Album Reviews – Page 42

[Album Review] Love Yourself: Answer (3rd Compilation Album) – BTS

August 26, 2018Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged BTS, BTS (Bangtan Boys)Leave a comment

With BTS making their ‘IDOL’ comeback this past Friday, I think this is the fastest I have ever put out an album review for anyone. And while I had planned to do this as soon as I read the news of their said comeback, I never had expected so many high quality songs. Every new song on the album was a gem and I cannot wait to get straight into the review.

A compilation album is, put simply, a collection of past songs from other albums. BTS did insert 7 new songs into this album, which is the focus of the album review today. Joining these new songs are the song the group previously released as part of Love Yourself: Her and Love Yourself: Tears. Due to the amount of songs on the album (25 songs), it would be really crazy for me to put all the songs on this particular page. So, if you are looking for a particular review for another song from the other two mini-albums, click on the links below. Beside that, let’s get this show on the road!

Love Yourself: Her Album Review
Love Yourself: Tears Album Review

bts-loveyourselfanswer-2 — *Love Yourself: Answer* Album Cover

2. Trivia 起 Just Dance (J-Hope Solo) – If you have been visiting my site for some time, you would know that I tend to prefer vocals over rap. But one of the things I love more than vocals are when rappers sing, as they tend to have a underrated voice. This is exactly what we have here. J-Hope’s verses just pull you in. And while that gets me hook, the chorus is another selling point that gives this song an amazing club vibe. The vibrating synth is also extremely addictive. Overall, the first new track of the album starts off these new releases with a banger. (10/10)

3. Trivia 承: Love (RM Solo) – The song kicks off with a very light hip hop sound that makes it appeal. While the sound might be a little too cheerful for RM (I for some reason associate him with a more dark/serious tone), this does not hinder his delivery and presentation of his lines, which felt very effortless (which is usual for the rapper). Once again, the singing was also top notch. Towards the end, there was an anthem like sound infused into the song, which made it the most exciting part of the song. (8/10)

5. Trivia 轉: See Saw (Suga Solo) – Starting off Seesaw is Suga’s husky vocals which sound like a blessing to my ears. His song takes us on the R&B route, which I think is an excellent move given the previous two songs (above). I like the use of background vocals in the song, which give it a little more backing. The instrumental is nice and smooth. But it is not as interesting as the other songs that I have already reviewed. It is a good track to kick back to, however, which is why I do enjoy it. (8/10)

13. Epiphany (Jin Solo) – Like the other two Love Yourself albums, we have a solo pre-release from Jin. This is one amazing song (and I felt that in just the first few seconds of the track). It gives Jin the opportunity to show something off which he doesn’t have the opportunity (I think I have said this in the past for his other solo releases). I love the instrumental of this, appealing to my taste in rock-ballad music. Overall, this is a show stopper on so many levels. (10/10)

14. I’m Fine – I’m Fine starts off same as Save Me back in 2016. However, it soon became distorted and we have a completely different sound, which falls along the line of Western pop currently. I liked the fast pace chorus which really gives off a very impactful push. It is also quite addictive. Once again, the rappers shine in this track. Particularly Suga, who had a awesome sequence. But that doesn’t mean the vocalists did not get any spotlight as their vocal work was amazing Going back to how the song is similar to Save Me, the lyrics is like a response to Save Me, which I thought was nice. (10/10)

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

16. Answer: Love Myself – Ending my review today is Love Myself, which is another perfect song from the group. Everything about this song is totally terrific. The vocals and harmonies were superb, while the rapping was toned down to fit this peaceful and more brighter sound from the group. The instrumental is well balanced, which is something I liked quite a bit. The lyrics of the song were quite touching as well. Looking back, my description/review doesn’t do the song justice, so my advice is to go and listen to this amazing song. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 9.3/10

bts-loveyourselfanswer-3 — *Love Yourself: Answer* Teaser Image

[Album Review] Sensuous (5th Mini Album) – SF9

August 12, 2018August 12, 2018Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged SF9Leave a comment

SF9 made their very impactful comeback two weeks ago week with Now Or Never. They have also topped the Weekly Music Charts post for this week (thank you for all the retweets and likes on Twitter! My phone wouldn’t stop buzzing this afternoon). Fun fact (and I am not making this up) but I actually planned to review this album prior to its release. I was so drawn to the album by just listening to the highlight medley. I even fast-tracked the album review release, as well. Hence, why we are here today. Onwards with the review!

1..Now Or Never (질렀어) (Title Track) – Click here to read the review for Now Or Never. (10/10)

2. Different (달라) – This is the type of sound that I associate with Summer when it comes to KPOP. It is a very upbeat, vibrant and colourful song that feels just right. And while the song isn’t as mind-blowing as the title track, the song does a good job of maintaining the same level of energy and power, which I think it totally awesome. The song features a catchy chorus and showcases really good vocals, as well. The rapping is also equally as good but I felt they were too short. (8.5/10)

3. Unlimited – The start of this song is a tad underwhelming, given how the song progresses. It feels like a start to a slow yet dramatic song, not an upbeat dance track. Once the song does pick up (mid-way of the first verse), I was very impressed with the quality and intensity of the sound. I personally liked the prolonged drop into the choruses. Once again, there was great vocals and raps. I did notice the bridge of the song featured the guitar instrumental that was heard at the start. While I thought it as a start was underwhelming, its presence within the song was more appreciated. Overall, another good song. (8/10)

4. Photograph – Following the characteristics of the previous tracks, Photograph also takes on a bright sound and is another dance track. It is the type of KPOP song that you listen to yet smile to because of its energy, despite not knowing what the lyrics mean. I didn’t like the slow down they used for the pre-chorus, which felt a little awkward for me. It just felt like something more towards the end of the song, rather than before a decent drop. The chorus, made up of the ‘My Photograph’ hook and the twinkling instrumentation, was also quite catchy and was my pick for the highlight of the song. Overall, it was still a decent song. (8/10)

5. Shadow – Interestingly enough, the album ends on a more serious note which was a surprise given their brightness level on the album so far. And that is also why the song stands out. The song also follows a different formula, opting for a dragged-out chorus consisting of the rapping only. It is a little different from what we heard so far, making the song unique and interesting. On top of that, the vocal and rap sequences outside of the chorus gave the song an extra punch of impact, which I thought was good. My most favourite part is the vocal/rap combo for the bridge, which really brought together. Overall, it worked really well and ended the album on a unique note. (8.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.6/10

sf9-sensuous-3 — *Sensuous* Teaser Image

[Album Review] Ride On The Wind (3rd Mini Album) – KARD

August 10, 2018August 10, 2018Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged KARD

I usually publish my album reviews on Thursdays and Sundays. However, I am a day late due to the release of the Dream Catcher music video theories yesterday. Today’s album review will focus on KARD’s recent comeback and Ride On The Wind. The album cover, shown below, is probably my pick for one of many unappealing covers to do date. It looks so plain and the image of them looks like it was just pasted on it. But we are not here to talk about the album cover but rather the songs on the album. So let’s get going! (Per usual, I have left off their Humming introductory track).

kard-rideonthewind-2 — *Ride On The Wind* Album Cover

2. Moonlight – What this song does nicely show a fair amount of contrast between the female and male members of the group. Jiwoo and Somin have higher pitch vocal parts which pair well with the usual deep tone of BM and J.Seph. I like how it is very easy on the ears as the song relies on a softer instrumental, compared to their past releases. I have to admit the song does lack something, which I cannot determine the nature of. I feel like with an additional element, the song could have been kicked up a notch. Also, I felt the song was repetitive but it wasn’t too bad. (8/10)

3. Ride On The Wind (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Ride On The Wind. (8/10)

4. Knocking on Heaven’s Door – Like the first song, Somin and Jiwoo had their parts at a higher than normal pitch and the male members had their usual rap. What is different, however, is the amount of energy that comes from this track. It makes the song so much more comfortable. Not saying that the first song was uncomfortable but the feeling is so much more present here. What also draws my attention (and possibly everyone else’s) to the song is the autotuned ‘Knocking on Heaven’s Door’ line just before the chorus. I thought it was rather cool and makes the song quite addictive. I also liked how the ladies added their own twist to that same line at the end of the song, which gave us a little something different at the end. (9/10)

5. Dimelo – Dimelo means ‘Tell Me’ in Spanish. And it is a good song overall. However, it was very typical for the most part. And it would have remained typical if it didn’t include that really uncomfortable high pitch synth which can be heard during the post-chorus/second verse rap. The vocals and raps were decent. Just that one synth could have been forgone. Besides that, there isn’t much else to talk about. (7/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8/10

[Album Review] Sunny Summer (7th Mini Album) – GFriend

August 5, 2018Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged GFriendLeave a comment

Two weeks ago, GFriend made their Summer comeback with Sunny Summer. The song features on the mini-album of the same name. Interestingly, the mini-album is also marketed as the girl’s 1st Summer mini-album, which alludes to the fact that there may be more in the future, which definitely sound very interesting and super exciting. But today, we are here to delve a little more into their Sunny Summer mini-album, so let’s just do that!

gfriend-sunnysummer-2 — *Sunny Summer* Album Cover

1..Sunny Summer (여름 여름해) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Sunny Summer. (7.5/10)

2. Vacation – Fitting neatly into the Summer theme of the entire mini-album, the song starts off with sounds you would commonly associate with the beach. It develops into a very bright song and it is the type you expect to be the soundtrack of a holiday music video that KPOP does a fair share of. It is a catchy and lively song, especially with the cute way they spell out the word ‘Vacation’ at the end of the choruses. It also features nice vocals which makes it a very pleasing song. (7.5/10)

3. Sweety – Sweety has a pop sound but it features a very quirky instrumental that is full of various synths and effects that really make it different. These differences occur at varying tempos allowing for a different atmosphere to be present in almost every different section of the song. I must admit the chorus was a letdown, as I didn’t mind it that memorable/catchy. So the saving grace for this song was the instrumental. Vocals were good, overall. (7/10)

4. Windy Windy (바람 바람 바람) – Initially, the song started off with a soft sound but within seconds the song transformed into this upbeat sound. It did end up feeling like a typical pop song from a girl group but there was an unknown element that managed to make it one of the better songs on the album. I did like the melody of the song, but I found the chorus to be quite masked and mashed into the verse, which was a little confusing. Once again, I liked the vocals and really liked the transition between the bridge and final chorus of the song. (8/10)

5. Love In The Air – I think the girls saved the best for last. I really enjoyed how smooth the song was and how it managed to flow overall. There is a nice melody and the instrumental made the song feel promising. It became quite dynamic towards the end (with a number of synths/effects to give texture but maintaining that smooth element. The vocals also contributed to this smoothness, which made it quite memorable. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.8/10

gfriend-sunnysummer-3 — *Sunny Summer* Teaser Image

[Album Review] Red Moon (7th Mini Album) – Mamamoo

July 29, 2018Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged MAMAMOO9 Comments

Mamamoo returned 2 weeks ago with a brand new mini-album titled as Red Moon and the title track Egotistic. When this album was first released, I noticed a connection between their previous mini-album, Yellow Flower. Red and Yellow are colours that two of the members wore during their Paint Me single release earlier this year. If we were to follow this trend, we will be seeing a blue and white themed album release in the future. Just an observation I made. But let’s refocus and look closely at the songs on the Red Moon album.

mamamoo-redmoon-2 — *Red Moon* Album Cover

1..Midnight Summer Dream (여름밤의 꿈) – Opening this track up is this music box effect which really makes the R&B song twinkle. While this does sound like an odd combination, it actually works extremely well. I love the vocals and raps of the members from all the members especially with the odd quirk or two that keeps the song feel repetitive and linear. I really liked the burst of energy from the chorus which really gives the song some life. It was a great opener for the album and definitely drew my attention to the album. (9/10)

2. Egotistic (너나 해) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Egotistic. (8/10)

3. Rainy Day (장마) (Pre-Release SIngle) – The pre-release single for this album was not apparent on my daily check for new releases. The song is an R&B ballad but it doesn’t feel forced or that ‘mandatory ballad’ that girl groups tend to put on their album. I am drawn to the song for their fantastic vocals, which make me feel very sorrow and sad. With the rainy days where I live, the song is perfect to put on and do a lot of sad reflection. There is also that swaying effect that makes me feel at ease. It was a change up from their previous tracks on the album but it was nice. (8.5/10)

4. Sky! Sky! (Innocence) (하늘하늘 (청순))) – I think out of all the songs which I heard in the past by Mamamoo, Sky! Sky! seems to conform to that typical girl group sound the most. But a song from Mamamoo cannot be typical. I really like the simplicity of the chorus and it does feel very nice. But what makes me go wow every time I listen to the song is Moonbyul’s rap section which was completely unexpected and different to the rest of the song (it goes for a very mindblowing hip-hop sound). By far, this is my favourite song on the album and definitely going on my replay list. (9.5/10)

5. Sleep In The Car (잠이라도 자지) – WOW! Mamamoo had their share of a hip-hop rap-heavy track through their playful Taller Than You a few years back. But this takes that song to the next level by being 1000 times more intense and unexpected. It is a fierce track on the album, going well with the already strong title track. They don’t hold back and definitely put all their energy to make sure that this ‘different’ track is successful in its delivery. And while you expect this song to be layered with deep meaning, it was more about how hard the work they do is and focused more on their wild car trips between schedules. (8/10)

6. Selfish (Moonbyul Solo) (ft. Seulgi from Red Velvet) – Click here to read the full review for Selfish. (8/10)

Overall Album Review – 8.5/10

mamamoo-redmoon-3 — *Egotistic* Teaser Image

[Album Review] You Make My Day (5th Mini Album) – SEVENTEEN

July 26, 2018July 26, 2018Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged SEVENTEEN2 Comments

SEVENTEEN have returned with their 5th mini-album, You Make My Day. Their new album release has been topping charts and Oh My! have won a few weekly music shows already, further proving their status in the industry. Unfortunately, my introductory paragraph is a little short today as I am in a rush. So, let’s get a move on with this review!

sveenteen-youmakemyday-2 — *You Make My Day* (Album Cover)

1..Oh My! (어쩌나) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Oh My! (8/10)

2. Holiday – I really like this song. It has a catchy chorus that stands out for its simplicity. It does have a very standard pop song instrumental but those flutes during the post-chorus really give it a side of uniqueness and is a great hook. I really liked the melody and bright energy, which is truly fitting for the Summer season. I did feel like the verses were a tad empty, which does impact memorability of the song but I did like the ‘Baby Baby’ pre-chorus. The rapping and vocals were pretty good, but I loved Seungkwan’s fast incline to his high note in the bridge. (9/10)

3. Come To Me (나에게로 와) (Vocal Team) – Come To Me is tropical house song which the vocal team of the group performs. I thought this was an interesting yet fitting for the normally ballad-dominated unit of the group. It also shows that they have great diversity in their sound. However, the use of the typical tropical instrumental was a disappointment. It wasn’t special, especially with the ongoing trend. I did like how they toned down the instrumental, however, which fitted their choice for soft vocals in this song. I liked it when they sang together during the chorus. It would be interesting to see a performance for this song, as either a no choreography or light choreography would be suitable. (7/10)

4. What’s Good (Hip Hop Team) – In their past unit track, Minggyu took the reins of vocalist during the chorus (from memory). So I was kind of expecting the same thing. But surprise, surprise. Instead, all the members contributed to a smashing chorus and everyone having their own rap sequence in the song. I really liked the ‘What’s Good’ repetition in the chorus which made the song addictive and memorable. The members have great delivery (as normal) but would have showed off more if the song was longer. (9/10)

5. Moonwalker (Performance Team) – Can I start off by saying how much I love the funky instrumental of this song? It is an aspect of the song that really draws my attention to the song. Likewise, the vocals and the catchiness of the ‘Moonwalker’ chorus hook really do a good job of selling the song. Honestly, I would love to see a performance for this song, as the song (along with the reputation of the unit’s dance skills_ promises a worthwhile choreography routine. Like most abrupt endings, I am not too keen on the ending. But it is one of the group’s strongest songs on the album. (9.5/10)

6. Our Dawn Is Hotter Than Day (우리의 새벽은 낮보다 뜨겁다) – After a series of unit songs, the entire group comes back together to what seems like the longest title for a song (that I have seen in a very long time). I am not too sure about the song. One part of me really likes the overall feel of the song as it doesn’t really take too much of any aspect. I really liked the chorus for this song and how everyone had their moment in the song. But I feel like the song could have had something more to make it more appealing and become a greater closer. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.4/10

sveenteen-youmakemyday-1 — *You Make My Day* Teaser Image

[Album Review] Summer Nights (3rd Repackaged Album) – TWICE

July 22, 2018Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged TWICE1 Comment

TWICe made their return to the stage with their latest Summer comeback, Dance The Night Away. And while they are topping charts, the group also unveiled a repackaged version of their fifth mini-album, What Is Love?. The repackaged album is named Summer Nights and features 3 new songs. Today, we will be looking at those three songs. I will put a link down to the other songs originally on 5th mini-album, which I previously reviewed. Note that all songs from both albums are included in the ‘overall album rating’.

twice-summersnight-2 — *Summer Nights* Album Cover

1..Dance The Night Away (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Dance The Night Away. (9/10)

2. Chillax – Like the title of the song, there is a soothing and calming nature regarding the song. This actually becomes quite useful as it follows the upbeat (and favourite) title track. I did like the vocals, which gave off this innocent vibe through its youthful sound. Throw in the catchy chorus and you pretty much have a really good track. But it isn’t perfect. I didn’t enjoy the rap as much that opens the second verse. Finally, I feel like them singing ‘chill’ and ‘relax’ throughout the entire song’s choruses defeats the purpose of naming the song ‘Chillax’. But that is me being picky. (8.5/10)

3. Shot Thru The Heart – Unfortunately, the song was a complete miss for me. Shot Thru The Heart is your traditional pop song but it felt extremely light. You know when you bite into a cake, but it was way too sweet for your liking? That is what I felt here. It also didn’t help that the song was the most skippable track on the entire album (including the songs following it). It does have that TWICE brightness that we associate with them, along with good vocal/rap sequences. But that wasn’t enough for me to enjoy the song. (5/10)

For tracks 4 to 9 (What Is Love, Sweet Talker, Ho!, Deja Vu, Say Yes, Stuck), click here for /their reviews!

Overall Album Rating – 8/10

twice-summersnight-3 — *Summer Nights* Teaser Image

[Album Review] One & Six (7th Mini Album) – APINK

July 19, 2018July 19, 2018Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged APINKLeave a comment

APINK recently made their return with a completely different image than what we have seen ever before. APINK’s latest title track, I’m So Sick, takes on an exciting mature concept, which is proving to be quite successful. I’m So Sick is also the title track of the group’s 7th mini-album, One & Six, which is the focus of today’s album review. Apologies for the lack of Sunday’s album review. I was so busy that I had to cancel it. It is here now, so let’s move!

apink-one&six-2 — *One & Six* Album Cover

1..I’m So Sick (1도 없어) (Title Track) – Click here for the full review of I’m So Sick. (9/10)

2. Alright – Alright is your typical pop song when you just glance over the track. However, when you listen to it, you notice it is a lot more than the ‘typical pop song’ description. Overall, the song felt fitting for the group who establish what can be described as a ‘lovely’ vibe and hence I thought it was a good selection for a promotional track. Starting off the song were these beautiful sounding twinkles, which gave me shivers the first time I heard the song (which is a good thing). The chorus was catchy with the ‘Alright’ repetition and melody. I particularly liked the drop, as it felt just right for the entire song. I really liked the suspense created before the final chorus. (9/10)

3. Don’t Be Silly – The song felt very mature, even more than the title track, which I think is a rather interesting direction for the group. But they pull it off well. The song feels like an R&B dance track with an extra something that makes it work for APINK. I thought the chorus was quite good, despite the questionable English. I liked the epic feel in the bridge, which was my favourite section of the song. I was disappointed, however, when the song didn’t carry on that epic feel into the final chorus. But other than that, it was a good song. (8/10)

4. Forever Star (별 그리고..) – Forever Star is just your typical ballad from a girl group. While the rest of the album did showcase some great ‘typical’ songs, Forever Star doesn’t really feel great. Instead, it felt a little bland and doesn’t really capture my attention on the album. But it was still listenable. It did feature good melody and nice harmonies. It was quite delicate and did a good job keeping that innocent sound that the group is widely known for. (7/10)

5. Promise Me – With the piano in the first few seconds of the song, I thought the song was going down a ballad route. But the way the clock was ticking soon after gave me a hunch that it wasn’t going to be a ballad. This proved true once the violins kicked in and you could hear many synths during the chorus. Once again, I liked how the chorus felt and hook made the song quite catchy. It had a particularly happy tone, which appealed to my personal taste quite well. The song did feature great vocals from all members, but the spotlight was on Bomi and Eunji (especially the end). It is also one of my favourites on the album! (10/10)

6. I Like That Kiss – A review or description of the song will not do it justice. I highly recommend you give the song a listen as it is extremely hard for me to explain in words. The energy on this track and its quirky instrumental makes the song stand out, particularly that changeup prior to the chorus. The chorus was extremely addictive with the title repetition. The bridge was extremely unexpected, going for a remix style feel in the first half and a totally different sound in the second half. As I said, my description isn’t enough, and you should check it out for yourself. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.7/10

apink-one&six-3 — *I’m So Sick* Music Video Image

[Album Review] You Complete Me (2nd Mini Album) – ONF

July 12, 2018July 12, 2018Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged ONF2 Comments

For those who notice, there are a select number of artists for whom I will always write an album review for (usually, they are my favourite artists). However, I do give all albums that I can find a listen to see whether they have anything worthwhile to talk about. In my recent hunt, I identified ONF’s 2nd mini-album, You Complete Me, as one with high potential. Hence, why I am writing an album review today (it is also one of the late ones, apologies for the lateness).

onf-youcompleteme-2 — *You Complete Me* Album Cover

1..Complete (널 만난 순간) (Title Track) – Click here for the full review of Complete. (10/10)

2. Fly Me To The Moon – The song follows up nicely after the title track. It has potential and I see how it attempts to ease us off the high energy from the title track. However, I personally think the track could have been more cohesive if the song was a little more intense. I was really impressed with the rapping in the song, with Wyatt’s deep voice very unexpecting but extremely fitting. I thought the chorus had a good hook. But my favourite bit has to be the bridge, with the slowdown for another Wyatt rap section and the saxophones delivering some flair to the song as well. (8/10)

3. Good Morning (아침) – Good Morning is a sweet ballad, fitting for the Summer season. There is a nice melody and the harmonies were quite good. I particularly like the final chorus when ‘everyone’ is singing together, which is something I am liking more and more nowadays. I put ‘everyone’ in quotation marks because I don’t think the rappers participated in the song. And while it was an enjoyable song, when you look at the entire album, this song fails to standout, in my opinion. (7/10)

4. fifty fifty – fifty fifty started off quite soft but knowing that there were some electronic elements in the song, you could tell it was going to build up to become a dance track. And if you thought the verses were promising, then you will be speechless with the chorus, which kicked the song up a notch by providing intensity and energy. Vocal work (particularly the high note) and the rapping were also quite good. My only complaint against the song would be that borderline annoying ringtone sound played throughout the entire song. Other than that, it was a promising song. (9/10)

5. Incomplete (나 말고 다) – Seeing the title of both this song and the title track are opposites, you kind of expect the same thing between the two. And that is what we get. Incomplete is a lot slower and soothing, despite there being a subtle upbeat atmosphere that prevents it falling into the ballad domain. I like the tropical influence during the second half of the chorus and the husky vocals that the song uses. Another element of the song that must be discussed is the lyrics, which are quite saddening (expressing their differences with the rest of the world). Altogether, this song becomes the hidden gem on the album. (9/10)

6. 86400 (스물 네 번) – The group finish off the album with an orchestral ballad. Everyone knows how much of a sucker I am to this type of song, so it definitely ticks the appeal box for me. It features breathtaking vocals, which are shown throughout the entire song. Even Wyatt (the deep voiced rapper) sings through his part! I really liked the build-up of the song and thought the bridge was amazing. The lyrics of the song seem to be reminiscent of memories of a loved one but I am not 100% sure. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.7/10

onf-youcompleteme-3 — *You Complete Me* Teaser Image

[Album Review] Who, You (2nd Mini Album) – NU’EST W

July 8, 2018July 8, 2018Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged NU'EST, NU'EST W1 Comment

NU’EST W is officially back with a new mini-album, Who You, after their highly successful return as a subunit last year. And I thought I check out their mini-album this time around as well. Once again, I feel like this is a little late, due to some shuffling. But better late than never (which I say quite a bit here). So before I do some even more shuffling, let’s push along.

whoyou-nuestw-2 — *Who, You* Album Cover

1..Signal – Opening up the album is a dance track which has elements of tropical and EDM but feels R&B-like. I thought that is a rather interesting combination. Starting off the song, there was a seductive nature, which I think would make this a great performance song. I thought the pre-chorus was awesome, particularly the vocals at this moment. Overall, I thought the song was really impressive, with the chorus kicking it up a notch. Also, I really liked the final section with the instrumental feeling more dynamic here than any part of the song. The rapping is also quite commendable in this song. (8/10)

2. Déjà Vu (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Déjà Vu. (8.5/10)

3. Polaris (북극성) – I personally do not have much to comment on in regards to this song. It had a slow jazzy ballad type of instrumental, which I thought was cool. The verses do a good job of showcasing the vocals. The chorus had a nice soothing vibe, with the falsetto in the latter half of the chorus, complimenting the jazzy sound. The raps were really well done (especially since rapping isn’t commonly associated with this type of music). (8/10)

4. ylenoL – The bright and upbeat nature of the makes this song really unique and stand out for me. I thought the instrumental which felt groovy yet jagged, which gave the song some interesting textures. The title of the song is ‘Lonely’ spelt backwards. I thought that was rather interesting, as the word tends to have a negative connotation. But being spelt backwards, it flips its definition in the opposite direction, leading to this positive atmosphere. The ‘Lonely’ hook as also quite catchy, and the vocals/raps were quite cool. (9/10)

5. Gravity and Moon (중력달) – Can we take a moment to appreciate how smooth Ren’s vocals are in this song? I thought that was a nice element. Apart from the vocals in the song, I thought it was rather typical. The instrumental didn’t really feel like it stood out on the album. Other than that, I thought how the lyrics complimented the title was nice. I did like the ‘Singing’ hook in the song (for the time being) but it is the type that can easily become annoying if you do not control the number of replays. (7.5/10)

6. Shadow – The album ends on an appealing song. There was a groovy vibe to the song with its fast-paced tempo standing out. I also thought the slowdown during the bridge was nice, along with the launch back into the chorus. I found the combination between the vocals/raps and instrumental to be quite dynamic. I really like the way Baekho sings ‘Shadow’ and the raps that were delivered by both Aron and JR. I would like to point out that the instrumental of this song is quite like HOTSHOT’s Jelly (only during chorus). I liked both songs but I am not too sure about the technicalities of this situation. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.33/10

whoyou-nuestw-3 — *Who You* Teaser Image

[Album Review] Shoot Me: Youth Part 1 (3rd Mini Album) – DAY6

July 5, 2018Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged DAY61 Comment

Today’s album review is DAY6’s latest release, Shoot Me: Youth Part 1. Given the title, it suggests there will be a continuation of this album, which I am highly anticipating. While there are a few albums released prior to this one that I should be reviewing, I had to push this one up due to the quality of the music! On top of that, Young K penned each song, which I thought was really cool. If you want some good music, continue reading cause that is what you will get!

day6-shootmep1-2 — *Shoot Me: Youth Part 1* Album Cover

1..WARNING! – Starting off the album is a rock number. It is a great yet very intense opener. There were a few interesting aspects that make the song stand out. The opening words (‘It’s dangerous’) were sung in a way that I thought was very intriguing and appealing. The silence just before the choruses created suspense and really allowed Jae’s voice to pop. I thought the ‘Warning’ (sung by Dowoon, according to comments on YouTube) was highly appropriate and what I had expected with a song titled as so. The execution of the vocals and melody was also well done. (9/10)

2. Shoot Me (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Shoot Me. (10/10)

3. Somehow (어쩌다 보니) – The presence of the keyboard throughout the song what drew me to the song initially. Despite that, the song can be described as a breakup song with an intense rock instrumental. The build-up to the chorus was spectacular and this can be attributed to the presence of the drums (which was amazing throughout the entire song). The bridge brought everything down, which was rather interesting in my opinion. It cuts the intensity, providing some relief and gives a moment of fragility to the song, which in turn compliments the lyrics (though I am not sure if this is its intention). (9/10)

4. Feeling Good – Feeling Good tones down the explosive nature seen in each of the three preceding songs, opting for a much more poppy and brighter instrumental. There is also an experimental nature within its sound, which I thought worked really well. The atmosphere that came off from the song was rather positive, which makes it quite attractive. I liked the catchiness of the hooks, which makes it become an addictive side track to listen to. I also liked the ‘zap’ into the chorus. While this is just a small detail within the song, it definitely goes a long way for me. (9/10)

5. Talking To (혼잣말) – Talking To felt retro to me. Not sure if it is even a valid description to the song but I thought that was the case with the hollow/echo-y effect placed onto the vocals at the start. I really liked the inserts of background vocals throughout the verses, which felt cool. I also thought it was interesting how this was the only song with rapping in it, which was decent sounding. Standout vocals from Jae, particularly during the bridge. Other than that, I thought the song could have benefited from a more exciting drop. But it still a good song. (8/10)

6. Still (원하니까) – At first, I had my doubts about the song but with multiple listens afterwards, it turns out to be a quite beautiful sounding song. Still is the closest song to a ballad. It reminds me of some of the songs from their monthly project last year. The emotions could be felt via the vocals. I thought the instrumental was well balanced and didn’t overpower the vocals (which were amazing). Its calm nature ended the album on a good note. (8.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.9/10

day6-shootmep1-3 — *DAY6 Shoot Me: Youth Part 1* Teaser Image

[Album Review] Something New (3rd Mini Album) – Taeyeon (SNSD)

July 3, 2018Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged SNSD, Taeyeon (SNSD)2 Comments

Apologies for the lateness of this album review. I am still trying to catch up with some of the albums from a few weeks ago and keeping up to date with some of the latest albums. But we are here for Taeyeon! The vocalist released ‘Something New’ two weeks ago, along with her 3rd mini-album, which shares the same name as the title track. I have noticed that some people have been searching the site for this review, so I bumped its release to be a little earlier than what I had planned. So let’s not waste anymore time and get the show on the road!

taeyeon-somethingnew-2 — *Something New* Album Cover

1..Something New (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Something New. (8/10)

2. All Night Long (저녁의 이유) (ft. Lucas from NCT) – The pop-reggae song opens up with Lucas rapping, following with Taeyeon singing the rest of the song. It is here where I get a bit of Where Is The Love (by Black Eye Peas) vibes and this stays throughout the song. I personally liked the chorus of the song, which has this bright and upbeat feel that makes me sway along to the beat of the song. It also makes you feel good, which is amazing (considering how stress I have been the last few days). Taeyeon’s vocals shine here as well, especially the high note at the end. (9/10)

3. Baram X 3 (바람 바람 바람) – Baram X 3 has this upbeat feel that you won’t get anywhere else on this album. And for that, the song does standout quite a lot. I thought the horns used in the instrumental for the track really gave the song that pop, which makes it stand out even more. The chorus was super catchy, especially how she sings the Baram Baram Baram with a lot of enthusiasm, which gets the listeners interested. (9/10)

4. One Day (너의 생일) – The song opens up with instrumentation (xylophone or triangle?) that has a really nice twinkling effect. It sets the tone for the song and instantly sets you to a calm mode, which I really like. Other than that, Taeyeon manages to show off her vocals throughout the song, which isn’t any surprise. However, it sounds so nice. It is a nice song to have a stroll to. The English line that starts off the chorus is surprisingly catchy, sticking in my head for a very long time after the song ends. (9/10)

5. Circus – With a title like this, I expected the song to be have some fun vibes. Instead, the song takes a ballad approach. And while this wasn’t to my expectations, the song is definitely show-stopping enough. Its very simple instrumental, consisting of piano and percussion makes you feel like you are alone with her on a very beautiful starry night. Her vocals were exceptional, to the point where when I listen to the song, I can’t do anything but take a moment and listen to its entirety. It ends the album on a truly beautiful note and is easily a song that I do end up going back for more. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 9/10

taeyeon-somethingnew-3 — *Something New* Teaser Image

[Album Review] The Story of Light EP. 03 (6th Studio Album) – SHINee

July 1, 2018July 1, 2018Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged SHINee1 Comment

Over the last few weeks, SHINee have been releasing segments of their 6th Studio Album, The Story of Light, as a unique form of promotions. Each of these segments featured a couple of songs and their own title tracks. EP. 01 featured Good Evening, while EP. 02 featured I Want You. EP. 03 is the final segment, featuring Our Page and is the final installment of their latest album. I have linked my album reviews for the first two segments below, so you can read them if you have yet to before we get started on the final part.

[Album Review] The Story of Light EP. 01 (6th Studio Album) – SHINee
[Album Review] The Story of Light EP. 02 (6th Studio Album) – SHINee

SHINee-thestoryoflightep03-2 — *The Story of Light EP. 03* Album Cover

1..Our Page (네가 남겨둔 말) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Our Page. (10/10)

2. Tonight – I really liked the piano that was repeated throughout the ballad. It really sets the tone of the song, creating a nice atmosphere for the song, which reflects well with the lyrics of remembering a lover who had left them. The song zones into the vocals, who each do a wonderful job at delivering the lines. While the raps do feel like very standard KPOP raps, they fit extremely well into the song and gives the song a little more interesting notes in order to keep the song from becoming that repetitive ballad that you would get bored of easily. Tonight won’t be one of those and I am extremely glad for that. (9/10)

3. Retro – Retro is a very unique song which takes on a jazzy type of song. I liked the upbeat vibes from the song, which does set it part from the rest of the admittedly depressing feels that this section of the album present. I thought the chorus was nice, with the ‘Emotional motional mo motional‘ line being my absolute favourite in the entire track. I thought the vocals were really nice but the raps felt very underwhelming. Overall, it was a nice track overall. (8/10)

4. I Say – This is another song that focuses right on the vocals of the group. It takes a classical approach to the ballad genre, which you know that I am a major fan of. What I like about the song is that they manage to change up each section of the song (i.e. verse, chorus etc.) allowing the members to buildup the song with their vocals alongside the instrumental. While that is expected in most songs, it is much more noticeable with a classical-based instrumental. I really liked it how they sing together towards the end and the harmonies at the 1:50 mark of the song really got my attention. This is probably one of their best works on the album. (10/10)

5. Lock You Down (Special Track) – Catching most fans (including myself) offguard, the song features the vocals of the late Jonghyun, who passed away at the end of last year. And while the song is quite lively and upbeat, it is really nice to hear him alongside his bandmates for one last time. Moving back to the song, the rap sequence and the chorus was definitely my picks for highlights of the song. The opening rap sequence was really attention-grabbing but its effect was far greater when it appeared midway into the song. The chorus, especially the falsetto vocals, and the ‘Run Run Run‘ hook was superb. The ending was an equally awesome section as well. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 9.2/10

SHINee-thestoryoflightep03-3 — *The Story of Light EP. 03* Teaser Image

[Album Review] Square Up (1st Mini Album) – BLACKPINK

June 28, 2018June 28, 2018Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged BLACKPINKLeave a comment

It has been a very long wait for fans but BLACKPINK has a mini-album under their name! Woo! With multiple digital hits, BLACKPINK have gone past the level of success which their previous hits have reached with their latest title track, DDU-DU DDU-DU. Many records have been broken by the ladies themselves with this comeback. So without waiting any further, here is my review of their Square Up mini-album.

blackpink-squareup-2 — *Square Up* Album Cover

1..DDU-DU DDU-DU (뚜두뚜두) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of DDU-DU DDU-DU. (10/10)

2. Forever Young – Opening up the song is Jennie, whose voice in this song reminds me of CL a lot. The song ended up being quite memorable, with a catchy beat and vibrant sound. The song feels very Summery, which would make sense with its youthful lyrics. The vocals and rapping were quite cool. And for that, the first two minutes of the song becomes quite memorable. The only issue I had with the song was the last minute. I think it could have been a song on its own and created this massive mismatch with the sound/vibe that came off the first two minutes of the song. It did bring the members together as a closer but it just didn’t feel right. (8/10)

3. Really – Really has a very simple R&B/hip-hop beat and hook, which makes me hear the song as ‘standard’. As a result, it doesn’t really hit the mark or feel that memorable. The vocals and raps were nice but not exactly their best. The raps attempted to give the song some texture but sadly I don’t think it was enough to make me fall for the song, like what the other songs on the album did. Personally, I think it is their weakest track on the album and in their portfolio. (6.5/10)

4. See U Later – I really liked how the song started for some unknown reason. I cannot pin the reason why but it set the verses up for success. And they delivered as a result. The verses had this bright feeling to them which made them pop out for me. But what was unexpecting was the chorus’s drop, which also included a drop in the tone and entrance into a more serious hip-hop domain. But it works wonderfully. The raps and vocals were awesome. Best part of the song has to be the sassy ending. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.3/10

blackpink-squareup-3 — *Square Up* Teaser Poster

[Album Review] This Is Us (11th Mini Album) – BTOB

June 24, 2018June 25, 2018Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged BTOBLeave a comment

BTOB recently made their comeback with their 11th mini-album, This Is Us. It features a total of 7 songs in total, including the title track (Only One For You) and the pre-release single (The Feeling). While the title track was described as a follow to their vocally-centred Missing You comeback last year incorporated with a Summer feel, the rest of the mini-album shows a variety of different genres that show off different sides of the group. So scroll down below for the review of each track on the album!

btob-thisisus-2 — This Is Us Album Cover

1..Call Me – Starting off the album is Call Me, which I can easily describe as a great opener to the album. The entire song had this ‘party hype’ vibe to it. It did start off a little slow, however once Ilhoon’s rap appeared in the first verse, the song instantly becomes so much better. I really enjoyed the chorus, with the great vocals during the first half and the unexpected trumpets which gave it a nice touch. The ‘Come and join your part, you’re the one and only’ hook was addictive. I thought the vocals and rapping were great. Combining that with the overall atmosphere I got from the song, this was easily one of the best songs on the album. (9/10)

2. Only One For You (너 없인 안 된다) (Title Track) – Click here for the full review of Only One For You. (8.5/10)

3. Yeah – The song had a nice laid back type of feeling to it, which made it easy to listen to. It also incorporates a summery feel to the song, which results in some brightness. Overall, I wouldn’t say the song was exactly memorable but it was still decent. The vocals were good but they weren’t amazing, like other songs on the album. Instead, the rapping here was component I liked best in this song. Likewise, I thought the xylophone was quite cool, just the rest of the instrumental felt lacking. (8/10)

4. Blue Moon – The song is the jazz central of the album. Compared to the previous songs, there was a hint of seriousness, which I thought was rather interesting. Despite that, the song maintained it upbeat-ness, with the instrumental described as groovy. I enjoyed the piano instrumental break and I thought the rappers incorporated their sections very creatively into the song. Vocals were amazing. But I think the winning component/moment in this song is the final chorus, which layered everything from vocals, raps and instrumental into a ‘show-stopping’ moment for the entire album. (9.5/10)

5. Icebreaker (Rapper Line) – This is a fun sounding track that is full of energy and brightness. While that is usual mechanism of getting me to enjoy the song, there is a few things that do stand out that you don’t think too much of. Firstly, I liked how the 3 members evenly participated in the songs (usually they are given one small section or one member outweighs the other two in terms of lines). I thought the hip-hop vibes in the chorus were nice. And it was expected that clean delivery of their lines, given their past works. Secondly, the best part of the song is unexpectedly Peniel, who usually is the member who is under appreciated in their group. His section was good and the little monologue at the end was hilarious. It gave the song a unique and standout moment. (9/10)

6. 1,2,3 (BTOB-Blue) – While the rappers got their own song, I am glad the vocal line of the group also got their own song. It is a R&B song that showcases their husky vocals (which, at times, felt almost like a whisper). Not sure of that repetitive synth in the background, which felt like it was depressing ‘Uh, Uh, Uh’. It did give an interesting texture to the song but it did get annoying towards the end. I personally felt like the song was so soft that you can easily miss the track. But other than that, it was a nice song to listen to. (7.5/10)

7. The Feeling (Pre-Release Track) – This song was released a week prior to their official comeback. It takes the form of a ballad but it has a modern/non-traditional instrumental and is upbeat in terms of tempo. What makes this track standout even more is the great vocals and rapping. It is another track that is pleasant and ‘easy on the ears’. I liked the silence during the song verse for the rapping and how all the members came together for the final chorus, which rounded out the song nicely. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.5/10

btob-thisisus-1 — *This Is Us* Teaser Image

[Album Review] Beauty & the Beat (1st Mini Album) – LOONA yyxy

June 19, 2018June 19, 2018Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged LOOΠΔ, LOONA, LOONA yyxyLeave a comment

Wrapping up LOONA’s pre-debut project is LOONA yyxy, which is the subunit of the 12-member group, made up of Yves, Chuu, Go Won and Olivia Hye. Beauty & the Beat is their first mini-album and presents us with love4eva as the main title track. I thought that I shouldn’t avoid this particular album, especially with the quality of LOONA’s predebut solo exceeding my debut when I reviewed them a few weeks ago (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4). So here is my album review for LOONA yyxy’s first release.

loonayxyy-beauty&thebeat-2 — *beauty&thebeat* Album Cover

2. love4eva (ft. Grimes) (Title Track) – Click here for the full review of love4eva. (8.5/10) (I have noticed some issues with this particular review – spelling mistakes, missing performance review and incorrect member identification. I will fix it as soon as possible. Just feeling a little ill today so I will try to do it tomorrow).

3. frozen – The song (and the verses overall) focused on a softer sound while the chorus takes a more explosive approach, where the latter was my favourite sections of the song. Honestly, the thing you think of every single time you hear the song is how these two polar-opposites manage to go together. However, you remain surprised that it works each time. The contrast between these two makes the song interesting. I also liked the vocals, with certain moments (such as the high note) showcasing their abilities. The rap-speak right after the high note was a smart way of delaying (and creating suspense) to the final chorus. Overall, a very enjoyable song. (9/10)

4. oneway – This song is a ballad which was apparently on hold for a May 2019 release (according to the teasers) for LOONA the Ballad. It is unknown why they released early though but I am glad it does. Like the previous track, it also presents their vocal capabilities. The instrumentation felt very typical of a classically styled ballad however it did give the song a very grand feel. Overall, I felt the song was a little dry for my liking but its elements allowed it to stand out. (7/10)

5. rendezvous 18.6y – Finishing off the album is a retro-like sound, which I thought was a little odd at first. I don’t know but the song felt a little out there. However, it is one of my favourites off this album. Their vocals weren’t exactly the strongest here, however, there was this youthful element which really made the song sound light and sweet. The instrumental was nice and had a lively feel. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.1/10