TWS is nominated for Best New Male Group, Rising Star and Best Dance Performance – Male Group for plot twist in the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support TWS: byclicking here to vote today. Voting closes on 31 January 2025.
TWS:’ Summer Beat! is next up for an album review. This is the rookie group’s first comeback and second mini-album since their debut in January 2024 with plot twist. Summer Beat! was released back in June and features the title track If I’m S, Can You Be My N?, the pre-release single hey! hey!, and four other side tracks. Like my comments on yesterday’s album review, the start of Summer Beat! was strong and promising, while the mini-album gets slightly weaker towards the end. Had this part of the mini-album been better, I would have definitely recommended Summer Beat!. Continue reading to see if you agree with me.
Summer Beat! Album Cover
1. You+Me=7942 (너+나=7942) – Opening up their second mini-album is a short yet dynamic single. You+Me=7942 has a sing-song melody in its chorus that reminds me of a nursery rhyme. While commonly seen as childish, the robustness of the synth instrumentation ensures the song is everything but that. The instrumentation is fun in its own right, and the combination with that melody comes off as playful. The upbeatness and vocals/rapping make sure You+Me=7942 is a solid opener for the mini-album. (9/10)
4. Double Take – It appears I missed the brief promotion of Double Take, which has its own performance video. It shows a completely different side to TWS, opting for more of a hip-hop motif. It is a funky track, and I have a boogie whilst listening to the song for this review. The “Double Double” hook is very catchy. The only problem I have with the song is that it doesn’t fit the rest of the mini-album. It sticks out (but not necessarily in a positive way). (7/10)
5. KEEP ON (내가 태양이라면) – Pleasant guitars mellows out the synth-pop KEEP ON. I quite enjoyed the light-hearted nature of the song, as well as the nice vocals from TWS. I don’t have much to say about the song other than it is pleasant. For KEEP ON, I mean this positively. (8/10)
6. Fire Confetti – The final song on the mini-album is Fire Confetti. It continues the mellow sound that was visited in the last song. Once again, Fire Confetti has some nice and pleasant vocals from the group. But it features an upbeat mid-tempo instrumentation that feels easy-going and relaxing. Fire Confetti is a nice song to ease out the mini-album. (9/10)
NAYEON is nominated for Best Female Soloist and Best Dance Performance – Female Solo for ABCD in the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support NAYEON and ABCD by clicking here to vote today.
Next up on the album review front of the blog is the review for NAYEON’s second mini-album – NA. This was released back in June 2024, headlined by the single ABCD. Six other songs feature on the mini-album. In my view, NA is a strong mini-album, even though it did weaken towards the end. But this mini-album consolidates NAYEON’s potential as a solo artist. Read on and let me know if you agree with me.
2. Butterflies – Butterflies is an all-English track, tapping into R&B pop territory with a trap-based instrumental. It is an excellent track with a solid beat and vocals from NAYEON. The only thing I wish for in Butterflies is for the instrumental volume to be toned down in the chorus. This will allow us to appreciate NAYEON in Butterflies more. I felt the trap elements, particularly during the follow-through, were a tad overwhelming to my liking. (8.5/10)
3. Heaven (ft. Sam Kim) – Heaven is a mature yet contemporary R&B track. Both NAYEON and Sam Kim work extremely well with one another on the track. It would have been nice for Sam Kim to have a larger feature in this track because he really rocked his part. Between the vocal blending between the two in the choruses, their solo moments and Sam Kim’s backing vocals, Heaven is quite a heavenly track. (9/10)
4. Magic (ft. Julie of KISS OF LIFE) – NAYEON turns to a funkier motif in Magic. The track is a fun and bright upbeat pop song, thanks to the brass, pan flutes and bold beats. It definitely feels summery, and I can’t help but have a boogie when Magic appears on my queue. Julie (from KISS OF LIFE) features in Magic, serving us some really cool raps. Magic is also quite catchy, thanks to the hooks and the all-English lyrics. (9/10)
5. HalliGalli– Produced by AKMU’s LEE CHANHYUK, HalliGalli is the first song since the title track to feature Korean lyrics. It is another song I can’t help but dance to when it appears in my queue. The house beat and squeaky synths make it a fun track, which makes sense since the song is based on a card game of the same name. The entire chorus (the main portion and the follow-through) is super addictive, and NAYEON’s high note just pops. Because of this edge, HalliGalli is a 10/10 in my books. (10/10)
6. Something – For me, Something was a blur. I don’t remember much of it. Even when writing this review, I had to sit down and really pay attention to Something to write about it. It features a fast-paced garage beat, and I liked the guitar work in the background. The bridge provided some good reprieve from the fast-paced nature of the song. I also appreciate the ear-wormy hooks that Something featured. (8.5/10)
7. Count It – NAYEON taps back into R&B for the final song on the album. Her vocals, Count It’s melodies and parts of the instrumental opt for a dreamier vibe, which I enjoyed. But it would have been a successful song had it not been for the clangy and clunky percussion. This disrupted the song’s dreaminess and potential ‘smooth’ nature. (7/10)
RIIZE is nominated for Best Male Group, Best Dance Performance – Male Group for Boom Boom Bass, Best Remixed Track for the Darius remix of Impossible and Best Rock or Band Song for Combo. Support RIIZE and their 2024 releases today by clicking here to vote for them today.
RIIZE debuted in 2023. But it took them almost a year to release their first mini-album, RIIZING, in June 2024. Yup, this review is most definitely long overdue. Amongst some new songs, the mini-album was led by their hit Boom Boom Bass and the pre-release single Impossible. The mini-album also featured the singles Love 119 (an early 2024 release) and Talk Saxy and the full version of Siren (both of which are 2023 releases). The group followed up RIIZING with a repackaged mini-album titled RIIZING: Epilogue and the addition of the single Combo. As this review should have been posted months ago, let’s get right into it!
2. Siren – Siren was originally revealed in a performance video introducing the world to RIIZE in 2023. At the time, the song was only about 1 minute and 17 seconds long. A full version of Siren is included in this mini-album, expanding to about 2.5 minutes. It is a 90s hip-hop style with boom-bap-style drums and strong bass riffs. All of this makes Siren quite upbeat – a constantly on-the-toes feeling and serves as a good introduction to RIIZE’s style and performance skills. Constant appearances on my playlists and recommendations have also made Siren a catchy number. (9/10)
4. 9 Days – What I liked in 9 Days is the bright dance-pop energy in the choruses. This was a memorable aspect of the song – it was super catchy and addictive. The verses and other parts of 9 Days were good, with solid vocals and rapping from the members. But they were not as compelling as compared to the chorus. (8/10)
5. Honestly – We get a smooth R&B pop track in Honestly. It is nice to hear a softer side of the group, and I appreciate the warm vocals that RIIZE bring to the song. However, between the dreamy synths and the trap beats, the instrumental is plain for my liking. (7/10)
6. One Kiss – One Kiss is a mid-tempo pop track with a really pleasant instrumental. It is described as having “majestic strings” and “powerful drums” (according to the article that the Wikipedia page of the album had sourced). The pleasantness can be extended to the song’s melodies and hooks, which exude a comforting feeling and are easy on the ears. One Kiss is a very approachable single overall. (8/10)
Support your favourite KPOP artists, songs and performances in the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards by clicking here to vote today!
Welcome to the new year! Happy 2025 to all! I am still on my break and will be back at the end of the month to post some new reviews. But for the time being, I have pre-written some album and song reviews that should be scheduled for release. But I ran out of time and have been trying to get them ready when I have a strong internet connection. EVERGLOW’s 5th single album, ZOMBIE, led by the title track of the same name are one of those album reviews I wrote ahead of time. This single album was released back in June 2024.
PS. Sorry if this post looks a little awkward. I am also posting this from my phone and not my laptop.
ZOMBIE Album Cover
1. ZOMBIE (Title Track) – Click here for the full review for ZOMBIE. (7/10)
2. Colourz – Colourz brings an explosion of colour and energy to the single album. If you have being reading my blog for some time, you can probably guess (from afar) that Colourz was going to be my favourite, particularly since this was the style of EVERGLOW I was looking for. The energy didn’t need to be as bright as it was for me to like it, but I do appreciate it in Colourz. I love the combination of the brass and hip-hop influences in Colourz. The shouty delivery of some lyrics was also well-suited for the song. (10/10)
3. BACK 2 LUV – Toning it back is BACK 2 LUV, which goes for softer tone instrumentally. There is still a heavy beat to the song, but BACK 2 LUV is incredibly subdued in comparison to the previous song. The song features good vocals from the members. I liked the cutesier tone the chorus has, but there are some other moments in BACK 2 LUV that give the members a chance to show off some of their own vocal colour. SIHYEON and MIA’s vocals in the bridge was amazingly blissful, and I might revisit BACK 2 LUV a few more times after this review just for this bridge. (9/10)
Kep1er’s Shooting Star is nominated for Best Pop Song in the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support Kep1er and Shooting Star by clicking here to vote for them today.
Kep1er’s first studio album, Kep1going On, is up for a review today. It is their first Korean studio album release since their debut in 2022. It features the title track Shooting Star, as well as the Korean versions of their Japanese title tracks Grand Prix and Straight Line. Kep1going On is also the last album release from Kep1er to feature Kang Yeseo and Sakamoto Mashiro, who did not renew their contracts to continue as part of Kep1er and subsequently made their quick debut under the new group MADEIN.
Kep1going On is not the most amazing release ever, but it is honestly what I had expected Kep1er to release. They did blow me away with Shooting Star and one other side track on the album (continue reading to find out which song that is). Following Kep1going On, the group returned as a seven-member ensemble with Tipi-Tap (which I have yet to review).
Kep1going On Album Cover
1. Last Carnival – I wished Last Carnival was a full track and not an intro track. The atmospheric tone and soft EDM instrumentation were amazing. Kep1er’s vocals were stunning throughout, and the pop melodies were a fantastic lead into the title track that follows. (9/10)
3. Curious – Curious is a decent R&B pop song. I liked the energy that most of the track featured and the vocal work in this one. It feels very lovable and cute-sounding, without going overboard in that department. My only gripe is that the chorus should have built on the momentum that came before it. The chorus could have been a little brighter, as well. This would have made Curious more appealing. (8/10)
4. Flowers, Flutter, Your Heart – Kep1er leans more into the R&B territory with Flowers, Flutter, Your Heart. I will admit that the song is more typical. But I really liked the violins in this one. I also enjoyed how engaging both the members and melodies were in the song. Still, Flowers, Flutter, Your Heart is a good example of how doing something really well speaks more volume. (8.5/10)
5. Double Up! – Double Up! changes up the momentum of the mini-album by featuring a groovy deep house instrumentation. And I am digging the instrumentation! I can’t help but have a mini dance when Double Up! comes on. It just has a great party energy that is hard to deny. The trap moments also work well in this song. A stronger hook and melodies could have really boosted the song to 10/10 territory. What we do get is catchy enough, but I think Double Up! could been perfect had these been fleshed out more. (9/10)
6. PUSH BUTTON – I can see PUSH BUTTON being an addition to Kep1er’s lineup of Japanese singles. It has potential to outperform their previous singles, especially if there are improvements to the song. PUSH BUTTON has the mature vibe heard in their Japanese tracks, is more approachable and has a decent ring. It is a bit more elementary and noticeably lacks oomph, but these are the improvements that could see PUSH BUTTON exceed expectations sets by their previous Japanese singles. (8/10)
7. PROBLEM – The 90s retro vibe in PROBLEM sells me this track. Since the album’s release in June, PROBLEM has become my favourite. I enjoyed all aspects of it – vocals, rapping, instrumentation, melodies and hooks. I particularly thought Huening Bahiyyih and Xiaoting’s lines in the verses were amazing. I also enjoyed the R&B turn in the bridge by Chaehyun and Mashiro. A definite recommendation. (10/10)
8. Dear Diary – Given its position on the album and the fact it is titled Dear Diary, I am not surprised that the track is of a slower motif and is dedicated to their fans. The track has a nice, overall. The R&B instrumentation is touching and soothing, while the vocals were appreciatively delicate. Even the rapping was well-thought out and incorporated into the fan-dedicated song. (8/10)
10. Straight Line (Korean Version) – I made promises to review Straight Line before, but never got around to it until today. I personally liked Straight Line as a track. But there is a lot going on, and I can see why many people may think the song is overwhelming. It is a blend of genres and influences – Latin-influences, hip-hop, R&B and probably a few more. While the track attempts to hold itself back from being overwhelming by keeping the vocals and melodies ‘consistent’, the sheer number of changes the song go through doesn’t help. That being said, there are some good moments in Straight Line. So, perhaps the producers should have stuck to a just a few style (or each separately) to help Kep1er shine. (7.5/10)
SUHO’s 1 to 3 is nominated for Best Music Video in the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support SUHO’s 1 to 3 music video in the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards by clicking here to vote today!
SUHO’s 1 to 3 is the next album on the reviewing block. He returned with the mini-album in May this year with the title track of the same name. It also features the pre-release of Cheese (which featured label mate WENDY from Red Velvet) and 5 other side tracks.
One of the things I realised upon reviewing SUHO’s album is how rock-focused it is. We are not just speaking of the more traditional forms of rock we often hear in KPOP, like pop rock. Instead, SUHO ventures into alternative and indie territory throughout the album, which is always intriguing and exciting. SUHO does such a good job that I recommended 1 to 3 to those looking to satisfy their rock cravings.
1 to 3 Album Cover
1. Mayday – Mayday softly opens the mini-album, speaking to the idea of looking for someone you thought was on the same path as you. The song taps into the alternative rock genre, with the official description describing it as a ‘dreamy psychedelic’. I liked how approachable Mayday is with its soft aesthetic, easing us into the mini-album. The song’s soft nature also applies to SUHO’s vocals, which are so delicate. But this delicateness gives us that emotion the song’s message wants to convey. (8/10)
4. Wishful Thinking – Wishful Thinking is an intriguing song. The verses feature some groovy yet hushed vocals that appeal to me instantly. But then comes brief and harsh guitar work that shocks the system and breaks up those hushed vocals. The second time it shows up, it generates momentum towards the chorus. But when the choruses comes, SUHO returns to hushed vocals but also makes sure to give it a beautiful twist by smoothing out the melodies. The song doesn’t maintain any particular momentum until after the second chorus, where Wishful Thinking starts to wrap up and ends abruptly (which you may know is not my ideal way to finish a song). (9/10)
5. Moonlight – SUHO continues his exploration of rock with an indie number. Moonlight is a refreshing song for a few reasons. His vocal delivery is very different yet fun, compared to the other songs. The melodies and energy are more cheerful, which had me vibing along. He opts for a ukulele as the primary instrument, which is a unique choice. Moonlight isn’t my usual cup of tea, but I liked it nonetheless. (8/10)
6. Alright Alright (ft. Giriboy) – Alright Alright brings funky rock to the mini-album. And the funkiness and catchiness of Alright Alright makes it a hard song to turn away from. The instrumental gives me surfer vibes, ideal for someone looking to kick it back at a beach this Summer (like me). SUHO’s light yet fulfilling vocals are amazing, and GIRIBOY’s rap fits in perfectly. (10/10)
7. Zero Gravity (무중력) – Wrapping up this seven-song mini-album is Zero Gravity, another alternative rock song. The first verse had me thinking the song was leaning into the balladry side. Beautiful instrumentation and vocal work here. But Zero Gravity picks itself up once it gets to the chorus and maintains that energy into the second verse. Both the instrumentation and SUHO’s vocals remain beautiful and approachable. I really liked the flow of the chorus, which felt like an OST to me, and the passion the bridge exudes. (10/10)
I kick off the new week with another album review—this time for ATEEZ’s GOLDEN HOUR Pt. 1 mini-album. This is their 10th Korean mini-album since their debut, and it features the title track WORK (alongside 5 other songs). GOLDEN HOUR Pt. 1 is a consistent mini-album, ranking in the very good territory (if I had to name the album rating more descriptively). It doesn’t blow me away, but I appreciate the good songs on the mini-album.
More recently, ATEEZ returned with their 11th mini-album, the second part of the GOLDEN HOUR series. It is headlined by the single Ice On My Teeth, so check out the song in its review if you haven’t done so yet.
GOLDEN HOUR Pt. 1 Album Cover
1. Golden Hour – The intro track to the mini-album features a thought-provoking narration that questions the ‘greatest moments’ in life – are they those that are the brightest and most memorable moments, or are they the ordinary moments (for example, a dinner or hearing each other laugh) that you spend with loved ones such as family and friends? The narration is over the top of a soft and paced instrumentation that makes it sound heavenly.
2. Blind – Right off the bat, ATEEZ feels like they are in their wheelhouse in Blind, a track with a fiesta flair to bring out a fun and vibrant sound. The instrumental hits hard, especially with the accordion-like and brass instruments used during the song’s instrumental breaks. The outro also hits hard for similar reasons. Blind also features playful raps from the group, though the vocal work was a bit standard for my liking and didn’t meet the bar that the rest of the song set. (8/10)
4. Empty Box – Empty Box is a softer pop track that I remember for having a soothing effect. While there is a standard trap-like layer in its instrumental, I enjoyed the guitars’ presence, which grounded the song and channelled that already mentioned soothing effect. Vocally, I was very impressed with the huskier tones in the choruses and the breathy delivery the members adopted in the track. JONGHO’s vocals in the pre-choruses were exceptionally stunning, while HONGJOONG’s louder and shoutier raps were an interesting contrast to the rest of Empty Box. (8/10)
5. Shaboom – In Shaboom, we get pronounced reggae in the verses, while the choruses adopt crunchy and textural synths. By the song’s end, we hear Shaboom go fully electronic, retaining the crunchy texture. Altogether, it’s a very intriguing combination that does give me whiplash. But it ultimately works in my mind. JONGHO and the rappers ensure that the ATEEZ roots are kept in the song, though I cannot think of any other artist who would release Shaboom. The soft and elongated ‘Shaboom’ in the background at the start of the choruses is a very unserious detail that gets me each time I listen to the song. (8/10)
6. Siren – Ending the album is Siren, which brings us back to hip-hop and dance territory. While the instrumental does ‘pop off’ with its cool percussion, Siren is the mini-album’s plainest song. But it is definitely the most effective song that didn’t have me umming or uhhing at any point of the song. All the members were super engaging, and I really enjoyed the ‘Ringing siren’ chant at the end, where it goes from whispery to shouty. (9/10)
The next album up for a review on the blog is Xdinary Heroes’ 1st studio-length album, Troubleshooting. This album was released at the end of April and features 10 songs, including the title track Little Things. Xdinary Heroes impressed me with this album, which contains no songs worth skipping. Four songs got a 10/10 rating from me, and no songs went below 8/10. That is impressive and makes Troubleshooting one of the highest-rated albums this year thus far.
More recently, Xdinary Heroes also returned with their 5th mini-album, Live and Fall. I have reviewed the title track Night Before The End. The band has also been releasing monthly singles since June through their 2024 Xperiment Project, such as Love & Fear, Boys Comic, Save Me &iNSTEAD (ft. YB Yoon Do Hyun), all of which also form part of their Live & Fall mini-album.
Troubleshooting Album Cover
1. No Matter – No Matter grabbed and held onto me with its intensity. This is a bold track to start the album and get people hooked to the rest of the album. But Xdinary Heroes nailed it. The band’s rock instrumental was super-duper prolific and energetic, maintaining both a head-banging and foot-tapping (it is hard to not do both!) vibe throughout the song from start to end. Powerful vocals are also in the song to match the intensity and energy (as you would hope). But it also added texture and grunginess to the mix, making No Matter even better. (10/10)
3. UNDEFINED – To me, UNDEFINED starts with a little more pace during the verses and a mysteriousness to its pre-chorus before launching into similar intensity in its chorus as the initial track. Once again, the rock instrumentation was very cool. The drumming gave UNDEFINED suspense and bass, while the electric guitar in the chorus was pure electric. I just think it could have been longer. (9/10)
4. Paint It – Paint It continues the rock intensity coursing throughout the album thus far. It starts off with some fun and playful instrumentation, which the later intriguing and catchy “Ra-pa Ra-pa Ra-pa la-la-la-la” post-chorus hook is layered over. I really liked the playfulness the members added to the song via the different textures and tones they adopted throughout the song. Gaon and O.de pair up to rap alongside one another in the first and last choruses, which were executed well. In place of a bridge, Paint It opts for some guitar shredding and intense rock vibes that just give Paint It even more character and personality. (9/10)
5. Money On My Mind – Xdinary Heroes keeps to a clean and traditional rock profile in Money On My Mind. I like how straightforward the song is, unlike other songs on this album. I liked how the energy never lets up, and the choruses hit the ‘just right’ vibes. The guitar work by Jun Han in the instrumental break was superb, and those ad-libs at the end just give Money On My Mind something a little wild and out-there that fits Xdinary Heroes’ usual style. (9/10)
6. Dreaming Girl (꿈을 꾸는 소녀) – Dreaming Girl speaks of a girl who is struggling to follow her dream, with Xdinary Heroes telling her that everything will be okay and to be persistent with what she wants. It is a comforting song, especially since it has a bit of emotion to it. You can hear it in the music and the heftier atmosphere that the song exudes. The members sound very genuine, and I like this more vulnerable side of the band. (8/10)
7. until the end of time – The band continues exploring their emotional side with this rock ballad. until the end of time is about the feelings upon realising that the promise one makes to be by their partner’s side ‘until the end of time’ is broken. I really love the emotional outpour reflected in both the music and vocals. You can hear the heartbreak and the dwindling hope the promise might be upheld behind the members’ delivery. And it is this that convinces me that until the end of time is another 10/10 ballad under Xdinary Heroes’ name. (10/10)
8. Walking To The Moon – After two vulnerable songs, Walking To The Moon brings a bit of cheer back into the album and puts a smile on my face. There is a slight groove to the song, thanks to the electric guitar and keyboard in the instrumentation. The vocals were awesome, and the energy that came from the chorus was delightful. (9/10)
9. MONEYBALL – MONEYBALL is the song from the Troubleshooting album I see everyone raving about online. And I agree with them. MONEYBALL returns the group’s energetic side and goes hard, particularly in the choruses. The instrumental goes down a prolific rock direction, with the guitars giving MONEYBALL great texture. I like that whispery delivery in the first verse and how it got relatively shoutier in the second verse. The chorus itself was a highlight, with great vocal melodies and the shoutier delivery of the song’s title, which also had me mouthing it alongside them. (10/10)
10. Night of Fireworks (불꽃놀이의 밤) – The final song on the album is Night of Fireworks. And it is another great yet deceiving song since it is a breakup song. Yeah, I regret digging into the lyrics for this one because I feel really wrong for vibing with the instrumentation whilst Xdinary Heroes is singing about their final night with their former lover. But the consistent drumming in the instrumental has just great head-banging energy, and I love the little synth work amid all of the band instrumentation. Another 10/10 for me, despite the bittersweetness Night of Fireworks holds. (10/10)
The next album for review is YOOK SUNGJAE’s single EXHIBITION: Look Closely, released earlier this year. Like standard single albums, this one featured three solo songs, including the title track BE SOMEBODY. This is his first solo release since leaving CUBE Entertainment at the end of last year and signing with iWill Media. He also remains a BTOB member.
2. Without You – While I am not a fan of the consistent use of the metallic twang and similar effects in Without You, the choruses hit the spot for me. The instrumentation was gratifying and reminded me of the early 00s punk rock vibe. YOOK SUNGJAE’s vocals are superb throughout Without You,and I love how prolific he gets during the choruses. (8.5/10)
3. The Ghost – Similar to a recent song review I posted, a full English song from YOOK SUNGJAE was unexpected. But he sounds good in The Ghost. His vocals are a definite highlight and you can feel the emotions. I do think the producers could have gotten more out of YOOK SUNGJAE had The Ghost been in Korean, just for a better connection to what he is singing in The Ghost. The track combines band instrumentation and synths to make a dramatic single. But I think the instrumentation could have felt more polished and refined to hit the nail on the head of the dramatic flair. (8/10)
Overall Album Rating – 8.2/10
Teaser Image for Exhibition: Look Closely / BE SOMEBODY
Just months after it was confirmed that Doh Kyung Soo (otherwise known as D.O from EXO) was leaving SM Entertainment to open his own entertainment company for his solo work (he will still be represented by SM Entertainment for EXO activities), the artist dropped his third mini-album, BLOSSOM or 성장. The mini-album features the pre-release single Popcorn, the title track Mars and four additional side tracks to enjoy. Honestly, there is no bad song on this mini-album, which reconfirms his status and potential to me as a solo artist beyond his group activities with EXO. At the time of BLOSSOM‘s release (May 2024), it was less than a year since Doh Kyung Soo released his second mini-album, Expectation, led by the single Somebody.
This is the final album review I have lined up for my ongoing break (one more pre-planned song review before I am officially back on Wednesday to post the next Weekly KPOP Charts and plenty more reviews coming your way after that!).
2. Simple Joys (우리가 몰랐던 것들) – Simple Joys is a fairly simple song. Doh Kyung Soo delivers easy-on-the-ear melodies, and I enjoyed the upward inflection he uses when he ends some of the words in the lyrics during the verses. The acoustic instrumental features a light Latin influence to them. It follows the same idea of being simple, keeping it subtle yet just noticeable. The flute was also a nice touch and helped tie together the song as a whole piece. (8/10)
3. Popcorn (Pre-Release Track) – Popcorn is a catchy pop track from Doh Kyung Soo. It is a light-hearted track with a memorable ring to it, thanks to the simple melodies, upbeat acoustic instrumentals and the simple utterance of the song’s title, Popcorn, in Doh Kyung Soo’s voice. His vocals are prominently featured in Popcorn and I loved how pronounced they felt in the track. I also highly recommend you watch the music video (see below), as Doh Kyung Soo is playfully cute and embraces himself in the video as he likens his feelings of love to the idea of popcorn. (9/10)
4. Good Night (오늘에게) – Good Night takes the form of a pop ballad. It starts off like a lullaby, complete with a rainy backdrop to make you feel sleepy. But as Good Night progresses, it introduces a heavy beat in the background; the other parts of the instrumentation begin building, and Doh Kyung Soo’s vocals soar. However, that being said, Doh Kyung Soo’s vocals are still soothing and warming throughout the song, and the melodies are still paced enough to get you drifting off to sleep whilst listening to Good Night. (8/10)
5. My Dear (매일의 고백) – My Dear is another acoustically instrumented track, this time with just an acoustic guitar. Doh Kyung Soo’s vocals are charming and warm in My Dear. Just the way he expresses himself, you can tell that he sings about love, and you can feel the giddiness that he feels whilst singing the song. (8/10)
6. About Time (어제의 너, 오늘의 나) – The final track on this mini-album is About Time. It is another pop ballad. You can feel the passion and emotions he puts behind his vocals in this song. The moment he launches into this passionate delivery is breathtaking and captivating. It is the moment I find myself returning to quite a bit, which elicits a listen out of me each time. An easy 10/10 track, in my opinion. (10/10)
ZEROBASEONE is next in the lineup of reviews I have ready to post while I am on a little break before the end-of-year preparations kick in for me. The main focus of this post is their third mini-album, You Had Me At Hello, which was released in May of this year. Led by the pre-release single SWEAT and the title track Feel The POP, the mini-album features seven songs (including a sped-up version of the title track). Overall, it was a fair mini-album.
Since this particular comeback, the group has released their first original Japanese single, YURA YURA (which I will review in the future), and dropped their fourth Korean mini-album, Cinema Paradise (which features the title track GOOD SO BAD).
You Had Me At Hello Album Cover
1. Solar Power – The cool introduction to Solar Power felt like the album was being powered up. It brings quite an edgy energy to the song every time that intro sequence recurs in Solar Power. I quite liked the use of the deeper voices in this track, particularly in this recurring sequence, as well as the hefty beat and the trap elements in the instrumentation. Altogether, we get a cool hip-hop dance track out of Solar Power. I just think the song needed a more vibrant hook. (8/10)
2. Feel The POP (Title Track) – The track has grown on me slightly since I reviewed it. As such, I will be bumping up the song rating for Feel The POP to a 7/10. Click here for my original thoughts on Feel The POP. (7/10)
3. Dear ECLIPSE – Dear ECLIPSE takes us into R&B territory. Great vocals from the members, who fit in well with the R&B genre. The synths used in the instrumental felt quite dreamy, which I put down to how the rounded beat had a bit of a rebounding effect, which helped smooth out the background of Dear ECLIPSE. But while good, the song could have used a rap sequence. This would help cut through the smoothness and dreamy vibes that Dear ECLIPSE exudes, which tends to feel overly consistent. (8/10)
5. Sunday Ride – We turn to an upbeat mid-tempo pop track in Sunday Ride. It has a fun vibe to it. The vibrant energy I feel radiating off Sunday Ride makes me smile. It truly felt like a song you have playing while on a car trip with your friends. The feel-good vocals, the rapping that gives Sunday Ride some oomph and the all-member “Baby Baby” in the chorus were all my favourite parts of the song. (9/10)
6. Hello – The last original song on You Had Me At Hello is Hello, an acoustic guitar ballad. The song itself includes the title of the mini-album in its lyrics. The vocals work was nice, and you could feel the emotions for the fans the members put into Hello. I like the ending, where the powerful vocals suddenly take over before softening to close the song. It is that extra push from the members to make sure their passion (on top of all that emotion already mentioned) is captured in the song. (8/10)
7. Feel The POP (Sped-up Version) – See above for my review for Feel The POP.
Overall Album Rating – 8/10
[Overall album rating updated on 17/11/2024 due to calculation error]
ZEROBASEONE’s group teaser image for You Had Me At Hello / Feel The POP
The next album up for review on my blog is Solar’s 2nd mini-album, Colours, which was released back in April. It features the rock-ballad hybrid title track, But I, the contrasting single Colors (yeah, the spelling between this song title and the mini-album title confuses me) and an additional four songs. It follows on from Solar’s 1st mini-album, 容: Face, released two years ago (but I never got around to reviewing) and led by the single HONEY (which I reference below).
3. Empty (텅) – Empty is a pop ballad Solar had written when she was lonely. The vocals were superb (did you hear that soaring high note and those ad-libs at the end?), and the melodies had this fluttery effect. The instrumentation was more on the typical side, but I don’t think that detracts from the rest of the song. (7.5/10)
4. Honey Honey – If you think this is a double-concentrated version of her last title track (HONEY, released in 2022), you guessed wrong. Honey Honey goes down more of an R&B route. What I liked about Honey Honey is how the producers set the song apart from other R&B numbers by getting Solar to self-amplify herself in terms of vocals and a more pronounced instrumental. I love the resultant oomph Honey Honey has, and the strings in the pre-choruses were a very cool moment. (9/10)
5. Easy Peasy – Easy Peasy is a folksy song featuring acoustic instrumentation and Solar singing in a high-pitched demeanour. While the folk direction is not my cup of tea, I liked how Solar handled and controlled her delivery throughout the song. The melodies are nostalgic, as well. (8/10)
6. Blues – Blues is an epic number to end the mini-album with. I remember being blown away when I first checked out the mini-album months ago. And I love that even after all this time, Solar still amazes me with her jaw-dropping and stunning vocals in Blues. I LOVED how the sexy and sultry bluesy energy that Solar exudes from this song, as well as the grandness of the instrumental. No wonder Blues emerged as my favourite, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to be blown away. (10/10)
On the album review front, IVE is next up in the hot seat with their second mini album, IVE SWITCH, released in April 2024. Led by the singles HEYA and Accendio, this mini-album features six songs. IVE SWITCH is quite a strong release for the girl group and is a definite improvement from their last era (Baddie) and mini-album (I’VE MINE, which I never got around to reviewing). More thoughts on this particular mini-album down below!
2. Accendio(Title Track) – Accendio has grown immensely on me since I reviewed it. I have probably listened to the song more times than HEYA and have decided to bump the rating for Accendio to be on par with HEYA. Click here for the full review for Accendio. (9/10)
3. Blue Heart –To me, Blue Heart is the synth-centric cousin of the Accendio. There is something magical about the song, particularly in the charming chorus. The instrumental features fast-paced synth work, giving the song propulsion and a chic exterior. The vocals were nice, and something is captivating about the autotune over the spoken vocals in the choruses that just feels right in this song. The pre-choruses feel effortlessly blissful. There is a lot to like in Blue Heart, so it ranks high in this album. (9/10)
4. Ice Queen – As for Ice Queen, this is the more haunting relative of Accendio. It has all the maturity and mysteriousness that Accendio is characterised by. A difference is the hip-hop influence that the chorus features, which works well. On top of that, I enjoyed the bubbly synth work that adds that mysterious touch to the song and the “Woo Ah Woo” follow-ups in the song. If I wanted anything further, I think Ice Queen would have benefited from some sharpness. But another strong song from the group! (9/10)
5. Wow – Following on from the string of 9/10 songs, Wow does feel more standard than the rest. But that doesn’t mean Wow is not a good song. The pop song features extremely pleasant vocals and a textural chorus that I enjoyed. (8/10)
6. Reset – Reset confirms that this album had no bad songs. I really liked the use of Afrobeats in this track. I was lowkey having a mini dance whilst listening to the song and writing this part of the review. I enjoyed this subtle feel of the song, which makes Reset so good. The vocals were cute and the hooks were catchy. (9/10)
Another album review today (standard transmission of song reviews will resume tomorrow and into the weekend). This time, it is for DOYOUNG’s debut solo album, titled 청춘의 포말 or YOUTH. This was released in April and features 10 songs, including the title track Little Light. DOYOUNG is the 3rd member to have an official solo release in NCT, following TAEYONG and MARK.
YOUTH is a remarkable album that shows us a few styles of music, all intersecting with one another through DOYOUNG’s heavenly and stunning vocals. There are literally no bad songs on this album, making it one of the highest-ranked albums of the year thus far. A definite recommend to anyone who is looking for a new artist to delve into.
청춘의 포말 (YOUTH) Album Cover
1. Beginning (새봄의 노래) – Beginning (not an exact reference to the song) the album is a stunner. Beginning (the song) is a beautiful track that starts soft and delicate. As it progresses, it builds into a powerful track that captivates you. The piano is the song’s best part, with the recurring riff being so lovely. DOYOUNG vocals follow the same trajectory as the instrumental and add to that captivation, making it hard to skip this opening song. (10/10)
3. From Little Wave (나의 바다에게) – Rock infuses into the album through From Little Wave. From the start, I liked how DOYOUNG controlled From Little Wave, turning what arguably sounded like strong rock elements into a soft song with his vocals. However, as the song progresses, the rock takes over. But it doesn’t overwhelm DOYOUNG’s vocals, which remain the song’s focal point. Another great song with a strong trajectory. (9/10)
4. Time Machine(ft. TAEYEON (SNSD) & MARK (NCT)) – Of all the tracks on the album aside from the title track, there was a lot of anticipation of Time Machine. After all, it features DOYOUNG, TAEYEON and MARK – all big names from SM Entertainment. I love how dreamy the track was, with beautiful acoustics as part of its mid-tempo instrumentation. All three members sound amazing, but it was best at the end with their harmonies and DOYOUNG and TAEYEON’s ad-libs. (9/10)
5. Serenade (내가 됐으면 해) – Another dreamy vocal track from DOYOUNG. This one taps into R&B and has this jazzy vibe to it. I love how soothing his vocals are on this track at times and how warm the track sounds. However, this song is on more of the typical side than the others on the album. But it still liked how Serenade sounds nonetheless. (8/10)
6. Rewind (끝에서 다시) – Rewind is the type of ballad you must close your eyes to and just let DOYOUNG take you away. I don’t think there is any other plausible way to appreciate the song. The best way I can describe Rewind is using a painting analogy – the piano-only instrumental would serve as a blank and smooth canvas that makes paint easy. In contrast, DOYOUNG vocals (which were so raw and emotive) would serve as the brush strokes that make up the painting on the canvas. Rewind was truly a beautiful listen. (10/10)
7. Warmth (온기) – Ironically, I get chills listening to Warmth, from DOYOUNG’s vocals which are breathtaking in Warmth. He is a lot breathier in the song, making his vocals feel silky and smooth. I also enjoyed how his vocals build in the song. The classical instrumental is really beautiful itself. Another amazing ballad to earn a 10/10. (10/10)
8. Lost In California – Lost in California plays with dynamics, which makes it an interesting song. Lost In California goes almost grungy in the choruses, but the verses are much softer. The bridge takes a balladry turn. DOYOUNG perfected the transitions between each, ensuring the song stays cohesive despite each section being distinct. The launch between verse and chorus was impactful, while he tapers the end of the grungier choruses with a wispy, memorable tone. I also love how he delivers the “Dream in” and the “Leave here” in the outro. (10/10)
9. Rest (쉼표) – Rest is quite likeable thanks to its pop melodies and the overall energy exuded from the song. The band instrumental is quite refreshing and upbeat, while the electric guitars help give the song some zing. I find it a bit standard compared to the string of songs preceding it, but still a good listen. (8/10)
10. Dallas Love Field – Closing out YOUTH is Dallas Love Field, which delves into the pop rock subgenre. I liked how passionate and vibrant DOYOUNG’s vocals were throughout Dallas Love Field. At times, I thought DOYOUNG slipped into a dreamy demeanour, which was an intriguing direction for an upbeat pop-rock track like Dallas Love Field. I loved it when the backing vocals came into play, and DOYOUNG moved into ad-libs territory. I just wished he finished the song by easing out and not being abrupt as it was. But it’s a wonderful end to the album nonetheless. (9/10)
A couple of weeks ago, I finally reviewed the lead single (Is It Love?) off MOON BYUL’s repackaged version of her first studio album, Starlit of Muse, which was retitled to become Starlit of Twinkle. This makes way for an album review for MOON BYUL’s first studio album (which was led by TOUCHIN&MOVIN’) and its repackaged album. As it has been a very long time coming (I mean, the original album was released back in February this year), and there are many more albums to review, let’s get right to it!
Starlit of Muse Album CoverStarlit of Twinkle Album Cover
Starlit of Muse Tracks
1. Intro :WWUD (What Would You Do?) – The album starts with a heavy dose of hip-hop in this intro track. WWUD comprises a hefty beat, an abundance of synths, and MOON BYUL autotuned rapping. I can feel the cohesiveness and the statement being made in WWUD. But personally, this style of hip-hop isn’t my cup of tea. (6/10)
2. Think About(Pre-release Track) – For some reason, I always thought that Think About is a softer track of some kind. This makes no sense, given that I have heard the album before. Think About is a fun yet simple track with some great catchy hooks. I just love the pop vibe of the song, and MOON BYUL did a great job of showcasing that playful side of the song. (8/10)
4. Like a Fool – MOON BYUL taps into R&B for Like a Fool. She sounds very dreamy throughout the song. The instrumental is extremely paced and atmospheric. We also get a saxophone solo in the track that gives an elegant feel. However, I do feel like the song lacks in comparison to the other songs on the album. But overall, it’s a good track. (7/10)
5. Attention Seeker – MOON BYUL goes down the punk rock direction with Attention Seeker. The instrumental is quite bold and dynamic, which makes it stand out in the pack, which is the rest of the album. I found myself nodding along to the song (and, at times, when the track hits the right spots, head-banging along to the song) as it progressed. The energy MOON BYUL puts behind her delivery adds to that dynamism. An easy favourite on the album. (10/10)
6. NOLTO (feat. Hanhae) – The laidback hip-hop vibes come into play for NOLTO. MOON BYUL vocals are airy in this one. Alongside the instrumentation, both create some good rhythm also in this one. Hanhae (who used to be part of the Phantom hip-hop group) gives NOLTO a velvety note, particularly in the his second part. However, this style isn’t my cup of tea, so I haven’t returned to it much since its release. (7/10)
7. After Sunset (그런 밤) – Beginning the latter half of Starlit of Muse is the ballad After Sunset. MOON BYUL sounds heavenly in this song, and the melodies give the song that swaying effect I love in other ballads. On the instrumental front, I enjoyed how the piano in the verses was quite captivating and that some oomph came into it during the chorus. Another great song overall. (9/10)
8. TIMELINE – TIMELINE revisits a Latin influence that reminds me of MAMAMOO’s Egotistic. But it does so with moombahton beats and a much softer touch, an intriguing combination that sounds nice and elegant. While I have praised and spoken highly of MOON BYUL’s vocals in other songs, her high note in TIMELINE takes the cake. (9/10)
9. DARK ROMANCE – As the name alludes, DARK ROMANCE sees MOON BYUL go for darker energy, which does take me back to her solo debut days withEclipse. DARK ROMANCE is a dance track, with the instrumental tapping into that darker vibe. As the song progressed, I wished it was sharper in a few areas, from the beat to the synth work in the instrumental and even MOON BYUL herself. (8/10)
10. GOLD – GOLD brings a pop vibe and a smile. It is a pleasant track, with both instrumentation and vocals maintaining a mid-tempo pace. A much better track than the other GOLD track in KPOP out at the moment. I really liked the hefty beats that make the background sound quite atmospheric. (8/10)
11. Memories (feat. ONEWE) – MOON BYUL collaborates with her label mates ONEWE in Memories, and does so in spectacular style. She brought the vocals, while ONEWE brought the anime-style instrumentation and backing vocals. This anime style always brings forward propulsion that makes such influenced tracks exciting and appealing, and pairing it with MOON BYUL vocals was a great move. (9/10)
12. Without (겁이나) – The final song on the Starlit of Muse album is Without, another ballad. This one features the standard piano, drums, and strings-based instrumental, as well as stunning and emotional vocals from MOON BYUL. I especially like the touch of electric guitar at the end of the choruses, which adds something more to the ballad. (8/10)
Starlit of Twinkle Tracks
1. Backpack – Moving onto the Starlit of Twinkle tracks, first up is Backpack. It starts off as a mellow and soft track, but I liked how the chorus kicks Backpack up a notch in terms of instrumentation and vocals from MOON BYUL. It remains relatively mellow especially with the consistent guitar riffs, but it has some punch so the track isn’t just consistent through and through. (8/10)
3. Dear (어떤 하루에 어떤 시간 속에) – Dear is another ballad in this era of MOON BYUL’s career. The swaying effect of the melodies is profound and easy on the ears. Her vocals are delicate and heartfelt in Dear. The instrumental was a nice accompaniment but standard at best for ballads. But still, it’s a nice listen that makes Starlit of Twinkle quite consistent. (8/10)
4. TOUCHIN&MOVIN (English Version) – Refer to my review for TOUCHIN&MOVIN above.
Overall Starlit of Muse Album Rating – 8.2/10 Overall Starlit of Twinkle Album Rating – 8/10
Overall Album Rating (combined) – 8.1/10
Teaser image for Starlit of Muse & TOUCHIN&MOVIN’Tease image for Starlit of Twinkle & Is It Love?
DRIPPIN returned in April of this year with the single album Beautiful MAZE. Today, I am reviewing it. The lead single off the album shares the same name and is featured alongside two other tracks. To me, Beautiful MAZE (referring to the single album) has a case of ‘another track should have been the lead single’ – continue reading to find out which song should have been in place of the Beautiful MAZE single. More recently, DRIPPIN returned in August with yet another single album titled and led by a single with the shared name Weekend.
2. Get LOUD – Get LOUD is an upbeat track that steps the single album up with its funky and fun instrumentation. I noticed and enjoyed a 90s tinge in the mix. I liked how the choruses have a lot going on in their instrumentation yet are still cohesive. The rapping in Get LOUD had some punchiness, while the vocals did a nice job of bringing the melodies to life. Stronger hooks could have made Get LOUD a contender for title track status. (8/10)
3. Black Mirror – On the other hand, Black Mirror is already a contender for title track status. The song went super hard in the funkiness department. To the point where Black Mirror boasted of its influence and never once held itself back. DRIPPIN’s vocal work and rapping were superb throughout Black Mirror and a highlight listening to the song. The melodies and hooks were super catchy. This should have been the title track for this single album, and it would have been a smashing hit. (10/10)
KPOPREVIEWED 