ATEEZ made their debut towards the end of 2018 with two title tracks – Pirate King and Treasure. Both tracks and their mini-album, TREASURE EP.1: All to Zero, has gained a lot of attention from what I can see. And with that, the group is continuing their momentum, just months after wrapping up their debut promotions, by returning with their first comeback, Say My Name and the mini-album, TREASURE EP.2: Zero To One.
The first that popped into my head was the familiarity with some of the melodies within the song (i..e during the very start of the song and the pre-chorus). I just can’t pinpoint the name of the songs that it reminds me of. I am not too troubled by this as this does bring back a sense of nostalgia. I liked the instrumental to the track, with a strong presence of hip-hop influences apparent in the song. I really enjoyed the guitar in the verses and the intensity that the pre-chorus also brings to the song, connecting more subdued verses and the dramatic chorus together in an effortless manner. Vocals were really good in the song but once again, the rappers are the ones that manage to bring the punch to the song. The ‘Say My Name‘ repetition gave the song an addictive nature, partly due to the rough texture we get from the rapper who sang that part, which leaves a strong and lasting impression. Overall, another excellent track from ATEEZ.
Based on what I can see, the sets for this music video looks insanely expensive. I don’t know why I think this but the sets do remind me of BTS’s sets. The music video features a very mysterious plotline, which I don’t get whatsoever. It just left me confused and the lyrics didn’t help at all. Besides the plotline, there were choreography shots which I thought, with the help of editing, looked really cool. The very shots at the end that snapped between their members dancing in their more casual outfits and the members dancing with the black outfits/hats that they wore in their teaser images, were a clear example of this.
The choreography for this comeback is freaking amazing. There is one move that I thought looked so cool, that it screams attitude and is the one scene that replays in my mind. I am talking about the move at 1:36 of the music video. The rest of the choreography was full of intensity and energy, matching it extremely well to the song.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Performance – 8.7/10
As male groups become more superior due to the amount of time they spent active in the industry, the inevitable occurs. BTOB has reached the stage where their Korean members must enlist into the military. We saw Eunkwang enlist suddenly last year. Changsub enlisted yesterday after his solo debut with Gone. And now it is Minhyuk’s turn to enlist next month. But before he leaves, he is treating fans to the release of his 1st solo album. Under the name HUTA, Minhyuk has two title tracks, Ya and With Melody off his album, HUTAZONE.
New fans of BTOB may know Minhyuk as a rapper of BTOB while some more long-term fans may know he started off singing in the group’s earlier days. Ya brings the two worlds together, giving Minhyuk to showcase his raps and vocals. Ya is actually a very smooth song. While it delves into the hip-hop side of KPOP, Ya starts off with Minhyuk’s deep and husky rap tone. I particularly like that roughness he brings to the table at the end of the final rap section of the song. Once he starts singing, it beings a refreshing feel to the song. Given his vocals in this song, it makes you wonder why he hasn’t shown it as much in BTOB’s work. I really like the entire chorus of the track, particularly the ‘flexing with ya’ line in the post-chorus hook. It kicks the energy level of the song to the whole new high. Talking about the energy of the song, I liked how everything flowed in this song, particularly the instrumental break at the end of the song, which channelled the energy perfectly.
And like the song, the music video takes full commitment to that dark direction. I am not exactly sure what is happening but it seems like there are two sides of Minhyuk. The presence of these two sides is based on the person he likes, whom he describes as dangerous and should be avoided. His darker self (represented by the black outfit) seems to have the upper hand to his more good side (which is represented as being in the white stray jacket). And as his darker side tells him to stay with his dangerous lover, this results in his apartment catching on fire (a consequence he knows was going to happen). This is also the first time I saw a male idol gradually lose their shirt. In the first set of choreography shots, he was wearing a shirt and jacket. Next set of scenes was a jacket buttoned up. The final set of scenes was abs galore for all the fans out there. And visually, he is very good looking in this music video.
I thought the choreography was nice. It gives him an opportunity to really focus on rapping and singing. But it didn’t seem too simple if you understand what I mean. The moves at the ‘Flexing with ya’ post-chorus hook was rather simple but had attitude. His solo dance at the end was equally as cool and gave him to showcase his dancing ability, giving fans and the audience the trinity.
Song – 10/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 9.5/10
Last week, it was reported that the Girl’s Day could be disbanding after reports of individual contracts for each Girl’s Day member would be ending in 2019, starting off with Sojin’s next month. The articles I read seemed to all highlight that each member is looking at different directions but there could be a possibility to continue as Girl’s Day in the future. Whatever the final decision is, it is going to be a daunting few weeks or months for fans (including myself, as I am a massive fan of their releases) but I am sure they will receive full support from fans. But let’s move along to the topic of this post, an album review for their second studio album, Love, released back in 2015.
Love Album Cover
1..With Me – Starting the album is With Me, which I can describe as a tango-pop track. It is also one of the few songs that I will forever enjoy for multiple reasons. Firstly, everyone says Minah carries the group with her vocals and without Minah, the group will be forgotten. But this song is proof of Sojin’s ability. Her husky falsetto was perfect for this track. However, it is a little disappointing that both Hyeri and Yura were constricted to only one section each. Secondly, can you imagine a performance for this? I would be in awe. I really liked the tango instrumental, which is definitely very appealing, and it really grabs your attention at first notice (making it the perfect album opener). (9/10)
3. Macaron (마카롱) – Macaron has a very strong retro swing sound to it, which felt very vibrant and upbeat. As a result, I quite enjoyed it. The saxophones just added an extra layer of appeal. I thought the song was relatively sweet sounding, which goes well with the title of the song. I like how their vocals aided in that and stood out over the already quite loud and energetic instrumentation. Pity that they didn’t promote this song, as I think this would have been an amazing performance to watch, combining the cutesy nature of Girl’s Day that they started off with and the sexy nature that they are known for now. (8/10)
4. Come Slowly – Come Slowly was the pick for the secondary promotional song (i.e. the song that some artists perform alongside their title track during comeback week). It was a decent song and I thought it showcased all their vocals. Usually, groups tend to go with more traditional emotionally driven ballads of the slow nature to showcase their vocals. This is also quite slow but there was a certain level of brightness to the song, which I appreciated. However, the instrumental was very consistent, and this resulted in a very dry song that I got bored of. (6/10)
5. Top Girl – The verses for this song gave me strong memories of songs that I used to hear growing up. The blast of techno from the chorus was amazing. I really like Minah’s ab-libs throughout the song, which added a nice vocal touch to the already electronic-heavy sound. I also liked how each member had lines scattered throughout, which was a decent attempt to level out the line distribution between the members. The only problem with this song is that it needed a rap, which was missing. (8.5/10)
7. Whistle(휘파람) – I thought the electronic whistle in the instrumental was very addictive. And it makes complete sense for the title of the song. Vocals were superb for this song, especially since it is coming from each member (and everyone had a fair chance to be heard). What also makes this song even better is that is has a rap sequence, which I have noticed is missing in some other songs in this list. I think out of all the songs, this has to be their simplest yet. But simple tends to go a long way when it is done right and this is exactly what is happening here. (9/10)
8. Look At Me – As many of you may know, I am a complete sucker when it comes to orchestral instrumentals. Throw a violin in there and I will love it. This song is a testament to that. The verses didn’t feel orchestral, however. But as the chorus and the start of the song had that appeal, I loved it. I thought the vocals were nice. Sojin and Minah were at the forefront as always. I liked how simple yet addictive the melody of the chorus was. I also liked how Yura’s rap was tweaked to fit into the boundaries of the song. But my favourite bit has to be Sojin’s bridge, as it was a subtle yet magnificent peak. (10/10)
10. Timing – While all the previous b-side songs have been all familiar (i.e. I fondly remember each of them), I didn’t recognise this song. But for a Summertime song (which was the time it was released in), it was extremely fitting. I really like the energetic vibes from the electronic instruments and their vocals bring a very nice level of brightness that you cannot avoid. It is, however, missing a rap sequence, which I think would have suited the song. (9.5/10)
12. Show You – We return to that slightly slowed down sound for Show You. Like in Come Slowly, I am not much of a fan of this song. I thought it was probably their weakest on the album yet. Overall, it isn’t too bad. There is some showing of vocals in the song. I personally don’t get why this song had rap-speaking, while other more upbeat songs screamed for a rap sequence. The instrumental is nice but it was passable. Not much else to say about the song, unfortunately. (5/10)
13. Hello Bubble – Hello Bubble was not included in any albums (besides this one of course!). It was a promotional single for a company called Hello Bubble, who specialised in hair dyes. Despite that, it was still a good track. I just found the chorus to be very weak. It played towards Girl’s Day’s strengths, but it felt like any other typical CF promotional single. As a result, the song isn’t really in-your-face or that upbeat compared to normal album tracks, making this a perfect song to advertise your product to. I do remember having a phase of being addictive to the song but that has long gone and I really cannot see myself getting back into this song. (6/10)
Here is a ‘Sunrise’ that you do not need to wake up early to be able to experience. Today, GFriend made their comeback with Sunrise, the title track off their second studio album, Time For Us. This is the group’s first Korean comeback since Sunny Summerand their first release since the group made their Japanese debut with Memoria and Time For The Moon Night.
I think the major attraction for the Sunrise title track is the vocals. Despite it having GFriend’s signature sound, the song focuses squarely on the vocals of each member. No one sounds overshadowed and stands out all in their own way. But the biggest highlight for the song comes at the very end when they pull off high note after high note to give the song that spectacular climax and ending. Normally Yuju handles these notes but this time around we see Eunha take the reigns. I personally like that rush of energy we get at the end of the song, which really makes the song feel suspenseful at the end and this obviously would go well with the vocals. I also liked how they put the instrumental break at the end of the song, rather than earlier (as this would have made them out of breath for the rest of the song and this could potentially ruin a live performance). I also found the chorus to be extremely catchy. Overall, another great song from the female group.
Based on some of the images we see in the music video, it seems like the music videos for Sunrise and Time For The Moon Night are connected. To quickly recap, we found out that Eunha had died at the end of the latter’s music video (as opposed to my original theory) and that she could only be seen during the night. In Sunrise, we see a lot more scenes during the start of the day. Prior to the Sunrise, the members could see Eunha freely but once Sunrise occurs, she disappears (whilst also taking a chunk of cake). This barrier upsets the members and it seems like they all end up dying to be with Eunha (i.e. they all reunite during the day at the piano which Eunha is playing at). Putting the stories together, I see how well thought out all of this was and I really like that. I also liked the visuals of the members throughout this video.
There seems to be a cutesy element mixed into the performance, which I quite liked. I also really like the elegant lift of Yuju at the first chorus. I also liked the pre-chorus movement, as that looked quite cool. And per usual, the dance break at the end was awesome, sealing the deal as another amazing GFriend dance.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 9/10
It is time for another album review. And this time, the focus is on APINK, who made their comeback at the start of last week with %% (Eung Eung – if you are wondering how this is pronounced). This title track is featured on the group’s 8th mini-album, Percent. You will notice (as I have stated it quite a lot throughout this album review) is that the group had taken a more mature approach with their music, which is many miles away from their previous albums. Let’s see how I liked these track by going forth with the review.
2. Hug Me (안아줘요) – Hug Me is an R&B track that brings out their mature side very well. I really liked the instrumental to this track as it has a no-nonsense type of vibe, getting straight to the point without dwindling between genres, which is something that occurs often in KPOP. You also get that sense of confidence from the members, who do an amazing job with the vocal side of the song, which is something I also quite like. It isn’t necessary memorable when you think about the track in a melodic sense. But it was still good. (7.5/10)
3. What Are You Doing? (느낌적인 느낌) – What Are You Doing? Is another R&B track but it is a lot more upbeat and what I would consider dance-centred. I say this because the song has a club vibe and also an instrumental break, fitting for a dance break. It has a very addictive nature, which helps with the memorability factor that I tend to comment about it. Vocally, it is decent. Not necessary their best vocals on the album. But that short line in which they speak just before the chorus was definitely the key point of the song. (9/10)
4. Push & Pull (줄다리기) – We now encroach into something more upbeat. It has been building up since the title track. There is still a mature vibe to the song but there seems to be a nice retro influence in the instrumentation, which I quite liked. I particularly liked the way they changed the pre-chorus up to give the song an extra rush of energy, setting the chorus up. The bridge of the song featuring some rap-speaking, which is a rare element in APINK songs but something that I would love to hear more of in these mature songs. (9/10)
5. Enough – We continue the retro influence and mature sound with Enough. And like the preceding song, it is also continuing with the upbeat instrumental. I think the right word to describe the song is that is rather soft in nature, which is one of the song’s main charm. The vocals in this song were nice and conform well to the main charm. But I think the real winner of the song is the rapping. As mentioned previously, APINK rarely attempts raps but once again, if this the quality that they put out with the rap sequences, I will love to listen to more. (9/10)
6. Memories (기억 더하기) – The only thing missing from this album is the ‘mandatory ballad’. And Memories ends the album with just that one track. I have to admit that it has a rather touching sound to it. Most of the time, artists slap a very typical ballad onto the tracklist in the hope it makes up for the ‘mandatory ballad’. But while the instrumental is typical, the members give the song that much needed emotive element, through their vocals. (7/10)
A few days ago, I posted two reviews for the title tracks of newly debut male groups, ONEUS and VERIVERY. In the ONEUS review, I mentioned that the two groups were not the first to debut in 2019. On January the 4th, M.O.N.T made their debut with Will You Be My Girlfriend?. The male trio consisting of Narachan, Bitsaeon, and Roda is under Fly Music Entertainment. If all three members look familiar, this is because they were all previously on MIXNINE.
Will You Be My Girlfriend? is the type of debut song that fits into the bright category. But that sounds like it fits into the really dreaded aegyo sounding category, which it doesn’t. Will You Be My Girlfriend? has a very strong hip-hop influence. It isn’t one of a kind but it has a unique charm through the use of hip-hop influences and its catchy chorus. I personally like how the rapper is the main focus on the song. You don’t get to hear that much rapping in songs of this bright nature, hence why I described as unique. On the other hand, the vocals are just good. I felt like the vocals could have been more interesting. Like the rapping, they could have added an element of interest. But instead, it seems like the producers/members played it safe, going for a more typical route. Sure it was good but it wasn’t interesting is what I am trying to say. But other than, it was a nice debut track that does set them apart for its differences to other debut songs.
Fitting in nicely with the bright theme is the bright music video. But this is where the debut package seems to encroach into the cutesy and over-the-top domain. It isn’t the most cringest video to watch but it was fairly close, based on what I have seen in the past. And truthfully, I wouldn’t know how else to really put this video together without going into the said domain. They try to play towards their youthful image by acting in a bright and playful manner, trying to ask their crush out. It goes well with the song’s vibes and the lyrics. It just isn’t my cup of tea.
The choreography for this song is okay. They don’t go with anything too complicated, which automatically wouldn’t go nicely with the song. Instead, to fit that bright element, they went with simplicity. I did like the chorus’ dance moves and their smiles looked like they had a great time on stage.
Song – 7/10 Music VIdeo – 6/10 Performance – 6/10 Overall Rating – 6.5/10
It is time for another SM Station release. Season 3 started a few weeks back, rounding out with NCT Dream’s Candle Light. There was an SM Station release last week due to (and I assumed this) it being the first week of the new year. But now, SM Station is back with a collaboration between Yesung and Bumkey. The song, Carpet, was released on Thursday of this week, which is the new designated day for all SM Station releases.
Carpet is an R&B ballad combo that endeavours the two genres that the collaborators are widely known for (Yesung commonly sings ballads, while Bumkey is an R&B rapper). Both do a splendid job within the song with nothing to say negatively. The harmonies are also quite beautiful. They also create a wonderful atmosphere that I think is best described as touching. I also noticed that there is a slight jazz infleunce, partly due to the piano, which could also be described as soothing. If you don’t understand the lyrics of the song straight off the bat (like a certain person – a.k.a. me), you can tell that there is an emotive drive to the song, which already sets the scene. But the music video (more on this later) and the title of the song got me rather intrigued, so I looked up the lyrics of the song. It seems the lyrics of the song are in the perspective of the small rug that has been through everything with someone, personifying it to be like a good friend to rely on and cry on – if needed.
And with the meaning of the song in hand, I think the video does an amazing job of visualising this message. The carpet has been with this young lady for many years. From her childhood, she played on it. From her adolescent, she read books on it. She also had breakups on it. But as she grew older, she moved away and the carpet was put into storage and somehow made it to the market. And during one of her shopping expeditions, the young female comes across the rug, which is instantly identified due to the presence of an orange juice stain that she caused back in her younger years, And to further fit the lyrics, we see the carpet wrapping itself around her to comfort her. A well put together music video.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 10/10 Overall Rating – 9.4/10
It is time for some more album reviews. Like last year, I will be reviewing the 2019 albums every Thursday and Sunday, while this year album reviews released on Tuesdays will be for the ‘older albums’. And kicking off the 2019 series is Ryeowook’s Drunk In Love. Intrigued by his opposing singles (see reviews below), I thought I check out the album. One of my many misconceptions regarding the singers who release ballads is that they only release ballads. But as you tell by my review coming up, this isn’t the case – which means I have a lot of albums to check out!
2. One and Only (우리의 거리) (Pre-Release Track) – One and Only is one of the many songs on the album that do not fall into the typical ballad category. Instead, it takes on a mid-tempo pop vibe, which sounds quite good. The song is bright and very soothing. I like the way Ryeowook’s vocals glide over the instrumentation, contributing to that soothing factor. I really liked his harmonies with the backing vocals, which add depth to the song. I also liked that high pitched distortions, which added a quirky factor to the song. Overall, it is a nice track to listen to on a sunny day. (8/10)
4. Without You – Without You is probably my most favourite track on this list. I liked everything about it. The pop instrumental (which has some orchestral mixes in it) really gives the song a nice burst of energy and it makes the song feel quite like a Western pop song. I also think his vocals in the song were smashing. They were really showcased in this song and go amazingly with the instrumental. I enjoyed the melody of the song, which made the song catchy. (10/10)
5. Something Good – Continuing on with the bright theme of the album is Something Good, which is another exceptional song. Once again, Ryeowook’s vocals are showcased throughout the song. But I think this song stands out for the sudden burst and change to the song through the chorus. And I liked how this is continued yet maintained throughout the rest of the track. It is a little in your face but it does work. It is also another catchy song and it does do ‘something good’ to the listener. (9.5/10)
6. Sugar – Given the title of the song, you can’t really direct a song titled ‘Sugar’ down an emotional route. Sugar goes for a fun sounding track that seems to have a subtle retro influence. The sweetness doesn’t really kick in until the young child begins singing. It gives the song a really cute touch and makes unique as it isn’t something that any KPOP idol has done thus far. I also thought Ryeowook’s ad-libs really ended the song on a very polished note. (9/10)
7. The 2nd Story (파란 별) – Ending the album is a ballad. I am not too sure about the context of this track as I can’t find anything under ‘The 1st Story’ that is associated with Ryeowook (I expected there to be a prequel). The song itself is a typical ballad. Not too emotional but not too boring. Ryeowook’s vocals are huskier in this song than any other song. I also like how peaceful the instrumental was, which was quite nice. (7/10)
Multiple comebacks in the same day is a regular thing but we don’t often hear too much about multiple debuts on the same day. In addition to the debut of ONEUS today, VERIVERY makes their career start with their title track Ring Ring Ring. The group is from Jellyfish Entertainment, which also manages VIXX and Gugudan. They consist of 7 members including Dongheon, Minchan, Yeonho, Hoyoung, Gyehyeon, Yongseung and Kangmin. While this is their debut track, this isn’t the first time I have reviewed the new group, as I wrote a review for their special single, Super Special, last year.
Ring Ring Ring reminds me of songs from the 90s era through its instrumental and melody. And with KPOP very big on the retro throwbacks, Ring Ring Ring fits neatly into the KPOP portfolio that has been growing over the years. The use of the drum beat throughout the song and the rap sequence within the bridge used to hype the song are all elements that point towards that era. The song itself is extremely bright and has also this pop feel to it, which I can see being infectious down the road. And for that, I think it is a very memorable song. The vocals were pretty good (that opening section to the bridge definitely showcases potential) and the rapping was definitely another top element. I did think the song got a little repetitive towards the end but I think its energetic nature makes up for this. Overall, it is a nice debut song to have ringing in the audience’s ear.
When I write these reviews, I find myself in awe of the simplest or smallest of things. I personally am not sure how they got those floating shapes in the background of the choreography shots to move about. I am not sure if it editing after filming or they used lights to project upon the white background. Either way, I am thoroughly intrigued about it. The rest of the video shows the members having fun, which is in line with the song’s vibes.
The choreography for this performance fits perfectly into the song. It is fun, energetic and youthful, which automatically becomes the group’s image. I think the best bit of the performance has to be the bridge. Starting off with those smooth rotating arms and exceptional synchronisation for the vocal section, while moving back into the fun style for the rap part of the bridge, everything looked well polished and it shows some versatility.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 8.5/10 Overall Rating – 8.1/10
It is always exciting to look at new debuts and see what they have to offer. While it isn’t technically the first debut of 2019 (A review is coming soon!), ONEUS’ debut is still one of the first of the year. ONEUS is a 6-member male group under RBW Entertainment (which also houses Mamamoo and VROMANCE). The group is made up of Ravn, Seoho, Leedo, Keonhee, Hwanwoong, and Xion. We have previously seen the group with their collaboration with ONEWE, an upcoming band under the same company.
Their debut title track is titled as Valkyrie and there are two meanings to the title, which are both referenced in the lyrics of the song (taken from SOOMPI). The first is in regards to the mythological creature Valkyrie (more on this in the music video section). The second is in regards to the way Valkyrie is pronounced in South Korea, which is similar to the Korean equivalent of ‘Light It Up’, where the member describes their lover as a beacon of light. But I think the elements in the song were more interesting. The instrumental features this cool guitar rhythm, which I think makes the song sound so elegant and very addictive. But the song is two-faced, with an electronic changeup for the chorus which gives the song some edge and definitely adds onto that addictive nature. And we can’t wrap up this section without reference to the amazing vocals and rapping. The rappers, in particular, caught my attention as they gave the song that extra roughness which definitely goes perfectly with the edgy sound they were aiming for.
The meaning with the mythological creature (mentioned above) is seen more profoundly in the music video. The Valkyrie is represented by the light in the music video (which goes hand-in-hand with the other meaning), awakening the members to travel to Valhalla (the afterlife). Throughout the video, you see the members being rather bored with their lives on Earth and I think are hoping that they will be picked to go to Valhalla in order to seek the Valkyrie, which may also be their lover. At least, that is my take on the video. I really like the dark side of the video and the very unique sets that they have. The spikes looked really cool and that back-ending scene really stole the show for me.
And that back-bending move is also seen in the choreography. Just the member doing the complicated move (sorry, I don’t know their names yet) is supported by other members. But still looks cool. I also liked the footwork they did during the lone guitar moments in the song and they made the chorus look quite explosive.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 10/10 Performance – 10/10 Overall Rating- 9.5/10
Returning today with a brand new song is WJSN, with La La Love. WJSN has had a pretty successful last year with the release of Dreams Come True and Save You, Save Me, which both helped grow their fanbase considerably. The latter song also earned the group’s first win on a weekly music show. And once again, only 10 members are involved in the promotions for the album, with Cheng Xiao, Mei Qi and Xuan Yi missing out due to conflicting schedules and involvement with Rocket Girls 101.
La La Love slightly departs for the group’s usual fanatical and mystical sound. It does maintain that influence but it ends up on an edgier route this time around. With Exy’s rap-talk introduction along with the dance instrumentation, the opening section of the song was amazing. I am currently waiting to see the lyrics for of the song as I am not sure what Exy was trying to say in the second line (‘They blended in the heart like a Cadillac’?). I liked the upbeatness of the song, which is one of the attractive points of the song. Another attractive point has to be the rap-talk sections just prior to the choruses, which really built up the suspense for the explosion of energy we got from the chorus. The one thing I felt could have been better was Exy’s actual rap sequence at the start of the second verse. She already had a rap-talk section at the start and end of the song, so to hear another rap-talk sequence was a little disappointing. I was expecting something with intensity and complete edginess to further offset the usual WJSN influence that we could hear. But La La Love was a song to La La Love for.
La La Love‘s music video takes on a circus concept, which actually looks amazing. That same mystical feel you get from their past video is also present in this music video. But this time around, they added a level of both edge and elegance to the video through their outfits, which I actually really liked. Their visuals are on point throughout the video. I did like the scenery and sets they had in the video, which definitely added to the visuals of the video. I wonder if there is symbolism in the video as the video felt more like a choreography/close up shot type video, which is the only negative that I point out about it.
Another great routine from the girls but there wasn’t anything memorable about this performance, like in both of last year’s releases. I did like the two pinches they did for the chorus. But that was far from memorable.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 7/10 Overall Rating – 8.6/10
Welcome to the first album review of 2019! Today, we will be having a closer look at the NEW MEN mini-album released by BTOB on the 17th of November 2016. But why are we looking at an ‘older’ album? Well, starting this week, I will be posting an album review for an album released prior to this year. This way we can both discover new songs from the releases in the past as there are always songs being overlooked when it was first released and we can see an artist progression over the years. I have many more reviews coming, so be sure to check them out every Tuesday!
NEW MEN Album Cover
1..New Men (Intro Track) – For a 1 and a half minutes, we are bombarded with this epic intro track that really sets us up with what is to come. It shows their fierceness and toughness, which leads nicely into their title track. The electrical guitars give the song that edgy feel, while their vocals and rap combination show how serious they are. I like how they managed to incorporate all members into the track despite its limited time span, which usually a difficult feat for a group of many members. (9/10)
3. Love Drunk (취해) – Love Drunk is a mid-tempo ballad. Instead of the usual softness of instruments typical of ballads, the song features a harsh drum beat, which contrast nicely. There seems to be something a tad electrifying hiding in the background (though I am not too sure) during some of the transitions. The song features strong vocals that fit the song well and they incorporated the rapping in a way that still feels soft to match the ballad feel but still harsh enough for the drums. (8/10)
4. I’m Bored (무료해 (콕 To Me)) – With a song that is titled “I’m Bored”, the logical thing is to start off with a yawn. It is a lot brighter than any of the songs that we have heard thus far. I also liked its light-hearted and care-free vibes. The whistle during the bridge was a nice addition as well. Once again, the vocals were good, but I felt like they could have done more for the song. Without the rapping, I felt like I could have easily been bored with the song, which is quite ironic. The rapping gave the song the right amount of kick and energy. (6.5/10)
5. Yes I Am – Besides the title track, the album’s more upbeat songs were my favourite. The chorus for this song is amazing and I always enjoy listening to it when it appears on my playlist. It had the ‘This Is Me’ (from The Greatest Showman. I liked the guitar start to the song and the chorus just kind of came out of nowhere. Vocals were superb in this song. The rapping added another layer of colour to the song, which made it quite unique. Minhyuk’s second verse rap sequence left me surprised for some reason. I assuming it is the speed of his delivery, which is mismatched for the song yet it still working. (9/10)
6. Come On Over (놀러와) – The most upbeat song on this album is awarded to Come On Over. And like my first statement in the previous song, I actually thought this was an awesome track. It was a happy tune, with the chorus here is very bright and lively, which instantly makes it favourite in my books. It is the type of song that you just want to get up and dance to. The falsetto vocals gave the song a little flair, but the winner must be Ilhoon’s vocal lines during the second half of the chorus. The rest of the members shined, whether through vocals or raps. (9/10)
7. I Love You Forever (예지앞사) – Given how the song was written by all the members, it is dedicated to the fans. Reading the lyrics to the song, you can tell that they extremely grateful for their fans and how much their fans mean to them. I found the style of the song to be interesting. It isn’t straight forward like your traditional pop song or ballad, like other fan service songs. Instead, its individualistic side shines through. I personally do prefer their fan dedicated song in a later album to this, but this was still quite nice. (7/10)
2018 has been the busiest year for iKON yet. Love Scenario, Killing Me and Goodbye Roadwere all promoted in 2018 by the YG male group. And now the group has kicked off 2019 with the release of I’m OK, which is the title track off their first repackaged/compilation album, The New Kids. The song also serves as the final release as part of their New Kids series, which has been ongoing since 2017. I’m OK was also due to be released on the 31st of December 2018 but it was postponed until yesterday.
I’m OK is a hip-hop ballad, something that we all know iKON will nail given their past releases. And out of the songs in this series, I’m OK goes heavy handed with the emotions. You can hear the pain and emotions they put forward during the rap sequences and the way the chorus sounds. I really like the instrumental for this track despite it being quite soft in nature. It features an orchestral influence, which is an instant hit in my books (if you know my taste in music). But it is the pairing of the instrumental with the vocals and raps make the song sound extremely worthwhile. I particularly like the piano in the background, especially the heavier notes we hear at the start of the chorus. Maybe they could have added more to the instrumental to build it up or had a more dramatic climax. But over than that, I’m OK is another great song from the group.
In line with the emotive side of the song, I’m OK is filled with scenes that go perfectly with that concept. And with each individual scenes, the video becomes very aesthetic, which is highly expected of any YG video. Definitely, the most epic moment of the video has to be the exploding car. There might be a story involved, as I think all the members interact with the car throughout the video in some form but it isn’t as explicit as I had hoped. Overall, I thought it was a nicely done video.
While the ballad side of the song doesn’t need choreography, the hip-hop side invites the opportunity to arise. But because of the ballad side of the song, the potential for a set of moves is hugely limited. For the most part, iKON does a pretty good job at handling the motions. But it felt standard for the most part.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 6/10 Overall Rating – 8.4/10
After the release of their successful hit, I’m So Sick, which featured a change in image from their well-known cutesy style, APINK has returned with a brand new song, %%. While you may be tempted to pronounce it as ‘Percent Percent’, the actual pronunciation is ‘Eung Eung’ as when you slightly spin the percentage sign, you get ‘응응’. In other news related to APINK, they had their concert last night where they performed %% for the first time and Eunji had a solo comeback in the later parts of 2018.
%% is another complete changeup in their sound. It is probably their most sensual sounding song yet. The instrumental is very subtle. It is present but it doesn’t seem to be as noticeable as other girl-crush songs that we know of in KPOP, such as I’m So Sick. But I like that, as it forces the vocals to be the main attraction for the song. I thought their vocals were nice. Instead of going for a strong sound, their vocals sounded a lot lighter than usual, which goes extremely well with the subtle instrumentation I mentioned previously. The song itself is catchy and like my previous review, I can see the song growing on me. I really like the ‘Eung’ that features after each ‘Eung Eung‘ sung by the members. It sticks out for all the right reasons and gives a slight accent to the song. I think the song does lack that kick which could make this track a lot stronger and more profound. But over than that, I see this as another great song from APINK.
For a girl group named APINK, I think this is one of the few videos which feature pink as the main colour. There also seems to be this hazy look hanging over the video, which I guess is their way of doing something mysterious. Anyway, the video seems to be showing the members collecting ingredients for a potion of some kind, which was later shown to create a heart for their ‘man’, represented by the floating tuxedo. This goes well with the lyrics to the song. I liked their close up shots and the post-production editing on the video looked cool.
The choreography was awesome. I really liked the introductory dance they had at the start. They seemed to match the moves to the subtle nature of the song but they did it which attitude, so their moves looked much stronger as a whole. Once again, I need to wait until I see a full performance to be sure,
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 8.3/10
After a year and a half absence from the stage, KNK has finally returned with a brand new single, Lonely Night. Their last comeback was in July 2017 with their digital single Rain. Since then, a number of events have occurred for to the male group including their Japanese debut, 3 of the members (Seungjun, Inseong & Heejun) participated in Mix Nine survival show, Youjin left the group, Seungjun changed his stage name to Seoham, the group also parted ways with YNB Entertainment and this latest comeback sees the addition of a new member, Lee Dongwon, to the group.
Lonely Night reminds me of their previous single, Rain. I am attributing that to the instrumental, due to the saxophones in this song. Rain was more lowkey, however, while the saxophones in Lonely Night is more profound and give off an upbeat vibe. Lonely Night also has a darker feel, along with an intense hip-hop influence, which is definitely a trend ongoing in KPOP for the past few years. Altogether, the song does present as an attractive package to me. It has that dark vibe in its sound which I enjoy while also remaining upbeat to really have something for me to catch onto. I can see the song becoming catchy for me. The vocals were superb. Everyone sounded great. But my best part of the entire song has to be the rapping that featured just before each chorus. It sounded cool and just lead nicely into the chorus.
There could potentially be some meaning behind each of the member’s solo parts as I see some distorted imagery and reflections (as if something was haunting them). But that might just have been my misinterpretation. They did a good job of showing loneliness and the feelings that come with it. I liked how they toned down the colours in the video. It really keeps that dark concept in check with the song and consistent throughout the entire video.
I think I might need to wait until there is a live performance for this particular comeback. But from what I can see during the choreography shots, everything looked quite good. There were some body waves and some deliberate slow motion within the dance moves that look promising!
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 7/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 7.7/10
Earlier this week, Ryeowook made his solo comeback with I’m Not Over You, which he is promoting as the main title track for this latest album release, Drunk On Love. I am not sure about the nature of Drunk In The Morning (i.e. if it is another title track or just a secondary track /ut a music video for it was released today, resulting in the publication of this review.
Drunk In The Morning gives us one side of the spectrum of ballads. That strong power vocal and moving instrumental that I think is seen as the more traditional style of ballads. However, the instrumental is a little non-traditional, featuring a mixture of modern synths and an orchestra. But it does a wonderful job of showcasing that emotional picture. But it is the Ryeowook’s power vocals that give the song a painful touch, while also giving that level of impact that I seek in songs, which means the song is memorable. I’m Not Over You shows a ballad at the opposite end of the spectrum as it approaches the genre in a different manner. Given the nature of these two contrasting songs, I am genuinely interested in what the rest of his album will be like. Hence, I will write an album review for Drunk In Love to be published next week! You heard it first here!
I liked how this music video connected with Ryeowook’s music video for I’m Not Over You. Some of the sets are similar, particularly the one with the satellite dishes (in the other video) and the payphone (in this video). Even the same love interest is shown here (but with different feelings to match the song, of course). Something must have happened between videos to let it get to this state! I think Ryeowook’s acting in this video is commendable. His vocals already bring pain to the song. But it is his acting that really consolidates all of that emotion and set it into stone for me.
Song – 10/10 Music Video – 9/10 Overall Rating – 9.6/10
KPOPREVIEWED 