Category: KPOP

[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

[Review] Senorita – G(I)-DLE

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Last year’s monster rookies have returned with their first comeback of 2019. G(I)-DLE was thrown into the spotlight thanks to their catchy LATATA debut track and continued their popularity with the unique Hann (or Alone). Now, the girl group from Cube Entertainment has returned with their second mini-album, I Made, and the title track, Senorita. Since their last comeback, the group received multiple Rookie of the Year awards, while Soyeon has been busy with collaborations including Wow Thing! (with Sin.B, Chungha and Seulgi) and SHINee’s Key’s upcoming solo release next month.

Given the title of the song, it was expected the comeback will be with Latin flair and that is exactly what we got. The song opens with a very obvious tango influenced sound and this continues throughout the song. I thought the brass in the instrumental was very delightful and adds colour to the already colourful genre that they went with. I enjoyed how the rapping was incorporated into the song, with the verses becoming very sensual with the paced delivery. The chorus had catchy hooks but my favourite would have to be the Senorita and brass combination. Interestingly, the bridge and end of the song contained very little lyrics. Only a repetitive ‘yuhuhuhuu’ was utilised. Not sure why this was the case but it did have charm. The only thing that I wanted more of was a buildup. There seemed to be a suspense-building pre-chorus but I thought a stronger buildup would have made their chorus more explosive.

The music video is quite dangerous. You can say that the girls made you sweat a little through their very close brushes with death in the video. I guess the sweat suits the heated genre of music they selected and the near-death experiences were great to get the attention of the person they are singing about. Once again, I thought the colour within the video was really nice and that applies to both their outfits and sets. I also did notice some product placement within the video with the Kaja cosmetics. It was very difficult to see but after rewatching a few times, it appeared quite frequently.

I thought the performance was very suiting for the song. They went with moves that we commonly associate with the Latin genre and tango itself, which I think was smart. They didn’t necessarily do it a cliche way and mixed over moves into the choreography as well.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.4/10

[Album Review] Hush (2nd Studio Album) – Miss A

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One of the good things about doing this ‘Past Album’ reviews segment is that I am able to readily revisit groups who are now disbanded. These non-active groups have amazing albums and songs that just need some attention, even after years of release. The first now-disbanded group that I will be looking at is Miss A with their 2nd studio album, Hush. Hush shares the same name as the album’s lead title track and it also features some songs from the group’s first mini-album (Touch) and second mini-album (Independent Women Part III). For today, I will review only the songs that were present on the Hush album. As for the other songs on the mini-albums, I will return to them another week.

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Hush Album Cover

1..Come On Over (놀러와) – Come On Over begins the album with a seductive sound. The track isn’t your most bombastic opener but it does do a good job of introducing the album. I really like the vocals in this track. They are quite breathy and this contributes to the sensual nature that I can detect. The combination of the R&B instrumental and vocals remind me of Uhm Jung Hwa’s songs. But the winning element for me is the rapping which I think is perfect for this track. (9/10)

2. Hush (허쉬) (Title Track) – Usually, I simply put a link to the review for the title tracks. But today, I have decided to offer an explanation. Times have changed and over the years, the song has grown on me immensely. It has grown so much that it has become my most favourite Miss A title track. Hence, I have decided to bump the original 8.5/10 to a 10/10. Obviously, all of my previous thoughts regarding the track have changed however I have decided to keep the original review as is. Click here to read the original full (but now practically invalid) review of Hush. (10/10)

3. Love Is U – One of my favourite tracks on the album is Love Is U. I thought the introductory was very misleading, as soon after the song becomes quite energetic. Showcased from the beginning of the song to the very end is the vocals of the group, which I thought was spectacular. The rapping was equally as nice. The chorus, even though it repeats the title, was my favourite part. I especially liked the ‘Love Is U, U, U’ part of the chorus. (10/10)

4. Spotlight – Spotlight follows the energetic sound from the previous song. I like the brightness of the track, which is quite fitting for a song titled Spotlight. While I did like the song’s pop instrumental and vocals, the song did feel rushed, particularly between the verse and chorus. I also did think the song was repetitive, especially after many listens. The best part of the song was the bridge with the ‘Oh Oh Oh’ and the rap sequence, which I think gave the song some much-needed intensity. (8/10)

5. Hide & Seek – Hide & Seek is another favourite of mine. It brings back the edgy vibe that Hush delivered but it goes with a rock-pop vibe, which I thought was quite addictive. The hooks did not help ease that criterion as I clearly remember the song being engraved into my mind when it was first released in 2014. The rapping just before the chorus was my favourite part of the track because it brings the best out of Jia, who is often overshadowed by the rest of the groups. (10/10)

6. (Mama) I’m Good – Do you see something about the album thus far? Even Track Number 6 is a favourite. It is a feel-good track that really makes you smile regardless of how you are feeling before the track. The instrumental is extremely bright, as you would expect from this type of song. Once again, the vocals are on full blast with this track being their best effort on the album. It is also very catchy. (10/10)

7. Like U – Like U brings back that sensual vibe through another R&B number. It provides us listeners a break from the energy filled album thus far but also serves as a great ‘interlude’ to the rest of the album. The vocals are brought back into play with no rapping within the track, which I thought was a suitable omission for this track. Unfortunately, this track wasn’t a favourite as it didn’t have that memorable element to hold me with. But it was still nice nonetheless. (9/10)

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Touch Album Cover (Source: Mithunonthe)

9. Touch (터치) – Once again, I am here to offer an explanation. The original score was a 4/10. But that included the music video and performance, which to this date, I still do not like. Likewise, my original thoughts regarding the song still stand. But back then, there was no breakdown of the final review score and I do not believe a 4/10 represents my thoughts then or now in regard to the song/music. Hence, I have decided to bump the score to a 6.5/10. Click here to read the full review of Touch. (6.5/10)

10. Over U– Repetition may be this song’s main charm. ‘Over U’ is repeated during the chorus and while you may think this might get annoying, it becomes engraved into your mind. Trust me on this one, as it is one memorable song. The verses are what keeps the song moving along as it is rather different. Their vocals also bring some freshness as it moves along, especially Jia’s rapping which I think adds a kick to the song. (9/10)

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Independent Women Part III Album Cover

11. Time’s Up – Time’s Up is also another addictive song. To me, it feels like a shuffling song (and here I show my age). I also liked the pre-chorus slowdown, which I thought really gave the song an intriguing turn. The post-chorus instrumental break was quite dynamic and showcased a burst of energy. I also thought the ‘Bye Bye Bye’ was a very delicate touch to the harsh club/dance beat. The rest of the song was equally as good, I just don’t have the space to write all about it! (10/10)

12. If I Were A Boy – If I Were A Boy features a much slower R&B instrumental and raspier vocals from the members. And while we have seen this combination elsewhere in the album, I just cannot seem to really enjoy this song. It is paced so slowly that it feels unfitting for the album, which has featured an overload of energy. To think of this track as a breather doesn’t really help its case. It just isn’t a memorable song and it still has some nice moments. (7/10)

13. I Don’t Need A Man (남자 없이 잘 살아) – Click here to read the full review of I Don’t Need A Man. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.3/10

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Hush Teaser Image

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[Album Review] Take 2. We Are Here (2nd Studio Album) – MONSTA X

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MONSTA X returned last week with Alligator and the second half to their second album, We Are Here. The first half of the second album was titled Are You There? and featured their hit track, Shoot Out. I was a little confused as I did not register that this was a two-part release at first. I honestly thought Are You There? was an album on its own due to the number of songs already on the album. Nonetheless, they have returned and that is what matters. On with the album review!

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Take 2. We Are Here Album Cover

2. Alligator (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Alligator. (7.5/10)

3. Ghost (악몽) – Personally, I liked how the song takes on the ‘Ghost’ title and really give the song some creepy vibes, which I think make this track even more powerful. For the most part, I found the track to be satisfying. The whisper-like ‘Ghost Ghost Ghost’ keeps on ringing in my head after the song is finished and I think this is purely their intention. The chorus had this repetitive nature, which I thought was really cool. It wasn’t overdone in a way that it got annoying, so it is a plus for that. I just felt the song could have used a breakdown or some sort of intensified injection to really bring the track together and make it even more impactfully creepy. (8/10)

4. Play It Cool – Play It Cool is a collaborative track between Monsta X and Steve Aoki. And this collaboration resulted in a very clean and stylish track. Opening the track is Joohoney (formerly Jooheon) with his vocals. After their Versace On The Floor performance which Joohoney pretty much rocked the fandom with, I have been dying to hear his vocals in full within their next release. Well, here is that track and it does not disappoint. I thought the vocals in this song were good, pairing well with the club vibes the song featured. I really like the chorus drop, which gave the song that centrepiece that attracts attention. I also thought I.M and his deep voice got to shine more with Joohoney singing in this song. And his deep voice shined brightly. (8.5/10)

5. No Reason – No Reason gives an opportunity for the group to really showcase the vocalists of the group (particularly Minhyuk, who got a fair amount of line this time around). Instead of power vocals which would be unfair for some members, the members do with an easy-going yet slightly different tone (i.e. higher) than usual to keep the song interesting. They do keep the electronic instrumental as per their usual style but keep it extremely light and hence not overpowering any of the member’s voices. The rappers do their thing but they aren’t overly powering or too dominant in order to keep that light balance that the song has. (8/10)

6. Give Me Dat – Give Me Dat returns the hard dance style that we associate with Monsta X. I did find that Give Me Dat fails to really offer anything new to listeners, however, which is a little disappointing. I wanted the song to have a kick as the song progressed but that didn’t get fulfilled. It remained too consistent for my liking, like my straight-line analogy that I used to refer to often. The vocals and rapping in this song were quite ordinary and once again felt too consistent. I don’t hate it for that, but it is a pretty much passable track considering what Monsta X has done in the past. (6/10)

7. Turbulence (난기류) – Turbulence doesn’t get turbulent in the instrumental. It is more to do with their crush is the cause of all their turbulence in their lives and them wanting more. It does still feel safe as I expected the instrumental to really go hard or haywire but that did not happen. Instead, it kept its cool and I think that makes the track a little more direct rather than what I thought might have happened. I also found the vocals and rapping style in this song a little more interesting than the previous song, which gives the song a nice appealing sound. I thought the rapping was more impactful in this song and the build-up to the final chorus was extremely satisfying. (7/10)

8. Rodeo – Prepare to be blasted with Rodeo. It kicks off with some Spanish guitars and quickly progresses into an intense hype track. To me, the song reminds me of Big Bang’s Bang Bang Bang, where both songs would get a similar response from the crowd. I really liked the “Boom’ in the chorus, followed by Joohoney’s short Korean phrases. Quite impactful and very memorable if you ask me. Come to the think of it, the song has the familiar intensity that I think really suits Joohoney’s style. I also think the vocals in the song during their respective parts were really good, particularly since they aren’t the main attraction (that honor goes to the already discussed chorus). (9/10)

9. Stealer – Stealer is also quite intense but it is a different intensity that hasn’t been touched upon in this album. And it has a kick that I wanted before making this a very memorable track to my ears. The ‘Dang Dang Dang…’, ‘Bam Bam Bam…’ in the pre-chorus and the repetition of the title in the chorus was extremely addictive. The instrumental had the intention of being ‘in your face’ but it still managed to stay in the background of the track and not overpower the vocals/raps. Talking about the vocals and the raps, I thought they were very dynamic in this track. I am not too fond of the pauses right after the first chorus as they do cut the flow but they do provide some relief after a jam-packed first verse/chorus. (9/10)

10. Party Time – Drawing the album to a close is Party Time, which features a casual and more relaxed tune. I honestly thought that this would be more of a party anthem, given how the album has been mostly filled with dance tracks. But it opts for a R&B beat and soft vocals. Even the rapping was toned down to fit the song. I liked the melody of the chorus and ‘Dalala-lala-lalala’ hook that follows the chorus. I also liked how they also sing part of the chorus together and that hook that I just mentioned. It is a pleasant sound that eases us off the album well. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.9/10

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Take 2. We Are Here Teaser Images

[Review] Get Away – Seven O’Clock

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Returning to the stage yesterday is no other than Seven O’Clock. Their last comeback saw various changes to the lineup of the group. This one shares that similarity. But instead of losing members, the group actually gained new member (Andy), thus returning the group to a 6 member lineup. Their comeback single is titled as Get Away and it is their first comeback since their double song return with Searchlight and Nothing Better.

Get Away is a different track to most. No, it isn’t anything new but its lightness is really something unique in this day and age. Get Away has a simple pop instrumental, featuring guitars and a light sprinkling of synths. Essentially, that is it. There isn’t anything more to the instrumental, which may repel some listeners. But don’t judge a book by its cover. The song manages to incorporate a very catchy hook (the English lyrics), nice vocals and nice harmonies. Together, it is a very carefree track that is light in nature and very easy on the ears. I am actually quite addicted to the catchy hook, as I find myself singing along to it. Even the rapping was done in a way that matches the lightness of the track. I also like how they added a bit of intensity through the bridge. It does feel a little odd for the track overall but I think it gives the song an intriguing touch. If you want to get away from the electronic trend but still want a decent dance track that is easy to follow, then this one is for you.

The video may seem weak due its low budget, based on the quality of the final product that was released. But I think they made do with what they had available.  The music video compromises of a bunch of close-ups and choreography scenes, which seems boring considering how the song is in regards to holding onto someone from the past. They could have added a plotline to the video with a model but that would have taken away from the carefree vibes of the song and created a loaded atmosphere. I think by approaching in a simplistic manner and not adding content to the video made it work. Though, I am not sure about the random aegyo towards the start (within the first chorus).

It was a nice performance to watch. Nothing to amazing but I liked the enthusiasm and energy they brought to the stage.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 8.3/10

[Review] Better Do Better – VANNER

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Once again, I am late with another review. This time last week, VANNER would have been a newly debut group with one day under their belt already. They make their debut with the song, Better Do Better and more interestingly with a full studio album, V. This is a very ambitious release, considering most debuting groups only release singles or mini-albums as their first step. VANNER consist of 5 members (Ahxian, Youngkwang, Taehwan, Gon and Hyesun) and are currently under VT Entertainment.

Better Do Better is your standard pop song with the instrumental filled with tropical influences, a now very common sound in KPOP. The song features nice vocals, which is one of the drawing points to the song. It doesn’t help that the hooks (‘Do Do Do Better‘) and melody (particularly around the pre-chorus) are quite catchy and do end up making the song memorable to an extent. I wish I can say the same thing with the rapping though. It was rather plain and while the song seemed bright and happy, the song needed some intensity to keep it grounded and the rapping didn’t provide that. I think the next aspect that didn’t leave me impressed as the vocals were the flow of the track. For the most part, it was good. It is just that abrupt transition to the bridge that really catches me off guard every single time I listen to the song. And it cuts the energy that the song had channelling, which leaves me disappointed. Overall, it was a good debut track in my opinion but it had some noticeable flaws.

The music video seemed to show a mini storyline but it was pretty much so minute that I could barely tell what was happening. They were all hanging out when they saw an attractive lady walk into their mini-party. I think the video shows them as shy around her though I am not too sure as they seem to be more upfront with their feelings towards her. Based on the lyrics, it seems like they are encouraging her to express her feelings as well. Though the video doesn’t seem to show this. I am also not sure how the love triangle ties into the rest of the plotline. It was a good video with a casual feel, which suits the light nature of the song.

The song was definitely energetic, given its bright nature and its chant-like chorus. But the performance didn’t really reflect that and I am a little disappointed. I guess they focused more on their live vocals and rapping (which I must commend them on that as they sound just as good as the studio version). I would have liked a more dynamic choreography, however.

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

[Album Review] The End of Nightmare (4th Mini Album) – Dream Catcher

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Dream Catcher made their comeback last week with Piri and their fourth mini-album, The End of Nightmare. Today, we will have a closer look at all the other tracks on the album because based on what I have written shows that they deserve attention as well. The album features 6 tracks in total, including an introductory track and the instrumental to Piri. Per usual, I have forgone the intro track but if you want to hear really catching opener to the album, this is the one for you. It mashes up their rock style , a classical sound and progresses somehow into an EDM track without any kinks along the way. But that’s that and we go forth with the review!

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The End Of Nightmare Album Cover

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

3. Diamond – Diamond follows their usual rock dance style and it has what it takes to be a contender for the title track position. From the very start, you could tell that this was going to be extremely intense and they really delivered with that promise as you listen to the song. The style is a little more dramatic than usual, with the chorus going for this vibrating like texture, which I think was unique. The lead up to this was really cool as well. I thought the vocals were their usual style, which is always extremely fitting for songs of this nature. Dami’s rapping was, as always, top-notch, with her deep tone really suiting the song. One of my favourite bits of the song is the part of the pre-chorus where they take strip all the intensity, which kind of felt like a ‘calm before a storm’ concept. I also really like the ‘Untouchable… Unbreakable’ line in the chorus. (9/10)

4. And There Was No One Left (그리고 아무도 없었다) – If you want uniqueness in a track, then this one is for you. My description of the track will not do the song any justice, so definitely check this one out regardless of how you interpret this review. We commonly associate Dream Catcher with a rock sound but this is completely different. The members (including Dami) opt for more delicate vocals. The instrumental is very intriguing. There is a mix of acoustics and orchestra in the song, which gives the song a softer sound. It felt like a very minimalistic approach, as the song felt stripped of a number of elements but it manages to hold together. The chorus was very unexpecting drop that features some horns of some kind and feels a little odd yet sassy. I found the title to be very intriguing as well, as it sounds quite creepy. The song does an amazing job of showcasing the creepy vibes by pairing the soft vocals with the instrumentation. I am a little confused about the lyrics of the song as I can’t really tell what they are trying to convey to us. They sing about an inescapable dream and tells their lover to stay with them despite that. Very creepy indeed. (9/10)

5. Daydream – Daydream is that mandatory ballad that we all know KPOP must have in some form on their albums. Dream Catcher’s take this time around on the genre was pleasantly beautiful. It is also a departure from their harsher style, as I found Daydream to be smoother in texture. The instrumental is more straight-forward, with the piano shining amongst the rest of the instruments. I think the song also does a good job showcasing the vocals of each of the members in a more innocent and charming manner. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.8/10

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The End Of Nightmare Teaser Image

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[Review] Enough – SF9

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Also returning today is SF9 with their newest title track, Enough. It is featured on the group’s 6th mini-album, Narcissus. This is the group’s first comeback since their amazing Now Or Never comeback back in August 2018. Since then, the group has embarked in Japanese promotions for Now Or Never and held their first concert in South Korea. On top of that, Chani, the maknae (youngest) member of the group has recently gained popularity for his impressive acting on Sky Castle and has also drawn attention to the group.

Unlike Now Or Never, it actually took me a few listens to really get into the song. Enough is still a powerful song, however. It just took a little longer to really build up to a part that really feels impactful. The song mixes various genres including reggae and EDM to create a very dynamic sounding instrumental. It is very interesting and I really liked this mixture aspect of the song. The vocals and rapping were quite good, particularly during the chorus, I thought the ‘Ya Ya Ya‘ ending to the main lines in the chorus was really catchy. The really impactful section was the dance break, which provided a nice burst of intensity for the song. Altogether, the song was quite impressive. Unfortunately, my standard for their releases is based on Now or Never, which may seem a little unfair. I think it is going to be really hard to top that but Enough was a fair attempt at doing so. Don’t worry, as I still enjoyed the song and will be coming back for more in the coming weeks.

The music video showcases the members looking at themselves in the mirror. The whole idea of the album is in regards to Narcissus, who was known for his good looks and self-confidence in Greek mythology. The song essentially tells oneself or a lover that they are beautifully already and don’t need to do anything else to ‘improve’. I am not too sure about the start but I am sure the ending is about letting those thoughts about needing to improve one’s look, especially when the mirror cracks and one of the members ruin the reflective surface of the small pond they were staring into. Interestingly, the music video was quite dark for the most part and shot in within concrete walls and very bright white sets. The contrast was interesting and I think managed to show different sides of the guys in the different lights.

The choreography for this comeback looks really good. I liked how masculine the moves during the chorus looked. The dance break may be short but it really gives the performance a rush of energy and thus kicking it up a notch. And as they went faster, the fact they still managed to stay in-sync looked really cool.

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

[Review] Allure – Hyomin (T-ARA)

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Hyomin has returned once again with the lead title track to her latest mini-album, both of which share the title Allure. We previously saw her earlier this year through her single release U Um U Um, which I quite enjoyed.  The same single and Mango (her comeback single for last year’s promotions) are also featured on the Allure mini-album.

Hyomin has been a very versatile solo artist. She hasn’t stuck to one style since her solo debut years ago. This time around, Hyomin went with a retro sound, throwing us back to the 60s. And like the artist, the song seems to take a few turns of its own. The verses start the song off as well-paced before the song launches into a faster tempo chorus, which ultimately became faster in its second half. And it is this second half of the chorus that I think was my favourite bit of the song. And the buildup was quite worth it. The song itself is about using one’s charm to make another happy. I like Hyomin’s vocals in the song. They do sound cutesy and feminine but I think that was just her using a higher tone than usual for this song. But it does suit the retro sound quite well. I enjoyed the song quite a bit, making the song’s message quite successful.

The music video shows Hyomin in a bold black dress. A waiter delivers a certain make-up product (which I am not too sure what it is, though my guess would be a lipstick as the alternate title for the song is Lip Colour). After she uses this product, she gathers the attention of the people surrounding her, to which they all follow her. I really like that ending, where they are all copying her whilst following her in a single file. It really showed a cool look and I wonder if that is part of the choreography. I also like how she managed to blend into the retro-themed video given the bold nature of the red dress.

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We do not see much of the choreography in the music video. We did see some and those parts look fine to me. I am particularly drawn to the second half of the chorus, which I think was nice. I also hope to see that single file we saw at the end of the music video in the choreography, for reasons I stated above.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8/10 [To Be Updated]
Overall Rating – 8/10

[Review] In The Rain – Yoon Ji Sung

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After the disbandment of Wanna One earlier this year, fans have anticipated the different routes that each member would take. Most will be returning to the stage as artists. Others have announced that they will be taking breaks, while others have embarked upon musicals and start acting careers. For this review, we will be looking at Yoon Ji Sung’s solo debut single, In The Rain. He is actually the first member to return. Yoon Ji Sung has also been confirmed for a musical and will also enlist in the first half of this year.

In The Rain is a neat ballad that lets Yoon Ji Sung shine brightly. As Wanna One was a large group, we don’t really get an opportunity to see him stand out. Through this ballad, we get an opportunity to hear his vocals in a more clear manner. The ballad is quite pleasant and is actually mostly light-hearted. While I do find emotionally driven ballads more enticing, pleasant sounding ballads that aren’t too focused on the emotions and vocals are often refreshing, which is the case for his debut single. That being said, he does have a nice voice. Also, I found myself swaying to the music, which I think makes it a pretty successful ballad in my books. I personally think the melody could have been a little stronger to really make the song more memorable but it good as it is.

I think I am more used to the ballad music videos having this hazy filter that really reflects the sad nature of the song. In this video, however, the music video features a whole of colour, which was a little foreign for me. I also liked how the music video reflected the peacefulness of the verses and then once the song built up to the chorus, it changed into an overload of pastel colours. In the video, it seems like he is awaiting a special someone, though that is my view of the music video given that I can’t find any translated lyrics as of yet. It is a nice video that goes nicely with the song.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 7/10
Overall Rating – 7.6/10

[Review] Butterfly – LOONA

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After debuting with Hi High, LOONA has returned after 6 months with their repackaged version of ++. The mini-album, now titled as ××, features the title track Butterfly. While this is good news for the group and Orbit (the fan club name of LOONA fans), there has been some unfortunate news recently. In the lead up to the Butterfly release, Yves and Yeojin were injured during their concert in a stage accident. Yves has been confirmed to continue promoting, while news regarding Yeojin’s participation hasn’t been confirmed yet. Best wishes to Yeojin for a fast recovery!

Butterfly seems like it is in line with the aesthetics we got in their pre-debut works. It also features a mature sound and stands out for a variety of reasons. The first is the song’s instrumental. The song takes on EDM in a very unique manner. It combines different sounds together to create a very dynamically powerful instrumentation that really allows for the chorus to stand out. I also like how they used a very high pitched ‘Fly Like A Butterfly’ as part of the chorus. It does sound like screeching but you can make out the words and it really adds a depth of colour to the song. The second reason would have to be the vocals. It is that one line again that I think really makes the song stand out, this time slightly lower pitch for the members to be able to sing. The rapping also has to be commended as it isn’t a powerful approach but rather more delicate. But it works well with the rest of the song. I also found it rather interesting that the vocals/raps were minimalistic, as it is usually the instrumental. The third and final reason why the song stands out is the lyrics. They are all about finding oneself and usually, songs of this nature earn applause from me. Overall, Butterfly is uniquely different but so amazing.

The music video zones in the meaning of the song but puts it into focus alongside the LOONAverse (which I actually have previously theorised about). The music video features people from all around the world, who are trying to find themselves in a complicated world. We see a lot of imagery from the LOONAVERSE throughout the video including apples, cassette tape players and eye patches to name a few. Scenes from the music videos were also imitated, while the exact locations in Hong Kong, Paris, LA and Iceland were also revisited. To me, this is a way for LOONA to tell their fans that they are also able to enter the LOONAVERSE and be together with them, while also be able to show their individuality like in LOONA”s pre-debut singles.

Matched alongside the unique yet amazing sound of the song is the choreography, which looks equally as dynamic and intense as the song. I thought the lying down at the start was really cool and the moves during the chorus looked beautiful, especially for dance moves during a music drop.

Song – 10/10
Music Video – 10/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9.8/10