Category: KPOP

[Review] Thank You – Brave Girls

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As previously mentioned, today is the start of a wave of comebacks that we will be seeing in the second half of the month. It is notable given how slow and quiet the last few weeks have been. Of course, this will mean more reviews and I hope I will be able to stay on track. First up is Brave Girl’s Thank You, which is featured as the title track on their sixth mini-album (that shares the same name). This is the group’s first comeback since their rise thanks to the resurgence of Rollin’, Chi Mat Ba Ram and After ‘We Ride’.

Thank You takes on the funky side of retro. Sure, this sounds pretty ordinary given that it is combines two style influences that is consistently the main feature of KPOP songs nowadays. But what I quite enjoyed about Thank You was the elegant nature that comes about from Brave Girls’ mash of the two influences and I personally find it fitting for the group. It is fun and lively, yet maintains that mature side of the group that we know is part of the group’s profile. When it comes to the other parts of Thank You, I find them to be quite pleasant. For Thank You, I use the word ‘pleasant’ in a positive manner. Firstly, the track has a wholesome meaning since it is dedicated to the fans who have stayed by their side during their toughest times, Secondly, I found the vocals nicely done. Each of the members didn’t overwhelm or underwhelm with their delivery. To me, it was the case of Goldilocks’ perfect. I also like the autotune in Thank You, which helped highlight the retro side of the song. I will be critical with the melodies and hooks. I wished they were more profound in Thank You, just to be that extra bit more satisfying and fulfilling. What we got was good enough, but I seem to think more could have been done. Also, the rapping in the second verse could have been a bit cleaner. It just felt a bit muddled (sorry Yujeong!). And thirdly, everything in Thank You just works in harmony with one another to give off that pleasant feeling.

Majority of the video was shot in front the green screen. At first, I thought it cheapened the video. But I realized that I was watching the video at a lower than optimal visual quality. Turning the quality up, the video actually looked quite good. Usually, I don’t mind what quality I watch the video at. But for Thank You, it really effected the experience. So, I recommend you watch the video at the highest quality in which your device can handle. I also believe elements from their past videos are in this music video, which would make sense given the song’s meaning. I was reminded by After ‘We Ride’ with Eunji’s solo scenes with the white flowers, her hat, the seats and light projections. Chi Mat Ba Ram came through with the re-appearance of the sky whale in the background of one of the choreography shots, while Yuna’s scenes where she is riding the motorcycle reminded me of We Ride’s car ride.

Unfortunately, some of the members have tested positive to COVID-19, so their comeback showcase originally to be held today was delayed as a result. So I don’t think we will be seeing a live performance for this comeback until next week. But what I did see in the music video looks good. Nothing felt memorable like in their past performances, but I liked how the choreography encompasses the retro/funky influences. I also like the change up in the final chorus, which helps makes the performance appear more fun.

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

[Album Review] Planet Nine: Voyager (4th Mini Album) – ONEWE

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As promised yesterday, an album review just before 6PM KST. Why specifically before 6PM KST today? Well, that is when the comebacks for the second half of the month begin and I have previously mentioned that this second half of the month is going to get crazy. Anyhow, the album review is for ONEWE’s fourth mini-album, Planet Nine: Voyager. It was released 4 January 2022 and features the title track Universe_ that also dropped on the same day.

Not to spoil this album review, but it is already the highest rated album of the year for me. Now, that isn’t saying much given that we are only in the third month of 2022. But, based on past experience, the high rating Planet Nine: Voyager has received is actually in the range of being one of the highest rated albums ever reviewed! And if this high rating is an indication of anything, it is definitely the high praises I give it. Let me know if you agree with my thoughts for the overall mini-album and tracks below!

Planet Nine: Voyager Album Cover

1. Universe_ (너의 우주는) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Universe_. (10/10)

2. Envision_ (우물 속 작은 아이) – Envision_ takes the form of a pop rock ballad that I would describe as ethereal. The paced nature and atmosphere created by the instrumentation was just stunning and an excellent backdrop to this song. The drums added that perfect amount of punch to the song to keep it from drifting away or being repetitive. The vocals were extremely complimentary to the instrumentals and the melodies gave the pop rock ballad that swayable effect I personally love in ballads. I personally cannot find any issues with this song based on my personal taste. (10/10)

3. Montage_ (꿈속에서 놓친 너, 옅은 잠결에 흐르길) – Montage_ goes for a much more intense profile that instantly appeals to me. It is the side track that really spoke to me when I was vetting the album to see if it was worth reviewing (spoiler: it definitely was worth reviewing!). This is thanks to the rock elements in the instrumental. The solo guitar moments and the intensity brought on by the drums for the final chorus all made this song top notch as well. As for the vocals, I liked how controlled and balanced the members kept themselves throughout the song. The opening melodies for the chorus were also stunning. (10/10)

4. Trigger_ (시발점) – Trigger_ also instantly stands out for the smooth vocals and piano melody in the verses. It definitely got a few ‘oohs and aahs’ from me. Elsewhere, Trigger_ is an interesting song, opting for various textures and influences. We get a bit of elegant balladry, rock intensity and hip-hop styled rap in it. Together, they are mashed to create a track that somehow clicks. I did think the rock elements could have gone a bit harder, just so they can be more pronounced. But Trigger_ undoubtedly works. (9/10)

5. Orbit_ (궤도) – Orbit_ leads us back into ballad territory, but the song is much more than just a typical ballad. It may not be as groundbreaking as the previous tracks on this album, but Orbit_ is beautifully executed (as is the case with every other ONEWE song). The acoustic guitars really set the tone, while the subtler rock influences allow the song to expand further than just ballad territory. The vocal work is also very beautiful and a delight to listen to. (8.5/10)

6. From_ (선물할게요) – The final song on the album is a straight-up ballad. We do get a bit of inclination from the instrumental that enables the presence of rock influences, but I feel that From_ never really departs from its ballad roots. What makes From_ a stunning end to the album are the vocals and harmonies, which creates a soothing and likeable atmosphere to end the album with. I found myself drifting away as I was captivated by the members. My only disappointment with this track is that it is simply the end of the album. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 9.4/10

Planet Nine: Voyager / Universe_ Teaser Image

[Album Review] Novella (10th Mini Album) – UP10TION

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Next to get an album review is UP10TION, for their 10th mini-album, Novella. This was released on 3 January 2022, the same day in which their title track Crazy About You also dropped. Like their most recent comeback (SPIN OFF), this one featured only seven members with Kim Woo Seok and Lee Jin Hyuk sitting out due to solo promotions (and their solo careers, while member Jinhoo is currently serving in the military.

Novella is another really strong album release that I should have covered earlier in the year. Unfortunately, their comeback has since fallen off my radar and I won’t be surprised if it has fallen off other people’s radars, as well (it seems to be the usual occurrence a few weeks after an UP10TION comeback). So it is nice to get it back on my radar through this album review and I hope that this album review is a nice reminder that UP10TION made a comeback earlier in the year! Maybe you will even find another favourite song somewhere on this album. Continue reading to see my thoughts on the album!

Novella Album Cover

1. Give Love – Starting off Novella is Give Love, which I can best describe as a stylish beginning to the mini-album. Give Love dips into the deep house genre, creating a very sleek and elegant profile. The piano that kicks off the song and reappears throughout the song really emphasized this, as well. The chorus, which reverts Give Love into a dance track briefly, had great energy. The synergy between the deep house and dance sides of the track is quite cool. I also really enjoyed the vocals and rapping in Give Love, which had some pop and (like the other elements) all contributed to the sleek/elegant nature of the song. (8.5/10)

2. Crazy About You (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Crazy About You. (7/10)

3. PANDORA – PANDORA has some dark energy that I am totally down for. It’s their strongest track on this album, both in terms of energy and execution. This also would have been a cool title track (my mind is whirling with different dark concepts – for some reason, the medieval era jumped into my mind), as well! I enjoyed the dramatic and intense flair that PANDORA had. The whistle was pretty cool, and I liked it as a bit of a centrepiece in the instrumental. The members really came through with their vocals and rapping, all showing intensity and power behind their delivery. (10/10)

4. Incredible (설레 (雪來)) – Despite it opting for funky and groovy sound that has dominated KPOP for a while now, Incredible somehow comes off as quite fresh. Not sure how, but it just does. Incredible has this bright tone that I enjoyed and I also found the vocals to be quite vibrant. On the other hand, the rappers ground the track with their deeper rapping tones, which added maturity. (9/10)

5. FALL – FALL is a pleasant track on this album. It comes to life thanks to pop band instrumentation that makes for a nice background piece. It isn’t too heavy or too light, opting for a nice balance that I personally find likeable. I like how most of the vocals glide over the instrumentation, while other members, like the rappers, brought a raspy tone to FALL (which compliments the use of the band instrumentation quite well). The melodies were also quite nice, helping bring some emotional heft to the song. (8/10)

6. SAD ENDING – Finishing off the album is SAD ENDING. It is quite a somber end to the album, based on its tone and title. But it is a nice display of UP10TION’s vocals, especially with its straightforward execution and delivery. The melodies were really nice. I like the R&B instrumentation, especially with the guitar in the background. The entire instrumental gives off a delicate feel, which compliments the vocal tone of the song. I just found it to be the least interesting side track on this album. (7/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.3/10

Novella / Crazy About You Teaser Image

[Review] Switch – Kim Woo Seok

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A year after his solo comeback with Sugar, Kim Woo Seok (currently an inactive member of UP10TION) is officially back on stage with his 3rd mini-album, 3rd Desire (Reve), and title track Switch. This comeback also follows he continuation of his acting career through the recent drama Bulgasal: Immortal Souls.

Switch is another decently pleasant track. Nothing overly memorable or special about it, but it isn’t terrible. It just a pleasant track. There is a fair bit out of Switch that I personally enjoy, but I enjoy them more as standalone elements than in a whole song. Just thinking about that is a bit abstract, but that is the best way I can describe my feelings about Switch. The pop instrumentation, particularly the rhythmic guitars, was the main driver of the pleasant description I gave to the song. It also gave the song a sleek profile throughout, which was a nice touch. As for Kim Woo Seok himself, his vocals were light and airy. I quite enjoyed the lightness. They aren’t the most riveting set of vocals ever, but they had a sweet and dreamy tone to it, which complimented the pleasantries of the instrumental. The melodies of the song were quite a strong point to Switch as well. The melody for the ‘It’s not fair, it’s a love affair‘ line was the strongest in this song, hypnotic in a way. It was an interesting direction for the song in general and I wished they explored more of it. But when you piece these good elements together, Switch comes off too light, too airy and too pleasant. And too much of these ended up making Switch forgettable, enabling for it to drifting away into the background. It is not something that you want from a title track. Switch needed something to ground it, and it should be something dynamic (e.g. more pronounced rock influences, particularly in the final chorus – you can hear something along the lines of this, but its just not fulfilling enough). I felt this dynamic energy was lacking in the song, and hence everything felt too one-sided. Had there been something to hold the song down and make it pop out more, I think Switch could have been more memorable.

I find the music video for this comeback to be suitable for the song. It is quite colourful and vibrant, in a way that fits the pleasant energy and tone of the song. Kim Woo Seok’s visuals are quite strong throughout the video. I did like the mix between animation and real life shot, as it brought some uniqueness to the video and visuals. However, aside from that, nothing else pings as memorable for me.

Again, there is nothing memorable coming from the performance, as well. But the choreography overall had a pleasant vibe to it, just like the other elements of this comeback. I can’t really fault this on Kim Woo Seok or the choreographer, simply because the song didn’t have any strong moments within it for them to really work with. At least, they did well with what they had.

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

[Review] Ven para – Weeekly

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Returning with a complete image shakeup this week is Weeekly with their latest single, Ven para. It is featured on the group’s first single album, Play Game: Awake. Ven para is the group’s fourth comeback since their debut with Tag Me, and it follows 2021 releases that featured their After School and Holiday Party. This comeback features all of the members in the recording and music video, but unfortunately member Shin Jiyoon is sitting out of the promotions for this comeback.

Gone are the days of Tag Me and Zig Zag. While their 2021 releases (After School and Holiday Party) moved away from the group’s cutesy debut sound, they still maintained their youthfulness. With Ven para, that is also out the door. Instead, we get this edgy piece that is very much more mature and serious than ever before. I don’t mind the verses. I quite liked the subtle use of the brass and the flute at the very end of the verses. I could have done with less autotune, just so the verses appeared a bit more clean and sleek. The rapping sequences in the second verse were impressive, and gave itself a a more noticeable clean and sleek profile that the first was heading towards. The choruses inclines quite suddenly with a powerful and intense backing, Its energy and atmosphere peaks almost straight away, which I thought was interesting. But the chorus was brief and the chorus ends as soon as it started. I kind of wished there was more of it. The bridge tones down Ven para with some good vocal sequences, before a shouty chant sequence returns the song to its powerful glory. I quite like the idea of this chanty sequence – just didn’t like the high pitch the ‘Ven para acá‘ finished on though. What is lacking in Ven para is a memorable hook. What we got was decent, but it just didn’t stay in my head or impress me. Had there been a stronger hook to Ven para, I think this sound change would have been more successful. As for now, it is a decent track.

The music video was fiery, thanks to the fire and images of the sun. The red colouring in some of the sets also helped push this concept further. I do like how it isn’t overwhelming though. They offset the heat with a cooler choreography set that features a heavy presence of the blue colour and looks sophisticated. I liked their use of green screen in the video. It might not be the most stunning look ever, but it is a lot better than some other applications of the green screen that I can think of.

I quite liked the clapping and other hand movements in the chorus. I also enjoyed their charisma on stage, which fits this comeback very well. A good performance, overall.

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

[Album Review] MARVELOUS (3rd Mini Album) – MIRAE

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Next up on the album review trail is is MIRAE’s third mini-album, MARVELOUS. Featured on the album is the title track that shares the same name as the mini-album and also five other new tracks. This album dropped in the second week of January, more specifically on 12 January 2022.

This album is centred heavily on the pop genre. The first half of the album was very strong and really showcased MIRAE. The second half faltered slightly, but it still contributed to an enjoyable album overall. Let me know which song was your favourite and whether you agree with my thoughts below for each Keep on reading for my thoughts on each song, along with Marvelous’s full review (the title track, that is). Let me know if you agree or disagree with me in the comments section below.

MARVELOUS Album Cover

1. Future Land – Future Land starts off the album by swinging with a hip-hop infused funk sound. It is an impressive track as it kicks the whole album with a very energetic and positive note. The funky sound brings a fun vibe to the song that I just want to go back to. The rappers, which dominate the likes of Future Land, really nail their parts in the verses/choruses and helps bring that hip-hop side to life. The vocalists come off strong just as well as the rappers, just they don’t get much of the bright limelight. I wished the final chorus was a bit more concentrated, just to give us that ‘icing on the cake’ effect at the end. (9/10)

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

3. JUICE – I found JUICE to be a such a clean track. It delves into the pop genre, which I find the members and producers to have nailed perfectly. I like the slightly funky tinge the guitars brought to the song. The melodies and hooks were very catchy, while the rapping and vocals were executed perfectly and I had no issues with them. My only complaint about JUICE was about how it was over so soon (just under the 3 minute mark). But when I think back in retrospect, maybe that was intentional to make JUICE succinct and hence super effective. (10/10)

4. Final Cut – Final Cut sounds like it could have been a very edgy track title. But instead, Final Cut has a summer holiday vibe, with a lot of its instrumental reminding me of descriptive words such as ‘tropical’ and ‘island getaway’. TWICE’s Alcohol-Free also popped into my mind whilst listening to the song. Aside from that mismatch expectation, Final Cut was a decent track, with enjoyable melodies and a bright profile. (7.5/10)

5. Amazing (소름) – Amazing is another promising track on this album. It delves into the pop genre once again. There were pleasant melodies. The vocals and rapping are pretty good. Everything compliments each other very well. Unfortunately, Amazing doesn’t stand out as much on this album to me because I felt the song was somewhat under-developed in comparison to the other side tracks on this album. I guess it could be the typical and standard aura that comes off it, but I also felt the those mentioned elements (instrumental, vocals and rapping) all could have gone further. (7/10)

6. Dear My Friend (일곱페이지) – The line ‘You are my friend, my friend’ is quite a memorable one. The album ends with Dear My Friend. It is a lot more mellow and wholesome sounding, which makes senses based on the vocals. I liked the mixture of vocals and rapping in this song, along with the synths in the instrumental. Everything comes together to create a pleasant end to the album. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.4/10

MARVELOUS Teaser Image

[Album Review] DISHARMONY: FIND OUT (3rd Mini Album) – P1Harmony

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The next album from the current year to be reviewed is P1Harmony’s third mini-album, DISHARMONY: FIND OUT, which dropped on the 3rd of January 2022. It was the group’s first comeback in almost a year, following the title track Scared and their second mini-album, DISHARMONY: BREAK OUT (which I did not write an album review for).

I was a bit on the fence of writing this particular album review, given that it is two months after its release. The deciding factor came to me when I listened to the album earlier in the week (to help pick the next few albums to be reviewed). I had some good thoughts about each of the songs and there was also a standout song on here in the midst of all the good thoughts I had. So, I decided I would write an album review for DISHARMONY: FIND OUT, and share the album around, just in case you didn’t check it out already. Hope you enjoy the album, as well!

DISHARMONY: FIND OUT Album Cover

1. Do It Like This (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Do It Like This. (8/10)

2. That’$ Money – Following the title track is That’$ Money, which is a hip-hop track that packs a punch. I find this song to be extremely effective on all fronts. The instrumental had really strong rhythm. Subtle at first, but it ended up developing into the main pull to the song. The chanty line that kicked off the song, which ended up being That’$ Money’s main hook, was extremely catchy and memorable. The members also sounded amazing in this song, with their delivery adding a dynamic touch to the song. (9/10)

3. Follow Me – Follow Me also had a strong sense of rhythm during the verses. The momentum gave the song a powerful aura that I could not get enough of. But what really got me was the explosive chorus, which takes on a powerful EDM drop. Piecing the verses and chorus together, you get a very driven track. Unfortunately, everything else felt weak in comparison. It isn’t disappointing, but the other elements within Follow Me could have been more developed to be on par with the momentum of the instrumental. (8/10)

4. Bop – Compared to the two previous side tracks, Bop relies more on the members than the instrumental. The instrumental was good, but it isn’t as dynamic as in That’$ Money or Follow Me. The members did a good job of holding ground for Bop, with a lot of the delivery tweaked to be smooth to compliment the instrumental. I also enjoyed the subtleness of the instrumental elements, for example, the backing harmonies. But it isn’t an as memorable track (both musically, lyrically and delivery), as per the other tracks, which reduces its appeal for me. (7/10)

5. Before The Dawn – P1Harmony has aligned more so with the hip-hop genre, so their rappers naturally are shown off more often. But Before The Dawn flips that, with the vocalists being the main stars in this song (despite the rappers taking bulk of the song). When I listen to Break The Dawn, particularly the vocal sections (i.e. vocal delivery, melodies etc.), I can’t help but think that this song could have gone miles in the Western industry. It just has this Western feel to it that makes it so promising. The rapping, even though are the shiny centre of the track, backs up the vocals and my thought on how good the song could be in the Western industry. (10/10)

6. Peacemaker – Peacemaker is a pop ballad that has very warm and hopeful lyrics. And the same thing can be said about the song. In addition to that, I also find it to be quite a wholesome to end the album with. Its placement and presence seem a bit typical, but it was nice nonetheless. Once again, the vocals shine brightly in this song. But the rappers do a great job with their parts as well. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.3/10

Do It Like This / DISHARMONY: FIND OUT Teaser Image

[Review] Bad News – TEMPEST

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Making their debut yesterday (after a two-week delay due to COVID) was TEMPEST, the latest addition to YUEHUA Entertainment’s family (the home of EVERGLOW, YENA, WOODZ and UNIQ). They kick things off with the single Bad News and their first mini-album, It’s Me, It’s We. The male group consist of seven members – Hanbin, Hyeongseop, Hyuk, Lew, Hwarang, Eunchan and Taerae. You may recognize Hyeongseop and Lew, who promoted as a duo (Hyeongseop & Euiwoong) back in 2017 and we last saw them promoting Love Tint in 2018. They also participated in Produce 101 Season 2. Member Hanbin participated in I-Land, while member Hwarang participated in Under Nineteen.

Bad News was a decent debut track. It isn’t impressive nor hits anything out the park, but it was a good introduction to this new group. I much appreciated the bright and energetic profile of the song, which felt somewhat refreshing in this day and age. The members and producers did a good job of making this a chirpy and funky track, especially with a song title like Bad News. You don’t really expect sunshine and blue skies when experiencing bad news, but that is what the impression I got when I listened to the song initially. But while I did appreciate the bright and energetic atmosphere and colours of the song, the instrumental was pretty standard at best. The glitchy start to the final chorus was pretty decent, refocusing my attention onto the song. It actually took me a while to work out that was part of the song (and not my internet connection playing up again). As for the other aspects of Bad News, the member’s vocals were pretty solid. There was some really smooth vocal deliveries in the pre-chorus which I really enjoyed. Elsewhere, the members were quite satisfying to listen to. I do think the vocals could have gone further, with ad-libs at the end would have been nice. As for the rapping in Bad News, it was all fantastic. I quite liked the whispery raps we got at the start of the bridge. Paired with the music, it was my favourite part of Bad News. So what could have made the song better? For sure, punchier hooks would have been great. We would have gotten more out of the members, and this potentially could have taken Bad News to the next level. The instrumental could also have had some memorable moments as well. Given that Bad News had a funky profile as well, something memorable in the instrumental department could have easily been incorporated, given that is what funky music is known for. There were some decent hooks in the song already, but as I mentioned at the start, nothing felt impressive.

The music video is standard at best, just like the song. While it fits the bill with its bright colours and cheerful and smiley demeanour in the video of the members, it was fairly plain. This is keeping in mind that EVERGLOW’s (their senior labelmate) music videos have always been very cool and aesthetic. And this just felt ordinary. Maybe the whole point of the video was to introduce us to the members, which it did just fine. But I wanted more out of the visual component of this debut.

The performance was pretty good. Nothing that memorable once again, but I have to commend the members for their stage presence. They performed and really portrayed that energetic and bright energy mentioned earlier in a very confident manner. They don’t come off as rookies whatsoever. Maybe those survival shows did pay off as it gave some of the members stage/performance experience.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 6/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 6.9/10

[Review] Love In Space – Cherry Bullet

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Making their return today is Cherry Bullet, who returns with new single Love In Space and second ever mini-album, Cherry Wish. The female group returns for the first time in over a year, following their February 2021 release Love So Sweet. Since then, some members of Cherry Bullet (Bora, Jiwon, May) participated in the Girls Planet 999 survival show, but none of them placed in the top nine (who went on to debut in the special project group which debuted earlier this year).

It seems like Cherry Bullet is finally getting into the groove of great releases. Love So Sweet set the bar high for them, and I think Love In Space has what it takes to rival the likes of their previous song. It too also delves into the retro sound profile, but opts for a more synth pop sound. I really like the consistent tapping synth used in the later parts of the choruses (there is probably a technical name for it, but I am no musician!). It is quite memorable and catchy. This follows on from a satisfying dive into the retro sound profile for the instrumentation. As for the verses in Love In Space, they are a lot more interesting thanks to the fast delivery of some of the lines. They really caught me off guard the first time, and I felt they added a cool presence to the song. I really like how the pre-chorus reminded me of Love So Sweet‘s main hook. It really appeals to me, especially since I really enjoyed that release. Elsewhere, the vocals were also quite good. I also love that ending, with a brief extension to the song. Suspenseful, but extremely satisfying. I think my main problem with the song comes during the bridge. It just brought a typical atmosphere to the song, and didn’t feel special enough. I kind of wished the producers put together something a bit more unique for the bridge. And the answer might have been a few second later. I did quite like ramp up to the final chorus, which has that unique touch that I am looking for. But apart from that, Love In Space is still a solid song.

The music video has this intergalactic concept without going into space. The whole video comes off quite abstract, but essentially the members are searching for their long lost partner who is far away. I think they skip all the space travel that you expect to see with a space concept, and focusing on searching that their long lost lover. In the end, the cat leads them into an elevator and it takes them to the growing tree. The tree looks likes a tentacle as it grows from the ground, before blooming into beautiful pink leave tree. And it is a happy ending from there. A bit weak and typical on the plot front, but it works well with the lyrics. The video itself is one of those videos where the producers have made it a bit fluffy to fit with the group’s image and it detracts from the story a bit. But the visual effects and visuals of the members make up for it.

The choreography for this comeback is quite good. Not as memorable as their last, but it does the job. I liked the routine when we hear that consistent tapping synth in the later parts of the chorus, and the fast pace end to the performance.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.3/10


[Review] CHIQUITA – Rocket Punch

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The second comeback that kicks off this week is Rocket Punch’s return with CHIQUITA and their Yellow Punch mini-album, which is their fourth one since debut. This new release follows Rocket Punch’s 2021 comebacks, which includes their awesome singles RING RING and (their Japanese debut single) Bubble Up.

CHIQUITA continues the retro sound that RING RING delved into. And CHIQUITA definitely satisfies with its retro influences. I love the 80s disco sound that the group draws upon in the chorus. It just hits in all the right spots for me. The bridge had this mature spin, which was extremely likeable. The double ending synthesizer extension we got at the end was also very satisfying, and provided that extra bit more in a classy way that CHIQUITA felt like it needed. The group also shows off vibrant vocals that make CHIQUITA punchier and louder, which takes the song to the next level for me. The utterances of the title, CHIQUITA, had this elegant feel to it, while the melodies had a bold and memorable feel to it. But while it seems like the song is getting all praises, there were some minor touchup the producers could have done to really take it up further to the next level. The first is in regards to the verses, which felt slightly underwhelming and a tad empty for my liking. It just felt like there was a slight imbalance between retro influences, giving the impression that the verses were slightly weaker. I wished it was had more retro detailing/touches to make it feel bolder and on par with the chorus. The second are their vocals in the later parts of the CHIQUITA. I wished the producers played around a bit more to give CHIQUITA‘s last chorus (in particular) an extra boost and concentration of energy. But as mentioned, they are minor things. CHIQUITA, as presented, is a great song already!

Like the song, the video also takes on a retro concept. While there was some nice visuals and effects in the music video, I felt like more could have been done to make this video look more retro. This would have made the video much more exciting to watch and probably reel myself in for a few more replays. What we got was heading in the right direction, but lacked some elements (for example, more disco balls and neon lights, more outfits that align with that era) for me to call it a pure retro concept fitting for the music.

The choreography was quite good. I really enjoyed the chorus routine, which really hit the spot alongside the song. I also enjoyed the spinning of half the group at the start of the routine, and the bridge sequence as well.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.2/10

[Review] Callin’ – Super Junior

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Super Junior is one of the two acts that are first up this week. The legendary group has returned with special single album, titled The Road: Winter for Spring, and is lead with the title track, Callin’. This comes almost a year after the group’s comeback with their tenth studio album, The Renaissance, and title track House Party. And I believe that we will be seeing more of the group later this week, as it seems like the group will be promoting this new release, after news that Ryeowook would be sitting out of promotions as he recently tested positive to COVID-19.

Callin’ is a ballad that delves into the pop rock genre. It is quite a beautiful one that captivates me the few times I have listened to the song tonight already, which is undoubtedly a very positive effect. The melodies in Callin’ are very flowy and dreamy, while the vocal work amazes me and shows off the members in a stunning fashion. They are so clear and quite dominant, so much so that it is the focus point of the song. I am also absolutely liking the layering of vocals just before the chorus. It just gives Callin’ an interesting texture, refocuses my attention on the song, and makes it more than just a straight forward pop rock ballad. The harmonies also help adds definition to the main vocals, which enhances the stunning nature of Callin’. The instrumental is pretty standard for the genre selected, but I like how it compliments the vocals extremely well and aids in bolstering the vocals. There are some squeaky synths in Callin’ that seems like they are out of place, but I don’t mind them. They actually provided a bit of unique touch to the song, given their unique profile. Altogether, I find Callin’ to be an extremely inviting and warm aura track, which I am sure is the intended direction of the track judging by the lyrics (which talks about wanting to love despite of their past bad experiences).

I liked the animation at the start and end of the video and how it interlinked with the actual shots of the members in the home. It appears that the members had seek refuge in the home from the weather, which seems to represent the painful memories and bad experiences. They warm themselves up, which in turn reminds them the good memories, until they are ready to move on and ‘rediscover’ love. They also do a lot of reflection during this time. The animated ending shows them rediscovering the feeling of love after leaving the confines of the home, as expressed in the lyrics. Overall, a nice and well thought out video for a song like this.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10

[Album Review] FIRST IMPACT (1st Mini Album) – Kep1er

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Finally, the first album review for an album released in 2022. I am only two months behind. Of course, I start off with the first major release of the year, that is Kep1er’s debut mini-album, FIRST IMPACT. For those who missed Kep1er’s debut, they began their careers on 3 January 2022 with WA DA DA. This followed a slight delay due to some of the members testing positive to COVID-19 in December 2021, just before their original debut date. FIRST IMPACT also features two new original tracks, and three tracks from Girls Planet 999, the show in which they were formed from. I didn’t pay attention to the survival show when it first aired in early 2021, so I am not familiar with the songs from Girls Planet 999 apart from O.O.O when it was first released.

Overall a fair album to kick off their careers. I do hope that the quality of their subsequent comeback tracks have more impact and this is reflected throughout the albums as well. Do you agree me? Have a read of my thoughts below and let me know in the comments!

FIRST IMPACT Album Cover

1. See The Light – See The Light is the album’s introductory track. While it is a satisfactory introduction to the group and the album, I found it to be a bit all over the place. Each EDM segment we get in this song (I would say there are 6 very distinct segments throughout this less than 2 minute track) is quite different to the other and makes it hard to focus on other elements in See The Light. More memorable lines/moments would have also been nice. (7/10)

2. WA DA DA (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for WA DA DA. (6.5/10)

3. MVSK – Without a doubt, I am with the crowd on this one. MVSK is the album’s best track. I just love the attitude and personality that oozes from this song. I found the house elements in the instrumental to be very dynamic. The pauses in the chorus (which in turn gave off a choppy effect) and in other parts of the chorus made the song feel unique and also helped propelled the song forward. It also grabs my attention. The vocals here (from delivery to mixing) was really well done and impressive. (10/10)

4. Shine (Kep1er Version) – As mentioned, this is the first time I am reacting to most of the songs from Girls Planet 999. Shine is pretty energetic in many ways and shows off the group in an incredible youthful light. The chanty moments of the song (start of the song, start of the second verse and end of the song) were quite memorable. It also complimented the instrumental of the entire song, which gave me pop anthem vibes. For the most part, the vocals and rapping was pretty good. But I wished the members toned some of the cutesy vocals down. It just gave a cringy factor to the song. (8/10)

5. Another Dream (Kep1er Version) – Another Dream is a ballad, which is a common performance piece in the finale of any MNET KPOP survival show. As usual like the other finale episode ballads, the melodies are stunning, and I like the hopeful energy that comes from Another Dream. The swayable nature of the song is present, and this version no doubt shows off Kep1er’s vocal potential. It is not the most memorable side track on this album, but it is definitely up there. (8/10)

6. O.O.O (Over&Over&Over) (Kep1er Version) – I do remember listening to this song when it was first unveiled as the main song for the show. Back then, I didn’t care for O.O.O as much. And unfortunately, I don’t think my perspective of the song has changed. The chorus has the right tone for it to be a main track, with it being bright, youthful and energetic. It does lack the same flair when compared to the Produce 101 main tracks, but I could overlook that. It is what happened elsewhere in the song that didn’t sit well with me. I always thought dramatic flair that featured in the bridge was a bit odd. I didn’t mind it at the start as an opener, but it just felt awkward in the bridge. The hip-hop influenced rap second verse sequence was also a big questionable moment for me. It really cut the flow of the song, and didn’t fit in. (7/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.8/10

FIRST IMPACT Teaser Image

[Review] RUN2U – STAYC

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Returning back to Monday, STAYC also made their comeback on this day, with RUN2U and their second mini-album, Young-Luv.com. This new release follows their successful 2021, which started off with their hit ASAP, and their September 2021 release STEREOTYPE (the latter earned them their first music show win since debut).

RUN2U has a lot of potential to be the next big track for STAYC. And for the most part, I feel that the song lives up to that potential. But the verses were just so boring and lackluster. One of the reasons why I feel this way was because of the bare/minimalistic instrumentation. Now, the bareness stays on in the other parts of the song that I would describe as highlights of RUN2U, as it helped draw out some interesting elements that I ultimately enjoyed (though it comes back to bite them later on – more on that in a little bit). In the verses, the bareness/minimalistic just made RUN2U feel so empty and dry. Another reason is that I didn’t get much out of the vocals and rapping. They lacked character and profile. This does get better though, as when we enter the pre-chorus territory, we get a familiar profile of the vocals that reminds me of STAYC’s 2021 tracks. Apart from the verses, as I flagged earlier, other parts of RUN2U was quite catchy and memorable. I really like the squeaky brass synth used in the chorus as the song’s central element. It did sound off at first, but I find it extremely charming now. I also liked the ‘So I’ll run to you‘ repetition in the chorus, and the melodies that make up the lines that follow. The pulsing/descending spiral like synth at the start of the song was also quite notable for me, which kicked RUN2U off with a bit of sophistication. The “Little Bit Little Bit” hook was also memorable for me, but not as much as the chorus’ hooks. When we got to the final chorus, I wished the producers added something new into the mix, just to give us a bit of freshness, excitement and pop to make RUN2U end on a much stronger note. That bareness and minimalistic vibe they adopted throughout the song bites them at the end, and makes the song feel repetitive in a bone-dry way, which ultimately is not a good thought to have at the very end of the song. Thankfully, it had the catchy chorus to rely on (which I just really dig) to make the final chorus a bit better.

Colourful sets, a range of closeups and choreography shots. That is the music video summed up. So a bit generic and typical. I did like the more elegant shots (the scenes with the crystals hanging down, the colourful flowers) the video had, and I wished the video explored more of that side for this comeback. They also felt a bit more cohesive as a concept compared to the mashup of colours we got in the brighter and colourful sets.

The choreography was on the meh side of the spectrum for me. I did like the domino pattern than began the performance with, but the rest of the performance just felt a bit flat and nothing really stood out at me.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 6/10
Performance – 6.5/10
Overall Rating – 6.6/10

[Review] O.O – NMIXX

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A new player is on the playing field! JYP Entertainment’s latets female group, NMIXX, make their debut today with O.O, which is featured on the group’s debut single album, Ad Mare. NIMIXX is a seven members female group consisting of Haewon, Lily, Sullyoon, Jinni, BAE, Jiwoo and Kyujin. While the release dropped today, NMIXX unfortunately hasn’t been able to start off their careers as planned with a debut showcase as some of the members have tested positive for COVID-19. Unsure what that means for their promotions for this week, but hopefully the affected members recover quickly to be able to perform O.O on stage for us soon.

Hang tight, as there is a lot of unpack from O.O. When I listened to the song, it sounds like three songs were mashed into one. We have heard this before and sometimes it works (unexpectedly). O.O is one that doesn’t not work for me, and is not a good first step for a debut. I have listened to it a few times and I just can’t get over how distinct each section of the song. The first third of O.O was this edgy and powerful sound that I was not a fan of. It was quite overwhelming on many fronts, such as the vocals and rapping. They were poorly processed and sounded quite strained for the most part. It was a bit ‘try-hard’, if you wanted me to be direct about the sequence. The second third of the song was much more likeable and enjoyable, in comparison to the preceding sequence. It was a lot brighter, taking on a pop profile with hints of rock. The vocals and rapping were better here, but they still felt they were pushed too far. If there was a takeaway from this middle sequence, it is that they are youthful. The final (and third) sequence went down more of the hip-hop route. This also wasn’t that bad, but it lies in between the first and second sections of the song in terms of likeability for me. It was noisy, it was intense, it was overwhelming as well. It sounded like they were competing with the music, and I wished the producers had went with a slightly milder sound so we could hear more of NMIXX. Attitude and sassy also come to mind. When you consider the three parts as a whole, as intended, it felt like the whoever put the three pieces together were trying to fit three puzzle pieces together that were never going to fit. I am hoping that with time, O.O becomes a bit more bearable and that I find myself enjoying it more. Time after time, my reviews have turned up side down as a result to second chances and repeat listens. I personally think that O.O has a lot of warming up to do in order to recover, but who knows.

Like the song, it made sense that the music video would be in three segments as well. To match that edgy and powerful tone in the first sequence, we got a mysterious visual piece. Members are running into walls, colours are all very neutral and dominos are falling throughout the city. Personally, I found this sequence to be the coolest of the three when it came to the visual aid. In comparison to the first sequence, the second sequence of the video (for the second segment of O.O) felt like a unicorn did its business. It was super colourful and really encapsulated an innocent and youthful vibe (just like the song). For the third part of the song, the video adopted a darker vibe to compliment the noisy hip-hop sound. I do wonder what the final scene to the video is about. It is a bit ambiguous, but also very mysterious at the same time.

The choreography aspect also felt promising. One of the perks of having what felt like three different songs in one is that you can do a fair bit on stage. The start of the performances looks very cool, while the swing in the second sequence looks quite unique. I also liked how powerful the routine looked.

Song – 4/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 6/10

[Review] The Song – BTOB

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Just like last week, we start off this week with another another long awaited comeback. After almost four years, BTOB has made their first comeback as a full group with the single The Song and their third studio album, Be Together. Their last full group comeback was through the release of Only One For Me back in 2018. Since then, the group members have completed their military enlistment. Elsewhere, the active members (as they returned from the military or just prior to their enlistment) released the special album Hour Moment and the single Beautiful Pain, kicked off their own solo careers, formed a subunit (BTOB 4U, consisting of Eunkwang, Minhyuk, Peniel and Changsub, and debuting with Show Your Love), participated in Kingdom: Legendary War and released a special mini-album as quartet under the BTOB name with Outsider. BTOB also lost a member, Illhoon, who left the group in 2020 due to his drug use controversy. Needless to say, we have been well fed in terms of BTOB releated activities despite have no full group comebacks.

BTOB returns with a ballad, the genre that skyrocketed them to success and was the genre of some of their biggest releases since debut. So there is a familiarity and nostalgic feeling from The Song that reminds me of the good old days for the group. Aside from that, The Song is quite a beautiful piece. I liked that The Song didn’t fall into the trap of having a typical instrumental of classical instruments. We have had a few pieces in the past from BTOB, so it was great to get something a bit different this time around. It is still relatively typical and plain, but I appreciate the different yet familiar direction the band elements (drums, electric guitar etc.) of the instrumental steers this song towards. Other than the backing, the main focus point of The Song (and any ballad) would have to be the vocals though. And BTOB sounds amazing in this song. That nostalgia that I mentioned initially comes through via the vocals and rapping, and I liked how the rappers (i.e. Minhyuk and Peniel) incorporated their parts into the song without breaking the song. That is what I love about BTOB’s ballads – they are just experts at blending rap sequences into their ballads, especially when you think they won’t be able to do so this time around. The harmonies in The Song also make it spectacular. I am bit a disappointed with the lack of memorable melody though. I feel that their previous ballad hits that they promoted always had a melody that everyone got into and made the song appealing. While their voices captivating, the melody we got in The Song didn’t really evoke thought out of me, nor did it repeat in my head after the song. Maybe a few more listens could help develop the melody for me, but I just don’t think it is there to begin win. Overall, another great ballad under BTOB’s belt.

The song is all about wanting to be with their fans once again, with the lyrics name dropping a number of their past tracks. With that in mind, the music video brings together the different members who are all alone and in different locations, so that the members can deliver that message to their fans, as we see by the performance on stage at the end of the video. It is the reality of the last few years, as they had to split up for their military enlistment and do solo or unit work rather than a full group comeback. I like how as they come together, they return to Eunkwang’s residence, who for those who don’t know is the leader of the group. I presume the letters that we see throughout the video is a representation of the fans, given that the Melodies (BTOB’s fandom name) fanclub colour is ‘Slow Blue’ and the stamps (and letterbox) were of this colour. It is a touching video, with a beautiful landscape in the background, as well.

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

[Album Review] Goosebumps (6th Mini Album) – ONF

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The final album from 2021 that I will be reviewing is ONF’s Goosebumps, the group’s sixth mini-album. It follows a string of releases from the group in 2021, including Beautiful Beautiful (featured on their first studio album, ONF: My Name), Ugly Dance (featured on the repackaged version of their first studio album, City of ONF) and Popping (featured on their summer popup album of the same name). After the release of Goosebumps in early December, it was announced that ONF will undertake their military enlistment at the same time to reduce their hiatus. And by the end of the year, five members (excluding U, as he is not a Korean citizen) enlisted in the military, thus pushing the group into hiatus until (and I am guessing here based on the usual two year enlistment period) the end of 2023.

But while ONF is currently not releasing any music, they did leave us with Goosebumps, which features the title track of the same name and four other side tracks. Overall, Goosebumps was a terrific album that boasts high quality and enjoyable tracks. All the songs on here definitely throws me back to some form of ONF release, and has a unique tone that tells me that it is ONF’s album from afar. Check out the release below and let me know if you agree with my thoughts!

Goosebumps Album Cover

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

2. Whistle – Following the title track is Whistle, and it is a very creative and unique track on the lyrics front. Essentially, the members sing in a perspective a cat who is close by to their owner, who is actually a cursed human that is now being punished for their past actions in their human relationship with said owner. But they want the curse to end, and the only way for that to happen is for their lover to whistle. It is quite an abstract idea, but one that makes Whistle standout as a track. I like the sorrow, reflective and pensive tone the members take in this song, while I like the somewhat jazzy nature of the instrumental. There is a bit of bass and pop melody infused into the chorus, which makes it a strong centerpiece. But the best part of Whistle for me is the bridge, which had enough change to be different, but stay within the boundaries of the song. (9/10)

3. Fat & Sugar – Fat & Sugar is a return to the upbeat, vibrant and energetic energy that I associate with ONF. It takes a form of a funky hip-hop song that makes me groove along to the music every time I listen to the song. The chorus is extremely memorable, thanks to the repetition of the ‘I like bad things, Fat and Sugar, Fat and Sugar’. It does seem a bit childish (I remember passing over this song initially because of this childish tone), but it quite charming after many listens. I like the character they brought to the song through their vocals and rapping, which helped make Fat & Sugar so much more appealing than you think. (8.5/10)

4. Alarm – The album takes a turn with Alarm, this time entering ballad territory. It is a stunning piece. The verses were a bit typical and the instrumental is pretty standard for the ballad. But the stunning nature of Alarm comes during the chorus, where there is so much vocal layering. However, not once does it sound or feel overwhelming. It adds complexity to the otherwise simple track. Vocally, they sounded amazing throughout. The harmonies in this track are to die for. Talking about harmonies, the unexpected incline at the end of Alarm just makes the song even better! And of course, the swayable melody is also there. (10/10)

5. Show Must Go On –As mentioned in the introduction paragraph, this is ONF’s last album for a while. And a song titled Show Must Go On is very fitting for this hiatus. The direction that the song took us in was unexpected, however. But I love the fast pace nature of Show Must Go On and how it gives off and reminds me of the group’s title tracks. The fast pace nature also provides great energy and the chanting at the end is quite satisfying. It feels like ONF is going out with a big bang (in a way) with this release. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 9.1/10

Goosebumps Teaser Image