Category: KPOP

[Review] Lovers or Enemies – CIX

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Also making their comeback whilst I was away from the blog is CIX, who returns after 8 months following the likes of Save Me, Kill Me and the mini-album OK Episode 2: I’m OK. Their newest comeback is with their first ever single album 0 or 1 and title track Lovers or Enemies.

Whilst subdued, Lovers or Enemies brings forward vocals, a funky sound to the group, and catchy hooks and melodies. It is honestly quite a fun track, which I have been going back and forth to ever since it was released. I find it very hard to put down. The funky and 80s retro undertones, thanks to the guitar and synth work in Lovers or Enemies, really gives the song such a fun vibe. The way it is kept subdued, however, was quite clever as it allows the group to deliver their vocals in a minimal (and what felt like an) effortless manner. Sure, opting for a more subdued sound in what easily could have been a more upbeat track (I can definitely here the potential for this direction in Lovers or Enemies) can have an opposite effect on the song, and CIX could have definitely been more expressive. But I felt that this technique kept the song interesting for more, and there was some character and personality to their vocals particularly when the song dips in the pre-choruses. Those were interesting and cool parts of Lovers or Enemies. BX’s rapping was very cool in the second verse and I like the contrast he brings to the song with his rapping. My major complaint is how short the song is. I honestly think the producers could have introduced a dance break to give Lover or Enemies some extra few seconds, but also it could serves us with some more oomph, honing right into the funky and retro synth affair that the song has going on. But overall, a really great song from CIX.

I find that the music video can be up for multiple interpretations. My initial thoughts on the video was that the female character was recreating robots of her lover (which, I guess, was a short-lived relationship and have now become enemies) and putting memories into the robots to make it look like they were lovers all this time. The members give her the choice of being lovers or enemies in the song’s lyrics, and she chose the former. I also felt the story could have been told from the perspective of the members, who are robots awaiting instructions from their creator to either be a lover or enemy. That explains a lot of the earlier scenes in the video where she is thinking about what to do with them, and why they it looked like they were still stuck on the manufacturing process.

While the song was subdued, I did like how they kept the choreography for this comeback quite upbeat. It was definitely a strong routine, overall. I also commend the group on how charismatic and alluring they looked and made the choreography looked.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9/10 [Updated on 3 March 2024 due missing music video and overall rating]

[Review] STAY – CHA EUN WOO (ASTRO)

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As we move past the Lunar New Year holiday (Happy Lunar New Year to those who celebrate it!), we are now starting to see some new releases pop up. One of them is CHA EUN WOO’s solo debut with the single STAY and his first mini-album Entity, which officially dropped today. For those who may not know, in addition to being a successful actor, CHA EUN WOO is also a member of the male group ASTRO, who debuted back in 2016.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure what I was expecting with STAY and the idea of CHA EUN WOO’s solo debut. But what we do get sounds very nice. It may not be the most prolific song out there presently, nor does STAY really rock the boat. But it has its charms. I particularly really like the acoustic guitar in the instrumentation. It makes for a nice and pleasant background for this track, but there is enough heft in it to give STAY some bite and substance. Similarly, CHA EUN WOO does a great job at expressing his emotions and bringing that to the forefront. In a way, he made the song stilling and captivating with his vocals, which by my standards means it is a successful and strong solo debut. I did wish there was a bit more to the song, just to give it more of that memorable factor. But honestly, STAY was a very well executed and I enjoyed the release with the limited listens I have provided the song thus far.

Mistaken for a date at first, the music video features CHA EUN WOO and India Eisley. The video sees the CHA EUN WOO’s character struggling post break up with India Eisley’s character, becoming floored and unsure what to do once he crossed path with her again. The song’s lyrics expresses the desire for someone who has parted way with you to stay, and what I described above that we see in the video fits the brief quite well. The constant repeats of the same scene suggests his inability to move on due to these feelings, and he is only able to progress with his life once he acts on those feelings and desires. The horrible traffic jam also appears to be another visual representation of that. Honestly, a well put together video and a strong concept for this solo debut.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.4/10 [Updated on 3 March 2024 due to calculation error]

[Review] UGLY – EVNNE

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Following their debut with TROUBLE in 2023 (which caught my attention , grew on me considerably, and placed the group on my radar), EVNNE is finally back with their second mini-album, Un: SEEN and their latest title track UGLY.

The aspect of EVNNE’s new song that really sells UGLY to me is its instrumental, which opts for a club-like banger dance motif. The thumping nature of the instrumentation and the bass we get in UGLY is quite satisfying and sets up the song well. Both verses showcases the group’s rapping abilities, giving the song some dynamic moments. On the other hand, more variation on the vocals side would have made UGLY‘s verses more interesting. We do get a better showing of vocals in the bridge, though that sequence also lacks dynamic flair. The rapping and chanting that soon follows the vocals in the bridge are livelier (if not the liveliest moment in the song). But the biggest disappointment for me comes during the chorus. Firstly, I wished there was more oomph of some kind in the centrepiece of UGLY, either through concentration or intensity, so we can really tell the chorus apart from the rest of the instrumentation. There really isn’t anything that sets it apart from the rest of the instrumentation. Secondly, the “We Sla-la-la-la-lay” hook was good, but felt underbaked. It could have been some more profound or its delivery could have had more dimension to feel ‘more baked’. And thirdly, the vocal melodies in the second half of the chorus dulls out the chorus even further. Better vocals do come into play during the chorus (which I appreciate), but it isn’t the catchy centrepiece that I hoped for in UGLY.

The song is about embracing your differences and not caring about what others think about those differences. And in the video, we see just that. The group are depicted as teenagers being picked on by other students, as they are always surrounded by the other students. Throughout the video, we see the members show off their powers in self-defense, which is probably why they were being picked on in the first place. When they do embrace their powers, things become better for the members. They are partying in the club and there are smiles on their faces.

The choreography routine looks great. Its intense, just like the music, and shows off an edgier and darker side to the group. Towards the end, the choreography becomes a little more fun and loose, which I liked. Nothing necessarily stands out on its own in the routine. But like yesterday’s review, it is the whole package that stands out.

Song – 6.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.3/10

[Review] Plot Twist – TWS

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For the last few months of last year and so far this year, I have yet to cover any new debuts on my blog. I will slowly get around to reviewing those new debuts that I have missed over the coming weeks. One of those new groups starting out is Pledis Entertainment’s latest male group (and their first since SEVENTEEN’s debut back in 2015), TWS. A 6-member group, TWS stands for Twenty-Four Seven With Us and consist of Shinyu, Dohoon, Youngjae, Hanjin, Jihoon and Kyungmin. They debuted with the single Plot Twist, a pre-release single titled Oh MyMy:7s (which I will return to review another day) and the mini-album Sparkling Blue back in January of this year.

Described as a group who will be tackling “boyhood pop”, Plot Twist is just that. A very noticeable youthful vibe attempts to sweep us off our feet in Plot Twist. And for the most part, it is successful. The vibrancy, refreshing energy and pop influence is definitely all there and instantly apparently in Plot Twist. I really like the pop rock tinge that the song does carry in its backing, and how the song incorporates ‘plot twist’ in its backing to create a dynamic title. The different percussion definitely keeps the track lively and every sequence is slightly different to what we hear earlier in the track. The members sound great, with solid vocals and rapping from them all to pull off Plot Twist. And the vocals and rapping do help bring that youthfulness to life. However, I do feel like the single could have benefited from being longer, just to give more opportunity for us listeners to sink our teeth into it. As it stands, it feels like a brief introduction to the group that highlights the potential of the six members as a unit, but there isn’t anything in Plot Twist to make the member standout themselves. The 2.5 minutes of run time just doesn’t allow that opportunity and I feel like that might be an untapped resource to really help TWS kick off their careers. Overall, I really like Plot Twist and the final product. But I wished there was more to the song to let the members shine.

The music video and lyrics of the song depicts the excitement and nervousness of meeting for the first time. I like how the video and lyrics depicts both the idea of first meetings in the context of friendship and potential relationships. But I also like how the video also serves as a first meeting between us and the group. In the video, we see the members draw up a checklist that includes three lines: 1. Say Hi, 2. Strike up a conversation and 3. Awesome first impression. While our first meeting with the group was successful and all three items on the list should be checked off, I did like the humour in the video, with the members putting a question mark around item three, right after one of the members falls on the train and tries his best to recover from that. I also liked the group’s depiction of the school boy concept. This concept has been done countless times in the past, but it definitely feels refreshing for this video.

One thing they really made sure they showcased in this debut is their choreography skills. This performance was amazing to watch and I am in awe in everything they did. It was sharp, lively, fun, energetic and a whole lot more adjectives that might take us a while to get through. It suits the song and its youthful vibe so well. There wasn’t really a particular moment that stood out to me as the entire routine did that instead. Definitely a group to watch out for on the stage at the very least.

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

[Review] Super Lady – (G)I-DLE

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Another big release over the last few weeks is (G)I-DLE’s comeback with Super Lady, the lead single off the group’s second studio length album 2. This follows on the pre-release single, Wife, which is also featured on the same album (I’ll be back to review this single separately in the future), their previous Korean comeback with Queencard last year and their debut with their first Western singles I Do and I Want That.

Super Lady is a grower, growing immensely on me over the last few weeks since its release. For the most part, my thoughts on Super Lady has remained the same from the beginning. But I do find myself fair more addicted to the song since my first listen. I very much liked everything in Super Lady, with the exception of the club-like breakdown we hear in the bridge and as the backing of the final sequence of Super Lady. I personally find it cuts the powerful and empowering tone that (G)I-DLE, and in particular Soyeon (who produced the song alongside Pop Time, Daily and Likey), had set up in Super Lady, and opts for a cliche breakdown that doesn’t show off the uniqueness that we know (G)I-DLE can pull off. I wished the song had better maintained that powerful/empowering tone throughout to the very end, as that had some substantial bite and would have really made the song a home run for me. Aside from that, Super Lady is a powerful track that (G)I-DLE knows how to handle extremely well. Soyeon’s introduction was commanding and kicks off Super Lady with a bold opening that practically sets the tone from the get-go. From there, the members follow up with strong vocals and rapping that highlights their skill set and talent. When it comes to the chorus, I really like the unapologetic catwalk vibe that is given off the music, while the tenacity and the ‘in-your-face’ nature of the song helps sell Super Lady‘s messaging so well.

Super Lady‘s music video is a homage to strong females we have seen in pop-culture and history. For example, each member portrays a strong female who have made a name for themselves in their respective story or chapter in history. Soyeon portrays Athena (the Greek Goddess of War), Minnie portrays Medusa, Yuqi portrays Cruella de Vil from 101 Dalmatians, Shuhua portrays the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, and Miyeon portrays the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra. In addition to those characters, it is theorised that the song’s lyrics also makes references to currently active female groups like IVE, LE SSERAFIM, EVERGLOW and aespa. Even the black and white palette used in the video for the background, outfits and styling reminds me of 2NE1’s I Am The Best music video (though there was a bit of colour in that video). I also really liked the stadium stage setting the video was also set on. It looked epic up close and the crowd cheering at the end really seals the deal that (GII-DLE are Super Lad[ies].

The choreography definitely reflects the song well. It is powerful, shows us who is boss and definitely showcases (G)I-DLE in their strongest mode yet. I really like the domino sequenced move in the verses, and the chorus routine looks very catchy (though I will put that towards the Super Lady dance challenge that I am seeing on my social medias).

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.8/10

[Review] Love Wins All – IU

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I am back from my break and I have a lot to get through. It was particularly busy whilst I was away, but I am hoping to make use of the current holidays to post some reviews before the industry ramps up again. And I kick off my coverage once again with the biggest release of 2024 thus far, IU’s Love Wins All, which has been chart topping since its release. This new single will form part of IU’s comeback next week with her 7th mini-album, The Winning. This is IU’s first comeback since 2021’s Celebrity, LILAC, strawberry moon and Winter Sleep. Though, she did participate in collaborations since then, such as with Jay Park for GANADARA and SUGA for People Pt. 2.

My thoughts on IU’s latest song is fairly simple – I really like the song. Love Wins All is a stunning ballad and has been since I first heard it a few weeks ago upon release. The energy in this ballad starts off quiet and soft. But as the song progresses, it builds upwards thanks to the instrumentation and IU’s vocals. Yet it does so in a manner that keeps Love Wins All very delicate from start to end. The building orchestral instrumentation actually adds in an epic vibe that is suitable for the context of a ballad, while IU’s vocals were so graceful from the moment Love Wins All begins to the moment it ends. Love Wins All is definitely a beautiful addition to the repertoire of ballads that IU has under her belt, and the chart topping performance the song has already delivered since its release proves once again why IU is a digital queen in KPOP.

The music video features V from BTS, who is currently enlisted in the Korean military, and IU herself. In this video, V and IU play a couple, who have been surviving in a post-apocalyptic world despite having disabilities. V’s character is blind, while IU’s character is deaf. In the video, whilst out-running the silver cube then ends up taking them at the end of the video, the pair discovers a camera that allows them to envision a different life together in which the apocalypse did not occur. In this alternative life, the pair spend their time together in love and also get married. They choose to follow that vision by dressing up in a wedding dress and tux in the post-apocalyptic world, before they are captured by the silver cube. Both don’t go down without a fight, but both end up perishing with one another in hand, making for a tragic end to a beautiful love story. Now, there is a bit of controversy around the difference in life where the characters are shown to have their disability vs. what they see in that camera. Personally, I actually can’t tell if those camera visions were a life without their disabilities. Sure, the pair looked better, but there was no clear clarification if that was a life without their disabilities. But I may have missed an explanation in another video somewhere, so I am happy to be corrected. But from how I see it, it was a great video that shows love between the pair did end up winning despite the sad ending for both characters.

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

[Album Review] VillainS (9th Mini Album) – Dreamcatcher

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I am back tomorrow with song reviews that I have missed whilst on my break, plus other new releases that will be released during the week. In other words, a lot to get through. But before I am officially back tomorrow, there is one last album review that I have scheduled – Dreamcatcher’s VillainS. It is their 9th mini-album release, and their second one of 2023 (the first being Apocalypse: From Us, which featured the title track BONVOYAGE). VillainS features the title track OOTD, three side tracks and an intro track – a grand total of five tracks. As usual, thoughts on each song are below.

VillainS Album Cover

1. Intro: This My Fashion – Kicking off the mini-album and the new chapter in Dreamcatcher’s career is the intro track This My Fashion, which features a repetitive autotuned or robotic utterance of the title and a more electronic rock sound profile. I found this track to be a little unsettling, thanks to the lack of anything else in the track (the lack of vocals means I will not be rating this song and including it in the ‘overall album rating’). But it definitely means that This My Fashion has an intriguing aspect to it which beckons me to listen on.

2. OOTD (Title Track) – Click here for the full review for OOTD. (7.5/10)

3. Rising – To me, Rising sounds like a throwback to their earlier rock works that they built their name on. And this throwback is definitely well executed by the group and their producers. Dreamcatcher sounds more mature in this track. The hooks and melodies in Rising are catchy and their delivery in this song just shows us how well they meld into the genre now. Also, the rock gears towards the metal corner of the genre, which feels weightier. All of this makes for a highlight on this mini-album. (10/10)

4. Shatter – While I do like the set up to Shatter and its more experimental sound profile of electronica and punk, I felt like some parts of the song were relatively softer than the rest and this left the track unbalanced, in my opinion. I wished where the vocals were soft, they were actually intensified. This would also allow the instrumentation to go harder to really fully appreciate the best of both worlds. I did like the clever interwoven classical influences in Shatter, giving another dimension to the song. (8/10)

5. We Are Young – Dreamcatcher hits the club in We Are Young, going with a progressive house sound. It is definitely a different take on the group’s usual sound, which we all know has been more rock leaning. The drop and subsequent instrumental that makes up the chorus was very satisfying and hits the spot quite well. Interestingly, the verses and bridge feature softer vocals and a more delicate touch from the members. In the bridge, the way Siyeon transitions We Are Young from these vocals back to the club vibe is probably the best bit of the song and a profound way to end of this mini-album. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.9/10

VillainS Teaser Image

[Album Review] CONTINUUM (5th Mini Album) – VIXX

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It has been a few years since we last saw VIXX on stage. That was through Scentist (if we are considering their Korean comeback) or Reincarnation (if we are considering their Japanese comeback). There have been also two digital singles since those comebacks. But in November 2023, VIXX made their long awaited comeback with the mini-album CONTINUUM and the title track Amnesia. Today, I will be reviewing the mini-album. In addition to the title track, it features an additional four songs. And per usual, this mini-album is on par with the rest of their album releases as far as I can remember, a strong album release and features a few hidden gems. For more on individual songs, continue reading below.

CONTINUUM Album Cover

1. Amnesia (Title Track) – Click here for the full review for Amnesia. (8/10)

2. Chemical – Chemical takes me right back to some of their older side tracks, going for that darker and sexier vibe that VIXX always have in some form on their albums. I found everything to be rather straight forward and simple in Chemical, from the breathy yet clear vocals, sultry melodies, and trap and electronic instrumentational. But the descriptors ‘simple’ and ‘straight-forward’ are no critique towards Chemical. Rather the simplicity allows the song and the members within it really shine. (9/10)

3. LILAC (라일락) – In a more heartfelt and acoustic manner is LILAC. While the beginning and verses of the song brings out an acoustic flair, I do think LILAC’s chorus gears the song towards a minimalistic pop-rock demeanour. As the instrumentation is kept to a minimum, this allows LILAC to showcase the stunning vocal profile of the trio by placing their delivery into the spotlight. (9/10)

4. SAVAGE – SAVAGE takes an upbeat and dynamic turn in its instrumental, easily becoming my favourite pick on this mini-album. I like quite a lot in this track, such as the twinkling effect in the chorus (which gives SAVAGE depth), how fun the song gets thanks to the really funky instrumentation, and how lively and expressive VIXX sounds in SAVAGE. (10/10)

5. If You Come Tonight – If You Come Tonight is an easy-going and softer track to end the mini-album on. It isn’t a ballad, but it is as beautiful as a ballad from VIXX could be. The melodies are really nice, and VIXX’s really nice vocal work also has this sweet tinge to it that emphasises the track’s pleasant and soothing vibes. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.8/10

[Album Review] [PHANTASY] Pt. 2 Sixth Sense (2nd Studio Album – Part 2) – THE BOYZ

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THE BOYZ announced back last year their second studio length album PHANTASY and that it would be split into three parts. I also think I read somewhere that the entire album was to be released by the end of 2023. But I think that ship has sailed given we only have two parts and it is already early 2024. Anyhow, the group kicked off PHANTASY with the first part, Christmas in August and LIP GLOSS, in August 2023. And in November 2023, the group followed up with the second part of PHANTASY, Sixth Sense, which is the focus of this review post. The single WATCH IT serves as the title track and forms part of the six-track second part of the album. For my thoughts on each of the song below (FYI – some of which do have music videos – linked blow. But due to time constraints, I have opted to review them here instead), continue reading the review below.

[PHANTASY] Pt. 2 Sixth Sense Album Cover

1. WATCH IT (Title Track) – Click here for the full review for WATCH IT.  (9/10)

2. Rat In The Trap (덫) – The first unit track on this part of the album is Rat In The Trap, which features Sangyeon, Jacob, Kevin, New and Hakyeon. I wrote this review before the music video for Rat In The Trap was released. Here, they describe love as a trap. I really like the funky vibe that is channeled throughout the track. Further to that, the electric bass gives the track that dark and edgy vibe (and a very cool crunchy effect), while the melodies and vocal work feels quite sleek. (8/10)

3. Honey – Honey also got the music video treatment earlier this year. But as it was an all-English song (which was a genuine surprise to me), it (presently) can only fall into the realm of my International Song Reviews segment. As that segment tends to lag behind, here are my thoughts on Honey. It is a smooth and sleek hip-hop track performed by members Sunwoo and Eric. The lyrics are quite sensual and mature, but I feel this helps makes the song feel even smoother. The two rappers’ vocals were actually well done, and their rapping is definitely engaging. I really like their use of the deeper and lower registers throughout, which really helped make Honey alluring to listeners. Eric and Sunwoo did a very successful job with Honey. (9/10)

4. Bad Luck – All the members come together again in Bad Luck, which felt like quintessential THE BOYZ for me. The synth work comes off as dramatic in Bad Luck and gives momentum to the song. The vocal work is amazing, with fast tempo delivery in the chorus being one of the cooler aspects of the track. But it is the rapping that bookends both ends of the second verse were the standout moments, with Sunwoo’s rhythmic sequence at the end of the second verse being the best of the best. I want to relive those few seconds again and again. (10/10)

5. CRYING & LAUGHTER – The hollow percussion to start off the song was definitely an interesting choice. But it actually ends up blending well with the rest of the instrumentation. There are also other interesting choices in this dance track, as more scratchy strings. Again, good rapping and vocals from the members throughout CRYING & LAUGHTER, all of which makes the song engaging to listen to again and again. The ‘La la la’ and melodies are quite catchy. A solid single, overall. (8/10)

6. Escape – Again, we see interesting instrumentation choices in Escape. There are a few odd balls (at least, that is how I hear them) in the background, such as the consistent and brief thumping percussion, the very dull piano-like right at the back of the instrumentation, a bubbling effect sound and probably a lot more that I cannot pinpoint. That being said, everything melds together to be quite aesthetic. I thought it was really cool. The airy vocals from the members actually complimented the music quite well. It had an alluring effect that worked very well on me. My only improvement to this song is that it could have used something more memorable in terms of hooks and melodies. (8.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.8/10

[PHANTASY] Pt. 2 Sixth Sense Teaser Image

[Album Review] VERSUS (4th Mini Album) – VIVIZ

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After what felt like has been a concentrated amount of album reviews for male groups, I am here with an album review for a female group – this time, VIVIZ. The trio made their comeback in November 2023 with their 4th mini-album VERSUS and the title track MANIAC, following on from their PULL UP comeback from earlier in 2023. Including the title track, this mini-album also features another 4 songs.

This is the first time I am reviewing an album from VIVIZ, who debuted following the unexpected announcement of GFriend’s disbandment. Said announcement is still one that catches me off guard and shocks me even after two years as it was simply not even considered as an option given the success off the group. That being said, VIVIZ picks it right up with their debut and have had a consistent career post GFriend since. This time around, I am encouraged to review VERSUS thanks to how much the title track has grown on me and the fact the mini-album has one awesome track that I really wanted to share with you. Continue reading below to find out which VERSUS song is the one you must listen to!

VERSUS Album Cover

1. MANIAC (Title Track) – One of the wishes expressed in my review for MANIAC was that more listens would help boost up the song for me, given my review was written merely hours after the song release. I am happy to say that since the release of MANIAC, the additional listens did help and I am more than inclined to increase MANIAC’s song rating to a 7/10. Click here for the full review for MANIAC. (7/10)

2. Untie – Untie is my favourite pick from this mini-album. The runway aesthetic that makes up Untie’s sound profile is successfully executed, with the instrumental setting the scene with immediate effect. VIVIZ’s very low and raspy toned breathy vocals was definitely a highlight aspect of the song, with the rest of the vocals being very solid efforts as well. It was the perfect vessel for the charisma, confidence and power that they were conveying in Untie. (10/10)

3. Overflow – We gear towards more R&B territory for Overflow. I liked the dreamier vibes from the instrumentation and the vocals were really well done. Unfortunately, the melodies didn’t keep me around and I found this to be an excuse to skip the song constantly. (7/10)

4. Day To Day (한 걸음) – I find that Eunha’s higher pitched vocals work excellently in Day to Day, and Umji and SinB’s vocals follow through quite nicely. I like the really soft pop vibes that comes from Day To Day, which makes it quite graceful and lovely listen. The melodies have this small bounce to it, which I quite liked. And everything else contributes to an easy listen. (8/10)

5. Up 2 Me – We re-enter upbeat territory to close out the VERSUS mini-album with Up 2 Me. After some paced tracks, it is definitely nice to hear some energy from this mini-album. Up 2 Me is another enjoyable track with a catchy chorus and retro detailing in the pop instrumentation that backs the track. I kind of wished that was a more prolific element in Up 2 Me to really give Up 2 Me a little more oomph, but the track is good enough as it is. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8/10

VERSUS Teaser Image

[Album Review] Love Effect (7th Mini Album) – ONF

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After completing their military enlistment at the same time in June 2023 (a first in KPOP to navigate the biggest cause of prolonged hiatus in male KPOP groups), ONF returned in October 2023 with their 7th mini-album, Love Effect. It is their first comeback since their special album release of Storage of ONF in 2022 in the midst of their military enlistments, which featured the title track Your Song. Love Effect (the mini-album) features a total of 5 songs, including their latest title track of the same name.

Overall, this new mini-album is a solid way to ease us back into ONF, with the title track itself borrowing that similar sound profile that I personally liked from their title tracks that they released prior to the military enlistments in 2021 (i.e., Beautiful Beautiful) and the others songs demonstrating the group’s variability with different sounds and genres. Continue reading to find out what my thoughts on each individual song are below.

Love Effect Album Cover

1. Be Here Now – Kicking off the mini-album is the single Be Here Now, which lyrics are about the future that ONF wants with their fans (FUSEs). I really like the cheerful and feel-good vibe that the verses bring to the song, and the choruses are an inclusive extension of that thanks to the members singing together. Wyatt’s rapping in the bridge brings a playful vibe to the mix, while the only pre-chorus in Be Here Now is extremely pleasant (so much so, that it stands out to me). (9/10)

2. Love Effect (바람이 분다) – Click here for the review for Love Effect. (9/10)

3. Dam Dam Di Ram – ONF taps into hip-hop territory with this dance track, which to me sounds like a typical male KPOP group release. It just sounds plain and doesn’t really feel as exciting as some of their other tracks on this mini-album. Also, Dam Dam Di Ram is a lot more serious and heavier than ONF’s other releases, which is a departure from what we hear from ONF usually. That being said, there are some good moments and aspects to the song, such as Hyojin and Seungjun’s (formerly J-Us) unique vocals in the pre-choruses, Wyatt’s very low tone rap-speak in the second verse and the refreshing flute that features in the background throughout the song. (7.5/10)

4. Arrival – Whilst Arrival is also quite hefty and serious like releases from other male groups, I do find that Arrival does a much better job of showcasing ONF’s style and colour. Just check out the chorus, and I think you will know what I am talking about (if you have been a long-time fan of ONF). The synth wave instrumentation behind Arrival is a lot more dynamic and this definitely helps make the song more appealing. The detailing we hear in the background introduces some crunchy textures, while I felt was very cool. (8.5/10)

5. Wind Effect (바람이 부는 이유) – The final song on the album is (surprise, surprise) a ballad. It is a lovely song to end on, with a soft piano instrumental and pleasant vocals to round out of the mini-album. Given the title of this track is rather similar to the title track of this release, the lyrics of Wind Effect reads in as a potential lead into the title track – Wind Effect depicts the beginning of love, while Love Effect (the title track) depicts the falling in love. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.4/10

Love Effect Teaser Image

[Album Review] MELTING POINT (2nd Mini-Album) – ZEROBASEONE

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The best selling and very popular rookie of 2023, ZEROBASEONE, made their first comeback in November 2023 with the mini-album MELTING POINT. This mini-album features the title track CRUSH and four additional side tracks (one of which shares the same name with the mini-album). After the success of Youth In The Shade, and the fact that they are (once again) breaking records with this album release, I just had to check out MELTING POINT in an album review post. And my thoughts on the overall album is simple – while the mini-album isn’t as strong as their debut one due to the title track, all of the side tracks on this album are quite good to check out.

MELTING POINT Album Cover

1. Melting Point – Click here for the review for Melting Point. (8/10)

2. Take My Hand – Drum and bass dominates the instrumentation and song of Take My Hand. It might be much for some, but I thought it was a really good way of pushing the song along. The members provide very crisp, clear and loud vocals to ensure they come off as striking and are heard over the dominant instrumentation. I feel like that there is some emotional weight to the vocals, which was also interesting addition to a dance/electronic track. Maybe better blending of the background and vocals would have helped make Take My Hand feel a little more cohesive, but it is still a good song. (8.5/10)

3. CRUSH (가시) (Title Track) – Click here for the full review for CRUSH. (6/10)

4. Kidz Zone – This pop rock song is amazing and was an instant favourite of mine. Kidz Zone is about wanting to be like kids forever, and so it features a very carefree vibe that you expect kids to have. But it is also nostalgic as it brought up some happy memories of childhood for me. Right from the get-go, I was impressed with ZEROBASEONE’s vocals in this. I personally thought the higher register gave the vocals a lot of character to match up with the carefree tone of Kidz Zone. The use of the choir in the chorus adds an extra layer of energy and brightness to the song that makes it very hard to put down. A definite gem on this mini-album. (10/10)  

5. Good Night – The fifth and final song on this mini-album is a ballad, which should come as no surprise. But this is no typical ballad. Good Night has a very beautiful instrumentation. There is some complexity to it, thanks to the mix of synths and acoustic elements. I particularly like the twinkling effect that the piano gave Good Night, which gives off a dreamy effect in the midst of everything else. The vocals from the members are really nice as well, and the swaying melodies is very much there is Good Night. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.1/10

MELTING POINT Teaser Image

[Album Review] La Dolce Vita (10th Mini Album) – ONEUS

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ONEUS made their second comeback of 2023 in September 2023 with La Dolce Vita (their 10th mini-album) and Baila Conmigo (the title of their latest single). It follows on from their May 2023 PYGMALION and ERASE ME comeback.

Their latest release is a little short, with a total of five tracks (one of which is the Spanish version of the title track). But there is one exceptionally great song on the mini-album that you must check out, based on my opinion. Read on to find out which song that was!

La Dolce Vita Album Cover

1. Intro: Begging You – The intro to La Dolce Vita happens to be the most modern number, with its use of electronic synths and processing of vocals. I really like Begging You’s glitchy approach to its chorus, which gives the track complexity and a fun vibe (something that doesn’t travel through to the rest of the mini-album). The rest of the vocals and rapping was quite nicely done. (8/10)

2. Baila Conmigo (Title Track) – Click here for the full review for Baila Conmigo. (7/10)

3. Simulation – Why Simulation did not get the attention it deserves beats me. This was indeed a masterpiece of a song. The dramatic piano piece that kicks off Simulation (and is featured throughout the song)just sets the tone for the song, leading Simulation down a melodramatic and epic direction. The rest of the production concentrates the intensity of Simulation. The members’ vocals and rapping contribute to bringing that dramaticism to life, while the melodies make it flow like a classical ballroom piece on stage. Altogether, you get a very aesthetic and unique track that seemingly only ONEUS can full off. (10/10)

4. Epilogue – Epilogue is a bit standard for my liking and I put this on the R&B instrumentation. I know following Simulation is a tall order to ask for, but one of the barriers that really prevents me from connecting with Epilogue was the incredibly plain instrumentation. At least the vocals carried the song, with the members showcasing a fair bit of emotional heft and they sounded very heartfelt. The smoothness the vocals were also commendable. (7/10)

5. Baila Conmigo (Spanish Version) – Refer to my review for Baila Conmigo above.

Overall Album Rating – 8/10

La Dolce Vita Teaser Image

[Album Review] Drama (4th Mini Album) – aespa

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November also saw the return of aespa, who came back with the single and mini-album of the same name, Drama. This follows on from the very high standard set by aespa with their MY WORLD mini-album from May of last year. It also follows on from aespa’s all-English July Better Things single release, which is also featured on their latest mini-album alongside Drama and 5 additional side tracks.

As mentioned above, their previous mini-album set a really high bar. And while Drama doesn’t meet that high standard this time around, it definitely gets quite close to it. For more on the mini-album, see below.

Drama Album Cover

1. Drama (Title Track) – Originally, I said that the choruses for Drama was plain. But per usual, multiple listens after the review have resulted in me realising that the choruses are quite addictive and catchy. This means my thoughts on Drama will need to be tweaked (and I will do so in a future post). As for now, I have decided to bump my song rating for Drama from 7.5 to 9. Click here for my original thoughts on Drama. (9/10)

2. Trick or Trick – Trick or Trick continues the boldness charm that is present in the title track into this bass-heavy dance track. And some parts of the song actually help exceed the previous level of boldness, such as the striking hooks that the members deliver (e.g., “Now you see me, now you don’t”) and even the main grungy twinkling synth in the instrumentation. I really liked the overall intensity in this track and the powerful vocals we do get in this track. This potentially could have been title track material, had Drama not ended up being as ear-wormy as it did. (9/10)

3. Don’t Blink – For some reason, people have described Don’t Blink as ‘country-like’. While I do hear a tinge of that influence in the instrumentation thanks to the guitar riffs, the rest of Don’t Blink conforms more into pop territory. I did agree and liked with the vocal focus of the song, and the rapping featured in the bridge was very clean. The melodies and hooks were very simple, and the additional synths (particularly at the end of the song) was a nice touch. (8/10)

4. Hot Air Balloon – Deviating from the usual aespa serious style is the very bright and bubbly Hot Air Balloon. I find myself smiling when I listen to the song, just because the instrumentation just feels fun and amusing. I particularly like the crunchy textures in the midst of all the child-like and fun energy that is in Hot Air Balloon. Similarly, aespa’s higher pitched vocals follow the same train, and brings to us some memorable hooks and delivery styles. Out of all the side tracks on this mini-album, this one sticks out and for all of the right reasons. (10/10)

5. YOLO – I may sound like an old person here, but YOLO is one of the words that is the bane of my existence. You can imagine I wasn’t thrilled when I saw the title on the tracklist. But YOLO ends up being one of my favourite track on this mini-album. The pop-punk energy from the get-go is top tier and the members match this with ease with their bright and shouty delivery. The percussion comes down at the right moments to give off an epic tone. Everything feels full-on and practically remains in that gear for majority of the song, which admittedly is not for everyone. But it was mine and I thoroughly enjoyed YOLO (even if the title still irks me). (9/10)

6. You – Per usual, the final new song on the mini-album is their softest number. I am glad that the group didn’t go into ballad territory. Instead, they went towards a R&B motif and maintained that bright energy that they had channelled in the latter half of this mini-album. The orchestral instrumental is quite beautiful. As for the members and their vocals, they demonstrate why we should have them on their radar. Their vocal performance, just like in other songs on this mini-album, was truly captivating, and I liked their delicate and sincere tone. (8.5/10)

7. Better Things – Click here for my review for Better Things. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.8/10

Drama Teaser Image

[Album Review] Target: ME (1st Mini Album) – EVNNE

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As you may already know, EVNNE recently returned with their first comeback since debut with UGLY. But before I come back from my break and review the UGLY comeback, I thought I take some time out of my hiatus to review EVNNE’s debut mini-album, Target: ME, which dropped back in September 2023. Headlining the mini-album was the single TROUBLE, one of the 6 songs that form part of the Target: ME mini-album. For a debut mini-album, this one is a very good one. The title track did get a little bump up in terms of its song rating (as perspective on songs do change over time and mine for TROUBLE definitely has), and the rest of the mini-album showcases a solid effort from the group. I am definitely looking forward to what is coming next from EVNNE (i.e., UGLY and the mini-album UN: SEEN). But for the time being (as I am still on a break), here are my thoughts on Target: ME.

Target: ME Album Cover

1. TROUBLE (Title Track) – My original song rating for TROUBLE was 7.5/10. Since my review, EVNNE’s TROUBLE has definitely grown me and some of my thoughts have definitely changed about the song as a result. I will address those changes in a different points. For now, I am bumping up the rating by 1 full point. Click here for my original thoughts on TROUBLE. (8.5/10)

2. Role Model – Old school hip-hop is alive in Role Model. The energy from this alone already sets up the song positively. In addition to the instrumentation, EVNNE pulls off this style extremely well. Both the vocals and rapping were very solid, with the rapping thriving in this old school hip-hop environment and the vocals brought a nice smoothness to the song. (8/10)

3. Pretty Thing – Still in that hip-hop gear is Pretty Thing. This time there is a much heavier dose of synths in the background. In the midst of that, there are some intriguing instrumentation detailing and delivery choices in Pretty Thing, which kept the song interesting to me. But the best bit of Pretty Thing is definitely the chorus that really is definitely bold (relatively to the rest of the song) and it has a very satisfying melody/bite to it. I wished the rest of the song was a little sharper. But other than that, a very strong side track from the group. (9/10)  

4. Your Text – Introducing us to EVNNE in a groovy R&B motif is Your Text. It also moves us away from synths by going with a more acoustic instrumentation. The vocal work here is also quite good, and I like the interwoven rap-speak lines in the chorus. Overall, a pleasant track to put on in the background and enjoy. (8/10)

5. JUKEBOX – If you are looking for an upbeat track, don’t look further than JUKEBOX. JUKEBOX taps into a retro funk sound for its instrumentation, which is fun and energetic. The members do a great job of matching and showcasing this same energy and vibe. The “Na Na Na” proves itself to be an ear-wormy hook, as I find myself having a little boogie every time it appears in JUKEBOX. (9/10)

6. Even More – Per usual, EVNNE ends their first mini-album with a ballad in the form of Even More. Based on the lyrics, the song is about wanting to creating memories with their fans (who have been named ENNVE). The synth-pop instrumentation gives the ballad track another side and dimension, which I thought was cool. The melodies bring out a mini swaying effect and the members did a really nice job showcasing their vocals in this track. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.4/10

Target: ME Teaser Image

[Album Review] 樂-STAR (ROCK-STAR) (8th Mini-Album) – Stray Kids

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Making their comeback in November 2023 was Stray Kids. They returned with their 8th mini-album, 樂-STAR (ROCK-STAR), which features two versions of the title track LALALALA, the Korean version of Social Path (ft. LiSA) and 6 other side tracks. Interestingly, this latest mini-album from this highly popular male group ends up being one of the highest rated albums from last year on my blog. I had not expected this whatsoever. But I guess I should have at least considered it following the success and how much I personally enjoyed their last comeback with ★★★★★ (5-STAR) and S-Class. Continue reading to find out why I ended up rating 樂-STAR (ROCK-STAR) so high!

樂-STAR (ROCK-STAR) Album Cover

1. MEGAVERSE – Click here for the review for MEGAVERSE. (10/10)

2. LALALALA (락 (樂)) (Title Track) – Click here for the review for LALALALA. (8/10)

3. BLIND SPOT (사각지대) – BLIND SPOT is my favourite side track from the entire mini-album. I particularly like the upbeat and vibrant energy that comes from this track, thanks to the dynamic mix of EDM and (I think) rock. Throw in Stray Kids usually fast-paced raps and cool vocals, and you have a very lively and bold track to return to. The English lyrics at the end ring on in my head even after the song ends, which is thanks to the repetition and gets me wanting to return to the track even more. What I also felt was really successful about BLIND SPOT was its placement after LALALALA. Let’s just say that I repeatedly listened to BLIND SPOT a lot after listening to LALALALA (as I had somehow managed to maintain ROCK-STAR on my front page, and that is how kept finding the group for a Stray Kids fix). (10/10)     

4. COMFLEX – COMFLEX is another punchy and dynamic track on the mini-album. This one feels a lot more serious, as it sends a message to Stray Kids’ haters that they are not afraid of their shortcomings. The chorus feels very loaded, as a result. I really liked the stomping/punchy start to COMFLEX’s chorus, along with the presence of rapping that goes down pretty hard. Actually, all of the rapping in the song goes down pretty hard. The trap elements and the powerful hollow synths in the chorus really gives this track a lot of character and aggressive energy. And finally, I am actually quite surprised by the balance of vocals and rapping in COMFLEX. (9/10)

5. Cover Me (가려줘) – Stray Kids turns towards emotions with Cover Me. You can really feel the emotions in two forms – the vocal work that features in the chorus and the guitar work in the same sequence. However, that doesn’t mean the rest of the song doesn’t deliver the same emotional output. The chorus is just where it sounds like the members hurt the most. SEUNGMIN’s high note (followed up by BANGCHAN’s) was spectacular, and were probably the best moment of Cover Me for me. All the other members did an amazing job, with Cover Me becoming a prime example of one of their best vocal-forward songs ever. (9/10)  

6. Leave – Now, Leave does have a music video in the form of the SKZ-FLIX video that was published ahead of the comeback. I thought that might be more of a Music Video Theory post, however, which I still have plans to another iteration of. Leave features a more mellow acoustic instrumentation than any of the above songs. But like its predecessor, the emotions do come out Leave in plentiful quantities and the vocals are stunning. We do also get some rapping, which was also a nice touch to differentiate the more emotional songs on the mini-album. Personally, I found Leave to be quite a pleasant and enjoyable track. (8.5/10)  

7. Social Path (ft. LiSA) (Korean Version) – I previously reviewed the Social Path as part of an International Song Review post. Click here for the review for Social Path (ft. LiSA). (9/10)

8. LALALALA (Rock Version) – See my review for LALALALA above.

Overall Album Rating – 9.1/10

樂-STAR (ROCK-STAR) Teaser Image