Album Reviews – Page 44

[Album Review] Universe (6th Mini Album / 2017 Winter Album) – EXO

January 3, 2018January 3, 2018Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged EXOLeave a comment

Welcome to the first album review of 2018 and we are starting off with the last major release of 2017. EXO returned on the 26th of December with their 2017 Winter album, Universe, which has become the fourth Winter album release of the band. The track has yet to be performed on any of the weekly music shows but was performed at the MBC Music Festival that occurred on the 31st of December. This album has caught me off guard with its high quality and has officially become one of my favourite releases of 2017. Scroll down and read the review to find out why I think so!

1 & 2. Universe (Korean and Chinese Versions) – Click here for the full review of Universe. (10/10)

3. Been Through (지나갈 테니) – To me, this is the best song on the entire album. It grabbed my attention from the very start with its addictive nature and the overall aesthetics of the song. The vocals were really smooth, with some of the members using a huskier voice. The use of their voice has an added layer of percussion after the chorus added a nice touch and ‘o-whoo’ was oddly fascinating. The song had a nice launch into the chorus and it leaves you breathless. The instrumental was a show-stealer with its hollow effect and sounds. (10/10)

4. Stay – The song starts off like a ballad but it slowly builds up to something quite upbeat. In a way, this make the song unique because it still manages to hold back its energy and not overwhelm the listener with too much energy. The song has extremely strong chill vibes. The speed of the rap sequences contrasted with the mid-tempo pace of the song but I felt the autotune was unnecessary. The way the song ended with the ‘Stay’ sung by Suho, accompanied by the piano, was haunting but well done. (9/10)

5. Fall – Fall features a guitar dominate instrumental. There were a few subtle synths thrown into the song around the rap part and they surprisingly fitted in well with the song. Once again, the vocals and raps were on point. The chorus was probably the main highlight of the song with its dramatic ‘Fall’ repetition (also my favourite part of the song). The addition of the ad-libs in the second and third choruses kept the song from getting too repetitive. (9/10)

6. Good Night – This is the least interesting song on the entire album. But that being said, it is still a decent song to listen to. It is a soothing ballad, with all the members singing and shining in the song. The ad-libs that were layered on top of the main vocals of the song gave the song a more artistic twist. (8/10)

7. Lights Out – EXO ends their album with the vocals of 4 members (Suho, D.O, Chen and Baekhyun). The song does feel a little stagnant as the instrumental doesn’t really develop in any way. However, the vocals were the main driving force of the entire track. The falsettos which made up the chorus really gave the song some character, while the slight use of the choir in the background made the song feel more intense and aesthetic. Overall, it was a breathtaking song. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 9/10

exouniverse — *Universe* Music Video Screenshot

[Album Review] Going Seventeen (3rd Mini Album) – Seventeen

December 27, 2017December 23, 2017Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged SEVENTEENLeave a comment

Welcome to the final album review of 2017. While there was one major release yesterday, I am currently on holidays and bulk wrote many of the reviews released this week. You will see that particular album review next week, so please be patient. I thought it would be nice to go back in time to one year ago (December 2016) when Seventeen made their comeback with Boom Boom. That was the title track of Going Seventeen, the focus on today’s review.

goingseventeen17-2 — *Going Seventeen* Album Cover

1. Beautiful – The track features Joshua, Hoshi, Mingyu, DK, The8 and Dino. It is an upbeat track that displays vibrant energy and feels great as a Summer track (despite it being released in Winter). I think all the members that featured in the song showcased their vocals and rap skills very nicely. It was quite catchy to listen to. (9.5/10)

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

3. Highlight (Performance Unit) – The Performance Unit ended up releasing a music video for this track and ended up redistributing the lines for the entire Seventeen group to perform on stage. I like the mixture of pop and EDM, which allowed the Performance unit a chance to showcase more of their individual talents (including the dancing and the vocals). The drop made it epic and a standout. I usually don’t like autotune but whatever they were singing during the chorus, it sounded amazing. (9/10)

4. Lean On Me (기대) (Hip Hop Unit) – I liked how each member opened the song up with one line by singing (and this was seen a few more times throughout the song). I also liked how harsh Wonwoo’s raps sounded despite the song being more along the lines of RnB and featuring a jazzy instrumental. Mingyu’s vocals for the chorus were fresh, while Vernon’s part during the bridge gave the song some edge. It has head-bopping potential and extremely appealing. (8/10)

5. Fast Pace (빠른 걸음) – This track features the entire group. The song aims to go for a more mature sound with a strong impact from the very first second. Wonwoo’s intro and Mingyu’s 24/7 lines were the two that I remember strongly. The raps were perfect but I felt the vocals could have been huskier to make it even more sensual. (9/10)

6. I Don’t Listen (몰래 듣지 마요) (Vocal Unit) – Structurally, this is a very interesting song. Jeonghan and Joshua have softer vocals, so they had a soft instrumental to compliment the vocals. DK, Woozi and Seungkwan have more powerful vocals and they complimented the louder and more powerful instrumentals. I thought that was an example of good production. Naturally, the emotions could be felt flowing from their vocals and the ad-libs were amazing. (9/10)

7. I Don’t Know (글쎄) – This particular song featured S.Coups, Jeonghan, Jun, Wonwoo, Woozi, Seungkwan and Vernon. I enjoyed the subtle guitar in the background and ‘Woo Woo Woo’ in the chorus. The contrast between verse and chorus, in terms of intensity, was appealing. It just didn’t seem as memorable as their other tracks on the album. (8/10)

8. Flower Smile (웃음꽃) – What makes this song memorable is the fact that each member got some time (regardless of length) to show off some of their vocal talents. The chorus is also quite swayable, something I like when it comes to ballads. The emotions come in an overloaded form. What seals the deal for me is the guitar instrumental and the strong harmonies (particularly in the second chorus). (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 9/10

goingseventeen17-3 — *Highlight* Music Video Snapshot

[Album Review] Ego (8th Single Album) – B.A.P

December 18, 2017December 17, 2017Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged B.A.PLeave a comment

B.A.P has returned with their brand new single album, Ego. This is B.A.P’s third comeback of 2017 following Rose and Blue. Thier title track, Hands Up, still follows B.A.P’s traditional fierce sound but their accompanying song on the album feature a somewhat softer sound, making Ego stand out to me. To see more of my review, scroll down below.

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

2. Moondance – Moondance felt like something that would have fitted very neatly onto VIXX’s latest mini album. But here, B.A.P does a wonderful job with the various twist and turns that the song has. I love the pre-chorus, which gives the song only a second to build-up to a very cool and ear-catching chorus. The vocals in the song were quite nice, giving off a very attractive appeal. The raps were also tweaked from the usual fierce style to a slower pace and becoming somewhat sensual. The instrumental is quite ‘lit’ but in a subtle way. (9/10)

3. Think Hole – I love the bass during this chorus and the very soft yet catchy ‘Falling Falling Falling For You’. The contrast between the vocals in this part and the instrumental was a very appealing part of the track for me. The raps and vocals of the members were highlighted to show off their talents and skills in a subtler way (compared to their previous title tracks), which was something I like. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8/10

[Album Review] Moonrise (2nd Studio Album) – DAY6

December 8, 2017December 7, 2017Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged DAY6Leave a comment

After a year of monthly singles, Every DAY6 has come to an end. Every DAY6 is a project conducted by DAY6, where they released two songs on a monthly basis for the entire year. With December finally here, it is sad to say that the monthly expectation for DAY6 has also ended :(. But that being said, DAY6 has left 2017 with two studio albums, Sunrise and Moonrise, both of which features all the songs released in 2017, plus a few extra goodies. For this particular album, I don’t have access to the CD Only tracks (14-18) so I will not be reviewing them.

1..Better Better – Better Better is an ideal way of opening up the album. The song has a really addictive chorus that is definitely able to induce the good old head-bang. The vocals and instrumental of the song gives off an explosive energy, which definitely hypes you up for the songs to come. (10/10)

2. I Like You (좋아합니다) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for I Like You (released in December). (9/10)

3. What Can I Do (좋은걸 뭐 어떡해) – Click here to read the full review for What Can I Do (released in August). (8/10)

4. I’ll Remember (남겨둘게) – This song was part of their September release. It is an interesting track that manages to do a lot. The start of the song gives off the impression of an upbeat song but the vocals bring out a more emotional side of the track. The start had an amazingly powerful guitar and rolling drum beat, something of which I liked. (8/10)

5. Whatever! (놀래!) – Whatever! was released in August. The song is a little plain (due to its lack of memorable moments) but it manages to remain upbeat throughout, giving off fun party vibes. Personally, I think it is a more cohesive track, compared to the main August track, What Can I Do. Pretty cool track. (9/10)

6. Be Lazy – The song had those funky vibes that reminds me of Bruno Mars. The retro chorus made the song extremely fun and the ‘Be Lazy’ part that follows the chorus was quite catchy. Once again, we must praise their vocals and the adlibs especially were on point. (9/10)

7. Hi Hello – Click here to read the full review for Hi Hello (released in July). (9/10)

8. I Loved You – Click here to read the full review for I Loved You (released in September). (8/10)

9. When I Loved Someone (그렇더라고요) – Click here to read the full review for When I Loved Someone (released in October). (9/10)

10. All Alone (혼자야) – Click here to read the full review for All Alone (released in November). (7/10)

11. Pouring (쏟아진다) – Another fast-paced song that goes well with the explosive vocals. There was also a nice incline in the instrumentation at the start of each chorus. However, I am not fond of the bridge as it slowed down the song a little too much for me and broke the flow of the song. (7.5/10)

12. I Need Somebody (누군가 필요해) – I am a major fan of Imagine Dragons and this song had the exact same feel that I would associate with the band. I like the gradual build-up of the song, which creates great suspense towards the second chorus. This makes the song go boom. The whistles before the second chorus were really nice and gave the final moments before that boom a pleasant feel. Overall, another nice song to rock out to. (10/10)

13. I Will Try – I think this is the closest the band has gotten to a ballad. Once again, the vocals are great and very dreamy. The instrumental was quite nice with the soft piano melody. The song gives off a warm feeling, making it suitable for the upcoming cold season. The acapella at the end was extremely unexpecting but their harmonies are amazing and it makes the song even more suitable for the Christmas season (carols anyone?). (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8/10

day6moonrise-3 — *Moonrise* Teaser Image

[Album Review] Basic (6th Studio Album) – Brown Eyed Girls

December 4, 2017December 2, 2017Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged Brown Eyed GirlsLeave a comment

So I have a long list of albums that I wanted to do a review for. And that list just keeps on growing when I remember more artists. So, while I bulk write some album reviews for the next year, I have decided to release a few. Another one or two will be released this month, depending on the release dates to some of the albums for December 2017. The focus of this album review is Brown Eyed Girls most recent release, Basic. It was unveiled at the end of 2015 but didn’t do that well on the charts (from what I could remember). But it is one of their best albums to date (the other is Sixth Sense).

browneyedgirlsbasic-2 — *Basic* Album Cover

1..Time For Ice-cream – I think this is an ideal opener to the album. The jazzy track grabs your attention with its unique sound from the very start. The lyrics were quite suggestive, despite the innocent title misconception. The vocals and raps were good but not impressive. The idea behind the track was good but I just don’t think it was delivered in a favourable manner. (8/10)

2. Warm Hole – Click here to read the full review of Warm Hole. (9/10)

3. Wave – The soft piano and funky instrumental works really well together. I also loved the guitar riffs in the song. I also think this is one of the best tracks, vocally, on the album. The raps were also equally awesome. The combination of everything makes it a track to die for and it remains interesting each time I listen to it. (10/10)

4. Brave New World – Click here to read the full review of Brave New World. (8/10)

5. Obsession – Obsession has a nice Latin influence that sounds extremely seductive. This statement is the most applicable to the song’s rap section. The harmonies were on point and JeA does the bridge justice. The song just doesn’t feel grand compared to some other tracks on the album. (7/10)

6. God Particle – With the start of the album focusing on darker and serious sounds, it is nice to see a brighter song, giving the album a ‘breath of life’ of some sort. I really liked the bold instrumental, which consists of drums and horns. The vocals and raps were amazing. Miryo gave the track a more retro feel. The best part was the ending, with the ad-lib and cymbals. (9/10)

7. Light – Light is a ballad with a hip-hop twist, given Miryo’s rap. Out of all the tracks on the album, their vocals are the best in this song. The song is quite uplifting and the chorus itself felt like the light at the end of a dark tunnel, making it the most impactful song on the entire album. (10/10)

8. Atomic – Returning to the brighter side of the album, Atomic feels extremely retro and I felt that it could have easily passed off as a song on the Hairspray (‘70s) with its showtune sound. Vocal work here is quite nice and it was extremely catchy. The track itself had a ‘dynamite’ moment with the ad-lib at the end of the track. (9/10)

9. Dice Game – I admit the Spanish flare was extremely strong in this track and the vocals were quite nice. But sadly, I am not keen on the track, particularly the autotune in the background during the chorus. Also, the rap section felt skippable, as with the rest of the track. (6/10)

10. Fractal – The ballad and guitar-based instrumental made the track sound quite beautiful. The vocal sand harmonies in the track were also quite delightful. The only issue with this track is the abrupt ending, which meant the entire album ended on an abrupt note. But overall, still, a nice track to listen to. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.5/10

browneyedgirlsbasic-3 — *Basic* Teaser Image

[Album Review] W, Here (1st Mini Album) – NU’EST W

December 1, 2017November 30, 2017Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged NU'EST, NU'EST WLeave a comment

Slowly getting around to doing some more album reviews that I thought I should have done but missed because of my heavy study load. I think I am only doing 2 (this one and another one at a later date) because December is gearing up to be a busy month. NU’EST W’s first major release, W, HERE, was released in October and earned them their first win in their career! Congratulations! It goes to show how exponential their growth has been in the last few months. But as you may know, this is an album review, so let’s start cracking.

1..My Beautiful – To me, this track felt one of those upbeat ballads. But it was still relatively slow. It is the one track that I didn’t really care for on this album, due to its lack of colour. There didn’t seem to be much of a build-up, resulting it in remaining in a neutral stance. Vocals and raps were okay but they aren’t really showcased in the track. (6/10)

2. Where You At (Title Track) – Click here for the full review of Where You At. (8.5/10)

3. Paradise (Ren Solo) – Paradise is the first of the four tracks that start displaying the solo capabilities of each member, which I think it is a very smart move by the producers/company. I have never paid much attention to Ren, so I don’t know how he fared in the past. However, this solo track does a good job at highlighting his vocals. It was a nice pop song with a great buildup. The drop was just underwhelming and this had a negative impact on the track, in my opinion. (7/10)

4. Good Love (Aron Solo) – Good Love is a RnB track that is overloaded with synths. I like how the chorus becomes fast pace, giving the song some contrast with the slower verses. I also really like how he delivered his lines in the track, particularly that section mid-way through the song. Overall, the track was quite enjoyable to listen to. (8/10)

5. With (JR Solo) – Those who know me knows that I am not much of a fan of rap songs. But JR’s track is super cool. He starts off by whispering his lines, creating suspense. I really like the piano in the background and alongside JR’s rapping, the song becomes interesting and impactful. The chorus gives it a more epic feel. The only negative about the song has to be its length. (9/10)

6. Thankful For You (지금까지 행복했어요) (Baekho Solo) – Baekho is the main vocalist of NU’EST and like most main vocalists, he goes down the ballad route. But it is a really good ballad. At first, I thought the song would not really get anywhere and remain neutral. However, once the song hits the bridge, the violins did an amazing job at picking up the song. Baekho does a pretty good job as well, incorporating his emotions into his vocals, giving off a heartfelt appeal. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.75/10

nuestwwhere-3 — *Where You At* Music Video Image

[Album Review] Fall in Lovelyz (3rd Mini Album) – Lovelyz

November 29, 2017November 27, 2017Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged LovelyzLeave a comment

For the past few months, I have noticed my album reviews have been mainly focused on male groups. To change up, I have decided to look into more girl group albums. Preferably the latest albums, however, I do intend to revisit some past albums from previous years as well. I started with Red Velvet’s Perfect Velvet and now I am moving onto Lovelyz’s latest release. Once again, I have decided to omit the introductory track, Spotlight, from this review.

lovelyzfallininlovelyz-2 — *Fall In Lovelyz* Album Cover

2. Twinkle (종소리) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Twinkle. (7/10)

3. Triangle (삼각형) – The electronic components of the song give it that quirky yet intriguing side, making it fit perfectly into the typical Lovelyz sound I have associated with them in the past year. They have great hooks, especially the post-chorus parts. The ending is the letdown moment of the track, which ended up feeling forced. But overall, great song. (8.5/10)

4. Just (그냥) – The first thing I noticed when I first listened to this song was the brightness that it presented. The song itself felt like the mixture of the Christmas theme this album had channelled along with their previous title track, WoW! That being said, what makes it an even better track is the unexpected twist and turns it takes. Once again, the ending feels rushed but it doesn’t stop being a track to check out. (9/10)

5. Fallin’ – Fallin’ felt like a ballad to me but it invokes a great sense of nostalgia. Lovelyz’s vocals are a whole seemed to put forward an innocent vibe, which I thought was cute. I like the harp instrumental they used but that random pause in the middle of the song ruined the flow. It does feel a little plain but it was something nice to listen to. (8/10)

6. Secret Garden (비밀정원) – The song starts on a bold note, which is something that makes it stand out. The instrumental is much louder compared to the previous tracks, which give it an explosive nature. I did feel that same energy was lost as the song progressed, which is a disappointment. The vocal work was quite nice and this would be a song that I would love to see a stage performance for. (8/10)

7. Sleepy Dream (졸린 꿈) – Ending the mini-album is Sleepy Dream, which has a nice mixture of orchestra and synths, especially how they use the bells in the instrumental. It sets the song up for the Christmas is coming up soon for everyone around the world. Another great use of vocals and an excellent way to end the mini-album. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.25/10

lovelyzfallininlovelyz-3 — *Twinkle* Music Video Screenshot

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[Album Review] You & Me (2nd Mini Album) – KARD

November 27, 2017November 26, 2017Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged KARDLeave a comment

KARD is back with their most promising release yet. You & Me has managed to wow fans across the world and their entire second mini-album, You & Me, is replicating the same effect. The entire album is so good that I am putting it down as one of the best albums of 2017. More information on that in the coming weeks (winky face). But until then, her is my review of KARD’s latest album release.

1..Into You – The best word I can find to describe this track is ‘epic’. From the dramatic piano start building up to the epic drop that started the chorus. The vocal work performed by Somin and Jiwoo were showcased, while the raps managed to create suspense in the track despite being slow. Regardless of the number of replays, this particular track felt amazing time and time again. (10/10)

2. Trust Me (J.Seph & Jiwoo) – The heavy drum beats that opened the song played throughout the entire song but were a great opening aspect of the track. I thought they were overpowering but it seemed to contrast nicely with the vocals and raps. The vocals were ‘mute’ in comparison but they had a definite haunting vibe. I love how the instrumental remained consistent until the rap came into play and changed up. Big ticks for intensity and leaving me at the edge of my seat. (10/10)

3. Push & Pull – The chorus for Push & Pull feels really catchy and could end up being really iconic. But I feel like the song could have had a more defined drop to make the song even better. The vocal work seemed slow but it ended up complimenting the instrumental. BM’s raps before the 1st and 2nd chorus were awesome. J.Seph’s part was pretty good but he needed something else to separate himself from BM’s raps and keep things from becoming too ordinary. (8/10)

4. Because (지니까) – I thought Because was an extremely powerful track. The vocals were haunting and the raps were, per usual, great. The overlapping of BM and Jiwoo at the end was quite cool. To me, that final part felt like a robot powering down because its battery was flat. It makes sense because the song is in regards to unhappy lovers in a relationship and that effect felt like it symbolises the end of the relationship. (9/10)

5. You In Me (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for You In Me. (9.5/10)

6. Trust Me (BM & Somin) – Compared to the previous version of Trust Me, this track felt slower and more like a RnB track. BM’s raps in this song were captivating and left me speechless the first time around I heard the song. Somin’s vocals were superb and highlighted well in this track. I also enjoyed the ‘Trust Me’ drop that occurred mid-way in the track. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 9.25/10

kardyou&me-3 — Member Teaser Images for *You & Me*

[Album Review] Perfect Velvet (2nd Studio Album) – Red Velvet

November 24, 2017Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged Red VelvetLeave a comment

As previously mentioned, Red Velvet made their return with their 3rd major release of the year. It happens to be in the form of their second studio album to date. Everywhere I look, I actually see so many people saying this album to be this year’s best. I don’t actually agree with that. However, I do think it shows that Red Velvet is willing to venture out into genres/sounds that no other KPOP groups are willing to go. And it lands on my recommended list for a few good tracks.

redvelvetperfectvelvet-2 — *Perfect Velvet* Album Cover

1..Peek-A-Boo (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Peek-A-Boo. (9/10)

2. Look (봐) – Look didn’t seem to climax or reach a peak. But while that could have a major flaw, it somehow becomes a major feature of the track. I thought it was a smooth dance track with strong retro vibes. The bridge felt very Michael Jackson-esque, which I thought was a great highlight for the track. The only thing that has me looking the other way with this track is the repetitiveness. (8/10)

3. I Just – Once again, the track felt repetitive and the bridge pretty much saved the day by changing up in such an ideal way. I thought the first few seconds of the song were quite appealing but since it didn’t progress much, I got tired of it quite quickly. The track seems to be a much slower form of electro-pop, Overall, it didn’t seem to be my cup of tea. (7/10)

4. Kingdom Come – This song combines RnB and pop into one song and it turns out to be quite amazing. The choppy start was quite awesome and the song seemed to incorporate that throughout the song with the drum beat. This track also showcases their vocal skills in the song, bumping it up to becoming one of the best on the album overall. (9/10)

5. My Second Date – My Second Date is an experimental track that manages to take unexpected twist and turns, such as the unexpected EDM chorus. It gives that intriguing element to the song, making it worthwhile listening to. It may require multiple listens to get used to if you want to listen to something a little ‘out there’. (9/10)

6. Attaboy – Attaboy is extremely heavy handed on the hip-hop influences and is dominated by a lot of rap sequences. The vocals give the song much-needed relief. The instrumental is trap based but there is a small part of me that feels it conforms well to the KPOP sound. It isn’t the best track of the album for me but definitely another track to check out if you want to hear something ‘outside the box’. (5.5/10)

7. Perfect 10 – So far we have heard more experimental forms of RnB, Perfect 10 seems to be more of a traditional style of RnB and much slower, might I add. I would like to say the vocal work was great but I felt Red Velvet were more restricted based on the song style rather than skill. There were some trap elements in the background, making the track a little different from other RnB tracks. (8/10)

8. About Love – Not a major fan of this song, as well. It is pretty much a standard song with a jazzy twist. The vocal work pretty made the song, for me. Besides that, I don’t have much else to say. (7/10)

9. Moonlight Melody (달빛 소리) – In the past few reviews, I made several comments regarding ballads ending the album. This is an excellent example of one doing its job at the end of the album. The slower tempo takes things back from the unexpected and ‘crazies’ that featured throughout the album. The track reminded me of One of These Nights, just a lot better. (8/10)

Overall Album Review – 8/10

redvelvetperfectvelvet-3 — Screenshot from *Peek-A-Boo* Music Video

[Album Review] 1-1=0 (Nothing Without You) (1st Repackaged Mini Album) – Wanna One

November 20, 2017November 19, 2017Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged Wanna OneLeave a comment

The highly sold album of the past week is none other than Wanna One’s repackaged album, 1-1=0 (Nothing Without You). From mostly trainees to a chart-topping team, it is truly remarkable of how far they have come. This post is going to be a relatively short one as I have elected to not review the remixes (Track 5 and 6) and tracks 7 to 9 were on their debut mini-album, 1×1 =1 (To Be One). Thus, these tracks will not be used in the ‘overall album rating’ which I put the end of each album review post. Let’s get the show on the road.

nothingwithoutyouwannaone-2 — *1-1=0 (Nothing Without You)* Album Cover

1. Nothing Without You (Intro) – The intro track basically gives you a little taster of the entire album. To me, it drew various parts of the newer songs on the album and presented them in a much shorter format, which makes a lot of sense. It is nice, but it was a rather forgettable part of the album, mainly because of the following track, Beautiful, steals the show as soon as it starts. (7/10)

2. Beautiful – Click here to read the full review for Beautiful. (10/10)

3. I Want To Have You (갖고 싶어) – Continuing the flow of the album thus far, I Want To Have You is another slow dance track, with a few moments that divert away from that direction. Vocally, this is another outstanding effort from the group. I also thought the raps were quite nice, matching well with the ballad-like nature of the song but still maintaining that standard rapping momentum. (9/10)

4. Twilight – Besides the tracks that follow (either remix of their main tracks or tracks pinched from their previous mini-album), this is the closest you get to a dance track. It isn’t that strong of a track, in my opinion. It felt more like a standard pop song. It gives the album some energy and transitions well into the tracks that follow. (7/10)

5 & 6 (Burn It Up Prequel Remix & Energetic Prequel Remix) – Click here for track 5 and track 6.

7 – 9 (Wanna Be (My Baby), Energetic & Burn It Up) – Click here to read full album review for 1×1=1 (To Be One).

8. To Be One (Outro) – They bring it back to the slower side which started off this album with their slowest song yet. It does pick up a bit towards the middle of the raps. It packs a punch and if extended, could have been a decent track to go back to. Also, it closes the album quite nicely, which is the most important job of an outro track. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8/10

nothingwithoutyouwannaone-3 — *Beautiful* (Performance Version) Screenshot (Source: SOOMPI)

[Album Review] The Code (5th Mini Album) – MONSTA X

November 16, 2017Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged MONSTA XLeave a comment

Time to catch up on the backlog of albums that I should have reviewed over the last few weeks. First one up is Monsta X’s The Code, which is their latest release. Their title track, Dramarama, has earned them their first win on a weekly music show a few days ago. On with the review.

monstaxthecode-2 — *The Code* Album Cover

1..Dramarama (Title Track) – Click here for the full review of Dramarama (8.5/10)

2. Now or Never – Now or Never seems to be that track that fits nicely within typical song lineup that Monsta X usually puts out. It has that toughness and intensity that you would associate with the group. It is a pretty standard track for the most part but there were moments when I thought the track was ‘lit’. The bridge added a nice touch to the song as well. (8/10)

3. In Time – In Time is that compulsory ballad that I keep on mentioning. Mixed nicely with it, however, is some RnB, which makes the song feel a lot more emotional. The chimes were somewhat creepy at the start, but they felt like the perfect ending. Overall though, the track does seem like it can easily be forgotten. (7/10)

4. From Zero – The track taps into that tropical house genre that we see in every other release in KPOP at the moment. I love the contrast between the minimal verses to the upbeat chorus, which makes it extremely addictive to listen to. The drop is awesome and I think it is because of that minimal verse that makes the drop sound so much cooler than what it would have been if the verses were not stripped down. (9/10)

5. X – The hidden gem on this entire mini-album. X is everything you would want in a song. Everything felt perfect in the song. From the intensity to the vocals/raps, everything came together to form one damn good head-banging track. I would love to see this performed as the energy that comes off it is something you should not mess around with (10/10)

6. Tropical Night (열대야) – What I love about this song is that chorus. It doesn’t go in that direction that you expect to go from the verse. But it works and it sounds so much cooler than what I had intended. I.M and Jooheon deliver smashing rap sequences that felt just right for such a cool song. (9/10)

7. Deja Vu – Not part of my usual vocabulary, but the best to encapsulate the song is by saying ‘badass’. The chorus was jaw-dropping and like in the past few songs, the rappers were the main highlight. But that doesn’t say that the vocalists didn’t shine as well. Another stand-out track to end the album. Woo! (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.5/10

[Album Review] Teen, Age (2nd Studio Album) – Seventeen

November 13, 2017Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged SEVENTEENLeave a comment

SEVENTEEN is back with their brand new and second full-length album. And I am back with many albums to review, so let’s get cracking. The album, titled Teen, Age, from what I know, leads on from their Al1 comeback earlier in the year. Like previous reviews, I have opted not to write about the respective intro and outro that features on the album.

seventeenteenagealbum — *Teen, Age* Album Cover

2. Change Up (Seventeen Leaders Unit) – Click here to read the full review for Change Up (8.5/10)

3. Without You – The performance of Without You felt like Don’t Wanna Cry 2.0, with many moves reminding of their previous title track. Song-wise though, Without You seems to be a whole different track. It is slower than most of their previous dance tracks. But what I like about this track is the melodies that we find during the chorus but also the balance between intensity, giving room for the Hip Hop unit to do their thing without being limited in any way. (8/10)

4. Clap (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Clap (9.5/10)

5. Bring It (Hoshi, Woozi) – If there was one word to describe Bring It, it would be epic. It touches on a more freakish EDM style, which you can hear in the chorus. The verses were still on point, building hype to the chorus. The combination of Hoshi and Woozi seems to be extremely dynamic in this song and would love to see further works between the two members. I would also love to see a stage performance of this as it would definitely be a standout. (9/10)

6. Dance of Month 13 (Seventeen Performance Unit) – Click here to read the full review of Dance of Month 13 (8/10)

7. Trauma (Seventeen Hip Hop Unit) – Click here to read the full review for Trauma (8/10)

8. Pinwheel (Seventeen Vocal Unit) – Click here to read the full review for Pinwheel (8/10)

9. Flower (Dino, Jeonghan, S.Coups, Seungkwan, The8, Wonwoo) – Flower has a very alluring and striking instrumental which drew my attention from the very start. It has all the elements perfectly aligned with one another to ensure a top quality track. The raps of the song were amazing and the vocals, particularly the chorus, were on point throughout the entire track. (9.5/10)

10. Rocket (Joshua, Vernon) – The combination of autotune and upbeat instrumental seems to go hand-in-hand most of the time. But in this track, they seem to overload the track. Hence, I am not fond of the verses for the track but the more simplified chorus does attract my attention. (7/10)

11. Hello (DK, Jun, Mingyu) – Hello is a sweet confession song that aims to put a smile on listener’s faces. The bright atmosphere that the song gives off is quite strong, going nicely with the presence of DK and Jun. I do find Mingyu’s parts to be a little underwhelming and overshadowed by the vocalists in the song. But it is still a good song to listen to. (7/10)

12. Campfire – Campfire is the most underwhelming song on the entire album. Compared to the rest of the album, it falls short with its sound. It does give off a nice atmosphere and showcases a nice melody to complement the lyrics of the song. Just not my cup of tea. (6/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8/10

seventeenteenagepost — *Clap* Music Video Screenshot

[Album Review] Brother Act (2nd Studio Album) – BTOB

October 30, 2017November 15, 2017Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged BTOBLeave a comment

BTOB has returned with their second full-length album, Brother’s Act, which is based on the movie, Sister Act (starring Whoopi Goldberg). The album returns to the group’s ballad roots that earned them recognition for this vocal and rapping skills, which they previously displayed in their ballad trilogy. And given their performance so far on the charts, this return is much appreciated by fans. Please note that I will not be looking into the Prelude or the Interlude of this album.

btobbrotheractalbum — *Brother Act* Album Cover

2. Missing You (그리워하다) (Title Track) – Click here for full review of Missing You (9.5/10)

3. My Lady – My Lady is one of my favourite tracks off the album. The instrumental is definitely my style of music, so I started liking the song before I started paying attention to the other elements. Vocally (for both the singers and rappers), the song is on point. There was a nice balance between the members and the soft pop instrumental. My favourite parts of the song were definitely the “Give It Up” lines at the start of the pre-chorus and when Peniel started singing his lines. Finally, some light on who I think is probably one of the underrated members of the group. (10/10)

4. Red Lie (새빨간 거짓말) – Red Lie is a track that literally begs their significant other to stop lying to them and just break up because there is nothing more between them. My assumption with the title is the Red Lie is referring the girl’s red lips. The instrumental is quite nice, with the guitar giving the track a little colour and avoiding the ‘typical’ ballad trap. I would like to see them perform this song, as well. The upbeat instrumental of the chorus makes me very curious about that accompanying dance that they could add in alongside the song. (9/10)

5. Blow Up (신바람) – You can always expect BTOB to throw something quirky in the mix. Their performances for Blow Up were amazing. It is exactly what I would have expected if their personalities off stage and their music clash. Blow Up is the party track that definitely gets the party started. It is also a nice change for the album, which places a great focus on ballads and softer forms of music. (9.5/10)

7. Na Na Na (나나나) – Catching me off guard with this song is the fabulous intro that Sungjae delivered through his vocals. His vocals are so fitting for this song. Nonetheless, the other members do a great job but the real winner has to be Sungjae in this song. The song is essentially that Autumn track that you would listen to while having a walk in the park. And it is also a great track to sway along to, especially with that consistent thumping and guitar strumming instrumental. (9/10)

8. Dream (꿈에) – While it is good music, Dream fits right in with that typical ‘ballad’ stereotype. It is the one track on the entire album that I thought they could have spruced it up a bit. Most likely they composed the song that way to mimic a lullaby, but to me, it is the weakest song on the album. That being said, the vocals do add an element of appeal to the song. It is the raps that I thought were a little awkward for the song. (6/10)

9. Guitar (Stroke Of Love) – For a song with the title “Guitar”, there isn’t that much guitar in it. Until I looked into the lyrics and realized that they weren’t really talking about the instrument. Instead, the lyrics a little suggestive. Okay, not a little. They were downright sexual and it was not a misunderstanding scenario. “I’ll hit that G precisely, We’ll be making sweet music tonight, Let your neighbours know your name right now”. But musically, it is a more upbeat track that gives you some relief from the ballads you have been exposed to. (8/10)

10. Running Into Breakup (이별을 만나다) – The song is about when the guy is accepting the fact that they can no longer be together. Running Into Breakup does feel a tad bland in my opinion. But what saves it is the rappers, who display a great example of how raps should be in ballads, along with the swaying element that you probably know I seek in ballads now. (7/10)

11. Fly Away – This particular track is definitely one of the more pleasing tracks on the entire album. There is some warmth that comes from the sounds of it. The contrast between the minimal verses to the explosion of sound you get for the chorus was definitely one of biggest highlights of the song. The only thing that I have to say (once again) that does take the appeal away from the song are those autotuned parts at the end of the choruses. (9/10)

12. Finale: Our Concert (Finale: 우리들의 콘서트) – The album ends off with another sweet pop ballad, written for this fans. And it is extremely fitting to end on a more happier note, rather another love story. All the members shine brightly in the song, with the feel of inclusion quite prominent in the song. I love the epic instrumental and that section where everyone is singing in the chorus. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.7/10

btobbrotheractteaser — *Brother Act* Teaser Image

[Album Review] 7 For 7 (7th Mini Album) – GOT7

October 16, 2017October 16, 2017Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged GOT7Leave a comment

GOT7 is officially back with their latest mini-album, 7 for 7. While this is their latest release to date, I have plans (over my Summer holiday) to go back and review some of their past releases (like what I have already done with their Departure album). And this does not apply to just GOT7 but other artists as well!! But until then, here are my thoughts on GOT7’s 7 for 7.

1..Moon U – This particular song can be described a very smooth track, which is perfect for the start of the mini album. And while does sound great with its synth dominating instrumental and the clear vocals/raps, the song is relatively plain. It doesn’t progress much and it did make me yawn a few times. (7/10)

2. Teenager – I’ll admit it, Teenager is not my song style. But I actually think it is one of the few stronger songs on the track. It starts off with the same tempo and smoothness as Moon U but it quickly builds up at the pre-chorus. Once the beat drops for the chorus, a catchy hip-hop beat captured my attention. The vocal parts in the midst of the “You make me teenager” lines by the rappers are probably my most favourite parts of the song. (8/10)

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

4. Firework – Firework is a low-key hit in my books. Everyone sings. And hence it shows off a different side to the group, which has basically been dance and hip-hop centred in majority of their tracks. The sound effects within the song along with the instrumental give the song some momentum. Firework sounds like it should be a song that blows up (pun unintentional) when you listen to it but its subtle nature here makes it a standout instead. (9/10)

5. Remember You – The song centres between a subtle RnB track and a ballad. The vocals were quite good but those raps sounded so dreamy. The song doesn’t really capture my attention. It does feel dry and (once again) doesn’t seem to get far. There was a moment where the song does manage to catch me off guard (i.e. the sudden jumps in the bridge and before final chorus) but they didn’t continue with that surprise and went back to the boring side. (6/10)

6. To Me (내게) – This is where things start picking up, once again. The track could have done with a more interesting instrumental, to be honest. It felt very bland and colourless throughout the song. The vocals and the raps were pretty good, which in turn gave some colour to the song. But I don’t think there was enough to do the track justice. (6/10)

7. Face – They left the best song (besides the title track) to the very end. The song starts off slow but it was temporary. The song manages to launch itself into a strong chorus with a really catchy hook. Like the others, the song manages to show the vocal and rapping talents of the members. Jinyoung and Yugyeom managed to wow me with their vocals in the bridge. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.5/10

got77for7screenshot — Screenshot from *You Are* music video

[Album Review] Rollin’ (7th Mini Album) – B1A4

October 2, 2017Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged B1A4Leave a comment

B1A4 has made their return with Rollin’, which is a shared title between the mini-album and title track. This is my review of their album, which I have been trying to post weekly. Things may get a little funky in the coming weeks, but I will put them out eventually. Now, let’s go on with B1A4’s release.

1..Rollin’ – Click here for the full review of Rollin’ (9/10)

2. You Need Me (너는 내가 필요해) – The group continues their electronic sound with You Need Me. This, though, feels more like a B1A4 song and could have featured on their previous albums. The song;s instrumental is quite intense and gives the song that energetic side, which actually catches on quite quickly. The slowdown for the bridge does take away from that energetic feel, but the contrast was nice. This entire track is a standout on this album. (9/10)

3. Love Emotion – Now, for a much slower song. Love Emotion is more of a RnB track with a synth-based instrumental. Unlike the previous songs, Love Emotion doesn’t really yell out to me and it does get hidden within the rest of the album. To me, it would have done well if it followed a track like Sweet Girl. But here, it just doesn’t stand out. (7/10)

4. Smile Mask – The song features a rock style ballad with a strong pop influence. What makes the song more memorable was the instrumental, which has a few different quirks here and there that keeps the track engaging to listen to. The rough rap from Baro, along with the vocals, do give the track some colour as well. Not too keen on the bridge of the song but everything else was fantastic. (8/10)

5. Call Me (내게 전화해) – Another track that does seem to get forgotten in the midst of the other songs. The track has a more subtle instrumental, which does contribute to its underwhelming sound. And while the vocals/rap try to make up for that with its ear-catching deliver, it just wasn’t enough to get it over the line. (6/10)

6. Like A Child (아이처럼) – The mandatory ballad of all KPOP albums has been chosen to end the album. And while it does sound like I dread it, the track isn’t that bad. The song could have used a stronger chorus as there was practically no difference between the chorus and verses. But vocally, they manage to display their skills throughout the song. It was a very touching song to finish off the album (7/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.5/10

[Album Review] Love Yourself: Her (5th Mini Album) – BTS

September 25, 2017September 25, 2017Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged BTSLeave a comment

BTS has already broken records in just a matter of hours after their comeback, so it only makes sense to have a closer look into their album. And I am not disappointed with Love Yourself: Her. I can definitely see why fans are really into the music, despite it being a changeup. Scroll down for the entire album review. Please note that for certain reasons, I have decided to leave out their skits once again, mainly because they wouldn’t be classified as music.

btslyheralbumcover — *Love Yourself: Her* Album Cover

1..Serendipity (Intro Track) – While the style of the track isn’t to my taste, Jimin (who is the only singer in this track) opens the album with a breath-taking song. His vocals are amazing in this song, with just the first few seconds branding a deep impression into your mind. It is a song that can be very sensual, given the lyrics and overall sound of it. (9/10)

2. DNA – Click here to read the full review for DNA (9/10)

3. Best Of Me – Following DNA is this track. Out of all the tracks on the album, my favourite vote goes to this one. It has a very Western feel to it and I think that is mainly attributed because this is a collaboration between BTS and The Chainsmokers, who happens to be one of my favourite Western artists at the moment. The beat drop is amazing and that “Haru Haru” part just before the drop just takes my breath away. The only word that can describe the instrumental, vocals and raps: perfect. (10/10)

4. Dimple (보조개) – This is probably another hidden gem of the album. The song only features Jimin, Jungkook, Jin and V. And they did a great job with compensating for the lack of rappers in this song. It gave a chance for us listeners to hear something more hearty and wholesome from the vocal line, which was clearly the intended highlight. I really like the instrumental for this track. (9/10)

5. Pied Piper – This is one track to groove to. You can tell that there is a hip-hop influence, but there was also a little bit of funk mixed into it, which made it very interesting (in a good way). It was easy to get lost in this track due to its great melody and rhythm. Both the vocals and the raps for this song were on point. It could have used some speed, but that may change up the song up a little too much. (8/10)

7. MIC Drop – The one track that was influenced by Barack Obama. That must be the first. I wasn’t much of a fan of the song at first but it grew on me. Quite a bit. It isn’t the first song I think of when I want to listen to the album, but who knows what a few more listens can do. The track itself is a hip-hop influenced but with an oriental/Middle Eastern twist to it, which makes it memorable. The rappers steal the show in this track (originally, I thought the vocalists were also in the song, but luckily I fact-checked myself) (8.5/10)

8. Go Go (고민보다 Go) – By now, you can tell that the album has a been given a huge dosage of hip-hop. Go Go continues on and it is another song that I don’t think of when it comes to the album but it wouldn’t mean I would shy away from this song. I saw the performance of the song, which attracted my attention to the song. The chorus was probably my favourite bit of the entire song as it sounds weird (in a good way) but very intriguing at the same time. (8/10)

9. Her (Outro Track) – The rappers take the reins and end the album (“officially”) with another hip-hop based song. The rappers did an amazing job (once again) but I personally think the highlight of this track is the instrumental. It is my style of jazzy music and the raps that lay on top goes really well with it. (8.5/10)

11. Sea (Hidden Track) – Sea is a very deep track. I praised many of the BTS solo tracks in their Wings album for their lyrics and deepness and this is the equivalent of this album. The vocals are beautiful, as usual, and the raps are equally as impactful. But despite the emotion-filled lyrics and vocals, the instrumental was quite calming and interlinked well with each other (9/10)

Overall Album Review – 9/10