same thing), maybe through an intro scene or an outro scene, as I feel like this is a unique concept that could be a recurring element in their music videos. We know KQ Entertainment love their trilogy concepts and story-telling in their music videos.

That intensity that I mentioned earlier on in this review is definitely showcased and alive on this stage. It is the best aspect of the performance and makes the whole watching experience thrilling and electrifying. I really like how the members put their all into the performance and do not hold back at any moment.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8.5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10

[Review] Love Me Again – V (BTS)

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V is the final member of BTS to release solo work since the announcement that the group would focus more on solo endeavours as they move towards their military enlistment. His official solo debut won’t occur until early September. But in preparation of that release, V has pre-released Love Me Again on Wednesday, alongside a music video for the single. In addition to that, V has also pre-released another single Rainy Day with its own music video just yesterday – both song and video will be the subject of its own review.

There is no doubts that Love Me Again showcases the wonderfully husky and raspy vocal tones that V is known for. The track really nails down in that department at the start and continues to bring these vocal tones as Love Me Again progresses. The R&B instrumentation is very comforting and mellow-sounding, with the atmospheric instrumental break (which doubles as the bridge of Love Me Again) being quite dreamy. But while the track is executed well, I did think it lacked a compelling element to get me back once it ended. Love Me Again is the type of track that I would listen to if it appears on my playlist or queue, but I wouldn’t necessarily go out of my way to search for the track or go back to it. I also found the track, while wispy and floaty, to be over sooner rather than late, and I felt this prevented the song a chance to show or develop that compelling element if it was in Love Me Again already.

I feel like similar comments can be made with regards to the music video. V, himself, is quite well known for his visuals. So the focus on his face in this video is warranted. V is also dressed in a sequined top, which glimmers and dazzles in the light. But aside from that and the retro-style karaoke setup during some parts of the music video, there isn’t too much else to the video. And the lack of ‘else’ in this video does make it become on of those where ‘you watch it once, you have seen it all’ videos. The only other comment I can make about the video is question why the background is cave-like.

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

[Review] ISLAND – The Wind

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The newly debuted seven member male group, The Wind, made their first comeback last week with the single WE GO. Usually, I go ahead and review WE GO. But have been wanting to review ISLAND for a while now. So, today, I will reviewing their debut single ISLAND and shall return to review WE DO soon. ISLAND dropped mid-May as part of the group’s first mini-album, Beginning : The Wind Page. It kicks off the careers of Shin Jae Won, Kim Hee Soo, Thanatorn, Choi Han Bin, Park Hayuchan, An Chan Won and Jang Hyoun Joon, all of whom are signed under With US Entertainment.

While ISLAND doesn’t bring anything necessarily new to the table, the debut single does offer some relief from the current sound that male groups are putting out. ISLAND is a simple yet bright and bubbly pop dance track, reminiscent of something that GFriend would have put out during earlier on in their careers. You could say some of the instrumentation could have been lifted out of GFriend’s discography, such as the synths used in the background. There is also a youthful tone of the song that just makes such songs so blissful to listen to. ISLAND is also quite melodic, which I found to be a huge driver in ISLAND sounding pleasant and enjoyable. This also helps bring a smile to my face whenever I hear the song. The melodies, however, could have been punchier in some areas, just to give that extra memorable element to the song. I did enjoy the more chanty lines you hear at the end of the choruses that all the members contribute to. This style of delivery in ISLAND just add extra oomph alongside the vocals, and makes ISLAND more than just a melodic track. With this in mind, I do think ISLAND could have incorporated a more substantial rapping department without breaking the song and ruining the pleasantness that we got. There was definite room for more in ISLAND to go that extra mile. But as it stands, ISLAND is a very strong debut track and successfully launches the group’s career by attracting attention towards the group.

Just like GFriend’s debut single, the group’s music video highlights their youthful visuals and tone by opting for a schoolboy concept. To me, this is highly expected and doesn’t come as any surprise. In the lyrics, the group sings about wanting to meet and explore the unknown with their special someone. And in the video, we see the additional elements of the group getting ready for an adventure at a train station and that curiosity to see what is beyond school. One thing that I really appreciated from the video is that it takes on that cutesy and sweet concept that tends to come with the school-aged concept. But it does so without feeling cringy or overly saturated, which I find helps makes the video much more appealing to watch, as a result. I also like the emphasis on the colour blue in the video. A bit traditional, but it does feel refreshing.

While the choreography of ISLAND doesn’t stand out, I do like how breezy and energetic it feels. It works extremely well with the song and the group’s youthful charms, without a doubt. I do also want to applaud The Wind in their efforts on pulling off a live performance with stable vocals in each performance I have watched of them. It just makes the performance more worthwhile to watch.

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

[Review] LIP GLOSS – THE BOYZ

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Also making their comeback yesterday was THE BOYZ. While the leadup to the comeback was a touch rocky, the group has pulled off another Summer comeback with the single LIP GLOSS and the first part (of three) that will constitute the group’s second studio album, PHANTASY. This part is titled PHANTASY Pt. 1 Christmas in August. It was announced by their company that the male group will be making two further comebacks this year to complete the release of the second studio album. This one serves as their second Korean comeback of 2023, following the release of ROAR in February of this year.

LIP GLOSS is a very catchy and summery title track from the group that doesn’t rely too heavily on electronic synths like their last two Summer comebacks (i.e. THRILL RIDE and WHISPER). I really like how light yet upbeat the track is (thanks to the lower synth and EDM reliance), which feels refreshing. I will admit that I did find the hook, melodies and vocal work to be weak early on in the track. But as LIP GLOSS progresses, all three elements grow immensely on me, and that impression was reduced immensely by the time I reached for a second listen. The melodies and hooks become quite playful and works extremely well in maintain that aforementioned lightness and summery vibe. Maybe punchier vocals could still help LIP GLOSS in the long run. But as a vector for the lightness and freshness, the vocals that LIP GLOSS serves is just fine. I did like the interweaving of the entire group vs. a singular member’s vocals in the second half of the chorus, which adds to the song’s playful exterior. We do get some some abrasive house synths in the bridge’s breakdown, which facilitates a stronger presence for the rappers. The lightness in the verses and choruses does hold them back, so I appreciate that they have an opportunity to show something aligned with their delivery. I did wish for a stronger return to the final chorus, but what we got still managed to work. Overall, LIP GLOSS is a strong summer return for the group, and I can’t to hear more from the first part of the album as I have heard great things about it.

The music video serves some eye candy for fans in its beach and island theme getaway, with some of the members taking off their shirts for the video. On this beach and island, the members come across a stunning woman whom they are very attracted to. They do get a bit flirty with her (and vice versa), but not in a cringy way (allowing the video to be watchable). However, it is revealed at the end that she did lead them on. But don’t worry, as they group attracts another group of ladies who are also partying at the island. While that is the main part of the video, the group does return to perform LIP GLOSS from the second verse to the end in an after credits sort of manner. I quite liked this idea and it works extremely well with the light and simplicity of the summer concept. It also contributes to the fun nature of the song.

The playful vibes come off in the robust and energetic routine that is paired with LIP GLOSS. I really like the brightness that the members give off in the routine, which helps makes the choreography enjoyable to watch. I also liked how hard hitting the performance gets during that bridge breakdown, only to then revert back to those playful vibes in a matter of seconds.

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

[Review] Fast Forward – Jeon Somi

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It has been almost two years since Jeon Somi made her last comeback with XOXO (which featured the tracks Dumb Dumb, XOXO and Anymore). But fans welcomed her back on Monday with the release of her 1st ever mini-album, Game Plan, since her solo debut, which features the title track Fast Forward.

To me, Fast Forward is one of those songs where if you blink, you will miss it. Intentional or not, I think Fast Forward (like other songs spanning just over 2.5 minutes) deserves a bit more somewhere along the way. The fast tempo of the track, while contributes to a strong dance track, does drive the song towards its end sooner, rather than later. That personally is the biggest gripe I have about the song. Other than that, Fast Forward embraces a very cool rendition of 2010s deep house style that you might expect to hear in a club environment. The first verse begins and the pre-choruses shows a strong command of Jeon Somi’s vocals, before we launch into the song’s bold yet bouncy, upbeat and non-lyrical chorus. This is immediately followed up with a Madonna-Vogue-esque styled second verse (which I personally find to be the best part of Fast Forward and would have totally liked to have heard more of), before another run at the chorus. The bridge that follows doesn’t add much to the song, but does give a strong presence of keyboard, before a final run at the same chorus comes into play. Jeon Somi really did nail the song and its style, but Fast Forward could have benefited with a longer frame to give itself some thing more (potentially a strong ender that isn’t a direct repeat of what had already been heard).

The song serves as a message for a lover in the lover future and the desire to fast forward to being with that lover. We see the first high-school crush of Jeon Somi’s in the video via those scenes in the school yard where she is firstly crying and later on is shy in front of her crush (who has a terrible hair cut). These scenes may imply that she had opened her feelings to her crush, but got rejected and is thus heartbroken. But in the context of the lyrics, this heartbreak is the first of many due to come her way on the path of finding her true lover in the future. We then see Jeon Somi go through people at the club, who on screen appear glitchy (representing short-lived relationships, brief relationships, or lengthier one that she must experience before finding ‘the one’). I think the training scenes also represent that “I don’t need another person” mindset that many go through on their quest for love. Altogether, I think the video is a nice showing of the song’s lyrics. And of course, Jeon Somi looks very stunning throughout the video, particularly during the choreography and her goddess scenes.

From what we can see in the music video, the choreography is very well done. It embraces the bouncy aspect of the song and shows Jeon Somi off in an even more confident light, especially those moments where she is the centre of attention.

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

[Album Review] expérgo (1st Mini Album) – NMIXX

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Today’s album review is for NMIXX’s first mini-album, expérgo. This was released back in March of this year, and features six tracks in total including the title track Love Me Like This and the pre-release single Young, Dumb, Stupid. expérgo is the first of two releases for NMIXX this year so far, with the second being their more recent comeback with the singles Roller Coaster and Party O’Clock.

For whatever reason, expérgo is the group’s first mini-album. It proves that the group has potential, as it successfuly shows the group’s capabilities of a vaireity of different sounds and tyles that we have not heard from the group yet due to the lack of side tracks in their discography. The side tracks out-rank the pre-release and title track (though I might reconsider the latter’s rating in the future). Hopefully, their next comeback after the more recent Party O’Clock sees the group with another mini-album or a studio album. But for now, here are my thoughts on expérgo.

expérgo Album Cover

1. Young, Dumb Stupid – Click here to read the full review for Young, Dumb, Stupid. (7/10)

2. Love Me Like This (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Love Me Like This. (8/10)

3. PAXXWORD – PAXXWORD is a nicely pleasant and upbeat track. I really enjoyed the balance of everything in the track, from the variety in the group’s vocal range and harmonies heard in the song, to the easy-going and gratifyingly textured instrumentation, to PAXXWORD’s very catchy hooks. All of this made for a great listen and is a strong addition to the mini-album. (10/10)   

4. Just Did It – Just Did It sparks some interest from me thanks to its intriguing instrumentation. At first, the song felt familiar for NMIXX, given there are number of changes and turns within the background. But unlike their past attempts at the MIXX pop trend, the changes in Just Did It somehow feel consistent and keeps you on your feet. I put this to their vocals/rapping, which bought a steady element to the song, serving as an unchanging anchor. This doesn’t mean the members were boring or dry in anyway, as I could sense a slightly attitude and confident tone behind their vocals which complements the song’s lyrics quite well. (8.5/10)   

5. My Gosh – We turn to a softer sound on the mini-album through My Gosh. This R&B track just comes together so well. The acoustic guitar and inviting synths just feel so comforting, while the members sound stunning. The “My Gosh, My Gosh, My Gosh” hook in the song was so damn catchy, and the melodies were flowy. While one of the earlier upbeat songs did appeal a lot to me, I just cannot help enjoy and love My Gosh even more. (10/10)

6. HOME – HOME has this nostalgic melody to it, which I really enjoy. Elsewhere in the track, HOME features bold instrumentation (Exhibit A: the pounding beat that kicks of the song and heard throughout the track), bold vocals (Exhibit B: the vocal work in the choruses) and bold rapping (Exhibit C: the rapping in the verses). It is quite interesting, as you don’t usually hear this level of boldness in the final track on the album. But I am all for it! (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.8/10

expérgo Teaser Image

[Weekly KPOP Chart] 1st Week of August 2023

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It is a brand new month! Welcome back to the Weekly KPOP Chart for the 1st Week Of August 2023. It has been a busy week for me, with a lot of work and stuff to do. As a result, that song review which I had intended to post later on during the week did not go up. But I will make sure it will be going up later this week. An album review is also on its way today. But as usual, here is the Weekly KPOP Chart.

Recap of the past week

This past week has been quite busy and I managed to post:

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

  • Like A Wind – VROMANCE
  • Wonder Land – SEVENUS
  • BLUE – XEED
  • Love Song – Yong Junhyung
  • Break Out – CHEN (EXO)
  • BLOSSOM – ENHYPEN
  • WE GO – The Wind
  • Higher – n.Ssign
  • MAD – ABLUE
  • Turn It Off – NINE.i
  • ONE MORE TIME – BBGIRLS
  • Planet – BXB
  • Peanut Butter & Tears – DPR IAN
  • MADELEINE – LIMELIGHT
  • FREE WORLD – CHEN (EXO)
  • PARTY’S NOT OVER – Stray Kids

Throwback Song of the Week

This week’s throwback song is a Brown Eyed Girls’ song (one of my favourite KPOP artists all-time). I came across their name somewhere during the week (can’t remember where or the circumstances). But naturally, a binge occurred. And so, this week’s throwback song pick is their 2014 release, Kill Bill.

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 1st Week of August 2023, that song is TXT and Jonas Brother’s collaboration single, Do It Like This.

The Charts

Congratulations to xikers for debuting on the top of KPOPREVIEWED’s Weekly KPOP Charts this week for the very first time with their first comeback single, DO or DIE. For more of the charts, keep on scrolling down below.

Pos.SongArtistChange
1Do or Diexikers(NEW)
2The FlashKwon Eun Bi(NEW)
3New EmotionsINFINITE(NEW)
4BONA BONATREASURE(▲ 2)
5CAKEITZY(NEW)
6ISTJNCT DREAM(▲ 2)
7dangdangMAMAMOO+(NEW)
8Summer ComesOH MY GIRL(▼ 7)
9Save MeMAMAMOO+(▲ 14)
10In BloomZEROBASEONE(▲ 41)
11BOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS)ATEEZ(▲ 39)
12Super ShyNewJeans(▼ 7)
13MOVET5 (TREASURE)(▼ 10)
14HARDSHINee(▲ 20)
15Hate RodrigoCHOI YENA ft. YUQI ((G)I-DLE)(▼ 4)
16Do It Like ThatTXT & Jonas Brothers(▲ 27)
17Party O’ClockNMIXX(▼ 15)
18MarshmellowMISAMO (TWICE)(▲ 53)
19PSYCHOJUN (SEVENTEEN)(▲ 21)
20ShhhKISS OF LIFE(▼ 11)
21WhaleHui (PENTAGON)(▲ 24)
22ONE MORE TIMEBBGIRLS(NEW)
23HWEEKTEEN TOP(▲ 19)
24Cream SodaEXO(▲ 17)
25PARTY’S NOT OVERStray Kids(NEW)
26Do Not TouchMISAMO (TWICE)(▲ 45)
27SomedayBOL4 ft. Ha Hyunsang(▲ 44)
28Air Force OneODD EYE CIRCLE(▲ 7)
29VoyagerLUN8(▲ 42)
30JUMP!MIRAE(▲ 22)

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:

  • JUMP – P1Harmony
  • Juliet – AleXa
  • Shut Off – Fantasy Boys
  • Gesture – Fantasy Boys
  • Can’t Go Yet – Amber Liu ft. Scott Hoying
  • Take Two – BTS
  • Red Flower – LAYSHA
  • The Feeling – SHINee
  • RISE UP – Queendom Puzzle
  • Sacrifice (Eat Me Up) – ENHYPEN

[Album Review] ROVER (3rd Mini Album) – KAI (EXO)

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Finishing off today is the album review for Rover, KAI’s 3rd mini-album. Rover is KAI’s last album release prior to his enlistment in the military. However, we did get to see KAI in the two EXO pre-releases for EXIST (EXO’s more recent album release). Anyway, back to Rover. The mini-album was released back in March of this year, and features the title track of the same name and five other side tracks.

To me, Rover is a mix bag of an album release. There were some really good songs on the mini-album. But other songs earned a luke-warm response from me. Find out which songs on Rover got what type of response by reading the rest of the review below, and let me know if you agree with my sentiments of Rover and the individual songs.

Rover Album Cover

1. Rover (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Rover. (9/10)

2. Black Mirror – Black Mirror is a solid hip-hop track that provides commentary on our dependence on social media on our phones, with the title Black Mirror making reference to what the phone becomes when it is off or not in use. I liked how the producers kept the song low, which takes advantage of KAI’s deeper tone quite well. On the flip side, however, I just found it hard to connect as there wasn’t anything memorable or catchy coming the song, especially when it came to the choruses. (7/10)

3. Slidin’ – With the R&B genre in play, Slidin’ enables KAI to bring a sensual tone to the song, which per past tracks sees KAI in familiar territory. This sensual tone allows more appealing moments to come to life, which helps makes the song more appealing and notable (when compared to the preceding track). The instrumentation, for the most part, consists of a continuous loop of a harp-like synth and trap elements. A heftier set of string comes into play at the very end of the song. Despite its late introduction in the song, it interestingly felt well-placed and (retrospectively) allows Slidin’ to finish on something that isn’t what we have heard previously in the track. (8/10)

4. Bomba – Bomba is the side track on this mini-album that caught my attention when the mini-album was released months ago. And it still continues to stand out for me. Bomba goes for a reggaeton-inspired instrumentation, whilst also bringing a pounding rhythm and some really nice synths into the mix. All of this makes Bomba into an effective track. KAI’s vocals were quite well executed and lively in this track (comparison to the other songs on the mini-album), and the melodies and repetitive hooks are all very catchy and memorable. A definite 10/10 for me. (10/10)

5. Say You Love Me – Say You Love Me returns the mini-album back to R&B and hip-hop territory. I found this track to be super easy to get into and enjoy, with a simple yet catchy chorus driving this home for me. I also really like how KAI becomes dynamic in his vocals and rapping in this track. My biggest gripe about Say You Love Me is that quivering synth we hear in the background. It just gives off an unstable vibe, which I didn’t think the song should be exuding. (7.5/10)

6. Sinner – Sinner begins with KAI’s deep yet monotonous-like vocals and a very minimalistic yet atmospheric instrumentation consisting of piano and synthesizer. I did wish the instrumentation in the beginning was a little tighter, just so KAI’s vocals felt more form-fitting. You kind of need to stick around to fully appreciate Sinner, which the start of the song might undermine. I personally felt that the producers went a touch too light on the instrumentation in the beginning, which might turn people away who gets the impression that Sinner is plain and lacking. If you do stick around, Sinner changes gears and intensifies towards the end of the song, allowing the synthesizer to take over the song and close it out in a well-rounded manner. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.3/10

Rover Teaser Image

[International Song Reviews] NCT DREAM, Jackson Wang, Amber Liu & TVXQ

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

Time to continue with another International Song Reviews post. Last time, I began the coverage of 2023 releases such as STAYC’s POPPY, Jung Kook’s SEVEN, Stray Kids’ The Sound and TWICE’s MOONLIGHT SUNRISE. Today, I continue the coverage of 2023 releases with this post focusing on NCT DREAM, Jackson Wang, Amber Liu and TVXQ’s Japanese and English songs. Don’t worry, those 2022 releases that I had intended to cover are still on my to-do list and I will get back to them eventually. On with today’s review!

Best Friend Ever – NCT DREAM

Language: Japanese
Release Date: 8 February 2023
Album: Best Friend Forever (1st Japanese Single)

Compared to their Korean discography (particularly their recent ISTJ comeback), Best Friend Ever is a lot plainer and traditional in terms of its sound. There isn’t anything wrong with this at all, however. And I feel like Best Friend Ever proves just that. Best Friend Ever is a mid-tempo pop dance track that sounds sweet and pleasant, complementing the song’s lyrics of being able to do anything with someone by your side. The melodies, vocals and rapping are all incredibly pleasant, which helps showcase a more down-to-earth profile. The chorus has a very nice ring and I liked the addition of electric guitars at the end of the song. I thoroughly enjoyed Best Friend Ever and this less-aggressive side of the group. However, I do think Best Friend Ever could have done a bit more without disrupting the pleasantness of the track, just to give it more flair. The music video complements the song quite well, showing a more friendly side and interactions to the group. The music video also did a nice job with the set designs, particularly the choreography shots. They were colorful, but not so loud nor lacking. I also like the homey sets, which just makes it feel inviting and comforting to watch. As for the choreography, the group’s synchronisation was top-notch, and I liked the playful vibes the start and end of the routine had.

Overall Rating – 8/10

Cheetah – Jackson Wang

Language: Western
Release Date: 24 April 2023
Album: Cheetah (English Single)

When I first checked out Cheetah a few months back, I got massive Michael Jackson vibes from this song. And even months on, that vibe is still present. Compared to past tracks that I have reviewed from Jackson Wang, his vocals in Cheetah sounds the least like him. Instead of his usual raspy and deep vocals that we know of his past solo and GOT7 works, he opts for a much smoother and higher pitched vocals. You really have to focus on the vocals to figure it out it is delivered by Jackson. The instrumentation is super groovy and retro-like, which was super cool. The start also featured what felt like instrumental moments that you would expect to hear at a live stage of Cheetah. The melodies and hooks were all very catchy and Cheetah is another successful solo song from Jackson Wang. The music video shows Jackson Wang becoming one with the cheetahs. They scratch and bite him, before he joins them in song and dance (the latter forms part of him trying to get away, but it seems like they always have a grasp on him). In the end, he turns into one of them, before the video shows someone else sitting at the throne. This probably symbolises the cheetahs (i.e., the individual Jackson sings about) setting their eyes on their next victim. But this new person is dressed in all white, as opposed to the all-black outfit Jackson was wearing, so I guess he isn’t as hurt compared to Jackson. As touched on a second ago, the dance moves were nicely choreography and form part of the story in the video. The chemistry between the Jackson and the dancers makes the routine super cool and intriguing to watch.

Overall Rating – 9/10

No More Sad Songs – Amber Liu

Language: Western
Release Date: 05 May 2023
Album: No More Sad Songs (English Single)

I honestly do not have much to say about No More Sad Songs. I just really like how No More Sad Songs (by Amber Liu, (f(x)) member) is such an easy going song to listen to and get into. The melodies, the instrumentation and the vocals are sound very simple and straightforward, but it is so effective. Paired with a chorus that makes you want to have a bit of a dance, No More Sad Songs is actually one of my favourite releases of the year thus far. The music video shows Amber Liu embracing that desire to dance by doing so in public with some dancers. I feel shooting this video alone takes confidence and I applaud her and the dancers for that. The music video can also be interpreted as using the song and dance to get through those hard times and to stop relying on those sad songs that represent the hurt and sadness that someone is going through. The choreography that we do see in the music video isn’t anything spectacular, but it works in the video just as well.

Overall Rating – 9.2/10

PARALLEL PARALLEL – TVXQ

Language: Japanese
Release Date: 1 February 2023
Album: PARALLEL PARALLEL (Japanese Single)

In a change from last year’s darker and rock-sound Epitaph single and subdued mid-tempo UTSUROI single, PARALLEL PARALLEL steps into upbeat territory with a more fun and energetic track. For the most part, I enjoyed the song. The vocals and rapping were a solid effort from the duo (though some polishing wouldn’t hurt), with YUNHO’s “Taste a little like that” line in his solo parts being quite memorable. Pop emerges in the choruses and twists the song’s direction slightly, but it was an appreciable change to PARALLEL PARALLEL. Even that aforementioned upbeat nature and the electronic instrumentation of PARALLEL PARALLEL creates a lively and appealing atmosphere. However, as the song progresses, everything felt like it was stuck in a loop and this points towards the possibility that PARALLEL PARALLEL doesn’t eventuate to anything. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t. PARALLEL PARALLEL had some good potential, yet it was let down by the repetitiveness and lack of a climax. The instrumental break/bridge combo in PARALLEL PARALLEL, which was the perfect opportunity to change it up and give us that climatic moment failed to do any of that. The music video was a bit dry in my opinion. There was a playful vibe to it and the energy does translate well from song to visuals in the video, but that wasn’t enough to change the fact that the sets all looked the same and the solo shots were very boring. Also their styling felt ordinary. Similarly, the choreography doesn’t really live up to the likes of their past work. I am not exactly expecting the pair to blow our minds each time. But I felt the choreography was a bit too held back.

Overall Rating – 6.7/10

[Review] DO or DIE – xikers

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Making their first comeback earlier this week was the rookie group xikers. For those who missed their debut, xikers is a 10-member male group who debuted under KQ Entertainment in March of this year with the mini-album House of Tricky: Doorbell Ringing and the title tracks TRICKY HOUSE and ROCKSTAR (the latter and mini-album have yet to be reviewed and I will get around to reviewing them). On Wednesday of this week, xikers returned with their second mini-album, House of Tricky: How To Play and double title tracks Koong and DO or DIE (the latter is the focus of this review post today).

xikers embrace a punk rock sound in DO or DIE, which I find exhilarating and thrilling to listen to. I found it to be super effective and a successful instrumental that gets right to the point and doesn’t mess around. Upon my first listen to DO or DIE, I found myself head-banging along to the music and energy, pretty much as soon as the song started. Since then, I have managed to control myself enough to write a review. But I will probably be slipping back into head-banging mode once I complete this review for subsequent listens. The electrifying concentration (yet slowed down tempo) in the bridge and the groaning-like approach to the vocals was a cool and logical progression to “switch-up” the song that has already embraced an already intense form of the rock sound. A bit confronting, but it felt right. The final chorus throws in some really cool drumming, adding to the intensified end of this punk rock dance track. The vocal parts in DO or DIE were well executed, with some parts being super clear and other parts being slightly filtered and processed. But it is done in a way that works with the punk rock sound, giving off a rough and craggy. The rapping in DO or DIE benefits from the energetic nature of the song in that it comes off as punchy and dynamic, while the filtering and autotune helps give off an edgier effect. The energy and intensity of DO or DIE unfortunately does forfeit the appeal and impact of catchy hooks and/or melodies, so I wished the song really built that department more to really stand out. But as it is, DO or DIE is super awesome in its own right.

The music video concept is a zombie video game. But instead of a survival game where one might usually run away from the zombies and shoot at them in order to survive, the members pretty much interact with the zombies in an unexpected way – by finding the ones who have music in their bodies. The right zombies then become the rock band who plays for the group. As the zombies play, more zombies come and end up forming a crowd around the group as they perform. From there, the video becomes a bit drab in that it flicks over to reality, where the members appear to look for the second half of the game from the video store. I would have liked to see that it not be reality, but more so an extension of that zombie universe.

The performance leaves me speechless (in a good way). It looks quite tiresome, but yet the members make it look so dynamic and powerful from start to end. Something I hadn’t mentioned about the song yet is the fact there is some commentary in it between the bridge and final chorus. On stage, that sequence makes everything feel so much livelier. I also liked how one of the members kick over another member during the bridge, adding to the thrill of DO or DIE.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.4/10

[Review] dangdang – MAMAMOO+

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Earlier this year in March 2023, MAMAMOO+ made their unit comeback with the single GGBB. That was a fair comeback with an unfitting dance break that caused a flow issue. Four months on, Solar and Moonbyul are back with their first mini-album, Two Rabbits, and their latest title track dangdang. The pre-release single Save Me is also featured part of this mini-album (which I have not yet reviewed).

dangdang is an appealing track. The guitar twangs in the background, the heftier beats in the choruses, and some of the hooks, melodies and vocal delivery is all evidence of appeal in my books. But I find the track to be rather mild and light on as it opts for a more pleasant atmosphere. While I do like pleasant tracks, I do feel like dangdang could have gone a bit harder. The final chorus is a prime example of this potential. Of course, by holding back dangdang for majority of the song’s run, the final chorus is a lot impactful. But I think the song could have explored other avenues to give the song more oomph. The vocal work from both Solar and Moonbyul was very nice. Solar brought a falsetto and wispy approach to enhance the lightness of the track. However, that is kind of the only mode I remember from Solar in dangdang and I wished she had more substantial parts. Moonbyul’s vocals and rapping helps ground dangdang, but I wished her rapping was punchier to be more memorable and give dangdang something interesting to throw at us. More interesting verses could have been another option, and maybe a few strong hooks/melodies would have been nice as well. Overall, dangdang isn’t bad and I find it to be a stronger release than their past tracks. But I am left wanting more as the song progresses.

The music video appears to be quite fun, which works well with the song. There seems to be a trend in KPOP lately to use a lot of dancers in music videos. This music video doesn’t feature as much as other videos have in the past, but I feel like the start of the main portion of the video looks really cool as a result of the higher number of dancers. I liked the boldness of the blue and yellow sets in the middle of the video. And per usual, Solar and Moonbyul look amazing in the video. The music video also features the intro track, Two Rabbits, to the mini-album.

Their stage presence and smiles really makes the performance even better. While nothing really stood out for me in terms of individual moves, the playfulness of the routine, the duo and dancers comes off quite strongly and this helps makes the stage worthwhile to watch.

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

[Review] The Flash – KWON EUNBI

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KWON EUNBI has been trending lately due to her stage presence at the recent Water Bomb Festivals. And her comeback today is timely to ride on this wave of new found popularity. Her new single is titled The Flash and forms part of her first single album of the same name. We last saw KWON EUNBI via her Underwater era from October of last year – a comeback from the soloist that I have yet to review.

The teaser for this comeback (which felt unexpected when it appeared on my subscription lists, as I hadn’t read any news about her comeback prior to the release of the teaser) pretty much got me on board with this comeback, and I can safely say that The Flash in its entirety did not disappoint. The Flash is a super upbeat pop dance track that catches on within a few listens. The electronic synths create a very dynamic atmosphere and I feel both KWON EUNBI’s vocals and The Flash‘s melodies build on this dynamic nature to create an exciting song. In amongst the electronic synths are some well selected synth details that adds flair and style to the song, which creates further excitement and dynamism in the song. The best part of The Flash comes as the song launches into the final chorus from the bridge. I feel like the impact here makes the ending of The Flash more satisfying to listen to. The only thing that comes to mind that could potentially make The Flash even better would probably be a sharper instrumental. But the lack of that strikingness doesn’t break the song for me whatsoever and I like The Flash very much the way it is presented to us now.

The music video has a balance mix of choreography shots and close-ups of KWON EUNBI. She is super stunning in this video, and I liked that they highlight both the dance aspect and her visuals. I also like how KWON EUNBI breaks the fourth wall during the choreography of the first chorus. If I had one request, it was for the video to explore more of the close-ups, particularly with the backstage shots of KWON EUNBI in the makeup chair. The sets also look stylish and beautiful, as well.

I really like the presence of the ribbons at the start and during the bridge segment of the routine. They add nice visual aspect to the choreography, but also boasts a level of complexity that looks impressive. I am also a fan of the routine in the second half of the chorus, which looks effortlessly sexy.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10

[Review] New Emotions – INFINITE

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After a 4 year hiatus from the stage, INFINITE has finally made their long awaited comeback with their newest single, New Emotions, and their 7th mini-album, Begin. As it has been a while since we have heard from the group, here is a quick introduction to INFINITE. Starting out as a seven member male group under Woolim Entertainment in 2010, INFINITE is one of those groups who skyrocketed to fame from a small company with their sharp and synchronised choreography and hits after hits like BTD, Be Mine, Paradise, The Chaser and many more. Currently, the group is a 6 member group (consisting of Sungkyu, Dongwoo, Woohyun, Sungyeol, L and Sungjong) under their own company, INFINITE company. We last saw the group release the single Clock in 2019.

New Emotions is seriously groovy and funky, which is pretty much on trend with KPOP nowadays. We see the funkiness and grooviness in two different forms – the vocal-like detailing in the background of certain parts of the song and via the bass guitar in the choruses. The members’ vocals add such a sleek and smooth texture to the song, which contrasts super well with the instrumentation. The opener was very ear-catching and intriguing, while the accumulation of instrumentals in the choruses gives New Emotions drive. I would have liked to see a stronger melody or a hook to take New Emotions to the next level. Though, I have an inkling that the current melody/hook is growing on me as I review the track. My biggest disappointment with New Emotions, however, is its length and how underbaked it feels without a proper ending. It kind of leaves us hanging and doesn’t satisfy accordingly. I think I am with the majority here in saying New Emotions feels a bit lackluster when compared with their past hits which had a proper climax and ending. But nonetheless, I am glad that INFINITE is back and hope that there is more comebacks in the future for this second generation and iconic group.

The music video doesn’t have an apparent plot from what I can see (at least, I think it does). Though, the flashlights, the chase scenes and the members wearing silk red tops in a construction site says otherwise. But apart from that, I found it to be a very stylish showcase of the members. L (Kim Myungsoo, for those who don’t know his stage name) steals the show, particularly during those scenes where they wear white on a black background.

Sleek and smooth movements and engaging solo moments make up this choreography, and I am all for it! While currently we are constricted to seeing what is only in the music video, you can see INFINITE’s signature sharpness and sychronisation, which is a nice call back to their earlier works.

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

[Review] CAKE – ITZY

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One of the releases kicking off this big week of new songs and albums is ITZY with their newest single CAKE and their 7th mini-album, Kill My Doubt. Their comeback also features two pre-release tracks Bet On Me (released on July 3) and None Of My Business (released on July 24), both of which I have not reviewed just yet (but I will return to review some day in the near future). CAKE follows the group’s CHESHIRE era from November of last year.

CAKE is a solid track for ITZY. I just wish the verses weren’t such a bore (in the case of the first verse) and didn’t ‘switch it up’ (in the case of the second verse). Something more riveting and cohesive with the rest of CAKE would have better appreciated. Also, the vocals sound off to me in these segment. I don’t think it is the members’ fault for this, but rather the vocal processing just doesn’t feel right. Those were the biggest issues for me in CAKE, as they do stop the momentum that the pop melodies in the choruses and the growing CAKE repetition does create. These were the best parts of CAKE for me. Those pop melodies just bring a lovely dose of sweetness and brightness to the song that just makes it feel right for this season, while the CAKE repetition adds just the right amount of sass and attitude to the song to not fall into bubblegum territory. I wasn’t necessarily a fan of the repetition in the instance when I heard the song earlier today. But with the help of the catchy brass and the pounding beat, the CAKE repetition has really grown on me and I can see the song continuing to snowball further from here on out. It is just a pity that the verses just didn’t do it for me.

The editing at the start of the video where the members are appearing out of thin air makes for a really cool opener to the video. Other than that, I thought the music video was a fun and light-hearted accompaniment to the song. Yuna falling from that height because of another member being distracted and making impact with that vehicle, but later getting up and acting pretty was one of my favourite examples of this. I also like all of their looks in the music video, from the brighter tones to the darker outfits to the factory tracksuits. ITZY looks stunning throughout the video.

Choreography-wise, CAKE features a solid routine. Everything that we do see in the music video fits in with the music of their respective parts quite well. But my favourite part from what I can see is the CAKE repetition sequences. You know I like a bit of edge and that part of the song, music video and choreography had it all.

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