Category: KPOP

[Review] Touch & Sketch – Leo (VIXX)

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Leo is the main vocalist of VIXX and he has officially made his solo debut with Touch & Sketch. Leo joins a long list of solo acts whom have debuted over the past few years despite still being active as part of their groups. He is also an accomplished musical actor, as well. Touch & Sketch is featured as the title track on his first mini-album, titled appropriately as Canvas.

I personally expected Leo to go down the ballad route for this solo debut (which I really should stop doing because they never go down the ballad route). So it was a plesant surprise that he went with an upbeat song. But keeping with the aura that Leo has, the song features a decent melody during the verses. I am not too big on the verses because they felt slow, compared to the upbeat chorus which I liked a lot more. However, his husky vocals did give off a smooth vibe, which highlights the sensual nature of the song. I really like the lead into the chorus (I believe the lyrics are ‘Now I feel lips‘) and the small sequence of drums that feels like the gateway to a nice chorus. I like how the chorus goes and its catchiness makes the song quite memorable. While it isn’t Leo’s expertise, I would have liked a rap sequence somewhere in the song. As much as it feels cliche, it needed something more to give it some edge. But overall, Leo’s debut song was pretty cool.

I liked the music video because it shows a side of Leo that I have not seen. I know him to be the very quiet member from his debut days so to see him in this sensual lighting was a little odd for me. But it works well with that aura that I mentioned in the prior paragraph. He likens the idea of love to art, as you you have to be able to feel both to connect with it. I did find some of the editing a tad choppy for my liking, often passing over a scene very quickly. It could have been a lot smooth to reflect well with the song’s smoothness. But other than that, it was a good video.

The performance was good and fitted the song quite well. I like how the chorus had a certain level of fierceness, which gave the performance that edge that the song lacked. He looked super focus, which I guessed works well with the serious sensual nature of the song. And that sensual nature mentioned in the other paragraphs was felt strongest through the choreography.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 7.5/10
Overall Rating – 7.6/10

 

[Review] Now or Never – SF9

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SF9 has returned with Now Or Never, which is the title track on their Sensuous mini-album, which was released today. The group has gone for a complete image change with their latest comeback compared with Mamma Mia, which was released back in February this year. I will be writing an album review for Sensuous and that will be released (hopefully) next week because the highlight melody is very promising.

I am really excited for this song because it has been a while since I have heard a fantastic song from the group. Right off the bat, I am impressed with this song as it appeals to me taste immediately. The opening line was amazing and definitely upholds expectations I have for the song. While the instrumental was predominately electronic  club synths featuring a  mysterious vibe, I could hear a layer of R&B at the bottom, which probably gave the song that seductive nature. To me, the song contains a dynamic chorus. The first part (which could easily be a pre-chorus) featured the drop of the century (yep, you heard it first here) which created a nice level of suspense. It was followed up with an upbeat and funky vocal pop vibe second half. The rest of the song follows the same sound yet it does grow as it is hyped along. Vocals and raps were all fitting. Finally, I liked how the song ended as it returns as a full circle to the start of the song, which I thought was cool. Overall, Now or Never is my new favourite song.

The new image change is reflect in the music video. There is a mysterious vibe which definitely adds to the song’s appeal. I really liked all the different scenes and how they were interlinked with various transitions. The use of a dominate colour in each scene was spectacular, perfect for Summer yet makes the otherwise serious song pop out of its shell. Something that needs to be acknowledged is their confidence shown throughout the video. It makes them look more sexier and adds an extra layer of appeal for the viewers to be left shaken. Overall, it was a good video.

The choreography looks amazingly perfect for the song. I am astounded when I first saw the music video and it made me jump straight for their showcase. And that left me wanting more. I really liked the Michael Jackson infused intro (seen at the showcase) and the moves overall were just so sharp. My favourite part was how well-timed the moonwalk during the performance was.

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

 

 

[Album Review] Red Moon (7th Mini Album) – Mamamoo

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Mamamoo returned 2 weeks ago with a brand new mini-album titled as Red Moon and the title track Egotistic. When this album was first released, I noticed a connection between their previous mini-album, Yellow Flower. Red and Yellow are colours that two of the members wore during their Paint Me single release earlier this year. If we were to follow this trend, we will be seeing a blue and white themed album release in the future. Just an observation I made. But let’s refocus and look closely at the songs on the Red Moon album.

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Red Moon Album Cover

1..Midnight Summer Dream (여름밤의 꿈) – Opening this track up is this music box effect which really makes the R&B song twinkle. While this does sound like an odd combination, it actually works extremely well. I love the vocals and raps of the members from all the members especially with the odd quirk or two that keeps the song feel repetitive and linear. I really liked the burst of energy from the chorus which really gives the song some life. It was a great opener for the album and definitely drew my attention to the album. (9/10)

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

3. Rainy Day (장마) (Pre-Release SIngle) – The pre-release single for this album was not apparent on my daily check for new releases. The song is an R&B ballad but it doesn’t feel forced or that ‘mandatory ballad’ that girl groups tend to put on their album. I am drawn to the song for their fantastic vocals, which make me feel very sorrow and sad. With the rainy days where I live, the song is perfect to put on and do a lot of sad reflection. There is also that swaying effect that makes me feel at ease. It was a change up from their previous tracks on the album but it was nice. (8.5/10)

4. Sky! Sky! (Innocence) (하늘하늘 (청순))) – I think out of all the songs which I heard in the past by Mamamoo, Sky! Sky! seems to conform to that typical girl group sound the most. But a song from Mamamoo cannot be typical. I really like the simplicity of the chorus and it does feel very nice. But what makes me go wow every time I listen to the song is Moonbyul’s rap section which was completely unexpected and different to the rest of the song (it goes for a very mindblowing hip-hop sound). By far, this is my favourite song on the album and definitely going on my replay list. (9.5/10)

5. Sleep In The Car (잠이라도 자지) – WOW! Mamamoo had their share of a hip-hop rap-heavy track through their playful Taller Than You a few years back. But this takes that song to the next level by being 1000 times more intense and unexpected. It is a fierce track on the album, going well with the already strong title track. They don’t hold back and definitely put all their energy to make sure that this ‘different’ track is successful in its delivery. And while you expect this song to be layered with deep meaning, it was more about how hard the work they do is and focused more on their wild car trips between schedules. (8/10)

6. Selfish (Moonbyul Solo) (ft. Seulgi from Red Velvet) – Click here to read the full review for Selfish. (8/10)

Overall Album Review – 8.5/10

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Egotistic Teaser Image

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[Review] Grand Bleu – 100%

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Saturdays are usually my ‘JPOP’ review days where I take a closer look at Japanese songs released by Korean artists. The intention for this week was to publish a review for 100%’s latest Japanese comeback – Summer Night. However, the group did make their comeback earlier this week with Grand Bleu, so I will be reviewing that first (and the JPOP review will be published next Saturday). This is also the group’s first comeback since member Minwoo passed away earlier this year.

The song was nice but it isn’t spectacular. 100% returned with more vocally centred tracks in the past few years and this does fall into that category (to an extent as their vocals are very toned down). However, it does have that Summery feel that makes is very fitting for the current season in SK. There was a nice melody to the song, which does leave a smile on your face. It is a little weak on the memorability front, especially as the song remains very linear throughout and it didn’t have a catchy or strong hook to really deliver a punch. Instead, it reminds me of some songs that you would gladly listen to while having that stroll down a beach and the weather isn’t too hot or cold. The song does talk about cross an ocean (the Grand Bleu) to reach a love one, which I can’t help but think it is a song that is dedicated to their leader.

The music video was simply behind the scene shots to some photoshoot on the beach. There really isn’t anything special with the video besides the acknowledgement that they look like they are having fun. It did make me question the budget and effort the company did put in for the group but when I think of the song, I can’t think of any other way to present a music video for it.

I wouldn’t describe the performance as light but it isn’t heavy by any means whatsoever. Instead, it was a nice combination allowing for focus on their vocals/raps. Though, I did think there was a classy element to the performance. I really liked it personally and is another example of how simplicity shines brightly.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 5.5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 6.5/10

 

 

[Review] Sorry For My English – IN2IT

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KPOP has its share of questionable English lines in the past. But they are becoming much better with the incorporation and intention behind their use of English nowadays. However, I didn’t expect the industry to apologise for its past usage, let alone being in song format. IN2IT recently returned with Snapshot earlier this year and have returned once again with Sorry For My English (which probably is the most random title ever in KPOP).

Sorry For My English is a funky disco track, filled with the expected retro vibes that past disco/funky songs have presented and upbeat energy, giving some appeal to the song. The title intrigues me, particularly how it is incorporated into something meaningful. Judging from the translations I can find, the song seems to be the bridge between the members and a foreign person, as they say, they want to communicate via body language rather than verbally.  And English isn’t the only language in the mix, as the song also contains phrases (such as Beautiful and Hello) in Japanese, Malaysian, Bahasa and Chinese Mandarin. I did like the catchy chorus, as they do a fair attempt at engraving the repeated title into your mind. I liked their vocals and rapping. The song just doesn’t really exceed the expectations and standard set by Snapshot, but it is still very good.

Instead of having a tutoring class, the members opt to go to a disco. That is essentially the entire plotline of the video if you can call that a plotline. Other than that, it is what you expect from a disco-themed video. Colour flashing lights and a freaking disco ball! What more do you want? Though I did cringe at the one scene with the guy ‘shaving’ his non-existent beard. But other than that, good video.

I liked the choreography for this song. It is definitely in line with the disco-themed song. But it just doesn’t go for those certain dance moves. Instead, it feels like a choreography for a disco-themed song released in 2018. I thought the dance break was quite cool and the circle formation at the very end looked amazing on stage.

Song  – 7.5/10
Music Video – 7.5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.6/10

[Review] Between Us – Laboum

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Laboum quickly rose to the towards the top of my ‘favourite artists’ list in the past few years, so with the announcement of their comeback, I was super excited. Unexpectedly, the group has forgone their cute image and gone for a more mature concept this time. This concept is delivered via the song Between Us. Since their last comeback (Only U), Yulee left the group (and is now a mother/engaged to Minhwan from FTISLAND), while ZN re-debuted as part of the project group UNI.T (Haein and Yujeong also participated on the show but did not get as far).

Between Us is an interesting mix of good but also boring points. The mature sound is definitely very appealing in my opinion, showing a different side of the group. And while it is mature sound, there is also this hint of fragility which I find very intriguing for some odd reason. However, as much as I want to enjoy the song, I do find it very stagnant in terms of buildup and lacking in any energy whatsoever. The song does provide some moments in which it cuts the slow atmosphere, such as that squeaky synth halfway through the 1st verse and the buildup to the final chorus. I did like their vocals and thought the chorus was decent, despite the slowness. Overall, I thought the song has potential but it does need some more energy to make it more memorable.

The music video was well shot yet simple for a sensual video. The scenes seem a little cryptic, especially for an audience who doesn’t know the Korean language. For example, why was Solbin kissing the mirror reflection? It did bring my attention to a peak but I wasn’t sure why that was the case. I liked the dark background for the choreography shots and the overall feel was appropriate for the sound and mature concept.

I actually liked the choreography, which was fitting for the slowness of the song. I liked moves featured during the chorus and the bridge.  The issue with the performance was their blue outfit (shown in the music video), which I think was ill-fitting for the song. It screams beach concept and bright songs, not sexy and mature. The dress was more fitting for the concept, overall.

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

[Review] Summer Night’s Dream – FTISLAND

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FTISLAND is officially back on stage with a brand new single, Summer Night’s Dream, which is featured on their 6th mini-album, What If. The band, celebrated 10 years last year, with the release of Wind marking the milestone. And they didn’t stop after that, as the group released an album in Japan earlier this year. Minhwan became a father to a young boy back in May (and became engaged to Yulhee – former member of Laboum).

Summer Night’s Dream doesn’t really appeal to me. I found the song conforming to the sound of some of the younger band’s in the industry, which really feels like it was a backwards move in my mind. To me, FT Island releases these intense songs but this one feels too sugary for me, in comparison. It does lack energy and definitely that intensity aspect that I know FT Island for. The song took on a light reggae sound and they managed to throw in some rock, which I thought was decent, towards the end. Hongki’s vocals were good but they weren’t amazing as in the past. I did like how some of the other members contributed to the song throughout the song, which was a first I believe (usually one of them only get a small section). Maybe if the rock was more prevalent with a side of reggae instead, I would have enjoyed it more but sadly that was not the case this time.

The music video shows Hongki falling in love while working with this lady, who is also in the same line of work (mascots giving out flyers). He picks up with magical magnifying glass and it shows him this alternate reality where he does manage to take her out on a date and kind of woo her with a spectacular onstage performance. Once the credits roll, we see Hongki wake up in her presence but in reality, he wakes up with the rest of FTISLAND kicking him. I am not too sure what the purpose of the rest of the group was in the video, though there were some weird vibes given out. Going back to the sugary vibe from the song, the video is practically coated with it. I myself am not too keen on it but it was quite fitting for the song.

Song – 5/10
Music Video – 6/10
Overall Rating – 5.4/10

 

[Album Review] You Make My Day (5th Mini Album) – SEVENTEEN

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SEVENTEEN have returned with their 5th mini-album, You Make My Day. Their new album release has been topping charts and Oh My! have won a few weekly music shows already, further proving their status in the industry. Unfortunately, my introductory paragraph is a little short today as I am in a rush. So, let’s get a move on with this review!

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You Make My Day (Album Cover)

1..Oh My! (어쩌나) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Oh My! (8/10)

2. Holiday – I really like this song. It has a catchy chorus that stands out for its simplicity. It does have a very standard pop song instrumental but those flutes during the post-chorus really give it a side of uniqueness and is a great hook. I really liked the melody and bright energy, which is truly fitting for the Summer season. I did feel like the verses were a tad empty, which does impact memorability of the song but I did like the ‘Baby Baby’ pre-chorus. The rapping and vocals were pretty good, but I loved Seungkwan’s fast incline to his high note in the bridge. (9/10)

3. Come To Me (나에게로 와) (Vocal Team) – Come To Me is tropical house song which the vocal team of the group performs. I thought this was an interesting yet fitting for the normally ballad-dominated unit of the group. It also shows that they have great diversity in their sound. However, the use of the typical tropical instrumental was a disappointment. It wasn’t special, especially with the ongoing trend. I did like how they toned down the instrumental, however, which fitted their choice for soft vocals in this song. I liked it when they sang together during the chorus. It would be interesting to see a performance for this song, as either a no choreography or light choreography would be suitable. (7/10)

4. What’s Good (Hip Hop Team) – In their past unit track, Minggyu took the reins of vocalist during the chorus (from memory). So I was kind of expecting the same thing. But surprise, surprise. Instead, all the members contributed to a smashing chorus and everyone having their own rap sequence in the song. I really liked the ‘What’s Good’ repetition in the chorus which made the song addictive and memorable. The members have great delivery (as normal) but would have showed off more if the song was longer. (9/10)

5. Moonwalker (Performance Team) – Can I start off by saying how much I love the funky instrumental of this song? It is an aspect of the song that really draws my attention to the song. Likewise, the vocals and the catchiness of the ‘Moonwalker’ chorus hook really do a good job of selling the song. Honestly, I would love to see a performance for this song, as the song (along with the reputation of the unit’s dance skills_ promises a worthwhile choreography routine. Like most abrupt endings, I am not too keen on the ending. But it is one of the group’s strongest songs on the album. (9.5/10)

6. Our Dawn Is Hotter Than Day (우리의 새벽은 낮보다 뜨겁다) – After a series of unit songs, the entire group comes back together to what seems like the longest title for a song (that I have seen in a very long time). I am not too sure about the song. One part of me really likes the overall feel of the song as it doesn’t really take too much of any aspect. I really liked the chorus for this song and how everyone had their moment in the song. But I feel like the song could have had something more to make it more appealing and become a greater closer. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.4/10

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You Make My Day Teaser Image

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[Review] Ride On The Wind – KARD

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They are back! KARD is a co-ed group that debuted last year with a range of tropical house based songs such as Hola Hola and You In Me. And now they have returned with Ride On The Wind, which shows a different side of the same genre. Ride On The Wind is the title track of their 3rd mini-album, which shares the same title.

Like the title of the song, the verses very soft similar to a nice breeze that makes some Summer days much cooler. While this softness may be seen as a weak moment for some people, I think it makes the song very practical and actually quite unique. The tropical house instrumental was very typical, which I am a little disappointed with. However, I did like the little burst of energy once the post-chorus instrumental dropped. Jiwoo and Somin do a pretty good job with their sections, with Jiwoo also returning with some rapping, which did have some Hola Hola vibes. On the other hand, the male members (who have stayed strictly to rapping in their previous songs), each did a combination of vocals and rapping in this song, which I think is pretty cool. I think my other issue with the song was that it went by too quick and I would have gladly enjoyed another half minute of the song.

The music video follows the long line of KPOP videos that seem to focus on the scenery. It becomes a little awkward when you learn that they performed on grass fields littered with cattle poop, which is definitely interesting. But these types of videos are fast becoming unoriginal and dry, which doesn’t make it that memorable. There was also a focus on the members, allowing fans to see their favourite member up close. My favourite scenes throughout the entire music video were the choreography shots on the beach.

The choreography was quite good for this comeback. Though some of their moves from past comebacks are becoming recycled and this will cause the appeal to be lost a little too quickly in subsequent comebacks.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 7.5/10
Overall Rating – 7.6/10

[Review] Always You – ASTRO

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ASTRO has been gaining momentum in the industry with their last comeback in November, Crazy Sexy Cool. However, with indivudal schdueles and the previous concern of Fantigo’s stability due to company politics, ASTRO’s comeback was delayed. But that is no longer the case, as the group have finially released their second special mini-album, Rise Up, and the title track, Always You.

Always You is a more mature sound than what we are used to from the group. It is a shift from their previous work which tends to focus on a brighter canvas. It is even a big shift from their last comeback, which was quite mature sounding as well. For this comeback, they went with a pretty epic piece of instrumentation that really sets the tone of the song.  It is nothing special when you think about how it contains synths and electronic influences but it is definitely something. I really like the drop during the chorus, which really does make the song memorable and grabs your attention. I felt that despite it not being your usual Summery song, the song does have momentum and does feel refreshing. Their vocals were pretty good. But I think the real winners of the track are the rappers. I feel like their part showed off a different side of them, a side that we don’t see all too often in their bright and bubbly songs. While it is different, I do like this new sound and hope that they can incorporate it somehow into their future releases (but doing so in a unique manner).

Not exactly sure how the video adds up. Besides the fact that the atmosphere is a lot darker and serious, the members do a good job at portray what I am taking as sorrow and pain. There is a scene within the video which shows the members coming together, which may allude to the fact that they are coming back as a group very soon. That is my guess at the meaning of the video. I did like the cinematography and the use of colours throughout the sets. It makes this video feel even more powerful, going hand-in-hand with the music.

It seems like Moonbin, JinJin and Rocky partipated in the choreography of this song, whereas the other members did not. Not too sure why that was the case. But doing so, the choreography looks extremely well down and powerful, which also goes well with the song (as mentioned previously). [Note that they are not promoting this release so I am basing my review purely on what I saw in the video].

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 8.5/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.6/10

[Double Review] Is Who + Zero – Minseo

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Minseo made her debut this year with The Grand Dreams but I have no recollection of this debut whatsoever. However, she then came back with Is Who in June and this caught my attention. By the time I decided to actually review her, I saw that she will be making an additional release with Zero in July and thought I wait for that. And with the music video for Zero released, we are here today to have a closer look at Minseo, who is under APOP Entertainment.

Is Who caught my attention for its instrumentation which really made the track feel very unique. The song takes on a folk sound, which isn’t something you hear all too often in KPOP nor is it something that I commonly review. However, the instrumentation made the song so colourful, that I couldn’t pass the opportunity. On top of that, her vocals were superb in the song. They were extremely husky and my favourite bit was the bridge (I am not too sure how to refer to it (music jargon is non-existent in my life) but it felt almost like freestyling vocals sound effects).

Zero shows off how Minseo is capable of diversity. Instead of folk, this time around she stays within the parameters of classical music. But the instrumentation is extremely epic sounding that it leaves me in shivering. Another way which I would describe it is a dramatic cinematic soundtrack to a very suspenseful movie. I loved the intensity of the percussion and the dramatic nature of the violins throughout the song. Throw in her clear yet crisp vocals and we pretty much have a winning combination.  I pretty much enjoy the song, despite it leaving me speechless each time.

Is Who‘s music video takes on a circus concept, without the circus. I found the video very confusing and found that the words shown on the screen went by a little too fast for my liking. That resulted in me start stopping the video every time some words popped up (even though I didn’t get very far with a plotline). I did like the choreography shots, which I thought were quite cool. Zero’s music video was far more easy to grasp. If you enjoy parkour, this video is pretty much for you. But what I think the video is showing the two people are in parallel universes (i.e. they never interact and appear in the same spot after the other), which shows different perspectives on the world. A little cryptic at the end with how the guy has both the bike and the keyrings. And I am not too keen on her outfit. But other than that, it was a really well-done video.

Is Who has come choreography, which I think fits perfectly with the song’s instrumentation and upbeat vibes. Liked how it also went with the concept of the video as well.

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

Zero
Song – 10/10
Music Video – 9.5/10
Overall Rating – 9.8/10

 

[Review] 20 Something – Jeong Sewoon

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Personally, I think Jeong Sewoon is one of the best male soloists active at the moment. I have enjoyed the title tracks for his debut and 1st comeback, so I am interested in what type of music he going to release next. And today, he joins the Summer comeback rush with his comeback track, 20 Something,  which is produced by Melomance’s Jung Dong Hwan. The song is featured on Sewoon’s 3rd mini-album, Another.

The song has this particular vibe that I have grown to associate with Soyou’s work and collaboration with other artists. The harmonies and the very ‘traditional’ instrumental does feel that way. I say ‘traditional’ because it uses piano and drums, creating a very sombre atmosphere, whereas his previous songs have featured synths and feel more modernised. And with that, I imagine this song going nicely in Autumn environment, especially a walk in the park with leaves falling. I didn’t necessarily get a Summer’s vibe which I thought was interesting. I wasn’t a fan of the ending as this is probably the most absurd of all abrupt endings. I did really like the instrumental break, where his vocals contribute to the instrumental. I thought that section was really unique and memorable. His vocals were pretty good. Overall, I  liked the song but there were aspects that don’t feel that typical for a Summer’s release.

The video opens up with Sewoon checking into a hotel but then going for a movie, which I thought was rather confusing for a second. And it seems like he is watching a movie about himself travelling to different places around Europe. The video shows nice residential scenery. While the video does look really good, I think a more Autumn setting to would have been more fitting for the song. For example, it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch for the darken piano scenes which were shown during the instrumental break. I don’t know why it is darkened but it really does look cool (and I thought he was going with a dark concept for this comeback). But it was a nice and soothing video to watch.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 7/10
Overall Rating – 7.3/10

[Album Review] Summer Nights (3rd Repackaged Album) – TWICE

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TWICe made their return to the stage with their latest Summer comeback, Dance The Night Away. And while they are topping charts, the group also unveiled a repackaged version of their fifth mini-album, What Is Love?. The repackaged album is named Summer Nights and features 3 new songs. Today, we will be looking at those three songs. I will put a link down to the other songs originally on 5th mini-album, which I previously reviewed. Note that all songs from both albums are included in the ‘overall album rating’.

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Summer Nights Album Cover

1..Dance The Night Away (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Dance The Night Away. (9/10)

2. Chillax – Like the title of the song, there is a soothing and calming nature regarding the song. This actually becomes quite useful as it follows the upbeat (and favourite) title track. I did like the vocals, which gave off this innocent vibe through its youthful sound. Throw in the catchy chorus and you pretty much have a really good track. But it isn’t perfect. I didn’t enjoy the rap as much that opens the second verse. Finally, I feel like them singing ‘chill’ and ‘relax’ throughout the entire song’s choruses defeats the purpose of naming the song ‘Chillax’. But that is me being picky. (8.5/10)

3. Shot Thru The Heart – Unfortunately, the song was a complete miss for me. Shot Thru The Heart is your traditional pop song but it felt extremely light. You know when you bite into a cake, but it was way too sweet for your liking? That is what I felt here. It also didn’t help that the song was the most skippable track on the entire album (including the songs following it). It does have that TWICE brightness that we associate with them, along with good vocal/rap sequences. But that wasn’t enough for me to enjoy the song. (5/10)

For tracks 4 to 9 (What Is Love, Sweet Talker, Ho!, Deja Vu, Say Yes, Stuck), click here for /their reviews!

Overall Album Rating – 8/10

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Summer Nights Teaser Image

[Review] I’m So Afraid – HOLLAND

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HOLLAND’s plans for his latest comeback was a twin singles return. He unveiled his first single, I’m Not Afraid, two weeks ago. In that review, I had predicted that his second single would be titled as On The Second Moon as those were the words that closed off his music video. However, as always, I was incorrect and his second single as part of the twin single comeback is I’m So Afraid.

I’m So Afraid opens up like a ballad but it turns into an EDM track, which I thought was an interesting combination. The synths used in this song is a little more explosive (in volume) that we are used to. But in a way, I thought that this extra volume and the synths contributed to a more suspenseful drop and eerie feel to the song, which I thought plays neatly to the title of the song. Particularly during the buildup to the pre-chorus, there was this very epic yet gradually building feel, which I tend to like in some songs. His vocals throughout the song had some sort of quivering effect, which also worked nicely with a song called ‘I’m So Afraid’. It then closes off as a ballad, ending the song as a full circle. The song seems to allude to his feelings of himself prior to realizing/accepting who he is. Overall, the song was quite good and it is something that I would listen to often, given its epic buildup.

The video starts off with where we left off in I’m Not Afraid. HOLLAND wakes up in the forest, wearing pink pyjamas. However, HOLLAND only appears at the start and end of the video. The rest of the video involves a female dancer, who dances interpretively in a city setting wearing the same pink pyjamas as HOLLAND. I liked her dancing, which spoke in volumes alongside the epicness of the music. Besides that, I don’t really know what the meaning of the video is. I would like to learn a little more about the storyline and the connections between the two videos. Was the first video like the reality but on the inside, he feels more like the second video – conflicted and scared?

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

[Review] 1,2,3 – Seungri (Big Bang)

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After 5 years, Seungri is officially back with his first ever studio album! Seungri is the youngest member of Big Bang and is the only member yet to enlist in the military (the rest of Big Bang are currently in the army). He has had a successful solo career so far, with his last release way back in 2013 with Gotta Talk To You. His latest title track is 1,2,3 (셋 셀테니) and this is featured on the studio album titled as The Great Seungri.

1,2,3 is probably going to be next favourite hit of 2018. The song itself is super energetic and upbeat, aspects that I tend to find extremely appealing. It is definitely something that we haven’t heard in a long time. I really like the retro vibes from the instrumental, which can felt most prominently through the bridge of the song. KPOP does retro pretty well and this is probably proof. I also really like the sudden 1,2,3 that throws us (literally) into the chorus, along with the addictive nature of the chorus. I also liked his vocals, which definitely added an extra layer of appeal, in my opinion. Personally, I didn’t expect this song from him, considering his past titles. However, it does fit in with his playful personality, which I do admire him for.

Like the retro sound, the video goes for a retro concept as well. Some parts remind me of the Grease era, especially the leather jacket, the smooth comb over hand movement and the bleachers on which the second verse focuses on. Anda features as the female lead in the music video, who does a jive (or something – I am not a dancer in any way) during the first chorus and rejoins the party in the final chorus. I also like how everyone joins in at the end of the song for the final chorus, which is definitely something we see often in a retro context. The last two minutes showed behind the scene footage, which I thought was nice. Overall, it was an excellent video.

The dancing is definitely quite good. While there isn’t a live performance for the comeback yet, what we see in the music video is definitely convincing me to check out the live performances. Really like the dancing between Anda and Seungri, along with the rest of the choreography.

Song – 10/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 9.7/10

 

[Review] Sunny Summer – GFRIEND

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Joining the Summer rush is GFRIEND with their summer track, Sunny Summer. The track is featured on their 7th mini-album which also shares the same name as the title track. This Summer comeback comes right after GFRIEND made their comeback in May of this year with Time For The Moon Night.

The first time I heard the song I thought it was a very mediocre song. There wasn’t any special with the song, going with a very normal pop-styled Summer instrumental. But with a few more listens, I find the song quite good in some aspects despite my initial thoughts remaining. The pre-chorus was a section of the song which I liked quite a bit and it did its job of hyping the song to the chorus quite well. The chorus was equally as good with the ‘Yeorum Yeorum Hae‘ entrance my favourite moments of the entire song. I also like how the song focuses more on their vocals this time around, allowing us to hear more of their talent. Other than that, the song didn’t really reach out and it failed to capture my attention. It is still a good song but not their best.

Despite being a fitting music video for the song, I find the idea of shooting a Summer video indoors quite unconvincing. And there have been many fantastic studio-shot Summer videos that looked quite good. Just I never had the opportunity to touch upon it. There is also a number of retro/olden day references throughout the video, like Eunha’s impersonation of the video, the quote at the very start of the video (seems to be Old English/Shakespearean-like) and the silent films’ way of telling us the sound in the video (‘Door. Bang’ at 1:48 of music video). I am not exactly sure of the context behind these shots but they must have some meaning!

Unlike all of GFRIEND’s title track performances, this one is a little more cutesy and lacks any dance break, which I look forward to in each comeback. Hence, I found it a little lacklustre. I did like the fanning during the chorus but other than that, it was an okay performance.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 6/10
Overall Rating – 7.1/10