Category: KPOP

[Album Review] PERFUME (1st Mini Album) – NCT DOJAEJUNG

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NCT DOJAEJUNG is the latest unit to debut under the NCT group and consists of Doyoung, Jaehyun and Jungwoo. They released PERFUME back in April of this year, the shared title of both the title track and mini-album. Alongside the title track, the mini-album also features an additional five side tracks. Following this unit debut, the trio rejoined the rest of NCT for their 2023 full group comeback with Golden Age/Baggy Jeans (in the case of Doyoung) and the trio are also set to join the rest of NCT 127 in another comeback later this year.

PERFUME is a R&B centric mini-album, with the trio exploring the genre in all but one track. And their exploration of the genre is super engaging. I enjoyed all the tracks on this mini-album and each track got a high rating from me. This, overall, contributed to the higher end rating for an album release on my blog. I would recommend it to you if you are into the R&B genre or like the songs with the same effect or aspects of the R&B genre. Or if you are an NCT fan, especially if you find yourself overwhelmed with their more synth-heavy releases.

PERFUME Album Cover

1. Perfume (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Perfume. (9/10)

2. Kiss – The unit’s exploration of R&B continues in Kiss. This track has such a cool layered and rhythmic instrumentation that pulls you in. I liked the brass and jazzy elements that features in this song. The vocal work from the trio is on point and encapsulates what you expect from the R&B genre. The harmonies in the chorus also work extremely well. I particularly enjoyed the more jaggered approach Doyoung and Jaehyun took in the post-chorus sections that follows the first and last choruses. It was an interesting texture in this otherwise smooth number. (8/10)

3. Dive – Dive slows down the mini-album with a paced and atmospheric number. The instrumentation features short, sharp yet hefty beats, and a dotty but prevalent synth line. The trio takes a softer approach with their vocals, with Jungwoo and Doyoung really standing out in this song. Altogether, it is a very interesting mix. But it somehow works cohesively and is an extremely palatable track. (8/10) 

4. Strawberry Sunday – Just as sweet as the title suggests, Strawberry Sunday is a sweet track. It is also the most upbeat number of the mini-album and I appreciate this infusion of energy. I really like the funkiness the instrumental had and the synthesizer was a really nice touch. The dreamy instrumentation to the bridge was also a highlight. The chanty moments in Strawberry Sunday gives some punch to the song. I also enjoyed Jungwoo’s part in the second chorus, where he breaks up the title (by syllables) between the beats. It made for a cool ad-lib in the track. Doyoung and Jaehyun also provide some ad-libs and these sounded amazing, as well. As you can tell by my long breakdown of Strawberry Sunday, there is a lot to like. And it all enough to earn it a 10/10 rating. (10/10)

5. Can We Go Back (후유증) – Signs of the trio forming a unit emerged many months ahead of this album release, with Can We Go Back being previously performed at the MBC Gayo Daejejeon. Can We Go Back features some smooth melodies, guitar riffs and rhythmic beat – all of which feels synonymous to the R&B genre. The vocal work from the trio is impeccable, especially in those memorable “Oooh, Oooh, Oooh” melodies. Each member had standout moments, with Jungwoo standing out in the second verse, and Doyoung and Jaehyun shining the most in the bridge of the song. (9/10)

6. Ordinary (안녕) – The final track on the mini-album is Ordinary and it departs from the R&B centric exploration. Instead, the final track is a ballad, which was expected somewhere along the way from the trio, given vocals is what comes to mind first when you put together the names Doyoung, Jaehyun, Jungwoo. The vocals are showcased well in the song, with the trio given another opportunity to convey emotions to the audience (which they do successfully). The piano centric instrumental does seem to have a tinge of R&B to it, which does help make it relevant and fit in with the rest of the mini-album. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.7/10

Perfume Teaser Image

[Review] Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s Wife – LE SSERAFIM

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Following on from LE SSERAFIM’s UNFORGIVEN comeback earlier this year, LE SSERAFIM followed up promotions with a side track from their UNFORGIVEN studio album promotions with Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s Wife. This follow-up single has proven to be quite popular, going on to win a weekly music show award (Inkigayo) which is rare for a side track. I also feel like multiple official remixes were released for this song. With the release of a music video a couple of weeks after promotions, it is eligible for a review on my blog. And so today, I will be reviewing the track.

Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s Wife is a super catchy and striking side-track. The up-tempo Jersey club instrumental is very stylish and its consistent rhythmic approach sounded unique. The pounding beat and bass combination makes for a very driven foundation, while the synths pairs well as a more upfront layer in the mix. Some of the synths can also be described as atmospheric in a way. For the most part, the more monotonous vocals are actually the more memorable form of delivery in Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s Wife. We did get some proper vocals with melodies in the song, but they are barely noticeable amongst the rest of the song. I personally like this approach in Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s Wife, as they do complement the instrumentation quite well and contribute to the song’s appeal/uniqueness. But on the flip side, I understand why some people might dislike the idea of this tone and how it dulls out Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s Wife. Similarly, I find the hooks of the song to be an appealing aspect of the song, but I also understand if someone was to say that the song is too repetitive (as we do get to that point). But overall, I enjoyed Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s Wife, and think it is a strong side track.

The official explanation of the song is that Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s Wife is about themes of girl power, self-empowerment, and breaking taboos. However, I understand that the title makes references to three mythological/folktale characters. It would have been cool to visit those stories in some form in the music video. However, based on what we got, I do see the aforementioned themes in the song in some degree, such as through the children games we see the members play in the video. For example, Eunchae draws scissors in their their rock-paper-scissors match, Sakura breaking the link in their game of Red Light, Green Light and with the quintet evading the rollerblade group in that hide-and-seek-like game. I also do like their edgier look that they don in this music video, which complements the song quite well.

The choreography is fantastic. To me, it is the standout element of this release. My particular favourite part of the routine is the entire bridge sequence, with how they get into that single line lineup and the fall-forward type of move. Though, the “Boom Boom Boom” and “I’m a mess, mess mess” moves are also equally as memorable. Their stage presence is made known whilst performing the song and they made super good use of the stage.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 8.9/10

[Review] Dangerous – TEMPEST

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TEMPEST has announced they are making a comeback later in September. But I have yet to review their April 2023 comeback – Dangerous, which is featured on their fourth mini-album, The Calm Before the Storm. Well, I am finally going to review the track today ahead of that comeback. This was TEMPEST’s first release of 2023, following last year’s debut with Bad News and their two subsequent comebacks with Can’t Stop Shining and DRAGON.

Dangerous is unequivocally a fun and upbeat pop dance track that makes up for the likes for DRAGON, which was a let down in terms of TEMPEST’s discography. The energy that comes from the song leaves quite the impression, which is line with their more likeable tracks like Can’t Stop Shining. Not only does the instrumentation make the song upbeat, but the brightness the members bring to Dangerous via their vocals gives the song a playful and entertaining flair that brings a smile to your face. The ever-so-light descending tinny-like synth line in the background is something that I noticed and cannot seem to forget. Dangerous also features a catchy chorus that easily gets the song keyed into your mind within a few listens. That being said, I did wish (and still do) there was bit more to the chorus, especially as the song progresses. I think this could have made Dangerous more dynamic and appealing, and prevents the song from relying too heavily on repetition. The danger (ha!) of repetition, to me, is that it overdoes the hooks and dulls out the catchy effect. Dangerous didn’t step over that threshold, but it could potentially have. The members vocals and rapping were solid, though I think Dangerous could have benefited from a more powerful and harder rap sequence than what we got. This too could have played towards that more dynamic and appealing wishes I had for Dangerous. Overall, Dangerous is a strong return to form for TEMPEST and I hope their upcoming comeback shares a similar upbeat and exciting style.

Dangerous‘ video is another one where I am not entirely sure of what is going on. We can see from the start that school in which the video is set at is frozen (along with the members). I really like how the video from the get-go really plays into the playful side of the song. It makes it quirky and intriguing to watch. Slowly, the school thaws out and the group ends up having fun performing the track with no hesitations. But at the end, all their dancing causes ice to fall back onto the school, which might lead the school back into its ice age (but we don’t see it eventuate to that). I think there is a bit of a mismatch with the lyrics, as it mentions villains and being dangerous. But there isn’t much of a connection to that in the video.

To me, the performance was the part of the comeback that got the least positive response from me. It is more so that the choreography didn’t really do much justice for the song. There was intensity and there was energy – everything that the song calls for. But nothing stood out and I was waiting for that something to appear.

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

[Review] Shhh – KISS OF LIFE

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Another newly debuted artist that I haven’t written a review for is KISS OF LIFE, a four member female group under S2 Entertainment featuring JULIE, NATTY, BELLE and HANEUL. You may recognize NATTY as she was a contender on SIXTEEN (the trainee survival show that formed TWICE) and Idol School (the trainee survival show that formed fromis_9). She also debuted as a solo artist in 2020 with the single NINETEEN. KISS OF LIFE debuted in early July with the single Shhh and their self-titled first mini-album, KISS OF LIFE. Prior to the debut, the group did release music videos for the four solo tracks and a group track that also make up the rest of the mini-album.

Shhh was quite a debut song, giving off Ariana Grande vibes. For a newly debut group/artist to be liken to one of the biggest pop stars currently who is also known for her unique style, that is quite a feat. Shhh still manages to showcase KISS OF LIFE’s musical ability, with a strong showing of vocal and rapping styles in the verses of the song. I really enjoyed this playful side of Shhh and it keeps the upbeat R&B pop number interesting. The energy that the group throws at us make it feel like they are seasoned professional, and not rookies. I particularly liked the falsetto part in the verses (you know I am a sucker for those). The rapping in the second verse was also commendable, along with those powerful vocals that soon followed the rapping. The ad-libs we get at the end were also super cool. The anti-drop chorus does pull the song down. Shhh had an opportunity to be taken up a notch with some central piece that could have gone further than the verses, and I am not entirely sure if an anti-drop and chanty motif was the right way to go about it. Also, the ‘What you really want‘ autotune repetition that serves as cornerstones in the song doesn’t exactly fit in well with the rest of Shhh. Overall, Shhh still has a lot of offer as a debut track and it does put KISS OF LIFE on the map for me.

The music video for Shhh follows on from the other music videos released alongside the solo tracks and another pre-release single of the group’s – Bye My Neverland. I will do a super quick recap for that, as I should keep thoughts on that music video for that review whenever I do get around to it. But essentially, NATTY screws up her audition, runs from the stage embarrassed and ends up getting hit by JULIE’s car. In Shhh, NATTY ends up being taken in by JULIE and becomes friends with both JULIE and BELLE who live together. They go out one night and notice that HANEUL was being followed by the same guy who took notice in HANEUL in her solo video, but they end up stopping him from doing anything bad to HANEUL. The four ends up being a tight knit group of friends, sharing their troubles with each another. In the end. the group comes together to audition at the same place that NATTY had run away from at the end of the Bye My Neverland video. The entire universe that is shared amongst the 6 videos explores their passion to be themselves on stage and gives a story to their formation, and I quite like that side of this debut. The end of the music video sees the video extended out to show part of Shhh‘s performance, presumably what they went on stage to audition with.

The energy they bring to the stage was amazing and I liked how they captivated me on stage despite only being just four members. That wide and well-timed swing in the first verse was impeccable, while the routine of the instrumental break brought a bounce to the choreography. I also enjoyed the confidence and attitude that was infused in the performance. But what I like the most is the four members had fun on stage and you can see it on their smiles towards each other and the audience.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8/10

[Review] DLC – Stray Kids

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Stray Kids made their comeback two-months ago with ★★★★★ (otherwise known as 5-STARS) and the title track S-Class. But like many of their recent comebacks and labelmates (ITZY, Xdinary Heroes etc.), additional music videos for other tracks from the album. So per usual, I will be covering the songs with the music videos in a separate song review post and collate them to form part of the album review that I will be posting in the future. Today’s focus is on the first music video released following S-Class – DLC (Dance Like Crazy).

On the album, DLC serves as the sixth track and it brings a brightness to the album that wasn’t heard in the songs preceding it. For me, DLC stands out for being simple, relative to much of their single discography. If you consider DLC‘s instrumentation, it doesn’t feel as simple as I make it out to be. In text, DLC features a wide range of influences, such as moombahton, deep house, tropical house and Eurodance in its instrumentation. It does sound like an overload of noise (which people might say is Stray Kids’ forte), but DLC‘s instrumentation actually feels quite spacious and is not potentially overwhelming or overpacked like some of their other songs. It is this spacious feel that, relatively to their other songs, feels simple. DLC also features striking delivery from the members. From the vocals to the rapping, the members stood out quite strongly over the instrumentation. Some of the vocals are pitched quite high, particularly Seungmin’s part in the bridge of DLC. The melodies were very easy to get into and the hooks were also on the simple yet memorable side. That screechiness of the ‘La La La‘ towards the end tends to be off-putting, but it somehow finds a place in DLC (and this I find to be memorable). The saying ‘more is less’ is very applicable to the likes of DLC despite the breakdown I have made about the song.

DLC is song about leaving your worries behind and letting loose by dancing like crazy. And this messaging was well represented in this video. We see I.N in stagnant job, Changbin is depleted of energy and Seungmin is distracted from reality. But the other members bring the trio back and convinces them through song and dance to shake off those worries and distractions. Incorporated into the video are dancers on the street, which was another neat and artistic way to bring more dance into the video. The greyness the video opted for and kept up with until the very end was interesting. I guess it represents the worries, distractions and tiredness in the world, and that it still exists. But seeing the members having fun and dancing with one another suggests that this greyness should not hold you back from leaving those feelings behind once in a while.

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

[Review] Smooth Sailing – cignature

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After how much I enjoyed AURORA from earlier this year, I had to check out cignature’s next release much closer to the release date then what I did with AURORA. Dropped two days ago, cignature’s latest song is titled Smooth Sailing and is featured as part of the group’s fourth mini-album, Us In The Summer. This comeback does not feature member Belle, who is currently participating on the SBS survival show Universe Ticket.

The best way I can describe Smooth Sailing is that the new song has that cutesy tinge that AURORA had, but the sound profile also felt very OH MY GIRL. This combination feel very natural, especially for cignature, and this helps makes Smooth Sailing a very appreciable song. The song does lack the catchiness and memorable hooks that AURORA had, but what we do get is pretty decent. And I can only imagine them growing on me as I listen to the song more in the future (which is usually the effect on me). Their vocals and rapping was pretty good. I like the definition behind some of the vocals and chanting they had in Smooth Sailing, which gives everything a nice boost. Also, the cutesy tone that I mentioned before keeps the song buoyant and bright. But it is the instrumental that ultimately speaks the most to me. Smooth Sailing‘s pop instrumental features a large dose of brass that always makes any song feel upbeat and fun, and that effect is definitely felt across the broad in Smooth Sailing. It also gives the track a nice warm glow, which makes it feel even more suitable for the summery weather. And in combination with the vocals and hooks the song has to offer, Smooth Sailing feels very satisfying.

The music video features the members as school friends who discover a music competition. The majority of the rest of the video shows the members preparing for the music competition and having fun at the same time. I really liked the choice of having the video outside, which the light and weather that we see in the video contributing to a refreshing and breezy feeling. The natural aspect was also equally as refreshing. I did wish the video saw a crowd at the end, which would have been better than having cignature perform on stage without an audience. The lack of a crowd, as we see in the video, just felt weird.

The choreography was great. Again, nothing fancy. But it looks fun and likeable. Also, a simple routine feels just right in order to pair it with the song, and that is exactly what we got.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 7.5/10
Overall Rating – 7.9/10

[Review] Baggy Jeans – NCT U

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This week kicked off with the return of NCT U and its familiar lineup of members for the release of the single Baggy Jeans, which also serves as the second title track off the NCT 2023 studio album Golden Age. For those who may not know, within NCT, NCT U is a rotational unit that changes its lineup depending on the single. For Baggy Jeans, we see the return of the lineup of The 7th Sense (the single in which launched NCT U back in 2016) – Taeyong, Mark, Jaehyun, Doyoung, and Ten. Last week, I reviewed the first title track from the album, which shares the same name as the album and features all the members in NCT currently active.

My review of The 7th Sense was pretty harsh in retrospect. While it came from a time where my thinking and writing wasn’t as mature as now, the review is truthful (and I still do not understand why so many people rave about it till this day). Maybe if I had a chance to rewrite the review, I would say it in a less harsher manner and think of the finer points to discuss in the review. But I am not here to discuss the initial single of NCT’s career. I am hear to discuss Baggy Jeans. But let me just say that when I first read the reference to The 7th Sense (which was in relation to the lineup, but I actually thought of the song in the first instance as I couldn’t remember who was part of the lineup then) when reading into the details of the comeback, it didn’t raise the bar of expectations for me. And that stands true to even after listening to Baggy Jeans. The hip-hop dance track does catch on thanks to the power of repetition (even though the repetition of the song title in a dull manner) and I enjoyed the whispery, descending, spoken vocals just before the choruses. I also thought the tinny instrumental break adds some dynamic flair to Baggy Jeans (though I could have done without the ‘Baggy/Baggy Jeans‘ repeats) and Mark’s ‘Yeah Boy‘ line just after the 2-minute mark was memorable. Unfortunately, that is all I personally enjoyed from the song. Baggy Jeans‘ verses were a bore due to the lack of attractive melodies from both the rappers and vocalists. The choruses was largely plain and the instrumentation in the central part lacked creativity. Talking about the instrumentation, the backing for some reasons gets scratchy and jarring within itself in the final run of the chorus. I am not entirely sure why this was a necessary development, but it made the already unappealing instrumentation even more unappealing. Unfortunately, Baggy Jeans doesn’t do it for me, just like how The 7th Sense never did as well.

Glad to see the members in baggy jeans for the video. Relevant and they look good. I also like how it wasn’t just denim central, with the stylist putting in some thought about how the members could blend in more cohesively with the plain yet simple backgrounds the video had and the hip-hop sound. The video could have been saturated in blue denim and I think that would been cliché and a bore to watch. I did like the choreography scene where it was just Mark and the four baggy jeans dancing along. That looked cool and emphasised the title of the song quite well.

The choreography was also quite good. I really liked how the routine captured the hip-hop side of the song and the members really took on that ‘swag’. My favourite bits were the formation around Doyoung, the striking start of having Taeyong on the floor between the other member’s legs and the dance break during the instrumental break.

Song – 6/10
Music Video – 7.5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 6.9/10

[Album Review] ICKY (6th Mini Album) – KARD

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The next album to be reviewed on my blog is KARD’s ICKY, which was released in May of this year. The mini-album features the pre-release single Without You, the title track ICKY, a remixed version of the pre-release track and three side tracks – a total of 6 tracks. The release of ICKY follows the news that the group had renewed their contract with DSP Media and begins the group’s world tour that is currently ongoing. It also follows the release of Re:, last year’s mini-album release.

ICKY Album Cover

1. ICKY (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for ICKY. (7.5/10)

2. Without You (Pre-Release Track) – Click here to read the full review for Without You. (6/10)

3. Fxxk You – Fxxk You is one of two unit tracks on this mini-album. This one features Jiwoo and Somin, who both gracefully drop f-bombs in the song with their sexy yet smooth vocals. Obviously, the song is much more than just f-bombs (even though it is the most memorable line of the song), with the pair expressing their love to their partner. The melodies were so flowy and the Latin influence on the instrumentation was super effective. I really liked the how the electric guitar plays into that Latin influence. Fxxk You was such a charismatic and captivating listen. (9/10)

4. Been That Boy – BM and J.Seph are the two other members of the quartet and they bring us the second unit track. Been That Boy is a rap song that features trap and moombahton elements in its background. This combination brought a serious and subtly intense atmosphere that heightens the suspense and tension of the track. The two members each brough something different in Been That Boy. J.Seph brought power and speed which I would love to hear more of in future songs, while BM brought impact with his lines and delivery. (8/10)

5. CAKE – One of the things I don’t understand from this mini-album is why CAKE was not chosen to be the title track. The intensity and the sexiness that both the male and female members exuded from just their vocals and rapping alone was a highlight for me. The instrumental was dark and edgy, but also refreshing at the same time. And when I first heard this song months ago, I felt like it would have rivalled the likes of their more bombastic tracks like Bomb Bomb (which is my personal favourite of theirs). I also highly recommend that you check out the dance performance that was released for CAKE, as that pretty much captures all of the sentiments above I had for CAKE. (10/10)

6. Without You (Alok Remix) – Refer to the link to the full review of Without You above.

Overall Album Rating – 8.1/10

ICKY Teaser Image

[Album Review] TAKE OFF (3rd Studio Album) – iKON

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The next album review on this blog is iKON’s 3rd studio album, TAKE OFF. It is iKON’s first album release since all of the iKON members departed YG Entertainment (their last comeback under YG was BUT YOU from last year) and signed on with 143 Entertainment. Following signing with their new company, iKON released Tantara as a pre-release single in late April, and then U and TAKE OFF as the title track and the full album (respectively) in early May. Keep on reading my thoughts on the individual songs (including the reason to why I am bumping up my song rating for the title track), all of which come together to create an album that is consistent with their previous album releases.

TAKE OFF Album Cover

1. U (Title Track) –My feelings towards the song pretty much stand the same as per my original review. But upon reflection, I feel like my original score for U was a bit too harsh. Hence, I will bump up the score by one whole point. Click here to read the full review for U. (8.5/10)

2. Tantara (딴따라) (Pre-Release Track) – Click here to read the full review for Tantara. (8.5/10)

3. RUM PUM PUM – RUM PUM PUM goes for a stronghold and powerful track, featuring an experimental mix of traditional Korean instruments and modern beats that really slap. The energy that came off this and the group’s delivery of vocals and raps in RUM PUM PUM took me back to some of iKON’s previous hits that have been of that same nature. If you are a fan of iKON’s earlier works, then this track will definitely speak to you. (8/10)

4. Like a Movie (영화처럼) – The vocals really standout in Like a Movie in this soft pop tracks. The vocalists were really captivating and delivered such a strong yet emotionally charged vocals in this track. The acoustic guitar makes for a really nice backing piece and can be heard even over all the heftier instruments such as the drumming that comes into play later on. Even Bobby’s rapping had great flow and worked well with the music. (9/10)

5. Driving Slowly – Driving Slowly takes us back to the bright energy that the title track U had. However, instead of another upbeat song (which I wouldn’t complain about), Driving Slowly opts for a laid-back tone that makes the song super easy to get into. This laid-back tone is conveyed so well across through the member’s vocals and rapping, which just make Driving Slowly also super enjoyable. There was great flow in terms of melodies and it just has a summery vibe that I just want to chill to. Super easy to get into, but super hard to leave it behind. (10/10)  

6. Never Forget You (잊어볼게) – The album refocuses on the emotions with Never Forget You, which once again highlights the group’s vocals impeccably. The bridge, an example of the vocals reaching their peak, was amazing. The rapping in the first verse was a bit of a miss for me, but Bobby’s rapping in the second verse was quite well done. The instrumentation was pretty consistent throughout the track, but the instrumental break that ends Never Forget You just has the right amount of power to emphasise the emotions the members conveyed in the track. (8/10)

7. All The Way Here (여기까진가봐) – All The Way Here is the final group song on the album, and it garners mostly positive reviews from me. The instrumentation was the highlight for me. The verses feature a cool layer of guitar that I find myself thinking off after the song finishes. All The Way Here then turns into a club banger in its choruses with clean EDM beats. However, I wished the instrumental during the final chorus went further than just what we heard in the first/second runs of the chorus, as this would have kept finished the song on a more profound note to take it to the next level. The vocals and rapping were rather slight and kept a low profile, but I am not too troubled by this as it allows the instrumental to really be heard. (8/10)

8. FIGHTING (으라차차) – We enter solo territory with the final three songs on the album. FIGHTING is a solo track from SONG and he ventures into trot territory, which is an unexpected surprise to hear on an album for a hip-hop group. Trot is not my cup of tea, but I really like the electronic elements that FIGHTING features in this traditional style of Korean music. And SONG’s vocals had the right amount of rasp and throat for the genre, which makes for a riveting listen for those who enjoy the genre. (7/10)

9. Kiss Me – DK sings Kiss Me and delivers a sexy and powerful R&B track. The track itself features rock instruments to give its powerful tone. I really like the churn of the instrumental, which works super well with the R&B melodies that DK masterfully brings to life with his perfectly raspy vocals. (8/10)

10. Want You Back – The final track on the album is JUNE’s solo Want You Back. The track is quite laid back, which makes for a nice choice to ease us out of TAKE OFF. The song feels very R&B, but also features some groovy elements in the background as the song progresses. It also features JUNE’s widely known raspy vocals, which made Want You Back captivating to listen to. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.4/10

TAKE OFF Teaser Image

[Album Review] I’ve IVE (1st Studio Album) – IVE

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IVE’s 1st studio album, I’ve IVE, is today’s album review focus. It released back in April of this year and features the pre-release single Kitsch, the title track I AM, and nine additional side tracks. 11 tracks in total, it is clear that this album full to the brim with new IVE songs – a nice change since IVE has only released single albums up until the release of the studio album.

While the presence of more songs from IVE does excite me, the studio album was more of a mix bag for me. There are some standout songs (one of which is the title track) on this album, but there also some fairly so-so and weak tracks on here that I am personally not a fan of. Find out which songs falls on which side of the spectrum by continuing to read my thoughts on the songs below.

I’ve IVE Album Cover

1. Blue Blood – Kicking off the studio album is Blue Blood. From the very first second and the presence of those strings, you can tell the instrumentation tries to set up Blue Blood to be a striking track. And I am very happy to say it does achieve this goal. However, I did think the vocals could have been less processed and a lot sharper, and those vocals embedded in the background in the verses could have been lost, for Blue Blood to reach that striking impression sooner. But a strong opener nonetheless. (8/10)

2. I AM (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for I AM. (10/10)

3. Kitsch (Pre-Release Track) – Click here to read the full review for Kitsch. (8/10)

4. Lips – Lips reminds me of a more defined Alcohol-Free, especially thanks to its beachside vibes and the bossa nova touches. It is a very chill number that you could relax to poolside. I do like the brief pause before the chorus of Lips and how that sets up the central sequence of the track. But it is IVE that holds back the song for me, as their vocals felt very dull and don’t really evoke much excitement from me. The instrumentation was there, but the execution was plain. (6/10)

5. Heroine – I personally would describe Heroine as a low-key track, as there isn’t much going on. But it is one of those that manages to stick in your mind thanks to the memorable melodies and hooks. The low-key vibes come about from the use of higher registers and a much lower tone used during those descending hooks during the post-choruses. The synths keep a low profile but also are aesthetic at the same time. (9/10)

6. Mine – Mine is an alright track. It is an example of a song that is quite linear and never really strays away from its backbone. We did get a bridge where everything was stripped back to vocals and a light presence of guitar. But in a soft pop track like Mine, it isn’t really a major change up. I did like the pleasantries from the instrumentals and the breathy vocals at the start and during the bridge. But everything else in Mine felt muted and uneventful. (6/10)  

7. Hypnosis (섬찟) – For me, Hypnosis my most disliked track on this album. Its elements just don’t seem to meld with one another and everything just felt jarring and distinct. There also seemed to be no attempt to try to bring everything together. Aside from the instrumentation, I wasn’t vibing with the members’ vocals as well. While the members did introduce some much-needed smoothness via their vocals to Hypnosis, their vocals lacked emotion and just didn’t have an appealing effect to them. (4/10)

8. NOT YOUR GIRL – Korea is currently in its final weeks of Summer (though at the time of releases, they were gearing up for Summer) and the weather is ever-so-slowly warming up where I am. No matter what, I am enjoying the summery vibes that NOT YOUR GIRL was bringing to the album from the get go. There is a very bright energy coming from the song, and the instrumentation feels very tropical. I liked the energetic delivery by the IVE members and how well it compliments that aforementioned summery vibe. (7/10)

9. Next Page (궁금해) – Next Page is an interesting but enjoyable mix. I really liked the deep drumming in the background of the pre-chorus, and how this contrasts with the more pleasant and melodically flowy chorus that follows. The chorus also has a much cleaner production to it and there were backing vocals to help heighten the melodies they members bring via their own vocals. This is in comparison to the verses of Next Page, which went down a similar route as the choruses, but ended up feeling more boring as it went without the aspects that made the choruses stand out. (7.5/10)

10. Cherish – Good old plain R&B takes over completely in Cherish and I am all for it. I really like how the instrumentation doesn’t confuse, saturates or muddles the R&B sound in anyway. It is straightforward and direct to the point. the softness of their vocals in this track was impeccable, and the melodies are so smooth. This helps makes the chorus stand out. The rapping, an element in many of the above songs that I haven’t really touched on, was well executed in Cherish’s choruses and was a winning element overall in Cherish. (9/10)

11. Shine With Me – Per usual with most albums, the final track on the album is a song for the fans. And I’ve IVE is no exception. I actually liked how the chorus of Shine With Me steps up a level (relative to the verses) and the chimes add a very beautiful effect to the song. The strings in the bridge added a nice hint of dramatism without overdoing it. Their vocals were dreamy and lovable. It was a nice track overall, which I am sure their fandom adores. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.5/10

I’ve IVE Teaser Image

[Review] But I Like You – BOYNEXTDOOR

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Continuing my coverage of releases I should have reviewed much closer to when they were released is BOYNEXTDOOR’s But I Like You. It was one of three singles off the group’s first single album, Who!, all of which had an accompanying music video and were promoted on the weekly music shows. The other singles include One & Only and Serenade (the latter I have yet to review, and will return to review on another day). In other related news, BOYNEXTDOOR is due to make their comeback next month.

But I Like You is a fair song. Not as punchy as One & Only, but it does the job as an introduction to the group, given it was the first of the three singles to be released. But I Like You features a held-back form of pop rock. The beat keeps the song bouncing along, but there isn’t much else to the song to build excitement. But I Like You just doesn’t have enough meat to really deliver on that front and I wish it had that oomph as it does slightly frustrate me when the rest of the song is quite good. Vocally, the members sounded very nice. Their vocals had the right amount of texture to fit that pop-rock motif and they give enough energy to give But I Like You a vibrant flair that adds to the song’s appeal. The melodies and hooks had a catchy tinge, just not to the same degree as One & Only. Had the instrumental not been suppressed, I think the reach of melodies and hooks could have heightened. My only other two gripes of the song occurs at the end – the fact But I Like You is very short (it only goes for 2:17 minutes) and it has an abrupt ending that leaves you hanging for more. And that craving is never satisfied, as the single album goes onto the next song. Overall, But I Like You is decent and it is clear to me more could have been done on many fronts to make go further.

But I Like You is all about the feeling of falling in love. In the music video, the members all express this feeling after falling for the same girl. Not a foreign concept in KPOP, but it feels like it has been a while. We see the members sit around at the start, explaining their interactions and excitement to each other. However, those interactions are quite brief, such unintentional physical contact, glimpses from afar or with one another and short text messages. They all get invited to a party and realize their feelings are for the same girl. An awkward second occurs during the party, before the members appear to play it cool and leave the party. A short video, but I liked how succinctly yet effective the story was. And this is in addition to the choreography scenes.

The members did a super good job at making the song appear more vibrant and poppy. Their chemistry with the camera and one another does not allude to the fact the group were a newly debut group. I also like how they express themselves in the performance, with a youthful and cheerful vibe to compliment the song.

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

[Review] Blank Effect – PARK JI HOON

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A couple of months back, PARK JI HOON made his solo comeback with his seventh mini-album Blank or Black and the title track Blank Effect. Apologies for the delay in getting around to reviewing that track, but there is a reason for this delay which I will touch on in a moment. Blank Effect is PARK JI HOON’s first comeback in six months following the release of NITRO and The Answer in October 2022. It also follows the high praises he earned for starring in the successful K-drama Weak Hero Class 1, which turns the tables against PARK JI HOON’s widely known cute image (more on that a little later, as well).

In the intro paragraph to this review, I alluded that there is a reason to why I am reviewing Blank Effect four months after its release back in April. And the reason is very simple, I just forgot about the song’s existence. And listening to Blank Effect for the purposes of writing this review, that forgettable impression of the song still stands. Not only that, but I had hard time writing about the song today – there is barely anything notable to mention. Blank Effect lacks foundation without anything in the song sticking out as being memorable. This easily could have been resolved with a meaty melody or hook would really grab my attention. But even that was lacking. Even when it comes to the instrumental, aside from the fact that Blank Effect is dark and intense, there isn’t much to remember it by. PARK JI HOON, himself, was decent. His vocals had the subtle touch of hoarseness and this brought a really nice texture that works well with the dark nature and intensity of Blank Effect. Beyond that, there isn’t much else to mention for Blank Effect.

The music video for Blank Effect is much more interesting than the song itself. The video sees PARK JI HOON in a much darker and more mature lense, which probably captialises the darker turn his image took through his leading role on Weak Hero Class 1. The lyrics are about showing the true side of you as you get deeper into a relationship, with the video exploring PARK JI HOON’s transformation into a darker and more manic person as the video goes on. I applaud his acting in this video, as he does an amazing job of conveying this desire and emotions. The ending was particularly creepy, with PARK JI HOON catching on fire to complete the transformation mentioned above. There was also a some steam coming from the video with his interactions with the women in the video. The red-orange lighting also brings forth an evocative vibe, as well.

The lack of anything exciting or notable in the song did mean I didn’t pay attention to the live performances when the song was first released. And truthfully, upon watching a couple of the performances for Blank Effect today, I won’t be paying attention to them any time soon. The performance just didn’t have anything to it, and felt lethargic. I wish there was more to the song to really help out this routine be better and compelling.

Song – 5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 5/10
Overall Rating – 5.9/10

[Review] Golden Age – NCT 2023

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The release of Golden Age, the title of one of the two title tracks off the same-titled studio album of the NCT 2023 release, follows the news that NCT will no longer be an expansive group, with the lineup of NCT to be finalised following the the debut of the next unit (NCT Tokyo – the lineup of this unit has yet to be confirmed and any members debuting for the first time under this unit is not included in promotions for this NCT 2023 release). It is also follows the news that Sungchan and Shotaro are no longer part of the NCT lineup and have left the group to debut under RIIZE, and Lucas who departed from the group following controversy. We last saw NCT perform together as a group as part of their 2021 album release Universe with the single Beautiful.

I was surprised by both the teaser and start of the Golden Age, which alluded to a potential balladry direction of the lead single. Golden Age opens up with a soft piano melody of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 8, “Pathétique” 2nd Movement and harmonies from Doyoung. But this allusion was brief. The song then launches into some heavy electronic synths and less than memorable rapping (from Mark, YangYang, WinWin, Jeno and Taeyong). We then re-enter softer territory with a vocal-focused pre-chorus featuring Xiaojun, Renjun, Haechan. The members of NCT then all join forces to deliver an equally soft chorus, which features some comforting harmonies and melodies from everyone, that soft piano from the start. Yuta and Ten also gets some solo moments during the first run of the chorus. I will admit that the chorus didn’t have the level of impact I hoped it would, with the reversion to soft pop makes the song too mellow and drifty in my opinion. The rapping/synths verse, followed by the vocal pre-chorus and whole-of-group chorus, repeats itself, with Jaemin, Hendery, Jisung, Johnny, Jungwoo, Jaehyun, Ten, Haechan and Kun getting their own moments during this repeat sequence. Finally, Taeil, Chenle and (more) Xiaojun, YangYang, Jeno, Doyoung and Haechan are featured in the bridge, which brings the two sides of the song together pretty nicely. Golden Age then ends with a couple more lines of comforting harmonies, rather than a repeat of the chorus. While I like the potential of another beautiful song, the idea behind Golden Age and understand the complexity of incorporating 20 members into the song in a way where each member is given a fair go, I found Golden Age doesn’t come off as well as their past whole-of-group singles have like Beautiful or Resonance. I wished there was more memorable zing to the song (without disrupting the softness and flow of the track, as I think Golden Age has that covered as it is), just to make it more appealing and compelling to return to listen to.

I did like the two sides of the group that is shown in this video. On one hand, we have a softer and golden tinge to one half of the video (which mainly consist of the vocalists). On the other hand, the rappers appear in the video with an edgier tinge of darkness and red lighting. I would have liked to send more intersection between the two sides, but we do get some through the very brief interaction between Jaehyun, Ten and Jungwoo. I do want to know more about the keys the members are holding in hand. Some of the members hold onto theirs (i.e. Mark), but other members throws theirs into the fire (i.e. Jungwoo). I presume it might relate to the idea of the group now ceasing their international expansion and that they are becoming a fixed group without the need to open more doors. But that is just speculation from me.

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

[Review] Memories – RIIZE

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Earlier this year, it was announced that Sungchan and Shotaro would be leaving NCT and debuting as part of SM Entertainment’s newest male group that will not be associated with NCT. Since then, it has been announced that new male group is named RIIZE and the rest of the seven-member lineup has been confirmed (Eunseok, Wonbin, Seunghan, Sohee and Anton join the two former NCT members). Officially, the group won’t be making their debut until early September. But they have teased their debut with the performance video for Siren and the pre-release single Memories (the focus of today’s review).

Surprisingly, I am not too upset with Memories. There are parts of the song that I really like more than others, and I do agree that there are some parts that do weaken the song. But despite those (and I will expand on them in a second) weaknesses, I didn’t go away from Memories with too many strong feelings about the song. Memories‘ chorus was very well done, bringing forth a very notable pop influence. If you have read this blog for a while, you probably could have guess that this is the segment of the song that I like the best and find super enjoyable. I like the impression of a faster tempo that came from the beat of the chorus, and the brightness and comfort the melodies and vocals brought to the song. On the other hand, Memories‘ verses were very hip-hop centric. While I thought the display of hip-hop in the first verse and pre-choruses were fine, it is the swap between pop to hip-hop in the second verse and bridge that I found to be clashing and jarring. They were good examples of the group’s potential approach into the hip-hop genre, and shows that the new group could potentially one day release a song that might be similar to the hip-hop style that is synonymous to NCT 127. But they just don’t mix well with the rest of the song. Overall, Memories does show promise for the new group in different areas. Memories doesn’t show much of it, but I am intrigued with this idea of ’emotional pop’ that SM Entertainment is marketing them with. I am also hopeful and looking forward to seeing what that style exactly means and what RIIZE has that separates them from the current groups.

The music video shows the group as a bunch of youthful teenagers hanging out with another. It is a decent introduction to the members and I hope what we saw showcases the members’ personalities to some degree. Something personalised would help start off their careers with a more relatable connection with the audience and also potentially be unique, so I think that would really help separate out the group with its competition somewhat. Apart from that, I concur with the recent articles that reported the group was being criticised for their dated hairstyles. I am sure the members have very little say in this, but some of the hairstyles in this music video (along with the outfit styling) looked very dated. I am also intrigued by the closing segment of the music video, which I presume alludes to their upcoming single Get A Guitar that is due to be released two Mondays from now.

While I found the switch between pop and hip-hop clashing in terms of music, I liked how they maintained some bounciness in the choreography for both sides of the song. It made for a seamless blend of styles on stage. I also enjoyed their fresh energy they brought to the stage.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.8/10

[Album Review] LOVESTRUCK! (4th Mini Album) – Kep1er

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I begin this new week with an album review. And over the next few weeks, you will see more album reviews posted during the weekdays in another attempt by me to get across the backlog of albums I personally want to review. The focus of this post is Kep1er’s fourth mini-album, LOVESTRUCK! which was released back in April this year. Leading the mini-album of five songs is the title track Giddy.

Interestingly, Kep1er has been very consistent with their album releases, with my way of making that determination is by comparing the album ratings I give at the end of each mini-album. All of Kep1er album releases have leaned towards the generic side, with the presence of a great odd track or two. LOVESTRUCK! appears to be a bit of an outlier though, with the lead single off this mini-album holding back the rest of the mini-album, and the side tracks each making more potential than the title track. Let me know if you agree with this (and my individual thoughts on each song below).

LOVESTRUCK! Album Cover

1. Giddy (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Giddy. (5.5/10)

2. LVLY – LVLY is a definite improvement from the title track. I really like instrumentation of this track, which makes the track dynamic and a fun listen. The reggaeton approach to the song’s beat makes for an intriguing and cool track. The presence of the more electrifying synths later on was super cool, and I enjoyed the touch of Latin that features in the background. As for the members, they bring a matureness to the track that felt very well executed, and the hooks/melodies were catchy. The track does not feel like Kep1er one bit, but I appreciate the step-up it brings. (8/10)

3. Back to the City – When I listen to Back to the City, I really like how I can imagine myself listening to the song whilst driving in the city, which I am sure is the intention behind Back to the City. The 80s synths were incredibly light but also makes the track very pleasant and upbeat. I also like how the track flows, gliding from start to finish effortlessly. The rapping works in tandem with the instrumental to be a bouncy component of the track. The vocal work was very warm and I like how it all brings a smile to my face when I listen to the track. Back to the City is easily the best track of the mini-album. (10/10)

4. Why – Kep1er steps into R&B territory with Why. I liked the 90s synths and touch that feature in the track, and the vocals make it an appreciable listen. There were also some good hooks in Why, as well. I just feel like the track feels safe and lacks something punchy to take to the next level. (7/10)

5. Happy Ending – Happy Ending closes out the mini-album, and takes us into coffee-shop territory. It is a little more upbeat than usual coffee-shop tracks, but the instrumentation could easily blend into such a setting without much eyebrow raises. Kep1er’s vocals and rapping in this track are probably the most interesting showcase from the group on this mini-album (and probably their discography thus far). They really nail the higher pitch/falsettos/lower registers that were all present in the song, which proves to me that they have a lot more to offer than what is shown in their title tracks. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.7/10

LOVESTRUCK! Teaser Image

[Album Review] SELF (10th Mini Album) – APINK

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APINK’s SELF mini-album is the next on the reviewing block. SELF serves as the second generation’s 10th mini-album since their debut back in 2011 and this dropped in April of this year as the group’s first official five member release. SELF features the title track D N D (one of my favourite tracks of the year thus far) and four additional side tracks, all of which contributes to a very solid mini-album. For more of my thoughts of the mini-album, keep on reading below.

SELF Album Cover

1. D N D (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of D N D. (9/10)

2. Withcha – The production of Withcha feels very clean. From the leading vocals to the harmonies to the R&B pop instrumentation to the little details in the background, everything sounded distinct but also cohesive at the same time in Withcha. I liked how playful the hooks and melodies were, with the repetition helping the song become one of the more recognisable side tracks on this mini-album. Adding to the playfulness is the faint whistling and retro tinge the instrumentation has. But even in the midst of all of that, Withcha remarkably maintains a mature persona that allows the song to fit neatly with APINK’s current sound. (9/10)

3. Me, Myself & I – I start swaying along to the melodies as soon as this beautiful track begins. The instrumentation features a mixture of strings, along with beats and synths that makes it a pleasant and chirpy number. The vocals are amazing and are truly a highlight for me in this track. And the combination of everything that makes Me, Myself & I creates a riveting and stunning listen in the midpoint of the mini-album. (10/10)

4. Candy – Candy is a more typical pop track for me. It was a very pleasant and likeable track, with some sweet vocalisation from the members. I also enjoyed the falsettos that the members add to the song, and the rapping is a nice surprise. But on the melodies and hooks front of Candy, I can’t help but describe those aspects of Candy to be rather plain and ordinary. But still a decent track. (7.5/10)

5. I Want You To Be Happy (나만 알면 돼) – I Want You To Be Happy was actually a single released last year to celebrate the group’s 11th anniversary. I Want You To Be Happy takes the form of a ballad and it is a touching one for their fans. The music video that was released last year also features shots of now-former member Naeun (who left the group early April), and so the song can also be taken as homage to the former member. The melodies were heavenly and heart-warming, while the vocals were very touching and comforting. The strings and drums came together to create a delicate and beautifully orchestrated piece. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.7/10

SELF Teaser Image