The album in the reviewing spotlight today is TXT’s Minisode1: Blue Hour, the group’s 3rd mini-album since their debut. This mini-album was released back at the end of the October and has been sitting on my list of albums/songs to review for quite some time now. And I thought I try to clear off the October albums (whilst also balancing some November and December albums) now before the year ends. Minisode1: Blue Hour features the title track Blue Hour and four other new songs. Let’s see what I thought about these four songs, and the album overall.
Minisode1: Blue Hour Album Cover
1. Ghosting– Many side tracks in this half of 2020 are creating really appealing atmosphere to listen to and Ghosting is another addition to this long list. The song brings sleekness, thanks to the upbeat tempo within the indie rock instrumentation. In addition to that, the sleekness and indie rock also really allowed the members to show off some husky and raspy vocals, which definitely compliment the song as a whole. The melodies were super easy to get into and enjoy. (9/10)
3. We Lost the Summer (날 씨를 잃어 버렸어) – I know there is a music video for this release and I have put this music video onto a list of music videos to have a look in a future ‘Missed Review’ segment. In the meanwhile, we proceed with the song review. We Lost the Summer is a tropical house song. It is a rather clean track. When it first started, I registered it as a TXT song, thanks to the familiarity of their vocals. But unfortunately, I thought the song was rather dull and lacked energy or drive. It felt like a song release by any other male group in KPOP, especially with the tropical sound that inundated KPOP a few years back. I was waiting for some sort of dynamic change in the music to really sweep me off my feet. But it never delivered. (6/10)
4. Wishlist – Wishlist captures my attention from the very first second thanks to those very deep and dramatic thumping in the background. But that was just the start of the song. When it came to the chorus, Wishlist throws all of this fast tempo and upbeat energy right at you, resembling the type of energy you would expect for an epic pop rock track. It felt exhilarating for me and reminded me of a few pop tracks I continually dig for in my playlists. Wishlist shows off really strong vocals, which is required in order to be heard on top of the instrumentation. Overall, Wishlist is my pick for best side track from this mini-album. (10/10)
5. Way Home (하굣길) – Way Home is the final song on the album. I was a little hesitant with the song at first. It does overwhelm with its synth/trap instrumental as the background. There is also this off beat aesthetic approach at the start of the verses. But like most songs, Way Home gets better with time. I am not 100% sold on the song yet, but Way Home has its moments. I am impressed with the vocals, and also am glad that the song contains some rap (which has been noticeably absent from the side tracks album thus far). (8/10)
LOONA is nominated for Best Female Group, Best Music Video (for So What) and Best Female Group Performance (for So What). To support LOONA and your other favourite artists, click here to vote for them!
LOONA made their comeback back in October with Why Not and their third mini-album, 12:00 (read as Midnight). And per my terrible planning skills, I am finally getting around to writing an album review for 12:00 one a half months later. But as they all say – better late than never! Alongside Why Not, 12:00 also features seven new songs. One of these new songs is just an intro track, which I do not review. The final song on the album is titled Star and is the English version of Voice (which is featured on the album). As they are the same song (just in different languages), I will only be reviewing Voice (but I have also included a link to Star if you want to listen to it. So before I delay it further, here is my album review for 12:00.
3. Voice (목소리) – Voice has been selected as LOONA’s follow up promotion song, with the group currently promoting the song on Korean weekly music shows. The English version of the song, Star, also has a music video! Voice is a much lighter song that brings a bit of innocence to LOONA’s song. In comparison to the title track, Voice is a lot smoother and has a very simple melody that is super easy to get into. And because of these factors, Voice is super catchy. The instrumental is pretty synth-heavy and has this slight retro vibe to it that is extremely pleasant and likeable. Voice and Star are definitely highlights of this album. (10/10)
4. Fall Again (기억해) – Fall Again is a super soothing ballad. It takes on a bit of a R&B beat for the most part. I really enjoyed the acoustic guitars that peeked through the instrumentation. It was nice change up to the otherwise straight forward R&B side of the song. I also really liked how the bridge was just the acoustic guitar as the main central piece, as well. The song also features really nice vocals from the members, allowing the soothing vibe of the ballad to be heightened even more. (8/10)
5. Universe – Everything in Universe was so smooth to listen to. This smoothness creates a strong alluring aura that is almost hypnotic for me. I just wanted to keep on listening to the song every time it appears on my playlist. What really makes Universe stand out for me is the way it built up. It started off as a soft song. But as it progressed, the song’s pop instrumentation kept on building up its energy and momentum. Yet they managed to keep the alluring aura consistent throughout the whole song. Once again, the vocals in this song are just so sweet and proves to me that every member of LOONA is capable as a vocalist. (10/10)
6. Hide & Seek (숨바꼭질) – The album returns to a bit of an edgy vibe with Hide & Seek. The bouncy way the song started felt like an extension of the title track’s chorus, just a lot brighter and colourful with its pop sound. I also liked how the chorus ended up becoming bouncy as well, which made the song so much more fun for me. I also really liked the synthesizer in the pre-chorus, which helped infuse some energy into the song. The bridge was also super appealing, with one half being a great segment to show off some strong choreography and the other half helping make the final chorus feel bolder. The only thing I was unsure about was the rapping in the second verse. I wished they didn’t go down the typical route for this element. (8.5/10)
7. OOPS! – The final song I am reviewing today is OOPS! It is definitely something different to everything we have heard above. This also includes the title track, which I felt was more melodic than OOPS! Instead, OOPS! goes for the group’s edgiest sound since So What. Personally, I felt the hip-hop styled song was disjointed at times. While I love texture in my songs, I felt like the overuse of textural elements in the instrumental actually became a flaw. I did like their delivery and the energy that came from the group members/song. I just wished it was a bit more refined and cohesive. (6/10)
8. Star (English Version of Voice) – See above for my thoughts on Star / Voice.
As mentioned yesterday, I have a lot of album reviews to get through. While I do have many more October albums to get through, I also need to make a start on the albums that were released in the month of November. I have fast tracked two, but that is not enough given the amount of comebacks that occurred in November. Today, I start off with MONSTA X’s 3rd studio album, Fatal Love, which features the title track Love Killa. Alongside the title track, MONSTA X’s new album also features nine other new songs. Keep on reading if you want to know what I thought about each song.
2. Gasoline (갈증) – Gasoline has the big job of following the title track. It may not be as bold or as powerful as Love Killa, but Gasoline does a pretty good job of following the likes of the title track. Most notably, this song tones down the intensity and opts for some Latin flair. Thankfully, this flair is not explicit and hence, it doesn’t jump on board that trend train that dominated Summer 2020 once again. The subtle Latin flair helps gives the song some rhythm and groove, which makes it really enjoyable. There is also a sleekness to it, which I find very alluring. The vocals and rapping follow this momentum, fitting nicely into the song. (9/10)
3. Thriller – Thriller takes a while to really hits its epic stride in the form of its chorus. But that is only because we have to make it through some of song’s finest moments (i.e. its verses). This includes intense percussions, amazing vocals from the vocalists and a pre-chorus segment that starts off with equally as powerful raps and jaw-dropping theatrical / opera-like violins that really grab your attention. The chorus takes on board all of that dramatic energy and compact it into an amazing chorus that is solidly produce and really shows off the power of MONSTA X. (10/10)
4. Guess Who – If you thought Thriller was the album’s strongest song, you are in for a surprise. Guess Who manages to one-up Thriller. I personally attribute this feat to the song’s instrumental, which I thought was extremely robust. There was this hypnotic effect in the chorus that really reeled me in, which contrasted with Jooheon’s texturally exciting ‘X X X’ repetition. The verses itself was also filled with texture, thanks to that very abrasive buzz. The rest of the members are really dynamic delivery with their vocals and raps, pulling this song together. (10/10)
5. Nobody Else – Nobody Else capitalizes on the vocals of MONSTA X. There is a level of smoothness to the song that enables their vocals to become even more velvety. There is still rapping in the song (of course). The song is very atmospheric, which I really like. If you focus on the instrumental, there are also subtle touches to it, such as the return of dramatic violins and this very deep grumbling synth. Without them, the song wouldn’t be the same. And with the focus on velvety vocals comes a sensual vibe that I am sure fans will enjoy. (9/10)
6. Beastmode – MONSTA X has definitely grown as artists over the years since their debut. And I am sure everyone can agree that MONSTA X is at their best when their songs are powerful. Beastmode is direct proof of that. Beastmode just keeps throwing all this powerful and explosive energy at your from start to end, never really giving us a moment of relief until the song ends. This may be overwhelming for some, but I am totally okay with all of this ‘musical assault’. Once the song ends, I feel like I just emerged successfully from a fight. The song’s main vibe is epic and blastful. What I love best is that the song gives the rappers a chance to really show their all, with Jooheon and I.M’s growling rap sequences being the highlights of the song for me. (10/10)
7. Stand Together (대동단결) – Stand Together gets right to the point with its powerful nature. Not sure if this is a good thing or not, but there are only two elements that I remember when I finishing listening to the song. The first is the rapping. You will have to be quite oblivious to miss what felt like it dominated 90% of the song. The vocals, which felt only got 10% of the song, was blurred out and felt missing in this song. The other element worth remembering was the selection of instruments. Upon research, it seems like MONSTA X used traditional Korean instruments for the chorus, mixed into the powerful hip-hop sound. While I do like the creativity, I have to admit it felt odd. I am slowly warming up to it, though. (8/10)
8. Night View – It comes as no surprise to me that Night View is suitable for a night drive under the starry night. That is the initial hope I had for the song when I first saw the title of the side track. While Night View does opt for EDM in the form of the house genre, the song actually is the album’s airiest song. The song focuses more of the vocals, giving the vocal line of the group more opportunities to shine. That being said, the rapping in this song felt classy and pleasant. What also really stands out is that Night View seems to be MONSTA X’s answer for the groovy trend that has re-emerged in KPOP. (9/10)
9. Last Carnival – The shortest song on the album also has the album’s most haunting start. I honestly don’t really know what the purpose of this introductory sequence, as it didn’t feel fitting for the rest of the song. The rest of the song was absolutely fine, with the members going for a R&B smoothness that I thought had a nice level of aesthetic. The choice of traditional instruments felt fitting for the song, giving Last Carnival an extra bit of oriental flavour. Otherwise, I would have considered it a boring track. (8/10)
10. Sorry I’m Not Sorry– MONSTA X’s final song on the album is the most different of all. It is the only acoustic song on this album and its appearance is much appreciated. Especially after all the EDM and electronic influence we got on this album. I really like the simplicity of the instrumental, made up of a consistent beat and acoustic guitars. There is also some jazzy notes, which were a nice touch. What makes Sorry I’m Not Sorry is that it is truly vocal centric with all members singing in the song. The fade out was also super nice. (10/10)
There are still so many October albums that I am trying to get through and I need to make a start with the November albums (which I will do tomorrow). Today, I will be covering TWICE’s most recent release in Korea, Eyes Wide Open. The group’s second studio album was released back at the end of October and features the title track, I Can’t Stop Me. Alongside this track, TWICE keeps listeners busy with another 12 tracks. As we are talking about a 13 track album, you can already tell it is going to be a long one. So accept my apologies on how late this album review is and let’s just get stuck into it.
2. Hell in Heaven – Right after the title track comes TWICE most aesthetic single to date. It did definitely a bold statement to give the song, but I really do think Hell in Heaven earns the title. The song has this tropical profile that feels almost exotic and jungle-like. The vocal work in this is superb. There were some that were super good. I really liked the almost hushed approach vocals at the start of the chorus (by Jihyo, Mina and Tzuyu for each of the choruses respectively), complimenting the instrumental beat drop delay. I also like the breathy approach some of the other members took. Honestly, a really strong follow-up to the title track. (10/10)
3. Up No More – Up No More has the instrumental of a standard female group KPOP song. There is a hint of retro in it, which was the only thing worth mentioning. Other than that, I didn’t find anything special in the instrumental. What TWICE does extremely well with the song is infuse more of that retro feel through their vocals. I also really liked the fast melodic hook to the song, which has grown exponentially since the album releases. There is something about its fast delivery that feels groovy and catchy. The rapping was quite nice, but on the typical side of the spectrum. (7.5/10)
4. Do What We Like – Mina opening Do What We Like was an excellent move. She doesn’t get a lot of the credit when it comes vocals in the title tracks, so I felt like she had her moment to shine at the very start of this song. Apart from that, Do What We Like takes me back to Western electronic music from the last decade, partly thanks to the pop keyboard and those violin synths. The melodies were very sleek and I really liked the hooks, even though they were not as catchy as I wished they were. Do What We Like sounds wholesome and nostalgic, overall. (9.5/10)
5. Bring It Back– When you think about how TWICE started with their cutesy sound, I don’t think anyone would ever expect Bring It Back to fit in with their discography. It honestly took me a few listens to actually feel comfortable with this song. Bring It Back’s chorus had a deep and heavy tone, opting for trap-based EDM. It was slightly unsettling, given the song’s verses were more paced, airier and lighter in tone. But after these few listens, the song works out well. I liked the kick of upbeat energy that the first half of the bridge brings. It was a nice changeup to the slow pace of the verses. The second half of the bridge, just before the song brings back the trap EDM, was not that great, as it didn’t feel like it blended well with the members’ higher tone voices. (9/10)
6. Believer – After such a heavy song, Believer doesn’t come in to one-up the preceding song. Believer has good energy, but it doesn’t have the zing necessary to really continue the momentum. It starts off as a R&B number, before settling for something a little more upbeat pop sound. I wished they did something more with the instrumentals to give it that memorable factor. Instead, it just felt safe. The vocals was good, with the main and lead vocals standing out the most. Dahyun’s whispering rap was good, but it would have been nice if the producers extended the rapping sequence with a punchier approach following the whispering style. Finally, the song’s ending made it feel incomplete. All of these factors leave the song as one of the weakest on the album. (7/10)
7. Queen – There are a number of elements of Queen that makes it stand out. The first is the bouncy electronic introductory sequence that kicked off the song. The second is the ‘ba-ba-da-ba’ that also opened the song alongside Mina’s English line. (On a side note, I felt the way the producers built this song up felt very typical and failed to capitalize on the uniqueness of the opening electronic sequence). The third has to be the ‘Just a Show’ line that kicks off the chorus (which was keyed into my memory). The fourth is the funky energy we get in the chorus. Everything else just felt typical to me. (8.5/10)
8. Go Hard – While I do feel that Go Hard goes in all the right directions, the one thing it fails to really do is … well … go hard. This song really needs more bass, which would have brought a whole new level of dynamism and depth to the song. But other than that Go Hard gets all the ticks. There is intensity during the chorus that feels appropriate for a song titled ‘Go Hard’. The deep voices that repeats the ‘We just go hard’ line definitely works extremely well. I also liked that some of the members had a bit of a raspier tone for this song, which again works extremely well. The only other complaint is that the elephant-like trumpet samples should have been replaced with a different type of brass – one that doesn’t sound like the animal. (8/10)
9. Shot Clock – Shot Clock thrives on the consistent marching-band style instrumental. It definitely delivered energy and intensity to the song, especially when it came to the final chorus. First impression to the song was the vocal work was really good. But the more I listen to Shot Clock, the more that feeling some reason rubs off. This is a flaw of being too consistent, making everything feel the same all throughout. I was glad when the trap-centric rap sequence, as it cut the consistency and made the song more interesting. Wished they changed up the vocal style early on. (8.5/10)
10. Handle It– Handle It starts off with an R&B sound. I was drawn to it, thanks to the soft thumping of the drum that is pretty much there throughout the song. The chorus was a surprising change, moving the R&B feel to a jazzier sound (though in hindsight, I should have heard it coming as there was a slight jazzy influence in the verse). There was a bit more oomph to it, otherwise I would say the song would be suitable as hotel lobby music. But the oomph makes it more fitting for a modern jazz bar. I want to say there was good vocals in the song, which was the case for the verses. But I felt their approach to the chorus was a bit much, in combination with the instrumental elements of the chorus. (8/10)
11. Depend on You – You know how I tend to make the joke that ballads are mandatory on KPOP albums? Well, Eyes Wide Open doesn’t have a ballad. I know, how shocking! Depend on You is probably the closest song on the tracklist to a ballad. I really like the acoustic feels of the instrumental, and their soft vocals. The chorus is a simple beat drop, infusing some EDM into the song. It is also detailed with autotuned ad-libs. Together, all of the song felt like you listening on a cloud. Definitely a pleasant listen. (9/10)
12. Say Something – Getting me right at the start is the funky and retro vibes of the song, throwing us back to the 70s. There is also a blend of jazz mixed into the song, which made the song more interesting for me. Aside from the instrumental, TWICE really shows off their vocals in this song. To me, it is their best vocal work throughout the entire album. I just really liked how they sounded in the song and how balanced it felt with the instrumental. Neither masked the other and both complimented each other. Interestingly, the best part of the song is the ending with the saxophone solo and the fade it. It just made the Say Something perfect. (10/10)
13. Behind the Mask – Behind The Mask was an excellent song to end off the group’s second album. The trap/pop combination of the instrumental was quite an atmospheric experience, with the song feeling neither light or intense. What I really enjoyed about the song were their vocals. They sound melancholy and very chilling all at the same time over the trap/pop blend. The bridge was a really strong stillness moment and the launch back into the final chorus was spectacular. A strong song to end the album on. (10/10)
Prepare yourselves for the influx of really overdued album reviews coming your way over the next few weekends. SEVENTEEN’s ; [Semicolon] was released back at the end of October and features HOME;RUN as the lead title track. The album also features five other tracks, four of which are actually ‘unit’ tracks based on the members age groups. I found this to be an interesting way to split up their tracks, given that SEVENTEEN already has dedicated units for vocals, performance and hip-hop. However, I am glad that they did do this, as it gives us a bit more variety with their music – some of which just doesn’t fall into the vocal, performance or hip-hop categories. Keep on reading to find out what styles they opted for with these age-based groups.
2. Do Re Mi (도레미)– Do Re Mi is performed by the maknae (or ‘youngest’) line (i.e. Seungkwan. Vernon and Dino). It is a nice mid-tempo pop track. Do Re Mi is subtly playful and very colourful, which I find suitable for their personality. The vibrancy of the pop instrumental in this song matches their youthfulness, as well. The chorus was catchy and had a pleasant vibe to it. The vocal work from all three members was quite good and Vernon’s rap had a nice oomph to it which made it stand out for me. Personally, I am not a fan of the change in the instrumental when it came to the bridge. I didn’t like the mild choppiness that it brought into the song, which disrupted the feel of the song’s consistency. (8/10)
3. Hey Buddy – Hey Buddy has that retro fanfare that reminds me of Bruno Mar’s Uptown Funk. This is thanks to the use of the brassy synths and trumpets in the instrumental. It is fun and upbeat throughout, making it another consistent track. I am digging the energy of the instrumental, particularly the end sequence that just keeps on coming. Hey Buddy features DK, Mingyu and The8. Each member brings a different element to the song, all of which I have never really picked up before in SEVENTEEN’s releases. DK has this musical-like delivery style of his vocals that makes his part so much punchier. Mingyu’s raps is quite sleek, while his vocals have this really cool nasally texture to them, while The8’s vocals have this freshness to them that I like. Altogether, Hey Buddy is a banger. (10/10)
4. Light A Flame (마음에 불을 지펴) – For some odd reason when I saw the title of this song, I thought we would be getting some edgy. But Light A Flame opts for a Latin influence. It is a bit more subdued and held back than the Latin releases that we are used to in KPOP. But this allows for a more sensual nature that makes Light A Flame feel unique. To me, the song is mature and well-thought out. Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo and Woozi bring amazing vocals to this piece, with a mixture of standard vocals, deep tones (for the rapping and ending of this song) and falsettos throughout. I particularly like jazzy style instrumental bridge we got. It fitted in nicely and worked well with the rest of the song. (9/10)
6. Ah! Love– Ah! Love is performed by S.Coups, Jeonghan and Joshua. To fit their status as the hyung-line (or eldest line) of the group, Ah! Love is actually quite mature sounding. That being said, the song does manage to develop into something along the lines of a R&B pop track. The acoustic guitars dominated the instrumental and helped the song grow its refined style. The song’s ‘Ah! Love You, Ah! Love Me’ hook was surprisingly quite catchy and enjoyable. It also happens to be the group’s most memorable hook from this album. (9/10)
7. All My Love (겨우) – The final song features the regrouping of Seventeen. It is soft pop balladry track that is enjoyable. There are nice melodies in the song and an impressive display of vocals and rapping throughout the song. I am not exactly a fan of the synthetic nature of the instrumental. It felt a little too distorted for my liking. But I do admit that when paired with Seventeen’s vocals, All My Love’s instrumental actually comes off as warm and inviting. Overall, a pleasant ending to the album. (8/10)
Yesterday, I reviewed the first half of NCT’s second studio album, NCT 2020: Resonance. And as promised, I am reviewing the second half of the studio album today (another fast tracked album review). On top of the 13 tracks from yesterday (this count includes the additional versions of the title track and the Interlude which I did not review), Part 2 brings an additional eight songs (which includes another interlude and outro). Per usual, I have not reviewed the interlude and outro due to their lack of lyrics. And aside from that, let’s get stuck into this album!
NCT 2020: Resonance Part 2 Album Cover
Click here for the reviews of the tracks originally on NCT 2020: Resonance Part 1. These reviews and rating scores do not influence the album rating I will be giving to NCT 2020: Resonance Part 2 below.
3. Raise The Roof – NCT raises the roof with Taeil, Johnny, Yuta, Kun, Jungwoo, Hendery, Renjun, Chenle, and Jisung at the helm. Raise The Roof is a song loaded with energy and a subtle sense of intensity that gets me excited. At first, I thought I wouldn’t like the song as much. But with a few repeats already passing, Raise The Roof caught on. Aside from the energy, I really like the members’ deep tone throughout the song, which matches with the deep autotuned voice that appears at the final chorus and the club-styled hip-hop influenced instrumental. The song’s ending has this back and forth type of motion that I really enjoyed and the song’s final moment was extremely satisfying. The biggest question mark I have is the vocally driven bridge, which I noted to be a typical NCT move. I felt it didn’t have a place in this song, which was the case yesterday in some songs from the Part 1 album. (9/10)
7. My Everything – The tracks preceding My Everything are actually some of the album’s more slower tunes (i.e. Light Bulb and Dancing In The Rain). These make way for My Everything, a ballad that features the heavenly vocals of Taeil, Xiaojun and Renjun. The entire ballad is driven by a piano only instrumental and the vocals of the three members. Three positive things to say about the song. It makes me sway along to the melodies (my self-made indicator of a good ballad). It makes me stop whatever I am doing to fully appreciate the song. And it feels pretty much like the many captivating and stunning ballad OSTs we hear. Can’t really fault anything in this song. (10/10)
19. All About You (단잠) – All About You is another amazing addition to the album. It is the type of song that made me go ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ once the chorus kicks in. I really liked that electronic influence All About You had, kicking the otherwise smooth song up a notch and injecting really strong energy into the song. I loved the crunchy and bouncy textures this instrumental brought to the song. It was definitely appealing. What also stands out for me is that All About You is vocally centric upbeat number. Jaehyun, Jungwoo, Mark, Hendery, Shotaro, Sungchan and Chenle all sound really good in this song. And the combination of the vocals and instrumental remind me of the 90s for some reason, which I am totally digging. (10/10)
20. I.O.U – I.O.U screams retro with its R&B instrumental from the very first second. There is something about the choppy nature of the song that reminds me of music we would hear coming out of an old-style television in movies. I.O.U does not shy away from this influence. The song is made to sound like it changes in tempo (especially around the rap sequences). But whatever is done to the song is done whilst maintaining both the retro and R&B influences from start to end. Definitely a good form of consistency here. While I am absolutely fine with this direction of the song, I do think the instrumental is slightly overwhelming and was competing with the vocals/rapping. While we are on the topic of rapping and vocals (courtesy of Taeyong, Doyoung, Kun, Yangyang, Shotaro, Chenle and Jisung), I am totally digging it all. I do think the rapping has the edge, especially Jisung’s part which took me by surprise. (9/10)
Overall Album Rating – 8.6/10
Yangyang’s Teaser Image for NCT 2020: Resonance Part 2.
Taeil’s Teaser Image for NCT 2020: Resonance Part 2
Shotaro’s Teaser Image for NCT 2020: Resonance Part 2
Jeno’s Teaser Image for NCT 2020: Resonance Part 2
Haechan’s Teaser Image for NCT 2020: Resonance Part 2
Hendery’s Teaser Image for NCT 2020: Resonance Part 2
Yuta’s Teaser Image for NCT 2020: Resonance Part 2
Winwin’s Teaser Image for NCT 2020: Resonance Part 2
Jaehyun’s Teaser Image for NCT 2020: Resonance Part 2
Jungwoo’s Teaser Image for NCT 2020: Resonance Part 2
Sungchans’s Teaser Image for NCT 2020: Resonance Part 2
Chenle Teaser Image for NCT 2020: Resonance Part 2
Taeyong’s Teaser Image for NCT 2020: Resonance Part 2
Ten’s Teaser Image for NCT 2020: Resonance Part 2
Johnny’s Teaser Image for NCT 2020: Resonance Part 2
Xiaojun’s Teaser Image for NCT 2020: Resonance Part 2
Kun’s Teaser Image for NCT 2020: Resonance Part 2
Renjun’s Teaser Image for NCT 2020: Resonance Part 2
Lucas’s Teaser Image for NCT 2020: Resonance Part 2
Doyoung’s Teaser Image for NCT 2020: Resonance Part 2
Mark’s Teaser Image for NCT 2020: Resonance Part 2
Jaemin’s Teaser Image for NCT 2020: Resonance Part 2
Jisung’s Teaser Image for NCT 2020: Resonance Part 2
NCT completes 2020 with the return to full group promotions under the collective name of NCT. This means that NCT 127, NCT Dream and WayV, along with new members Shotaro and Sungchan have come together to promote under name of NCT and NCT U for their two part album. Today, I will be focusing on the first half of their second studio album, titled NCT 2020: Resonance. It features Make A Wish (Birthday Song) and From Home as the title tracks, alongside a bunch of new songs from various NCT U lineups (all of which we haven’t seen before) and the three units of NCT that I already mentioned above. It is a long album review, so let’s get moving along.
NCT 2020: Resonance Part 1 Album Cover
NCT 2020: Resonance Part 1 also features ‘Interlude: Past to Present‘ as the sixth track. But per usual protocol for album reviews on the segment, this track was not reviewed due to lack to lyrics. There are also a Korean version of From Home and an English version of Make A Wish (Birthday Song), which were not reviewed as I had already reviewed the original versions (links below).
2. Misfit – Misfit delves into the world of rapping, with Johnny, Taeyong, Mark, Hendery, Jeno, Yangyang and Sungchan all bringing their A-game for this track. The song is an excellent hype track, with rapping taking you back to earlier eras of rap music. The energy is quite full-on, but I won’t describe it as intense. Rather, it is fun and definitely a highlight to listen to. Mark’s leads us into the song with a sequence that confirms his talent and skillset. And each other member follows suit to show us what their skillset is capable of. I really like the more concentrated instrumental when it comes to the chorus, amplifying and intensifying Misfit’s energy, pulling you into the hype song even more. (10/10)
3. Volcano – Volcano features Taeyong, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Winwin, Jungwoo, Lucas and Mark. It takes on a hip-hop influence that also brings me back to earlier eras of the music, just a little more recent than Misfit’s throwback. I like how the energy in Volcano is more subtle than compared to the preceding track. I am digging the sleek nature of the chorus, especially with layering of raps and the simply spoken ‘Bounce’ over it. It isn’t much of a standout track, compared to the two tracks before it. The inclusion of the vocals was nice, but I felt it made the song confusing. Overall, this is what I would call a ‘pleasant’ listen. I would listen to it if it was on my playlist. But I wouldn’t go through the effort to seek it out. (8/10)
4. Light Bulb (백열등) – Light Bulb is performed by four out of 23 of the members (Taeyong, Kun, Doyoung and Sungchan) and it is one of my favourite tracks on the album. The song features a really soothing instrumental and a slower tempo, which is thanks to the piano that we hear. There is also percussion to give Light Bulb a bit of a kick and enable the song to feature rapping. The combination of both gives Light Bulb an R&B profile. Taeyong and Sungchan’s rapping is superb and very mature sounding. It also follows the same pattern as the preceding side tracks, giving off a nostalgic vibe. Doyoung and Kun’s vocals were breathy and very gripping. No one felt out of place and no element felt like they outdid another. Light Bulb was a very balanced track that deserves praise and attention. (10/10)
5. Dancing In The Rain– Dancing In The Rain introduces Taeil, Yuta, Jungwoo, Xiaojun and Chenle to the album, performing alongside Johnny, Jaehyun and Kun. I really like the melodies of this jazzy R&B mashup song, especially when it comes to the catchy ‘Drip Drop’ line. I really like the opening and closing piano sequences, bringing that jazz influence to life. I also think it is these jazzy influences that allows the rapping sequences to slide into the song effortlessly. The vocals showcase really nice harmonies amongst the vocalists in this NCT U lineup and also bringing some of that R&B touch to the surface. A stunning song. (9.5/10)
7. Déjà vu (무대) (NCT Dream) – Déjà vu is the first song to be released by NCT Dream since the confirmation that NCT Dream’s lineup will become permanent and that Mark will officially return to the unit. I wondered what NCT Dream’s direction would be, given that they are no longer young as when they first debuted and that their sound has matured exponentially since Mark’s graduation. Déjà vu hints that mature NCT Dream will remain. That being said, it isn’t as captivating as past NCT Dream’s promotional track and this feels best as a side track. (7/10)
8. Nectar (月之迷) (WayV) – WayV’s discography has been quite mature from the get-go. So Nectar fits in perfectly. It feels and sounds very sensual. I really liked the subtle energy that the song contains. I also really like the main hook of the song, as it was quite simple yet very addictive. That high note was impressive. But what I find the most exciting about Nectar is that the song is in Chinese, which is the start of the multilingual approach on this album (the second title track, From Home, also features Chinese and Japanese lyrics). (8/10)
9. Music, Dance (NCT 127) – To me, NCT 127’s addition to Part 1 of NCT 2020: Resonance was the weakest of all. Music, Dance’s best moment was when the instrumental had an upbeat persona. It felt satisfying and does feel like a great track to dance to. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the rest of the song. I thought the verses were really weird with its choppy intro approach and those vocals sequence (while were very good) diverted the song away from what should have been a wholesome dance track that should have been satisfying across the board. (6/10)
10. Faded In My Last Song (피아노) – We return to another NCT U track, performed by Taeil, Johnny, Yuta, Ten, Lucas, Renjun, Haechan and Jisung. It is a R&B track that features awesome melodies over a stunning piano/trap beat instrumental background. I really like how the vocal and rapping were extremely cohesive in this song. The way the song’s title, ‘Faded In My Last Song’, was sung in the song really stuck with me and has become my most favourite line/part to listen and look forward to. (10/10)
In this edition of the Album Review segment, I am covering Weeekly’s second mini-album, We Can. This is the first time I am reviewing their album. I passed on the opportunity to review their debut mini-album, We Are, which featured their debut title track Tag Me. But while I was vetting albums to review recently, We Can popped out me. Two of the tracks stole my attention and I knew I had to review this album to make sure I draw your attention to them. That being said, the rest of the mini-album is definitely a standout, so I recommend that you give the entire release a listen.
We Can Album Cover
1. Unnie (언니) – Opening up the album is Unnie, which is a reasonably cutesy styled pop track. The cutesy style is usually not really my cup of tea (though there are songs of this style that I do indulge myself with), but Unnie holds back from being oversaturated with this profile. As a result, the song is quite pleasant. There are some really nice vocals throughout the song, such as in the second verse and the entire bridge. The instrumental is upbeat and I really like the use of the electric guitar throughout some of the song, adding a bit of zing to the song to make it more interesting. (8/10)
2. My Earth – My Earth is a texturally interesting song and my personal favourite off the album. This is obviously thanks to the EDM instrumental that dominated the song. While I do admit that it could have been overwhelming for some, there is something aesthetic about the different EDM influences and synths they had picked for the song and how it all blends together without a noticeable hitch. Props to the producers! The bass was definitely needed to give the song depth and definition. I also liked the light vocals, which was surprising as you would expect them to be drowned out by the instrumental. But somehow, they poked through and you could hear them clearly. Props, once again, to the producers of My Earth! (9.5/10)
4. Top Secret(몰래몰래) – Top Secret is another really strong track off this album. To me, this is a Goldilocks’ type of song. Nothing in this track was lacking or too soft. Nothing was too extreme or over the top. Everything was enjoyable and pleasant. Just right, as Goldilocks would say in the fairytale. (Okay, end of fairytale reference). But honestly, this is what makes the song just standout. It didn’t need craziness or need a centerpiece that the song revolves around. I particularly enjoyed the main hook ‘You, You, You~’, as it reminds me of another way back in the early 10s. It is always nice for a trip down nostalgia lane. (10/10)
5. Weeekly(월화수목금토일) – The final song on this album is a self-titled song that returns to the upbeat roots that started off the album. It is another cutesy track. There is slightly more of this cutesy profile in Weeekly in comparison to Unnie, but it isn’t a case of oversaturation. I appreciate everything in this song from the hooks to the melodies. The vocals was very nice and the guitar in the instrumentation was a nice touch. The only part that I didn’t really like was the anthem-like sequence that was the bridge of the song. It felt cliché and didn’t feel fitting for the song for me. (8/10)
If I were to put BTS’ latest album on the usual agenda for review, I probably won’t get around to it until the start of the new year. And I feel that timeframe for a BTS related review would be too late for posting. Hence, I have decided to fasttrack the album review for BTS’ fifth studio album, BE. The album features both Life Goes On as the title track and the international hit Dynamite at the very end of the album, alongside five other new tracks. In total, there are seven tracks on this studio album (including the non-musical skit), which makes it one of the shortest studio albums I have ever seen. But that does not meant the quality is reduced! Continue to read to see what my thoughts for each of the songs were.
2. Fly To My Room (내 방을 여행하는 법) (performed by Suga, V, Jimin & J-Hope) – Fly To My Room follows the group’s softer approach from the title track. At first glance, I actually enjoyed the song by the four member unit. But that was when I was occupied with other tasks. When I sat down to write this album review today, Fly To My Room didn’t really stand out for me (compared to the other songs on the album). It is still a nice and pleasant track to listen to, especially with the pop-centric instrumental. I really like the use of the keyboard in the song and there was an enjoyable display of falsetto and low tones. The best part of the song has to be when all the members are singing together for the chorus, as the happier tone that the song brings forth calls for this. The rapping seems a little too punchy for my liking. They just shoot out of nowhere and I didn’t like how they didn’t take the opportunity to match the vocals and the tone of the song. (7/10)
3. Blue & Grey– BTS’ ballads have always been the most captivating side tracks for me. And I am glad that there is a ballad on this toned-down album. It is a perfect excuse for a ballad if you ask me. Blue & Grey draws me in with stunning vocals from all the members. V is probably the standout member if I had to pick, with his husky and raspy tone starting off the song and infusing an amazing sense of texture. The rest of the members did an equally stunning job as V, especially with that bridge where each vocal-line member had a line. The rapping in Blue & Grey is much better and cleverer than in the preceding track, with Suga (in a separate section) and J-Hope easing us in with a really soft rap sequence before moving to RM’s slightly more powerful tone/delivery. This all over a really atmospheric slow-paced instrumental, starting off with acoustic guitars and later slow-pop influences. (10/10)
5. Telepathy(잠시) – While the first half of the album consisted of mainly a toned-down atmosphere and slower paced songs, the latter half of the album is more upbeat territory. Kicking off entrance into the upbeat territory is Telepathy. There is a feel-good vibe to this song that I really enjoyed. It is the type of song that I would hope for a performance for as it sounds like it can be a very fun stage. I love the retro nature of the instrumentation, particularly the cow bells (which instantly makes this sound so better). The vocals and rapping are really good, fitting in with that feel-good vibe that I mentioned a moment ago. It may not be at the level of Dynamite, but its great enough. (8/10)
6. Dis-ease (병) – Dis-ease has this super catchy old-school hip-hop to it. The energy that comes off Dis-ease is pretty infectious, so much that I really want to boogie along to it. Given that the song falls into the hip-hop genre (and that they also participated in the production), the rappers shine the most in this song. I really like the “Byeong” sequence that finishes off the choruses. That paired with the disc scratching was pretty memorable and is my favourite part of the whole song. The vocal-line do a splendid job themselves. I really liked how they used the same technique in Blue & Grey (i.e. giving each member of the vocal line a section in the bridge) and having the song build towards a slightly more amplified final chorus. It is what I personally hoping for when I heard the song and I am glad they delivered! (10/10)
7. Stay (performed by RM, Jungkook and Jin) – Stay tackles the future house sub-genre of EDM. It is a very clean track and it doesn’t have any crazy surprises to throw us off. In other words, I find Stay to be straightforward. While that could be a flaw in other songs, straightforwardness in EDM is a blessing as it doesn’t get complicated (and hence obnoxious). It doesn’t drown out the vocals and rapping sequences, which allows us to hear RM, Jungkook and Jin clearly throughout the song. I particularly like how satisfying the drop was and the mixture of acoustic guitars in the second verse and piano at the end of the song. I also like how smooth the vocals and rapping were. To me, the ending of the song isn’t as satisfying, as it gave me the impression that something should have followed it. That, or I just didn’t want Stay to end. (10/10)
The album review that was supposed to be posted yesterday was meant to be WEi’s debut mini-album, IDENTITY: FIRST SIGHT. The mini-album features Twilight as the lead title track and four other side tracks – some of which were composed by the members themselves. The reason why I decided to review this particular album is because it establishes WEi’s presence in the industry in a very consistent manner. While I have mentioned that consistency can be a flaw in other reviews in the past, there have been times where I have praised consistency, with this album (and its songs) being another example of those times. There is a spin at the end of this mini-album, so keep you ears peeled for that.
2. DOREMIFA – DOREMIFA instantly has a chirpier vibe than compared to the title track. I feel that that DOREMIFA is quite similar to Twilight already in terms of style, so they aren’t really reinventing themselves with this song. I just enjoyed the song’s brighter persona, which fits in with the group’s youthfulness (since they are a newly debuted group). It also takes on board a more electronic synth approach with its instrumentation, which always has a tinge of refreshment. Like how they aren’t reinventing themselves, the song doesn’t really feature anything that might surprise you or catch you guard. It is straightforward and pleasant overall. (7.5/10)
3. Timeless(꼬리별) – Once again, they really don’t show a new side to themselves character or music-wise. It still has that bright energy that makes you smile / sounds like they smiling and it takes on a typical pop ballad sound. But what I really enjoyed in Timeless was the chorus. As a package, it was super catchy and the melody they used really memorable for me. I really like their display of vocals (that falsetto at the end of the bridge was perfect) and the rapping impressed me. I liked the instrumentation for the same pleasantry and enjoyable reasons above. The combination of the synths and the piano works really well and helps convey the happiness of finally being with their lover. (9/10)
4. Hug You(안고 싶어) – Hug You is similar to Timeless in the sense that it falls within the pop realm. There honestly isn’t much of a difference between the two songs if you were to glance briefly throughout the tracklist. What does set Hug You apart from the preceding track is the drop in the chorus, which enables the song to become more a dance track for a brief moment. It isn’t a new dynamic in KPOP, but it helps gives the song momentum and some heft to it. Hug You does a really good job of portraying WEi’s vocals once again. They were solid vocals and that high note that the end is icing on the Hug You cake. The rapping was also quite good, but the vocals have the edge. Overall, Hug You continues to keep the album consistent thus far and does a pretty good job to impress. (9/10)
5. Fuze(도화선) – So far, the album has been quite consistent in the song style, vibes and artist profile. We haven’t seen anything ‘different’ from the group over the past four songs. Interestingly, Fuze attempts to change this dynamic by opting for a dance track that has power, edge and intensity. And this can be applied for all elements (melodies, vocals, rapping and instrumental). It isn’t really be groundbreaking if you were to compare it to other male groups. But it is definitely a nice change up given their consistent sound so far. I really liked the abrasiveness of the EDM, how suited the rappers were for this style, the soaring nature of the vocals in the chorus and how the energy just doesn’t let up. Fuze really a powerful and dominant tone that puts a spin on WEi and their music, keeping the excitement up for their future releases. (9.5/10)
SF9 returned with a special album last month to celebrate their fourth year in the industry. The special album, titled SPECIAL HISTORY BOOK, is the focus of this album review and features Shine Together as the lead title track, along with two other new songs which I have reviewed below. This release also follows SF9’s 2020 comebacks, Good Guy and Summer Breeze.
2. Forever(오래 오래) – Forever is a mixture of genres that comes off quite refined and polished. It is an interesting piece, given that you don’t think the extremities (EDM and ballad) would blend well together yet they work surprisingly well with one another. To be fair, it isn’t an extreme form of either genres, which probably helps make the combination work. The EDM comes through the instrumental. There is your usual beat drop and the synthetic nature in the song. However, it is quite breezy and airy, which compliments the ballad style. The vocals and melodies bring the balladry elements to Forever and they felt similar to Shine Together’s vocals/melodies. Soothing and light are the words I would use to describe their delivery, which again, compliments the EDM style for this song. (8/10)
3. Love No. 5 – Love No. 5 needs a stage performance as soon as possible. The beat drop in the chorus is definitely a highlight and drawing point to the song. It is intense and on par with SF9’s more powerful releases like RPM. The vocal part of the chorus that precedes the drop is quite consistent and I am digging how it just keeps coming at you. The vocals added a certain smoothness to the song, while the rapping added some additional edge and had nice delivery, both of which I really enjoyed. I would have liked the final chorus to be amped up a little more to help drive a more epic closure to the song. On a side note, I would like to know what Love No. 5 actually means as the concept sounds rather intriguing. (9/10)
It is time for another album review. And it is also time for a new artist in this segment. For the very first time, I am reviewing an album for Weki Meki. Their albums thus far haven’t really caught my attention and hence I have been passing on the opportunity to review their albums. This time around, Weki Meki caught my attention with their latest title track, COOL, and I was very intrigued to see what the group had prepared for us in New Rules. While it was everything I did not expect from the group, Weki Meki still manages to show off some of their skills throughout the album so I just had to put on the reviewing list. The album features 3 other new tracks, not including the title track and the English version of the same track (which I have not included in this review).
2. Sweet Dreams– There are a few elements within Sweet Dreams that draws my attention. First of all, the innocent and playful vibe that the song brings feels quite nice and unique. The instrumental almost feels like a music box without incorporating any music box style samples. At other times, Sweet Dreams seems fitting for a fantastical concept. One thing that I observed/noted throughout the song was each part seemed to differ slightly from one another. But yet, the song cohesively comes together (apart from that vocal bit in the second verse which started off with the ‘Hush little baby’ – that was probably the most ill-fitting sequence in the entire song). It is interesting concept musically and works really well. I also liked the lightness that the vocals and rapping ended up bringing. (9/10)
3. D-DAY – D-DAY is a surprising song. Based on the title of the song, I would have expected something bombastic and intense, potentially bringing more of COOL’s vibe to the album or possibly even returning the group’s girl crush sound that they visited in Crush. But D-DAY ends up being a light pop track. It showcases a good amount of the group’s vocals and I also liked the lightness that the song brings. However, the song is quite ‘overly consistent’ and doesn’t deviate much from its guitar centric instrumentation. If they somehow changed up the song whilst maintaining the lightness, D-DAY would not be as boring by the time it reached its 2:49 mark. (7.5/10)
4. Just Us – Just Us is the final ‘new’ song on the album (quotation marks around the word ‘new’ because the next track is the English Version of COOL – but I already reviewed the Korean version above). Just Us is the album’s mandatory ballad. Once again, the song showcases their vocals really nicely and sweetly. I did like the song’s brighter tone and I felt the melodies were a bit more captivating than D-DAY’s. I really liked the high note during the bridge and that echo following it was also a nice touch. What makes this song even better than the preceding was the ‘La La La’ part that followed the final chorus, which adds something slightly different to the song but maintains the song’s sweet atmosphere without changing the dynamics of the song. (8/10)
There was no review yesterday as I took a day off for my birthday (and in true style, I spent the night off napping). And I started writing this review pretty late on Friday, hence why this is posted in the wee-hours (my local time) on Saturday. But I make my review comeback after that short break with an album review. Pentagon impressed their fans and other listeners with their early October comeback, Daisy. The title track is featured on the group’s tenth (!) mini-album, We:th. It follows their first studio album (Universe: The Black Hall), their participation on Road To Kingdom and Jinho’s military enlistment (and as a gift, he left fans with a song on the physical version of the album – something I do not have access to to review). We:th and Daisy also serves as Hui’s last comeback with the group for the next two years, as he enlists into the military as well in early December.
2. Beautiful Goodbye – The next song on the album resettles on the pop genre, however I detect a bit of infusion from the rock influence we got in Daisy. There were some really good moments in Beautiful Goodbye that really draws my attention to the song time and time again. The first has to be the pre-chorus. The Shiwon/Yanan and Shinwon/Yuto pairings passing each word to one another was a really cool effect. Wooseok’s growl-like shouting in the second verse and Yuto’s deep voice were super exciting felt so appropriate for the slight rock influence we get in the song. The chorus was super easy to get into and had a really nice melody. I also like the story that the song tells, where the guys were happy to have their partner leave them without saying a beautiful goodbye. But at the end, their feelings change and expressed that they want one last kiss as that beautiful goodbye. (9/10)
3. Nostalgia (그해 그달 그날) – Wooseok dominates in this song with both vocals and rapping, which is fair given that he composed this song. It is a chirpy number that is full of energy. Yet, the lyrics of Nostalgia tell a slightly different story – they reminisce over a time in which they were happy about being in a relationship (the past) and compare to the time when they were not (the present). Aside from that, I don’t really get much of the song. Since the song is Wooseok-centric, the other members have quite limited opportunities to show off their skills. And the pop-based instrumental was good, but not exciting enough to be a standout song. (7/10)
4. You Like – While the opening and closing sequence to You Like oozes with Hui’s vocals and smooth piano instrumentation, don’t let it mislead you. The song changes up within seconds to an intense hip-hop dance style. It expresses frustration over people’s changing opinion and poses the question ‘What would you like?’ over and over again in a somewhat aggressive manner. I feel like the effects the song opted for were slightly overwhelming for my liking. So it wasn’t my cup of tea. But the vocal and rapping elements in the song were very good and well-polished. The most iconic moment, aside from the very abrasive instrumental, has to be dragged out ‘raw’ that follows the choruses. Not really the most impressive part of the song, but there is something about that expression that just manages to stick. (7.5/10)
5. Paradise (This Night Where Stars Shine) (Paradise (별이 빛나는 이 밤)) – The final song on the album is Paradise. It features a EDM and club-beat mashed up instrumental that feels very KPOP from early to mid-last decade. It was definitely a consistently great listen to tune into. The rapping opts for a trap instrumental. While this is pretty cliché, I appreciate that the trap sequence keeps song’s momentum going, opting for a piece that is a little more abrasiveness and almost like dubstep, that suits the song’s overall club beat energy and tempo. The vocal work was pretty nice in the song, dedicated to their fans. The bridge was exceptional, but it doesn’t stop the nostalgia that the chorus brings. (9/10)
Once upon a time, I used to album reviews on Tuesdays. Usually, the album reviews published on Tuesday are reserved for a bit of a throwback. I cover ‘past’ albums for the year prior to the year we are in. Because of my poor sleeping patterns, I haven’t been able to do that. And now that I am overloaded with albums to review from October (and most likely November and December), I have decided to cancel the ‘past album review’ segment for now (it will be back next year) and use Tuesdays to help recover on the album review front of the blog. Today’s focus is on Golden Child’s second single album and title track, Pump It Up, which was released over a month ago. The song has become an instant favourite of mine and it has gone on to top my Weekly KPOP Charts.
2. That Guy – That Guy is more a pop ballad. My first impression of the song is that is almost on par with LADY, one of the group’s most memorable side tracks for me. The instrumental is made up of atmospheric strings and pop percussion. It is actually quite beautiful, to the point where I wouldn’t mind listening to it alone without the vocals. Oh and the vocals. There are equally as stunning. Joochan and Y’s lines in the chorus are the song’s highlight without the doubt. I wished that That Guy had stronger melodic power (like LADY) and that pretty much would have brought it up to the same level as the mentioned song. But we almost got there. I also liked how they delayed the ad-libs so it was more to the end. I felt that was a missing element at the start of the final chorus, but they delivered it down the track. And the rapping was also quite nice, tweaked well to fit the softer nature of the song. (9/10)
3. Lean On Me (너의 뒤에서) – Lean On Me is an upbeat electronic pop dance track. It too almost rivals a song, in particular the title track of this single album. It didn’t surpass Pump It Up because it lacked a bit of vibrancy. It is really the one thing that really set the two tracks apart for me. I feel that if the producers made the song pop out more, it could pretty much have been the title track. Once again, the vocals are quite nice in this song. They were very consistency throughout, which isn’t always a bad thing. I really liked that the rapping follows the chorus. It is applied to the same instrumental as the chorus, so it feels like an extension of the chorus – prolonging the song’s catchiest sequence. (9/10)
SuperM’s Super One is another September album that I really wanted to review. But I haven’t been able to get around to it until today, mainly due to its fifteen track length. Amongst the fifteen tracks, we have One (Monster & Infinity) as the title track and the pre-release tracks – Tiger Inside and 100. These three tracks I have reviewed before (links are below). SuperM surprised me with their vocals on this album – completely unexpected given their focus on dance-heavy tracks as their main promotional tracks thus far. Enough chatter though. We have 12 other songs to get through for this album review, so it is going to be a lengthy post.
2. Infinity – If you haven’t caught on just yet, one half of the title track One is Infinity. Most notably, Infinity’s chorus and Mark’s punchy rap sequence just before the final chorus were carried over to One, amongst other sections. Standalone, Infinity was an epic track. The instrumental is pretty choppy during the verses, but that just gave the song amazing texture. It might sound like just like messy noise to some, but I really enjoyed the song. Aside from taking the best parts of Infinity, Baekhyun’s ad-lib introduction was the next best part of the song. The only part that held me back from giving the song a strong 10/10 was the vocal bridge. I just didn’t like how it was presented nor how unimaginative the sequence was (in comparison to the rest of the song). (9/10)
3. Monster– The other half of the title track was courtesy of Monster. The verses of Monster mainly carried over. And once again, I felt whoever joined the songs together took the best part of Monster. The chorus here felt like a letdown, unable to channel the energy and momentum that the verses were building up and towards. It is more vocally centric, which I didn’t expect. I was more under the impression that Monster would be a song that is ‘more in your face’, but I didn’t think we got that in the final product. Overall, if I had to select one of the two songs – Infinity was superior by a long way. (6.5/10)
4. Wish You Were Here – Wish You Were Here has this mellow reggae instrumental, which feels quite unique from the get go. This song is the first of many on this album that blows me away with the vocals. The harmonies made this song ooze out whilst listening to it. The catchy ‘ba ba ba-ra…’ hook was smooth and addicting. However, these positives just wasn’t enough to outweigh the negatives. There was this one-dimensional nature behind the rapping and the song felt quite repetitive by the time we reached the end. (7.5/10)
5. Big Chance – I definitely like it when a song impresses me within the first few seconds. Big Chance does just that with its catchy opening hook. It definitely shows off their vocals chops, with blissful harmonies and an easy-going melody. Both of these aspects allow the hook/chorus to speak volumes by itself, opting for minimal instrumentation. Other parts of the song opt for the same concept, while others incorporated this laid back tropical background to help fill out the song. What I liked the most about the song is the rapping, which is a ‘return to form’ after the previous track. (9/10)
8. Better Days – Better Days is one of the songs that caught my attention when I was vetting the album. It is a ballad, something I didn’t actually expect from SuperM at all. Better Days starts off with a simple piano and finger clicks instrumental combination at the start. It slowly builds by adding a slight organ synth during the first chorus, before adding even more percussion once we enter into the second verse and guitars in the bridge. Once again, amazing vocals and harmonies headline this track and the rapping fits effortlessly into the ballad without feeling ill-fitting or one-dimensional. I really enjoyed away the way they sing the title in the song, especially during the final chorus. So perfect. (10/10)
9. Together At Home – Together At Home is another song that impresses from the start and drew me in during the vetting process. The main drawing point to me with this song is the ‘Dala, da, da la…’ hook that makes up the chorus and features at the start. It is simple vocal hook, but one that is pretty effective. I also like the groovy 90s electronic bass instrumentation of Together At Home and how it repeats the catchy melody in instrument form. The vocals and rapping are superb in this song, both working together harmoniously to make this another strong song. (10/10)
10. DRIP – DRIP features another simple hook in its chorus (i.e. constant repetition of the title of the song). I really like it, even though it sounds like a persistent leaking tap (which I find to be quite annoying – especially as you are falling asleep). The rappers take the edge in this particular song, giving the song some much needed oomph. I liked the instrumental for its uniqueness, sounding almost like someone groaning but in an instrumental form. It sets the song’s serious tone, but it felt repetitive. (8/10)
11. Line ‘Em Up – Line ‘Em Up is SuperM’s take on the Middle Eastern (and based on the comments that I am reading on YouTube, South Asian – which might be a first in KPOP) flair trend that has been around for some time. This flair helps keeps the song distinctive. However, the song lacks that explosive feel or that wow factor. I believe that if Line ‘Em Up had that impact or explosive energy, the song would have been more dynamic and appealing to me. (7/10)
12. Dangerous Women – Blending R&B and EDM for SuperM produces Dangerous Women. Aside from the acapella moment at the start of the song and the vocals as a whole package throughout the song, Dangerous Women didn’t really cross any boundaries in music and felt relatively safe. I felt that the song could have benefited from something edgy, like a more abrasive EDM touch or even some edgier sounding raps. Otherwise, Dangerous Women literally sounds like many other tracks out there. (7.5/10)
13. Step Up– Step Up is predominately a R&B song. However, instead of remaining safe and in a neutral R&B gear for majority of the song (which would have been a mistake for me – as the R&B side of the track is quite boring), Step Up literally steps up its game by giving the chorus a kick in the upbeat and energy departments. This changes up the song, giving it a refreshing appeal. Baekhyun and Ten’s ad-libs were definitely helped make the song even more alluring. (8.5/10)
14. So Long – An example of a R&B song staying in that neutral gear and thus remaining relatively safe is So Long. For So Long, I don’t think this is a relatively bad thing. There is this sensual energy coming from the song that calls for body rolls left, right and centre. Aside from the sensual atmosphere (which obviously is a superior form of R&B), one other thing So Long manages to do right are the vocal harmonies that features in the chorus. (8/10)
15. With You – Closing the album (phew, we are finally at the end of the album) is With You. And like most albums. SuperM keeps the best song for last. Given its placement at the very end of the album, I am knighting With You as Super One’s hidden gem. The subtle and held-back funkiness of the instrumental is so damn good. The vocal work, particularly Taemin, Kai and Baekhyun’s vocals, are so good. It is also the only song on the album that made me want to dance whilst listening to it, which would have been awkward at work. Hahaha… (10/10)
The next album that I am going to be doing a deeper listen for is BDC’s first mini-album, The Intersection: Belief. This particular mini-album was released at the end of September (another really late album review) and follows the trio’s debut single, Remember Me, which was released in December 2019. Featured on the mini-album is SHOOT THE MOON as the title track and four other tracks. One of the four songs features Lee Eun Sang, who recently made his solo debut. If you haven’t checked out the album yet, keep on scroll to see what I thought and have a listen to each song to see if you agree! Then, check out SHOOT THE MOON!
The Intersection: Belief Album Cover
1. DUMP– First up on the album is DUMP. What really draws me into the song are two things. The first has to be their vocals. All three members sounds very really good throughout the song. The chorus was probably their best showing, as their vocals compliment the striking nature of the chorus extremely well. The instrumental was the second aspect that drew me into the song. I am digging the heft the bass brings to the song. The rest of the background of the song felt, admittedly, a little plain. But it worked extremely well with their vocals and had a nice consistency that makes the song appealing. (8/10)
3. DROWNING – DROWNING is another great song. The verses opt for a smooth R&B texture, while the chorus has more of an upbeat kick to it, courtesy to the bouncy synths we get. There is a very satisfying level of energy that comes off the song that I really enjoy. To me, the best part of the song is when they bring some falsetto to the chorus. The rapping sequence in the second verse comes a close second, with a groovy electronic backing that sets it a part from other KPOP releases. It is another song that I felt is more aligned with Summer, but it works on this album. (9/10)
4. I’ll BE A STAR (별이 될게) – The next song on the album is a pop ballad, featuring band instrumentation and an electric guitar solo during the bridge. It is soothing and calming number to listen to. It also shows off their vocals, which have already been highlighted earlier on in the album. But I am not going to complain that there is another ‘great vocals’ song on the album because more is merrier in this instance. It is a pleasant listen, but it isn’t really a song that pulls me in. Usually I’LL BE A STAR is my style, but I feel that BDC’s forte is more with dance tracks such as the preceding track or their title track. (8/10)
5. GO GET HER (ft. Lee Eun Sang) – Looking at the tracklist, GO GET HER is the most anticipated track, as it features Lee Eun Sang. The way I wrote the first bit sounds like I have never heard the song, which is the case. But fans of both the group or soloist may recognize the song as their ‘audition’ song for Produce X 101. It is cheerful, bright and pop. What I really like the most about GO GET HER is that the song brings me back to what KPOP felt like initially. Even the melodies and rap segment have a nostalgic ring. (9/10)
Overall Album Rating – 8.6/10
SHOOT THE MOON / The Intersection: Belief Teaser Image
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