Category: KPOP

[Album Review] Spinning Top: Between Security & Insecurity (9th Mini Album) – GOT7

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I will not be publishing any other album reviews this week as I won’t be able to find time to do so. 

GOT7 made their comeback last week with another dynamic track, Eclipse. And knowing that I am a big fan of GOT7’s discography (as my previous album reviews), I am not going to delay listening to this album anymore. Spinning Top: Between Security & Insecurity is the group’s 9th mini-album to date and it features 6 songs in total (all of which I will review today!). The physical album also consists of the instrumental for the title track. Jinyoung, JB, Youngjae, BamBam and Yugyeom each had influence in the music or lyrics of certain songs on the album.

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Spinning Top: Between Security & Insecurity Album Cover

1..1° – Starting off the entire album is 1°, which I am viewing as a very strong start. I find the song very captivating. The dramatic flair that the song introduces with their short violin-like effect is very appealing. The song does become a little traditional with its R&B tune, but I find the atmosphere to be quite uneasy, which I think goes hand-in-hand with insecurity message that the song had. I think what the song manages to do amazingly is showcase the vocals of the group. I was very impressed with all the members. I found Youngjae’s part in the first chorus to be very impactful. Changing from a whisper to loud vocals without any notice caught me off guard and I enjoyed that. The effect wasn’t the same for the following choruses (which was disappointing, but I now knew what I was expecting). I really enjoyed the rapping tone of the members as well. Overall, a strong start (as I mentioned earlier). (9/10)

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

3. The End (끝) – Following the very intense nature of ECLIPSE, The End opts for a more melodic and soft approach. I personally didn’t find the start of the song to be that captivating and it felt more typical than anything else. But within half a minute, I found the song developing into something intriguing. I would describe it to be very calming and dynamic, but these two words don’t really feel like they go together usually. Its melodic approach to the chorus is definitely an appealing aspect to the song for me. I really like that extra layer of instrumentation for the second half of the chorus, giving some more energy to the song. It was catchy and (once again) managed to showcase nice vocals and rapping. (9/10)

4. TIME OUT – I think TIME OUT could have been more appealing in the instrumentation domain. There is an intriguing factor with what they started off with, but I quickly got bored with this. There wasn’t much attempt to change it up, which I thought was a disappointing aspect. The vocals were pretty decent but that ‘TIME OUT’ shout just before each chorus felt very out of place, in my opinion. I do get the message of the song, but that shout felt more suited for a song with a more hyped up instrumental. But to speak of the song in a more positive light, I enjoyed its soft nature and liked how it continued break from the intense nature of the title track (I did need two songs to recuperate from its energy). (7/10)

5. Trust Me (믿어줄래) – Trust Me seems to edge us back into the intensity realm. And I think it did a wonderful job as it just doesn’t launch you right into dubstep or anything overwhelmingly intense. Instead, it incorporates what I think sounds like R&B into the mix. I really like the kick they give to the chorus. Not too upbeat and well balanced with the more uneventful style of verses. I think the song showcases their vocals and raps best. I am reading it as a ballad on other sites, but I thought it could have been a spin on a traditional pop track that you really enjoy. You know, the pop tracks that artists release that doesn’t require flashy choreography and sounds more typical than anything else (but is still good). (8.5/10)

6. Page – By having Trust Me before it, we can officially move to a very upbeat track without feeling like it was thrown out of nowhere. The upbeat track that GOT7 follows up with is Page, which I think it is a great club-music track. I thought it was quite fun, especially with Jackson and JB’s addictive launch into the song’s hook. I found this track to be very dynamic as a result of its upbeat combination. I did want the song to have more bass to be even more exciting and hyped up. But Page does a fantastic job of rounding out the album. And like the rest of the album, it features good vocals and rapping. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.4/10

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[Review] Really Really – Cherry Bullet

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Another big (and one that I am highly anticipating) comeback during the week that I, unfortunately, have yet to review. Cherry Bullet made their very first comeback with Really Really on Wednesday. Previously, the group made their debut with their very addictive and catchy Q&A, which I still replay (around) once or twice a week. Let’s see if the group can continue with what they left off with their new single, Really Really.

If I were to compare Really Really with Q&A (as that is my standard, given that they don’t have any other title tracks), the new single doesn’t really match or continue the momentum that their debut track had. But it did tick a few boxes. Really Really is another fun song in its own way. It is bright and bubbly, highly suitable for the Summer season once again. The vocal work was pretty good and the rapping was decent. The instrumental was a lacking aspect. While Q&A had a very powerful build-up (in my opinion), Really really had a lacklustre buildup. And because of that, I felt the chorus instrumentation wasn’t as dynamic as it could have been. I also felt that the chorus felt like a typical girl group release, as it didn’t have anything unique. Finally, I think the hooks could have been a little more powerful. I do feel like it is growing on me but ever so slowly. To sum up, Really Really is an okay song. It just didn’t fare well when compared to Cherry Bullet’s debut track.

What the music video continued with was the technological concept. Their debut music video had a futuristic video game concept embedded in it.  Really Really opted for a video set more in the present but featured a lot of that electronic concept through the presence of augmented reality. And in a way, the video game concept continued on. Though, I guess their goal was to turn every heart into a cherry. The video also managed to incorporate some cuteness into it. While I do not enjoy this too much, I thought the song really allowed for the cuteness to filter through in a manner that didn’t feel overwhelming. After all, I did mention the song was bright and bubbly.

I did think the dance for this song was a little weak (For example, I thought the moves starting the chorus were a little slow and uneventful for the song). But watching it a number of times already, I am starting to think it is actually more fitting. Sure, I still like it to be a little more energetic and a little more powerful. But I can’t really think of the performance as any other way.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 7.5/10
Overall Rating – 7.4/10

[Review] Superhuman – NCT 127

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The biggest news for NCT in 2019 thus far was the debut of their Chinese subunit, WayV. I do plan to go back to review their debut track at a later date, so watch this space. The next move from the mega group is the return of NCT 127 in South Korea. Today, the group returned with Superhuman, which they previously performed on Good Morning America back in April. The comeback track is featured on the group’s fourth mini-album, We Are Superhuman. This is also the group’s first comeback since Simon Says in Korea and Wakey-Wakey in Japan.

Based on the article by Soompi. the song is described as a ‘Complextro dance track with elements of EDM’. While my experience with music genres is quite limited, this is my first time hearing of this genre. So I think it would be safe to assume that this is the first of its kind in KPOP as well. Without the article. I would have described the song as a groovy EDM track with what seems to be a slight retro influence. I say this because the track felt something that SHINee would have released if they were still active as a group (Note – SHINee is currently in the army). It is right up the senior artist’s alley. Its unique style brings a mixture of different textures that allows the song to be very intriguing. I think the song does stand out vocally. I like how they push the vocals for the chorus, adding to the dynamics of the song. Also adding to this aspect are the raps. Like other NCT127 songs, the rapping does give the song some impact, despite the song already bring overloaded with a very memorable and punchy instrumental.

With its electronic style in its music, it is fair to assume that the music video would take a similar approach. Also fitting for the unit’s image is the fact that the video showcases a really edgy vibe. I think we could say it is their edgiest yet. I am not sure if everything comes together to form a story. Or if the video is just a bunch of solo shot and then choreography shots. I am leaning to the latter but there could be a slight possibility of the other. Watching the video, I felt the scenes built up with the music and this resulted in an awesome climatic ending.

To match the tempo and the electronic complexity of the track, the choreography had to be very powerful and complex. And NCT127 delivered in all aspects. I actually liked how they incorporated some sleek movements in their dance (i.e. the start and the start of each chorus). It was captivating and gripping in many ways.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8.5/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.9/10

[Album Review] WE (5th Mini Album) – EXID

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As mentioned previously, EXID will be going on an indefinite hiatus after wrapping up promotions for their latest mini-album, WE. This is due to Hani and Junghwa not renewing contracts with their current company. However, despite this headline, the group have continually stressed that the group is not disbanding and that they will be continuing as a five-member group in the future. As this will be the group’s final mini-album for some time, I jumped on the opportunity to review the mini-album, which features 7 tracks, including an urban mix of their previous single, Lady, and the instrumental version of their title track, ME & YOU (Note that these two tracks will not contribute to the ‘Overall Album Rating’).

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WE Album Cover

1..Me & You (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Me & You. (8.5/10)

2. We Are – Reading the lyrics to this song, We Are is a song for the fans. The members thank their fans in the song and remind that ‘We Have Each Other’ no matter what. It is definitely touching and at certain times, you can hear some emotions behind their voices (particularly Solji’s part of the song). The song itself features an R&B influenced instrumental and a chorus that continually repeats the title of the song in a heavily autotuned fashion. I am not too troubled by this as it gave the song an interesting texture. But I do see how it does chip away at the emotive side of the song. Personally, my favourite part of the song is the ending, with each member singing one line to the outro. It is definitely a nice way to leave us for the time being. (8/10)

3. The Vibe (아끼지마) – Impact is delivered from the very first second with The Vibe. Hani starts off the song in a spectacular manner that I cannot stop replaying. And her vocal performance throughout the rest of the song is outstanding. Usually, Solji is the member that gets the attention for vocals. But Hani is the real winner in the song. The other members (including Solji) do display great vocals. And while I really like the bluesy feels of the song, I felt the song was lacking in the instrumental domain. Sure, a complex instrumental would have been detrimental to the song and hide the vocals in this track. But I think the one they stuck in The Vibe was relatively plain and almost bland (if it wasn’t for the vocals). (8/10)

4. How You Doin’ (어떻게지내) – This is probably my pick for best song on the album. How You Doin’ has a groovy beat that I cannot help but enjoy. The upbeat atmosphere was something missing on this album (excluding the title track), so I am quite appreciative of the energy it brings. Junghwa’s ‘How You Doin’’ repetition was addictive and hooked me onto the song. The vocals and rapping were amazing in this track, drawing me in from the start as well. Some of the members brought a husky tone to the song, which I really enjoyed. I personally do not think there is any disappointing second in this song, which is an excellent thing. (9/10)

5. Midnight (나의밤) – Midnight closes out this album review, but it isn’t the final song on the album. Midnight has a pleasant tone to it. I cannot deny that. The song just doesn’t have any aspect that I think it is worth diving in for a second or third listen. In other words, I find it to be the weakest song on the album. The vocals were okay, but they don’t offer anything interesting, as per the other songs on the album. Likewise, the hooks weren’t strong or memorable enough. The ‘Bam Ba Bam’ was probably my pick for the highlight for the song but it just didn’t stick around for much due to the progression of the lyrics. (6/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.9/10

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WE Teaser Image

[Review] Breathe – AB6IX

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AB6IX may have been part of that big Wanna One reunion week back in May, which saw Yoon Ji Sung, Bae Jin Young, Hwang Min Hyun (as part of NU’EST) return with music. AB6IX made released their pre-debut track, Hollywood, which left a lasting impression that particular week. And it was promised at the end of the music video for Hollywood that the group would make their debut on the 22nd of May. Well, that day has finally arrived (it was yesterday!) and the five-member group have officially debuted with Breathe.

As I said, Hollywood left an impression on me. Breathe definitely tries to make that same lasting impression but I am confident in saying that the song fell short of that goal. At least, it has for the number of listens I have given the track. The house track definitely has aesthetics, namely that very sleek drop that started off the chorus. It was groovy and definitely appealing. I personally thought that was a really cool aspect of the song. Likewise, I felt the rapping to be another great aspect. Woojin’s deep voice, in particular, was so fitting for the song. The vocals were also definitely another highlight for me. However, the song did feel underwhelming as a whole. I wanted the rush of energy. I wanted something to really make them stand out of the crowd. I wanted something that comes off Hollywood‘s high and really drills AB6IX’s name into my mind. This was good but it didn’t deliver on those desires I had for AB6IX.

I like the video’s edgy vibe. And I feel like the images we saw on the screen really gave off an urban vibe, which I think is equally as suitable for the track. I find the smokiness or the haziness in those scenes other than the choreography was very fitting for the song’s title. I like how it added an extra mysterious layer to the video (or was that just me). I enjoyed how they converge at the end together, which I think ties up the video nicely. I also like their dance set (the one shown in the featured image). Another set but quite cool looking.

I found the performance to be very captivating. I really liked how they linked arms with each other just before the chorus. I thought that was really cool and definitely unique. I have rewatched the performance from today a few times already and I keep on picking up something new each time. I also like the energy in this performance. Not too crazy and upbeat, as that would be mismatching with the song. Instead, it is more subtle.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.2/10

[Review] Begin Again – Kim Jae Hwan

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This week, we continue that reunion of Wanna One that we saw a few weeks back. The ‘next’ member to return to the industry is Kim Jae Hwan, who was the only member to resign with Swing Entertainment for his solo promotions (i.e. the company that Wanna One was signed under when they were promoting as a group). While it has been a while since we have heard from Kim Jae Hwan, the artist made his official debut on Monday with Begin Again, the title track on his first mini-album, Again.

It is the expectation that the main vocalists of a group would make their debut with a ballad. We have seen this happen countless times and Kim Jae Hwan was no exception. I personally thought the ballad was rather nice. It takes on a typical piano and classical instrumental approach. So there isn’t really much to comment on in this aspect. But there many that can be made about his vocals. I like how they do shine brightly over the typical instrumental. You can his voice with no hindrance, which I think was smart. I find his voice to be charming from his previous works as part of Wanna One and I think Begin Again showcases this charming nature nicely. I also like the melody that presents itself in the chorus, which acted as a very flowy effect which I am known to enjoy. I particularly enjoyed the ending, especially how he came at us with high note after high note. It definitely gave the typical approach some uniqueness.

The video shows a couple (played by Kim Jae Hwan and actress Kim Yoo Jung). They were all lovey-dovey before, where they were playful with one another. However, something caused him to depart from the relationship (based on the lyrics). And something brought them back together again (the running around different floors scene). I am not sure about these two aspects of the video. But we see them exchange gifts (I guess as a restart to their relationship). He gives her a dress, while she gives him an emotional letter. Flash forward to the future where I think they are getting married or engaged. She wears his dress and they exchange rings. However, Kim Yoo Jung gets cold feet afterwards and takes away his ring, which I guess shows that she can’t go forward knowing how he left her and hence was unable to ‘Begin Again‘. I think this was a nice twist in the emotional love stories we see in music videos. However, I do want to know why he left her and the rest of that middle bit that I am not too sure about.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10

[Review] Beautiful Days – Lovelyz

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Reviews for the new releases of this week will be posted in the coming days. Apologies for the delay. 

Returning to the stage this past Monday was Lovelyz, who has returned with Beautiful Days. This new song is the title track off their 6th mini-album, Once Upon A Time, which also dropped the same day. We last saw the group through their Lost N Found promotions back in November last year. It has been relatively quiet from the girls since then, especially after what can be seen as a successful year for the group in terms of promotions (2018 saw them win their first music show and third set of concerts).

Given that the industry is now at full speed for the upcoming Summer season, it expected that some releases suiting the Summer season will be flowing in right about now. And you can definitely leave it to Lovelyz to bring a refreshing tone with their suitable track. I find the song to be quite light despite it being heavy with some synths. It is definitely extremely difficult to get that balance and Lovelyz nails it. The instrumental was nice. Once again, they go for a retro synth-pop but I like the mix of classical for the bridge. The vocals were nice but they didn’t offer anything new to really comment about. What Lovelyz does is stick to what they do best. The song felt safe than anything else, fitting in what I would consider a little too neatly with the rest of their portfolio. Beautiful Days is still listenable and definitely something you would associate with the group. But it just didn’t feel memorable when you consider the song as a whole.

I think pairing the song with the music video made the song feel a lot more beautiful. I am not exactly sure about what the video is about. But maybe that ‘association to Lovelyz’s past track’ was intentional. I say this because I noticed some aspects of this video showcasing some of their past concepts. The ball with the solar system rolling around reminded me of the spinning shots in Destiny. One of the members was holding a picture of the group during their Twinkle promotions. And the colour scheme for one of the dance sense is giving me very strong flashbacks but I cannot pinpoint which comeback (I think Destiny). But this won’t impact what I said before. I personally think it is a nice video for the group. It looked elegant and hazy filter didn’t impact the overall colour scheme of the video.

I think the performance is the best aspect of the group’s comeback. They bring a feminine charm that I cannot help but watch from start to end. I really like the complexity of the chorus and the fact that they kept in sync with each other. You usually don’t get that feeling with female groups. But given that they are from the same company who brought you Infinite (the original kings of that noticeably in-sync choreography), it was a given.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8/10

[Review] Eclipse – GOT7

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Making their return a few hours ago is GOT7 with Eclipse! This is the group’s first comeback since Lullaby and Miracle as a full group. More recently, the group has been focusing on subunit and solo endeavours with the debut of Jus2 (JB and Yugyeom with Focus On Me); the return of actor Park Jin Young; and Jackson’s Oxygen release around one month ago. More exciting is the future, which has the group going on another world tour (Spinning Top) right after wrapping up promotions for this new release.

Eclipse is one strong release. Literally. I think the first thing that really jumps out at me is its extremely powerful chorus. It is robust, rough and really edgy. All of which fits in with their powerful image. Some parts did seem a little noisy and I think there was some ‘drowning out’, however. But I think their vocal performance (especially Youngjae’s) in Eclipse is one of their best and pairing the vocals with this chorus was definitely a very smart idea. The rapping is also quite good but I didn’t think it was the star of the release, unlike their past title tracks. I think the dubstep breakdown was expected, especially with the rough texture for the chorus. I did like it, so I am not complaining here. I also like the complete slow down for the bridge. I thought that was interesting. I think the biggest letdown was the verses as they were very forgettable (hence why I thought their rapping wasn’t the star).  Overall, Eclipse is, what I would say, a decent track.

So I am reading some thoughts about the music video and it seems like not many people are impressed. One of the reasons is the shares the same production format as Look, Dalla Dalla and Fancy. I personally don’t think it is that bad and actually enjoyed it for the most part. It does seem like it is starting to become overused by JYP Entertainment but that can only be confirmed by a few more releases from other artists. I think what did prevent me from having the same thoughts was the more theatric nature of the video. The spinning was rather cool and I think the camera angles and CGI complimented this really well.

From what I can see in this video is that the performance is definitely shaping up to be one of their most intense routines. That is expected given the nature of the song. I just wonder if the stage will be as amazing, given that some of the camera angles in the video cannot be pulled off on a live stage. I really like that spiral effect they have during the chorus. And that dance break looks awesome!

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.5/10

[Album Review] The Fifth Season (1st Studio Album) – Oh My Girl

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It is quite surprising to see how long some artists are active in the industry before they get to release a studio album. For Oh My Girl, it has been four years since their debut back in 2015 and the group has just released this first studio album. It has definitely been a long time coming, especially after all the great mini-album releases we got from the group over the years. The Fifth Season contains 9 songs including the title track of the same name. The album also contains an instrumental track for the title track as well but due to the nature of the review, I won’t be having a look at it. So let’s start off the album review right now!

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The Fifth Season Album Cover

1..The Fifth Season (SSFWL) (다섯 번째 계절) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for The Fifth Season (SSFWL). (9/10)

2. Shower (소나기) – Opening the track up is typical pop instrumentation that doesn’t differentiate them from other girl groups. And this typicalness flows onto their chorus, so there was that feeling in the air throughout the length of the song. I think similar comments can be made about the vocals and rapping. I did hear some attempts to disrupt this typical feeling with some textural changes in their voices, particularly around the second pre-chorus. But they weren’t that successful. There isn’t anything bad about a typical song, Just Shower ends up being a song to attract some yawns. (6/10)

3. Case No. L5VE (미제) – Now this is the type of song that I want. It does fall within that typical nature once again. But this one has enough to keep the yawns away (hahaha…). There is also a lot of textures in this song, which keeps it interesting and makes the song fun. Firstly, the chorus has this cheerful and happy pop tone to it, which I am enjoying. Secondly, there is a lot more rapping (and they last for longer periods), which I thought was a really nice build up to the chorus. Thirdly, I really liked the elegant nature of the vocals, which made the rest of the song so flowy. Overall, Case No. L5VE was definitely an ear-catching piece. (9/10)

4. Tic Toc – As soon as the song opened, and I heard the first member, I honestly thought I was listening to the wrong artist (I had to make sure I wasn’t listening to Twice). Tic Toc was a catchy and upbeat pop song that really gets me into a cheerful mood. Mimi’s rapping, once again, worked wonders in this song, giving it a needed injection of intensity. I also like the vocals and the melody that they have in this track. I find the melody to be an attractive part of the song. I also enjoyed the ‘Tic Toc’ Mimi (I think) says throughout the song and the mini outro we get, which dragged the song out by a few more seconds with an instrumental that I enjoyed. (8/10)

5. Gravity (유성) – So far, we have heard of a lot of pop tracks, but they do fall under that typical nature (sorry for the repetitive use of that word). Gravity changes it up slightly. While the song does delve headfirst back into the pop genre, the song does have a very dynamic appeal that comes from the chorus. I thought the ‘Gravity~’ hook they used was beautifully done and it sounded like you were floating away while listening to it. The instrumental ‘felt very wide’ and spacious, making the ‘Gravity~’ repetition very impactful. I also really think the elegant melody returns in this song, which I think is another positive aspect of the track. (8.5/10)

6. Crime Scene – Crime Scene is another fun sounding and vibrant track. I thought the title was very intriguing, given that I do enjoy crime myself. So, naturally, I gravitated towards the lyrics for this song. The song is being attracted towards your lover and the confusion that surrounds it. In the song, they question why they are being pulled to their partner. Though, I don’t get why they are ‘Chillin’ your love’. That is the only clue I haven’t cracked yet. Even though it does sound very odd in the song’s context, I found it to be very catchy and almost addictive. I really like the vocals and rapping in this track. I also like the slight change in tempo they gave us for the second half of the chorus. It made the song feel less linear. (8/10)

7. Underwater Love (심해 (마음이라는 바다)) – Underwater Love directs itself towards the ‘mandatory ballad’ of the album. It doesn’t get there exactly as it diverts with a pretty R&B instrumental. While I don’t regularly enjoy the ‘mandatory ballad’ track on the album, I find this one to cut the vibrant and upbeat nature of the album thus far quite well. I don’t find it as boring as I had expected it to be. The vocals are nice and I really like the soft whisper-like rapping tone in the song. Overall, I find it to be a decent track. (7/10)

8. Vogue – Vogue is sung by Mimi, Yooa, Jiho and Arin. And it is my pick for the best song on the album. Like I don’t think you can keep me away from this track. Vogue pays either pays homage to Madonna or the artist and her song heavily influenced the production of this song. But either way, it is done in a spectacular fashion as it goes straight for Madonna’s well-known style. It has this very mature sound to it that I did not know Oh My Girl had in them. The vocals are on point and damn, the verses are so good. They manage to give the chorus an upbeat feel, which I think manages to get the song to fit in with the rest of the album (and Oh My Girl’s releases) but at the same time make the song even more dynamic. (10/10)

9. Checkmate – Ending the album is another vibrant track that is bound to get you ready for any event. I think the use of brass in this song really makes it appropriate for parties. YooA is proving to be the star of this album. While I haven’t singled any member this far into the review, YooA has continually showcased herself in a very bold manner. Her vocals at the very start of the song was definitely a wake call for me. I also liked how the chorus was very sharp. This gives off a nice and impactful punch every single time, making it a very powerful track. I think the song had a lot of great hooks, making it extremely addictive. It is a great and very strong ender to the album (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.4/10

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The Fifth Season Teaser Image

[Review] Rain Drop – Soyou & Ovan

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The next song on the review list is Soyou and Ovan’s collaborative single, Rain Drop. This was dropped on Thursday of this past week and has since risen steadily towards the top end of the charts. For those who don’t know, this is very typical of many collaboration singles featuring Soyou. I will avoid naming such songs (as I think I do that will every Soyou related review and hence will be quite repetitive). The other half of the collaboration is Ovan, who is a Korean hip-hop artist and rapper. He made his debut back in 2017 and have many singles under his name since his debut.

Rain Drop is more like a cafe style of song, rather than a ballad as my previous draft of the review had stated. There is a slightly jazzy influence in the instrumental, which is slightly appealing to my ears. At this very stage of the year, I am wrapping up my semester of studies and currently on the hunt for soft songs to work with. This track practically ticks that major box for me. I find the vocals to be soothing and calming to an extent, which is also another box ticked for me.  There were some moments that did have a certain typical nature to them. But for the most part, I thought the vocals were good. I did like the slight rapping tone Ovan brought to the bridge of the track, which attempted to throw an interesting texture in. Overall, I think this would be a nice song to add to my study playlist, as previously stated). Though, I am not too sure if it would fair well in a more recreational playlist due to the very nature of the track.

I am not too sure about what is going on in the music video. I have an idea but since the events were jumbled about, I am not exactly confident in my story that I have formed. The video showcases a cute couple from the moment the female character made her move on the male character (and thus starting their relationship) up until the moment that she leaves him on a rainy day (‘I watched you go away without an umbrella‘). However, in the end, it is another rainy day that brings her back. We see the male character slightly surprised at the end after seeing his former lover swiping her wet hair to the side.  It is a slightly interesting story, especially with that twist at the end. I do want some closure with the story though, given that twist.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.4/10

[Review] Unspoken Words – DAVICHI

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The digital dominating ballad duo, DAVICHI, has returned with their latest comeback, Unspoken Words. Since the release of their latest single and mini-album, the pair have already taken over the major charts. This is especially worth noting as we find ourselves in another period of tough competition from other artists who have been dominating the charts for the past few weeks. We last saw Davichi through their Days Without You promotions, which also featured Kang Daniel in the music video.

DAVICHI is sticking to what they are known for and do best with, as Unspoken Words is another ballad. And as per their chart performance, it seems like this track will be another successful ballad from the duo. The ballad is quite warming and extremely comfortable, which I tend to associate with a Wintertime ballad. But there is a little energy making it appropriate for the upcoming warmer season. I think the instrumental is very beautiful, with the classical instruments building up to a pretty decent peak. It pairs extremely well with the member’s vocals, which I really think is shown off proudly in this track. As the instrumental builds, so does the vocals, which is pretty much ideal. I particularly found that small harmony moment between the members to be a stunning moment in the song. I think the song is quite strong but it just doesn’t jump out at me as their best. I do see myself getting bored with it, as ballads do come and go quite often nowadays as per my listening routine.

Given the title, you think the song would be emotionally driven. But with the majority of ballads, I tend to discuss an emotional sound. If you haven’t noticed, I haven’t touched upon that yet. I didn’t really hear that emotional connection. I find that quite interesting. But the emotional side of this comeback was felt more profoundly with the music video. We are shown a young female, standing at the beach and reminiscing about her past relationship. While doing so, she is brought to tears and this implies that she has some ‘unspoken words’ to her former partner. I think this provides a stronger mechanism to provides the song’s message, as images do end up being as powerful as the audio. I also liked the contrast of colours. It was colder through the sadder moments, while definitely colourful and warming in the happier memories.

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

[Review] UNDER COVER – A.C.E

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Since the promotions of Cactus and Callin’ in 2017, A.C.E went on a mini hiatus due to each member’s participation on different survival shows. Jun and Chan participated in The Unit (with Chan managing to place ninth and debut as part of UNB); while Wow, Kim Byeongkwan and Donghun participated in MIXNINE (with Kim Byeongkwan and Donghun making it into the final group). As the final groups of MIXNINE were unable to debut due to logistical reasons, A.C.E announced a 4-member comeback (excluding Chan due to UNB promotions) with Take Me Higher last year. Today, the group return with all five members and the title track, UNDER COVER 

A.C.E ditches the light and bright concept they went for in Take Me Higher for this comeback. Instead, the group returns to the intense sound that it debuted with. To be even more accurate,  the group managed to return with a more concentrated version of the intensity we got back then. UNDER COVER‘s instrumental opted for a rock-based instrumental over the usual dance synths to really throw us into the deep end of all this energy and intensity. Given the current industry’s direction, this makes the track very unique and I don’t mind this difference. While the song does allow for strong choreography, the song also managed showcased a lot of amazing vocals. Even the rapping was awesome. Both managed to fit in well with the impactful nature of the instrumental and surprisingly, they were not drowned out in any way. I think the track is a very powerful and hardcore form to mark their return to the stage. I do quite like it and I can expect many repeats listens, especially when I need that instantaneous rush of energy.

I think the music video works really well with the song (with the exception of one section). I liked the edginess they brought along through their red military jackets and the dark nature of some of the shots. I just think the choreography scenes in the tiled white rooms to be ill-fitting. It just felt too bright and colourful for this track. Also, I would have liked the song a little more if they brought down the brightness. I think edgy does well in a darker setting and this could have been showcased a little more. I liked the overlaying of some words on the screen. I thought that gave a possible aesthetic vibe and wished they did more of it throughout the video to really add to this vibe.

No live performances yet. But I think what is shown in the music video is definitely a lot already. The dance moves were pretty amazing as well, complimenting the intense style of the song. It is definitely a powerful routine and probably very hard to pull off while singing live.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating -8.4/10

[Album Review] A New Journey (3rd Mini Album) – Nam Woohyun (Infinite)

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Today’s album review will be focusing on Nam Woohyun’s latest solo mini-album, A New Journey, which also features the title track Hold On Me. In the past, Nam Woohyun’s releases have revolved around the ballad genre. But with a fitting title such as A New Journey, it is implied that a new direction is taken. And with the intro track and title track suggesting a more upbeat route, it is definitely ‘A New Journey‘ for the Infinite member in terms of solo releases. So let’s follow Woohyun and see what songs are included on the album.

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A New Journey Album Cover

2. Hold On Me (ft. Junoflo) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Hold On Me. (9/10)

3. Rain – The song is a mixture of different sounds. However, I don’t think it is an overwhelming mix. I just think it could have been tied together more nicely. The few changes it did feature were very obvious in nature and it created a messy atmosphere as a result. I think the track was going towards a dynamic vibe and a more cohesive approach (if it is possible) would have really benefited the main appeal of the track. It starts off with an acoustic-like electric guitar introduction and slowly builds to a Latin-inspired chorus with both electric and acoustic guitars at the forefront. The song remains in this mode up until a brief pause at the end and it changes completely. So different that I thought a new song had started. The first listen was overwhelming but that feeling died down after multiple listens, as suggested above. I thought the vocals were well presented in this track, with that being another highlight. (7.5/10)

4. Stranger – While this track does sound a little typical, the rush of energy that we get from the chorus makes it sound so good. Personally, I think this song ticks all the boxes on my checklist for an amazing song. Great vocals, great energy, great beat. Everything was great! It just felt like it was missing one element. I did lowkey expected a rap sequence during the instrumental break. And I think that could have made the song a little more interesting. The instrumental break did feel like a small void and it would have helped if it was filled up in some way. (9/10)

5. Crying Baby – While I did mention that the album took an upbeat approach (and this song is no exception from that), Crying Baby’s verses made it feel very ballad-like. But that doesn’t hold for long, as the song takes a turn (though I don’t remember exactly if this turn was expected or unexpected for me). I am glad that the majority of the singing for this song was during the verses, making way for an empty-ish chorus to be filled with loud dubstep effects. I find this a well contrasting mix due to its differences in softness and loudness; delicate and rough; ballad and electronics etc. If any major singing parts were to occur during the chorus, no doubt that Woohyun voice would have been drowned out. (8/10)

6. Just Look At Me (넌 나만 바라봐) – The first thing that really pops out at me in this track is Woohyun’s airy and lower toned vocals. It is a lot different than his vocal approach in any other song on the album, so it is different intriguing. I like the instrumental for this track, as well. The synths are a little loud, which at times did feel like it was drowning out vocals. They did attempt to combat this by incorporating some loud backing vocals (that he does a good job harmonizing with), which expelled a very dominant retro vibe to the song. This was successful to varying degrees along the track. But overall, I thought it was a nice track. (8/10)

7. Flower – Flower is probably the most ‘expected’ track off this album to fit into Woohyun’s existing portfolio. It isn’t strictly a ballad, however. But I find the song to be consistent with a softer nature and more traditional instrumentation that you expected for a ballad. It is also the one song on the album that provides relief from the loaded energy that we have coming from the album. And this relief is much appreciated. Flower ends up being a typical café style and almost-jazzy number, which I enjoy time to time. Because of the energy I mentioned just a moment ago, this is a good example of when I enjoy this type of song. A part of me says this is a lacklustre song to end with, due to its standard nature. But at the same time, it is definitely pleasant. (7/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.1/10

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A New Journey Teaser Image

[Review] Feedback – Ladies Code

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Despite approaching the end of the week, we continue to see an influx of releases. To avoid adding to the massive backlog of reviews from early in the week, I will tackle a release from today. The release chosen for this review is Ladies Code long-awaited comeback with Feedback. It has definitely been a while since we heard from the trio. I was shocked to find to their last release (The Rain) was three years ago. Since then, the members embarked on their solo careers with Sojung and Ashley making their respective debuts with Better Than Me and Here We Are (both of which I did not review).

While I did expect Ladies Code to make a comeback with something to go beyond the mature yet aesthetic nature of The Rain, it was rather interesting to hear something a little more towards the original roots of the group. We aren’t going back to their catchy retro days, however. Feedback does take a page out of that chapter and combine it with the mature sound from their more ‘recent’ releases. Together, we get a jazzy and lively track. If we were to compare Feedback to previous releases from other groups, it does sound like a cliche sound to return with. But Ladies Code has the amazing vocals to fall back on, which I think did appear in this song. But not to the extent that I hoped for. I felt towards the end of the song, they could have gone even further with high notes and ad-libs, as this would bring an additional dimension forward. It is also the vocals that also reminded me of The Rain, as I heard some similar moments (like the pre-chorus) I felt the chorus was also catchy and definitely made this song pleasant. I can definitely see myself listening to this track to get myself into a good mood, especially with all the work I need to complete.

I want to say it is was a nice video. But given my comments that I am about to make in a moment, I think I may be a bit generous. Once again, not the most impressive or mindblowing video out there. But I think they did a good job of showcasing that vibrancy that I mentioned before. I liked the golden lighting, which really made it feel Summery. I didn’t really care for their scenes with the guy or the solo shots of the members doing their own thing (they were forgettable for the most part). It was the choreography shots that really made this video good. Not sure why this is the case, as these only made a small portion of the video, but I guess it was the most lively moments of the video.

As indicated above, the performance was quite lively and animated. I enjoyed watching it and thought their moves were decent. The moves seem to really allow the members to focus on their vocals,  which I think allows them to shine the most on stage.

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

[Review] Dramatic – BVNDIT

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Joining yesterday’s rush of music (and music video) releases yesterday is BVNDIT’s surprise comeback, Dramatic. For those who don’t remember who BVNDIT are, they are a new female group who debuted last month. Consisting of five members (Yiyeon, Songhee, Jungwoo, Simyeong and Seungeun),  the group made their debut with Hocus Pocus, which is featured on the group’s debut single-album, BVNDIT, Be Ambitious!.

Unlike the song’s title, Dramatic was not as dramatic as I had expected. I thought the song would be more loaded and heavier. But the song ended up being on the light side. However, besides that, I thought it was a pretty ear-catching song to follow up with after their debut track. I think the best aspect of the song is its instrumentation. I find the rough dance up and down rhythm to be very intriguing and addictive. The short bursts of flute gave a nice detail to the verses. which I personally thought was a cool addition to the song. The way the song was presented meant that we didn’t get an opportunity to hear their stronger vocals. But given that logic, I thought the rappers fared better and did shine in this song. I think the only thing that could have really made the song better was a hardcore dance break. I was low key expecting that to occur. Despite the fact that it would be a cliche move, I think it would have given the song a more dramatic vibe and definitely made the song more appealing with an additional rush of energy.

Unfortunately, we do not have a full-fledged music video with this release. Instead, the ‘music video’ was a performance video, with some additional close up shots. But the main focus is on their choreography (and hence I shall discuss that section of the review here as well but I will rank them separately). This focus isn’t the end of the road as I think they do a pretty good job. One example is through their outfits, which were very fitting. The olive green coloured and black coloured outfits definitely matched the vibe of the song. As for the choreography, I thought their overall routine was extremely suitable for the song. There is a slightly edgy vibe in the song which they channel well. I really enjoyed the moves for the chorus and the post-chorus hook. I think they were the coolest out of the 3 and a half minutes.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 7.6/10

[Review] Ah Yeah – WINNER

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Also making their comeback today is Winner with Ah Yeah. This is the group’s first comeback since their Millions single, released back in December of last year. Ah Yeah is also the title track off the group’s second-ever mini-album, which is titled as We. Interestingly, both EXID’s and Winner’s mini-albums released today share the same name. I am not sure whether this will be an issue or everyone will ignore it. But definitely an interesting situation. (Note that EXID previously had a title track titled Ah Yeah as well).

But we are here to focus on Winner’s Ah Yeah for now. Ah Yeah has this brightness that just pops, making it perfect for a Summer’s release. And given that style, I think it picks up nicely from where Millions left off. The way the song starts with the guitar doesn’t seem to be as refreshing as you want. It felt very ‘done before’ and lacked ambition. But once the song starts picking up during the pre-chorus, the song slowly gets interesting. It just doesn’t last too long, however, as the chorus feels very standard in today’s tropical trend. I did think the chorus did fare a little more better as it gave the song that brightness mentioned before and the repetition of ‘Ah Yeah‘ was quite catchy. The vocalists were good but I think the song allows the rappers to really zone in both their rapping and vocals. I did like the background chanting of the chorus at the end of the song, which once again, brings the track together to add an extra vibrant aspect. But other than that, I think the track falls short due to its alignment with the typicalness of today’s trends.

Matching the bright and vibrant atmosphere of the song is an equally bright and vibrant music video. The members all seem to have fun, while playful introduce the song’s lyrics (My interpretation of the lyrics is after a breakup, they can no longer be friends with their ex and rather become strangers, even though their lover wants to remain as friends). There were some wacky moments during their playful poke at the song’s message. I think the weirdest has to be Mino’s lobster hand and leg. Especially the leg. That made me laugh.

Based on what I see in the music video, their performance seems simple in comparison to other choreographies. Not that I am complaining because their instrumental doesn’t really call for anything complicated. Simplicity is key sometimes and I think this is one of the times (and they nailed it). The dance still looks fun, which goes hand-in-hand with the song.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.8/10