Category: KPOP

[Album Review] The Dream Chapter: Star (1st Mini Album) – TXT

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TXT, the newest boy group from Big Hit Entertainment, made their official debut last Monday. And due to their association with BTS, we all know that we have to check out their work. Hence, today we will be looking further into their very first mini-album. For those who don’t know, TXT is a 5 member male group consisting of Soobin, Yeonjun, Byeomgyu, Taehyun and Huening Ka. The group’s name, TXT, stands for Tomorrow X Together. Now, let’s get on with the review!

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The Dream Chapter: Star Album Cover

1..Blue Orangeade – Blue Orangeade is a fairly light song to kick off their first album release. While the start kicks off in an intense fashion, the rest of the song felt very ordinary. The melody was not that strong, and the song felt repetitive. But while it may be ordinary, it does have some good aspects that do draw my attention to the song. I think the song managed to showcase their vocals and rapping in a decent manner. It matches the lightness of the instrumental and doesn’t feel overwhelmingly bold. I also enjoyed that acapella effect that was built into the instrumentation. It is something a little different to what we hear often nowadays. Overall, I think just wanted more grabbing, like the title track, since this is the first song on their first album. (7/10)

2. Crown (어느날 머리에서 뿔이 자랐다) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Crown. (9/10)

3. Our Summer – Our Summer is my favourite sidetrack on the album. It features a nice light tropical house instrumental. But what sets this song apart from the first song (as I described them both as light) gradually builds up and launches itself into an upbeat instrumental that manages to be very appealing. Yes, it is a song of an overused genre, but it doesn’t mean it is a bad song. I liked how peaceful the verses of the song is and how they continue on with the peacefulness and pleasantness in the chorus despite adding more to the instrumental. Their vocals are very refreshing. I think the track would have been nicer with a rap sequence but what we got is already amazing. (9.5/10)

4. Cat & Dog – Cat & Dog has a very neat hip-hop influenced style. It also shares a cute message of wanting to be their lover’s pet, as that way they will be closer to their lover for the majority of the day. And I do like the song quite a bit. It is fun, youthful and inviting to listeners. I do think the autotune was a bit much and that they could have gone easier on that front. I think given the hip-hop influence, their rapping does shine considerably. I also quite like the ending as it is memorable as it goes that extra mile for me. From the ‘I Just Wanna Be A Dog’ line to the barking, the song ends with a unique touch and made me chuckle yet wanting more. (9/10)

5. Nap Of A Star (별의 낮잠) – This ballad starts off with amazing vocals. The breathy nature and the soft volume they add to their usual vocals really give the song impact. The harmonies are also very beautiful, while they also seemed to be heavily utilised in the song to give it some definition. Otherwise, the song would have been very bare. The instrumental is simple, featuring guitar all throughout and some deep percussion, which was added later on. Nothing else was used, so it solely relies on the vocals. The combination of everything really makes it an amazing ballad that ends the album on a very peaceful and warm note. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.9/10

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The Dream Chapter: Star Teaser Image

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[Review] What You Waiting For? – R.Tee & Anda

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It is time for another review for an artist that I have not yet reviewed. Anda is a female soloist currently signed under YGX (a subsidiary under YG Entertainment and owned by Seungri), who made her solo debut back in 2012 under a different company and has since released a number of singles such as Touch, Hypnotizing and Mastering. She more recently appeared in Seungri’s 2018 music video for 1,2,3. On Wednesday, she released her first single as a YGX artist, titled What You Waiting For?, which is a collaboration with R.Tee, a music producer and DJ signed under The Black Label (another YG Entertainment subsidiary).

What You Waiting For? is a powerful dance track that delves into the EDM genre in a very catching manner. Obviously, I am talking about the chorus and its repetitive drop. It doesn’t exactly go in the direction that I had expected based on the melodic nature of the first verse. Instead, it takes a firm beat and repeats in a very addictive way. It doesn’t feel overbearing nor overwhelming, highlighting R.tee’s production. I like the glitchy effect throughout the song, giving some nice texture. I also really liked the dramatic flair that the bridge carried, which was another changeup I did not expect (even though a slowdown of some sort was expected).  The other ‘half’ of the collaboration was Anda’s vocals, which I think was very good. I never paid attention to her to before but this makes me wonder what else I was missing out on. I liked how she matched the production by showcasing a vigorous tone. And based on this, I would anticipate any of her future works. The only thing that I was not fond was the ending. It felt like it left us hanging or incomplete. But that might just be me.

The lyrics of the song asks her lover ‘What You Waiting For’ after she observes hesitance in her partner. In the video, we see Anda’s own development, going from unsure to her confident self. We see this through that mirror box she becomes trapped in and the outfit change we see within that confinement. I am not sure about the significance of the very beginning where she wakes up in the unfamiliar technological surrounding and realizes she is microchipped. I also thought seeing R.Tee in the video was interesting. We don’t often see producers in the music video and the way they had him in the centre, with the backup dancers dancing behind him was rather cool and felt inclusive. Overall, I thought it was a nice video with good sets.

The other part of this comeback that stands out is the performance. Anda’s energy adds fuel to the song and I think looks good from an audience standpoint. I also like how she didn’t shy away and matched the male backup dancers effortlessly in the music video. I think the best part overall was her interactions with the backup dancers one by one. It looked cool.

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

[Review] Tuxedo – Ravi (VIXX)

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In my quest to reviewing new artists, I decided to write about Ravi’s latest solo release. Ravi debuted as a solo artist back in 2016 and surprisingly, I have shied away from all his solo releases since then. I am not even sure why. It might because I don’t review mixtapes or that I don’t enjoy songs purely of rapping that much. But whatever the reason, I have missed out on opportunities to review songs like BOMB (featuring SanE) and Nirvana (featuring Park Ji Min). But today, we focus on Tuxedo which is the title track of Ravi’s second mini-album, R.OOK BOOK.

Tuxedo has this groovy instrumental that does stand out to an extent. It isn’t something that I had expected from Ravi, due to his work with hip-hop and rap in the past. While I do like the grooviness and funkiness, I did think the song was a tad too consistent. There were trumpets in the chorus that did give a little extra something but I am unsure if it was enough. The bridge did feature a slight slowdown and buildup to the final chorus, but it didn’t feel memorable enough. I did like the melody of the track, especially during the chorus. I would have to say this is his most melodic work yet (based on his title tracks from what I could remember). But the biggest downfall of the track is the autotuned vocals and raps. I don’t understand why the song was heavily autotuned. It just instantly drew me away from the song. If it was used subtly or in moderation, I think the song could have been more attractive. overall, I think it is safe to say I am not a major fan of the song.

The song talks about wanting to break free from a boring life and having some fun. And based on the lyrics, his attire to having fun is in a tuxedo. Very classy. The video features party vibes, which goes hand-in-hand with the lyrics.  However, I honestly wanted more tuxedos. Not just the one kind but multiple tuxedos. While it does seem like a cliche move, I wouldn’t mind it and it could potentially have made the video interesting. But overall,  I thought was it a well-fitted video.

I think the performance does a good job of bringing those party vibes to the stage. A few things I noticed – the backup dancers looked like they were having a genuinely good time and I didn’t realize Ravi was so tall until I saw how all the backup dancers were shorter than him (but that may be just the camera angle). I also liked how Ravi used his charms to really appeal to the audience.

Song – 5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 6/10

[Album Review] I MADE (2nd Mini Album) – (G)I-DLE

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(G)I-DLE returned last week with their brand new single, Senorita, which is featured on the group’s 2nd mini-album, I Made. Today, we will be having a closer look at the album and the other tracks that are present alongside Senorita. But if you don’t want to read the full album review, I got you! Just a very quick summary of the review before we get started – everything is fantastic. Not one bad song present, so the album gets my nod of approval (and that ‘Recommended’ sticker below). But if you want an in-depth dive, continue reading below!

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I Made Album Cover

1..Senorita (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Senorita. (8.5/10)

2. What’s Your Name – What’s Your Name stands out for its heaviness. It isn’t necessarily a bad thing as I cannot pinpoint any song with a heavy instrumental like this (i.e. it is somewhat refreshing). And as the song is quite heavy, they didn’t too much to the instrumental to give it an overpowering effect. Instead, I liked the EDM drop, which gave the song some nice texture and energy at the same time. The build-up was also memorable, partly due to the vocals as well. While we already mention vocals, I thought that they stood out based on this element alone in this song. Their vocals were quite simple, but it managed to work well with the instrumental. Likewise, the raps also get the same comments and I think the more melodic approach with their delivery in time around. (8.5/10)

3. Put It Straight (싫다고 말해) – (G)I-DLE’s approach to a ballad is very interesting. And it is the style that I am very into. The first thing that grabs your attention is their vocals. All members take a husky and low tone vocal approach, which I think was amazingly done. I liked how the music worked alongside the members. Usually, the instrumental is laid down first with the vocals following. But for this song, particularly the verses, the instrumental moulds itself around the vocals. Their vocals also seemed to be emotionally driven and with further inspection, the song talks about loneliness in a relationship. But when you read the English lyrics of the song, you just can’t help but notice how eerie the song sounds as a result. (9/10)

4. Give Me Your (주세요) – Once again, the group changes up style with this song. Give Me Your shares the opposite feeling to the previous song, reflecting upon one’s feeling to their partner. And with that, the song takes a brighter tone, which I much appreciate. The style they went for reminds me of the folksy songs that IU releases every now and then. Once again, no rapping in this as rapping would fit this folksy style. Instead, all the members opt for vocals Soyeon does get close to rapping, but it stays close to her preceding vocal section. I personally don’t mind the song but it isn’t my cup of tea. (8/10)

5. Blow Your Mind – When Blow Your Mind first started, it felt like a very straightforward and serious R&B track. Minnie does a good job of making us think this way. But once the song picks up and the chorus kicks in, the song seems to get a retro influence in the instrumentation. The ‘You You You… Oh Oh’ repetition (my favourite bit of the song) that follows the chorus gives it a quirky nature, becoming the second unexpected changeup. Soyeon returns to rapping in this song and manages to slay her lines remarkably in this song. Once again, I think this was an amazing ending to the album. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.6/10

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I Made Teaser Image

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[Double Review] News + Party Girl – Jang Dong Woo (Infinite)

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It is time to look at a solo debut from Monday (I think this is the last of the releases from Monday. Apologies for the lateness of this review). This time around it is Dongwoo from Infinite, the group’s resident rapper. The idol released two music videos for News (the official title track) and Party Girl, and hence I will be reviewing both of songs today in this post. Both songs are featured on his first mini-album titled Bye. In other related news, Infinite recently returned with a special digital single, Clock.

Starting off with News, it is a slow electronic dance track that feels like it loaded with emotions. In fact, the song talks about the emotions you get during a breakup, so it is definitely successful in conveying those emotions. It also seems like the song does a good job of pushing Dongwoo’s vocals. We actually hear more of his vocals than ever before and I sense potential. We do see some rapping and I thought there would be more of this element as this is what he is known for. Furthermore, I did like the dramatic flair to the song through the instrumental, especially the loud crashes which create some intensity in the chorus. However, when I listen to the full track, the is a sense of dryness to the song. It isn’t really that memorable and I don’t find myself wanting more, which is a little disappointing.

Party Girl is a completely different sound. The does start off with a similar feel to News. But as the song slowly starts to build up to its drop, you can tell is rather different. Firstly., the drop is more suited to what the title suggests, a party. The synthesizer used really gives the song that needed burst of energy and is quite ear-catching. which makes the song more memorable for me. And it is because of the chorus, I thoroughly enjoy the song more. The song, too, also showcases his vocals extremely well. The ad-libs at the end were pretty good. Interestingly, there is no rapping. Though I like the song how it is, I think some rapping would be worthwhile.

Fitting in with the serious emotional nature of News, the music video opts for a dark feel. The shade black is used extensively throughout the video. I also like how the cinematography was matching to the instrumental. More the most part, the camera shots are smooth and slow. But when the tiny effect in the instrumental appear, the shots transitions are a lot quicker and timed well. Overall, I thought it was a good video. Party Girl infuses a lot more colour into the video. But instead of being very colourful as a rainbow, the producer/director chose colours that felt more ‘electronic’ if you know what I mean. It is kind of hard to explain but I still like the infusion of colour. Like the cinematography in this video as well. During the chorus, the camera starts becoming shaky and more erratic, fitting in with the energy we got from the chorus.

 I liked how smooth his movements were for the News performance. But what I like the most was when he was dancing with the female backup dancer. I thought that was the dynamic part of the entire performance. I didn’t like her inclusion at the start and preferred her during the second verse. However, when it comes to the entire performance, I prefer Party Girl. That is because I prefer things to be energetic and I liked the moves they pulled off during Party Girl. I felt it was dynamic all the way.

News
Song – 710
Music Video  – 8/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 7.3/10

Party Girl
Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.3/10

[Review] I Wanna Be – Key (SHINee) ft. Soyeon ((G)I-DLE)

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As of yesterday, Key (from SHINee) enlisted into the military to begin his mandatory enlistment. But he didn’t part without releasing some new music. I Wanna Be, which features Kim Soyeon from the girl group (G)I-DLE, is Key’s newest release and serves as a parting present for fans. It is one of the three new songs on the repackaged album which shares the same name as the lead title track. The album was formerly known as Face and it featured One of These Nights (ft. Crush) and Forever Yours (ft. Soyou).

I Wanna Be is a very refreshing pop dance track. I say refreshing as I haven’t heard anything like this before. The instrumental carries some familiar EDM influences but together it sounds like something quite new. There is this slight vibrating synth that I find extremely appealing. I also enjoyed the pulsing beating during the verses, which later became more frequent and bolder during the chorus. Talking about the chorus, I wasn’t sure exactly when it begins. I assume it was when the song became upbeat but the preceding section felt like the start due to the vocals/lyrics. So I am going to label the preceding part as the pre-chorus. I found the pre-chorus interesting as it seemed to feature a female voice behind Key’s. Not exactly sure if it Kim Soyeon’s but I thought the harmonies were really nice. Key’s voice is amazing in this track. I think we can all agree that he has vastly improved since his earlier days. Kim Soyeon’s part was very flowy and I like that a lot. Usually, we see her with intensity, and while I do prefer that, it is nice to see her handle something more delicate.

I really like colour, so I enjoy seeing used in a way that is stylish and sleek. So I appreciate a very vibrant looking video. I Wanna Be‘s music video is essentially that. The use of red and green in their respective sets look amazing and gives off a bold impression. This causes both Key and Kim Soyeon to stand out through the video, which I thought was a great way to really allow them to pop and not become part of the sets. Other than that, I am keen to learn more about the content of the video. He holds the globe in his hands and there were a series of numbers that flash over the TV screen in the video. I don’t know what this all means but it left me intrigued.

The dancing in this video is pretty amazing. Particularly the dance break that follows the choruses. His footwork (or rather knees) look very cool. It is a little disappointing that we won’t see an actual live performance (or dance version) of this track any time soon.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 7.5/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.3/10

[Album Review] Pink Funky (3rd Mini Album) – Mamamoo

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Mamamoo isn’t back with a brand new comeback just yet! In fact, they will be returning towards the end of next week with the final instalment of their Four Seasons Project. But that doesn’t stop us from reviewing one of their past albums. Pink Funky was released back in 2015 and it features 6 songs in total, including the title track Um Oh Ah Yeah and the pre-release single, Aah Oop! (links to their respective reviews below). Um Oh Ah Yeah is also the very comeback that grew the group’s popularity due to their unique performances and the song’s very catchy nature.

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Pink Funky Teaser Image

1..Freakin Shoes – Freakin Shoes feels like an odd title but it actually makes a lot of sense. Essentially the song likens a pair of new shoes to a person’s crush. Simply, they need to be bought before they are off the market. It is a fun light-hearted song that leads onto the main title track quite nicely. The song features a variety of sounds and vocals from each member, showcasing their capabilities in this somewhat cutesy pop sound (though there seemed to a slight dash of hip-hop influence at the start). When I first re-listened to the song to write the review, I thought the instrumental during the chorus was similar to the later-released Aze Gag. I also thought this song was quite catchy with its chant-like and repetitive chorus. It isn’t overly repeated, which I think makes this track refreshing rather than annoying. (8.5/10)

2. Um Oh Ah Yeah (음오아예) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Um Oh Ah Yeah. (9/10)

3. Sting (따끔) – While the first song deserved its popularity, Sting is the under-appreciated song on the album that deserves some love as well. It is a ballad about realising you still have feelings for a former lover despite thinking you have already moved on. Sting features amazing vocals that really make this song as amazing as it is. Wheein, Hwasa and Solar all do an amazing job with their voices in the song, especially during the bridge which really gave the song that powerful tone despite it being a emotionally driven ballad. If you like Mamamoo for their vocals, then this is the song for you. Moonbyul fans, unfortunately, Moonbyul didn’t have any lines in the version that is featured on the album. However, there are live performances with a special additional rap section, which I thought was fitting and nicely done. (9/10)

4. No No No (갑과 을) – No No No starts adding more funk to the album. It is quite energetic and bright, which I thought was rather fun. Penned by Moonbyul, the song is written to (or in regards) to her ex. It is all about her ex underappreciating back then but now (since she is popular and successful) that they have changed their attitudes about her. I like how the lyrics showcase a more confident side of the girls, which I think is quite appropriate given the background story of the lyrics. I quite liked the vocals of the members, including the rap sequences done by both Hwasa and Moonbyul. The chorus was quite groovy as well. I did notice some Esna influence in some sections of the song and this reminds me of Aah Oop! (8/10)

5. Self Camera – Self Camera takes on a soft R&B sound with some funk mixed into it. And like the first song, this one likens love to a camera. Once again, the vocals of the members stand out in Self Camera, especially in the final moments of the song. I also thought there was an easy-going tone with the song, which does slightly draw some attention to the song. However, I felt the song was weaker than the rest. I didn’t instantly standout, which seemed to be the case for the other songs when I think about it. However, it is still a nice song to listen to. (7.5/10)

6. AHH OOP! (아훕!)) (with Esna) – Click here to read the full review of AAH OOP!. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.3/10

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Pink Funky Teaser Image

[Review] Noir – Sunmi

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Still continuing on from today’s list of comebacks and debuts is Sunmi. Her comeback is a bit surprising as there wasn’t really a buildup to it (i..e no prior announcement or confirmation that she is coming back that I am aware of). Instead, I only caught wind of it through the sudden teasers released last week. But regardless, Sunmi has returned with Noir and this is her first comeback since Siren last year.

While I have listened to the song a few times already, I am not exactly falling in love with it straight away. Maybe a few more listens is required. I think this is because the song has a much more serious feel to it, which isn’t what I am used to. The lyrics to Noir are quite deep, which explains the serious nature of the song. The meaning, which I pinched from a YouTube comment, will be discussed in the music video section of this review as it goes hand-in-hand there. I like the slight funkiness in the instrumental, which is quite up Sunmi’s alley. I also like how it feels quite still, despite it being an upbeat song. The consistency here works really well (i.e. causes that stillness) and hence it comes off as having an eerie vibe to it. The song doesn’t seem to have too much of a hook that is memorable (yet). Though the elongated ‘Noir’ that follows the chorus does seem to be growing on me. I also liked how some of the vocals are textured (i..e the background vocals for example), which gives an interesting appeal and much-needed texture.

My interpretation is all based on the YouTube comment by Kane K, so props to him for this following excerpt. I have attached a screenshot of it below as it will be a better explanation than what I will ever give.

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It is clear that the video takes a stab at social media from the very start. The cake at the start catches on fire very quickly and Sunmi grabs her phone to put it on Instagram. The exact same thing happens at the end with her car and she automatically puts it on Instagram. Essentially her character in the video cares more about likes and views than anything else and this becomes more apparent as the video progresses. One scene in the video shows her having anxiety and dislike all over her body, which seems to be at the hate she gets. But despite that, she covers the ‘un’ in ‘unfollow’ written across her chest due to her addiction to attention. So yes, it is a dark, dark world in this day and age.

We have yet to see a performance from Sunmi for this track and hence, I will update this review once we get one (and I will also be updating Monsta X’s Alligator as well then).

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – To Be Updated
Overall Rating – 7.8/10

[Review] Crown – TXT

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Hailing from Big Hit Entertainment, which houses the extremely popular and world-wide known BTS, TXT begins their reign of the KPOP industry starting today. TXT, which stands for Tomorrow X Together, is a 5 member male group consisting of Soobin, Yeonjun, Byeomgyu, Taehyun and Huening Kai. They make their debut through the title track Crown and the mini-album The Dream Chapter: STAR. The group has already garnered some momentum as they are the first group to debut under Big Hit since BTS. While this may be biased for some people, it was going to bring an interesting player to the industry.

Since they are coming from Big Hit, I had expected the group to debut with a song that feels heavy and serious. But this isn’t the case, which I think benefits the group as they are allowed to show their own individuality. Instead, Crown is an upbeat KPOP song that shows off their youthful charms. I don’t think there is any other way to describe the song besides that it is extremely fitting to what we know from the industry. Crown starts off with synthetic horns (that I already enjoy) and also I believe is morse code (though I am not too sure and I don’t know what they are trying to send to us if that is the case). We then get a rush of energy once the song starts picking up. The group has really nice vocals that do shine throughout this song, especially during the pre-chorus and chorus. The rapping sequence was also quite good but I like how they are also scattered throughout the song, giving us more opportunity to hear the rappers. I also find the song quite catchy due to its upbeat vibes and fresh melodies. Overall, I feel that this is an extremely strong debut track to launch their career with.

I personally like the video. While I was hoping they get something along the lines of BTS’ music videos, I like the direction they went with. Instead of being overly colourful and complicated, the video opts to show more simple sets and this allows the members to look like they are laidback, which is more in line with the video. I really like the stop-motion that appears in the video and the post-production light images they inserted into the video. It all looks cool and very youthful.

The performance side of the group seems to be their most promising. Not that everything else was terrible, as I have enjoyed the rest of their debut (song & music video) so far. But I thought their dancing was pretty darn good. I liked how it seemed like it was non-stop, which I thought was very nice. It was also quite energetic and I want to see more!

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9.3/10

[Review] Focus On Me – Jus2

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Kicking off the comebacks for this week is GOT7’s newest subunit. We all know of JJ Project, which was started before GOT7’s debut. But today, we see s slightly different subunit lineup. Jus2 is made up of GOT7’s leader, JB, and GOT7’s maknae, Yugyeom. An interesting yet satisfying combination.  They make their debut with their first mini album, Focus, and the title track, Focus On Me. This also marks the beginning of GOT7’s promotions for 2019 as we last saw them through their Miracle promotions at the end of 2018.

I think it was expected that the two would come together and release an R&B based song, as I believe this two be the genre that the two would float to. I found the song to be extremely smooth in nature and has this very chill tone to it. I like how the beat is well defined over the chill tone, giving the track a dynamic nature in the most subtle way.  The instrumental overall makes the song quite appealing. But what actually manages to stand out more are the vocals of the duo. Like any other R&B song, they chose a very sensual and extremely smooth approach, which is extremely fitting for the instrumental. They also added some raspy textures, all of which I enjoyed while listening to the song. I did feel the hook was on the weaker side but the repetition of the title throughout the song does what it says successfully. That is, they get you to focus on them.

The music video for this song is very artistic. The sets looked like art exhibitions, which does make sense as you would ‘focus’ at an art exhibition. But instead of art, they are on display. I also liked the glitchy nature of the video. It gives the video some interesting textures, as a straight up 100% smooth natured video wouldn’t have the same effect as this one does. I also like their multi-room concept, where the rooms come into view right after leaving the other and that the previous room is still viewable in the distance. It is unique to see especially throughout the video, as i is commonly seen once or twice throughout a video. Very nice video that I think has a strong impact.

The choreography looks really nice. I like when they sing ‘Focus On Me‘, they look through the circle they form with their hands. It makes sense. I also like how their moves pulsate along with the music, making it even more fitting for the song. It looks promising for the stages later in the week.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 10/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.6/10

[Album Review] Narcissus (6th Mini Album) – SF9

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It is time for another album review and today we will have a closer look at SF9’s latest mini-album, Narcissus, which was released last week. It features the title track, Enough and five other amazing songs. And I cannot emphasise that enough. This is one extremely high-quality album, where every song is praised. I barely have anything negative to say about the songs, as you will find out as you read the review. Furthermore, it is extremely rare for me to actually enjoy every song in the album. Okay, before I continue to ramble on, I hand you over to the actual review.

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Narcissus Album Cover

1..Enough (예뻐지지 마) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Enough. (9/10)

2. Play Hard (화끈하게) – Play Hard is exactly what the song’s title suggest. It urges you to enjoy yourself and have a great time living life after a hard week’s worth of work. I am totally loving the chorus for the song. The saxophone infused upbeat chorus is extremely fun sounding and definitely gets you into the groove for partying. I like how the rappers got a lot of parts in the song, with their deep voices complimenting the bright and energetic nature of the song. I also really liked the shared lines between in the chorus as well. I find it a little intriguing that there is also a dance break in the midst of the song, as the song pretty much covered the necessity of that already. But I guess the song is about partying, so why not have some more fun while you are it? (9/10)

3. Heartbeat (하필) – Heartbeat starts off in an ambiguous nature, as you are a little unsure what direction the song would take. You do here a paced heartbeat in the background, but it doesn’t really tell you how the song would progress. The song starts taking shape once the song once Rowoon starts singing and the amazing guitar starts, with the latter leaving me floored. The chorus confirms the presence of a pop track in our midst and I think I really like the nature of the chorus, giving me nostalgia to past pop songs. The rapping was quite awesome in this song. It isn’t the main element in the song (as the vocals are, which are equally as nice). The only thing that I don’t agree with on the track is the autotuned ‘I can feel your heartbeat’. Yes, it does feel very fitting for a pop context. But I think it just ruins what the song really built up to. (9/10)

4. Life Is So Beautiful – Another good track from the group but it doesn’t scream at me straight away. Instead, it takes a few listens for me to really appreciate its pretty intense drop and overall sound. To me, the EDM chorus stands out the most. The build-up in the pre-chorus promises it to be something quite fast-paced. But the actual chorus ended being dragged out and slower than expected. I think that really did a lot to attract my attention. The vocals in this track, along with the rap are, once again, extremely commendable. I like the underlying of electric guitars at the end. It could have been easily missed, however, due to the intensity of the chorus. (8/10)

5. Fall In Love – Fall In Love is probably the closest song to a ballad on the album. It does still have a dance influence due to the presence of the consistent drum beat in the background. But it is the piano that is the most dominant instrument in the instrumental and it gives the song a really beautiful melody. And due to the presence of the beautiful melody, the vocals benefit as they are given a platform to really shine. But as usual, their rappers managed to slide perfectly into the song and I am impressed with that. I think this would be a very nice track to listen to on a rainy day and I might just put this one on during the next wet day that comes by. (9/10)

6. The Beat Goes On (무중력) – We return to upbeat vibes for the last track on the album. There is a very cheerful vibe to the song that sets it apart from the rest of the album. I also like how it isn’t a really hard-hitting track. Instead, there is a hint of softness to the track that really holds it down and feels refreshing. For this track, I prefer the vocals to the rapping, as the song focuses more on the vocals, while the rapping is more of a side element. I liked the melody of the track, especially during the chorus, which is lead by Rowoon and Taeyang. I also like the ‘Beat Goes On’ line that brings everyone to the microphone. And honestly, it wraps up the album neatly. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.8/10

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Narcissus Teaser Image

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[Review] Slow Dance – Park YuChun (JYJ)

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As time goes by, I become more and more guilty over the fact that my last JYJ related review was back in 2013 for Xiah Junsu’s Incredible. Their actual last group promotion that I actually reviewed (In Heaven) was actually back in 2011 (when I first started the site). And I feel guilty because I know there have been solo releases and group promotions that I never got around to review them. But that is all going to change now as I will review Park YuChun’s first solo release, Slow Dance, today. This is YuChun’s first Korean solo release since his release from the army last year.

To me, the track doesn’t feel like a KPOP song. I know the current ongoing trend is to infuse Latin influences into KPOP songs. And while Slow Dance is also on board with this trend, the song feels more of a Western song. And I am actually not sure why. There are a number of things that may explain why I feel this way. The instrumental features guitars that give the song those Latin roots. But instead of combining it another genre of music (which I think KPOP has been doing with the trend), Slow Dance builds upon these roots and creates a very nice upbeat track with an R&B touch. I liked the upbeat nature of the track and his vocals are very charming. They also contribute to this non-KPOP feel. His English pronunciation is very good in the song. I actually mistook some of the Korean language for some English, while also feeling how ‘Western’ the song was. Overall, I really like this track. It is smooth and easy-going, which are all factors that I enjoy.

This is a very nice video. I like the mysterious nature of the Spanish guitar player at the start and throughout the video. This is because we don’t see a clear shot of them. They are always in the shadow. YuChun, for the most part, dances in the video but there were a number of solo scenes in the video that had this weird vibe (i.e. when he bends at 1:20 of the video (see below)). Not really sure what is going on. Apart from that, the sets for the video looked really cool and overall, I thought the video was very polished.

The choreography looks nice. Not much slow dancing here and I guess it would be hard with an upbeat song. But the smooth nature in the moves is present and this compliments the song. I liked how they slowed some of the moves to really draw out that smoothness and make it fit the song’s title.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8/10

[Review] A Song For Me – Hong Joo Chan (Golden Child)

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We continue the solo debut trend of this week with the first member of Golden Child branching out into solo works. Hong Joo Chan, the main vocalist of Golden Child, released A Song For Me on the 27th of February (this past Wednesday). This is also the first time we heard from Golden Child since their Genie comeback in October 2018.

As I mentioned in an earlier review, main vocalists tend to go down the cliche route by selecting a ballad song to showcase their vocal talents. And this is the same route that Hong Joo Chan had decided to go with. But once again, I wish to reiterate that I am not troubled but this and this is merely an observation that I have noticed with other artists. A Song For Me reminds of ballads that I would listen on a radio channel here in Australia. It has a very old-style instrumental, almost 90s ballad feels, as it has an electronic feel to it. And his vocals are very soothing in this track. They aren’t powerhouse vocals where he is belting out every single note and because of that, I think this is a very enjoyable song to kick back and listen to after a long day. And the track has that swaying effect, which I enjoy doing while listening to really good ballads.

The song is about reflecting upon one’s self and there is no other way of doing that but by taking a trip to a different place where no one knows you. Joo Chan does just that in the video, where he goes on the streets and wander the streets of Japan.  One thing I did notice about the song is that it suits a very wide scenery. And there is no better place than the beach if you want an image that feels wide. It also seems that he wants to bring a part of the trip back by filming scenes from the beach to constantly himself about this reflection time. It is a fitting video for the song.

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

[Review] Bird – Ha Sungwoon (HOTSHOT)

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Last week, we saw Yoon Ji Sung make his solo debut with In The Rain. But it is time we see another former Wanna One member return. Yesterday, Ha Sungwoon returned as a solo artist for the very first time. He made his debut with the title track Bird, which is featured from the mini-album, My Moment. He is also the second member of his original group, HOTSHOT, to make his solo debut. Fellow member Roh Taeyhyun, who also partipcated alongside Ha Sungwoon in Produce 101 Season 2, made his solo debut a few weeks back with I Wanna Know.

Bird is an upbeat pop track that really throws his vocals to the forefront of the song.  Sungwoon is one of the main vocalists of Wanna One but we don’t often hear much of him due to the number of members in the group. So Bird does a lot in terms of showcasing his vocals. I am also glad he went with a pop track rather than a ballad. It does feel like a cliche route for main vocalists to choose a ballad (not that I have anything against it. I just want some variety). He has nice vocals as a result and I really like how he sings in falsetto for the parts of the chorus. It gives off a nice texture and really reflects well with the sweet and pleasing instrumental. In the second verse, he goes into a rap-singing mode. I honestly felt that they could have inserted a featuring rapper here. Not because he was terrible at rapping but rather I felt we needed something to offset the sweetness of the song. I think the ‘I Sweety Bird’ line was probably his catchiest and most memorable moment of the song. Overall, it is a strong solo debut that shows his strengths.

Fitting with the title of the track, Sungwoon flies throughout the music video. Not in a literal sense but rather his imagination. In the song, he likens the feelings of love to a bird flying (at least that is how I interpreted the lyrics). I also find the video to also be as equally as a sweet as the song and this is thanks to the colour palette of the video.  Very bright but not in the way where it feels too young. I did find the music video a tad boring but that was my personal thoughts regarding the video. I think a lot of people, including his fans, would appreciate the music video for the slight cuteness.

The choreography also features some flying as well. Once again, not literal. Instead, the backup dancers are pocking up the lighted box that he sits on. Talking about the lighted box, I actually like the moment the light turns on. I also like how the choreography doesn’t rely on any complex moves but its ‘simple’ moves manage to give it the same feeling as a complicated dance routine.

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

[Album Review] XX (1st Repackaged Album) – LOONA

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LOONA returned last week with XX, which featured the title track Butterfly. It also features 4 other new tracks (which I will be reviewing today), on top of the tracks featured on their ++ release, which we first saw in August of last year. Their company has been teasing this comeback for some time. The first teaser was released in October and it featured the ending of the Hi High music video but in reverse. Interestingly, the order of ++ songs on XX is actually been reversed as well. While I think I may have cracked that code, there is still a lot more cryptic messages to work through. In the meantime, here is my review for XX.

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XX Album Cover

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

3. Satellite – Satellite is a very interesting track. It combines several appealing techniques to really make the song feel quite bold (but in a subtle way). The song starts off with a bouncy instrumental and very clear vocals. The pre-chorus takes a slight turn with a short yet sweet build-up, layered on top of a rolling drum beat. The chorus is what got my attention. It starts off with very melodic and wave-like vocals, which later moves onto a faster beat which provides a nice rush of energy to the chorus. It isn’t a combination that doesn’t really seem fitting, but it works effortlessly in this track. The rap sequences that make up majority of the second verse was also another well-done section, adding some texture to the track. I particularly like the inclusion of Kim-Lip’s section which sound like an electronic powering down (sorry for my unimaginative descriptions of each section). The rest of the track continues the same standard. Personally, Satellite is a very strong track if you are looking for something aesthetically pleasing. I also think this is a wonderful addition to their portfolio thus far. (9/10)

4. Curiosity – Curiosity throws a hip-hop feel to their aesthetic works that we got during their pre-debut period. It does create an interesting mix, to be honest. I just felt that there seemed to be a lot to focus on during the chorus and the instrumental, while it featured a deep sounding synth that sounds somewhat unique, was overpowering the vocals at times. But hey, that was my first impression. With more listens, the song is getting slightly better. But the one feeling that has remained from the start was how lacklustre the rap sequence felt. I wanted more. More definition and something to really kick the song up a notch. (7/10)

5. Colors – Colors is undeniably their most colourful work on the entire album. I attribute that to the certain level of brightness that you could feel during the chorus. The instrumental had a lot going on as well, which I think also contributed to this feeling. Once again, the instrumental did feel somewhat overwhelming, especially for the vocals of this track, which opted for a soft approach once again. However, I did like the instrumentation for the track, particularly the rolling drum beat during the chorus. The song also features a very conflicting dance break. It just doesn’t go with the rest of the song but for some reason it draws attention to the song in a way that I cannot really understand. To me, it attracted some good attention rather than a negative response (in my case at least). (7.5/10)

6. Where You At – Where You At is an R&B dance track that actually has a very addictive chorus. There isn’t much going on within the song, but it was still a very strong track overall. The ‘Where You At’ repetition within the chorus instantly gets me singing along. Come to the think of it, the entire track is quite pleasant, and I think the soft nature of the song is a major charm that they played right. The instrumental is on the more typical side of the spectrum, but I still thought it was nice. The vocals had this electronic filter applied to it, which also gave it a nice effect. It isn’t as extreme as autotune and worked well with the soft nature of the track. Interestingly, the track does not feature a rap. I personally think this was a good move as it would cut the softness of the track. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.5/10

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[Review] Because I Love You – Kang Min Kyung (Davichi)

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It has been over 10 years since Davichi made their debut as a duo. And now finally, the last of the two have finally made her solo debut. Kang Min Kyung embarks on her solo career with Because I Love You, the lead title track off her first mini-album, Kang Min Kyung Vol. 1. The other member of Davichi, Lee Hae Ri, made her solo debut 2 years back with Pattern and Hate That I Miss You. In other related news, Davichi’s last comeback was last year with Days Without You, which also celebrated the duo’s 10 year anniversary.

Because I Love You is a ballad, which was expected as Davichi is widely known for their ballads in the industry. But to me, the ballad felt very similar to what Davichi usually releases. I lowkey was waiting for Lee Hae Ri to come into the song and start singing. While that may not be a bad thing, I don’t see Kang Min Kyung’s individuality within the song, which was slightly disappointing. The ballad features a typical ensemble including orchestra and acoustic guitars. However, we got to hear more of Kang Min Kyung in the song and her slightly raspy vocals really made this track beautiful. She also did a good job of making the song heartfelt. I did like the melody and thought there was a decent buildup towards the end to really bring the track together. Overall, it was a nice ballad to listen to, especially on a cold day.

The music video shows Kang Min Kyung alone on this certain day. Many things she does within her day (a stroll through the forest, swimming in a hot spring etc.) leads to flashbacks to her previous relationship.  All was good up until the guy calls it quits and leaves her. But before he goes, he leaves Min Kyung with his watch (I think) and she still wears to this day, showing to us that she hasn’t moved on. The scene at the end where she pulls herself underwater and when she stopped the time on her clock confirms this (I think). That is my interpretation of the video. Unfortunately, I don’t have English translations to the lyrics to back this up and the ending seems to be a lot more than her stopping time, along with the fact that we see the guy a lot gazing out of the window and sitting alone. Regardless, I thought the video was beautifully shot for the ballad.

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