Album Reviews – Page 4

[Album Review] IVE Empathy (3rd Mini Album) – IVE

August 9, 2025Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged IVE1 Comment

IVE has announced a comeback for later this month. So, it is nice timing to slide in an album review for their previous comeback from earlier in the year. IVE Empathy, their 3rd mini-album, was released in February, with REBEL HEART and ATTITUDE leading the mini-album. There are four other songs on the mini-album. The best word I can use to describe IVE Empathy is ‘pleasant’. All but one had this initial impression on me. I tried to be more descriptive with some of the songs, but it was the perfect word to use for certain tracks on the album. More of my thoughts on the mini-album down below.

Their last release was April 2024’s IVE SWITCH, led by the singles HEYA and Accendio. More recently, the group released their 3rd Japanese mini-album, Be Alright, which features the single of the same name.

1. REBEL HEART (Pre-release track) – Click here for REBEL HEART’s full review. (8/10)

2. FLU – FLU is a cute pop song that likens falling in love to becoming ill. While the flu itself is not something you want to catch, I did like how IVE and the producers made this pop song sound comforting. It’s the chorus melodies that give FLU that comfort factor. Combined with the strumming guitar in the background, the pleasant bouncy beat, and solid vocals from the members, FLU was indeed a nice listen. (9/10)

3. You Wanna Cry – You Wanna Cry might sound familiar to some– the chorus samples Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance With Somebody. IVE’s You Wanna Cry is about supporting those having a hard time, lending a shoulder to those who need to cry. I liked the amped up chorus, which is thanks to the rock sound that the chorus adopts. IVE sound very sweet in this song, and the simple and straightforward melodies make it sound very pure. Overall, another nice song from the group. (8/10)

4. Thank U – Thank U is a message to their past selves, thanking them for their own growth and the maturity that they have developed since their debut. It is another nice listen from the group, with the instrumentation taking on a simple yet plain pop ballad-like sound this time around. The melodies and the vocals from all members are quite enjoyable. LIZ’s final line, “Hope you’ll cherish the six of us forever. All thanks to you“, changes Thank U slightly to address the fans, who have been part of their journey. This emphasises Thank U’s touching message even further. (7.5/10)

5. ATTITUDE (Title Track) – Click here for ATTITUDE’s full review. (8.5/10)

6. TKO – The mini-album ends with the release’s boldest and best number. TKO finds itself exploring more of a hip-hop sound profile. There is a heavier dose of raps in TKO, but I also love how charismatic the vocals sound throughout the song. The instrumental features heavy and bolstered beats (but more so in a classical sense), Latin-influenced guitars, and cowbells, creating a more serious sound. You might think the cowbells don’t lend well to a serious sound, but IVE pulls it off effortlessly. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.5/10

[Album Review] WINTER HEPTAGON (13th Mini Album) – GOT7

August 2, 2025Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged GOT7Leave a comment

It’s amusing that the plan was to start reviewing 2025 albums in July, and all I ended up reviewing was just a single album in July. Well, hopefully that all changes, as this particular album review is for an album released this year (and I can keep the momentum going from here on out). The album in question is GOT7’s long-awaited release of WINTER HEPATGON, their 13th mini-album, which features the lead single PYTHON and 8 side tracks.

Overall, WINTER HEPTAGON showcases a lot of the group through a variety of styles and sounds, which comes from the fact that each member penned and produced a side-track for the group to perform. SMOOTH was written by JACKSON, Our Youth by YOUNGJAE, REMEMBER by YUGYEOM, Darling by JAY B, TIDAL WAVE by BAMBAM, OUT THE DOOR by MARK, and her by JINYOUNG. BAMBAM also contributed towards the title track, while GOT7 together wrote the final track. It is a strong mini-album (though I think it could have passed off as a studio album) from a group that hasn’t come together as a group since the release of 2022’s GOT7, led by the single NANANA.

1. PYTHON (Title Track) – Click here for PYTHON’s full review. (8.5/10)

2. SMOOTH – SMOOTH brings a livelier and upbeat presence to the mini-album through its funky instrumentation. I appreciate its straightforwardness and pure sound, as well. The title sums up the vocals quite well, particularly thanks to the falsettos throughout the song. I just wished the song was a little longer, as SMOOTH wrapped up fairly quickly as soon as it started. (8/10)

3. Our Youth (춘드라마) – We remain in upbeat territory with Our Youth, this time delving into the pop genre. I liked how this track sounded quintessential GOT7. Despite being upbeat, I liked how the instrumental felt paced. To me, this made me feel like the group could have done something cool with a developmental aspect for its performance, especially in a period where KPOP songs are short and also fast-paced. I also liked the chants in the background during the chorus, which just felt like such a pleasant backing for the song. (8/10)

4. REMEMBER (기억할거야 말은) – Only going for 2:18 minutes is REMEMBER. You can bet that by pointing out its short length, I imply that I want this track to be longer. There is a lot of potential that isn’t capitalised by its short length. That being said, I enjoyed the EDM and UK-garage mix in the instrumental. This mix concurrently gave REMEMBER dynamism and depth, driving it forward. The vocals brought an R&B element, which to me made the track appealing. The chorus was neatly catchy. (9/10)

5. Darling – The EDM and R&B carry over from the previous song into Darling. And these elements come together to create a lovely and romantic number. Paired with GOT7’s amazing vocals, this is a track that should not be missed. I loved the use of the deeper tones, alongside the falsettos, by some of the members, and Darling’s overall smoothness. (9/10)

6. TIDAL WAVE – TIDAL WAVE is one of the best tracks on this mini-album. We have BAMBAM to thank for this song. I love how stunning the softer piano-driven moments during the pre-choruses are, with YOUNGJAE and YUGYEOM at the helm during these segments. But it is the club vibe that the EDM has me coming back for more. It is so good. The vocals throughout TIDAL WAVE are beautiful (amazing harmonies in this one), and this contrasts so well with the harsher aspects commonly associated with EDM. Any easy 10/10 for me. (10/10)

7. OUT THE DOOR – OUT THE DOOR is probably the mini-album’s boldest sound. It features one thing that most other songs on this mini-album just don’t have – some oomph. In addition to that, there are other elements I liked in OUT THE DOOR, including the early ‘00s vibe the upbeat instrumentation gives off, the bright vocal tones throughout the song, the elongated notes during the pre-choruses, and the touch of EDM during the second verse to give the song some added texture and an additional side. Overall, the track is refreshingly summery, perfect for a drive with the windows down. (9/10)

8. her – her features an acoustic indie folk influence that takes us into pop-rock balladry territory. I really liked how the song starts off soft and slowly develops as it progresses. It just makes the pop-rock aspects more impactful and effective. The vocals from all members are stunningly breathtaking. It is really hard to pick a highlight in her, so I am going to say the entire length of the track is the highlight. (10/10)

9. Yours, Truly (우리가 할수있는 말은) – Finally, the end of the mini-album is upon us, and it closes out with Yours, Truly. It is a touching ballad dedicated to their fans, AGAHSE, who have been patiently awaiting new music from the group for what felt like forever. Like the rest of the mini-album, Yours, Truly features some gorgeous vocals, and the melodies evoke a swaying motion from me that I like to find in ballads. The organ in the background was a nice touch, just to give Yours, Truly a little something different from other ballads. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.9/10

GOT7’s teaser image for *WINTER HEPTAGON*

[Album Review] Band Aid (9th Mini Album) – DAY6

July 30, 2025Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged DAY6Leave a comment

DAY6 made a comeback in September last year with their 9th mini-album, Band Aid, and the title track Melt Down. I am finally getting around to reviewing the 8-track mini-album, which is definitely on the lengthier side of the average mini-album. Band Aid is definitely a strong album release, with a few songs earning a 10/10 rating from me. The mini-album does fizzle out towards the end, but it is still a recommended release nonetheless. Check out which songs got that rating, as well as my thoughts on all 8 tracks.

Before Band Aid, DAY6 released FOUREVER in March last year, which was led by the single Welcome To The Show. More recently, DAY6 released the digital single Maybe Tomorrow in May this year.

1. Monster (괴물) – Band Aid starts off with a song that gives me what I am always craving for – a powerful rock number from DAY6. Monster speaks to how loneliness and isolation can make someone feel like a monster. I love the grungy chorus and the textural processing within the centrepiece. I liked how the drumming and guitar work is prolific throughout the track, while the members bring emotion to Monster to give it a life of its own. A clear standout from the get-go. (10/10)

2. Melt Down (녹아내려요) (Title Track) – Click here for Melt Down’s full review. (8/10)

3. She Smiled (그녀가 웃었다) – Next up is a bright pop-rock track. She Smiled sees DAY6 capture the excitement of a confession to their lover and the feeling when they see the subsequent smile on their lover’s face. I like the upbeatness of the track, which I attribute to the constant guitar work in the background. Even from afar, you can tell the members have big, gleaming smiles as they deliver the song. (8/10)

4. Shxtty Game (망겜) – Another favourite of mine on the album. I love DOWOON’s drumming in this one, driving Shxtty Game’s fast-paced energy. Every time I listen to the song, I can feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins, which pairs extremely well with the song’s lyrics that liken life to the tribulations of a video game. All of DAY6’s vocals have this uplifting tone, which makes the track extremely likeable. In particular, I really liked the raspiness and texture that SUNGJIN’s vocals bring to the song. (10/10)

5. Help Me Rock&Roll (도와줘요 Rock&Roll) – Continuing on with the fun vibes is Help Me Rock&Roll, which again, is full of energy. Help Me Rock&Roll draws on influences from the ’60s that are just so lively. I really liked how prolific and intense the rock sound gets during the chorus, keeping the track super enticing and exciting. On the flip side, I also liked the soft ‘shoobidoobaa’ in the bridge as well as the heavily processed ‘I really really wanna’ that was embedded in the instrumental. The latter is also another fun little element in this amazing song. (10/10)

6. COUNTER – Personally, I feel like there is a mismatch when it comes to COUNTER. It is a fine song, but I’m not sure if the execution is right. The song’s lyrics liken life’s ups and downs to a boxing match. But interestingly, I don’t get an impression of something intense like a boxing match from most of the song. COUNTER felt quite soft to me. The most intense COUNTER gets is during a brief part of the chorus, where most of the instrumental is stripped away, leaving behind the successive and pronounced drumming. But again, it is short, and so COUNTER returns quickly to its softer vibes. (6.5/10)

7. I’m Fine – DAY6 reassures us that they are fine in I’m Fine. While the song sounds nice and solid in all aspects, no matter how many times I have listened to I’m Fine, I just cannot get as excited for it as some of the earlier tracks. It is unfortunate, as the guitar work and keyboard are quite decent. (7/10)

8. Still There (아직 거기 살아) – Emotions are poured into and out of Still There. The final track on the album is a ballad, and it vividly tells us of the heartbreak of a failing relationship. You can definitely feel the heartbreak and pain through the members’ vocals. I have to give a shout-out to how YOUNG K ends Still There – he remembers the past but realises what is happening in the present. Musically, I liked how this ballad builds up as it progresses, developing into a stunning number. Altogether, it is an unforgettable number. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.7/10

[Album Review] J (1st Studio Album) – JAEHYUN (NCT)

July 26, 2025July 26, 2025Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged JAEHYUN (NCT), NCTLeave a comment

It has almost been a year since JAEHYUN made his solo debut with his 1st studio album, J. Leading the 8-track album is the title track Smoke, an English version of the title track, as well as the pre-release singles Roses and Dandelion. As usual, links to the full reviews and music videos for the highlighted tracks, as well as my thoughts on four side-tracks and their audios, can be found below. J is very much an R&B-centric album, with all songs practically finding roots in the genre in some shape or form. While consistent, it does feel a little repetitive as it progresses. But that doesn’t mean the album is not of high quality and shows JAEHYUN’s passion for the genre.

Since the release of J, JAEHYUN also released a single titled Unconditionally (yet to be reviewed) in October 2024, before enlisting in the military the following month.

1. Smoke (Title Track) – Click here for Smoke’s full review. (7/10)

2. Roses (Pre-Release Track) – Click here for Roses’ review. (9/10)

The official audio for Roses can be heard here.

3. Flamin’ Hot Lemon – Continuing on with the R&B vibes is Flamin’ Hot Lemon. This all-English track is quite straightforward and smooth, despite having a pronounced beat. As for JAEHYUH, his deep vocals bring forth a sensual and evocative tone to the song that is quite alluring. I wished there was a bit more to the song, but it is fine as is. (7/10)

4. Dandelion (Pre-Release Track) – Click here for Dandelion’s review. (7/10)

The official audio for Dandelion can be heard here.

5. Completely – This track is a ballad, and it is a stunner. Two elements stand out to me. The first is the piano instrumental, which is just beautiful. The way it dominates the background is so striking to me. The second is JAEHYUN’s vocals, which I can only describe as heavenly throughout Completely. His falsettos just feel so light. The melodies didn’t necessarily jump at me at first, but I love how captivating they get as I really settled into the song. (9/10)

6. Easy – Easy stays within the R&B genre, but gives off more of an alternative vibe. I liked the ripple-like synth that consistently played in the background, while the soft trap beat served as a good accompaniment. JAEHYUN’s vocals are nice throughout. But the chorus caught my attention. The “Easy come, easy go” and “Playin’ hot, playin’ cold” line is actually quite an earworm for me. (8/10)

7. Can’t Get You – After many straightforward R&B numbers, Can’t Get You is appreciably refreshing and is my personal pick for J’s hidden gem. JAEHYUN maintains the vibey and mature nature commonly associated with R&B, but mixes it up with jazzy and tropical elements that elevate this track above many of the others on the album. I love the backup vocals and am a sucker for the brass solo. JAEHYUN is also very alluring. I liked how he tapers some of his lines, and how much he gives to the ad-libs at the end. (10/10)

8. Smoke (English Version) – See my review for Smoke above under track 1.

Overall Album Rating – 8.1/10

[Album Review] CRAZY (4th Mini Album) – LE SSERAFIM

July 14, 2025July 16, 2025Posted in Album Reviews, ReviewsTagged LE SSERAFIM1 Comment

LE SSERAFIM’s 4th mini-album CRAZY, which shares the same name as its title track, is the focus of this album review post. It was released at the end of August of last year, and CRAZY became a massive hit in my books since then. The rest of the mini-album was extremely strong (based on my standards), so it is a highly recommended listen from me. Plus, a particular side track was nominated as part of the 2024 KPORPEVIEWED Awards. You can find out which track, and my thoughts on the rest of the songs that make up CRAZY (the mini-album), down below.

CRAZY follows on from LE SSERAFIM’s 3rd mini-album, EASY, from earlier in the year.

1. Chasing Lightning – The album starts off with the usual narration from LE SSERAFIM. This one occurs over a techno backing piece that readies us for what is to come on this mini-album. There are some brief vocals, as well. The narration tells 2 narratives. The first half of the track features some dialogue with disapproval responses. It concludes with the pessimistic message that ‘they cannot change the weather.’ But then LE SSERAFIM flips the script, accepting that they cannot change the weather, but they can ‘chase the lightning’. From here on out, the same dialogue recurs with responses that look towards the positive side of the situation. (9/10)

2. CRAZY (Title Track) – Since its release, CRAZY has grown on me excessively. So, I am bumping the original song rating from an 8 to a 9. Click here for CRAZY’s full review. (9/10)

3. Pierrot – Pierrot brings hip-hop to the mini-album. While I am not a hip-hop person, it doesn’t take me much to realise that Pierrot is a strong track. I like how LE SSERAFIM maintains this vibe throughout, keeping the track simple and straightforward for the most part. It does steer into interesting and unique territory when Pierrot leans into opera. Very random, but honestly very cool. Pierrot also samples Kim Wan Sun’s Pierrot Laughs At Us. (8.5/10)

4. 1-800-Hot-N-Fun – If you somehow missed it, 1-800-Hot-N-Fun was nominated for Best Rock Song in the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards earlier this year. The reasons for this are straightforward. The guitar work made 1-800-Hot-N-Fun extremely memorable, and LE SSERAFIM’s attitude-filled delivery heightened the song further. Extra points for the hooks and embodiment of the rock sound. (10/10)

5. Crazier (미치지 못하는 이유) – After such bold songs, they end the mini-album with a bit of whiplash in the form of a ballad. Crazier is a nice soothing track, with beautiful and stunning vocals from the group. I liked the acoustic nature of the instrumental. I’m just not sure if it is the right song to end this particular mini-album with. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.9/10

[Album Review] Dreamy Resonance (10th Mini Album) – OH MY GIRL

July 6, 2025July 6, 2025Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged OH MY GIRLLeave a comment

OH MY GIRL returned in August last year with their 10th mini-album, Dreamy Resonance. Almost a year on, I am getting around to reviewing it. It features a total of 6 songs, including the title track Classifed. A reasonably strong mini-album, Dreamy Resonance was consistent and had some good side-tracks on it. I recommend you check out the mini-album if you haven’t already done so in the past year.

Dreamy Resonance follows their 9th mini-album Golden Hourglass (led by the title track Summer Comes). More recently, the group celebrated their 10th anniversary with the single Oh My.

1. Classified (Title Track) – Click here for Classified’s full review. (8/10)

2. Start Up – OH MY GIRL goes for feel-good vibes in Start Up. I love the bright and bubbly energy that the members exude, whilst the instrumental gives off a summery pop vibe. MIMI’s rapping adds a dynamic and punchy flair that uplifts Start Up. I do like the addition of the militaristic drumming in the bridge, which gives the song a touch of edge. The final chorus did feel a tad longer than it needed to be. But that isn’t too much of an issue. Overall, a really nice upbeat track. (8.5/10)

3. LA LA LA LA – MIMI and SEUNGHEE join hands for LA LA LA LA, a mid-tempo track that leans towards R&B territory. I like the way the two of them meld with each other for this track. Their almost-whispery vocals in the chorus were a nice middle ground, and the hooks had a nice ring to them. SEUNGHEE does well in the verses with her vocals and MIMI’s rapping adding some edge to LA LA LA LA. But on the flip side, there wasn’t much to remember the verses by, and the instrumentation behind the rapping made it feel boring. (8/10)

4. Sway (YOU & I) – YUBIN and ARIN lean more into the R&B genre with a dreamier instrumentation that incorporates strings and a touch of synths that sounds like water droplets. Both YUBIN and ARIN sound very nice throughout the track. I really liked the way they delivered the “Sway to the left, sway to the right” hook in the chorus. The rapping was unexpected, but I liked how it made Sway sound more interesting. (8/10)

5. Love Me Like You Do – HYOJUNG and YOOA bring us Love Me Like You Do, which, to me, is the best track on this mini-album. The vocals, harmonies and layering in this track are quite captivating. I like how calming and wispy the instrumental is overall, but the additional soft clashes and brief bursts of strings in the second verse just give it a little more. I don’t have much else to say about the track other than I like to sit back whilst it is playing to take it all in. (9/10)

6. Heavenly – Heavenly is a very pretty mid-tempo ballad, especially during its pre-choruses (I can have this part on repeat). I love how light and stunning the vocals are throughout the track, and the instrumental is simply beautiful. That latter comment can be applied more broadly to the entire song, where keeping everything simple and straightforward paid off. What a lovely way to end the mini-album. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.4/10

[Album Review] CINEMA PARADISE (4th Mini-Album) – ZEROBASEONE

June 28, 2025Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged ZEROBASEONELeave a comment

Next album up for review is ZEROBASEONE’s CINEMA PARADISE. This is the group’s 4th mini-album, released in August 2024. It features a total of 7 songs, including the title track GOOD SO BAD and the Korean version of YURA YURA. Overall, I thought it was another consistently solid mini-album from ZEROBASEONE.

ZEROBASEONE’s last Korean release was their 3rd mini-album, You Had Me At Hello, which featured the singles SWEAT and Feel the POP. More recently, ZEROBASEONE returned with their 5th mini-album, BLUE PARADISE (yet to be reviewed), which featured the single Doctor! Doctor! (also yet to be reviewed) and BLUE.

1. GOOD SO BAD (Title Track) – Click here for GOOD SO BAD’s full review. (9/10)

2. KILL THE ROMEO – KILL THE ROMEO is a fun and exciting track with a cool contrast in its sound. It starts off bright and upbeat, then shifts into a darker, more textured vibe for the chorus, which lends the song a great deal of depth. The catchy refrain brings back that light, clubby energy, and I really liked how fun and infectious it felt in that moment. The second verse has some of the best vocals in the song, aside from the powerful ad-libs near the end. I also want to mention the second half of the bridge, which introduces a deeper, denser club feel that smoothly transitions back into the final chorus. (9/10)

3. The Sea (바다) – The third track on the mini-album is ZEROBASEONE’s remake of The Sea, a song originally released in 1997 by UP. I liked how ZEROBASEONE maintained the original melodies of the chorus, which sound sweet and bright in the context of ZEROBASEONE’s vocals. The rapping (by JIWOONG and MATTHEW) from the original is also retained and delivered in a much cleaner manner than the original song. I also like how the song is bookended with sounds of people having fun, which helps bring out more of that summery vibe. (8/10)

4. Insomnia – The fast-paced drumming and percussion, particularly in the chorus, make Insomnia very likeable. This is over some dreamy synths, which creates a very alluring and chic contrast. I like how their vocals transition between those dreamy moments and when there’s a rush of energy through the drumming. The rapping was a nice turn and gave us a fine balance between the two ends of the spectrum in Insomnia. (8/10)

5. Road Movie – ZEROBASEONE puts on their hip-hop hats for Road Movie, showcasing their rapping skills for the majority of the song. All the members who rapped in this song did a great job, and I liked how each section had a different vibe, which allows us to really explore their rapping. However, it is the non-rapping choruses that steal the show in Road Movie. ZHANGHAO and TAERAE bring their dreamy vocals into the fold during the choruses over some atmospheric synths. These parts are beautifully stunning and is probably some of the best vocals on this mini-album. (9/10)

6. Eternity – I remember thinking the thumping at the start was the start to something dramatic. But Eternity turns out to be an R&B pop track. Their vocals make the track sound very nice and pleasant, with Eternity sounding particularly well when all the members sing together as part of the chorus. (8/10)

7. YURA YURA (Korean Version) – In case you missed it, YURA YURA was my pick for Best Japanese Song by a Korean Artist in the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. I chose it for its catchy and lively chorus, which both versions of the song feature. The slight dash of rock within the pop sound adds great depth to the song. I also enjoyed the post-chorus sequence, as it leans YURA YURA into head-banging territory. The vocals are solid throughout, which really helps pull everything together. (8.5/10)