Category: KPOP

[Review] FOCUS – Hearts2Hearts

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Since their debut earlier this year with The Chase, Hearts2Hearts have released two singles that I have yet to review – Style and Pretty Please. While the length of time since the release and their potential review might be an indicator, it can also be said that Hearts2Hearts is also impacted by my inability to keep up with new releases. Anyhow, Hearts2Hearts returned last month with their first-ever mini-album, FOCUS, and the title track of the same name (which is also the ‘focus’ of this review). Pretty Please, mentioned earlier, is a pre-release single from their first mini-album, FOCUS, as well.

What I liked about FOCUS was its constant and consistent groove. While consistency is something that is a hit or miss to me, it does well in FOCUS, keeping the house-based song buoyant and upbeat for the majority of the track. I also liked how the producers gave the song impact by adding just a bit more to the instrumental for the instrumental break bridge. It’s subtle, but it does wonders to FOCUS. The members deliver a more subdued tone to the song. I think the success of the song is simply the contrast between the subdued spoken tone and the upbeat groove that the instrumental delivers. Somehow, they both come out on top and give FOCUS a memorable aspect. However, the subdued tone and spoken delivery do mean that all of them merge together, and I don’t really hear much individuality between the members. I also feel that this combination limits the appeal of the hook, which I found to become repetitive with repeated listens of the song. So, I guess in summary, FOCUS is a mixed bag of both good and not-so-good aspects. But it’s still a decent listen, overall.

In FOCUS, Hearts2Hearts sings about how someone captures their attention and takes their focus away. Given their ages, the school concept makes perfect sense. While they should be focused on their studies, the person in question takes up all of their attention. I think the dance practice room location later on in the video fits in similarly, where the members should be focused on their dance moves, but yet they are distracted by the person (who, in the mirror, is Hearts2Hearts themselves). In particular, I like the final scene outside with the fireworks. Paired with the choreography and the members’ stoic expressions, it was a bold end to the music video.

Although it may not appear this way, the routine for FOCUS was exceptionally strong. The sharp movements during the chorus and the in-your-face approach they took during the dance break were really cool and super bold. If this is what they can do, I highly anticipate their next performance!

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 8.4/10

[Review] SUPERPOWER (Peak) – xikers

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One of the songs released last week that caught my attention was xikers’ comeback single, SUPEROWER (Peak), which serves as the lead single off their 6th mini-album, House of Tricky: Wrecking the House. Their last comeback, Breathe, was released in April this year, as part of their 5th mini-album, House of Tricky: Spur.

There were a few things that caught my attention within SUPERPOWER (Peak) whilst I was tuning into the new releases last week. However, ultimately, the song’s boldness was the most prominent and noteworthy aspect to discuss. The electro hip-hop background, from the hollow tinny beats at the start to the range of textured synth work in the verses, made this entire instrumental piece extremely appealing. Yes, it was loud, and I can understand why some might find it even obnoxious. But I really liked it. Even the instrumental break inserted at the end of SUPERPOWER (Peak) was very cool, and interestingly, it brought a touch of 2010s nostalgia to me. As for the members, they did exceptionally well with their aggressive and powerful raps and vocals. All the raps in the verses were super engaging, with each rapper bringing their own style to SUPERPOWER (Peak). As for the vocals, the autotune during the pre-chorus felt reminiscent of vocals from other electronic-based songs, while I really liked HYUNWOO’s powerful showing during the bridge. SUPERPOWER (Peak)‘s chorus sees xikers deliver the song’s centrepiece as a powerful shouty chant. While I don’t mind it, I do think it is a bit typical in the current landscape of boy-group music. But overall, SUPERPOWER (Peak) really excelled, and I really enjoyed it.

SUPERPOWER (Peak) is about how the members are in their most powerful form, which gives them the power to break down the walls and boundaries in their current form. This itself is essential context, as well as the fact that this album is the last in their House of Tricky series, which has been a consistent part of their album names since their debut. If you fast-forward to the end of the video, you will see the House of Tricky collapsing as the members leave the building, symbolising the closure and departure of the House of Tricky era. For some reason, xikers and the SUPERPOWER (Peak) conceptually fit in well with the industrial and underground setting, with the cyber cityscape in the background. Definitely a cool video, overall.

I really liked how the performance for SUPERPOWER (Peak) was both an intense routine and a hype routine. It was definitely a powerful routine, with xikers putting their all into the different ranges of intensity and building up the hype. I love how the dance break at the end of the routine (which coincides with the club vibe instrumental break of the song) was the peak moment of the entire performance, and it left me very satisfied and gratified with the routine.

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

[Album Review] LOVE RACE (15th Mini Album) – SF9

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If you cannot tell by the title of the post, SF9’s LOVE RACE is the next mini-album up for review (still a massive backlog to push through). It is SF9’s 15th mini-album since their debut in 2016 (almost 10 years ago!), and was released back in March this year. LOVE RACE features a total of 6 songs, including the title track of the same name. It is a solid mini-album overall, per usual for SF9. There are some terrific songs on the mini-album, so it is definitely worth checking out.

LOVE RACE (the mini-album) is their first comeback since August 2024 – the mini-album FANTASY and title track Don’t Worry, Be Happy. More recently, the group is embarking on a world tour.

LOVE RACE Album Cover

1. LOVE RACE (Title Track) – Click here for LOVE RACE’s full review. (8/10)

2. Suited – Leading on from the title track is Suited, a very smooth mid-tempo pop track. This helped make the flow of Suited feel velvety and stunning, and many of the song’s best attributes stem from this smoothness. The song’s chorus was very charming. I particularly liked the upward inflexion at the end of the chorus, which gives the track something intriguing and memorable to remember it by. The vocals (and their layering) in Suited were really well done throughout. As for the rapping, I liked how they fit into the song while still maintaining an edgy tone. (9/10)  

3. Side by Side – Side By Side is a great upbeat funky number. The energy that comes off this track is very refreshing. I also enjoyed the brightness exuded from the instrumental, making it suitable for a summertime track. The vocals and rapping were straightforward yet effective in contributing towards the same refreshing energy and bright tone. For this, it is my favourite track off the mini-album. (10/10)

4. WARURU – There was a lot that stood out in the electro-pop WARURU (which translates loosely to ‘Crashing down’). Firstly, I really enjoyed how JAEYOON (as the introduction), INSEONG and YOO TAEYANG delivered the pre-chorus. They really seized the opportunity to showcase their powerful vocals and did so very impactfully. I also enjoyed the line “Now you’re not the girl I used to know” delivered by YOUNGBIN and CHANI in the verses, which were memorable lines. The WARURU repetition was also noteworthy. This is all set against a solid background that enhances the dramatic nature of the song. (9/10)

5. No No No – I quite enjoyed how prolific the instrumental is in No No No. There is a strong funkiness to the instrumental, thanks to the electric guitar and brass elements, which come through quite strongly. The rest of the instrumental is strongly upbeat and comes off as ‘loud’ (but in a good way). I liked how the members really put themselves forward in the song through their rapping and vocals. The instrumental could have easily drowned them out, but SF9 ensured they were heard throughout No No No. I do think the song could have been blended together to be a little more cohesive. (8.5/10)    

6. Love Puzzle (숨은 사랑 찾기) – We go into lovey dovey territory for Love Puzzle, which likens their lover to be the missing puzzle piece they are searching for. Love Puzzle is one of those mid-tempo pop ballads that is warm, fuzzy and lovely. The members do a nice job of making their vocals and rapping sound cohesive, as well. I find myself rather neutral towards the song (mainly because I am not the target audience), but I am sure fans are enjoying this more romantic side of the group. (7/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.6/10

SF9’s teaser image for LOVE RACE

[Review] Spaghetti – LE SSERAFIM ft. j-hope (BTS)

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LE SSERAFIM made their comeback last week with their first single album since their debut in 2022. Titled SPAGHETTI, the single album consists of the title track (and multiple versions) of the same name, featuring HYBE labelmate j-hope from BTS. This is LE SSERAFIM’s first Korean comeback following HOT and Come Over (from their HOT mini-album), and their first comeback overall since their Japanese comeback with Different (yet to be reviewed).

Look, the final product that LE SSERAFIM released was not on my KPOP bingo card this year. SPAGHETTI shows an entirely different side of the group that we have not heard from before. It is a lot more out there and wackier than any comparable LE SSERAFIM release—the only one that comes to mind is last year’s CRAZY, and that felt contained. For this reason, the heavy yet funky synth-and-autotune style of SPAGHETTI was engaging. It is definitely fun (cowbells tend to have that effect, which I am sure I have mentioned before on the blog), aided by the catchy hooks and repetition throughout SPAGHETTI. Similar comments can be made about the members’ delivery, but I also note that certain parts of the song made them seem charismatic. But while experimenting and doing something different is good (at least in my books), I think it should be acknowledged that this style switch could be jarring to some fans. As mentioned earlier, j-hope also features in SPAGHETTI, and I really appreciated his appearance in the song. I felt his feature grounds SPAGHETTI in a way that allows LE SSERAFIM to approach their parts in a more light-hearted manner. I love the oomph in the latter half of his part. It does wonders to SPAGHETTI.

People have described SPAGHETTI as a diss track aimed at their haters, and the lyrics do give that impression. I liked how they focused on a tasty and classic dish that many people would ‘eat up’. I also like how the video plays into the wacky side I mentioned earlier, with some scenes being a tad random (e.g., one member hanging out in the sauce and the members performing on a plate of spaghetti). I also appreciate that j-hope makes an appearance in the video. I do question some of the styling choices, such as the mechanic overalls. But it was a good video, overall.

I really enjoyed the performance of SPAGHETTI, particularly the sass and attitude the members bring to the audience throughout the routine. It definitely works well with the lyrics and the comeback’s concept. I particularly enjoyed the routine that accompanies the post-chorus hook (i.e., the “Eat it up”), with the members mimicking a ‘becoming sick’ motion. In contrast, the centre member tells people to ‘Eat it up’ through their moves. It felt like a fun part of the routine, with high impact on the message it was trying to push.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.5/10

[Album Review] ALIVIO (5th Mini Album) – CHUNG HA

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CHUNG HA’s February 2025 mini-album release, ALIVIO, is up next for an album review. ALIVIO is the soloist’s 5th mini-album since her debut and follows the digital single Algorithm released last year. The mini-album features 8 songs, including the title track STRESS and a collaboration single with SUNMI. The latter in itself is something enticing and to look forward to, but there is a lot more to the mini-album, particularly in the latter half of the mini-album, where CHUNG HA featured strong track after track. You can read more about my thoughts on ALIVIO down below.

ALIVIO Album Cover

1. Creepin’ – The mini-album starts off with Creepin’, an R&B number with a slightly warp effect to its instrumentation. This is more of an observation and not a negative. As for CHUNG HA, she sounds amazing in the song. But overall, I found Creepin’ to be a little underwhelming and lacked something to make it memorable. (7/10)

2. Salty (with SUNMI) – CHUNG HA join forces with SUNMI to bring us Salty. With these two big names at the helm, there are high expectations for this single. In my personal opinion, they definitely delivered. I really enjoyed the retro/house combination that makes up the instrumentation, though I wished there was a little more bite to the background. The opening chorus lines “My diamonds are cold, but I’m not made of ice” and “All of my emotions they get exercise” also have a memorable ring to them. (9/10)

3. Loyal – I enjoyed the atmospheric instrumental behind Loyal, though I feel like Loyal was lacking a drop somewhere in its instrumentation. It wasn’t until the 2:05 minute mark (in a 2:42 minute long song) that Loyal’s instrumental changed gears slightly. Alongside the atmosphere are CHUNG HA’s vocals, which were stunning throughout the song. The repetition of the song’s title also helped key it in my mind. (8.5/10)

4. STRESS (Title Track) – Click here for STRESS’ full review. (8/10)

5. Beat of My Heart – The chorus for Beat of My Heart is what wins me over. More specifically, it is CHUNG HA’s breathtaking delivery of the central piece of the song that grabs my attention. The way her vocals soar in the choruses and throughout the song is really something. As for the instrumentation, it falls into drum and bass territory, and I love how much bite this influence gives Beat of My Heart. (10/10)

6. Even Steven (Happy Ending) – Even Steven is a song about getting back at the people who have wronged you. While the lyrics for Even Steven hint at a terrible past, they also give the song an empowering feeling. And as a result of this empowerment, CHUNG HA’s powerful vocals, as well as the presence of the electric guitars, add a lot more oomph to Even Steven. I also appreciate the song’s straight-to-the-point vibe. (9/10)

7. Thanks for the Memories – CHUNG HA takes us down rock territory in Thanks for the Memories, my pick for the most highly recommended track of the mini-album. I love the energy this gives the song, particularly in the choruses, and the added textures from the synths give it a fun edge. CHUNG HA’s vocals are superb, with her ad-libs feeling like the perfect icing to a cake. She nailed this song!! (10/10)

8. Still a Rose – Bringing the long mini-album to a close is Still a Rose. It begins with a powerful sample of Vivaldi’s classic Four Seasons. I liked how the sample leads into the rest of the song, which speaks to the idea that one can always emerge as a rose following struggles and lows in life. The rest of the song falls into place, with the melodies having a clean feel. The line “A rose is still a rose” is quite catchy, as well. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.8/10

CHUNG HA’s teaser image for ALIVIO

[Review] Youth – Lee Know (Stray Kids)

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Stray Kids recently made their comeback with their fourth studio album, KARMA, led by the title track CEREMONY. However, I still have a backlog of song reviews related to Stray Kids that I have yet to post, including the solo tracks from their Hop mixtape and the unit tracks from their Mixtape: Dominate album. I have already made a start on this backlog, with Lee Know’s solo single from Hop, Youth, up next. For the other reviews of Stray Kids’ solo songs from the Hop mixtape, see the links below the music video.

Lee Know’s Youth goes down the dance pop side of KPOP with a funky disco instrumentation. It is straightforwardly fun and upbeat, just as you would have expected with such an instrumental. In addition to the music, Lee Know’s vocals, right off the bat, fit in perfectly. He shines throughout the single with his fresh and pleasant tone, whilst also adding to the song’s brightness and energy. The pre-chorus was probably my favourite part as it offers the best that Lee Know has to offer as a singer. And Youth’s pre-choruses are just so repeatable. The chorus had a fun and catchy hook, and I enjoyed the bubbly pop nature of Youth’s centrepiece overall. I do wish Youth had some grit (in some shape or form), just to break up that consistent pleasantness. I think this would have done wonders for Youth, giving it dimension and more layers to enjoy. But overall, Youth is a nice solo single nonetheless.

The music video starts off in the midst of a bingo game, where an old lady cheats by pulling out a completed bingo card. However, the actual bingo card is missing the final letter ‘U’, hence why this raises suspicions with other players and management (which Lee Know is part of). While the rest of the management is made to play along with the situation, Lee Know breaks ranks, tells management that they should accept the win, as he will search for the missing ‘U’. He catches the ‘U’, which cues celebrations and allows the old lady to win the game. Obviously, the reference to the letter ‘U’ isn’t just the letter, but also the person who is willing to stand alone and be themselves (per the lyrics).

The choreography for Youth is cute and bubbly, complementing the song well. The jumps and energy that both Lee Know and the dancers put into the routine, and that we get out of the routine, are ideal for such an upbeat song. I like how the routine keeps things fun and lighthearted, especially the part where the dancers had to copy Lee Know’s surprise move(s) at the end of the routine.

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

I.N’s HALLUCINATION | SEUNGMIN’s As We Are | FELIX’s Unfair | HAN’s Hold My Hand
HYUNJIN’s So Good | CHANGBIN’s ULTRA | LEE KNOW’s YOUTH | BANG CHAN’s Railway

[Album Review] BLUE PARADISE (5th Mini Album) – ZEROBASEONE

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You know the term ‘no skip albums’? BLUE PARADISE, ZEROBASEONE’s 5th mini-album, can be described by that. While no song was a knockout (i.e., 10/10 for me), all 6 songs on BLUE PARADISE are of consistently high quality, making the album suitable for the ‘no skip’ description. For those tuning in for the first time to BLUE PARADISE or needing a reminder, the mini-album was released in February of this year, led by the single BLUE and the pre-release single Doctor! Doctor!. It follows their CINEMA PARADISE and GOOD SO BAD comeback last year.

Alongside BLUE PARADISE, ZEROBASEONE also released their 1st Japanese mini-album, Prezent, led by the single Now or Never (which I haven’t reviewed yet…). More recently, the group returned in September with their 1st studio album, Never Say Never, and the single ICONIK.

BLUE PARADISE Album Cover

1. BLUE (Title Track) – Click here for BLUE’s full review. (8/10)

2. Devil Game – Two elements in Devil Game really speak to me. The first is the song’s funky and groovy instrumentation. The funky bass and the background’s textural elements are all very cool. Definitely MJ-esque. The second element, and probably the most powerful in the entire song, is the vocals. I really liked all of their delivery within Devil Game, but I am loving the clear, crisp and strong vocals in the chorus, which keeps the song engaging. I love the alluring nature of the whispers in the pre-chorus, which just keeps the interest in Devil Game up. My only gripe about the song is that it has more captivating verses – everything standalone is great within the verses, but I don’t remember much from them as a whole. (9/10)   

3. Doctor! Doctor! (Pre-release track) – Click here for Doctor! Doctor!’s full review. (8/10)

4. Out of Love – The first unit track on this mini-album features Kim Ji Woong, Zhang Hao and Kim Gyu Vin. This trio brings us Out of Love, a bold pop-rock track. It basically grabs me each time and hooks me on. The energy that comes off the instrumentation is also very satisfying and just hits all the right notes that I want out of a pop-rock track. The chorus is also super catchy, engaging me more. All three members’ vocals bring character to Out Of Love – I just wish they pushed themselves further to round out the song sonically to match the bold pop-rock vibes. (9/10)

5. Step Back – We return to the funky vibes with Step Back, courtesy of Ricky, Park Gun Wook and Han Yu Jin. I enjoyed the R&B grooviness that Step Back exudes and how the R&B side of the track gives a subtle maturity to the song that the three members pull off well. The upbeat nature also gives off a fun vibe. While strong vocals were on full display, I have to admit that Park Gun Wook’s high note at the end of the bridge surprises me each time. (9/10)

6. Cruel – The remaining members of ZEROBASEONE, Sung Han Bin, Seok Matthew and Kim Tae Rae, bring us Cruel. The track is another on the mini-album that gives us rock energy. The only difference is that the track is firmly in the rock sphere, with no other influences impacting the purity of the instrumentation. I really liked the grungy vibes that the instrumentation gives. While Cruel’s vocals aren’t the strongest in my opinion compared to the rest of the mini-album, Cruel manages to stand out thanks to the members’ rapping, as well as their fresh tones in the song. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.7/10

ZEROBASEONE’s teaser image for BLUE PARADISE

[Review] Sunkiss – WENDY (Red Velvet)

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WENDY made a comeback last month with the mini-album, Cerulean Verge, her first solo release since leaving SM Entertainment and signing with ASND for solo promotions (which is also the home for fromis_9). WENDY remains under SM Entertainment for Red Velvet activities. The mini-album serves as her third solo mini-album, following last year’s Wish You Hell, and is led by the single Sunkiss.

Sunkiss is a stunner. Sunkiss features WENDY’s crisp and strong vocals prominently, with the rock band instrumental considered secondary. I really enjoyed the bright, warm melodies and WENDY’s vocal delivery, with the pair coming together to give Sunkiss a nostalgic and comforting feeling. This is particularly true for the choruses, which allow WENDY to really soar. As for the instrumental, I consider it secondary in Sunkiss because it follows WENDY’s lead – where she goes with her vocals, it follows. Standalone, I really liked its wholesome vibe and the intensity of the rock sound that comes through. I also enjoyed the upbeat quality it gives Sunkiss, which works well with the summery season, as well as adding something upbeat to WENDY’s solo discography. My only concern is that the single is a little safe for her, but it is still a fantastic listen.

I agree with everyone’s concerns when the teaser images and music video dropped – WENDY looks far too skinny for this comeback. I do hope it was her own choice (i.e., she was not pressured by her own management or others’ expectations to present herself in this way). But she does look great nonetheless, and I can say the same thing about the rest of the music video. It may not have the SM budget, but it had a lovely aesthetic to it. I also liked the adventurous vibe that WENDY exudes throughout the music video, as she searches for the sun-kissed glow that she sings about in the song.

Performance-wise, WENDY looks great on stage. You can feel the happiness from WENDY as she performs and sings live. I love that she focuses on the live aspect of the performance, as Sunkiss sounds best in this form. That being said, she participates in some of the choreography. While it is not complex, she manages to showcase remarkably stable vocals while performing what she can on stage.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10 [Updated on 10/01/2026 due to calculation error]

[Review] Hollywood Action – BOYNEXTDOOR

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BOYNEXTDOOR is back with their 5th mini-album, The Action, led by the single Hollywood Action. It follows the release of their 4th Korean mini-album, No Genre (yet to review) and the single I Feel Good, as well as their Japanese single, Count To Love.

I have been a little busy the last couple of weeks, so I hadn’t checked out any teaser material for BOYNEXTDOOR’s newest album. So, going into Hollywood Action, I had no idea what to expect aside from what I knew of BOYNEXTDOOR. Well, I am genuinely surprised with how the final product turned out. The track features a retro-driven swing rhythm instrumental with catchy brass. Altogether, this lays the foundations for Hollywood Action‘s fun, addictive and groovy nature. I also liked the jazzy elements that the producers managed to incorporate into Hollywood Action, particularly via the outro where the members introduce the piano, drum bass and trumpet for some brief solo moments. I did enjoy BOYNEXTDOOR’s dynamic and chemistry in Hollywood Action, which made the song super engaging and worthwhile to listen to. Their delivery adds to the fun and gives off a witty impression, which works well with the lyrics. However, I think Hollywood Action needs something textural and be longer to take it to the next level in my book.

The music video is excellent! It definitely matches the fun and upbeat vibes of the song. We see the members crash the Hollywood production of a spy-slash-sci-fi movie that, if it were real, would be extremely cringy and cheesy. But isn’t that the nature of some classic spy and sci-fi movies from that era? I particularly liked how they are nonchalantly performing their choreography throughout the video, whilst on set and in the foreground of the movie production. I also liked the ending of the video, which saw the members (and the rest of the cast and crew) attend an award ceremony and receive an award for the film. This speaks well to those jazzy elements in the song and just gave a nice classy cap to the video. Love that the aliens were also there, as well.

The performance for this comeback, from the one reel and the snippets in the music video, promises synchronisation and the vibrant energy. This performance already looks like a standout to me. I enjoyed the Thriller reference and am intrigued by that crouching twist (where they touch the ground behind and in front of them) move, all of which form part of the chorus routine.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 10/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9.3/10

[Review] Blue Valentine – NMIXX

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Also making their comeback this week is NMIXX with their first studio album, Blue Valentine, and the title track of the same name. It is their first comeback since Fe3O4: Forward from earlier this year, led by the single KNOW ABOUT ME. Following the promotions for Blue Valentine, the group will embark on their first world tour.

Blue Valentine begins beautifully, with stunning vocals and a soft instrumental piece that gently introduces us to the song. It is from the pre-chorus where Blue Valentine gets interesting. The music-box-like instrumental begins relatively slowly, even compared to the opening verse, before upping its tempo while the vocals remain the same during the opening verse. It feels out of sync, but it actually has a lovely charm. From there, the chorus fills Blue Valentine with a meaty chorus that is packed with a strong synth instrumental, powerful vocals, and a catchy melody that leads into the song’s addictive hook (i.e., “You’ll always be my blue-oo-oo-oo valentine”). The second verse’s instrumental leans almost into pop-rock territory, and the same pre-chorus recurs with rapping added to it. I found both to be a cool addition to the already intriguing nature of Blue Valentine. After the second chorus, the bridge pauses the song briefly, featuring only JIWOO’s vocals, which are again truly stunning. After the final chorus, we get an outro featuring a brief feature of LILY’s powerful vocals and a sudden switch up to soft and beautiful vocals from HAEWON, with the latter finishing Blue Valentine just like how it started. Blue Valentine successfully attempts something different, allowing NMIXX to reaffirm their place as a unique artist in the industry.

From what I understand from the lyrics, the song is about rekindling an old flame, comparing the passion of love from the initial relationship (red) to a colder, blue Valentine. The music video appears to show the members in both their initial and subsequent relationships with one another. Parts of the music video are dark (which represents their subsequent relationship with one another), while other parts are bright and summery (which I guess means the initial relationship). There is also a theme of time rewinding and fast-forwarding, which plays into the idea that the music video reflects upon both relationships. Some of the visual work of the video could have been done better, but I think it is a neat showing of the song.

The accompanying routine is lovely, but nothing really stood out to me. However, I appreciated the use of gracefulness to accentuate the choreography, which complemented the song well.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 8.3/10

[Review] COLOR – NCT WISH

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At the start of last month, NCT WISH made their second comeback of the year with the mini-album COLOR, led by the title track of the same name. In the lead-up to the release of COLOR, NCT WISH also pre-released the single SURF and released a music video for the side track BABY BLUE. I will definitely review SURF in the future, but I haven’t made up my mind regarding BABY BLUE yet. Their last comeback was poppop from earlier in the year.

Following my review of poppop, I am happy to report that it really grew on me. I hope that will be the case for COLOR. Similar to my initial comments on poppop, I find this new song to be an okay release. As such, I am not overly excited about it. But no matter how many times I have listened to the song since its release, I find it hard to see myself ever being excited about it. This is probably why this review has taken over a month to write. Some positive aspects of COLOR contribute to the song’s likeness. The clangy, synth, and percussive instrumentation give COLOR impact and help deliver some punches alongside the melodies/hooks. At the same time, the members’ delivery, layering and energy add life and an upbeat quality to the song. The “Bring out the colour” hook was also catchy. However, I feel that something holds back the dynamic potential of COLOR. Going back and forth over the song, I think the combination of the above made COLOR a little too hefty for my liking. If the producers had found a way to loosen up the song, making it feel lighter, I think this could have made COLOR more dynamic and appealing. I also wish the melodies were a little more grabbing.

The music video for COLOR is quite colourful, but it is done in a way that feels natural and tasteful. The colourful aspects aren’t in your face, but you can tell they are there. I really appreciated that. I also liked the art gallery theme in the music video; that part of the video was very fun. Energy-wise, the music video also felt youthful, ideal for NCT WISH’s appeal. It was great, overall.

As for the performance, I thought it looked good. The footwork and handwork during the chorus add complexity, and I liked the subtle intensity of the moves that accompany the song’s “Bring out the colour” hooks. Both definitely looked cool. Overall, I felt the routine matched with the hefty nature of the music, and the intensity adds some interesting dynamics to the performance.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 7.6/10

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[Review] OVERDRIVE – TWS

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Yesterday, TWS dropped their 4th mini-album, PLAY HARD, with the single OVERDRIVE serving as the title track to the mini-album. It follows the pre-release of Head, Shoulders, Knees, Toes, which dropped two weeks ago. It also follows TWS’ earlier comeback, Countdown and the mini-album Try With Us (yet to be reviewed), which occurred in April.

OVERDRIVE seems to bring together the edgy influences that were heavily present in Head Shoulders Knees Toes and combine them with the ‘boyhood pop’ that the group has consistently put out since their debut. And together, we might have a new direction for TWS that feels refreshing and different. I really enjoy the slight rock influences that come through the instrumentation. The bass guitar riff is super dominant and gives OVERDRIVE a standout characteristic. The humming that accompanies some of these guitar riffs post-chorus was definitely a clever tool to key the riff into our memory banks! The drums are punchy and make the song feel buoyant and energetic, which matches the energy we have seen from TWS through past releases. Even the members’ delivery is full of life and adds excitement to the song, with the chorus being super catchy. My only gripe about OVERDRIVE is the “I’m getting hot in here” spoken lines that felt like a take on a rapping segment. It just doesn’t fit the rest of the song that well, and similarly, the lyrics of the song, which speak to their feelings of being in love and how that is putting them into a state of overdrive.

Conceptually, the music video has two sides. The first is where members of the group are infatuated with their crushes. These scenes occur in everyday life, with the members being distracted, looking to spoil their crushes, and being love-struck by them. Think ‘I won’t tell people I am in love, but there will be signs’. The second part is a video-game-esque concept, where if the love puts the members into overdrive, they will respawn in the video game setting. It is quite an interesting and abstract way of looking at love, and I like how it aligns with the boyhood concept TWS has been known for. I do like the light-hearted moments, like DOHOON protecting his hand at all costs (after coming into contact with his crush) and JIHOON leaning on the sign, causing it to fall onto the other members (and how that leads us back into the dance performance).

Like always, TWS performances have always been a highlight of the comeback, and this one is no exception. Per usual, I really liked the energy they put into the performance. But I also liked how their expressions brought brightness and additional colour to the routine. The final chorus is my favourite bit, with the exciting jumps and flips.

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

[Review] ULTRA – CHANGBIN (Stray Kids)

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Stray Kids recently made their comeback with their fourth studio album, KARMA, led by the title track CEREMONY. However, I still have a backlog of song reviews related to Stray Kids that I have yet to post, including the solo tracks from their Hop mixtape and the unit tracks from their Mixtape: Dominate album. I have already made a start on this backlog, with CHANGBIN’s solo single from Hop, ULTRA, up next. For the other reviews of Stray Kids’ solo songs from the Hop mixtape, see the links below the music video.

It came as no surprise to me that CHANGBIN’s ULTRA would be the most powerful of all the solo singles. This resonates with his rapping in Stray Kids’ title tracks. ULTRA features two sides that showcase its power. The first is, as expected, CHANGBIN’s rapping. He always ensured his delivery had impact in ULTRA, with the parts where he gives his most angsty delivery being the peak of this power. I really liked how he played with the tempo of his delivery, helping make ULTRA dynamic and engaging for me. I also really liked it when CHANGBIN went slightly into vocal territory, which was something a little different and unexpected from CHANGBIN. The second form of power we got from ULTRA was the instrumental breaks. These breaks, each featuring a different synth and EDM profile, build upon everything I have mentioned about CHANGBIN’s rapping and help him expand into other areas (more on this in the next section). Overall, ULTRA comes together to emphasise and push further CHANGBIN’s usual powerful style and dynamic from the Stray Kids track.

The music video for ULTRA is dark and edgy, fitting well with the music. I really liked the green lighting in the background, which helps convey a villainous and angst-ridden energy with minimal effort. To me, CHANGBIN’s leather long coat look is probably one of the most iconic looks in this series of the Stray Kids’ solo work. I just wish they had explored the chemistry or the drug creation in the video further. I feel that there is a storyline here worth expanding on.

Earlier, I mentioned that the instrumental breaks allowed CHANGBIN to expand into other areas. What I meant by that was CHANGBIN’s top-notch performance. I personally felt he outdid himself with his performance, with the instrumental breaks/choruses giving him a chance to explore a sensual yet powerful side. The flexed bicep and body wave move is definitely one of the memorable moves in this series of solo works, and I liked how each break was something different, performance-wise.

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

I.N’s HALLUCINATION | SEUNGMIN’s As We Are | FELIX’s Unfair | HAN’s Hold My Hand
HYUNJIN’s So Good | CHANGBIN’s ULTRA | LEE KNOW’s YOUTH | BANG CHAN’s Railway

[Review] ME+YOU – TWICE

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It is almost 10 years to the day that TWICE made their debut with the mini-album The Story Begins and the hit single Like OOH-AHH. TWICE has gone on to have multiple hits since then. Not many groups go on to celebrate their 10th anniversary, so to commemorate this fantastic milestone, TWICE released their special album titled TEN: THE STORY GOES ON yesterday, alongside the title track ME+YOU. Featured alongside this title track are extended versions of solo tracks from each member previously revealed on their THIS IS FOR world tour.

ME+YOU is an all-English R&B pop track for their fans (ONCEs). It is a pleasantly smooth song, with a straightforward instrumental and neat vocals overall. Personally, I find it to be a nice listen. Other than that, there isn’t much else to the song. Because of this, I don’t think ME+YOU is the type of song that I would actively look for on my playlist to play. It is interesting that TWICE chose such a song to celebrate a significant milestone in their career. While the lyrics of the song have a warm and nostalgic feel, which feels fitting for a song that looks over the last 10 years, the music itself doesn’t really convey that celebratory sentiment that we were promised. I wish there were a whole lot more to ME+YOU.

While the song won’t garner much interest from me, the music video has. I really like the sitcom vibe that the members have going on as they move into a new apartment. It was amusing to watch the members in the video, especially in relatable scenes like SANA incorrectly plugging the USB into the player, or NAYEON and SANA struggling with the PowerPoint. Seeing the members give us a throwback to the bus scenes in the Like OOH-AAH music video was a really nice nostalgic touch, even though the members found themselves amusing and cringey. The video also features actor Uhm Tae Goo, who plays their awkward neighbour across the hall, who becomes frustrated but ultimately shy with TWICE. His cameo and interaction with TWICE add another layer of comedy to the video.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 7.8/10

[Album Review] SPILL THE FEELS (12th Mini Album) – SEVENTEEN

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Next up on the album reviews front is SEVENTEEN’s 12th mini-album, SPILL THE FEELS, released in October last year. Actually, it is almost to the day the mini-album dropped! The mini-album is led by the single LOVE, MONEY, FAME, featuring DJ Khaled. In addition to LOVE, MONEY, FAME, the mini-album also features 5 additional side tracks, including Eyes On You (which also has a music video, which I completely forgot about) and 3 unit tracks. Overall, SPILL THE FEELS is another fairly strong SEVENTEEN mini-album. The title track is the mini-album’s weakest track, but the rest of the mini-album makes up for this.

Since SPILL THE FEELS, SEVENTEEN saw the debut of 2 new subunits, HxW (with 96ers) and CxM (with 5, 4, 3 (Pretty Woman)) and the group comeback with the studio album HAPPY BURSTDAY (yet to be reviewed) and the title track THUNDER.

SPILL THE FEELS Album Cover

1. Eyes On You – The mini-album opens up with Eyes On You, a groovy house track. I quite like the club energy that this song exudes, as well as the freshness that the members bring to the music. S.COUPS and VERNON’s rapping really stood out, thanks to the way it contrasted with everything else in the song. As mentioned above, there is a music video for Eyes On You, and the video shows off their strong bond and friendship, no matter the circumstances they are in. (8.5/10)

2. LOVE, MONEY, FAME (ft. DJ Khaled) – Click here for LOVE, MONEY, FAME’s full review. (7/10)

3. 1 TO 13 – The next track is a wholesome one from the group, whose lyrics showcase their love for each other as a group and to their fans. It is a straightforward pop number, and the members make 1 TO 13 very comfortable and familiar. I’m just not a fan of the consistently tapping in the background, which sounds like it is coming from a laptop’s keyboard or trackpad. It was a tad distracting from that wholesome nature of the song. (8/10)  

4. Candy (사탕) – The first unit track on the mini-album is by the Vocal team (JEONGHAN, JOSHUA, WOOZI, DK and SEUNGKWAN). Candy is a ballad, featuring a beautiful, jazzy piano background (that bridge was amazing!) and stunning vocals from the team (as always). It is on the shorter side. However, the way it is executed and presented is literally short and sweet, so I have no complaints about Candy whatsoever. (10/10)

5. Rain – The Performance unit (JUN, HOSHI, THE8 and DINO) is up next with Rain, my favourite track from this mini-album. I really enjoyed the disco vibes that are exuded from Rain, and I love how it propels the song forward. I also enjoyed the charisma and seductive nature of the track, as well as the members’ delivery, which allows the unit to put their best foot forward on stage (which they do!). (10/10)

6. Water – The Hip-Hop unit (S.COUPS, WONWOO, MINGYU & VERNON) is all that remains, and they give us Water. It is a synth-heavy instrumental, and the members’ delivery of Water is shrouded in autotune. Both work well together to create a dark and edgy hip-hop track. However, I personally am not a fan of the autotune. But I can get behind the hype that the members infuse into the number. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.6/10

  • S.COUPS’ teaser image for SPILL THE FEELS
  • JEONGHAN’s teaser image for SPILL THE FEELS
  • JOSHUA’s teaser image for SPILL THE FEELS
  • JUN’s teaser image for SPILL THE FEELS
  • HOSHI’s teaser image for SPILL THE FEELS
  • WONWOO’s teaser image for SPILL THE FEELS
  • WOOZI’s teaser image for SPILL THE FEELS
  • DK’s teaser image for SPILL THE FEELS
  • MINGYU’s teaser image for SPILL THE FEELS
  • THE8’s teaser image for SPILL THE FEELS
  • SEUNGKWAN’s teaser image for SPILL THE FEELS
  • VERNON’s teaser image for SPILL THE FEELS
  • DINO’s teaser image for SPILL THE FEELS

[Review] Who Are You – SUHO (EXO)

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Last month, SUHO from EXO made his solo comeback with his 4th mini-album, Who Are You, and the title track of the same name. It follows his 3rd mini-album released in May 2024, 1 to 3, led by the title track of the same name and the pre-release single CHEESE.

Who Are You is another pop-rock single. While this one is quite a decent listen, I found the instrumental to be the more engaging part of the new single. In particular, the electric guitar riff that recurs in the background of the chorus and during the instrumental breaks. I liked the way it was layered over the basic foundations of Who Are You‘s background and how it gives the song a bit of a dynamic flair. As for SUHO, he sounds pleasant and familiar throughout the song. But the melodies and delivery were just too wispy, and so his vocals just don’t stick. And since Who Are You is shorter than usual, there just isn’t much to really remember the song by. Overall, a decent listen is the best way I can find to describe SUHO’s new single.

I am not entirely sure what is going on in the music video, but it looks like SUHO is hanging out with some friends. These friends are masked, which I assume is related to the fact that he likens them to strangers in the song’s lyrics. The video does depict them fighting at one point, so perhaps they feel like different people to SUHO when they fight, which he was in the middle of at one point. However, that is resolved relatively quickly, and the rest of the video shows SUHO embarking on a road trip in regional areas of Australia with these friends. I recognise the driver’s seat on the right-hand side of the car and the license plates. We do see SUHO attempt to remove their mask at the end, but the video ends there.

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