Album Reviews – Page 24

[Album Review] The Book of Us: Negentropy – Chaos Swallowed Up In Love (7th Mini Album) – DAY6

June 20, 2021Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged DAY62 Comments

After exactly two months since its release, I am finally getting around to writing an album review for DAY6’s seventh mini-album, The Book of Us: Negentropy – Chaos Swallowed Up In Love. It featured the title track, You Make Me. This is the band’s first comeback as a full group since the release of Zombie and The Book of Us: The Demon last year. And like the release of that album, You Make Me and The Book of Us: Negentropy was not promoted. Before we proceed onto the album review for DAY6’s new release, there are some things we need to make clear. This is DAY6’s last release as a full group for a while, as Sungjin enlisted into the military just prior to the release of the album (and the other members will follow suit in the future). But don’t worry, DAY6’s subunit Even of Day, made up of YoungK, Wonpil and Dowoon, will be return early next month! But until then, here is the seventh mini-album’s album review!

*The Book of Us: Negentropy – Chaos Swallowed Up In Love* Album Cover

1. Everyday We Fight – I find the opening song to the band’s latest album to be somewhat quirky, despite it falling into the band’s usual style of mid-tempo rock. The quirkiness come through via the odd synth that appears in the instrumental. I suppose that this gives the impression of ‘light at the end of the tunnel’, which I think goes well with the song’s message that each fight between partners will resolve. Minus those odd synths, the mid-tempo rock reminds me of some of their earlier workers, and their vocals are solid in Everyday We Fight Overall, a nice opener to the album. (8.5/10)

2. You Make Me (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for You Make Me. (8.5/10)

3. Healer – Healer seems to be DAY6’s most innovative track on the album. It is quite upbeat, combining EDM and band instrumentation to create a really fun and groovy number. The relentless energy, the song’s catchiness from the chant-style chorus and the autotune processed over the vocals make Healer a standout track and the hidden gem of the album. I don’t have much else to say to about the song, so I am just going to spend the rest of my time typing out this section by dancing in my chair to Healer ^^. (10/10)

4. Only (둘도 아닌 하나) – Only is a substantial song that showcases DAY6’s formidable vocals. It has a pop-rock style of instrumentation and features the message of sincere love. I enjoyed the old-school vibe of the instrumental, particularly the fade out we get at the end of the song. This entire prose gave Only an easy on the ears effect, which I tend to like. It is pretty much ideal following a high energy track such as the one preceding Only. It isn’t instantly the most recognisable song on the album, but it still a good listen. (8/10)

5. Above The Clouds (구름 위에서) – Opening Above The Clouds is the calming nature of the beach. Right after, Jae leads us into the song with his soft vocals. The song was written by Jae, and based on the title of the song and the lyrics, it was for someone close who he had loss. But rather than being a sad song that opted for the balladry effect, Above The Clouds ended up being a strong rock song, which works well with the acceptance of loss message behind the lyrics. In addition to the lyrics, the passionate and resonating vocals make Above The Clouds another stand out track on the album. (10/10)

6. ONE (무적) – While I do enjoy the odd curveball when it comes to music, I stayed away from ONE for its curveball. I appreciate the innovation and uniqueness of the song, but I felt the synths (in combination with the drumming and other band instrumentation) made it a bit hard for me to focus on the song. The rock side of the song does dominate and their vocals sound fantastic. But ONE just feels unnecessarily complicated for me. (6.5/10)

7. So Let’s Love (우리 앞으로 더 사랑하자) – The final song on the album and the final song on the entire The Book of Us series is So Let’s Love. Without even reading into the lyrics, you can hear the hurt and emotion behind their voices. It just makes the song so much more impactful. So Let’s Love brings forth a more traditional rock instrumental, which I felt was an interesting direction to end the album on, given the direction in which the rest of this mini-album took. But I am not complaining, as it was a passionate and heavy song for the group. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.6/10

*The Book of Us: Negentropy – Chaos Swallowed Up In Love* Teaser Image

[Album Review] Yellow (4th Mini Album) – Kang Daniel

June 14, 2021Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged KANG DANIELLeave a comment

It is time for another album review! This particular post is for Kang Daniel’s fourth mini-album, Yellow, which was released exactly two months ago (way back in April!). The album features both the title track, Antidote, and the pre-release track, PARANOIA. In addition to these two tracks, there are three other new songs on the mini-album (which I have a lot of thoughts about – whether it is good or bad, continue reading to find out!). Yellow also wraps up Kang Daniel’s color series, with previous album’s titled after the three colours – Cyan, Magenta and Yellow (this album). It will be interesting to see and hear where Kang Daniel would go from here, especially after a substantial and thought provoking (towards the end) trilogy, like this one. But until then, here is my album review for Yellow!

1. Digital – Just from the loaded tone of album’s opening track, you can tell that Kang Daniel has brought a lot of deep, dark and emotional thought to the song. And I think Digital sets up the album extremely well, as these deep and dark thoughts are carried throughout the album. Digital talks about the experiences of invisible bullies on the internet, who are super critical of what he does, and spread lies and false rumors about the idol. For the song, I really enjoyed the alternative rock profile the song taps into. I really like the deep notes in the instrumental, which really creates that dark atmosphere in which the song thrives on. His vocals are quite good, and I particularly liked how memorable the ‘So critical, enemies invisible’ line ended up being. The song also tethers on the border of being retro, but never really stepping into that domain. Altogether, Digital reminds me of Blinding Lights, which was one of the best releases from last year. (9/10)

2. PARANOIA (Pre-release Track) – Click here to read the full review for PARANOIA. (9/10)

3. Misunderstood (ft. Omega Sapien) – Misunderstood opened up with a very sinister feeling. I felt the instrumental was like a blur. And I mean that in a good way. I think it works extremely well with the lyrics, which are all about pretending to be okay but as a result ends up with Kang Daniel being misunderstood. And I feel that is because of his status within the KPOP industry. He has to be ‘okay’, or else it would be unprofessional (which is completely upsetting, but that that is the reality of his industry). Misunderstood‘s lo-fi atmosphere remained as the common thread throughout the song, but the instrumentation ends up changing as the song progresses. At the start, we get deep thumping that looms in the background. We then get light taps in the first chorus, a tempo pick up for Omega Sapien’s featuring sequence (who worked really well into the song), followed up by what felt like a slow rock vibe to the song, before returning to the likes of the first verse. It is an interesting and impactful mix. (8/10)

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

5. Save U (ft. Wonstein) – Save U is my pick for best song on this album. Firstly, it is a warm song following all of the darkness that preceded this song. The messages of reassurance that he will be there and that these thoughts would all pass are very emotive and powerful. Secondly, Kang Daniel sounds so amazing in this song. He channels all his emotions and deep thoughts into this song in a manner that doesn’t overwhelm you in any manner. The harmonization throughout the song is so nice as well. Thirdly, I really like the electronic instrumental we get. It works really well and compliments both the message and Kang Daniel. Fourthly, Wonstein was a great addition to the song, adding a different dynamic that makes the song more interesting. I am not a fan of his ‘Save U’ interjections earlier in the song, but I think I can overlook that minor element. But everything else he does balances out this track nicely. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 9/10

[Album Review] All Yours (2nd Studio Album) – ASTRO

June 13, 2021Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged ASTRO1 Comment

It has actually been three weeks since the last album review. But it has felt like an eternity. That might be due to the fact I have so many albums that I want to to really sit down and review. I just haven’t found the time to do so. But I am hoping to sit down over the next two days to smash out some and get them scheduled for the rest of the month. Good luck to me! For today, I have decided to review an album released over two months ago! That album is ASTRO’s second studio album, All Yours, which featured the title track ONE. The album was quite a success, going on to winning three awards from the Weekly Music Shows (MTV The Show, MBC Show Champion and MNET MCountDown). And it is long overdue for a review. So before I delay it anymore, let’s move forward with the review!

1. Dear My Universe – All Yours starts off with Dear My Universe. It is a pop song that kicks ASTRO’s second album off with a pleasant tone. While many albums kick off the album with powerful energy and high intensity, ASTRO opts to ease us into their album instead. I like this tactic, as it holds no surprises for me. The pop instrumentation has this really chilled and soft approach, which makes it an easy listen. This lightness extends to their vocals and rapping, which compliment the instrumentation by not off-balancing the song in anyway. I really like the melodies and the track is quite enjoyable overall. (8.5/10)

2. Butterfly Effect – Butterfly Effect takes the pleasant pop tone of the previous song and amps up the energy with a more upbeat instrumentation. It really like the aesthetic that is present in Butterfly Effect. This aesthetic comes through the contrast between the verses and chorus. We have pretty nice vocals throughout the verses, before the song ramps up to the chorus. It is preceded by a simply spoken ‘Fly’ before the drop kicks in, adding a level of dynamism and depth to the song. I do like how the vocal and rapping both remained light, as like in the previous but at a level that felt appropriate for the upbeatness of Butterfly Effect. (9/10)

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

4. Someone Else (JinJin, Moonbin, MJ) – The first unit song features the three members listed in the bracket next to the song’s name. Someone Else adds a funky flair to the album, that fits in the album. When the song first started, I expected a hip-hop song for odd reason. But the track ended up tapping into the pop genre. I liked the combination of the soft jazzy style and the intensity brought on by Jin Jin’s rapping that makes up the two halves of the pre-chorus. The chorus also had a really catchy hook, thanks to the melodic repetition of the title. (7.5/10)

5. SNS (Eunwoo, Sanha, Rocky) – The second unit song is made up of the balance of the group (names also listed in the brackets next to the song’s title). SNS brings back the pleasant vibes from the start of the album, with a pop song that leans towards the R&B genre. It also has this mature but feel-good vibe to it, which is an interesting combination to put together. I feel that SNS could have used a superior hook, but instead focuses on melody and that mature profile to sell the song to us. But even without a strong and memorable hook, SNS still has its own charm, coming off as smooth and sleek track at the end of the day. (8/10)

6. All Good – All Good is my pick for best song on the album! I really like the infectious positive energy that the song brings to both the album (and any playlist that you add it to). It also brings a smile to my face and I can’t help but really get into it when it appears on my album. The song’s central part, the chorus, was quite an addictive sequence of the song. I liked the blast of energy it had, along with the super catchy ‘It’s so good, It’s so good’ hook. I also like the layer of the ‘Gonna be alright’ over the top, which added a stunning complexity to the otherwise simple and feel-good track. (10/10)

7. All Stars – All Stars has the difficult task of following the likes of All Good. I think All Stars ended up feeling less energetic and a bit slower paced than the preceding song. However, it did a good job of continuing the positivity and feel-good vibes that are being channeled the album’s songs. There was a nice pleasant showcase of vocals and rapping from the members, and there was a decent hook in the song. I did enjoy the harmonization throughout the song, and the JinJin’s shouty ‘Everything is Okay, Every time is okay, Everyone is okay’ in the second half of the chorus. (7/10)

8. Our Spring (우리의 계절) – Next up on the album is Our Spring, It is the first song on the album that opts for a slower tempo. It is a really soothing song when you think of the vocals. But what I really enjoy is the punch of energy that the song delivery via the instrumentation. It isn’t your typical ballad instrumental as it incorporates electronic synths and drums. The rapping blends the two sides of the song together. You can feel a bit of emotion behind the rappers’ deliveries, but they also have the intensity that is fitting for the instrumentation. It is a good listen, and I highly recommend it. (9.5/10)

9. Stardust – Stardust aligns to the ballad genre, more so than the previous song. This is mainly because of the instrumentation we get. It starts off with a piano as the main core, before slowly bringing in some orchestra influences. The orchestral touch is relatively soft when it does come and goes, but you can tell it is there. The vocals work extremely well against the instrumental. But I just really enjoyed the rapping in Stardust. It is gripping and well-articulated to be appropriate for a ballad. (8/10)

10. Gemini (별비) – The final song on the album is another ballad piece. And ASTRO manages to show themselves off alongside a really dynamic instrumental. It starts off in a similar fashion to the previous song with the piano. But when the orchestral influences come into play, it stays. Hence, I find this instrumental to be quite stunning, creating an amazing background for members. In the previous few songs, I have really been drawn to the rapping. But Gemini also shows off the groups’ delicate yet impressive vocal power, as well as the powerful rapping that fits so well into this ballad setup. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.6/10

[Album Review] I’m (2nd Mini Album) – Kim Sejeong

May 23, 2021Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged Kim SejeongLeave a comment

The next album that I am reviewing is Kim Sejeong’s second mini-album, I’m. Once again, I was drawn to the mini-album while vetting albums for review. A number of the songs on the album appealed to me. And so, I put the album on my reviewing list for review, which is where we find ourselves today. The release of this album, and the title track Warning, is her first major activity since the disbandment of Gugudan at the end of last year. Previously, Kim Sejeong’s first mini-album (unreviewed) was released in 2019 and titled Plant. It also featured the title track, of the same name Plant. But today, we are here to listen I’m.

1. Teddy Bear – Teddy Bear starts off the album with an easy listen. It delves into the pop rock genre, which I find brings a nice colour to Kim Sejeong’s discography. The drums and electric guitars were all a really decent pace that was appealing to my tastes. What also I like about listening to Teddy Bear is that it was a no fuss and no commitment type of track. Nothing felt heavy. But rather, the entire song felt blissful. The solo artist’s vocals were extremely fitting for the style and drove the song forward in a very soothing manner. (8.5/10)

2. Warning (ft. IlBOI) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Warning. (9/10)

3. Do Dum Chit (밤산책) – Do Dum Chit was a favourite of mine. I really like the refreshing colour that Do Dum Chit has. It is also an extremely likeable upbeat track with a really nice contrast of heavy and light elements. The heavy comes through via the instrumentation of the chorus, whereas both the verses and vocals brought lightness to the song. And this combination resulted in a really appealing song. I also find the addition of the phone sound effects to be a nice touch (working with the lyrcis). Kim Sejeong’s sweet vocals, rapping at the end and ab-lib were standouts as well. This song had it all for me. (10/10)

4. Let’s Go Home (집에 가자) – Let’s Go Home starts off with thumping beats that instantly sold me the song. The rest of Let’s Go Home falls into rock genre, but on the softer and maybe pop side of the spectrum. And it was no let down. To me, the song showed off Kim Sejeong’s vocals extremely well. She brought this breathy tone to Let’s Go Home. I also liked how the soft pop rock instrumentation and her vocals worked together to create a very dreamy and organic sound. (9/10)

5. Maybe I Am (아마 난 그대를) – Like all KPOP albums, there is a need for a ballad. And for this album, the ballad comes in the form of Maybe I Am. It is also the album’s final song. The presence of Maybe I Am on this album is no surprise to me, given that most of her well-known tracks have been of the ballad genre in some degree. And like those past works, Maybe I Am captivates with both vocals and instrumentation front. It is hard to describe the song any other way than ‘perfect’, especially when she gives us stunning vocals and a really soothing orchestral backing. It ticks my swaying criteria for ballads, is easy to get lost with, and was a beautiful listen to finish up this album. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 9.3/10

[Album Review] SCENE26 (3rd Mini Album) – Lee Jin Hyuk

May 22, 2021Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged LEE JIN HYUK, UP10TIONLeave a comment

The next album which I wanted to delve into for a closer listen is Lee Jin Hyuk’s recent comeback with SCENE26, his third mini-album since his solo debut in 2019. At the forefront of this mini-album is 5K, which dropped with the mini-album at the start of April 2021. Personally, I am not a fan of his releases in the past (which includes I Like That and Bedlam) and this detered me from sitting down to write an album review for those past mini-albums. But as I was vetting albums by a casual listen recently, I was drawn to a few tracks on this mini-album that caught my attention. Furthermore, 5K garnered the most positive review I had for Lee Jin Hyuk since his solo debut. So with those factors combined, I am excited to finally sit down to have a closer look at one of Lee Jin Hyuk’s mini-albums.

1. 5K (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for 5K. (7/10)

2. Silence – If 5K’s tone was playful and fun, then Silence is edgy. The second track on the album is an EDM track, which isn’t really the ideal genre to push for some ‘silence’. In fact, I really like how loud this track ended up being. There is also a lot of character to the song, which isn’t standard with typical EDM song. There is just something more to the song that I find very exciting. I really like the layering of all of the rough and harsh synths and textures, which creates an energy that sounded like it could easily have fitted into an intense, suspenseful and ‘edge of your seat’ type of action movie. For Lee Jin Hyuk himself, his rapping was quite dynamic and robust. And he too inserted a lot of character into the song himself. (9/10)

3. Asteroid (소행성) – Asteroid is my favourite track on the album. While his vocal work at the very start wasn’t really the best foot forward, the rest of the vocals were extremely fitting for this rock song. I really like the harshness/roughness of his vocals, which make it fitting for the rock genre. And he sounds so good throughout the rest of the song that I am willing to overlook that tiny detail at the start. The rock instrumental is relentless and powerful, blasting us with energy from practically the first second. Altogether, everything felt like an anime OST. And I would be willing to watch any anime with a lead in track like Asteroid. (10/10)

4. HATI-HATI – HATI-HATI is a blast of intense hip-hop energy. If you are a person is easily overwhelmed with intense songs, then this one might not be for you. But if you enjoy that thrill, then definitely check out HATI-HATI. For me, I don’t mind being blasted by energy, but I much prefer the song’s more melodic moments in the pre-choruses and bridge. That being said, Lee Jin Hyuk really pushes himself to deliver lines that really stand out on top of the instrumentation, showcasing an ability that definitely can be helpful with some songs. On top of that, his rapping was impeccable and definitely shows promise. (8/10)

5. Be Half Awake – We return to a more playful and fun track, allowing us to take a break from all that intense energy from the pervious songs. It isn’t my personal favourite song on the album, as I felt that the harshness in his tone was competing with the synths and instrumental. Sometimes they clashed, and this was a jolt of sound that I personally did not enjoy as much. Be Half Awake‘s more melodic moments were appreciable. But once again, it is rapping that steals the show for me in this song. I just wished the energy from both the song and Lee Jin Hyuk was toned down a bit to gives us more of an opportunity of a break from the album’s intensity. (6.5/10)

6. Wave (끄덕) – If I were to pick a song which showed off his rapping off the most, then Wave would be my pick. His rapping in this song is definitely his best work yet. The energy, the character and the charisma are all showcased in this song to a high degree. If he had started off his solo career with a song like Wave, then I would have been an avid follower. I also like the underground vibes of this song, which is really cool. Not only was it a great style to showcase Lee Jin Hyuk’s talents, it is also very different from most rap songs we hear in a KPOP album. (9/10)

7. Coup-d’état (활) – In addition to ending the album, Coup-d’état was selected as the follow-up promotional song to end 5K promotions. The powerful and intense nature of the EDM that makes up Coup-d’état makes it a song that is extremely fitting for the stage. Actually, I think this would have been a strong contender for the title track position of this album The energy from this song would have been thrilling as the entrance track to SCENE26 and would have started everything with a bang! In addition to the intensity and stage-worthiness for this song, Coup-d’état also showcases Lee Jin Hyuk in an explosive manner that doesn’t feel like was capitalized in any of the above songs. We have heard impressive rapping from the soloist in the above songs, but I don’t think we have heard him like this before! (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.5/10

[Album Review] UNNATURAL (9th Mini Album) – WJSN (Cosmic Girls)

May 16, 2021Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged Cosmic Girls, WJSNLeave a comment

As promised during last week’s review of WJSN The Black’s review for Easy, I would be looking at WJSN’s latest mini-album this weekend. Well, that review comes today! This full group comeback (excluding Cheng Xiao, Meiqi Xuanyi due to scheduling conflicts) shares the name Unnatural for both the title track and the album’s name. Both of which were released at the end of March. This is another strong comeback from the group, who consistently have put out great title tracks and albums. Their last full group comeback was back in June 2020 with Neverland (headlined by Butterfly). Let’s see how the indivdual songs faired on Unnatural.

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

2. Last Dance – Last Dance continues the mature vibes from Unnatural. It is also my favourite side track from the album. There was a lot to like in this song. To me, the instrumentation in this song was pretty much perfect. Nothing felt out of place, underwhelmed or overwhelmed. The synths employed were more to the harsh side of the spectrum, but they came together to make a fulfilling backdrop. They used this to create the peak of the song, which I thought was smart. I really like the catchy nature of the chorus, and how the melodies came off as soft but you can still hear them over the loudness of the synths. The rapping in this song really showed some edgy flair, which I also really enjoyed. (10/10)

3. Super Moon (원하는 모든 걸) – The next song loses the serious tone that the preceding mature tracks had. Super Moon takes us back to familiar territory for the group, reminding me of their Boogie Up days. The instrumentation is very vibrant and feels fitting for the initial period of Summer. I really like the texture component of the pre-chorus, which brought some depth to the song and contrasts with the light approach WJSN had opted for in the chorus. I also enjoyed the electronic infusion of synths that preceded the final chorus, giving a bit of zing to the song as it approached its end. I just wished Super Moon had a more dynamic and catchier hook to really push this song to a new level of appeal. (9/10)

4. New Me – New Me promises a sexier side of the group, based on how the song sounds. This is probably unexplored territory for the group, given their well-known fantastical sound that they started their careers off with. I can imagine a really sleek and sensual performance to accompany New Me on stage. The retro instrumentation was very alluring. I enjoyed the rapping in this song (particularly just before the first and final choruses), but felt the vocals were a bit plain. I really like the whole concept of that extra bit at the end after they had supposedly wrapped up New Me. It isn’t new per say, but they are rare in KPOP dance music. But it works well with that alluring side of the song, teasing us just a bit longer. (8/10)

5. Yalla (음) – For me, Yalla’s main appeal point is the chorus. The first half of the chorus is made up of broken up synths that come together to create a bold and aesthetically messy centre-piece. This is followed up with bold vocals and sweet harmonies. I also really like the groovy nature of the rest of the instrumentation. But that is if I were to treat the chorus as its own song. When I consider the entire song as a whole, I want the chorus somehow pops out more. It is different, but it lacks definition. It needed to be bolstered up to be more out there. Instead, Yalla stays relatively neutral despite having a potentially mindblowing and wowing arsenal. (8/10)

6. Rewind (잊지 마 (나의 우주)) – The album ends with the mandatory ballad that is expected on all KPOP albums. It is backdropped by a piano-centric instrumental, which built up to include other classical instrumentation. Typical in many ways, but still stunning. Rewind boasts member’s the amazing vocals, which is without a doubt their best on the album. Especially in the chorus, they really pierced their way through the song. I think the weakest moment of Rewind is the rapping. I don’t think the ballad needed a rap sequence and it disrupted the blissful flow of the song. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.7/10

[Album Review] Bambi (3rd Mini Album) – Baekhyun (EXO)

May 15, 2021Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged Baekhyun (EXO), EXO2 Comments

The next album on my reviewing radar is Baekhyun’s third mini-album, Bambi, which was released back in March of this year. Bambi is also the title track of the album. Amusement Park is also featured on the album after its digital release in December of last year. This is a pretty significant release for Baekhyun, with the album selling over a million copies within a few weeks of its release, breaking his personal record which he had set himself with his Delight mini-album from last year. It is also significant in a sense that this is Baekhyun’s final mini-album release before his military enlistment which occurred earlier this month. I believe Baekhyun has hinted at some solo stuff while he is away. But until that is officially confirmed and released, we only have this mini-album to fulfil our Baekhyun cravings for the next two years or so.

1. Love Scene – The album starts off with Love Scene. This form of R&B isn’t my personal cup of tea, given that there isn’t much going on. However, I felt that Love Scene was quite soothing to listen to. There is something about the consistent guitar work and the soft thumping in the instrumental that carried the song for me. Baekhyun’s vocals were smooth and there was a decent degree of raspiness to it. But as stated a few sentences ago, the song does feel quite consistent and I wished that wasn’t so much the case. (7/10)

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

3. All I Got – The opening beats of All I Got really perked my attention towards the song. Then comes Baekhyun’s falsetto note, before the R&B genre truly kicks in. In comparison to the opening track, All I Got has heft to it, which is more of my style. I really like the bass that sits under the rest of the song’s instrumentation. I really like the backing vocals in the bridge, giving a choir-like effect to the song. And to add to all of that, Baekhyun constantly returns with his vocals. A combination of falsettos and impressive ad-libs that only Baekhyun is capable of. (9/10)

4. Amusement Park (놀이공원) – Click here to read the full review for Amusement Park. (9/10)

5. Privacy – This song combines jazzy notes and with lo-fi effects to give us Privacy. It is a really nice mix of styles that work really well with one another. And in addition to that, Privacy is really smooth so it is an easy listen. I would have liked to hear more of Baekhyun aligning with the jazz side of the song, rather than the lo-fi side. While I think his vocals in this song are amazing as usual, I felt there was some missed opportunity to do some further exploration in the jazz genre space. (8/10)

6. Cry For Love – The saying ‘saving the best to last’ is applicable for this album. Cry For Love is my personal favourite side track from this mini-album. Like the entirety of this album, Cry For Love falls into the R&B genre. But the song is the heftiest on this list, thanks to the beat of the instrumentation. What makes this an even better song is Baekhyun’s vocals (per usual). He showed off a lot with his voice. You can hear the emotional drive behind his voice, which was fitting for the lyrics of this song. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.3/10

[Album Review] The Renaissance (10th Studio Album) – Super Junior

May 9, 2021Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged Super Junior1 Comment

Keeping in theme with the other reviews this weekend (reviews I should have written sooner), I have decided to review Super Junior’s 10th (!) studio album. It has been almost two months since the release of the album, titled The Renaissance. It features the title track House Party and a whole bunch of other new songs, including all the pre-releases which Super Junior have unvieled since late last year. The reason why I have decided to review this album to continue the theme of this weekend is because I feel I don’t review Super Junior all that often anymore. I have done a couple of album reviews for them previously. But given they have 10 studio albums (and countless mini-albums) under their belt, I feel I have a lot to catch up on. I have also been neglecting their solo work, so I better get to writing those reviews. But in the meantime, here is what I thought of The Renaissance.

1. Super – Super gives us a teaser of what is to come on this album. The track itself is only a minute and half, and acts as the album’s introductory track. I liked the intensity of the track and the chanting delivery which makes Super feel very Super Junior. I just feel the short track was very plain when it came to its instrumentation. I think it would have been better served as a full-length track and was further down the tracklist. (7/10)

2. House Party (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for House Party. (6/10)

3. Burn The Floor – Burn The Floor starts off very elegantly with its focus on waltz-like music in the verses. But if the name suggests any clues to you, this whole elegant touch is pretty much a ruse for what is to come. Burn The Floor integrates trap electronic music and a rush of intense energy into the song for the chorus over the top of the strings, keeping true to the start of the song. The transition between classical and electronic was very well done and clean-cut. Burn The Floor also throws a few more curveballs towards the end, such as the haunting bridge and dubstep finisher. The entire song is quite unexpected, but yet is a show stopping piece that has me coming back for more. And this doesn’t even consider the performance, which is really unique and one you ought to check out. (10/10)

4. Paradox – Paradox features a funky background, which is fitting for the current trends of KPOP at the moment. However, the chorus takes more on a percussive route opting for an interesting mix of EDM that I find quite intriguing. In combination with the whispering vocals, the chorus comes off as surprisingly sleek and classy. The vocal work, aside from the chorus, were pretty solid. My biggest issue with the song is that it sounds rather loose, when you consider everything together. I just the various parts blended more with one another continued the momentum from the preceding sections. This would have made the song sound a lot more refined. (8/10)

5. Closer – We move away from the EDM and heavy emphasis on electronics with Closer, a R&B pop track. Closer is a lot easier on the ears and is simpler in terms of its arrangement, compared to the preceding tracks. But Closer has this really catchy underlying beat that makes this song hard to stay away from. With a softer song, the focus is without a doubt more on the vocal works. While all the members sound so nice throughout the song, I have to applaud both Kyuhyun and Ryeowook’s vocals that opened up the song’s two verses. They oozed so much charisma, pulling me into the song from the start. (9/10)

6. The Melody (우리에게) – The Melody has a few great star attractions. The first is being the song’s feel-good melody. It makes the song extremely pleasant and gives off a simple atmosphere. The second is the instrumentation. It is an acoustic pop number, which is quite likeable. The simplistic nature of the song is further emphasized by the whistling and urge to foot-tap along to the beat of the song. The third has to be the vocals. Alone, the members handle their parts effortlessly well. But the harmonies is what gives the song so much depth. Altogether, The Melody brings a smile to your face while listening to it, and is also my favourite side track from this album. (10/10)

7. Raining Spell of Love (사랑이 멎지 않게) (Remake Ver.) – Raining Spell of Love was previously a very emotive dance track from Super Junior’s seventh studio album, Mamacita. For this album, the song was remade into a ballad (piano and soft percussion) but it still retains the song’s original emotive and heart-breaking profile. The vocals in this version are breathtaking, especially when it came to the chorus when they all sang together. Yesung’s high note at the end was also spectacular. Also retained are the rap sequence. I personally felt that this version could have redone this sequence to be delivered by vocals and to make this more fitting in this version’s ballad set-up. (9/10)

8. Mystery – Mystery returns us to the start of the album with the focus on electronic and EDM. Mystery isn’t as explicit with this return however, opting for a more down-tempo atmosphere. I really liked how the vocals sounded in this song, aiding in making the song sound soothing and mature. But it is the instrumentation that I am not entirely sure about. It made the song unnecessarily busy. I would have preferred it if they took out one or two elements from the instrumentation to make the background a bit more fitting for the rest of the song’s atmosphere. (7/10)

9. More Days With You (같이 걸읅까) – More Days With You is your more straightforward and traditional sounding ballad. Once again, the focus is more on the member’s vocals. I really like what they did for the chorus, making it breathy and airy. I also like the instrumentation. Piano, violins and acoustic guitars consistently throughout the song. Unfortunately, the melodies are not as memorable as the previous ballads on the album, which leaves it falling behind the rest on the album. But it still sounds good, nonetheless. (8/10)

10. Tell Me Baby (하얀 거짓말) – The final song on the album is an upbeat pop number. The energy coming from this song brings a smile to your face. It also gives me holiday vibes, as I think there are some instrumental influences in the background. It isn’t the most promising song on the album, but it was nice song to end the album with. Furthermore, there is actually a cute video to accompany this track on Super Junior’s YouTube channel. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.2/10

[Album Review] LILAC (5th Studio Album) – IU

May 9, 2021Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged IULeave a comment

The next album review is fitting for the theme of this week – reviews which I should have written earlier. And while all of the albums that I intend of reviewing do fall into this category, I think the two I have selected for this weekend are most appropriate for this themed weekend. First up is IU. The nation’s little sister, as everyone has nicknamed her. The reason why I should have written this album review sooner is simply because of the fact that this is IU we are talking about. Even over a month after the album’s release, LILAC (the album’s title and title of its title track) is still ranking high on the music charts, which is why IU is considered to be a digital queen! We haven’t spoken much about the other tracks on the album yet (aside from pre-release Celebrity and COIN), so let’s look at those tracks in further detail!

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

2. Flu – The main element of attraction of Flu, for me, was the pleasantness that the song exuded. Flu is a pop track with a nice bounce to it. It isn’t really an interesting song, but it does also give off some really cheerful energy despite the lyrics are about liken to being in love as like catching the flu. I like how IU keeps consistent throughout the song. Her delivery method, a mixture of whispering and falsettos, really complimented the instrumentation. Altogether, everything worked together in harmony to be pleasant sounding. (8/10)

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

4. Hi Spring Bye (봄 안녕 봄) – Hi Spring Bye is a soothing ballad that gets me swaying along to the music and melody. For those who have been following my blog for a while now, you know I liked my ballads. And while Hi Spring Bye ticks my criteria for a good ballad, I found the slow pace of the song to just hold me back from fully liking the song. It is good nonetheless, but it seems like I am just not feeling this style of ballad this time around. (9/10)

5. Celebrity (Pre-release Track) – Click here to read the full review for Celebrity. (9/10)

6. Troll (돌림노래) (ft. Dean) –Troll has this reggae influence that brings a playful tone to the song. I liked the contrast between IU and Dean. IU brings this high tone to the song, while Dean balances it out with his deeper voice. It makes their harmonies quite nice. But while that is the case, I haven’t actually fallen for the song. I don’t really find much of it as memorable as it could be, nor do I have the drive to really return to it after I have finishing listen to one round of it. (7/10)

7. Empty Cup (빈 컵) – Empty Cup is a mid-tempo song that falls into the ballad genre, but also has a R&B influence. It is a relatively short song, in comparison to the rest of the songs on the album. When I listen to the song, I always get caught off guard when the song wraps up quickly. I find her vocals in Empty Cup to be quite captivating, and so I always find the song to seemingly end prematurely. That is Empty Cup’s only flaw! (9/10)

8. My Sea (아이와 나의 바다) – My Sea is another ballad. But what sets My Sea apart from the rest of the internal competition to become the best song on the album is that the ballad is quite atmospheric. And this is largely thanks to the orchestral instrumentation that builds so epically from the start of the song. Her vocals were amazing and stunning in the song. The choir and IU’s spectacular high note (which you know I would be a sucker for) just blows me away. What more can you ask for? (10/10)

9. Ah Puh (어푸) – Ah Puh brings back up the upbeat vibes from the start of the album to the end of the album. But it has a bit of the twist. And that is twist is that there is an indie pop feel. But I feel the indie pop feel is lost as the song progresses and it develops into a straight forward pop song. But I am not too troubled by that. I really like the lines in the song. It is super catchy and makes for an addictive track. (9.5/10)

10. Epilogue (에필로그) – I am very aware that Epilogue has a music video. But due to time constraints, I am holding a review for the music video for the Missed Review segment in the future. In the meanwhile, here are my thoughts on the album’s final song. This is also another pleasant song to end the album with. I really like the acoustic feel of Epilogue along with the vintage touch with some of the instrumentation and the crackles of the record player. The vintage touch also gives off a warm and golden feel, which is definitely a great note to end on. (8.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.9/10

[Album Review] SET (1st Single Album) – WOODZ

May 2, 2021Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged WOODZLeave a comment

Surprise! Another album review this weekend. I felt like I was cheating the system by reviewing just one single album today. So I thought, why not review another single album! Luckily, WOODZ also released a single album around the same time as the album I had just reviewed. WOODZ’s single album is titled SET and features the title track FEEL LIKE. It is, too, his first single album since his solo debut. It also follows the release of Woops, which I had reviewed late last year. The songs on Woops faired quite well, so I couldn’t wait to sit down and write out my thoughts for the new side tracks on this single album, so continue reading on if you want to know what I thought about SET.

1. FEEL LIKE (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for FEEL LIKE. (8.5/10)

2. Touché (ft. Moon) – WOODZ brings out his vocals in Touché. It is one of the highlights of the track for me. I also like the lines in which he finishes off with spoken delivery, which were really smooth and gives the song that depth of dynamism. Aside from the soloist’s vocals, Touché is a sensual R&B track with Latin-influences. Interestingly, the Latin influences don’t really become that prevalent until Moon (the featuring artist) comes into play towards the end of the song. But you can definitely feel those influences bubbling away in the background, waiting for it emerge as a centrepiece. In addition to WOODZ, Moon’s voice is stunning in this song. And their harmonies at the end were really captivating. Overall, Touché was a breathtaking song. (10/10)

3. Rebound – Rebound also taps into the R&B genre. But I feel Rebound is a highly concentrated steamy number that promises a very alluring and captivating performance when the time comes for one. It is also a song sung in English from start to end. Rebound without a doubt showcases his vocals. It not only compliments the sensual nature and pace of the song, but also really emphasise his falsetto vocals. And if you enjoy them, I recommend that you check out WOODZ’s Accident from his first mini-album, which also involves some unique instrumentation. Here Rebound stays more traditional, but definitely captivates. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 9.2/10

[Album Review] Won’t Forget You (1st Single Album) – Kim Sung Kyu (Infinite)

May 2, 2021Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged INFINITE, Kim Sung Kyu (Infinite)3 Comments

The next album I will looking into is Kim Sung Kyu’s very first single album which features the title track, HUSH. There are a few significant milestones with the release of this single album, titled Won’t Forget You. This is the first single album under his name since his solo debut back in 2012. It is also his last album release under Woolim Entertainment, which he has been signed to as an artist (both solo and as a member of Infinite) since his debut in 2010. The company announced his departure in early March and (as mentioned in HUSH’s review), it appears the two parties mutually parted ways from one another based on the existence of this single album. Let’s wish Kim Sung Kyu good luck to wherever he goes next with his solo career. And while we await for his next solo release, let’s have a deeper listen to Won’t Forget You.

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

2. You – You is a very pleasant and likeable track, thanks to the simple instrumentation involving acoustic guitars and consistent percussion. I like how the electric guitar and a very small amount of electronic band styled instrumentation sneaks its way into the song by the time it wraps up. On top of that, we have Kim Sung Kyu’s vocals which are very clear and crisp. There is an appreciable level of sweetness to his voice that really compliments the song’s message of wanting his partner to stay by his side. The backing vocals in You really amplify his vocals and the melodies, along the chorus to be quite memorable. The combination of the backing vocals and melodies also brought out a nostalgic factor, for some of his past singles. Altogether, You is a highly recommended listen from me. (10/10)

3. My Day (나의 하루) – Kim Sung Kyu’s music is heavily influenced on the electronic band style that you would associate with Korean band Nell. While My Day seems to stay within that same area of music, it also seems to be slightly more experimental with its more upbeat and Summery vibes. My Day seems to be the perfect song to use as background music while walking along the beach. Like all his songs, his vocals stand out here. I really like the echo that comes through (thanks to the vocal processing) during the chorus, which enhances those Summery vibes. The layering at the end was really well executed. Overall, My Day comes off as extremely dreamy and is another highly recommended listen. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 9.7/10

[Album Review] HIDEOUT: BE OUR VOICE – SEASON 3 (3rd Mini Album) – CRAVITY

May 1, 2021Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged CRAVITY1 Comment

I think last week, I mentioned I had one more album from the month of February that I wanted to cover. Well, it turns out that the album is from the month of Janaury. I am talking about none other than CRAVITY’s third mini-album, HIDEOUT: BE OUR VOICE SEASON 3. Can you believe it has already been almost five months since this mini-album’s release! Apologies once again for the very long delay for this album review. Featured on this mini-albim is their title track My Turn, and follow-up promotional track Bad Habits. While I did a full review for My Turn (spoiler: it didn’t fair too well), I have yet to do a review for Bad Habits. I will definitely return one day to look at the music video, but for now, let’s settle on a song review for Bad Habits as part of this album review. Let’s also see how the rest of their 3rd mini-album faired, given that my take on the title track wasn’t that great.

HIDEOUT: BE OUR VOICE – SEASON 3 Album Cover

1. My Turn (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for My Turn. (5/10)

2. Call My Name – Call My Name takes a diversion away from the harshness and powerful energy that My Turn had going on. Instead, this side track opts for more wispy and soothing instrumentation, all the while still falling into the EDM realm. Similarly, the vocals and rapping are toned down considerably to fit in with the instrumentation. Here, the members bring out sultry vocals – which you would expect with a ballad or other downtempo songs. This hence gives the song that passionate and emotional profile, which in turns makes it impactful. It is a bit standard, but stunning as a whole piece. (8.5/10)

3. Mammoth – Mammoth is a more substantial song, compared to the likes of My Turn (the title track). The main issue I had with the title track was the chorus, which Mammoth takes a more typical approach with. But it pays off as Mammoth’s chorus still ended up being quite dynamic and many times more likeable than what we got in My Turn. I really like the punchy ‘Mammoth’ start of the chorus, which adds a quite memorable element to the video. The intensity of the EDM instrumental and the hip-hop influences of the song were really strong material and helped delivered a filling feeling to the song. (8/10)

4. Bad Habits – Following all promotions of their title tracks, CRAVITY has always selected a side track to follow up promotions, music video and stage performances included! For this release, the hip-hop leaning Bad Habits was selected as the follow-up promotional track. My number one question is why wasn’t Bad Habits selected as the main title track. To me, this is the better cousin of My Turn. The deep tones in which are adopted by the rappers were definitely show-stopping. They also complimented the heavy use of bass in the instrumentation. I also found the rappers’ deep toned whispering when it came to the chorus to be quite sleek. While the vocals took a backseat for this song, they really showcased themselves when their parts came up. Bad Habits is a strong track that really deserves to be in the drivers’ seat of the album. (9/10)

5. Moonlight – Moonlight could have been my favourite track on the album. However, it was a bit much for my liking and hence it wasn’t my final pick for my favourite track on the album. I just wished that Moonlight toned back its energy and intensity behind the chorus be toned back a bit. While I do appreciate the energy, power and abrasiveness of the choruses’ instrumentation, I felt that it was overwhelming for even myself (which is saying something, as I really do like it when songs showcase energy, power and intensity). It is unfortuate, as I couldn’t hear the members in the chorus. But aside from that, everything else earned big ticks from me. From vocals to rapping to instrumentation (aside from the chorus) to melodies, Moonlight had it all. I could imagine a really powerful choreography that shows off CRAVITY’s performance skills to accompany this release. (8.5/10)

6. Dangerous – Right off the bat, Dangerous gives off this addictive groovy energy which really captivated my ears. It is also the reason to why I held so long onto writing a review for this release. I just wanted to talk about it! The grooviness underpins the entire track, with it also peeking through the intense and prevalent house effects we get in the chorus. I liked how the members sounded in this song. The vocals felt very clean, while the rappers brought in dynamic energy through their parts. The chorus itself featured catchy hooks. For the bridge, I thought the suspenseful and haunting nature of the instrumentation to be quite charming. Overall, Dangerous is definitely my pick for favourite track on this album. (10/10)

7. Give Me Your Love – Based on the title of this song, you can tell that CRAVITY was approaching the end of the album with a softer pop release. It was actually quite a track and one that I definitely recommend that you listen to. The instrumental was quite soothing and atmospheric with its pop rock vibes. The vocals gave off this dreamy tone, while the rappers gave the song some needed heft to keep the sound grounded. I wished there were more harmonies between the members (like a sequence in which they all sing together). That would have been a stunning sequence that would have enhanced the sentimental aspect of the song. I also like that additional instrumental piece at the very end, rounding out the song so nicely for me. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.1/10

HIDEOUT: BE OUR VOICE – SEASON 3 Teaser Image

[Album Review] Zero: Fever Part.2 (6th Mini Album) – ATEEZ

April 25, 2021Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged ATEEZ1 Comment

The next album on my reviewing radar is ATEEZ’s latest release, Zero: Fever Part 2. The group’s last comeback featured Part 1 of their Zero: Fever series, featuring the title track Inception. This occured July 2020. And over half a year later, the group has finally returned with the second part of the series. ATEEZ’s latest title track, Fireworks (I’m The One) features on the mini-album, along with four new tracks. In addition to that, the album also features two alternate versions of Take Me Home (one of their new songs) and Fireworks (I’m The One). Per usual, I won’t be reviewing those two tracks and you can find them on YouTube or Spotify if you to check them out. But before you do that, check out my review of the individual songs on this release!

1. Fireworks (I’m The One) – Click here to read the full review for Fireworks (I’m The One). (8/10)

2. The Leaders – The Leaders is definitely something that falls into ATEEZ’s portfolio with its intensity. But this isn’t the usual type of intensity that is reliant on the instrumentation. Instead, I think it is more of how the member captivated me through their rapping and delivery of lines. On that front, there is a lot going on. You have powerful rap lines that dominate the verses to whisper-spoken lines in the chorus. Some of the lines and melodies felt like it easily could be the next trendy hip-hop song that Korea tends to fall in love with every now and then. This is all layered on top of a trap-beat instrumental. This is powerful in its own right and definitely adds to the intensity. Overall, The Leaders is an unconventional song (at first glance) that somehow gets me hooked on and following ATEEZ as my leaders. (9/10)

3. Time of Love – Definitely a 180 degree change from the two songs preceding Time of Love. The third song on the album comes unexpectedly, as it adds a sweet sound to the album following intense numbers. A lot of sunshine and peppiness comes from this song, something that I don’t we would associate with this group whatsoever. But interestingly, I really like how Time of Love stood its ground. It is actually one of my favourite songs off the album. It was a catchy number with memorable hooks. Time of Love’s instrumentation is still synth-dominant, but the energy that comes from it makes me want to smile. The members, regardless of their positions in the group, all sound amazing throughout the song. (9.5/10)

4. Take Me Home – Take Me Home takes a step towards their roots and away from that unexpected change in sound that preceded this song. What makes Take Me Home stand out is its retro sounding background, which really leaves a positive impression on me. Rather staying on the EDM front with their intense sound, this change in style is refreshing and interesting. Take Me Home also showcases the amazing vocals and rap that we know ATEEZ is capable of. The melodic chorus was one of the highlights. Also Hongjoong’s ‘Over and over again’ overlap and rap sequence was really memorable. But you know what spoke to me the most? It was the saxophone solo at the very end. It was an unexpected addition, but one that really caught my attention. (10/10)

5. Celebrate – Celebrate is the final new release on this mini-album. It is another fun song that brings a smile to your face. But it isn’t as unexpected change in sound as Time of Love was. Celebrate is of a different style, opting for what felt was a very upbeat gospel-like tone, mixed with some jazzy notes. There was also choir in the background of the song, emphasizing this style. What Celebrate does so well is showcase the members. I know many of their songs do this already. But honestly, how iconic and powerful were the vocals in this song? Jongho’s ad-libs in the final chorus, San’s tone at the start of the bridge. The rappers also showed off their stuff, with their parts further fueling the energy of the song. Everything comes off as powerful, which is definitely one of the highlights of ATEEZ’s music. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 9.3/10

[Album Review] Identity: Challenge (2nd Mini Album) – WEi

April 25, 2021Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged WEiLeave a comment

Teaser image of WEi for their Identity: Challenge mini-album release

Another album from February makes it way onto the blog. I think I got one more coming your way from the second month of the year (despite us being in the fourth month already). But that will be published tomorrow or next week. For now, I turn my focus to WEi, who released their second mini-album and first comeback on the 24th of February. The mini-album is titled Identity: Challenge, and features the title track All or Nothing. In addition to the title track, the album also features an additional four new songs. This comeback comes after the six-member male group under OUI Entertainment made their debut with Twilight and Identity: First Sight in October of last year.

1. All or Nothing (모 아님 도) – Click here to read the full review for All or Nothing. (9/10)

2. Breathing – Breathing follows All or Nothing by delving into EDM. It isn’t as intense as the title track (that was on a whole different level), but Breathing still has that heft to it which I thoroughly enjoyed. Obviously, Breathing’s intensity is not only reflected in the instrumentation. Time and time again, I have made a wish that the rappers should really match the energy of the instrumentation. Dahyeon and Yongha (WEi’s resident rappers) live up that expectation and delivery a smashing sequence that forms part of the bridge. The other members match the intensity with their powerful vocals, which were needed to be heard over the synths and percussion that dominated the background of some parts. The song’s main flaw was its straightforward and no-nonsense approach. Great on many levels, but it resulted in a bit of plainness for me. (9.5/10)

3. Dancing in the Dark – Once again, their next track taps into the EDM realm once again. And like Breathing, it is less intense than its preceding track. I really enjoyed how much the EDM instrumentation really emphasized percussion, giving it a really satisfying glow. Usually, the main driver of an EDM is its synths. But the percussion really made the song stand out for me. I also really liked the peaks of the EDM in Dancing in the Dark, which further adds to that satisfaction. While the vocals and rapping were powerful enough to be heard and definitely reflected that intensity, it all felt like a blur to me as nothing really felt memorable. I was more in tuned with the instrumental, rather than the members. I wished the hooks and melodies were more prevalent and grabbing. (8/10)

4. Diffuser – Diffuser moves away from WEi’s reliance on EDM, opting for something leaning more towards pop. That being said, synths still made up most (if not all) of the instrumentation. It was pleasant and nice, but I don’t have much else to say about it. I felt the pop was more reflected in the ways the members delivered their lines. All the members really shined throughout the song with their sweeter and toned-down vocals. You could also sense a smile behind their vocals, which is a whole different side to the members when you compare this song to the title track. (7/10)

5. Winter, Flower (겨울, 꽂) – No KPOP album is complete without the mandatory ballad and Winter, Flower serves as that track for WEi. It closes the album with a style that very different to the way they opened this mini-album. The background of the Winter, Flower is a traditional orchestra styled instrumental. To me, Winter, Flower is a massive success as it shows that the members are highly capable of different styles. The vocals sound so nice and very powerful. In some ways, it was quite striking. Even the rappers did amazing on the vocal front for this song. (8.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.4/10

[Album Review] Don’t Call Me / Atlantis (7th Studio Album / 7th Studio Album Repackaged) – SHINee

April 19, 2021Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged SHINee4 Comments

SHINee’s back! Apologies that it has taken me this long to review the album. The group’s 7th studio album, titled Don’t Call Me (after the title track), was released way back in February 2021. Other albums and songs got in the way, hence why I have pushed the album review so far out. And it was pushed so far out that SHINee had time to release a repackaged version titled Atlantis (also after the title track of the repackaged album). So I thought, why not wait until the entire album is released in its entirety to write an album review. Well, that is where we find today. As a heads up, Don’t Call Me and Atlantis were both very strong releases. I think I found majority of the album to be of a high calibre, which is expected of SHINee given their legendary and powerful status in the industry. To find out about my thoughts on the album, continue reading!

Don’t Call Me Album Cover
Atlantis Album Cover

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

2. CØDE – CØDE features a deep house instrumentation and a powerful chorus that really grabs your attention. I really liked this effect, but I wished the verses weren’t as boring as they were. Aside from that, CØDE has this nostalgic factor to it as it felt like a SHINee song from its various highs and lows in the instrumentation. The vocals obviously add to that nostalgia, making it a decent song to be included on the album. (7/10)

3. Don’t Call Me (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Don’t Call Me. (10/10)

4. Area (같은 자리) – To me, the falsettos within Area really make this a captivating and aesthetic track. In addition to the vocals, I also enjoyed the warped brass at the end of the song. This is in combination to the subdued and subtle groove that the rest of the instrumentation had. In Area, the consistency was a powerful tool that was well used and helped kept the track engaging for me. This is quite rare for me, as I do enjoy my changes within songs to keep them interesting. But there was so much load and heft in the vocal department, I honestly did not mind. (9/10)

5. Heart Attack – Heart Attack thrives on its bass heavy, bouncy and groovy instrumentation, keeping true to current trends. It feels like a song SHINee would nail on stage, showing off the best of SHINee in the vocal department. (In fact, they did as the song was selected to be their one of their secondary promotional songs, which was performed alongside Don’t Call Me in this comeback week!). I really like how satisfying the chorus sounded when all the members sang together. One element noticeably missing that I think would have made Heart Attack even better was a rap sequence. It would have been great to have one to concentrate the subtle intensity the song exuded without knowing. (8.5/10)

6. Marry You – Taking on the nostalgia of 90s R&B, Marry You zones straight into the vocals of SHINee. From their solo parts in the verses to the extremely smooth chorus, Marry You sounds extremely dreamy. Even the instrumental (aside from the use of that squeaky synth throughout the song, which honestly could have been replaced with something a little more grounded and natural) complimented the vocals so well. (8/10)

7. Days and Years – Days and Years is also another awesome song from the album. I find everything to be so pleasantly captivating. The synth pop instrumental isn’t heavy or overbearing, which makes the song so appealing. It gives off the same vibes and aesthetic that an acoustic song would have, which is remarkable to replicate. The focus on the vocals, once again, makes this song a worthwhile listen. The chorus, sung by all the members together, had a memorable and enjoyable hook. The verses also showed off great technique. Altogether, Days and Years has that edge over the songs preceding it. (10/10)

8. I Really Want You – I Really Want You is the song you want on your playlist for a jam session. The energy that comes from this song is so addictive. So much that I had to force myself away from the replay button or else this album review will never be seen on the blog. Their vocal work is superb and the song finally gives us those rap sequences that was missing from the album (note: this comment was based on the tracklist of Don’t Call Me). I Really Want You also delivers with catchy lines and hook, making this song even better. To me, I Really Want You is this album’s hidden gem. (10/10)

9. Kiss Kiss – Continuing the momentum from the last song is Kiss Kiss. If we were to compare the two songs, Kiss Kiss is more subdued as the instrumental isn’t as explicitly as upbeat as the former. But like the previous song, Kiss Kiss is also quite catchy thanks to the constant repetition of the title and the English lines. I also enjoyed the acoustic nature of the song. However, the song still has its share of synths. Altogether, it really makes the song another great listen on this album. (9/10)

10. Attention – Attention takes an even more subdued approach, opting for a clear example of upbeat R&B. It is also the first song on the album that I am not really digging. While I do like their falsetto vocals when it came to the chorus, it didn’t feel as exciting as had they employed the same technique earlier on in the album. You can blame this on the instrumentation I felt didn’t do the song justice. The instrumental, to me, felt like it was stuck in neutral gear and never really got out of it. (6/10)

11. Body Rhythm – From the first seconds of the song, you can tell that Body Rhythm was going down the sensual route. The song has reggae influences that probably made it even better. While the vocals were solid and worked with the reggae influence, I wished they had a bit more oomph to really make this song click. It felt pretty plain and neutral as we got to the end of the song. (7.5/10)

12. Kind (빈칸) – Kind is the album’s take on a ballad. But knowing it is SHINee, they switch it up by incorporating synths and piano work to give this song a more modern feel. Some of the vocals were also autotuned to give off, what I assume, would be a similar modern feel. And I feel that SHINee delivered on that front. In addition to that, Kind’s vocals were breathtaking, delivering more of that typical ballad front to the song. It was really captivating and engaging as the final song on the album. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.8/10

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[Album Review] Love Or Take (11th Mini Album) – Pentagon

April 18, 2021Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged PentagonLeave a comment

Up next on the album review block is Pentagon’s Love or Take, which was released in the middle of March 2021. This is the group’s 11th mini-album since their debut in 2016. Love or Take features the title track DO or NOT amongst the seven new songs from Pentagon. It also features all members of Pentagon, aside from Jinho, who is currently enlisted in the military. Fellow member and Pentagon’s leader Hui also enlisted prior to the release of the album and hence is not part of the promotions for the new song. However, Hui still had a hand in producing this album and also participated in the music video filming. This is another great album from the group, with some highlights hidden in the tracklist. Continue reading to find out which songs I considered to be highlights from Love or Take.

1. 10s and (10초 전) – Right off the bat, Pentagon pulled me into the album with their opening song. 10s and opens with a synth pop background that feels quite dreamy in the first few seconds but develops into a very dynamic pop song. Kino counts down from 10 in a whisper, before we are led to the rest of the song. My favourite part of 10s and has to be the countdown chorus, which is jaggered in its presentation. It may sound a bit odd, but it was extremely dynamic and a texture gold mine. The rest of the song was quite upbeat and continues the momentum in a satisfying manner. If I were to be slightly selfish, I would ask for more brightness and spark towards the end to better close the song (and not have it sound like a repeat of earlier sequences in the song). (9/10)

2. DO or NOT (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for DO or NOT. (8.5/10)

3. 1 + 1 – 1 + 1 taps into the R&B genre. The song is quite laid back and casual, never committing to anything heavy or loaded. The best part of this song is that it is a really catchy number. By the end of the song, the ‘Run Run Run Run Run’ hook in the chorus is keyed into your mind and it is the only thing that is on repeat in your mind afterwards. On top of being catchy, I liked the smoothness of the song’s melodies and the vocal work of the members. Altogether, the song was definitely a worthwhile listen that I keep on coming back to. (10/10)

4. Baby I Love You – Baby I Love You is a softer piece of pop music, opting for simpler melodies and hooks. It is actually quite enjoyable, but doesn’t ping as the most interesting or innovative song from this album. What I really like about Baby I Love You is how fitting it is for Pentagon. The entire song has this adorable and sweet energy to it, which reminds me a lot of their earlier works. I am glad that it isn’t oversaturated in that energy though, making it a nice listen. (7.5/10)

5. That’s Me – That’s Me opens up with what probably is the album’s most memorable line, “I’m a super hot, call me funky winky boy”. No clue what it means, but it was quite hilarious the first time I heard it. It is definitely a bit out there. The song’s instrumental also takes a similar approach, opting for an unconventional mix of textures and autotuning to deliver a fun and upbeat track. But while the song quite is memorable and noticeably different from their previous works, I do think the song is repetitive and doesn’t really lead to anywhere. (7/10)

6. Sing-a-Song (노래해) – I like the extra bit of intensity that Sing-a-Song throws at you. Sing-a-song is another fun song that brings out the member’s carefree personality. Instrumentally, there is a fair bit happening in this song. The entire chorus is made up of whistling, tropical house and bouncy synths that add a bit of bass to the song. Each of these insert a different colour, creating that fun-filled and upbeat atmosphere. The member’s differing delivery styles also adds to this infectious atmosphere, making this a much more likeable song and one to put a smile on your face. (8.5/10)

7. Boy in Time (소년감성) (Hui Solo) – Ending the album is a ballad from Hui, who was noticeably absent from promotions as I had mentioned before. No doubt that this song serves as a ‘farewell for now’ type of single for Hui, gifting it to his (and Pentagon’s) fans. Boy in Time has that additional appeal of being so graceful and captivating to listen to. This ballad doesn’t have me swaying along. Instead, I keep still and close my eyes for the duration of this song, allowing Hui’s vocals to take me for a ride. He sounds almost-opera like, which actually seems quite cool and different to usual ballads. (10/10)