Category: KPOP

[Review] Do Your Dance –  RIIZE

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RIIZE kicks off the week with their new single Do Your Dance and their 2nd mini-album, II. It has been over 6 months since their last release, Fame, and over a year since their studio album Odyssey (featuring the title track Fly Up). An album review is coming up for that album, but first, my thoughts on the new single.

Unfortunately, Do Your Dance doesn’t garner a positive reaction from me. Production-wise, I think the electronic background is the song’s strongest (and only) asset. There was so much potential to it. And yet, the opportunity was not seized. Amongst the dynamic and intense synth work, you can hear the hip-hop influence throughout the song, with the instrumental break really concentrating that influence in a straight-forward manner. The buildup during the pre-chorus was amazing and created some heightened suspense that just didn’t go anywhere. Beyond Do Your Dance‘s instrumental, I don’t like the rest of the song. The lack of melodies, the monotonous and repetitive “Heads, Hips, Shoulders, Toes” chant that is intended to be the song’s primary hook yet sparks nothing, and the fact that the members are stripped of any individual character to all sound the same. There is some potential for the chorus to catch on, but the way I have described it in this review makes it looks bleak. I am honestly not sure what the producers were thinking for Do Your Dance.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, the music video for Do Your Dance looks really cool. In case you didn’t notice, here were some impressive moments from the video that I noticed: the ‘hallway’ set folded out to become the stage for the first chorus; the spinning transition between the first chorus and second verse (flawless); the wavy platform during the second verse (innovative); the lead-up to and the transition between ANTON and SOHEE between the second verse and chorus; the jump transition into the dance break and the pyrotechnic waterfall at the end (which contrasted nicely with the rest of the set and the members still standing out during this sequence).

Another thing RIIZE nailed in this comeback is the choreography. There was sharpness, intensity, synchronisation and chemistry between one another, all of which made this routine really worth checking out. Alongside the song’s disappointing chorus, I liked how the moves were paced with the chant and still somehow made sure that it remained balance with intensity. The hip-hop dance break was also awesome. Once again, RIIZE really killed it with their choreography.

Song – 5/10
Music Video – 10/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 7.5/10

[Album Review] MY EYES OPEN VVIDE (1st Mini Album) – MEOVV

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Before I get to reviewing their latest title track this week, let’s have a closer look at MEOVV’s 1st mini album since their debut – MY EYES OPEN VVIDE. Released in May 2025, the mini-album is led by the title track, DROP TOP. In addition to the title track, the 6-track mini-album features the pre-release single HANDS UP, as well as past tracks such as their debut single MEOW and later comeback tracks TOXIC and BODY. All music videos and links to their pre-existing reviews are down below.

ICYMI: MEOVV most recently returned with their 2nd mini-album, BITE NOW, and the title track, DDI RO RI. It will be up for review sometime this week (as mentioned earlier).

MY EYES OPEN VVIDE Album Cover

1. HANDS UP (Title Track) – Click here for my full review of HANDS UP. (6.5/10)

2. DROP TOP – Click here for my full review of DROP TOP. (8/10)

3. MEOW – Click here for my full review of MEOW. (6.5/10)

4. BODY – Released alongside the single TOXIC in November 2024, BODY is an energetic hip-hop track that expresses the message of confidence. It features a catchy chorus and cool percussive elements in the instrumental, making the track quite attractive. I did like some of the vocal moments in the second verse, but I remember the chanty delivery elsewhere in the song quickly dried up its appeal. The instrumental break that closes out BODY features really cool choreography that I suggest you check out. (7.5/10)

5. TOXIC – Click here for my full review of TOXIC. (8/10)

6. LIT RIGHT NOW – The only other new song on the mini-album, other than DROP TOP, is LIT RIGHT NOW. At first, I thought the song was a bit weak, but repeated listens really warmed me up to it. LIT RIGHT NOW delves more into R&B territory, and there is an ear-worminess to that that makes it an appealing listen. It is a nice track to ease us out of the mini-album, and I enjoyed the slow groove it produced. That saxophone synth at the end was also super cool, and I liked how it reflected the song’s hooky melody, which further extends its appeal. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.4/10

MEOVV’s teaser image for MY EYES OPEN VVIDE

[Album Review] We Are (8th Mini Album) – i-dle

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Ahead of their upcoming comeback next month, it is time to review i-dle’s (formerly (G)I-DLE) 8th mini-album, We Are. This particular mini-album dropped back in May last year and was the first release since their rebrand as i-dle. It features a total of 6 tracks, including the pre-release single, Girlfriend, and the title track, Good Thing.

ICYMI: i-dle returned earlier this year with the single “Mono” (ft. skaiwater).

We Are Album Cover

1. Good Thing (Title Track) – Click here for my full review of Good Thing. (7.5/10)

2. Girlfriend – Click here for my full review of Girlfriend. (9/10)

3. Love Tease – Love Tease is a favourite of mine from this mini-album. The retro/disco synth work was super fun and ear-catching, while the members’ delivery of the all-English song was quite sharp. Props to YUQI, one of the song’s co-composers. The ‘Love Tease’ repetition was super simple, yet also such a memorable aspect of the song. This ‘simplicity’ factor in Love Tease runs throughout the song, and I think it could have done so much more. But this doesn’t change the fact that what we got was quite addictive and a gem on the mini-album. (9/10)

4. Chain – Dark and sultry vibes come off the all-English, R&B-leaning Chain. This changes up the tone of the mini-album, which I really appreciated. I particularly enjoyed how mature the members sound and the sensual hints in the lyrics (co-written by MINNIE). Again, Chain is another song where more could have been explored to make it more interesting. (8.5/10)

5. Unstoppable – i-dle takes us deeper into R&B territory, with Unstoppable also leaning into mid-tempo pop territory. I enjoyed the warmth and cosiness this track offers. Written by MIYEON, this song really highlights her vocals. All the other members also sound amazing throughout the song, but MIYEON elevates Unstoppable in a way that feels impressive and noteworthy. Her ad-libs were also awesome. (8.5/10)

6. If You Want (그래도 돼요) – We Are ends with a beautiful and soothing ballad. If You Want has that sway that I like when it comes to ballads, and I also enjoyed the way it developed. The vocal work was really nice, and the song’s progression felt extremely gratifying. Written by SHUHUA (her first song!), If You Want was a lovely way to end the mini-album. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.4/10

i-dle’s teaser image for We Are.

[Review] IF I – TREASURE

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With each release that TREASURE puts out, I become more convinced that their company, the famous YG Entertainment, has no clue what to do with them. Their releases are consistent: they average 1-2 comebacks a year, but their sound profile changes frequently. After some strong performances exploring pop and retro-pop releases with LAST NIGHT, YELLOW, and PARADISE in 2024 and 2025, the group has made their first comeback of the year with a sound change (or reversion) with the title track, IF I, and their new mini-album, NEW WAV.

TREASURE hails from YG Entertainment, which is known in KPOP for its more hip-hop-leaning releases. And they did start off with some of that sound in their initial releases. Hence why I described this as a sound reversion. But at least the music back then had some meat to it. IF I perplexes me, however. It is very clear that the new song has mature and edgy vibes, intense production, and powerful delivery from the members throughout. But none of it lands. The production feels very generic and bland, and there isn’t a memorable aspect to the song. There isn’t much of a hook I can grab onto for the song to grow on me. IF I simply blur by with little recognition. To the point where I didn’t even get a chance to realise that the entirety of IF I was in English. Beyond that, I don’t have much else to say about the song, unfortunately.

The music video did fair a lot better than the song. I liked how IF I‘s edgy vibes translated into the music video’s visuals. The members looked cool and bold throughout the video, particularly in their styling. The monochromatic nature of the video helps build intensity and also makes it look old-school. Some of the reverse shots and the off-centring of some solo parts also make it feel modern and trendy.

Again, the members do a good job of showcasing the edgy vibes and their stage presence in IF I‘s performance. But what I remember the most from the entire performance was the penguin dance (not sure how else to call it) and the subsequent body vibration bit that occurs during the “IF I, IF I, IF I” part of the song/chorus.

Song – 6/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 6.8/10

[Review] VIRAL – BOYNEXTDOOR

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After pre-releasing ddok ddok ddok a couple of weeks ago, BOYNEXTDOOR has finally returned with their first studio album, HOME, and its title track, VIRAL. This comeback marks BOYNEXTDOOR’s first release since last October’s mini-album, The Action, and single, Hollywood Action.

At first, VIRAL didn’t register as a BOYNEXTDOOR song to me. The new song sees the members adopt a more serious, emotional tone, which is very different from their usual vibrant, energetic hip-hop sound. But as the song progresses and the members start showing more of themselves, BOYNEXTDOOR maintains their usual sound in their delivery of VIRAL, so it registers as a BOYNEXTDOOR song. Anyhow, VIRAL features ‘intense guitar work’, which brought on a cool and classy vibe. But alongside the guitar work, the beat and percussive elements of the instrumentation give VIRAL some rhythmic flair. I really liked the chorus’s smoothness (thanks to the melodies and the members’ delivery), while the synths in the chorus just prick it at the right timing. WOOHAK and JAEHYUN’s rapping in the second verse also had the right level of punch. The same can be said as VIRAL goes through its tonal shifts, allowing for more intensity and delicate moments within the song, making it more interesting and dynamic. I also appreciate that VIRAL lasts more than 3 minutes, which allows the song to shift its tone and explore itself a bit more.

The hope in VIRAL‘s lyrics is that the song they created reaches their former lover, with whom they hope to rekindle their love with. But while the song does that, we see the members go through intense moments at home, at a factory, alone in a field, and during a weather event throughout the music video. These most likely represent the tribulations they are going through without their lover, as they desire to return to their former lover for a better future. I really liked the moody tone and colour of the music video. This is just my take on the music video, however, so I am open to hearing other theories if you have them.

This performance really showcases BOYNEXTDOOR’s capabilities on stage. I liked how the routine captured the smoothness of the chorus’s opening line, the delicacy of the stripped-back moments, and the song’s more intense moments. It all created a dynamic and cool performance to watch and enjoy.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10

[Review] 4 Flowers – MAMAMOO

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Welcome back to MAMAMOO! It has been four years since MAMAMOO’s last group comeback with ILLELLA. Since then, the members have been focused on unit and extensive solo careers. But as confirmed late last year, the group will return with new music and embark on a world tour. The first of the two events occurred last week with the release of the special single album 4WARD and its title track, 4 Flowers. The second of the two events (i.e., the world tour) will start later this month.

Given we have been deprived of MAMAMOO material for the last four years, it wasn’t going to take much for me to like the new song. I did have some concerns that the release could have been similar to some of the later songs in their career, which I agree aren’t among MAMAMOO’s best tracks. But upon hearing 4 Flowers, I am reassured that the track focuses on MAMAMOO’s greatest asset – their vocals. Their vocals just elevate the track, giving it some really stunning, enjoyable melodies to sink into. I enjoyed how graceful everything sounded, and then, when it came to the bridge, the members added some punch to the song through their delivery. I also liked how they sneaked some of their powerful vocals through ad-libs, and the shared harmonies between the four members at the end brought the track to a wonderful and touching close. On the instrumental side, 4 Flowers is more of a pleasant mid-tempo pop song, with beautiful piano and classical elements, lovely guitar work and nice drumming. Altogether, MAMAMOO’s grand return after four years, through the track 4 Flowers, is a nice reflection of what MAMAMOO does best.

It is very clear from its lyrics that 4 Flowers expresses their strong bond as a group over time. With lyrics such as “Even scattered, we share the same root“, “Flowers bloom, and flowers wilt away again,” and “After parting, we love even more“, you can definitely hear and see the everlasting bond that connects them together. In the music video, we see solo shots of the members in the sterile set, feeling empty and isolated. When they come together in the group shot, as in the featured image above, and as they hand outside in nature, the set becomes less empty and the colour in their world returns. Also, with the lyrics centred on flowers, the nature scenes felt logical and natural.

I used the word graceful earlier to describe their vocals, but I feel I must extend this out to their performance as well. I liked how they included choreography to embrace the more upbeat moments of the routine while maintaining their vocal focus, which is a nice throwback to their earlier stages that always did the same.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.8/10

[Review] Atmos – SHINee

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It has been over a year since SHINee’s last release as a group, Poet | Artist, which featured the late JONGHYUN and celebrated their 17th anniversary. Since then, the members have been busy focusing on solo careers and activities. Earlier this week, the quartet regrouped to release Atmos, the name of both their 6th mini-album and latest title track.

No matter how many times I have listened to Atmos, I have found myself getting lost in the track. It doesn’t mess around, doesn’t let up and gets right to sounding like a SHINee track. Atmos sees SHINee revisit the house sound they have explored before. However, it is refreshing thanks to its tighter, fuller arrangement and glitchier, more percussive synth work. The bass also gives it so much depth and tone. From the instrumental alone, Atmos has so much energy and momentum that it shows great promise. SHINee’s vocals bring the familiarity and nostalgia to the song. I really liked how the instrumental moulds around the vocals to create such a captivating track. The twists and turns in the pre-choruses keep Atmos interesting, while the stripped-back approach at the start of the first and second choruses was a memorable moment in the song.

The music video depicts the members, despite being in different locations, as all connected in some way. It relates well to the lyrics, which describe experiencing a “perfect love” through each of the five senses, comparing the sensation to floating in the air. Essentially, the video relates the members to the five senses, which are all interconnected. I really liked how the various images and shots were crafted together to match the fast-paced tempo of the song and glitchiness of the synths. The animation sequence and the fireworks at the end were also super cool, with the latter ending the music video in spectacular fashion.

While the group has yet to promote the track on music shows, they have already performed at their latest concert. Even after 18 years, SHINee still manages to dazzle on stage. I enjoyed the fast-paced nature of the routine and the fact that they don’t hold back. I really liked the slight movements and lean that kick off the first and second choruses, as well. Along with that moment in the song, it has become a very memorable moment of the choreography for me.

Song – 9.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9.3/10

[Review] LEMONADE – aespa

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After briefly teasing us with their WDA (Whole Different Animal) (featuring G-DRAGON) pre-release a month ago, aespa officially dropped their second studio album and title track at the end of May. Both the album and the title track are titled Lemonade, marking their first comeback since Rich Man.

Even though LEMONADE has had the benefit of multiple listens since its release to grow on me, I just can’t get over how much it sounds like a rehash of their hit Whiplash. There are some differences between the songs, such as LEMONADE having a fuller club-beat instrumentation and a different hook to remember it by. The instrumentation feels attitude-heavy and sassy, just like the former song. I also enjoyed the drive and momentum behind the song. There is a lot of potential in LEMONADE‘s production – it just wasn’t used well. On the other hand, the song’s primary hook has become especially grating as I relistened to LEMONADE in search of something good on the track. The “I’ll make it lemonade, no way, no way, I’ve got no ETA-TA-TA” makes very little sense, and using it as the main feature of LEMONADE was a bit silly, in my opinion. But don’t fret, my search for something decent within LEMONADE did yield the bridge. I enjoyed both the vocals and the rapping in this part of LEMONADE, which was a nice relief from the intensity of the instrumental’s club beats without losing the song’s drive. It would have been better if the bridge had not been sandwiched between the choruses.

My guess, based on the lyrics and what is shown in the video, is that both are exploring the saying “If life gives you lemons, make lemonade”. Throughout the video, the members are nonchalant and don’t worry about much, even as lemons are being hurled at them from the ground or as the giant hole forms in front of them. The members appear to also be taunting someone or something by pouring lemonade onto the ground. The production in the music video was very cool, and the members look amazing throughout, in both retro and modern outfits.

It looks like there were parts of the choreography where the members seemed to be having a blast. We often see aespa in a more serious, stoic light, but this routine manages to embrace both the serious and the lighthearted sides of the group. However, I don’t see anything defining in this routine to be the comeback’s killer move, which is slightly disappointing.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.5/10

[Review] Motto – ITZY

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Following YUNA’s solo debut earlier this year (with Ice Cream), ITZY regroups with their latest single, Motto, from their 12th mini-album of the same name. It is also ITZY’s first release since their November 2025 TUNNEL VISION comeback and the unexpected resurgence through the track THAT’S A NO NO.

Motto has had the benefit of further listens since its release a couple of weeks back. But to be fair, I don’t think Motto needed them. Since its release, Motto has been a satisfying listen that I have really enjoyed. If anything, Motto has grown on me even more and become one of the top releases of the year in my opinion. The track delves into a dreamy synthpop style, with a hint of funkiness and grooviness. In comparison to the rest of their lead singles, Motto‘s instrumental is a little more muted than usual. But that doesn’t mean the ITZY quality isn’t there. I quite enjoyed the choruses, which are a definite highlight of the song. I really liked how clean and straightforward it is. ITZY’s delivery and its melodies are extremely pleasant (in a good way), and I liked how simple yet catchy the hooks were. For the most part, the rest of Motto was also really good. I really liked the relatively intense ramp-up in the second half of the pre-chorus and YEJI’s piercing note just before the final chorus. The only part of Motto that I am not a fan of is when the song gears towards a hip-hop motif in the first half of the pre-chorus. It felt cliché and didn’t fit the rest of the pop track.

ITZY is at the 7-year mark of their music careers. While they are able to survive the 7-year curse that ends other groups’ careers (they renewed their contracts last year with JYP Entertainment), Motto‘s music video serves as a reflection of some sort. This complements Motto‘s lyrics, which are about choosing oneself even in uncertain situations. In this case, their ITZY identity. The music video starts with small replicas of their past music videos, briefly reflecting on their career. They are pulled away to reveal a castle that appears like a blank canvas. Throughout the video, the members go through events and circumstances that help define them, building the castle around them, which they perform in front of at the end.

Many people have noticed that their signature crown move is missing from their performance. But I don’t think it is missing. Reflecting on the song’s lyrics and meaning, the formation the members stand in, and the outward arm movement they make at the very end, these elements symbolise the shape of a crown. In the context of the song, they have become the crown, choosing themselves over anything else, which is probably the biggest honour you can bestow on yourself.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10

[Review] Curious – AND2BLE

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Earlier this year, YH Entertainment withdrew their “trainees” from ZEROBASEONE (Zhanghao, Ricky, Kim Gyuvin and Han Yujin) and EVNNE* (Yoo Seungeon) to create the new male group, AND2BLE. Today, the group officially debuted with the single Curious and their debut mini-album, Sequence 01: Curiosity.

*YH Entertainment also withdrew Ji Yunseo from EVNNE, who ended up leaving the company soon after.

Curious is most enticing through its verses. The bold, thumping beat and powerful vocals from Zhanghao and Yoo Seungeon made for a very memorable start to their new chapter. Similarly, the thumping beat and Zhanghao created a really nice flow, while we got a little more from the other members through strong vocal work that followed. To me, the verses were a good showcase of their talents and skills, with their vocals definitely feeling refreshing. Curious ends up being more typical when it comes to the choruses. I did like how they maintained the bold energy in the central piece, but the chanting delivery was very ‘done before’, and the instrumental didn’t feel as exciting as the thumping beats at the start of Curious. After the second run of the chorus, the producers focused on a future house EDM instrumental piece that I have a feeling a few people might describe as loud and noisy. It closes out Curious, and I liked how they blended it with the “Da dda dum” hook from the very start of the song and choruses. This just makes the ending feel cohesive without having to rehash the standard chorus, and it doesn’t detract from the idea of offering something a little “different and new” to keep Curious engaging.

Curious‘s lyrics depict “the group’s confidence and ambition to face the changes brought by dangerous curiosity at the moment of a new beginning without fear” (from Soompi). Some digging around yields the following description from Chosun for the video: “The released video depicts the members waking up with a curious gaze in an experimental composition like a fantasy movie. The mysterious atmosphere, including the strange eyes of the five members staring at the front and the wing-shaped objects, added to the sense of immersion.” With all of this in mind, I am still not sure what the music video is about. But despite that, I do like this mysterious atmosphere, the industrial vibes and the members’ visuals throughout the video.

Performance-wise, it looks good. There is some cool footwork from the members, and I liked the hip-hop motif they brought to the choreography. It isn’t until the EDM instrumental break that the members show off more of their performance skills via an impressive dance break.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8/10

[Review] BOOMPALA – LE SSERAFIM

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After teasing their comeback a couple of weeks back with the EDM track CELEBRATION, LE SSERAFIM officially dropped their 2nd studio album, Pureflow Pt. 1, yesterday, led by the title track BOOMPALA.

No matter how many times I have heard BOOMPALA since its release yesterday, I am a bit lost and confused with the new song. On one hand, you have the track sampling the Macarena. The original is super fun, and BOOMPALA maintains that aspect to do it justice, even though it’s been high-pitched in this song. But at the same time, the track tries to create its own catchy, fun moment by building on the sampled Macarena with the spoken “BOOMPALA”, which has some earworminess to it, but its delivery does not have an ounce of brightness or excitement like the Macarena. LE SSERAFIM and BOOMPALA’s producers then try to add some melodic vocal lines, but they don’t add much to the song’s memorability. Elsewhere in the song, the verses don’t have much staying power, and the instrumental was a mixed bag (though best at its fullest). Overall, BOOMPALA tries to do a couple of things that I am not sure land with me.

The track expresses the message “that fear may be just an illusion depending on the perspective or attitude” (based on SOOMPI’s article). The music video shows the members and other people moving from different emotional states to a state of zen and at peace. I really liked the video’s colourful moments and overall vibrancy, which match the energy from the song’s instrumental and the summery period that South Korea is approaching.

The performance was very fun and energetic, so props to the members for pulling this off. With the song building on the Macarena, it would make sense for it to be a part of the performance. The ‘BOOMPALA‘ parts added variety and additional fun to the performance.

Song – 6.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 7.4/10

[Review] Suddenly – I.O.I

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I.O.I, the first group formed from a survival reality show (Produce 101), celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Quite amazing how 10 years have passed. Whilst active, I.O.I gave us Dream Girls, Whatta Man (Good Man) and the massive hit Very Very Very. Per their temporary contract, the group disbanded after less than a year. However, to celebrate their 10th anniversary, the group (sans Mina and Jieqiong) regrouped to release their 3rd mini-album, I.O.I : Loop, and its title track, Suddenly (갑자기).

While I appreciate Suddenly as a reunion song that brings back one of the biggest girl groups of their day, it just doesn’t hit as hard as their past tracks. I.O.I switches up their iconic Very Very Very cutesy sound for a much more mature profile, which makes sense after 10 years. To be fair, I didn’t expect them to replicate the exact same sound from when they were last active. However, I did hope for some energy and vibrancy. In making Suddenly more mature, the producers also made it extremely beige and dull. The synthpop instrumental does bring back a straightforward disco-retro sound, which was something that I liked about Suddenly. But the chorus and its melodies are surprisingly flat, lacking the excitement to draw me into the song. And there isn’t much to remember Suddenly by in the verses. The vocals were pleasant, but again, no one stood out to me in the track. Overall, Suddenly was good, but a missed opportunity for I.O.I to deliver something that truly celebrates their milestone.

The music video carries forward the retro vibes that Suddenly gives off, looking like it was shot with an old-style camera, with the occasional flickering dot in the footage that reminds me of a similar effect seen in older movies. A beige filter also appears to have been applied to reflect the song’s beige feel. Aside from that, not much else is going on in the video. I did appreciate seeing the 9 members again and wished that they had included some sort of reference to the other two members who couldn’t be part of this reunion.

There was a gracefulness to the performance which made the routine look really pretty and feel mature. All of this complemented the song quite well.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.8/10

[Review] TOP 5 – ZEROBASEONE

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ZEROBASEONE has undoubtedly had a busy early 2026 with the release of their Re-Flow single album (led by LOVEPOCALYPSE), their final concerts as a 9-member lineup and contract negotiations (which led to four members, Zhanghao, Ricky, Kim Gyuvin, and Han Yujin, departing to re-debut as a separate group named AND2BLE later this year). Moving forward, ZEROBASEONE continues as a 5-member group, with Kim Jiwoong, Sung Hanbin, Seok Matthew, Kim Taerae, and Park Gunwook. Their 6th mini-album, Ascend-, dropped just yesterday and features the title track TOP 5.

ZEROBASEONE delivers a sexy, mature early-00s hip-hop and R&B sound in TOP 5 that feels very nostalgic to me. I quite like this track, especially with a clever title that might also be a play on themselves as a 5-member group moving forward. The groovy instrumental earns big ticks from me. The speak-rap delivery that serves as a primary hook for TOP 5 also works really well with this early-2000s hip-hop/R&B sound, and I genuinely enjoyed its flow. I liked how each member had a chance to deliver the hook in this motif, allowing each member to really embrace TOP 5’s sound. Some of the hooks are back up with really nice melodic vocal lines that add a smooth texture to TOP 5 that again works perfectly with the nostalgic profile. I do feel like TOP 5 could have been longer. The 2.5-minute length made TOP 5 feel swift and straightforward, but I think ZEROBASEONE could have done a bit more with the track (e.g., the instrumental break was too brief). But besides that, I really enjoyed their new single.

That sexy, mature vibe from the song was well captured in the music video for the comeback. The use of the shade black was very stylish and chic. The lighting and grey set design helped to bolden the black outfits the members wore, emphasising their good looks and fit bodies. I also enjoyed the use of the foreground and background throughout the video, which adds cool depth. Definitely a cool music video that works extremely well with the song.

There was a lot of opportunity in the performance that ZEROBASEONE really took and seized. The song allows for a flirty component in the performance that matches the mature, sexy vibe I keep mentioning, and the group infused it at the right moment in the routine. There was also groove and smoothness to the song that the performance also took on board, allowing ZEROBASEONE to really showcase their dance capabilities.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 10/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9.3/10

[Album Review] From Real to Surreal (6th Mini Album) – HIGHLIGHT

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The next album up for review is HIGHLIGHT’s 6th mini-album, From Real to Surreal, which was released a year ago. It is a short one, with just 4 songs making up its entirety – one of them being the title track Chains. Overall, this mini-album is fair but not their strongest effort to date.

Their last album release was Switch On from 2024, led by the single BODY.

From Real to Surreal Album Cover

1. Chains (Title Track) – Click here for my full review of Chains. (7/10)

2. Endless Ending (없는 엔딩) (Pre-Release Track) – HIGHLIGHT liken a past relationship to a completed movie in Endless Ending, where the story and ending of the movie is unchangeable, but the members are unable to let go and pondering on what could have been. The mid-tempo ballad sounds bittersweet with you consider the lyrics and emotional tinge featured in their vocals. Endless Ending was also released under their original name, BEAST, after getting the rights to their original name back from their previous company. This has led to fans theorizing that the song is a reflection upon their journey thus far. That story, particularly where they had to say goodbye to some people, is also fixed and they wonder what the alternative ending would be like had the story been different. (8/10)

3. Good Day To You – Next up is a dreamy, jazzy R&B number. I liked the brass elements and piano in the song, which just give Good Day To You such a golden and sultry vibe. HIGHLIGHT sound so nice throughout the track, with their vocals and the melodies they bring to life give the track its smoothness and velvetiness. Overall, Good Day To You gives off very sophisticated vibes. (8/10)

4. Follow Me – Follow Me is the type of song that I have been drawn toas of late. The energy from the rock elements in this pop track feels bold (relative to the rest of the mini-album) and dynamic. However, I personally would have liked for the chorus to go all out. I get a sense the producers held back, and so Follow Me wasn’t as explosive as it could have been. I think they did this to complement the slightly softer vocals and harmonies that HIGHLIGHT brought to the song. Nothing wrong with that, I just love the idea that HIGHLIGHT could have really delve into the pop rock genre. (8.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.9/10

HIGHLIGHT’s teaser image for From Real To Surreal

[Review] ddok ddok ddok – BOYNEXTDOOR

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BOYNEXTDOOR will be making their official comeback early next month with their 1st studio album, HOME. But kicking off the promotions for the comeback is the pre-release single ddok ddok ddok (똑똑똑; ‘ddok’ being the Korean word that describes the knocking sound, which is very fitting song title for BOYNEXTDOOR – see their debut concept). It’s their first release since Hollywood Action last year.

While BOYNEXTDOOR isn’t unfamiliar with hip-hop, their take on the genre has been more vibrant, bright and fun. And this is what I quite like about them. Their music ends up different to other acts who also explore the same genre and their playful take makes it easier for their songs to become earwormy and memorable. ddok ddok ddok hears BOYNEXTDOOR attempt a completely different take on hip-hop than usual, with the instrumental swapping out playfulness for seriousness. While exploration of different sounds and styles definitely should be encouraged, it shouldn’t come at the expense of individuality and personality. Here, ddok ddok strips out BOYNEXTDOOR’s personality and opts for pretty much a plain hip-hop approach which doesn’t differentiate it from the other hip-hop acts. I will admit that the “ddok ddok ddok, BND/1,2,3” lines in the choruses are catchy. But beyond that, there isn’t much else to remember the song by. I don’t feel much from the rest of ddok ddok ddok. Nor their delivery, especially since I felt like the members blurred together into one person in this song. I do hope that ddok ddok ddok is just an isolated case – I have grown to like BOYNEXTDOOR’s music, and wish for their vibrant and fun take on hip-hop returns.

While the music itself doesn’t sit right with me, the music video does for a number of reasons. Firstly, the members themselves look really good throughout the video. Secondly, the members’ interactions (or lack thereof) with the people around them actually gives off a cool aesthetic in the video. Thirdly, when it came to the group scenes like in the choreography shots, it is interesting to see how one member is always the one in focus, while everyone else is doing their thing (either posing or dancing) alongside that one member, but their actions doesn’t distract or take the focus away from the member in the spotlight. Clever use of camera angles, lighting and use of space.

From the music video, the routine for ddok ddok ddok looks intense and sharp, particularly when it came to the choruses. Unfortunately, with the members trying to balance delivery of the song with microphones, the live stages so far haven’t reach the full potential that the music video promises. You can definitely feel and see a difference when it comes to their dance break towards the end of the song.

Song – 6.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.6/10

[Review] WDA (Whole Different Animal) – aespa ft. G-DRAGON (BIGBANG)

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2026 has delivered a surprise collaboration between aespa (a top girl group from SM Entertainment) and G-DRAGON (the leader and main rapper of BIGBANG). Their new single, WDA (which stands for Whole Different Animal), dropped on Monday this week and is the first of two title tracks from their upcoming Lemonade studio album. WDA is aespa’s first release since Rich Man and G-DRAGON’s first since Übermensch/Too Bad.

WDA is a hip-hop dance track with a really cool electronic-based instrumental. This aspect of the track was very textured and full of intense yet subtle energy. Paired with the member’s charisma, WDA sets itself up to be quite alluring. But beyond the ‘Whole Different Animal‘ repetition as its primary hook (courtesy of G-DRAGON himself), the track was largely forgettable and disappointing. The members, while having charisma as I already mentioned, simply talk their way through WDA. As a result, there aren’t any melodies or other hooks to remember the song by. I did like how G-DRAGON’s rapping in the bridge really concentrates the hip-hop sound mentioned earlier. But it was so brief, and I wished there was more to it. Overall, WDA brings together two strong and epic forces, but the final product just wasn’t as satisfying as you would have hoped it would be.

The music video for WDA was very intriguing and mysterious. Creepy at times, like that ‘street view’ shot to focus on KARINA at the start of the video. But it definitely shows the members off in a very industrial, stylish, and ‘don’t mess with me’ aesthetic. I also liked the unpolished, modern-day camera quality and the transitions between members during close-ups. All aspects of the music video looked super cool, making it a worthwhile watch despite the song.

The above can be said of the choreography accompanying this comeback. With their charisma and stage presence, as well as a strong command of the hip-hop motif, aespa delivers another memorable performance that you definitely need to check out.

Song – 6.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 8/10