Category: KPOP

[Review] After Midnight – ASTRO

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The final major comeback to occur on Monday was ASTRO’s After Midnight. This comeback follows ASTRO’s earlier 2021 comeback, ONE, and second studio album, All Yours. The new title track is featured on the group’s 8th mini-album since debut, titled Switch On.

After a string of mature and powerful title tracks, After Midnight takes a step back to ASTRO’s earlier roots of bright and fun pop songs. While it might not be as apparent, I actually prefer the darker and mature releases of many groups. And ASTRO is no exception to this preference. So naturally, I gravitate towards ASTRO in their more recent light. But I do like the occasion brightly energetic and fun track, which After Midnight definitely ticks the boxes for. I really like how After Midnight retains a bit of that matureness and isn’t as sugary as their more youthful and earlier works. It just doesn’t sound like a song released in the early years of one’s career! The funky instrumentation of After Midnight keeps on coming, never really stopping until the bridge to make way for a soft break. But Rocky manages to ramp up the song back to the song’s funky energy before the slow down with his rap sequence. Elsewhere, I liked Jinjin’s rap sequence following the first chorus, which continued the momentum of the first chorus into the second verse. I also like the final sequence of the song. It was definitely a concentrated form of what we heard throughout After Midnight and a well-done last ditch effort to really sell After Midnight (and it worked, as I was definitely thinking of the sequence after the song wrapped up). For the other members, their vocals helped add extra life to the song, and definitely made the hooks catchy. But I feel that these two elements could have gone further. I have two primary wishes for this song – the vocalists were a tad louder and the hooks were more dynamic. What we got was quite satisfying, catchy and works really well already. But I felt that the vocalists were masked by the chorus instrumentation just by a hair, and so I wished they were more appropriate balanced with the consistent instrumentation. For the hooks, I kind of wanted more dynamism and hefty hooks. I think both wishes would have made After Midnight even bolder. But overall, a great return to their earlier days, but also a great addition to their growing discography.

The song is all about wanting to spend time with their lover all night. While we don’t see that, we do see a similar concept between the members. Eunwoo starts off with a battery sign on his wrist which was low. But after spending time with the members, Moonbin’s battery was filled. This basically means that their time spent together throughout the night was enough to recharge their batteries. As for the rest of the music video, I really liked the the different places they shot at (not sure if they were sets or locations, but they looked really cool). I also liked the colours within the video. They don’t pop out or seem that bold. But they had this certain definition to it. And obvious, Summery usually equals colours.

As expected with the song being fun and upbeat, the choreography was equally as energetic and fun. I also really like the member’s facial expressions (all very happy and smile), which made up a lot of the atmosphere of the choreography.

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

[Review] Ra Pam Pam – Golden Child

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Also making a Monday comeback is Golden Child with Ra Pam Pam. The song is the title track off their second studio-length album (titled Game Changer), which also dropped on Monday. This is Golden Child first comeback since their Yes and Burn It comeback at the very start of this year. In related Golden Child news, the group was scheduled to be one of the first groups to return to ‘offline concerts’ last month, but this was ultimately postponed due to a surge in local cases of COVID-19 in South Korea (which have affected a number of KPOP stars recently). I guess a bit more waiting is involved before we can see the Golden Child members (and other groups) up close and personal again. Glad that Ra Pam Pam was not affected.

Ra Pam Pam is a substantial track that allows Golden Child to both experiment and show off their skills in many departments. However, what I am missing in Ra Pam Pam is a robust bombastic sound that really highlights and emphasises the beat. That would have literally been a ‘game changer’ for me (trust me, when I get around to the album review, I will be using the same pun if the song evokes it). But instead, we were given a Moombahton beat. Personally, I felt that this was a bit too soft for my liking. Something metallic or electronic would have been ideal, in my point of view. Think of it as corners to a rectangle. I wanted something sharper like pointy corners, but Ra Pam Pam goes with rounder corners (sorry for going all geometry on you). That being said, the Moombahton influences, combined with the flutes, drums and other percussion in the instrumentation in Ra Pam Pam gave a nice Latin-pop like profile. Again, it isn’t an original idea. But I think Golden Child pulls it off well, especially since it is such an overused sound/genre in KPOP. For the vocals, I thought the group excelled in this department. Especially when it came to the choruses. The togetherness of the song’s main hook was really satisfying, addictive and catchy. I also like the syllable delivery approach in the chorus, giving Ra Pam Pam that sharpness I really wanted. The cleanness of the high note was quite good as well. I also really liked the rapping in this song. The energy that came from it and the momentum kept the song moving forward and was quite satisfying as well. Overall, Ra Pam Pam is quite satisfying as a whole song, but I just wanted something more honed and concentrated.

The music video of Ra Pam Pam is set in a dystopian future, with the members being sole survivals of what seems to be an alien invasion and an alien spaceship extracting energy from Earth. And per usual, the members of Golden Child are the ones to save the day. They monitor what is going on out there and hatch a plan to save what is left of the world. Only problem is that they cannot go out there as the dust is toxic and they only have two breathing apparatus. Daeyeol, who is over seeing his members being trapped in the confines of their refuge building, takes one breathing apparatus to shut down whatever machine has been set up to extract energy from Earth. Y follows him out there. The aliens catch on and destroy Y’s oxygen tank. Daeyeol makes the ultimate sacrifice by giving his breathing apparatus to Y before being shot in the back. However, he manages to key in the code and shut the machine down, which ends up wiping those masked aliens (or humans, not too sure). The other members go searching for the pair who is outside, only to find the atmosphere clear up. The members venture outside, and based on what their facial expressions, seem to realize that at least one of their own was killed to make it possible for them to go outside again. But it is revealed as a bit of a plot twist that Daeyeol may still be alive after all with the move of a finger. This music video is another case of a movie condensed into a span of 4 minutes. I hope there is some epilogue or a sequel to give me closure to the story. Only one small wish with this video – I just wished the ending font didn’t look so cheap.

While the song wasn’t as sharp, the choreography was. And I think this really showcase Golden Child’s performance skills once again. This was particularly observed during the ‘Ra Pam Pam‘ chorus hook, where they did Latin-styled dance moves and had a small bounce to said moves. I also liked their outfit concept for the comeback. It gives off sexy vibes that highlights their matureness and transition to ‘Golden Men’. Donghun and Jangjun really killed it on the style front this comeback.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.8/10

[Review] DUMB DUMB – Jeon Somi

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Kick starting this new week and month in KPOP are three comebacks, all dropping on Monday (yesterday). First up is Jeon Somi, who is returning after a year since her last release, What Are You Waiting For?. Her new single is titled DUMB DUMB and today I am checking out DUMB DUMB in this review.

Blink and the song is over before you know it. And unfortunately, the appeal of DUMB DUMB is very brief and the combination of both a short song and brief moments of appeal doesn’t help the song become that memorable. DUMB DUMB starts off with whimsical whispering that give off a cheerful light. Jeon Somi tackles the verse with plain vocals and instrumentation, and forgettable momentum. I don’t have much else to say about the verses, unfortunately. It wasn’t until we got to the chorus where DUMB DUMB picked up. The whispering returns, but this time it gives off a mature vibe when it is joined with a moody groovy electro atmosphere. I quite liked this instrumental pairing and it gave DUMB DUMB a bit of intriguingness. Combined with Jeon Somi’s spoken lines as the chorus’ hook and you have a pretty sleek and memorable chorus. The song repeats the same profile for the second round, though we are given a rap sequence in the second verse. Another miss, to be honest. DUMB DUMB lacks a bridge, and instead replaces with a brief second of instrumentation with a chanty anthem to finish up the song. While I do like the concept of a change up and anthem to end this song, it just didn’t have the right level of energy to really bring the song home and give it a high/peak it deserves to end with. I found the instrumentation to be lackluster and simply an extension of what we have heard earlier in DUMB DUMB, while Jeon Somi’s vocals didn’t have amplification or momentum behind it. DUMB DUMB is good song, but it is more so an example of a song in which I want more from. Likewise, from Jeon Somi herself.

For the music video, Jeon Somi is a teenage girl who is trying to impress her crush. She imagines walking up to him all confident and wiping his lips. She dances at a party to attract his attention. But while she imagines him to be interested, it takes a simple well-timed bump in the school hallway to get his attention and for them to interact. Though, I wished he didn’t have a clueless face on the entire time. Aside from the plotline, I like how the lyrics are literally portrayed in this video, with Jeon Somi dancing on top of the male character’s head in the first chorus, right when she speaks the line ‘I’m dancing on top of your head, you DUMB DUMB‘. It was corny and made me laugh in a good way.

Based on what I can see in the music video, it looks like a good dance. I can see the chorus to be the next thing on TikTok, and I liked how it encapsulated the mature vibes of the section.

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

[Album Review] One of a Kind (9th Mini Album) – MONSTA X

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Next up on the album review segment is MONSTA X’s One Of A Kind, which was released at the start of June (two months ago)! This is the group’s ninth mini-album since their debut and features the title track GAMBLER, which also dropped on the same day. The mini-album also features the Korean version of Livin’ It Up, and five other new and original side tracks. One Of A Kind is also the last album for a while to feature Shownu who most recently enlisted into the Korean military. He unfortunately had to sit out of promotions for this comeback due health reasons, though he did participate in the recording of both the album and music video (and a special single released this week – review for that to come down the track). It is unknown whether MONSTA X will continue as a group or go on hiatus until all the members return from their military enlistments (let’s hope for the former!). But until then, let’s go for a deep dive into One Of A Kind.

One Of A Kind Album Cover

1. GAMBLER (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for GAMBLER. (9.5/10)

2. Heaven – Heaven follows up the title track with a jazzy R&B number. If you are looking for something summery that isn’t tropical or island based, then I think Heaven is the song for you. While jazzy and R&B tracks aren’t anything new to KPOP (or pop in general), what makes Heaven extra appealing in the subtle tinge of intensity that comes from the members’ vocals and rapping. It really gives the song that MONSTA X feel. I also find the melodies and repetition to be really cool hooks that makes Heaven a strong song. (8/10)

3. Addicted – MONSTA X tones down the light with Addicted, opting for a dark and much moodier dance track. While it sounds like it is equivalent to MONSTA X’s title track material, I find Addicted to be a bit more paced and slower. This gives the song an additional sultry profile that is quite … addictive and appealing. Almost like a breath of fresh air. The bass is also something that elevates the song. Once again, I find that Addicted also brings out the members’ vocals and rapping skills. I find their delivery of both balances out the instrumentation really well. (9/10)

4. Secrets – It seems like there is a movement to include songs fully in English on Korean albums. Secrets is another addition to that movement, but it isn’t really any hidden secret. It is more skippable than anything. I think the instrumental was pretty good, opting for a 90s style of R&B. Saxophone and electric guitars provide some detailing in the instrumental to make the song more eventful. It is the relative lack of emotion from the vocals and rapping that I don’t really like. The lyrics opts for a sensual feel, and I wished that was reflected in their voices. (6/10)

5. BEBE – Another song that I felt was rather skippable. This is a bit harsh on my behalf, as it is a song from MONSTA X to their fans (from what I understand). The song doesn’t become decent until the very end, when they relaunch back into the jazzy style instrumentation of the final chorus. Everything before that was just a miss for me. I did like their all-vocals approach with the song, with the rappers also singing rather than rapping. But BEBE was dry overall for me. (6/10)

6. Rotate – Rotate puts energy and very mature themes back into the album. And I think this is a great addition to the album, given the pair of skippable songs that precede it. Once again, bass really amplifies the song. And the house-style chorus is pretty classy and sleek for me, working well with the sensual nature of the lyrics. The rapping is probably my favourite part of Rotate, giving the song some much needed oomph and intensity. The vocals also had a memorable tinge to it, though I felt the processing was a bit much for my liking. (8/10)

7. Livin’ It Up (Korean Version) – I have previously reviewed the original version of Livin’ It Up, an original Japanese single released back in 2018. Click here to read the full review of Livin’ It Up. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.8/10 [Corrected Rating on 5th Sep 2021]

One Of A Kind Teaser Image

[Review] BEcause – Dream Catcher

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Officially returning today is Dream Catcher with BEcause, the title track from the group’s first special mini-album, Summer Holiday. They did give us a little sneak peek at the comeback yesterday through the official start of promotions on MCountdown, but the music video officially dropped today. This the group’s first comeback since the release of their sixth mini-album, Dystopia: Road to Utopia, and Odd Eye earlier this year.

When I first heard the song, I thought Dream Catcher strayed away from their usual rock sound by basing the song on the first part of the first verse (and the fact that this was a song released on a ‘special album’. Oh, how wrong was I. If I had waited a few more seconds for the song to reach the pre-chorus, I would have realized that BEcause does contain that Dream Catcher signature rock influence, returning the group to their roots. They do change up their chorus a bit by incorporating pizzicato sounds (plucking strings of a string instrument), before leading into the rock influence. The subsequent rock in the chorus was toned down slightly to not be its usual amplification, which helps merges the softness of the pizzicato sound with the rest of the song. For Dami’s first rapping sequence, we get more of a concentrated rock sound that I thought was really cool. It is the tiniest of details, but there was a electric guitar solo moment for a brief second which I really liked. The bridge features a creepy and haunting piano melody, before we are blasted with rock to end the song. The instrumental front of BEcause was really good and had such thrilling energy. For the vocals, I thought it was good. It is Dream Catcher’s usual style and I also really like the rock style filter over some parts to help give their voices some more edge. Overall, BEcause is a really good return to form for Dream Catcher. I do feel like the start was potentially me wanting something else from Dream Catcher, but I am happy with what BEcause ended up being.

Also returning to form is Dream Catcher’s concept, with the horror theme returning for this comeback. This time, it appears the members are staying at a haunted hotel, which is connected to an abandoned theme park. The setting for this music video appears to be the same theme park settings in other music videos, so I really like what the producers of the video did to make the theme park appear haunted and creepy. I also really like the grey colour scheme they went for. The whole bridge sequence was definitely haunting as well. But what was the most creepy were those people standing around wearing black cloaks and veils. In terms of plot, I am not exactly 100% sure what is going on. But I think the one of the members was caught, while all other members were evil spirits trying to corrupt that captured members (which was mission accomplished at the end). But aesthetics and atmosphere-wise, the music video for BEcause was nailed.

I liked how their performance incorporated some horror tropes. Nothing scary, but they are common things you would associate with the genre, such as the non-reflective mirror at the start of the performance, the Yoohyeon puppet in the first verse, creepy smiles throughout the choreography and slow turns we see commonly with dolls at the end of the performance.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 9.5/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.8/10

[Review] Rose – D.O (EXO)

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Once again, I am catching up with reviews. First up for what felt like a long time is the review of D.O’s solo comeback, Rose. The EXO member previously made his solo debut back in 2019 with the single That’s Okay, which was released the same day he enlisted into the military. Fast forward two years, D.O completed his military enlistment and he has also returned as an EXO member earlier this year with Don’t Fight The Feeling (the single review and the album review). He surprised fans at the end of June with news of completing his first solo mini-album, and subsequently released Empathy a month later, which features the title track Rose.

Rose had this feel-good and no nonsense vibe to it, which I found to be enjoyable. It is feel anything else with a song like this. Apart from this vibe, I also really liked the simplicity of the instrumentation. The acoustic guitar was the only instrument in the song, but yet it managed to pack a bit of a punch by giving off such a happy tone and a summery flair, fitting for the current season. D.O vocals are quite substantial and gives off a similar tone as the acoustic guitars. The pairing of the two elements was just so riveting to listen to. I am glad that D.O didn’t go with the cliché ballad route for this release, giving us a bit more colour with this release. Also, Rose just makes me want to smile every time I have listened to the song since its release. But while Rose is quite good in itself and the smile-inducing tone is always nice, I find myself struggling to put in the effort of searching up the song itself. It is for a different reason than usual, however. I pretty much like the track, but I feel it has the potential to become boring. I think consistency is the key here. Consistency is good, as I always say. But if something is a bit too consistent, multiple listens would put the song at risk of draining whatever effect it had on me. I am more than happy to listen to the song if it appears on my playlist or appeared as the next video on YouTube. But I just don’t see myself voluntarily searching up the song anymore, just so I can keep Rose appealing. Overall, Rose is a decent track and presents D.O’s vocals in a really positive manner. I just feel I need to keep my distance from the song to keep it like that.

Whatever headphones D.O is wearing, let me know the brand name and model. I need something like that (i.e. product placement has worked and I am gladly happy to exchange money for those headphones to block out the world). He happily cycles through town with the headphones on, listening to Rose. And he doesn’t stop for anything. Not the burst fire hydrant he just passes, not the school kids (who are always nosy), not the robbery in the cafe, or the exploding garbage truck. Noise-cancelling must be really effective with those headphones! But that is aside from the actual plot of the video. The real plot of the video portrays the aftereffects of falling in love, which puts him in a good mood and gives him some good luck at the same time. It also fits the bill and compliments the cheerful nature of the song. I also like the sketchy effects added post-production, which gives the video some extra detail and depth.

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

[Album Review] Advice (3rd Mini Album) – Taemin (SHINee)

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The next album to be on the reviewing block is Advice, Taemin’s third mini-album, which was released at the end of May of this year. The title track for the album shares the same name with the album itself. This release is particularly important as it is the artist’s last solo release for a while. For those who may have missed the news, Taemin recently enlisted into the military, as like every other Korean male citizen. While we might not be able to see for him in the next two years or so, we have gotten a lot of Taemin this year already. Prior to this solo comeback, we also saw Taemin participate in SHINee’s promotions of Don’t Call Me and Atlantis, their first promotion as a group since 2018. SuperM (the other group he is also a part of) also released a single earlier this year, as well. And he managed to slip in a solo comeback before enlisting? He definitely spoiled his fans. All the best for military enlistment and see you in two years or so Taemin!

Advice Album Cover

1. Advice (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Advice. (7/10)

2. Light – Following the title track is another very Taemin-esque song. The song starts off with this groovy and sensual vibe, which screams out all things Taemin for me. But as the song progresses, Light develops more into a R&B synth track and maintains that grooviness. I would have liked to hear the sensual nature of the start be maintained as well. But I guess we cannot have it all. Taemin’s vocals are very prominent in the song as well. My favourite bit is the bridge of the song. I really enjoyed the aesthetics that the bridge and how it slowed down the song without stopping the momentum of Light. I really appreciate that. (8/10)

3. If I Could Tell You (ft. Taeyeon from SNSD) – If I Could Tell You stays within the R&B realm of music, but also features a bubbly synth instrumentation that was moody and definitely sleek. The song also features the likes of Taeyeon (who also recently returned to the KPOP scene with Weekend). I really like both Taemin and Taeyeon’s vocals in this song, particularly that really fast delivery of lyrics in the verses. It was a memorable part and definitely gave the song a bit of a wow factor. Unfortunately, the song sounded a bit repetitive by the time it reached the pairs duet. But overall, still an enjoyable song. (8/10)

4. Strings – Aesthetics continue with Strings. To me, Strings is definitely on a whole different level compared to the rest of the album. I really like the guitar work at the start of the song, giving Strings is moody vibe. The pace and that really brief humming synth we hear is really creates a dark atmosphere. The song progresses more into a R&B track once we get into chorus territory. The bass in the chorus continues that darkness from earlier in the song in such a satisfying manner. The presence of the female backing vocals gave a great impression of depth and added an extra bit of appeal to the song. Overall, my favourite side track on the album. (10/10)

5. Sad Kids – Ending the album is Sad Kids, which is a continuation of 2 KIDS, which was a pre-release track last year and re-released as part of Never Gonna Dance Again: Act 1. When it comes to the song’s instrumental, Sad Kids is rather simple. It is a mid-tempo pop track that comes to life thanks to the guitar work. It is a blissful and uplifting song, but with a lot of emotional weight coming through via Taemin’s vocals. I liked how he found a balance that didn’t make this song come off as a ballad. A really nice ender that makes me want more from the artist. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.4/10

Advice Album Cover

[Album Review] Don’t Fight The Feeling (7th Mini Album) – EXO

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Next album I am picking to review is EXO’s latest release after a long while, Don’t Fight The Feeling. I am a bit unsure if the album is considered their 7th mini-album, or just a special mini-album. But basing off a few sources, I have decided to go with their 7th mini-album. Anyway, as mentioned, this is the group’s first release since their 2019 comeback, Obsession (title track and studio album) due to military enlistments of some members who have since returned (i.e. Xiumin and D.O). The comeback occurred after additional members enlisted (i.e. Baekhyun and Chanyeol) and hence it may be a while until we get another comeback from the group. In the meanwhile, we are treated to this mini-album and future solo promotions (D.O is confirmed for a solo comeback in the coming days!).

Don’t Fight The Feeling Album Cover

1. Don’t Fight The Feeling (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Don’t Fight The Feeling. (8/10)

2. Paradise (파라다이스) – Following the upbeat and fun sounding Don’t Fight The Feeling, Paradise slows the pace of the album with mid-tempo R&B track. While I don’t mind a slowed down song, I felt Paradise was a bit too slow and sluggish, relative to the first track. Now, this isn’t an issue if I were listening to the song by itself. But I found this to be an issue when I was listening to the album in order of the tracklist. Despite the slow profile, the chorus was still a strong one. I really like the melodies (they helped add some faster tempos to the song) and the warmth that the members gave the chorus via the vocals and melodies. I also found it lighthearted and ‘easy on the ears’. The rapping didn’t have that seem feel and was largely forgettable. Overall, a decent track. (7/10)

3. No Matter (훅!) – While No Matter is still in that ‘mid-tempo’’ territory like Paradise, I feel that No Matter has a bit more of a bit to it. Everything felt cohesive and had a place in this song. I liked the funky atmosphere that the instrumental gives the song. The vocals were quite strong and added that needed substance to the song. The falsetto-like ‘Oh Oh Oh’ hook was quite memorable. The rapping felt fitting and continued the momentum and energy from elsewhere in the song, which was great. No Matter is definitely one of my favourite side-tracks on the album. (9/10)

4. Runaway – While the other songs on the album thus far have been more on the brighter end of the spectrum, Runaway feels and sounds a lot darker and moodier. I really like this slow rock, guitar and piano fusion sound. I also know that Runaway is a lot slower than the previous songs, but I feel its placement on this album is justified and it works nicely to help build a captivating and alluring atmosphere. For the vocals, I liked how they sounded echo-y, which adds additional depth to the song. On top of that, the chanty style of the chorus was quite memorable. Personally, it is another favourite on this album and is the first song that really stood out to me when I listened to the album for the first time. (10/10)

5. Just As Usual (지켜줄게) – Just As Usual both ends and returns the album to its brighter sound. Just As Usual starts off as a soft R&B track, before the instrumental builds into a soft pop style instrumental (with the actual use of instruments, rather than synths to build the song’s backbone). I liked this buildup of energy and it puts forward EXO’s skillsets better than what a ‘straight’ coffeehouse track would have presented us with (which was a concern I had at the start of the song). Vocal and rapping-wise, I liked both elements in this song. Chanyeol was the standout member, with his husky vocals and cool rapping. Kai was the other member that stood out for me. The ad-libs from some of the other members were really good and the fade-out of the song was a good idea. (8.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.5/10

Don’t Fight The Feeling Teaser Image

[Album Review] Mr.Mr (4th Mini Album) – SNSD

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A few weeks or months ago, I flagged I would restart the ‘Past Album Review’ segment, which focuses on albums released in the years prior to the current year, come July. Unfortunately, some things have held me up from starting it at the very start of July (and just writing Past Album Reviews, in general). But now, I am finally getting around to it. First up is SNSD’s fourth and final (to date) mini-album, Mr.Mr. This and the title track of the same name was released way back in 2014, and was the final release to feature Jessica and a OT9 lineup. Since then, the group have largely focused on studio albums. Since 2017, the group has been on hiatus after some of the members parted ways with SM Entertainment, however that might change later in the year with rumours of a SNSD comeback. But until a confirmed release, here is a throwback to 2014 and the album Mr.Mr.

Mr.Mr Album Cover

1. Mr.Mr (Title Track) – Excuse the cringiness in this review. I wrote this in my fetus years. Click here to read the full review for Mr.Mr. (9/10)

2. Goodbye – Goodbye is one pleasant track. But I say that in a really positive manner. Goodbye was a great showcase of simplicity, with every element feeling quite simple. The entire song has a feel-good vibe to it, with the rock-pop instrumentation taking on a bright profile. This is in direct contrast to the lyrics, which are all about leaving a relationship you know that just won’t work out no matter what you try. The vocals are straightforward and have a sweetness to them, which tells me that they have come to terms about the relationship I mentioned above. The melodies within Goodbye were also simple and easy on the ears. Overall, a really satisfying song. (9/10)

3. Europa (유로파) – I really like the disco profile of the instrumentation in Europa, which feels perfect fit for the influx of cutesy songs back in the day and gives off a sense of nostalgia. Unfortunately, I feel the rest of the song is rather jarring. Europa isn’t a cohesive track, but the standalone elements were good. The vocals just doesn’t piece together as nicely (though these do also give off a sense of nostalgia, reminding me of SNSD’s earlier works when they sang together), and the additional detailing in the instrumentation felt like they don’t compliment the rest of the instrumental. (6/10)

4. Wait A Minute – I would never have thought that Wait A Minute and Mr.Mr would be on the same album. Wait A Minute has this heavy sweetness within it that just directly contrasts with Mr.Mr. It is still a decent song, however. It is upbeat and has a nice energy to it. The vocals were also nice and appreciable. I think Wait A Minute’s main issue was its instrumental. It is decent, but I don’t think the electronic nature of the instrumentation was right. I think I would have enjoyed the song more if it had a more ‘traditional’ jazz profile to it. (8/10)

5. Back Hug (백허그) – Back Hug is the album’s sole ballad. The ballad doesn’t opt for the traditional ballad style of classical instrumental. Instead, Back Hug opts for mainly acoustic guitars (with the appearance of classical strings). It is a nice change of style and keeps the album light (which I think is a theme with all these side tracks so far). The members sound really nice and heavenly throughout Back Hug. (8/10)

6. Soul – Based on what I understand, Soul is the Korean version of the group’s first Chinese single, Find Your Soul. While that is the case, I am here to review the version on this album. The instrumental has this pop edge to it, which has potential. The start in particular was quite interesting and I would have liked the song to build upon that more. The issue with Soul is that I feel the vocals could have been punchier to really give the song more effect and drive. (7/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.8/10

Mr.Mr Teaser Image

[Review] Mixtape: OH – Stray Kids

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Continuing on from last week’s catch up, I have selected Stray Kids latest release as the next track to review. Stray Kids released a new mixtape single at the end of June titled Mixtape: OH. It is the group’s first release since Back Door last year and their participation on the survival show Kingdom: Legendary War. It is also marks the return of Hyunjin, who has sat out group activities (including Kingdom: Legendary War) over the last few months due to a bullying scandal. His return raises the anticipation of their impending August comeback. But ahead of that review, let’s give Mixtape: OH a listen.

Mixtape: OH takes on a melodic profile, which strays a bit away from the usual genre in which mixtapes are usually aligned with (i.e. hip-hop). It also strays away from their usual sound that they opt for in their main title tracks, which tends to be bold and dance-centric. But while it is different than ‘business as usual’ for the group, Mixtape: OH puts the spotlight on the group’s vocals. We have seen Stray Kids put out ballads before through their albums and have heard all the members sing in some capacity. So them showing off their singing abilities come as no surprise to me. And this song doesn’t really featuring any mind-blowing vocal work that wows or amazes me. Rather what makes this song a nice release is the pleasantness, which I find to be really glowing. This effect is partly due to the lightness of the vocals, but it also adds appeal to better position the vocals at the same time. Contributing to the glowing nature of Mixtape: OH are the instrumentals. The soothing nature of this release really encapsulates that pleasant description, with it being nothing less or nothing more than just that. I also like the soft jabs in which the instrumental has at the start of the choruses, which in turn causes the members to punctuate their delivery in a similar manner. It was a good effect and one that I felt to be the most memorable aspect of the song, music-wise. The tropical influence was also a decent touch to make this song feel somewhat refreshing for the Summer season (and not like a heavy ballad that otherwise would have been ideal for Winter). Mixtape: OH is a strong showing from the members, even though it isn’t their best (and I don’t think it is meant to be their best). Though, it does get me into the mood for more Stray Kids, which is certain to come within a blink of an eye.

First things first, welcome back to Hyunjin. It is definitely nice to have the full group back together again. Now, onto the rest of the music video. In their previous Mixtape music videos, we have seen a bit of a story come together. In Mixtape: Gone Days, we saw the members close to one another as friends in a classroom setting. In Mixtape: On Track, we saw the friendship of some of the members tested when two of them fall in love with a female classmate. And now, in Mixtape: OH, it seems like that friendship had broken down with each of the members going their separate ways and acting cold to one another. Based on what we see in the video, the member do miss those olds days in which they were together. But we dont see them come back together by the end of the video. However, Felix wishes for the members to return with the help of his birthday cake. So if there is another mixtape release, I believe that would be the subject of the next music video.

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

[Album Review] The Blowing (3rd Mini Album) – HIGHLIGHT

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The next album review I have ready for you is HIGHLIGHT’s return to the industry, The Blowing. HIGHLIGHT is one of few second generation groups making their comeback after a hiatus due to military enlistment. But with all members completely done with their civic duties, the group has regrouped earlier this year for promotions of both the album and title track Not The End, which was released at the start of May of this year. These second-generation groups are what I grew up with and I would really like to introduce all those more recent and new listeners to such groups, through past album reviews (hint hint) and their more recent releases. So without further ado, I present to you HIGHLIGHT.

The Blowing Album Cover

1. Not The End (불어온다) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Not The End. (9/10)

2. Wave – The verses of Wave give off a peaceful vibe, which makes an extremely nice start to the song. The piano is the dominant instrument in the background during the verses, which compliments the lightness of their vocals (which throughout the song are very beautiful sounding). The chorus picks up Wave by adding percussive elements to the background. It gives the chorus that extra meat to make it feel right and adds some oomph to the ballad. The final moments have all the members contributing in a restricted shouty manner. But they did it in a way that remains warm and touching, as like the rest of the song. (9/10)

3. Hey Yeah (밤이야) – Hey Yeah adds a bit of energy into the album, being the first upbeat track on the list. It is a pleasant number, with funky guitar and whistling in the background to give it a likeable and enjoyable profile. But I don’t see Hey Yeah as anything more than pleasant. I appreciate the addition of the energy, but Hey Yeah was largely forgettable on the hooks front, and the vocal front. (7/10)

4. Sorry (미안) – Sorry features R&B li-fo beats that makes this song ideal for moments where you just want to relax and chill. At first, I didn’t like the additional high pitch effects that are found abundant throughout the instrumentation. But they gave nice texture. Furthermore, it is a good song that has this swaying effect (in time with the beat, of course!). The melodies and vocals in Sorry are really also good and contribute to a pleasant vibe (with room for the song to be more than pleasant!). (8/10)

5. Disconnected – Disconnected continues the R&B sound from the previous song. But in this song, the pace is a lot slower and feels more dragged out. This isn’t a problem though, however, as the song still sounds decent. There is more of a beat in this song, compared to some of the other songs on the album. I do wish the vocals had more to them, melody-wise, as this would have given an additional layer of appeal to the song. I do like what the producers did with the vocal processing, giving the song some depth. (7.5/10)

6. Surf – Ending this album is Surf. The saying of ‘saving the best for last’ seems to be true for this album, as Surf is my favourite track on the album. It starts off slow and pretty much like the rest of the album. But the pre-chorus has this jazzy feel to it, where it picks up the song. The chorus takes on a repetitive pop beat, which was rather unexpected. It stays true to the jazzy nature and has great energy. I particularly like how they defined the vocals at the end, ending the song and album is such a cool manner. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.3/10

The Blowing Teaser Image

[Album Review] BINARY CODE (5th Mini Album) – ONEUS

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I have returned with another album review. I made a list of albums I want to review and I still have a lot to catch up on – 17 to be exact. So I will return with another intensive album review weekend in a couple of weeks to help knock off some more album reviews (and it will be more intensive this time around)! But that doesn’t mean I will hold onto any until then, as it is back to the usual transmission of reviews. In this post, I will be reviewing ONEUS’ fifth mini-album, BINARY CODE, which features the title track BLACK MIRROR. It was released mid-May of this year, over two months ago (sorry once again for the long delays). This is the group’s first comeback since the release of their first studio album DEVIL and the track No Diggity at the start of this year.

BINARY CODE Album Cover

1. BLACK MIRROR (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of BLACK MIRROR. (8.5/10)

2. Connect With US – Connect With US is the extended version of the outro of the same name from the group’s first studio album. It doesn’t offer anything more than what we heard in the outro. And so my comments from that album review stands (i.e. pop-aligned, flowy and melodic). Regarding its placement on this mini-album, it feels like a step back. We got a strong and dynamic track to open the album. But following that track, I felt the album could have continued the momentum of the opener, and not with Connect With US (which should have been lower down on the tracklist). (8/10)

3. Polarity (울과 기름) – I think an up-tempo track would have a nice follow-up to the title track. And I feel that Polarity would have been a good contender. It bridges the space between the first two songs on the spectrum. It has a decent mid-tempo pop pace that brings down the energy from BLACK MIRROR, but also suits the pleasantry of the Connect With US. But I did think the start of the song was rather flat. But once we reach the chorus, the song had picked up and the ball was rolling, Polarity was a decent track. Nice vocals and rapping in the song, as well. (8/10)

4. Happy Birthday – Happy Birthday doesn’t make me feel like I have aged a year (which is a good thing – I feel old now, especially as I see groups with members born after 2000). I liked how this song turned out. I have a big thing for being unique and I feel that Happy Birthday fits that brief. It isn’t a straight-forward song, with the instrumentation taking you on a wild ride with the synths and textures that make up its background. It isn’t a consistent mix like most instrumentals, so there is always something different around every corner of this song. When it comes to the rapping, I liked how dynamic those sections felt. For the vocals, I really like the vocalists delivered the song’s title. The elongation of the title, and the tiniest tinge of vibration was quite cool and memorable. Personally, my favourite side track on this album. (10/10)

5. Valkyrie (발키리) (Rock Version) – I always had a feeling that a rock version of the track would appear. Just surprised it took over 2 years. Click here to read my full review of Valkyrie. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.7/10

BINARY CODE Teaser Image

[Review] MOONLIGHT – BDC

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Next up on the randomly selected reviewing block is BDC, who returned two weeks ago as well. Their new single is titled MOONLIGHT. The trio wraps up their Intersection trilogy (made up with the singles SHOOT THE MOON and Moon Rider and MOONLIGHT) with this release and the mini-album The Intersection: Contact. Based on my past reviews, I have high expectations for MOONLIGHT and their subsequent comebacks that follow this release. While we can’t tell the future with their future comebacks, let’s have a closer listen to MOONLIGHT to see whether it hits the mark or not.

While their previous releases as part of this trilogy have been more hard-hitting, MOONLIGHT takes on a softer profile. That doesn’t say that MOONLIGHT is any way inferior. Rather, it stands out thanks to its retro-inspired 80s sound, which I really liked. It isn’t the most innovative use of synths, as we have heard of 80s styled music in KPOP before. But MOONLIGHT seems to be the first release in a while that pays respect from start to end to that specific era of synth music. I particularly liked the lead in to this track, with that ethereal and atmospheric start, giving off a vibe that feels slightly explorational and out of this world, which in turn fits in nicely with their ‘Moon’ themed comebacks that formed part of the trilogy. I also enjoyed the use of synthesizer for MOONLIGHT‘s dance break following the first chorus. I would have liked to see an extended sequence somewhere else in the track. When it comes to the vocals, I thought BDC did a pretty good job. There were soft and smooth when the instrumental was lead down that path (pre-chorus and bridge), but harsher and louder during the more prominent parts of the song (i.e. the chorus). I felt the rapping to be rather plain and didn’t offer anything new compared to other releases. Hence, it was the weakest part of the song. Overall, MOONLIGHT was a really good track. I liked their spin from their previous singles, keeping their discography fresh and inviting to those who are willing to give the trio a try.

I really liked the start of the music video, with those different flashes of images and the focus on circular shapes that resembles the roundness of the moon. I can’t remember from the top of my head, but I wonder if they are elements from their previous music videos? If not, then what do they mean? Interestingly, these inserts and flashes appear up until the first chorus. They do however make a very brief re-appearance at the end of the bridge. I wonder what the reasoning of this is. Aside from that imagery, I really like the simplicity of the music video. The members performed in front of a white screen and used coloured lights to change up the setting. I also really like their style in this music video, especially those pastel coloured suits. Very well fitted for the music video.

I liked the smoothness of the choreography during the softer parts of the song (i.e. the verses), while also enjoying the routine’s sharper moves during the chorus. The contrast was very strong, but very aesthetic. I liked their use of the microphone stands and their subtle incorporation of circles in the choreography, as well.

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

[Review] See You Again – Han Seung Woo (VICTON)

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The next review is for Han Seung Woo’s solo comeback from two weeks ago. VICTON’s lead vocalist, rapper and dancer returned with See You Again, a song fitting for his final comeback before his military enlistment later this month. It is featured on his second mini-album, Fade, which dropped on the same day as the music video release. This is the first time seeing Han Seung Woo since his promotions with the rest of his group for What I Said and Voice: The Future Is Now, and his solo debut back in August of last year (Sacrifice off his solo mini-album debut, Fame).

See You Again is a stunning ballad. Every time I have heard the song since its release two weeks ago, I am blown away with how captivating and riveting the ballad is. Now, I may be easily swayed by ballads. But this song didn’t need an ounce of convincing whatsoever. See You Again is beautifully instrumented with a one instrument, the humble piano. I was expecting strings to come in (which is my favourite type of instruments when it comes to classical instrumentation), but that never appeared. Instead, my expectation for strings lead me to listening to the entirety of See You Again. And from there, it was carried away by the gracefulness of the piano in this song. I really liked how prominent the piano was in the chorus. This prominence or boldness allowed for us to differentiate between verse and chorus, and also fill in the gaps where other instrumentation would usually have been used to help build the song’s momentum. On top of that, the piano also compliments the other half of the song, Han Seung Woo’s vocals. I could hear the heart-wrenching emotion behind his voice. And the powerful tone he uses for the chorus just makes the song stand out so well. In See You Again, he sings about the memories he has and the desire to reunite, which is fitting as both a song dedicated to a lover or his fans, to whom he will be saying good bye to for approximately two years. The melodies for the song are flowy but grounded at the same time to really allow Han Seung Woo to deliver a beautiful piece of music. Overall, See You Again shines because of its simplicity and Han Seung Woo’s effective delivery of vocals.

The music video for this release hits the brief. It is a rather muted music video, with a teal-grey colour palette being the main sources of colour for this video which also sets the tone of the video. I also like how the video was quite simple. The sets or locations were not overcrowded or overrun with props. Rather, they were empty, representing the departing and packed away memories. This is one of the common denominator of the three scenes (the emptying apartment, the grassy shots and the beach). The second common denominator is the piano, which was carried throughout each of the three scenes. It was the primary prop of the video. I liked how this complimented See You Again, given that piano was the only instrument in the song. And the third common denominator is Han Seung Woo himself, who was heartbroken and emotional throughout the video, helping to keep that theme and idea alive throughout the three locations the music video was set in.

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

[Review] Free Pass – DRIPPIN

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Back to catch up on the reviews I should have written weeks ago when the songs were first released. I will be choosing which releases to review at random, so there will be no order to what tracks I review. I just want to get them done! First up, I have chosen DRIPPIN’s comeback from 29 June. DRIPPIN returned with the single Free Pass as their latest title track. The song is featured on the group’s first single album which shares the same name as the lead single. Free Pass is DRIPPIN’s second comeback this year, with the first being Young Blood in March of this year.

Free Pass is quite dull. No matter how times I have listened to the song since its release, I find myself distracted looking for the next song to play and pretty much forgetting the song. To me, Free Pass doesn’t offer any new or innovative. It doesn’t even ‘reinvent the wheel’. It is pretty the same as any bright concept song that is release in the Summer season. This is disappointing to a degree, given that I liked both their debut song and their last comeback. The group has so much to offer based on their previous releases, but they are only given a song like Free Pass to show off their skills. But I guess that I guess this is the song that they will use to leverage their youthfulness. Though, it is interesting as their labelmates Golden Child and formerly Infinite have had their fair share of mid-tempo pop songs released in for the Summer season. And these songs by these more senior artists have been likeable and enjoyable (i.e. Pump It Up and Man In Love to name some examples – ignore my 7/10 rating and comments in the Man In Love review, that has been bumped up to a 9/10 rating when I reviewed mini-album in which it was featured on). Free Pass just doesn’t live up to that standard set by their labelmates. Don’t get me wrong, it is an okay song. But it could have been better and been more personalised for DRPPIN. One of the reasons to why I think Free Pass doesn’t have much to offer is because it lacks any substantial hook. This instantly reduces the memorability of the song. The instrumental is bright and energetic (so I will give it that), but it doesn’t have a sense of individuality or uniqueness. It feels plain and typical. Their vocal work and rapping are so-so. Not the best, but not terrible. So I guess what I really want is some identity so that DRIPPIN could really make Free Pass their own. Currently, Free Pass is theirs but it doesn’t feel individualised.

Once again, my comments above can be reflected down here. Concept-wise, I felt they have picked the general bright youthful concept that every other male group seems to do. Nothing new. And the music video is appropriately bright. In Free Pass, the group goes on a camping trip. They leave ‘Free Passes’ around the theme park they were initially at, so I presume their crushes would find them. Though, I think they put them in places that are a bit hard to reach or not that great hiding places. I mean, hiding them in a stack of other tickets, tying them to balloons, sticking them to the bottom of a park bench, floating in the fountain where it could easily fall in the water. Not really great ways of making sure they get to the intended person. In the end, someone ended up collecting them and had them in the tent next the campfire. So no one rocked up to be with the group. And the fell asleep around the campfire. The end.

I like the energy they brought to the performance. It is a great way to portray their youthfulness. Do note that I feel the choreography tends to fair a bit better when it comes to more typical aligned comebacks, as no routine are similar. Sure, moves can be replicated and borrowed. But no sequence would be exactly the same, and hence there is that opportunity to be different. What I liked about Free Pass‘ choreography is the formations they had during the first verse.

Song – 6/10
Music Video – 6.5/10
Performance – 7.5/10
Overall Rating – 6.5/10

[Review] DAMAGE – JUST B

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Time for the final review of this focused weekend. Firstly, I want to say that I enjoyed this intensive reviewing weekend and will probably do it again in the foreseeable future when I know I don’t have much going on. But next weekend, it back to the usual transmission of album reviews (and I believe I had promised some International Song Reviews – a lot of big names to cover). But before I can get to next weekend and the week ahead, I have to complete one more rookie review. The artist is JUST B, who debuted at the very end of June with DAMAGE. It is a song produced by former B.A.P member Bang Yong Guk (one name that I have not heard for a while). JUST B is a six member male group (consisting of Geonu, Bain, Lim Jimin, JM, DY and Sangwoo) under Bluedot Entertainment.

DAMAGE is a powerful debut track that really thrives on intensity. Listening to this track was a thrilling experience and I liked how the energy kept me on the edge of my seat. And once again, leaving such an impression is a great start to ones career. DAMAGE starts off with this distorted vocal ‘Heya‘ that finds itself present throughout the track. It is quite catchy. Opening up with that was pretty smart. We are then taken into a pretty standard dance track verse. I didn’t find anything worth mentioning here, aside from the use of the opening in the background which I had already mentioned. But I was still keen on the rest of the track. Alongside powerful vocals in the pre-chorus is a rap sequence that I find reminiscent of Bang Yong Guk’s raspy and deep rap style from back in his B.A.P days (I haven’t been following his solo work, but I imagine he continued with this memorable style). The rest of the rap sequences throughout DAMAGE are of a similar manner, which is a big positive. For those who don’t remember or know, I was a big fan of B.A.P and their discography. And hearing anything that reminds me of those times is bound to get a nod from me. The chorus blasts us with some typical but refreshing EDM. I found it to be quite effective and really enjoyed the drive it brought to DAMAGE. The chorus also featured vocals and melody, which sets it apart from the releases reviewed today. Though, it was missing a memorable hook, as well. The melody just didn’t seem to be strong enough, despite such a powerful backing. The second chorus is followed up with an extension of the EDM, allowing the members to showcase their performance skills (more on this later). I did enjoy the extra texture it had, giving us a bit more to keep the song interesting and not repetitive. Following the instrumental sequence, the song ends by fading out somewhat. It slows down and we hear a light touch of piano in the background. I think this was an interesting way and place to end the song, given that I expected a final run of the EDM chorus. While it might be weird to some, I actually liked the way the song ended. It was unexpected, but creative and unique. Overall, DAMAGE really hit the mark and definitely introduced JUST B as rookies to look out for.

The music video tells the classic KPOP tale of being trapped and controlled. JUST B are members of a grid iron team, who are controlled by whoever (never revealed or touched on). Everyday, they are stuck in a routine of class (i.e. where I assume they are brainwashed) and training. They also have to take these blue and red pills, which I think enables them to be brainwashed and controlled. One member mistakenly drops one of these pills one day (and subsequently doesn’t take it) and notices that they were being watched. He rallies the members together and they all choose not take the blue pill. They rebel once whoever is controlling them activates alarms (i.e. the warning sign on the screen) and runs away from the facility to a stormy city. I hope their next comeback continues the story and sees the members in a different world that they are used to (i.e. the outside world). I do wish that we got to see a hint of who is controlling them or the people who were chasing after the members at the end. In addition to the plotline, I also liked the choreography scenes. I am not a fan of the football outfits, though the black and red suits look really good on them!

I liked how the performance emphasizes the intense and aggressive nature of the song. The members’ have this animalistic vibe, which I find extremely fitting for a song like this. Aside from that, I feel that this performance looks like a good thigh workout. The routine during the performance break was also quite thrilling to watch, while the ending had a very soft vibe and dififerent feel from the rest of the performance.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10