Category: KPOP

[Review] Hocus Pocus – PTL

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As I mentioned yesterday, I am returning to do some reviews of songs that I have missed out over the last few weeks. Today’s focus is on PTL’s Hocus Pocus which was released almost a month ago. Planetarium Records (PTL) is a 5 member project group currently under a company of the same name. The members consist of Jinwoo, Villian, Gaho, Moti and June. Information on the group is quite limited so I don’t have much else to offer besides that they released songs earlier in the year (Blind and Blah).

I happened to stumble across the group when the song first came out and knew I had to review it. Apologies it took so long. Hocus Pocus is one damn catchy song that always blows my mind when I listen to it. It takes on the R&B and hip-hop genre quite nicely. For those who don’t know, I don’t really review songs from artists who do these genres unless they are big KPOP artists. But Hocus Pocus definitely has great energy and a groovy atmosphere that was hard to pass up. I thought the instrumental was extremely dynamic, with the muffled bleeping at the start of the song really intriguing. The raps and vocals in the song are quite good, part of the reason why I decided to put this on the ‘To Review’ list. The verses and the chorus really pushed the song along, with the latter being a very catchy part of the song. It may not be appearing on my Weekly KPOP Charts but I can assure you I have been listening to the song every single week.

The video seems to show the members trapped inside the confines of this place. But I guess it shows the members making the most of it. As you can tell, I have no clue what is going on in the video. I assuming Yoda, Zeus and Buddha make an appearance for a reason (at the very start of the video on the sheets of paper). However, it was a decent video. Despite not having heard of the group or the company before, it seemed like they had a decent budget for the video as it appears to be high quality and the sets didn’t seem to be on the cheap end of the market. The energy in the song was also channelled nicely through the video, which makes them a good match.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 7/10
Overall Rating – 8.2/10

 

[Album Review] 1÷x=1 (Undivided) (1st Special Album) – Wanna One

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Just one week ago, Wanna One dropped their very first special album. Light is the main title track for this album release and it also features 4 songs, produced by well known artists in the industry and is performed by a special unit of members. Zico, Heize, Nell and Dynamic Duo collaborated with Wanna One for this album. It is the group’s best album yet in my opinion and it is definitely an album that sets the bar high for any future release.

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1 ÷ x = 1 (Undivided) Album Cover

1..Light (켜줘) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Light. (8.5/10) 

2. Kangaroo (캥거루) (Triple Position – Kang Daniel, Kim Jaehwan & Park Woojin) (Prod. By Zico) – It isn’t surprisingly to hear this song was produced by Zico, mainly because the song just screams out his presence. It grew on me since the first listen and has become a really catchy song with its upbeat and hip-hop vibes. I thought the song played towards the strengths of each member (in both rapping and vocal domains). I thought the chorus was quite lively and it was a song that brought some happy energy to the somewhat serious album. (9/10) 

3. Forever and A Day (영원+1) (Lean On Me – Hwang Minhyun, Yoon Ji Sung, Ha Sungwoon) (Prod. By Nell) – This particularly song was a beautiful ballad. Right after my first listen, I scrambled to figure out what the lyrics meant because it was so heartfelt and the emotions poured in the song really drove the song. For those who don’t know, it felt like the farewell song we expect them to release when they come to the end of their contracts. I love the song’s swaying effect that can be felt right in the melody. But what I love the most about this song is how it has given me a chance to hear some amazing vocals from the group. In particular, Sungwoon’s. Because let’s be frank, he has yet to shine in any of Wanna One’s songs. (10/10)

4. Hourglass (모래시계) (The Heal – Ong Seongwoo & Lee Daehwi) (Prod. By Heize) – Another song that really hits you in the feelings. The R&B song is heartfelt and beautiful, as well. Like the previous song, it too can be mistaken for a farewell song (check out the lyrics, they are amazing yet incredibly sad). Both member’s vocals were on point. I really like Heize’s featuring in the song, which further adds emotions into the song. The harmonies at the end were nice and the piano leading out of the song was great. My favourite part would have to be the entire second verse, with Seongwoo’s rapping and Daehwi’svocals at the ‘Don’t let yourself cry’ line. (10/10)

5. 11 (No. 1 – Park Jihoon, Bae Jinyoung, Lai Guanlin) (Prod. By Dynamic Duo) – While I have loved or enjoyed so far on the album, I felt that 11 was the weakest song on the track list. I don’t exactly hate the song but it just doesn’t appeal to my taste. It takes on a hip hop and R&B vibe, while also keeping to a sensual sound. I personally find this interesting because they have chosen some of the youngest members to perform the song and it also gives us a chance to experience some variety in their sound. Dynamic Duo’s featuring was nice and Jinyoung’s vocals stood out for me. Other than that, I wasn’t into the song. (7/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.9/10

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[Review] Wind – BOL4

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Over the next few weeks, I will be attempting to catch up on the many reviews in which I have missed out. BOL4 is in the midst of their promotions for their latest mini-album. The mini-album has two title tracks, Travel and Wind. I have already reviewed Travel (and Starlight) when it first came out. Wind‘s music video was released later on and I have been waiting for its release before writing a full review.

Wind is a ballad that mixes with BOL4’s indie sound. The way Jiyoung sings this song is pretty childish, however, I mean that in a good way. It felt like a child singing it, which gave the song innocence and a delicate vibe. Her vocals are good, so don’t misunderstand my initial statements with her vocals. The only issue that I have with the song it is quite dry and doesn’t progress much. The instrumental started off with just a very subtle orchestral sound and repetitive triangle tinging in the background. It does increase in volume as it goes on (ever so slightly). However, it wasn’t enough to give the song that momentum. Instead, I try my best to stay focus on the song. I personally don’t understand why it is a title track, as it feels like a standard sidetrack on the album. Starlight was a much better candidate.

The music video seems to also be shot in the same place as Travel and Starlight was shot. However, it shows a love story made up in Jiyoung’s mind. The male counterpart in the video is played by Jisoo and they meet in the laundromat after he tosses a blanket (or white shirt) on top of her by accident. And then a who imaginative sequence begins with the two dating and falling in love. Even though it was imaginative, the ending shows the possibility of the two actually falling in love when Jisoo gives Jiyoung the coin. It was honestly a nice video and the slow-motion that was applied to the video paired well with the slow tempo of the song.

Song – 6/10
Music Video – 7/10
Overall Rating – 7.4/10

[Review] Take Me Higher – A.C.E

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With the recent news that the supposed male group formed through YG Entertainment’s MIXNINE was not going ahead, a number of the groups associated announced their long-awaited comeback. A.C.E marks their return with their first mini-album, Adventures in Wonderland. The album consists of their previous main title tracks (Cactus and Callin’), along with the latest title track, Take Me Higher. The group has also returned with 4 members only, as Chan is promoting as part of UNB.

If you were expecting something like their previous title tracks (like me), you will be surprised with what the group went with. I don’t want to describe as the song as traditional, but compared with their EDM tracks, this song does sound rather traditional. There are no electronic synths or EDM elements in this song. Instead, it employs more of a pop sound. That ebing siad, I am really enjoying the song (partly due to its unexpected sound). The chorus of the song reminds me of Human Nature feel-good type of song. It just makes you want to smile. On top of that, the song zones right into the vocal abilities of the group and it shows how good their voices are. On top of that, the rapping fitted perfectly into the song. While the rappers tone was deep, it was well-paced to match the tempo of the song, which makes it fit in nicely. Overall, Take Me Higher was a another pretty good song, just not what I had expected.

To match the tone of the song, the video brings on colour and a playful concept. And from the start, it was a nice video to watch. I did notice that some of their outfits in the video seemed to be purposely allowing some skin to show. I personally thought it looked rather odd in this video (though I guess it makes sense for a video released in Summer). But besides that, it was a good video fitting for the song.

Their performance was quite good. On top of that, I think they performed live in the performance I am watching, which seems to be a huge feat, given how jumpy their performance is. I really liked the second half of the chorus when they get into the diagonal formation.

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

[Review] Complete – ONF

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With the recent news that the supposed male group formed through YG Entertainment’s MIXNINE was not going ahead, a number of the groups associated announced their long-awaited comeback. ONF is the youngest boy group under WM Entertainment, who made their debut last year with ON/OFF. After a 10 month period, the group has returned with their second mini-album (You Complete Me) and the title track, Complete.

I really liked the song for a number of reasons. Complete was extremely energetic and upbeat, which really gets to you (in a good way). From the start, it felt like we were thrown into a very active and enjoyable party. The song takes on the tropical route but it has some elements that make it unique. Starting off with the chorus, I really liked the vocals within the first line. That already won me over to begin with (I am easily pleased) and I enjoyed expecting it every time the chorus was due to occur.  But what really kicks the song up a notch is the brass tune that really bumps the energy up. Honestly, it was quite un-expecting. However, it made the song stand out for me and I enjoy replaying the song just for that part. I pretty much liked the muffled effect that brought the bridge into play and the EDM drops just before the final chorus, while also maintaining that same tune. Overall, the song is pretty much A+ and this is exactly why I will continue coming back to it.

I am not exactly sure what is going on in the video. It seems to be just shots of the guys having fun. But I wasn’t sure where the crashed plane parts were meant to fit in. Despite that however, the music video does help enhance the song. I don’t know because visually the video doesn’t account too much (from what I can interpret from it). It might be because the editing for the video is done so to match the song perfectly, which is why I think it does a really good job at complimenting the song.

I like how there was still a playful routine within the strict boundaries of the set moves in the performance. And while the members look physically tired here, the group definitely enjoys being on stage. I really liked the footwork when the brass hook kicks in and the start of the final chorus (connection from the bridge). Really nice performance, overall.

Song – 10/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 9.5/10
Overall Rating – 9.3/10

[Album Review] The Story of Light EP. 01 (6th Studio Album) – SHINee

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SHINee has made their return in celebration for their 10th year anniversary since debut. The promotional cycle for this album is a little different from what you are used to. We saw the release of Good Evening and the first section of their album. The upcoming Monday will see the release of the second section of the album (with a new title track). The full album will be released on the 25th of June. But we are here for the first part of the album, so let’s get going!

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The Story Of Light EP. 01 Album Cover

1. All Day All Night – This song is one of the songs that would sound 100% awesome when the bass is turned up to the maximum. The powerful beat was the first thing that I noticed within the song, with it standing out quite prominently. The chorus was done really well, with the ‘All Day, All Night‘ part of the chorus catchy. I thought the vocals in the song were quite good, especially during the chorus, which felt like melodic shouting. The raps themselves were awesome. It starts the album on a very bold yet memorable tune. (9/10) 

2. Good Evening (데리러 가) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Good Evening. (9/10)

3. Undercover – The first thing you notice in this song is that it constantly changes. Like in the first song, the bass is definitely turned up, especially during the chorus. And this makes the song sound so good. I liked the muffled voices at the start but the vocals throughout the rest of the song actually felt muffled when paired with the loud dubstep instrumental. Going back to the changes, they were not (in any way) obnoxious. Instead, they connected well and the song flowed nicely as a result. There was a nice contrast between the ‘soft’ sections and the dubstep moments in the song. It’s not the best song on the album however it was still quite decent. (8/10)

4. Jump – The song starts off with a fade-in effect which I liked. I thought the song had an interesting atmosphere with the instrumental appearing to be somewhat retro and quite funky/groovy. The song is quite consistent and almost smooth with its transitions. Honestly, it is one of the few times where the consistency is the main charm of the song. Both vocals and raps fitted in nicely with the song. The fade out and fade in effect employed for the bridge was also quite good. Overall, it is an enjoyable song that doesn’t use unnecessary and loud synths. (10/10)

5. You & I (안녕) – The ballad of the album. There is an air of peacefulness in this song which makes it a really nice track. I like the huskiness in their voices and the soft nature of their vocals throughout the song. The slight echo that follows their vocals was nice, while the harmonies really made the song pop out. I really like Key’s part in the bridge, with that being a really grabbing part of the song. As a whole track, I liked how it ‘built up’ to its louder chorus in the final climax. Overall, it was a pleasant song to listen to and pleasant end of the first section. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 9.2/10

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Good Evening Teaser Image

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[Review] Lady – Yubin

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How haven’t I brushed everything (studies, personal commitments) to the side and write anything about this amazing song? Let’s backtrack, firstly. Yubin is the well-known rapper of the iconic (and now disbanded) Wonder Girls. Since the announcement of the end of the group, Yubin has been preparing for a solo debut. And this past Tuesday, it officially occurred with the release of Lady.

I personally don’t think we have seen anything as retro as this for a while now. Yubin’s solo debut track really takes you back to the disco era, especially (what I assumed to be) the Korean or Japanese disco era. The track does not hold back from the very first second, opting to throw you right into its addictive instrumental and hook. Both the verses and choruses were quite good but they don’t really live up to the standard set by that opening sequence/post-chorus. I personally love the slow-down in the bridge, along with the fact that Yubin, Wonder Girl’s resident rapper, does not rap at all in the song. I find that very interesting and surprised that she sounds so good.  On top of that, I love the ‘Baby Baby’ that connects the pre-chorus to the actual chorus. I am hooked onto this whether I liked it or not and I can see myself constantly replaying this song in the weeks to come.

Fitting with the song’s sound, the music video is retro themed. From her outfit to the lighting in the video, everything points directly to the 70s or 80s. Even the filters placed on the video post-production (that hazy effect) and the overall cinematography just lines up with that era. There isn’t much else to the video. No plotline. Just Yubin and the retro vibes.

I really like how simple the choreography for that opening sequence/post-chorus instrumental section. But despite that, it worked perfectly to seem like a catchy dance move. I also like the chorus’s accompanying move as well, which seems to be a more angled version of previously described dance move.

Song – 9.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9/10

 

[Review] DKDK – fromis_9

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fromis_9 makes their return with DKDK (두근두근 – the sound of a thumping heart). This is fromis_9’s first comeback since To Heart, which was released earlier in the year. The group is currently short one member as Gyuri is now participating in the Produce 48, another survival show (since fromis_9 was formed through the survival reality show, Idol School). 

DKDK stays within the sound that the group has debuted with. It has a cutesy sound that is extremely hard to look down upon. It isn’t overly exaggerated and for that, I am quite grateful. I think we can attribute that to their vocal work, which I think is quite good in the song. Once again, the song suffers from that standardness that I mentioned in the To Heart review. To me, the verses and chorus weren’t that great highlights of the song. It doesn’t make it memorable. On top of that, the song doesn’t really have momentum or any sort of energy that makes it a song that I continually replay. That being said, the song is still listenable. There is one standout moment that does have me coming back. However, it is purely for the ‘Dugeun Dugeun‘ hook right after the chorus. It is unique and extremely catchy. If the rest of the song was as catchy and memorable, I think the track would have been a total hit.

The way the video was shot remind me of LOONA predebut music videos. I assume the same director or producer was used. I think the video simply shows the girls becoming obsessed with cats (which I assume represents their true love). They go to catch one, which happens to be the biggest cat out there. Not sure what to make of the plot other than that simplistic understanding of it. So do share any other theories. Really like the start and the end of the video how the girl (and in the end – the cats) appear one by one, in time with the music. Overall, it was a good video to watch which appeared to complement the cutesy vibes of the song.

The performance is quite lively and energetic, which reflects well with the song. I particuarly like the few seconds at the start once the clapping begns and they were all in sync. I liked how they got into their final formation at the very end of the performance. But I feel like they could have tidied that section up a little bit to make it more appealing visually. Overall, nice performance.

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

 

 

 

 

[Review] Light – Wanna One

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Wanna One has returned with a brand new special album, 1 ÷ x = 1 (Undivided). Following their hits earlier in the year, I.P.U and Boomerang, the group has returned with the title track, Light.  The special album (which I will review) features 4 other tracks produced by different and well-known producers. Each track contains different members, so it is going to be interesting. But that will be for the album review as we refocus back on their comeback title track, Light.

Light falls in line with their past tracks. It is dance track that features trap synths in the background. The first initial listen did feel a little underwhelming but the song has definitely grown on me within hours of its release. I particularly like the vocals in the song but it stands out the most in the opening moment of the song. I really liked the flick upwards in the final syllables in some of the lines. The song buildup was nice, pairing well with the raps. Unfortunately, I think the chorus was a little too straightforward and I feel like they could have made it different somehow to make it pop more. While the ending did work, a part of me feels like they could have eased off instead of going out abruptly. Despite that, the song was still quite good and it has landed on the replay playlist for this week!

When it comes to the music video, I was disappointed. For a group of this popularity, I expected them to go all out with each music video. Personally, I thought the choreography shots were good. However, they were quite limited. The rest of the video consisted of closeup shots of the members staring at the light and then running towards it. There wasn’t anything going on besides that really kept me interested. The feature image I chose (that section of the video) was the one part that had to be cringing though because you can tell it was filmed on a green screen a mile away. I am used to videos doing it in a more polished manner, which ends up looking good. That wasn’t felt much here.

The performance was quite good. They take a more sensual approach with their slow hip thrust for the chorus. While hip thrusting has been done before, it looks and feels completely different in this performance, which is a great thing. I also liked the contrast between the fast-paced music and the slower yet powerful dance moves. They pair well together and it makes for a good choreography.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 6.5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.8/10

[Double Review] Selfish + In My Room – Moonbyul (Mamamoo)

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Moonbyul made her solo debut 2 weeks ago. Clearly shows how ‘up to date’ I am. But once again, better late than never. Moonbyul is Mamamoo’s well-known rapper (and starting this year, vocalist). The main title track is Selfish, which also features Seulgi from Red Velvet. The two previously participated in Idol Drama Operation Team. Furthermore, I have decided to include In My Room, which also had a music video (hence the review).

Selfish is a nice song that does bring a smile to your face. The song is quite melodic and slowly paced (but not too slow), which makes it pleasant to listen to. When rappers released solo songs, they are usually fierce and energy packed in the way the lines are delivered. However, Moonbyul’s solos tracks are one of the few examples that don’t really conform to that. Seulgi’s vocals in this song pair well with the soft nature. But my favourite part in the entire song is the harmonies, particularly in the final chorus. It is clear that Moonbyul can sing (as seen through her group’s releases this year). But there is something about the harmonies that has me falling in love with the song. Overall, it is quite good.

In My Room takes on an R&B approach. In this song, she takes on both the vocals and raps herself. Though, there seemed to be a male singer featuring in the middle of the song, who didn’t seem to be listed on any of the tracklist or information that I could dig up. I like her vocals in the song and when she changed to rapping as well. The instrumental was also quite nice, which gets me swaying along to the music. Sadly, I don’t find this song as memorable as Selfish was. However, it was still pleasant to listen to and showcases Moonbyul’s talents in a much more softer manner.

The two music videos are polar opposites. Mainly due to the atmosphere the song creates. Selfish’s video was more fun-filled, while In My Room was more emotionally centred. The message of the Selfish video can be seen clearly throughout the video (see the English translations for the song) but I really liked the comedic approach they took in some of the scenes (e.g. the kids intimidating and getting the singers’ money).  In My Room seemed to conform to that typical R&B visual, with the darkness and nightlife scene. On top of that, I thought the loneliness that Moonbyul was easily experienced just by watching.

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

In My Room 
Song – 7/10
Music Video – 7/10
Overall Rating – 7/10

[Review] Dramatic – NTB

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NTB (Naughty Boys) made their debut on Monday last week. Despite having an odd meaning to their name, they are a 6 member boy group who are currently under One World Entertainment. The members include L.Min, Seowoong, G.O (not associated with the MBLAQ G.O),  Youngbo, Jaeha and Hyobin. Their debut title track, Dramatic, features on their first mini-album, also titled Dramatic.

For some odd reason, I did expect something along the lines of a dramatic sounding song. However, I should have known better that KPOP doesn’t always follow literal meanings. Instead, the group debuts with a song full of electronic synths and explosive-like sounds. The instrumental was really good for the song and it is one of the factors that drew me to the song. Initially, I thought the song was quite underwhelming. However, multiple listens after had me enjoying the instrumental. I also thought the vocals were good, particularly the final line of each chorus where the main vocalist goes into the higher pitch. I thought the raps were good but it didn’t necessarily feel like a strong aspect of the song. The launch into the final chorus, with the various pauses and delays, made it song end on a good note. While I do personally like the song, I don’t think it really sets them apart from other groups. There isn’t anything ‘new’ in this song.

There seems to a visual trend going around in some of the KPOP music videos. I think this is the third music video released just this month where filming took place on top of a building, in this case, a helicopter pad. At this rate, helicopters won’t be able to land in South Korea. Though I have to be honest, the video does take in great scenery shots, which I thought made the video feel enjoyable. Particularly at the end of the song (just when we get into the final chorus), if there were nighttime scenes with fireworks, I think the video would have been perfect for the song. But overall, it was a good video to watch.

Based on the performances I watched for this review, I wasn’t sure if this was meant to be a happy type of performance or just your typical ‘serious’ boy group performance. They had very stern and serious facial expressions at the start but once the chorus kicked in, it felt very lighthearted and smiles were flying right left and centre. The dancing was good, especially the second half of the chorus!

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

[Album Review] How Are You? (4th Mini Album) – N.Flying

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N.Flying makes their second comeback this year with How R U Today?, which is the title track of 4th mini-album, How Are You? (the reason why we are here today). I previously reviewed Hot Potato and their 3rd mini-album, The Hottest, back in January, so if you missed those reviews, click the hyperlinks above.

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How Are You Album Cover

1..How R U Today? (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of How R U Today?. (9/10)

2. Up All Night – Following their sentimental song is a song that you can have a good rock along to. Despite it being performed by a band, it felt like a song that any other boy group could take on and perform with. I thought the chorus was awesome, with the explosive vocals giving the song some momentum during the chorus (actually, for the entirety of the song). Most memorable parts of the song had to be the “You Keep Me Up All Night” and the part following the first and final choruses. Overall, great song. (8/10)

3. Love Fool (팔불출) – The song is a lot brighter and upbeat. To me, it felt like a great mix of their ‘fun’ side (seen in their last two comebacks) and their more serious songs. The chorus was really catchy (once again) and this attracted my attention quite a bit. The vocal work was good. The only thing that didn’t really work with me was the lack of changeup during the bridge. It doesn’t have to be over the top, however, the song could have used a  changeup to avoid it becoming too repetitive. (9/10)

4. Anyway – The first thing that jumped out at me was the energetic feel that the song had going on. It was explosive, which made it so much more appealing to me. The raps during the bridge were totally awesome. It hit the Summer vibes perfectly and felt very refreshing. I must say that the song felt like it could have been a typical western boy group song. Just N.Flying probably did it a lot better. (9/10)

5. Fall With You (너 없는 난) – Following the same final comments for the previous song, this also felt like another Western boy group’s Summer single, which N.Flying nails perfectly. The only major issue is that the instrumental felt quite loud. As a result, the vocals had to compete with the instrumental in order to be heard. That being said, the instrumentals (in their own right) created an intense atmosphere, which might be the reason why it was so loud in the first place. The vocals and raps were amazing (again). I have to admit though, the bridge gave me some relief after the full-on intensity. (8.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.7/10

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How Are You Teaser Image

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[Album Review] I Am (1st Mini Album) – (G)I-DLE

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(G)I-DLE is definitely this year’s monster rookie. Despite only just debuting, the ladies have already won a handful of weekly music show awards and have definitely already made a name for themselves in both domestic and international markets. They are still promoting at the moment and are still being nominated left, right and centre.

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I Am Album Cover

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

2. $$$ (달라 ) – $$$ is a great continuation of the hip-hop genre that is (G)I-DLE is clearly owning. One of the first things that is most apparent is that the song feels like it is a mashup of multiple songs. Despite that, the song flows neatly and there are no overlaps to create awkward moments. The song has amazing hooks and the differing styles between parts make it memorable. The rapping was pretty good in the song. I think the major issue is that while they had strong moments, it felt short-lived with the constant changes. I wished they continued with the strong moments rather than cutting it up. (8.5/10)

3. Maze – Maze is a R&B track infused with their hip-hop styles mentioned above. Honestly, I liked everything about the song. I really liked the instrumental of the entire track, including the very end, which I thought was extremely dynamic. The explosive nature of the chorus really gives the song some energy, which goes well with their softer guitar verses. Both the rapping and vocals were on point. I cannot fault this at all and is my favourite track off the album. (10/10)

4. Don’t Text Me – While the song takes on the R&B genre, likes its predecessor, it is a lot softer. It also has good rapping and vocals here. The instrumental reminds me of R&B back in the day but the use of synths really gives it a modern feel. You can also describe the instrumental as smooth with the synths added some texture. It does get a little dry towards the end but it is another great song from the group. (9/10)

5. What’s In Your House? (알고 싶어) – The song opens with a funky and groovy beat, which features the extremely catchy ‘What’s In Your House‘ repetition. It is another R&B track but I find it extremely soft to the point where you can include this in a café’s playlist.  The rapping gives the song some texture and also prevented it from becoming too boring. The bridge was a complete slowdown (which I am not really a fan of) but they managed to recover the energy by going back to the catchy hook. (9/10)

6. Listen To Me (들어줘요) – Here we have the one song that conforms the album to a typical girl group album. The presence of the mandatory ballad. I am not disappointed by it, however, as it does show that the girls can be versatile. The song showcases amazing vocals and harmonies from each member (including the rapper). This makes the song captivating and end the album on a soft yet delicate note. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.8/10

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LATATA Music Video Picture

recommended red round grunge vintage ribbon stamp

 

[Review] love4eva – LOONA yyxy (ft. Grimes)

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For the first time ever, I am doing a LOONA review on the very day it is released and not a couple of months (or a year) down the track. LOONA is finishing up with their pre-debut project with the final subunit which features the last 4 members revealed (Yves, Chuu, Go Won and Olivia Hye). The unit is named LOONA yyxy, with the final part standing for Youth Youth by Young (shrugs shoulder – but reading some unofficial sites, the name is based on chromosomes xx and xy).

love4eva is a song produced by the same people who brought you Gee by SNSD. The very start of the song does remind me of the famous song, along with I.O.I’s Very Very Very. It is a bright and bubbly song, overloaded with the cuteness from the members. It truly keeps to their name, youthful and young. I thought the pre-chorus was an interesting change-up from the verses and chorus. The chorus is super catchy and definitely one of the highlights of the song. Vocals and raps (though limited) were good. The other highlight of the song that I love is the instrumental sequence just before the bridge. You’d expect them to do something traditionally cute, which I had expected. However, they added electronic synths and autotuned muttering on top, which adds a completely different yet extra cute feel to it. I don’t know how to exactly describe it words, so do check it out. Overall, great song from the girls.

I will be reviewing this music video based on what I see and will not relate it to any of the solo predebut music videos. Essentially, the video is set in this etiquette school, where the 4 members are currently students. And the school also has this strict headmistress. Yves tends to go off into the woods and dirty her socks, which clearly upsets the headmistress. She tempts Chuu (and later Go Won) into joining her and running off into the woods, leaving Olivia behind. At the end of the video, we see that Olivia remained behind as the only one, to which she gets all the praises in the end. However, she comes off as looking possessed or seriously angry as a result, which I am now unsure of. We see that there was some hostility between Olivia and the other girls, who often left her out of things. From reading up on other theories, there is a reason why they act like this towards her, however, that overlaps with other videos, which I do not have time to write about. In the coming weeks, I will publish ‘my’ entire theory of the LOONAverse and will most likely factor in this music video. It is a good video and I apologise if I got the member’s names wrong.

It is a very cute dance, which fits well with the song’s sound. I love the arrow hearts they shoot with and the kidney dance they do during the chorus. The dance break was also super cute, which I thought was the peak of the performance.

Can I just slide in here and say how insanely cute Olivia look when she isn’t serious or possessed looking?

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 9.5/10
Performance – 9/10 [updated]
Overall Rating – 8.9/10 [updated]

 

[Review] Teenager – Samuel ft. Lee Ro Han

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Returning with his first repackaged mini-album is Samuel. And once again, he flaunts his age with his title track titled Teenager, featuring Lee Ro Han. He previously did so during his debut promotions with Sixteen. Earlier this year, Samuel released One, which featured Jung Ilhoon from BTOB.

In some cases when songs from the same artist are released relatively close to one another, I compare them (it is actually hard for me to control this). In this case, I find that Teenager isn’t that exciting, as compared to One. While the song does go down the EDM route, it feels very standard and typical for songs of the same kind. His chorus is a mix of EDM synths and the simple repetition of the title, ‘Teenager’. It just is a weak hook that doesn’t reel me into the song. The verses did sound good, with a decent buildup tot he chorus. His vocals were that good but they don’t go that extra mile, which could have upgraded this song to a higher level. The rapping was good, with the deep voice and well-paced delivery reminiscing some of the songs where I have rappers delivery very deep and meaning lines. All of that being said, the song isn’t a letdown in any way. It is still listenable, it just doesn’t feel up to par with his previous track.

Set in a dystopian setting, it seems to show Samuel as one of the last survivors of some sort of apocalyptic event. He is shown lost and sad (with his puppy eyes) throughout the video. But along the way, he gains this confidence that kind goes ‘hey, I am alive and no one else is’. Personally, I think this goes hand in hand with the meaning of the lyrics, which talk about how people underestimated him based on his age but yet he has gotten quite far. The only thing I don’t like how they got the actress to deliver the raps. She didn’t look like she wanted to do it anyway.

It was a good performance to watch. Nothing that mind-blowing, though like most performances, I’d say it was fitting for the song.

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

 

[Review] Sunshower – Boyfriend

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The honest reality of the KPOP industry is that if you don’t make comebacks, you will be forgotten and that is what is happening to Boyfriend. Their last promotion cycle was with Star last year. Donghyun went on The Unit for a second chance (and just missed out on a spot in UNB). And while that show has wrapped a few months ago, there has yet to be any comeback. There was one release, Sunshower, which was released one week ago as a single for their fans in celebration of their 7th year anniversary.

Sunshower is a ballad that is about remembering the good memories, which is a fitting topic for fans. It is a good ballad with nice vocals and harmonies. You can hear the happiness in their voices, as it isn’t a typical emotional ballad about a breakup. I find that an important aspect of the song and I feel that they did a good job of conveying the nostalgic emotion. The rapping was extremely well done. The song picked up right when the raps started off the second verses, which allowed the raps to fit right in. My only main beef against the song is that I don’t really connect with it and hence, I find it quite plain. Maybe it is because I am not 100% a fan but rather an occasional listener. It may be because I have forgotten about them. Either way, I just find the song quite dry and bland.

The music video does a good job of conveying the song in a visual context. It shows the members when they were younger, while at school. They spend their days in art class, playing soccer or enjoying their youth in the rain. Throughout the video, we see the members sitting around class or arriving at the school, which holds their precious memories and remember those nostalgic moments with each other. It is a touching video.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 7.5/10
Overall Rating – 7.2/10