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[Album Review] TURN OVER (9th Mini Album) – SF9

September 19, 2021Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged SF91 Comment

SF9 returned in early July with TURN OVER, their 9th mini-album since their debut, and the title track Tear Drop. This new mini-album follows the release of Special History Book, their special single album (which I didn’t review) that marked their fourth year as a group, which featured the special track Shine Together. It also follows the group’s participation in Kingdom: Legendary War, where they released |Believer| as their final round song (which is also featured on this mini-album). In other new, all nine members have renewed their contracts with FNC Entertainment at the start of the year. So that means that we will be hearing more SF9 into the future. But until then, here is my review for TURN OVER.

1. Tear Drop (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Tear Drop. (8/10)

2. |Believer| (숨) – Click here to read the full review of |Believer|. (9/10)

3. Love Again (한 번 더 사랑하자) – Love Again had a sweet and romantic vibe, which comes via the vocals and lyrics for me. It is also vocally centric, with the group putting their vocals on display and such vocals were extremely pleasant to listen to. The rapping was also quite fitting for the pop style the group had gone for. What makes Love Again even stronger is how appropriate the track sounds for the Summer season. This was thanks to the EDM flourishes that decorated the track. (7/10)

4. Off My Mind – Off My Mind is much more upbeat compared to Love Again, slipping into synth heavy pop territory. The synths brought out dynamic energy, which ultimately made the song so appealing to listen to. The vocalists did a really good job with their harmonization and breathy vocals in the chorus. The hooks they brought to life was also quite catchy and helped reel in more listens from me. The rappers definitely stood out and added to the dynamism of the song. (9/10)

5. Fanatic – Latin influences return in Fanatic. The track still stays within synth heavy territory, so this Latin influence doesn’t necessary repeat the same vibes that their more notable Latin-influence title track (O Sole Mio). To me, the combinations of the synths and Latin influence was a memorable sound on the album, and the synths gave Fanatic a lot of interesting texture. Vocally, the song showcased them proudly, while the rapping definitely added edge and SF9’s usual colour to the song. (9/10)

6. Hey Hi Bye – Final song the album is Hey Hi Bye. It continues the album’s reliance on synths. This time around, however, Hey Hi Bye delves into the retro world. More specifically, I think Hey Hi Bye features a heavy presence of 90’s new jack swing, but there are other retro influences in the song as well. It is all masked somehow by this consistent synth-like filter that complicates but also adds definition to the instrumental. It would be an understatement to say that there is a lot going on instrumentally, but it still an interesting mix nonetheless. I applaud the vocals who managed to stay on top of the instrumentation. They easily could have been masked by all the music. The rappers added depth to the song, which I think helped make it more dynamic. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.3/10

[Album Review] THRILL-ING (6th Mini Album) – The Boyz

September 19, 2021September 19, 2021Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged THE BOYZLeave a comment

I am glad that we will got to hear more from The Boyz, particularly since the gap between their last official comeback (The Stealer) and this comeback is almost a year (to be precise, 9 months, but I rounded up)! The Boyz made their comeback at the start of August with THRILL RIDE, their most successful title track yet. It is featured on their 6th mini-album, THRILL-ING, which has also released on the same day. THRILL-RIDE and THRILL-ING is the group’s first domestic comeback of the year, and it also follows the group’s recent appearance on Kingdom: Legendary War, after the group won a ticket to the main competition through their appearance on Road To Kingdom last year.

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

2. Out of Control (환상열차) – While THRILL RIDE was a lot brighter and peppy, Out of Control takes a serious turn with a slightly heavier sound. It features dramatic sirens throughout that really sets the tone for the song, and an intense EDM background for an otherwise pop melody. While I quite like the vibes and tone of the instrumentation, I kind of wished the hooks for Out of Control were more pronounced. Melodically (thanks to the vocals), it was quite satisfying. But I just found it was lacking that memorability. The rappers shined with their parts, and the bridge was hella smooth. (8/10)

3. Dance Til We Drop – Dance Til We Drop brings forth funkier vibes that just makes you want to get up and dance. I just liked how emphasized the funky sounds were, making this is another strong instrumental. I feel that the chorus could have used a bit more bite when it comes to hooks and melodies. What we got was more so on the pleasant side and doesn’t do the funky vibes from the background in the chorus justice. But overall, a fun and bright track. (8.5/10)

4. Nightmares (黑花) – Looking at the tracklist, Nightmares was the clear song that would act as the album’s outlier. Just from the title, you can feel a dark vibe. And well, Nightmares exudes just that. It starts off with haunting harmonization before the song’s edgy instrumental comes into play. I really like that consistent hit of electric guitar we get as the beat in the instrumental. The vocals (including the whispery deliver, the harmonization we get in the pre-choruses and the high notes we are treated to) and the deep tone rapping further emphasizes the dark aesthetics of the song. Everything in Nightmares came together perfectly, and the song itself is my personal favourite on the album. (10/10)

5. Merry Bad Ending – Merry Bad Ending combines the likes of EDM and R&B to create a pretty good song. While Merry Bad Ending is more of a vocally centric track, the EDM brings adds a rough texture to the song and keeps the appeal quite interesting. The R&B comes through via the vocals and adds smoothness to the song, creating a well-balanced track overall. The rapping adds a bit of edge to the song, which I find fitting with the EDM side of the song. (9/10)

6. B.O.Y (Bet On You) – The final song on the album is B.O.Y (Bet On You), a pop song with a nice blend of instruments and synths that I find extremely fitting for the season of Summer. I particularly like the use of acoustics in this song, with this particular element standing out over the synths for me (in a good way). The vocals and rap-singing adds some brightness to the song, and I liked the harmonies in the song. Altogether, B.O.Y comes off with a refreshing tone that makes it easy on the ears, as well. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.8/10

Sunwoo’s Teaser Image for THRILL-ING
Eric’s Teaser Image for THRILL-ING
New’s Teaser Image for THRILL-ING
Juyeon’s Teaser Image for THRILL-ING
Kevin’s Teaser Image for THRILL-ING
Hyunjae’s Teaser Image for THRILL-ING
Younghoon’s Teaser Image for THRILL-ING
Sangyeon’s Teaser Image for THRILL-ING
Q’s Teaser Image for THRILL-ING

[Album Review] SUMMER POP-UP ALBUM [POPPING] (1st Special Mini Album) – ONF

September 19, 2021Posted in KPOPTagged ONF1 Comment

Next up on the album review blitz is ONF’s summer special mini album, SUMMER POP-UP ALBUM [POPPING]. Featured on this mini-album is the title track Popping and four other new songs from the group. This new mini-album follows ONF’s first studio album earlier in the year, ONF: My Name, which is headlined by the title track Beautiful Beautiful. They also returned with a repackaged version of the studio album, retitled as City of ONF and lead by the title track Ugly Dance. It has definitely been a busy year for the group, but I am sure fans and casual listeners of the group are enjoying this abundance of releases.

*SUMMER POPUP ALBUM [POPPING]* Album Cover

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

2. Summer Poem – Like the title track, there was a lot going on in Summer Poem. The very start of the song felt like an acoustic ballad before the first verse emerged with bouncier pop sound. The chorus concentrates that pop sound with a slight Latin-like tinge. The bridge goes for a sweet slow and tone down, before they ramp up to the final chorus with electric guitars and rapid synth beats. The final chorus begins with an anthem-like approach, before the song wraps up with a similar acoustic sound as how it started. Phew! Amazingly, Summer Poem was cohesive and actually flowed from one end to the other without being disjointed. If I were to be critical about something in Summer Poem, it would be bout the hooks – I wished they were as catchy as the title track’s. (9/10)

3. Summer Shape – ONF shakes up the album by going with a slow jazz number with Summer Shape. A complete change in sound following two bright tracks. For me, the song sounds quite nice, but I find it a bit slow for my personal taste. I do think it was an ideal track when you just want to kick back and relax after a long day with a beverage in hand. It is incredibly soft and highlights a different sound than what I remember ONF for. (7/10)

4. Dry Ice – Dry Ice is a mix of EDM and reggae, which is a pretty interesting and original combination (from what I can remember). It might be an odd combination to read in words, but ONF successfully pulls off Dry Ice in a coherent and flowy manner. I really like the burst of intense EDM that we get throughout the song, adding energy and impact to the song. The reggae, on the other hand, holds back the EDM and adds an interesting colour to Dry Ice. I noticed barely audible voices in the final burst of EDM at the end of the song. Not too sure if this is intentional and can’t make out if it is just ad-libs, but it is an interesting touch nonetheless. (9/10)

5. Summer End – The Summer album ends with a song appropriately titled Summer End. The soft pop instrumentation coasts along and brings forth a smooth exterior to the song. The vocals in Summer End make the track sweet and the harmonies warm up the song quite well. Personally, it isn’t my cup of tea. But overall, a pleasant ender to the album. (7.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.5/10

*SUMMER POPUP ALBUM [POPPING]* Teaser Image

[Album Review] Man on the Moon (1st Studio Album) – N.Flying

September 19, 2021Posted in KPOPTagged N.Flying7 Comments

Out of all the albums I am reviewing as part of this blitz, I think this particular one is the oldest one on the list. Man on the Moon, N.Flying’s first ever studio album since their debut in 2015, dropped earlier June of this year. It is headlined by the title track, Moonshot. I am particularly excited to review Man on the Moon, given N.Flying’s underrated status. Based on their past tracks and album reviews, I just knew that there will be some strong tracks on the album and I definitely want to share them with you (spoiler alert – there are actually some outstanding tracks on this tracklist).

1. Moonshot (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Moonshot. (8/10)

2. Ask – Ask is an emotional rock ballad speaks on the topic of heartbreak. The message for this song is clear as day, without even needing to read or translate the lyrics. Just listening to the sadness and heartbreak behind their vocals is enough to convey the message. I really like the delicate touch that the piano brings, while the rock element still has some impact. The rock-ballad elicits a swaying effect on me (which you will know is what I consider as criteria of a good ballad). (9/10)

3. Comma (쉼표) – Opening the song is a suite of piano (or keyboard) notes that forms an ascending pattern. I quite like this, and fast became the most memorable element of the song for me. Comma had this really strong atmospheric tone to it, which made it standout for me. In addition to that tone, the vocals were captivating and gave me shivers, particularly Hwesung’s high note at the mid-point of the song and Seunghyub’s vocals that almost teeters into rap territory and hence a brings a nice texture and dynamic to this powerful song. (10/10)

4. Undo (지우개) – Undo changes it up by returning to a bright and fun natured rock track. With such energy, Undo makes me want to get up and do a bit of a boogie. There is also a light sprinkling of synths in the song, which adds an additional dimension to the song. The vocals and rapping were rather straightforward in my point of view, but they also helped bring out the energy in the song. Interestingly, the lyrics of the song seem to point in the opposite direction, retelling the story of a messy breakup. (8.5/10)

5. You – Another song that I really want to get up and dance to. Its fun and definitely a vibe. You has this consistent (positive use of this term here!) upbeat energy thanks to the instrumentals. Seunghyub’s rapping is on full display in this song. And his rapping brought a nice kick of additional energy to You, especially at the very start which left a strong impression on me. Hwesung’s vocals added brightness to the chorus, but also kept the song grounded elsewhere. The ‘You‘ in the chorus was also quite impactful. Overall, a highly praised and recommended song. (10/10)

6. Blue Scene (파란 배경) – After two upbeat tracks, Blue Scene was a nice tone down (in terms of energy). It was also a nice switch back to straightforward rock sounds, though there is a bit of R&B mixed into the instrumentation. The rapping was good, and the guitar in the background was a highlight. On the vocal front, they had this dreamy feel to them, with the harmonies at the end emphasizing this. But I just felt that the vocals didn’t feel as good as in some of the higher rated songs above it. (8/10)

7. Fate (이 별 저 별) – Fate reminds me of a typical moody rocky song. While that is a shocker of a description, I found that Fate reminded me of some of their earlier works. Overall, there was a good display of vocals and rapping. I also enjoyed the piano in the background. But like I mentioned at the start, Fate was pretty ordinary in terms of appeal. But it was still a decent song. (7/10)

8. Zip (빈집) – Zip is a R&B ballad. The verses were calming and melodic, and I think the same can be said about the song overall. But in comparison to the rest of the song, the verses were largely forgettable. For me, the chorus stole the show for me. It is so good, to the point where I would listen to the chorus on repeat if I could (sorry Seunghyub). The melodies were amazing, and Hwesung’s soaring motif at the end of each line in the chorus and overall delivery was just so stunning and breathtaking. (8.5/10)

9. To You (너에게) – Relative to all the other songs on this album, To You falls on the cuter side of the spectrum. And it is quite lonesome, given that the song also feels like an outlier on this album. I enjoyed the song overall, but also felt like it was dryer than some other tracks on the album. The vocals were pleasant. The standout, for me, however, was the rapping. Seunghyub’s rap sequence in the bridge gave a nice kick to the song, while his rap sequence at the end of To You rounded out the sound in an unexpected 90s but fitting manner. (7.5/10)

10. Flashback – The final song on the album is Flashback, and this was a home run for me! It is another rock ballad that brings forth nostalgic vibes and happy memories. To end the album on such a note is quite impressive and I am sure fulfilling to all parties (fans, band members and listeners alike). Each member played a prominent part in this song (like very other song ever), but I want to commend the other members (Chahun, Jaehyun and Dongsung) whom I haven’t referred to in this album review yet. They did an amazing job with bringing each song to life, but I just felt they gave a bit more effort in Flashback. Everything in the instrumental just sounded substantial and very satisfying. The drum work and guitar solo was particularly exceptional. Hwesung and Seunghyub were also amazing, bringing emotional vocals into Flashback. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.7/10

[Album Review] Summer Holiday (2nd Special Mini Album) – Dream Catcher

September 18, 2021Posted in KPOPTagged Dreamcatcher1 Comment

Dream Catcher returned at the very end of July with BEcause (as the title track) and the special mini-album, Summer Holiday. While BEcause aligns with Dream Catcher’s usual sound, the rest of the mini-album is quite a journey that I am sure you will enjoy, as the group delves into different genres for each of their songs. Continue reading to find out which genres the group went with for this special mini-album. More recently, Dream Catcher released their sixth mini-album, Dystopia: Road to Utopia (which I have reviewed, click the link to read that album review), headlined by the title track, Odd Eye.

1. Intro – The intro begins with the sound of fans (cooling fans), followed by someone entering the store (as you can hear the clickity clacks of someone’s shoes walk). The music then takes a slight dramatic turn that feels very up Dream Catcher’s alley, with it being bold, creepy (definitely terms that go hand-in-hand with Dream Catcher’s music profile), but also sophisticated and mature.

2. BEcause (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of BEcause. (8.5/10)

3. Airplane – Bright releases aren’t something that we really speak about when the topic revolves around Dream Catcher. But Airplane is just that. It is a summery pop track that ticks a lot of boxes, including bright (as already mentioned), upbeat, fun-sounding and refreshing. I liked the guitars in the background and all the synths in the song that reminds me of 80s pop music. Vocally, the song is pretty decent, but the rapping felt most fitting for the song. (9/10)

4. Whistle – Whistle takes us back to familiar territory. Compared to Airplane, this song is much more serious and mature. Whistle taps into EDM for majority of the instrumentation in the song, but there are some stillness during the song’s quieter moments. I also find the EDM, particularly during the bridge of the song, is reminiscent of EDM we heard back in the ‘00s. The whistling makes a lot of sense, and helped bring a lightness to the EDM track. The vocals made the song breezier and brought an appropriate pop melody to the song. It was a pleasant listen that I really enjoyed. (10/10)

5. Alldaylong – Another song, another genre. This time around, Alldaylong delves into city-pop. Like the genre, Alldaylong was a very light track and it also shows off the group’s ability to do more delicate songs (as I feel we associate rock and heavy EDM with the group more often). I liked the ‘surround’ sound processing that were applied on top of the vocals. It definitely made it feel more city-pop. It isn’t their most notable track on the album, but definitely a worthwhile change up in their sound. (8/10)

6. A Heart of Sunflower – Given the variety of genres on this album, I was expecting a ballad to come our way. And for this album, it comes in the form of A Heart of Sunflower. This ballad had everything when it comes to ballads. From the acoustics that started off the song and remained throughout A Heart of Sunflower, to the orchestral touch via strings, to the peak using more orchestral elements and electric guitars. The vocals are very delicate and touching. If anything, I wished the song had more harmonies. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.9/10

[Album Review] Empathy (1st Mini Album) – D.O (EXO)

September 18, 2021Posted in KPOPTagged D.O (EXO), EXO1 Comment

Half a year after he had left the military after fulfilling his civic duty, D.O unveiled his first solo mini-album since debut as part of EXO back in 2012. The album is titled Empathy, and features the title track Rose. It was released back at the end of July of this year, and features a heavy presence of acoustics throughout all of his songs. On top of that, D.O also featured an English version of the title track and a Spanish version of It’s Love, which is a side track off this album, as well. In terms of other work, D.O has launched back into acting with a confirmed role in an upcoming drama and also participated in EXO’s most recent, Don’t Fight The Feeling (both album and title track).

1. Rose (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Rose. (8/10)

2. I’m Gonna Love You (ft. Wonstein) – The next song on the album takes the acoustic but goes in a R&B direction. I’m Gonna Love You is brought to life via D.O’s perfectly suited R&B vocals and Wonstein’s rapping and vocals. There are also some harmonies within I’m Gonna Love You that makes the song even better. The melodies help bring some energy into the song, while the ‘I’m Gonna Gonna Love You’ hook is quite catchy. Altogether, it is a warm and easy to listen to track. (8/10)

3. My Love – My Love delves further into the R&B genre. Instrumentally, it is quite good but it definitely on the simpler side. So, a lot needs to be done elsewhere, and hence this burden falls on his vocals. But D.O rises to the occasions by putting a bit of oomph to his vocals as the song progresses along. It isn’t to the point of powerhouse vocals. But rather, he keeps the song balanced to the extent in which it does go, making this another easy to listen to track. I also like the intimate side of the song, which I am sure EXO-L’s and other listeners are appreciating as well. (8/10)

4. It’s Love (다시, 사랑이야) – Right off the bat, D.O brings impact with his vocals and steals the show with them in this song. The other two songs preceding It’s Love have been a bit light on, though appropriate for the styles that they were going for. But here, over an acoustic ballad instrumentation, D.O really flourishes. His ad-libs are amazing and the melodies that he brings to the song are so dreamy. (9/10)

5. Dad (나의 아버지) – Dad is another ballad, a song dedicated to fathers. This time the acoustic guitar is accompanied with a bit more in the instrumental department, including piano, percussion and orchestral elements. The vocals are superb. In Dad, D.O is significantly more emotive and captivating. And this just makes the message of the song so much more meaningful. I also like how his vocals build in this song, making it a powerful number, as well. (10/10)

6. I’m Fine – The ‘final’ song on the album is I’m Fine. Compared to the rest of the mini-album (aside the title track), I’m Fine is slightly more upbeat and brighter. It adds a bit of a different colour to the album, which I am appreciative of. Like the sound, the vocals also go in a different direction and I like the development of his vocals in I’m Fine. The reassuring tone in subtly jazzy instrumental, the hefty vocals from D.O and the fulfilling vibes of I’m Fine makes it a strong ender. (8.5/10)

7. Rose (English Version) – Click here to listen to the English version of Rose.

8. Si Fueras Mía – Click here to listen to the Spanish version of It’s Love, Si Fueras Mia.

Overall Album Rating – 8.6/10

[Album Review] SWITCH ON (8th Mini Album) – ASTRO

September 18, 2021Posted in KPOPTagged ASTRO1 Comment

In this weekend’s album review blitz, I am hoping to review a bunch (and by a bunch, I mean 8 albums) of albums that have been on my plate for a while. First up is ASTRO’s SWITCH ON, which dropped at the start of August (making this one of the more recent album releases to be reviewed this weekend). It features the titled track After Midnight, which also dropped on the same day. SWITCH ON and After Midnight follows the release of All Yours and ONE in April of this year.

1. After Midnight (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for After Midnight. (8.5/10)

2. Footprint (발자국) – Footprint is a favourite of my on this mini-album. It taps into the tropical house, but the members’ vocals incorporate a laidback tone into Footprint. I particularly liked the autotuned lines that as part of the chorus, given they were quite sleek and provided a refreshing element to the song. In the first verse, it served as more a pre-chorus with no instrumentation in the background. For the second, it was blended into the chorus with the use of instrumentation, giving the chorus added definition and refreshing colour. For the third chorus, its deliver was a mixed approached, acting like your typical launcher into the chorus but also forming the body of the chorus. This kept Footprint interesting and non-repetitive. (9/10)

3. Waterfall – If you were like me and found Footprint to be laidback, then Waterfall is even more so. The initial few seconds of Waterfall felt like the song was going to be a ballad. But after that surprise high note, Waterfall emerged as mid-tempo pop track, even though their vocals went into a balladry direction. This slight mismatch doesn’t deter me from enjoying the song, however. The harmonies and melodies were really nice, the instrumentation was beautiful and the members really put their vocals on full display. (8/10)

4. Sunset Sky (노을 그림) – Another nice sounding track. Like what the title suggests, I can definitely see myself listening to Sunset Sky while watching a sunset or whilst on a walk outside during a nice pleasant evening. I liked the acoustic side of the song, which (to me) gave the song a nice golden hue. The vocals complimented this and the rapping fitted in well, as well. The melodies within Sunset Sky were also quite warming. Altogether, I felt everything contributed towards Sunset Sky’s soothing and laidback atmosphere. (8/10)

5. MY ZONE – MY ZONE returns the album to the EDM front, tapping into trap sub-genre. MY ZONE is another strong song from the group, especially after a number of laidback songs. I particularly enjoyed the chorus for this release. I liked the deep and breathy start to the chorus, and the energy that the chorus ended up developing into was quite fulfilling. While it was very electronic-based, there was a bit of a funkiness to it as well, which made it even more enjoyable. I also feel that MY ZONE really let the rappers of ASTRO (JinJin and Rocky) show off some flair and energy with their delivery. (9/10)

6. Don’t Worry – Ending the album is Don’t Worry. The start made it feel like it was going to be a dance track. But I was left wondering where that feeling went during the first verse, which felt rather plain for me. But as they started driving towards the chorus, you could hear the synths to kick back in. The chorus was just how I had expected it, with a strong hook and vivid instrumentation. The rest of the song continued the momentum of the first chorus, allowing Don’t Worry to be another strong release and ender for the group. I also liked how it had a tinge of reassuring emotion, which complimented the lyrics of Don’t Worry. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.6/10

[Review] Sticker – NCT 127

September 18, 2021Posted in KPOPTagged NCT, NCT1273 Comments

NCT 127 is back with their new single and third (!) studio album, which shares the same name, Sticker. This the unit’s first Korean comeback since their participation in NCT’s 23-member lineup promotions for their 2020 album, NCT 2020 Resonance (Part 1 and Part 2). Since then, NCT 127 have regrouped on two occasions – for the release of their second studio length Japanese album Loveholic (which featured Gimme Gimme as the title track), and for the collaboration with Amoeba Culture (Save). They have also been confirmed for future promotion via a repackaged album for this release. There is not confirmed release date yet, so I guess we have to wait around. Until then, here is my review for Sticker.

Without a doubt, Sticker is an interesting song. I don’t know what I was expecting for this release, but I honestly did not expect this – a dulled, oddly pieced and disjointed release from the group. When I first heard the song yesterday, I was making some really weird faces towards the instrumentation (think of faces when someone trying a certain dish or food for the first time, and you know based on their expressions that they do not like it – that was me). I attribute to this to mainly one element in Sticker, the shrilly and almost-screechy flute in the background. It was an element that remained throughout the song and hence that screechy impression remained throughout the song for me (though I will admit that I am slowly becoming desensitized to it – not entirely sure if that is a good thing or not). In the verses, I felt a disconnect between vocals and instrumentation. It was quite noticeable, though it isn’t the end of the world for me. One positive of this disconnect is that the vocals and raps were on full display, and it was an impressive and clear display. The disconnect also evolved into disjointed, when we speak about the specific segments of the song (i.e. verses, chorus, pre-chorus, bridge etc.). Sticker was just not cohesive. It tried to be, that was clear. But it just didn’t work out, given that every part appeared distinct from one another. Something to blend everything together would have been nice The chorus was slightly better thanks to the melodies, but that screechy flute reappeared and brought back that initial feeling I had about the song. I am also not a fan of how they delivered the title, Sticker, as the main hook in a drawn out fashion that took any potential fun out of the hook for me. But it isn’t all bad news for Sticker, however. I thought the orchestral pre-chorus and the bridge (which for me includes the ‘Roll up to the party‘ dance break) were promising segments of the song. The orchestral touch was an interesting backdrop for the rappers, but it worked somehow and the bridge has clean vocals and rapping, whilst the background was smoothed out sans the flute (the instrumentation in the bridge masked the shrilly nature, which helped). Overall, the disjointed and disconnect within Sticker made it dulled and incohesive.

The music video for Sticker was much better than the song. Futuristic cowboys seems to be the concept that NCT 127 had gone for this comeback. Their outfits brought the western cowboy image to life, and more so in a modern way. Cowboy hats, boots and lassos were all present in the music video. Even Mark’s spinning guns at the end were quite reminiscent of cowboys. The sets of the video brought in that futuristic side, thanks to the neon and city lights we see in the video. The cinematography and post-production for this music video was definitely on the cool side, and helped made the video feel dynamic without going too crazy elsewhere.

Knowing how KPOP likes to relate choreographies to the entire comeback, I wasn’t too sure how Sticker would have been be portrayed in the choreography. It appears that NCT 127 represent Sticker as the slow ungrasping of hands, which I guess might hint towards sticky hands. They also mimicked the pulling up of stickers from the release liner (I had to google what that smooth backing was called) with their hands towards the start of the chorus with the zoom in and zoom out sequences. I thought these worked really well. The rest of the choreography looked fine to me.

Song – 5.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 6.6/10

[Review] mumumumuch – Mamamoo

September 16, 2021Posted in KPOPTagged MAMAMOO8 Comments

Mamamoo probably had their least memorable comeback in their entire career earlier this year with Where Are We Now. I personally thought it was decent comeback for the group. But promotions for the track didn’t last long and there wasn’t much hype for the comeback with pre-releases and other promotional material. I guess this was partly due to the limbo the group had faced at the time of release (Wheein was still negotiating her contract with RBW). Well, the good news is that Mamamoo is here to stay after Wheein resigned with RBW for group promotions, but will be managed as a solo artist under AOMG. I guess with that confirmation and a seven year career to look back on makes way for a compilation album, I Say Mamamoo: The Best, which they dropped yesterday. It features a lot of new versions of their past hits and the latest single, mumumumuch.

mumumumuch is another light and pleasant song to come out this week. It takes on a retro funky pop sound, which gives the song a bit of life. But like yesterday’s review, I felt that mumumumuch was far too light in all regards, and hence the song didn’t hold or captivate me. Honestly, I delayed the review of this song by a day in hopes that my initial thoughts on the song would change, but the lightness was just too prevalent. It was okay at the start, given the opening sequence felt more so like it was in ballad territory. To go on a funk spree right after would feel a bit overwhelming. But as the song progressed, I wished it had picked up more and became more substantial and fulfilling. The chorus does seem to go in that direction, but unfortunately not as much as I had hoped for. And the rest of the song then just carried on then exactly how it started, There was a bit going on the percussion side of the song, which helped keep the song a bit interesting. But it just weren’t enough to keep me interested. The vocals were nice throughout mumumumuch, breathy and breezy. Wheein’s ‘Beast‘ was a cute (but terrifying at first) addition to the song. There were also some nice melodies. But with the instrumental, the vocals were just too lightweight for my liking. I wished the vocals had a bit more heft. I felt mumumumuch was an excellent opportunity for Moonbyul to rap in a more powerful manner, and I felt that Mamamoo could have granted some of that ‘heft’ wish via this element. I also thought it was odd that mumumumuch lacked a substantial hook. I didn’t find anything within mumumumuch that was worthy of being labelled as a hook, as anything that could have had potential was whisked away by the lightness of the song. Overall, mumumumuch is a decent song. But it also falls in some areas, thanks to the lightweight of the track.

To match the light energy of mumumumuch, the music video was quite pleasant. Nothing really special happened in the music video, just we saw the members have a bit of fun and enjoy each other company’s. I get the impression that the group went on a road trip and their company decided to film a music video then and there. It doesn’t really trouble me, but it isn’t the most exciting idea in the world. I am also not a fan of that light hazy filter they put on the video. It was subtle, but it felt like it dulled the video a tad too much for me.

My understanding is that the group performed this track for the first time at their recent online concert. It featured a pleasant and fitting routine. I don’t think anything else can be or needs to be said about the routine.

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

[Review] BLUE – Wonho

September 15, 2021Posted in KPOPTagged Wonho4 Comments

The next comeback of the week belongs to Wonho, who returned yesterday with the new single BLUE. The new single is featured on Wonho’s third mini-album, Blue Letter, which also dropped yesterday. This is Wonho’s second comeback of the year, following the release of Lose and Love Synonym Pt.2: Right for Us. More recently, Wonho released a music video for Ain’t About You (a collaborative single with Kiiara that was featured on Love Synonym Pt.2: Right for Us), held an online concert, and will be making his Japanese solo debut in October.

Since his solo debut last year, Wonho’s two solo title tracks have stayed within what I would describe as ‘sexy synth’ territory (I aimed to find a term that describes the combination of music and direction of the two songs). For this release, he opts for the pop genre with BLUE. It is definitely a bit refreshing to hear something different from the soloist and I find this suitable for the Summer season. But while BLUE is a solid song that is quite consistent throughout and shows off Wonho’s in a different light, I also felt that BLUE was a bit lackluster. To me, the song felt like it stayed in a neutral gear for the entirety of the song. BLUE‘s main selling point was it lightness. The instrumental was pleasant and upbeat, but it was also not hard-hitting nor substantial. Wonho’s vocals were a combination of high pitch and breathy, which is quite light in tone. As you see, this lightness was pretty much a common thread and hence why I am describing BLUE as overly light. When I listen to the song, I feel like I could easily be distracted, knowing that I would not have missed out on much if I was distracted for whatever reason. I also felt the chorus suffered as a result of the lightness. While the Korean version doesn’t sound too bad, the English version (featured on the mini-album) felt slurred and rushed. I wished the lightness was held down somehow, as this would helped to a degree. Thankfully, we did get more definition in BLUE when it got to the post-chorus segment (following second chorus), bridge and final chorus, as the hook here felt meatier in terms of how it sounded and its catchiness. The zappy synth breakdown in the bridge that allows for a dance break also helped. But this was concentrated at the end of the song, and I wished there was something like this earlier on. Overall, BLUE was a decent and different track. But it isn’t Wonho’s best work, in my opinion.

Unlike the song, the music video for BLUE follows a similar set-up, with Wonho having his abs and muscles on full display at some point in the video. It wasn’t as in your face like his previous videos, but that element was (not surprisingly) still there. The video does feature a bit of a romantic storyline, but it isn’t a grand plotline. Essentially, Wonho, a successful jock (literally no surprises there), asks the female character out. Pretty plain, but I think it works.

From what I can see in the music video, the choreography fits the upbeat and lighthearted nature of the song. I also didn’t see anything mind-blowing, so I am guessing the moves were more on the standard side. However, they did highlight the fun side of the song, which I think shows Wonho under a different dynamic.

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

[Review] Deja Vu – ATEEZ

September 14, 2021September 14, 2021Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged ATEEZ3 Comments

Now onwards with the start of the new week!! First comeback of the week is made by ATEEZ, who returns with the fan-chosen Deja Vu as the main title track for this comeback. This comeback is their first since Kingdom: Legendary War and also marks the return of member Mingi. For those who don’t know ATEEZ have allowed fans to choose the main title track for their comebacks since last year’s comeback, Inception. For this comeback, KQ Entertainment put forward Deja Vu and Eternal Summer as contenders for title track, with the former emerging victorious. I am sure Eternal Summer’s music video will still drop later on. But for now, here is my review for Deja Vu.

Out of the two options for fans to choose as the main title track for this comeback, Deja Vu was most aligned with what the group has put out previously. Anything that sounds intense and powerful sound is definitely within ATEEZ’s wheelhouse. Deja Vu opens with what sounds like some dull metallic clanging and the muffled version of the ‘Da Da Da‘ hook. Standard dance synths and effects are used throughout the verse and pre-chorus. The dull metallic clanging returns in the chorus as the main centre piece of the instrumental side, while the vocalists perform the chorus in a very straightforward manner. I think now is a good moment to pause, so I can point out one of the issues with Deja Vu. Everything so far has been very generic and unoriginal. They get ticks for good energy, but other that I am a little disappointed with the standard drive the song is in. The rapping in the second verse does help lift Deja Vu‘s game. Hongjoong’s whispery delivery of the first half of this rap sequence was very interesting, drives Deja Vu forward in ways that the rest of the song hasn’t, and stole the show for me. Mingi’s followup rap sequence follows a similar setup. But once the vocals sequence (at no fault of the vocalists themselves) kick back in, we are back in that standard frame. Thankfully, the bridge cuts the standardness by introducing orchestral touches and this brings concentrated dramatic flairs to the song. This effect felt much needed and lifted the song for me. It just made everything from the rappers and vocalists more impactful, giving Deja Vu that round out that satisfies. If that isn’t enough, then the rappers end the song with a post-chorus extension, which (for me) ends the song on a more positive note. Overall, I feel like Deja Vu is an ATEEZ track, but it falls more so the generic side of the spectrum for me.

Similar to the song, the music video felt pretty standard as well. To me, the music video follows the standard formula of choreography and closeup. There are scenes throughout the video that hints towards a storyline (there is a scene with one of the members wearing the black outfit/hat that they kicked off their universe with), but they don’t seem as prevalent and felt more so on the ‘back-burner’ for this comeback. However, that doesn’t make this a bad video. Like the song, the visual aspect of the video gets better as it goes along. We move from generic dance sets to more ‘adventurous’ locations. And the video gets more captivating when the members perform in the rain and we can see their superb charisma on camera.

Correct me if I am wrong, but we have seen Hongjoong use his microphone as a baton before. It looked oddly familiar. Anyhow, it was the start of the charisma overflow in the choreography, which always makes the performance so more captivating to watch. It is also nice to see Jongho participate on stage (I believe he was injured at the time of shooting the music video, and hence didn’t appear in the choreography parts of the MV). His absence was a noticeable gap in the MV, for me.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 6.5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.1/10

[Review] NAKKA – AKMU ft. IU

September 13, 2021Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Akdong Musician, AKMU, IU2 Comments

Before we launch into the new week, I just wanted to cut down my catch up load with one more review. And it is a review that I should have written weeks ago when the release was first dropped. Yes, that should be the case for all the releases. But have you seen the caliber of the two artists that have joined forces for this particular release? AKMU and IU, mega digital topping artists? With big names like that, I don’t know why I have avoided reviewing NAKKA, the title of their collaborative single. NAKKA is also featured on the recently released AKMU album, Next Episode (the duo’s second mini-album), serving as the title track of the release.

NAKKA is an electronic track, tapping into the synthwave subgenre of electronic music. From a casual listen perspective, I would have said that the song didn’t offer anything new and felt plain at best. But NAKKA (and synthwave in general) is a song that you really need to sit down and listen to really appreciate what it is offering. For example, I felt that I could have missed out on the aesthetics of the song and the abundance of textures on top of the sleekness of the song, had I just listened to the song whilst doing other stuff. I would have missed out on the vocals from the members of AKMU and IU herself, which were aesthetically monotone and grey in colour (but when paired with the instrumentation, they really popped out). I would have missed out on a lot. And all of this resulted in a captivating and charming track. I do wish that NAKKA had a bit more bass to it. In its current form, I would have to say the everything comes together decently. But I feel that some additional bass would have taken NAKKA to the next level. As mentioned before, the vocals (standalone) aren’t something to rave about. But they were delivered in a such a way that was aesthetic and hypnotic in combination with the instrumentation. I particularly really liked Changhyuk’s part in the bridge, where there was autotune to give his vocals a choppy texture. It, along with the ‘Ba da bum‘ hook, were probably the song’s most memorable sequences for me. I do feel like they could have made IU’s featuring parts more noticeable, as that would have been a positive selling point. But I kind of also understand that they probably didn’t want to do that to avoid her ‘overwhelm’ the song with her usual higher tone. Overall, NAKKA is one to sit down and really dig into, as there is a lot to discover.

From what I got in the lyrics and the story told by AKMU in the music video, the song was about the fact that no matter what life throws at you, there would be people around to support you. Changhyuk falls through many holes and spends most of his time in the video in freefall. His sister, Suhyun, helps him in the end (after sitting at the edge of the hole and reassures him that everything will be fine), which sends him back up to the party which started off the video. The scene that gets me the most is the one of the level he falls that contains a bunch of little kids, whom I assume are people who fell through and didn’t have someone to help them back up (it explains their sad faces). I also assume that they are young, mainly because ‘falling’ isn’t something that happens with age and that kids will also have their troughs in life, just the same how adults would as well. I would have liked to see IU feature in this video, though.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 10/10
Overall Rating – 9.4/10

[Album Review] & (4th Mini Album) – LOONA

September 12, 2021Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged LOONA1 Comment

Next album I am looking to review is LOONA’s fourth mini-album, & (pronounced ‘and’), which was released at the end of June of the year. It features their title track, PTT (Paint The Town). This is the group’s first comeback since the release of 12:00 and Why Not. This comeback also marked the return of Haseul, who has been on hiatus for their last few comebacks. Like the recent album reviews I have been writing, I too also made a few remarks regarding the intro track but have not included it in the overall album rating, which will instead feature the other 6 tracks on the album. Anyhow, on with the album review!

1. & – Kicking off the album is the howl of wolves and synths in this intro track. It is powerful intro track that features those traditional Indian elements also heard in PTT, teasing us with what is to come. But & is more than that. Dramatic and suspenseful synths precede and set a very strong tone.

2. PTT (Paint The Town) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for PTT (Paint The Town). (8/10)

3. WOW – WOW is an upbeat jazzy number that comes off as an exciting addition to the album. There is also a bit of a familiarity with WOW, as the song sound similar to Wow Thing (a collaboration between Seulgi, SinB, Chungha and Kim Soyeon from 2018). Like Wow Thing, LOONA’s WOW is extremely lively and energetic thanks to the jazzy influences. It also adds a nice classy colour to the album, whilst also reminding some of their pre-debut work. The vocals shown off in WOW was impressive and had the right level of oomph for the song, which just makes this a satisfying track to listen to. Altogether, WOW was a great song. (9/10)

4. Be Honest – Be Honest follows a similar upbeat and energetic nature as WOW. However, I didn’t find anything that grand within Be Honest, as I did with the preceding song. This song was a pleasant retro pop track and LOONA does pack a punch with their chirpy melodies and lines. The upbeat energy gives the song a nice kick and I will agree that it makes for a fun summer track. However, Be Honest just doesn’t come off as memorable for me. (7/10)

5. Dance On My Own – Dance On My Own is this album’s English track, similar to how Star was LOONA’s English track. It is also the start of the album’s more toned down side, tapping into the R&B ballad general. It is a nice listen, with pleasant melodies. I liked the overall lightness of the song and the catchiness from the repeated ‘Dance On My Own’ hook. The issue with this song, in particular, is that it gets pretty repetitive, which may not be many people’s cup of tea. (8/10)

6. A Different Night – A Different Night is another pleasant ballad. It is very light on the ears and is quite a blissful piece. Instrumental-wise, A Different Night isn’t anything different to your typical ballad. Classically instrumented. There isn’t anything wrong with this when it is done right, and I feel that A Different Night is an example of it being done right. Another great aspect of the song are the vocals. In A Different Night, harmonies are more prevalent and adds a soothing factor to the song. (9/10)

7. U R – Another R&B song to end the album. U R is a nice listen that continues the toned-down nature of the second half of the album. I like the breathy nature of the vocals and the lo-fi beats give U R a different profile from the rest of the toned-down tracks on the album. However, to me, it doesn’t have a memorable factor to it. I also find the song to be on the dry side. (6.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.9/10

[Review] Gas Pedal – CRAVITY

September 11, 2021Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged CRAVITY6 Comments

I told you I would bounce around while catching up on releases that I should have reviewed much closer to their release dates. At least for this particular release, the group is still promoting it! As you can tell by the title of this post, I am reviewing Gas Pedal, CRAVITY’s latest release. It dropped back on 19 August 2021 (making this review almost a month late) and is also the title track of the group’s first studio album, The Awakening: Written in the Stars. I will confirm now that I will be reviewing this album, but that particular review post will be released sometime in October. Until then, here is my review for Gas Pedal (finally).

Gas Pedal follows the same pathway as their last title track, My Turn, which is quite unfortunate since that particular song did not fair well. The good news is that Gas Pedal seems to stray away from falling into the same obnoxious trap that My Turn fell into, with thanks to a much better chorus. Sure, Gas Pedal is still on the ‘noisy’ side of electronic hip-hop music, with a descending series of synth as the song’s main instrumental piece. This main synth is an odd choice, given that it reminds me more of a dying lawn mower or a decelerating car, rather than the acceleration that the title alludes to or is portrayed in the lyrics. But the other synths that also make up the instrumentation really helps make up for this odd choice. As mentioned, the chorus in Gas Pedal is ultimately better, with the repetition of the title as the main hook. It is executed in a way that is surprisingly catchy to me. I also like the mix of powerful and whispering vocals around this repetition in the chorus, which help creates an interesting atmosphere during the centrepiece of the song. The powerful vocals are further emphasised in Gas Pedal‘s first bridge (i.e. 2:00 mark of the song), which was one of the standout aspects of the song. We also had vocals in the pre-choruses, which helped smoothed out the song. The rapping, which were present in the verses, also had some heft to them and pushed the song along. We actually also got a second bridge (i.e. the 2:39 minute of the song) which featured some powerful rapping as well, giving us an edgy exit to the song. Overall, Gas Pedal is a definite improvement, despite it being from the same realm of song as their preceding title track.

I am not entirely sure if there is a plot in this music video, but it seems like there could be. I am not going to make an attempt at decoding the music video for a plot, as I wouldn’t know where to start anyway! But it looks like the music video is set in the future, with the members having the ability to load their minds into an alternate reality world. But it looks like when one of the members is loaded into this world, everything is collapsing. I liked the other half of the concept of the video (i.e. bikers), which was also quite edgy and matched the tone of the song. I liked the editing in this video and the various sets they were in. It is quite a cool video!

I really liked how edgy this performance was. It also looked quite tough due the constant movement (it doesn’t look like there is much of a break during the performance), but this fits the sound of the song. I liked how they incorporated movements that look like they are revving motorbike handle bars into, which I guess works in place of a gas pedal.

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

[Album Review] SIREN: DAWN (5th Mini Album) – A.C.E

September 11, 2021Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged A.C.ELeave a comment

As you may know, I have been fretting about how behind I am with reviews! Well, here is a second album review! It is for A.C.E’s fifth mini-album, SIREN: DAWN, which was dropped in June of this year. It features the title track Higher and four other songs (including an intro track, which I wrote something about but did not include in the final rating). A.C.E also recently returned with a repackaged version of their fifth mini-album (Changer : Dear Eris) more recently, but all tracks on SIREN: DAWN does not feature on the repackaged version. Instead, the repackaged version includes some new tracks and alternative/new versions of some of their past songs. I have decided that I will not review the repackaged version, but I highly recommend the title track, Changer, if you still after an A.C.E fix. Otherwise, here is my review for SIREN: DAWN.

1. INTRO : Miserere Mei Deus (We Fall Down) – How haunting and suspenseful is this intro track. There is always something about orchestral choir that sends shivers down my back, and I feel this intro track really reiterates that feeling. I also felt that the intro track fits in neatly with the concept pictures that were released to help tease this comeback.

2. Atlantis – Atlantis is an alternative rock track that is quite consistent through and through. I like the subtle intensity that Atlantis has and I feel that the alternative rock in this song goes in the direction that I like. I also enjoyed the vocals in this song, which were moody and heavy, suiting the song’s tone. However, I wished that Atlantis wasn’t as consistent as it was, and that the climax was more fulfilling. I was mildly disappointed with the climax, as it made the song feel like it didn’t progress or go anywhere. (7/10)

3. Higher – Click here to read the full review for Higher. (8/10)

4. Chasing Love – Chasing Love started off as a moody R&B track. Nothing that special or mind-blowing, but the vocals and sing-rap were definitely captivating. There was a clear indication that the song was in an incline direction, however what the song ended up developing into was unexpected. The vibrant string synths in the chorus brought in a fresh kick that I enjoyed and was surprised by. I liked how the second verse maintained that vibrancy in its sound, allowing the vocals to build and add flair. The bridge was also a nice pause, with the acceleration to the final chorus being quite satisfying and impactful. Quite a dynamic and catchy track. (10/10)

5. Story – I like the chilled side of Story, which is ultimately a pop ballad. It creates an ethereal atmosphere and is quite alluring to listen to. Story shows off the group’s vocals abilities, which I have highlighted in the past before. In Story, their vocals are breathtaking in this song, especially when they sing together. The harmonies, falsettos and melodies that they bring to life are just so stunning. It also makes for a great album closer and eases you off the album in a very pleasant and nonchalant manner. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.8/10

[Album Review] CONNECTION (2nd Studio Album) – UP10TION

September 11, 2021Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged UP10TION1 Comment

It is the weekend, and weekends are when I write my album reviews. And first up this weekend is UP10TION’s second studio-length album, CONNECTION. The group released the album, which featured the title track SPIN OFF, mid-June of this year. It is the group’s first comeback since in almost a year (the last being Light in September of last year) and three years after the release of their first studio album (Invitation, lead by the single Candyland) in 2018. Alongside SPIN OFF, CONNECTION also included nine other new tracks, including three exceptional unit tracks from the group. CONNECTION features only seven members, with Kim Wooseok and Lee Jin Hyuk still absent from the lineup and Jinhoo still on a health-related hiatus.

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

2. Liar – Liar is one of those standard dance tracks that satisfies but doesn’t necessary blow your mind. It has a bit of a groovy flair in its house-based instrumentation, which helped the song be more appealing. I also felt a sense of smoothness in the song thanks to the same flair, especially during the pre-choruses of the song (which were also the most memorable part of Liar). The vocals and rapping work was pretty good as well, adding a heavy tone to the song, which in turn works well with the lyrics (i.e. the song is all about the feeling of being betrayed by their lover). (7/10)

3. Summer Drive – Summer Drive is an appropriately titled pop track and gives off the perfect feel for a road trip or a summer nights drive where you just want a blast on the road from your speakers. Summer Drive already starts off with a good level of energy, but the chorus incorporates a bit more to make the song more satisfying and upbeat. The rapping in the second verse stood out for me, as I felt the rappers balanced out the song by adding in an appropriately level of oomph that works well with the rest of Summer Drive. (8.5/10)

4. Parade – I liked how wholesome Parade felt. I recommend Parade if you are looking for a synth-based track that isn’t forceful or high impact. It is another satisfying pop song, with a smooth tone that carries you along for the length of the track. It is also a super easy track to get into and appreciate. The rapping and vocals were really nice, and contribute to that overall wholesome appeal of the song. I do have one minor gripe about Parade however. I am not liking how they added the deep autotune backing to some of the vocals/raps. It didn’t feel necessary and undermined the smoothness of the track. (9/10)

5. Destroyed – Compared to the songs before and after it, Destroyed has this dramatic and epic flair to it, which ultimately made it stand out on the album. It started off calm with a piano backing, before building up to the dubstep infused chorus. Bridging the two was an orchestral/electronic mix, which I thought was clever at joining the two extremes. I anticipated that the song would build up once those electronic thumps made themselves apparent, but I still thought the dubstep side was a surprisingly element. (9/10)

6. If (만약) – The next song, If, is a ballad duet between Kogyeol and Hwanhee. It was a beautiful sounding song that captivates you. The ballad’s instrumental was exceptional. There was a jazzy touch to it, which helped give the instrumental a bit of a spark of colour and identity. This really helped If sound more appealing and interesting than your common everyday ballad. The vocals from the pair was also stunning. Their harmonies and chemistry in this song just made it even more captivating to listen to. (10/10)

7. Forever (혹시라도) – The album’s second unit track is by Kuhn, Sunyoul, Gyujin and Xiao. Forever is another beautiful sounding ballad, however this one leans towards pop more and has a bit more energy to it (as a result). I liked how each of the four members brought a different colour to the song. However, they all came together like puzzle pieces fitting correctly with one another. I also like how Forever elicit the swaying effect that I find in ballads and how easy it was to get into the song. (9/10)

8. Believe in You – Believe In You features all the members (odd that it is placed between two unit tracks). It is also their most outstanding side track (as an eight-member group) on this album, from my perspective. I just love the bright colours in this song, brought to you by their energetic vocals and the pop rock styled instrumentation. The melodies and hooks were exceptionally easy to get into and enjoy. A surprising number given its placement, but definitely a gem on this tracklist! (10/10)

9. Sky Line – The final unit track on the album is a duet between Kogyeol and Bit-to. And out of the unit tracks, it is the one that I would definitely recommend to you! I really like the contrast between the synths and the acoustic guitar in the instrumentation. Both elements were distinct in their own right, but they worked really well with one another. Kogyeol and Bit-to’s delivery was also exceptional. Kogyeol’s vocals added freshness to the song, while Bit-to’s rapping delivery and deep tone kept the song grounded. (10/10)

10. Honey Cake – Ending the album is a pop track that has a pleasant and fun bounce to it. But I felt like Honey Cake had a bit too much going on during its chorus. Everything else about Honey Cake was great, but the chorus was overwhelming for me. Will that stop me from liking the song, overall? Nope. It was still a great song to end the album on, though it could have been executed a bit better. (7.5/10)