Category: KPOP

[Review] Somebody – D.O (EXO)

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Starting the new week off is D.O, one of EXO’s main vocalists, with his solo comeback with Somebody. The new track is featured on his second solo mini-album, Expectations, which also dropped today. This is D.O first solo release since his solo debut with ROSE in 2021, which followed his military enlistment. More recently, D.O featured as part of EXO’s long awaited comeback with Cream Soda and also returned to acting and variety shows.

Somebody is an really pleasant folk pop song that really drew me in within my first listen of the song. For me, I found there to be two main drawing factors to the song. The first is D.O’s vocals, which just sounds so heavenly in the song. I really like how he used his lower notes and the slight rapping-like vocal delivery he pulls off in the verses. When it comes to the choruses, D.O steps his vocals up, adding some definition to his vocals and bring such a refreshing and vibrant tone. It really creates a strong centrepiece for Somebody and the melodies are very inviting and loveable. The “I Love You” that follows the chorus and the vocal work in the bridge felt very profound and resonated, basically for the same reasons mentioned above. The second drawing point to Somebody was the acoustic and minimalistic instrumentation. Asides from the guitar work, the only other major element to the backing of Somebody was the thumping beat in verses and this transitioned into some pleasant drumming in the choruses. Overall, Somebody is a strong effort from D.O.

The music video for Somebody features D.O playing a crew member behind the scenes of a TV commercial and actress Lee Jae In playing a newbie in the commercial industry who most likely landed her first commercial. Unfortunately, things don’t go to plan for Lee Jae In, who is awkward in front of the camera and ends up being replaced with someone else. However, D.O takes notice in Lee Jae In from behind the camera. Soon after being replaced, Lee Jae In crying on the staircase and D.O stumbles into her. After offering her some ice-cream and coolly asks her to sign his back, he takes her out as a friend. But while on this outing, he is reminded of her audition, which makes him smile, and in this moment, he knows he likes her. Elsewhere in the video, we see D.O alone, waiting to meet that “somebody” that he expresses in the lyrics of the song. The smile at the end of the video suggests that he has. I am not into the whole romance thing when it comes to acting and drama. But this video kept the theme very light and refreshing, complementing that exact aspect of the song.

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

[Album Review] PYGMALION (9th Mini Album) – ONEUS

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Ahead of their upcoming comeback later this month with La Dolce Vita (their 10th mini-album) and the title track Baila Conmigo, I will be reviewing ONEUS’ PYGMALION today, which was released back in May of this year. It serves as the group’s 9th mini-album and features the title track ERASE ME, the pre-release single Unforgettable and an additional three side tracks to round out the mini-album (links and thoughts down below). PYGAMALION follows the group’s MALUS mini-album from a year ago.

PYGMALION Album Cover

1. Intro: LETHE – Dramatic orchestral strings start off LETHE and remain in background the rest of this introductory track. This is alongside some synths that adds some momentum to the track. Together, LETHE is quite a haunting introduction. Disappointingly, I felt the members sang their way through LETHE quite plainly. I think more could have been done to really push LETHE to higher heights. (7/10)

2. ERASE ME (Title Track) – Click here for the full review of ERASE ME. (8.5/10)

3. Unforgettable (잇다있다잊었다) (Pre-Release Track) – Unfortunately, I have decided to ditch my plans of reviewing Unforgettable separately due to time constraints. I honestly wished I reviewed the song separately earlier as it does deserve its own review. I like the mixed of the pop rock and orchestration in the background of the chorus. The pop rock just gives Unforgettable so much punchiness, while the orchestration adds a beautiful touch to the song. HWANWOONG and LEEDO’s rapping was very cool, while all the members do an amazing job on the vocal front to make it a captivating number. (9/10)

4. ECHO – ONEUS revisits R&B in ECHO. I quite like the slight bounce the members bring to the song via the smooth melodies, particularly in the choruses of ECHO. In addition to that, ECHO also sees a slightly groovy tinge to its instrumentation. Both allows the track to come together to form an unexpectedly playful side track to indulge in. LEEDO’s rapping, again, takes centre attention with his deep voice in the second verse and the extra oomph he gives the song in the bridge. (8.5/10)

5. Halley’s Comet (반짝임 그 찰나의 너) – Halley’s Comet takes the form of a pop ballad. All the members sound amazing throughout the track. But the stand out member in Halley’s Comet was SEOHO, who’s soaring vocals in the choruses and high notes really took the song to the next level. I like how the instrumental also soared with the vocals, which helped made the song more impactful. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.2/10

PYGMALION Teaser Image

[Review] Allergy – (G)I-DLE

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Prior to their Queencard comeback earlier this year, (G)I-DLE pre-released the single Allergy as a teaser for their I Feel comeback in May of this year. I had flagged that I will review Allergy some time in the future, and that is finally happening today. So, here we go!

Allergy takes on the early 00s form of pop punk rock and it comes together well. It is more on the softer and delicate side of the spectrum, but still has some good energy to it. I did wish there was a bit more oomph or a kick to the pop rock to help Allergy become a more memorable anthem or track. This would have aided the lyrics of Allergy as well, which expresses insecurity due to the pressure of social media and social norms. Also (while we are on the topic of lyrics), there are also references to Hype Boy and TOMBOY in the song, as well! To complement that softer side, the members approach Allergy with vocals. While the choruses’ melody does have a nice ring to it, I did think the extra kick to the instrumental would force the members to give a bit more power and oomph to their delivery, which would help prevent Allergy from sounding flat. Allergy wasn’t necessarily flat, but the neutral nature of the song did lead it in that direction. So, Allergy is just missing that extra something to give it a boost, which in turn would have really helped everything else.

The music video for Allergy serves as a prequel to the events in Queencard. In this video, we see the members struggle with the impacts of social media and social norms. Soyeon, an ordinary person, is deeply insecure about her looks and decide to go under the knife. The video cuts out with Soyeon going under, which the events in Queencard following immediately from this. I thought that this video did a really good job of showcasing the lyrics, and I quite liked the scrapbooking effect that we see throughout the video.

There really isn’t too much to the choreography of Allergy. It is a fairly simple routine, that features more acting that dancing. The members taking a slightly cutesy approach to show off their insecurity on stage. It isn’t as strong as the theme was in the video, but you could still feel it on stage.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 7.8/10

[Album Review] Down To Earth (2nd Mini Album) – TAEYANG (BIGBANG)

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TAEYANG kicked off 2023 very strongly with the release of VIBE, a collaboration with JIMIN from BTS, and his second ever mini-album, Down To Earth. Alongside VIBE, the mini-album also features the title track Seed, the side track Shoong! (which is a collaboration with LISA of BLACKPINK) and three additional side tracks (two of which are further collaboration with other artists). Per usual, all the links to the individual song reviews and my thoughts on the other three additional side tracks are located down below.

Down To Earth Album Cover

1. VIBE (ft. JIMIN of BTS) – Click here to read the full review for VIBE. (9/10)

2. Shoong! (슝!) (ft. LISA of BLACKPINK) – Click here to read the full review for Shoong! (7/10)

3. Seed (나의 마음에) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Seed. (9/10)

4. Reason (나는) – Reason is such a soulful and dreamy track to get lost in. Considered me charmed and captivated from the opening second. TAEYANG’s vocals steal the show and the instrumentation was beautiful. The song was a stunningly swayable melody that you know I enjoyed and that saxophone midway in the song was beautiful. (10/10)

5. Inspiration (ft. Beenzino) – I liked the touch of funkiness in Inspiration. The guitar riff and flute was a nice touch. Altogether, it makes for an appreciable and pleasant instrumentation. TAEYANG gives the song some oomph with his vocals, which moves it up the rating spectrum for me. Beenzino’s rapping sequence starts off good, but I do not like the way it ended with the spoken motif. I was also not a fan of the distant filtering that he applies to his vocals in the in the bridge. (7/10)  

6. Nightfall (ft. Byran Chase) – Nightfall is a synth pop track that gives off such an atmospheric vibe. I found it hard to step away from Nightfall, just because it pretty much had everything I liked. Needless to say, TAEYANG and Byran Chase’s vocals were really amazing and complements this synth-pop track so well. The instrumentation itself was perfectly upbeat and consistent throughout, yet it never felt tired or overdone. Both the instrumentation and TAEYANG gave the chorus the right amount of punch to it to make it feel impactful, making this the highlight part of the song. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.7/10

Down To Earth Teaser Image

[Review] FNF – Stray Kids

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It is time for another Stray Kids review and their 3rd studio album ★★★★★ (5-STAR) has an abundance of side tracks that have become eligible for a review with the release of a music video. So, today, I will be picking another track from album for a quick review. FNF is the 9th track on the album and is the third song review from ★★★★★ (5-STAR), following on from S-Class and DLC.

FNF stands for floral and fauna, and was written by Bangchan and Felix in honour of the plants and animals that lost their lives during the devastating bushfires that occurred over Summer in eastern states of Australia in 2019-2020. As for the song, it is very pleasant, with a bright and summery pop instrumental that instantly reminds you of the feeling of a nice warm day. The guitar work was very refreshing and I like how pure this element of FNF sounded. The beat that came through with the synths gives the song some bite to it. The vocals were very nicely pitched, and FNF also sees the members adding a slight delicate and emotional touch in their delivery of their vocals, which works well with the lyrics and other take on FNF‘s meaning. The melodies were also enjoyable and there was a decent flow to them. While FNF doesn’t stand out as the best track of the album, it was super appreciable and touching number to feature on this album.

I mentioned above that the song reminded me of the feeling a nice warm day. And that is exactly what we see in the video, which was shot in Australia. In the video, we get to see the members appreciate, the really nice weather that Australia has to offer in the cities and at the beaches. We also see the members being pensive throughout the video, which complements the other meaning of longing for someone who isn’t there anymore. Also, not a compliant and more of a suggestion, but I thought that the video feature more of the regional areas of Australia, where the floral and fauna are located in Australia given the inspiration of the song, For me and knowing what regional Australia has to offer, that is what I personally felt was missing from the video.

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

[Review] Sacrifice (Eat Me Up) – ENHYPEN

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Following their BITE ME comeback earlier in the month of May, ENHYPHEN followed up promotions with the side track Sacrifice (Eat Me Up). As Sacrifice (Eat Me Up) does have a music video, it is eligible for a song review on my blog and hence why we are here today. Both BITE ME and Sacrifice (Eat Me Up) are featured on their fourth mini-album, DARK BLOOD (which I will be reviewing soon).

Sacrifice (Eat Me Up) is another song that I would consider to be decent, but it would have really benefited a lot had the producers really built on it and given the song more oomph. BITE ME ended up growing on me (Heads up: I will be making a slight adjustment to the song’s rating in the album review) , which is thanks to the song having some bite to it. I consider this to be the missing element in Sacrifice (Eat Me Up). Don’t get me wrong. There is definitely potential in the song, with the group showcasing more of their vocals in this mid-tempo R&B song than usual. I enjoyed the raspiness and breathy delivery of the vocals, which makes way for a potential excellent listen (had the rest of the song picked itself up). Undoubtedly, the members shine brightest during the song’s chorus where there is a more melodic flow – my pick for the most memorable element of Sacrifice (Eat Me Up). Unfortunately, everywhere else in Sacrifice (Eat Me Up) is a rather bland. I find the mid-tempo nature develop an ‘overall’ sluggishness to the song. Apart from the choruses, the melodies elsewhere were pretty bland and lack any memorable pull. The instrumentation, while solid, didn’t have much excitement coming from it. I think it could have accented and bolden in some parts to give off a harder and rougher touch, as opposed to the softer and more subdued approach Sacrifice (Eat Me Up) took. The pre-chorus was a good example of what that could have sounded like. I am also not entire sure of the wobbly synth, which I only just noticed today, that you could hear throughout the background. Had Sacrifice (Eat Me Up) been more dynamic in some way, this would have helped make the song more appealing.

From what I could see, the music video depicts the members’ desire to escape their feelings for a more euphoric paradise, with the lyrics highlighting their partners being that escape. We see the members at different stages of their struggle/escape of with their emotions. Some of them are very much still trapped or buried underneath them, looking towards the light signifying their desire to be freed from that cage of emotions. Others make it out of the dark ‘cage’, but still struggle to get to the absolute top. But we do see Jake, making his way up the stairs and leaves his dark heart at the top of the platform, confirming that he does achieve that desire of the members depicted in the video. The wings do make a nice touch to the video. I would like to know they significance, but it does make the video appear like a reverse fallen angel type of story. Aside from that plotline, the music video also showcase the members’ visuals, especially in the brighter paradise-like scenes.

The tempo of the song does enable the group to showcase a more sensual and slower routine, which they do pull off well. There isn’t anything too extreme, and I did think there was potential for some more intense moves. But what we got on stage was visually pleasing to watch and complemented the song quite well.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 7.5/10
Overall Rating – 7.7/10

[Review] Ready Or Not – CRAVITY

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Also making their comeback yesterday was CRAVITY, who returns with their 6th mini-album Sun Seeker and newest title track, Ready Or Not. This is CRAVITY’s second comeback of the year, following on from MASTER: PIECE released back in March which is lead by the single Groovy.

Ready Or Not is described as an up-tempo dynamic pop and rock song, which is nailed decently by the actual final product. The energy of the song is definitely in line with their more previous works, and I do like the more bombastic approach the instrumentation as taken. It gives Ready Or Not a level of boldness and intensity. The guitar riff at the start of the song and heard throughout the first verse is a great first sign of the song’s potential. The hooks, while are on the plainer side, still works well and makes Ready Or Not a catchy listen. However, I do think that Ready Or Not is a bit muddled. While I do praise the bombastic percussion that does help set the track apart from its competition, I do think it drowns out the vocals in the chorus a tad bit. I did wish the percussion was a bit sharper and crisper to help levitate this issue, and the vocals a bit louder to offset the boldness. The pre-chorus and bridge of slows down the song quite a bit and I don’t think that is the right move for the song. It upsets the momentum of Ready Or Not, and I would have Ready Or Not to maintain a continuous approach to the up-tempo and dynamic vibe of the song. The rapping in the second verse was strong, but the backing was a bit typical. The saxophone was an interesting touch and gives the rapping sequence an interesting element. But I wished it was more explored more in the song and not half-baked as it was in Ready Or Not. Overall, a decent track from CRAVITY, but more could have been done to boost it up.

Even though the sets are clearly fake, I did like the urban vibe that the video has. It complements the song well and the energy that do give off in the song. I did wish the video had something more to it, as it is just mainly choreography and close up scenes. I guess the comic strip images do add that something, but it doesn’t really strike me as a memorable element. Out of all the videos I have watched over the years, I have to say that the ending of the video is probably the most awkward to watch. The video just pauses whilst the members are mid-air and just stays paused for what felt like a few seconds too long. I guess it is pair it with the abrupt ending, but I am sure the producers could have done something to not make it feel awkward. Something as cheesy as a tilted photo alongside a snapshot sound effect be edited in, with the photo made part of a comic book strip to just round everything out.

The choreography looks good from what I can see in the video. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like there is anything memorable (at least highlighted in the music video). But the energy and dynamic flair is all there, which is exactly what the song calls for.

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

[Review] Good & Great – KEY (SHINee)

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Making his comeback yesterday with his second mini-album and title track (both of which share the same name), Good & Great, is KEY from SHINee. This makes KEY’s second release of the year following his February comeback with Killer. KEY also participated in SHINee’s May comeback, HARD.

While Good & Great is a good song, it isn’t a great song. Out of all the title tracks that KEY has released as part of his solo career, Good & Great is probably his dullest number to date. I was waiting for the song to really pick up and exude some energy, but that never really occurred. Instead, it just kept to a plateau and never deviated from what had already preceded it. Good & Great does have charm and it does fits KEY’s profile super well. But it just doesn’t go anywhere. I must admit I had high hopes, when the song first began. The start and first verse of Good & Great laid out the path for a groovy tone and some awesome bass, both of which definitely continued throughout the song. KEY’s delivery of the first verse make its super engaging. Even throughout the first half of the chorus, I was on board. But where I had expected Good & Great to pick up (i.e., in the second half of the central piece), we never really get there. Instead, the song opts for a very subdued and melodic repeat of the song’s title. It sounded nice and adds to the smoothness of the song, but it just dulls the song and it doesn’t take Good & Great to the next level. Similarly, the bridge suffered the same problem and just didn’t come off a memorable moment when it should have been. Aside from the groovy instrumentation, the rapping in the second verse was definitely a highlight and adds an extra something to the otherwise melodic and smooth track. But overall, my opening statement to this section of the review stands quite firmly.

KEY speaks a message of self-praise in every day life to help get oneself through another day. In the video, he is depicted of a hard working office worker, who lives a very dull life of just continuous grind – sometimes working through the night to appease the higher ups. But just like everyone else in the world, he still desires for a break and to do something different, and his different is to find the furry creature (which I find totally cute). And taking that break is absolutely okay. There is a sense of wackiness to the video, which makes it an interesting watch. This helps liven up the video so that it doesn’t seem as dull as it sounds. And I super appreciate that.

The choreography goes for a more simplistic approach, but I quite like the looks of it. There is still sharp execution and a very KEY feel that does add some complexity to the routine. There is also a fun vibe in the verses from the parts that I could see, which complements the messaging of the song/music video.

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

[Album Review] UNFORGIVEN (1st Studio Album) – LE SSERAFIM

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The next album to be reviewed on the blog is LE SSERAFIM’s UNFORGIVEN, the group’s first studio album since their debut last year. UNFORGIVEN was released back in May of this year and features the title track of the same name, six new songs (including the follow-up promotional song Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s Wife), and 3 songs each from their first and second mini-albums released last year (including FEARLESS and ANTIFRAGILE).

Now, to include previous released songs (albeit the first three from the FEARLESS mini-album do have a ‘2023 version’ next to them) and call it a full studio album is a bit of a leap. But that was done here for UNFORGIVEN, so it is something that we have to live with. And for this album review, I have included two album ratings – the first rating is only for the new songs released and the second rating includes all 13 songs that formed part of UNFORGIVEN. The latter is the official album rating, given it consists the entire track list. If I had to make a comment on the based on the new songs alone, I would definitely say this is a very strong album release. However, the older tracks do weigh it down. For more of my thoughts, see the links and text below.

UNFORGIVEN Album Cover

The World Is My Oyster, FEARLESS and Blue Flame were all songs from LE SSERAFIM’s debut mini-album, FEARLESS. I have previously reviewed both the title track and mini-album in separate posts. For the title track Fearless, click here for the full song review, and for the mini-album, click here for the album review.

The Hydra, ANTIFRAGILE and Impurities were all songs for LE SSERAFIM’s second mini-album, ANTIFRAGILE. Again, I have previously reviewed both the title track and the side track Impurities in separate song review posts. I have also reviewed the entire mini-album, as well. For the title track ANTIFRAGILE, click here for the full song review. For the side-track Impurities, click here for the full song review. And for the mini-album, click here for the album review.

7. Burn The Bridge – Burn The Bridge serves as the official introduction to the newer side of the album. Like The World Is My Oyster and The Hydra, Burn The Bridge features the members narrating a message of moving forward in Korean, English and Japanese over a repetitive acoustic guitar riff and a drum line. The former fades out, while the latter fades in. In the end, Burn The Bridge embodies more of a rhythmic drum beat and lovely harmonies. (8/10)

8. UNFORGIVEN (ft. Nile Rogers) (Title Track) – Click here for the full review of UNFORGIVEN. (8/10)

9. No-Return (Into The Unknown) – Injecting a super vibrant and energetic sound into the album is No-Return. I really enjoyed the upbeat energy that this song and the brightness that the melodies and vocals brought. The brass elements add to and enhances all of the above to make it an even better song. No-Return has made me get up and dance to it on many occasions making it super effective side track. (10/10)

10. Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s Wife (이브, 프시케 그리고 푸른 수염의) – Click here for the full review for Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s Wife. (9/10)

11. Between You, Me and the Lamppost (피어나) – There is only one word that springs to mind when I listen to Beautiful You, Me and the Lamppost – beautiful. LE SSERAFIM sounds wonderful in this song, captivating me from the very first second and throughout the rest of the song. The delicate touch they give just makes the song more meaningful and impactful. The soft rock instrumentation gives the ballad some body and drive, amplifying the aforementioned captivation and making this track a gem so worth listening to. (10/10)

12. Flash Forward – Flash Forward is a sweet pop track from the group. Everything sounds nice in the song and was an enjoyable listen. The hooks were catchy and I also enjoyed the upbeat energy in this one, as well. Compared to the other side tracks, however, Flash Forward feels elementary and doesn’t really exceed the bar set by those songs. (8/10)

13. Fire in the Belly – Closing out the entire studio album is Fire In The Belly. It visits the all too familiar Latin pop influence that KPOP has explored continuously in the past. What makes Fire In The Belly somewhat more unique is that the song goes in harder than other examples of Latin pop influenced KPOP tracks. I appreciate it that, as it comes off bolder and riskier (and this pays off). The vocals and rapping are very strong in the song. I also really enjoyed the inclusion of the infamous Spanish chant of “Olé, Olé, Olé” towards the end, ending the song and album on a wholesome and exciting note. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating (New Songs) – 9/10
Overall Album Rating (All Songs) – 8.5/10

UNFORGIVEN Teaser Image

[Review] Shoong! – TAEYANG (BIGBANG) ft. LISA (BLACKPINK)

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TAEYANG made his long awaited solo comeback earlier this year with his second mini-album since his debut as part of BIGBANG way back in 2006. As part of the comeback, TAEYANG has released VIBE (which features JIMIN from BTS), the title track Seed and a performance vide for the side track Shoong! (which features LISA from BLACKPINK). As flagged in Seed‘s review, a review for Shoong! was on the cards and I will finally be getting around to doing that today.

Of the songs that was released in April as part of TAEYANG’s second mini-album (Down To Earth), Shoong! is the one that comes to mind most readily (more so than the title track). It recurred in my recommendations quite a bit in the weeks following its release and the track also boasts the featuring of LISA from BLACKPINK (which probably helped widen the audience of the song, and so it was shared further). But despite it boasting two big names in the KPOP industry and was shared around quite a bit on my social media, I oddly don’t remember much of Shoong! months on from its release. Listening back to Shoong! now, I find it uneventful. On Wikipedia, Shoong! described to be a mid-tempo dance track, described as an R&B and trap song. That is pretty accurate. But Shoong! is also is described as having “addictive melodies and trendy hip-hop beats”. This I disagree with. I find the melodies to be a bit of a drag (even though there is a ring to it, but not enough for me to categorise it as memorable or addictive) and the trendiness to be absent. Also, for a song titled after the sound of cars passing by, the way that the title is delivered throughout Shoong! makes it seem like everyone is going below the speed limit and passing by. The vocal work in Shoong! is reasonable for a mid-tempo song, with TAEYANG’s being quite solid and LISA adding a tinge of brightness to the song with her higher pitched vocals. I also liked LISA’s that flirty delivery, which adds a bit of character to the song. However, I think more could have been done in pretty much all areas of Shoong! to make it even better. As it is, Shoong! is an okay song, but it doesn’t live up to the expectations that I had expected with the two artists.

For this review, I am combining the music video and performance aspects of the release into one paragraph, given the video we do get is a performance video. I did appreciate the crispness and quality of the video, which is an expectation of a YG product. For those who are wondering, The Black Label (the company which TAEYANG is now signed to following his departure from YG Entertainment is actually a subsidiary under YG Entertainment). With the song in mind, the simplicity of the T set made a lot of sense. But I also enjoyed the “outdoor scenes” in the alleyway and cityscape roof. It was also definitely nice to see LISA in the video alongside TAEYANG. As for the choreography, it works. It was by far the most memorable aspect of the release. The key moves were smooth and I liked their chemistry. LISA’s flirty tone makes it into the choreography, while TAEYANG does a great job towards the end in adding a bit more intensity to the routine.

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

[Review] Slow Dancing – V (BTS)

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The big release of the day is V’s debut solo mini-album, Layover, which is lead the single Slow Dancing. This release makes V the final member of the group to debut as a solo artist officially. But interestingly, he is not the last member to release an album. Slow Dancing joins V’s pre-release single from last month – Love Me Again and Rainy Day (the latter is yet to be reviewed) as the songs from the album that have an accompanying music video.

Lo-fi R&B takes reign in Slow Dancing. Instrumentally, it is not my cup of tea. I never find much to talk about in lo-fi songs (and my shorter than usual paragraph on the song is a clear indication of that). But I must admit that Slow Dancing is extremely pleasant and easy-on-the-ears for a number of reasons. It has a slow yet flowy melody and brings on a swayable effect (something you know I like). I also like how charismatic V’s voice sounds in Slow Dancing, with his huskier vocals tones being showcased in the song. His vocal tone is also quite comforting and warming, as well. The prolonged instrumental ending of Slow Dancing is probably the most interesting aspect of the song. I did like the jazzier energy and flute work it gave Slow Dancing, which does end up being the song’s memorable element. But this instrumental end accounts for approximately 47% of the song, which I am a bit disappointed in. I was lowkey expecting V to start singing again somewhere along the way, but that never became fruitful. I wished he returned (even a one liner could have sufficed) to close out Slow Dancing and bring closure to the song.

In the music video, we see V developing what looks a virtual world in which he can enjoy the company of friends on the beach, and per the lyrics, potentially slow dance and romance with someone. But while that sounds like it explores the lack of privacy KPOP idols have to undergo (which is definitely what V goes through a lot per many news articles we see surface about the idol and whom he hangs out with), V did make a comment about wanting to relax, use and share this song to relax and this video is probably his way of showing this relaxation – an escape away from reality. Either way, it was a nice video that still has a connection to the Summer season that had just past, but also help eases to a more Autumn mindset.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 7.6/10

[Album Review] Wind and Wish (12th Mini Album) – BTOB

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Ahead of the weekend, the final pre-drafted album review is for BTOB’s May 2023 album release, Wind & Wish. This is the group’s 12th mini-album and features a total of five songs including the title track that shares the same name of the album. Wind and Wish serves as the group’s first comeback in over 15 months, following on from The Song and their third studio album, Be Together. Overall, this mini-album was a decently sound album release. It did expect more from the group (knowing what they are capable of) and I don’t think they delivered it in Wind and Wish. But it was still a decent listen nonetheless.

Wind and Wish Album Cover

1. Wind and Wish (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Wind and Wish. (8/10)

2. Heaven – If you are looking for a song to get whisked away with, Heaven is the song for you. The melodies and vocals are just extremely stunning and captivating from the get-go. I was in awe at my first listen, and even months after its release, I still feel myself being carried away with this song. The instrumentation is a beautiful mix of acoustics/traditionally instruments in the verses and a light yet noticeable dose of synths in the chorus. The switch between the two is barely noticeable and the flow between the two is impeccable. (9/10)

3. Day & Night – When you compare this song to the rest of the mini-album, it feels like there isn’t much to it. But Day & Night is a number that makes me want to get up and dance to. Nothing fancy or crazy is required for my dance, small movements with suffice. I just find Day & Night to be a song to get lost in and just boogie to. The groovy pop instrumentation is the biggest driver, while the rapping and vocals are just pleasantly enjoyable. (8/10)

4. Moon Ride – 90s retro synths come into play in this groovy and funky number. I was going to say how pleasant this number was, as this was the main thing I remember about the song when I checked out the album months ago. But I completely forgot about the rapping and the electric guitar, particularly in the second verse. That just knocks my socks off and takes Moon Ride to a whole new level. The electric guitar solo at the end was also amazing, as are the ad-libs and vocals throughout Moon Ride. (8.5/10)

5. Your Love – We stay in groovy territory for final track, which gears towards pop ballad territory. The melodies and slight drag of the note at the end of each line in the chorus was truly riveting. The rappers still their skills in more refined and polished rap sequences in the song that fit well in the pop ballad. They don’t disrupt the flow whatsoever or ruin the balladry notion Your Love explores. It is a beautiful number, overall. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.3/10

Wind and Wish Teaser Image

[Review] I Love My Body – HWASA (MAMAMOO)

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Following the expiration of her contract with RBW Entertainment earlier this year, HWASA went on to sign with P NATION (live on stage as a matter of fact!)- the company founded by PSY and houses Crush, Heize, TNX, Penomeco & Swings. She appears to still remain as part of MAMAMOO, however. And yesterday, she released her first solo single under the new company – I Love My Body. Her last solo single was I’m a B in 2021.

I Love My Body has a lot of potential, but unfortunately is let down by the song’s most vital sequence – it’s chorus. More on the latter in a moment. I Love My Body takes on a retro pop, very much Megan Trainor style. The very start of I Love My Body, the brass and retro-prevalent instrumental and vocals throughout its verses and the backing vocals in the chorus pretty much embodies this style quite well. And we are lead to believe the chorus would follow suit with I Love My Body‘s incline towards the central piece and the classic piano that is synonymous with retro-pop numbers. But then the chorus takes an unexpected turn, with the retro instrumentation being substituted out for a bubble-synth backing piece and HWASA delivering the chorus in a monotonous spoken (almost mumbling-like) manner with a descending melody. I am not too bothered by the bubble-synth backing (I actually liked it as part of the backing for the instrumental/dance break I Love My Body ended with), but it does make for an odd drop in terms of I Love My Body‘s trajectory. With the spoken delivery, I am not a fan, even though I do find it memorable, unique and somewhat catchy retrospectively (just not for the right reasons). The combination of both terminally disrupts the flow of the song, making I Love My Body restart its momentum and appeal from scratch. It is a pity, because we do get a few good moments of vocal work from HWASA in I Love My Body, particularly the second half of the second chorus (or is it the bridge?). That sequence blew me away, but it (and the song’s verses) did not compensate for the chorus we got. I Love My Body and HWASA unfortunately disappoints.

From the music video and the title of the song alone, you can tell that this song is about self-confidence. And in this video, HWASA shows off her body throughout the video with no hesitations. The ending of the video with the dance break between the two police cars felt like a homage to the classic KPOP hit Bubble Pop, which was released back in 2011 by HyunA (a former P Nation artist). And I thought that was a fitting video to pay homage to in the summery period that is just ending. I also enjoyed the choreography scenes with the many dancers (definitely a 2023 trend to me) in the car park. It looked cool and epic without doing too much.

I actually quite enjoyed the choreography. It actually looks like a refined routine that show confidence in those who perform without needlessly flaunting their body and doing too much in the routine. It also fits the retro-pop song well. I don’t think I would ever associate retro pop with a flaunting performance. Per usual with HWASA’s performance style, she and the dancers do give bit more intensity to make the routine a bit more enticing.

Song – 6.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 7.4/10

[Album Review] FML (10th Mini Album) – SEVENTEEN

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The next album review on this blog belongs to SEVENTEEN, who made a comeback with their 10th mini-album, FML, back in April of this year. From the start, the mini-album had received over 4.6 million pre-orders and it has since become the top selling album of the year, selling over 6.2 million copies to July 2023. That is a lot of albums indeed! The mini-album boasts a total of 6 tracks – double title tracks Super and F*ck My Life and 4 addition side tracks (3 of which are unit tracks from their hip-hop, performance and vocal teams).

Firstly, congratulations to SEVENTEEN on achieving the amazing feat of over 6 million sales. I believe that no other KPOP album has ever exceeded that amount, so it will be interesting to see whether their upcoming October comeback will break the already high record set by themselves. Secondly, FML is a fair album with some nice tracks on there. I don’t think it is their strongest album release ever, but it was still of a high quality and standard as I expect from SEVENTEEN. Read more on my thoughts on the individual songs below.

FML Album Cover

1. F*ck My Life (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for F*ck My Life. (8/10)

2. Super (손오공) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Super. (8.5/10)

3. Fire – The first unit track sees the return of the Hip-hop team. And just like the title suggest, this song is indeed fire. The rapping was very intense and powerful, and I really liked how punchy the ‘Fi Fi Fi Fire’ hook was in the song. Even though many KPOP songs have featured afrobeat in the past, the use of the afrobeat in Fire felt quite unique, as it gives off both a minimalistic and dynamic feel. This allows the members to be the focus of the song, but it also drives the energy forward, at the same time alongside the members. (8/10)

4. I Don’t Understand But I Luv U – The Performance unit takes on R&B in I Don’t Understand But I Luv U. What I really liked about the song is its instrumentation, which features a sultry flow, dramatic beats and moody electric guitar riffs. All of this makes I Don’t Understand But I Luv U so much more impactful and emotionally charged. The quartet brings very interesting vocal melodies to life in the song and conveys the emotions of confusion and love behind the lyrics quite well. (9/10)

5. Dust (먼지) – Following on from the previous song, I was expecting a ballad from the vocal team. But instead, we get a pop rock number in the form of Dust. I like how the pop rock influence was on the light side and that the vocal team members approach Dust in a softer and delicate manner with their vocals. The synths added to the song gave it a retro touch. While the song sounds nice, Dust is my least favourite unit track. This simply because there wasn’t much to remember the song by once it ended and I didn’t find much to pull me back for additional listens. (7/10)

6. April Shower – The final track on this mini-album returns all of the members to the microphone in the one song. April Shower features a very appreciable and easy-going groovy pop instrumentation. The melodies and vocals were all very easy-on-the-ears, with the former having such a beautiful ring. The dynamic rapping featured prior to the bridge infuses some punchiness to the song, while Mingyu and Wonwoo’s deep tones were stunning in the bridge. I really enjoyed how everything melded together in April Shower and how palatable the song is without it ever going over the top or needing to utilise anything hefty to get itself across. A nice and memorable listen at the end of the mini-album. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.4/10

FML Teaser Image

[Review] But Sometimes – BOYNEXTDOOR

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I know I have not yet finished reviewing all of BOYNEXTDOOR debut/pre-debut singles. I have already reviewed One & Only and But I Like You, but not yet Serenade (I will get to that). However, should that stop me from reviewing their first comeback single, which dropped yesterday? I think not. BOYNEXTDOOR has returned with their first mini-album, Why.., which features all of their debut/pre-debut singles mentioned above and three new tracks – one of which is the title track But Sometimes.

But Sometimes departs from the more innocent sound that they started off with a few months back and goes for a punkish rock sound. It is definitely an on-trend change in direction for the rookie group and I do like how they sound in But Sometimes (more on this in a moment). To be fair, I had expected the group to have debuted with an edgier sound, particular since the group boasts Zico as their producer. And the edgier tone in But Sometimes seems to satisfy that expectation. It also sounds on brand for Zico. I am glad that they do explore an edgier sound, as BOYNEXTDOOR sounds much more engaging in this form. I really like how straightforward the punk rock instrumentation was. The guitar riffs and drumming were very expressive in delivering the punk rock sound, but also they keeps the energy upbeat enough to form But Sometimes into a dance track. The melodies in But Sometimes were memorable, particularly in the chorus. There is something about those melodies and the group’s shouty delivery that just clicks and works tremendously well. Elsewhere, there was some other strong delivery from the members. For example, the second verse rapping sequence was top notch and well-executed. I also liked how clean the final moments of the bridge were, in both instrumental and vocal departments. It made for a really nice incline towards the final chorus. Overall, But Sometimes gets my tick of approval.

Compared to the music videos and songs released for their debut (which were all about falling in love), the music video and But Sometimes deals with the heartbreak associated with one’s first love. I really like how the video has tie-ins to their previous videos, such as the replicas of the burger joint sign and the house of their first love/crush. But instead of the sunny blue skies and lovely neighbourhood, the video depicts these settings on fire and the sky around them is a hell-ish red tone. I also like how the members are dressed in black whilst everything around them was burning, as if they are mourning and grieving. Elsewhere in the video, we see a teddy bear become decapitated and the members struggle through the heartbreak. It was a well-shot video that really sums up the meaning of the track quite well. I also like the recurring presence of doors, which I had pointed out to likely be a recurring element in their One & Only review.

The edgier sound mentioned above allows the performance to show a different range and energy in the choreography. And BOYNEXTDOOR pulls off the performance quite well. Nothing really stood out for me, but given it is their first edgy routine and that they pull it off well, I think the performance is a success. Their stage presence is also a positive, with the members having great chemistry with the camera.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8.5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.2/10

[Review] Get A Guitar – RIIZE

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Officially making their debut yesterday was RIIZE, the latest addition to SM Entertainment’s lineup. RIIZE is a seven-member male group consisting of Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Seunghan, Sohhee and Anton. They pre-released the single Memories two weeks back ahead of their debut yesterday with the single Get A Guitar.

Get A Guitar moves away from SM Entertainment’s venture into the world of synths with the debut and ongoing discography of NCT and aespa. Instead, RIIZE begins their career with a pop centric song that has a lot of funk and energy. Right off the bat, Get A Guitar makes for a fun listen. With the title making reference to the guitars, Get A Guitar features a recurring guitar riffs, some of which located in the chorus reminds me of Queen’s Another One Bites The Dust. These recurring guitar riffs felt like jabs throughout the instrumental and it made for a unique setup that pulls me in. Alongside the guitar, there is some old-school synthesizer in play in Get A Guitar, adding a retro flair to the song. This latter is present in the background of the entire song, but it is heard most prominently alongside the guitar solo that, in combination with one another, serves as the instrumental break in Get A Guitar. The vocals were quite refreshing to hear. While there isn’t much of a standout from this department, I did enjoy the simple melodies and the light approach the members took. Nothing felt too heavy and this made their vocals charming. The repetition and hooks were all very catchy and this helps makes Get A Guitar a memorable piece. Oh, also the absence of rapping in this song is notable, but felt just right. Overall, to my ears, Get A Guitar is a refreshing and successful debut track. Looking forward to RIIZE’s next release already!

The song is about coming together around the sound of a guitar and enjoying each other’s company. And we see this with the members hanging out with each other throughout the video. Of course, guitars make a presence in the video, just not as much as I had expected initially. While everything in the video is pretty sound and it does a nice job of showcasing the members as young teenagers, some of the members’ styling is questionable. I am not a fashion guru, but I feel like their mismatched styling here feels a bit too loose (some of the baggy pants were too baggy) and clashes with one another. Their hair styles, which I agreed with the general public looked dated in their Memories music video, have improved. But I guess that came at the expense of the fashion.

I quite liked the choreography. It really showcased the energy and funkiness of the song quite well. I like how some of the choreography had the members holding their arms to resemble them holding a guitar. We unfortunately don’t see any air guitar playing however (which feels like a missed opportunity). The funk was show clearly during the dance break and was a highlight to the performance for me.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.4/10