Category: KPOP

[Review] Moonshot – N.Flying

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One of the comebacks kicking off this week is N.Flying’s return to the stage with Moonshot. The new song is featured on the group’s first ever studio-length album, which is titled Man on the Moon. N.Flying is one of those groups who have waited forever for a Korean studio album. The band has been around since 2015, so that makes the wait over six years. That is definitely some time to release a lengthy album. The good news is that since their debut, there have been many mini-album and singles released, such as their most recent comeback Oh Really last year. I can’t wait to check out the album. But in the meanwhile, let’s have a closer listen to Moonshot.

What I like about Moonshot is the heft of the chorus. There is so much energy channeled into this alternative rock track that is comes off as bold and well-defined. And similar comments can be extended into the verses. The guitars in the verses were quite bold yet paced with the beat, standing out over the drums (which was kept on board to be the minimal beat of the song). And as the verse progressed along, we get a bit more guitar work, though it all revolving around the beat of the song. Seunghyub’s vocals here were really good, assisting with the minimalistic effect. But apparently that isn’t minimal enough, with the pre-chorus stripping the background to be even barer. But I like that technique, as it really made Moonshot‘s chorus explode out and have that high level of impact. We are also blasted with powerful vocals from both Seunghyub and Hwesung, which compliments that explosion from the instruments that I just mentioned. The chorus also features the line ‘If you want to change, be not afraid‘, which is quite catchy after multiple repeats. The second verse has a similar set up with a minimalist vibe for Hwesung’s solo part, this time the guitar work being a electric guitar riff. Seunghyub returns briefly as a vocalist before coming in as a rapper. His rap sequence was actually cool, and I like his delivery which showcased a tinge of hip-hop. In the bridge of the song, we get a brief stripped back sequence before slowly rising back to the final chorus. There is a bit of a suspenseful delay to the reintroduction to the beat, allowing Hwesung’s vocals to be showcased once again in a raw fashion before the drums come back in to close out the song with the hefty style that featured in the first and second choruses. Moonshot is a powerful yet simple alternative track that speaks volume in music and meaning.

The meaning of the song can be expressed simply by that one hook line, ‘If you want change, be not afraid”. At the start of the video, we see the members cowering in fear. They seem to want change, but it appears they fear the unknown. Their world is constantly watched, which the members work out based on the cameras you see everywhere, the eye we see in the roof and the TVs they find with all the footage of them throughout the video. The world is also “fake”, with boundaries set up to keep them in (I got Truman Show vibes when Hwesung and Seunghyub touched the barrier). I think the moon (wearing the spy gear) is a fake moon and whoever is behind this fake moon is elicting fear on the members. Once the secret has been unveiled, they take their desire for change to the next level, by attacking to the moon which subsequently blows up revealing the real world. Thus changed had occurred, only because the members stopped being afraid. Overall a good video with a really deep and meaningful message.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.4/10

[Review] Don’t Fight The Feeling – EXO

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EXO IS BACK! That is the first time I am saying that since their last ‘full-group’ comeback under the name of EXO with Obsession (both the name of the title track and album) in 2019. The main reason to the almost two year hiatus is because of military enlistment. Even during the Obsession comeback (and even today’s comeback), EXO has a few members currently enlisted in the military. And in 2020, it was announced that EXO would focus more on solo and unit promotions, with the successful debuts of Suho and Kai, and the successful comebacks of Baekhyun (Candy and Bambi), Lay and EXO-SC. But today, we welcome back EXO through the release of a special single, Don’t Fight The Feeling, which features members Xiumin, D.O (both who have returned from the military), Chanyeol, Baekhyun (both who have just enlisted), Lay, Kai and Sehun. This comeback also marks the first time Lay has featured in a comeback since 2018’s Tempo. Suho and Chen are currently on hiatus due to their enlistment (alongside Chanyeol and Baekhyun). Okay, formalities out of the way, let’s have a closer listen to Don’t Fight The Feeling.

Described as a dance song with a ‘cheerful rhythm’, Don’t Fight The Feeling really delivers with its upbeat instrumental and catchy lyrics. If you are looking for the usual serious and mature sound from EXO, this isn’t the song you are looking for. But if you are looking for something upbeat and vibrant as Love Me Right or Power, then Don’t Fight The Feeling is what you be looking for. I really like the no nonsense approach the song has when it came to its instrumentation. From the very start, you could feel what the song’s description was stating. And as the song went on, the synths gave off a funky vibe (which is a very 2020s thing), while the bass gives the song its depth. I do dislike the inclusion of the trap-based background for the rap sequences, with its stripped back nature being a bit too standard for my taste. I felt that these part could have been a bit more enticing with something a little more original. Overall, it is a really cool instrumentation that gives you in the mood for a bit of a groove. The chorus was catchy with the repetition of the song’s title and the overlapping of vocals. This technique really kept the song going and helped key the song’s hook into your mind. Though, I would have liked to hear a more dynamic hook to the song, but what we got in Don’t Fight The Feeling was satisfying nonetheless. When it comes to the vocals and rapping, it is definitely great to hear everyone again. There wasn’t anything as explosive with their delivery however and I didn’t think any member stood out of the pack. That’s fine though, because EXO still gave us a satisfying showing of their vocals. But while that was the case for the overall song, it was definitely nice to hear Xiumin, Lay and D.O, as it has been a while since we have heard from them. As for the rapping, what we got was okay. But it wasn’t really the best showcase of Chanyeol or Sehun’s skills. I think if the producers went with a backdrop that flowed with the rest of the upbeat instrumentation’s momentum, it would have worked more in Chanyeol and Sehun’s favour. Personally, Don’t Fight The Feeling is a really good return for the group and a song I wouldn’t mind casually replaying. It isn’t until I sit down to consider the elements individually, that I find myself slightly disappointed.

Don’t Fight The Feeling‘s music video fits into the new SM cinematic universe, which appears to revolve around KWANGYA (the planet in which aespa’s virtual members live on). As the lyrics, I think that members have to travel through KWANGYA to EXO-Planet, which is EXO’s destination in this video. I think that is a nice tie into the cinematic universe, but also keep EXO’s storyline as its own separate entity. As for the visuals of the music video, I thought it looked quite cool, with the spaceship and air-craft carrier. It was definitely nice to see most of the group on our screens, as well. Lay also made an appearance during his solo part. Though, it is clear he had to film elsewhere (most likely China) and the editor(s) inserted him in later. Everything was all good until we got to the final scene, where the members are all partying up and we see a snippet of the choreography. I am happy they inserted Lay into the choreography shot, bringing EXO together once again. But the green screen usage at the end was pretty poor in my opinion, and I felt like this impacted the quality of the music video in the end. The video just didn’t feel great anymore, thanks to the ending.

The choreography definitely looks cool, and I am glad the green screen didn’t ruin this aspect. It is definitely more lighthearted and not intense as EXO’s usual style, but I attribute the change to the music which calls for a lighter set of moves. I liked the chorus, when they do pivot with their arms stretched out in a diagonal fashion.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8.5/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.3/10

[Review] Up All Night – GHOST9

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Last week, GHOST9 made their second comeback of the year with Up All Night and their fourth mini-album, Now: When We Are In Love. This continues the string of comebacks by the group in a span of less than a year, which (as I had stated in my last review for GHOST9) I am glad for, to help get their name out there. I just hope that the members do get an opportunity to rest and their management doesn’t overwork them (like we have seen happen with other groups in the past). This comeback in particular comes after their February comeback with SEOUL.

Up All Night opts for a lighter and brighter tone, fitting for the Summer season that Korea is currently entering into. All their title tracks thus far have been of of a intense EDM sound, which is very typical for male groups currently. So it is nice to hear GHOST9 switch up their sound for something more pop driven. And as one of the first groups to release song of this fun and bright style, Up All Night has great energy and drive. If the song was released closer to Autumn, I don’t think I would have been as excited for the song as I am now. The song starts off as your standard pop number, pumping in this upbeat energy that is synonymous with having a great time on Summer break. It then leads into a chorus, reminding me of One Direction’s style of pop music back when they were still around. The second half loses that touch slightly to incorporate a bit of rap into the chorus, but it is still as dynamic as the first half. The second verse continue the momentum that has been set for it, continuing the appeal of the song. The bridge of Up All Night slows down a bit, but I feel this just helps the final chorus be just that bit extra impactful (even though I am quite sure it is the same chorus on repeat from earlier). I really enjoyed the rap sequence that formed part of the bridge. It just came in the right time and had all the right vibes for this part of the song. I also really liked the extension to the final chorus, and how they call came together for the final to wrap it up. As for the vocals and rapping, I felt like Up All Night put a really nice display of those elements. Their delivery of both vocals and rapping were fitting for the overall style of the new song, and they were quite clear and crisp to listen to. Up All Night may be a straight forward song in some sense, but I think it was a great showcase of what GHOST9 has to offer outside of EDM.

The chorus blasts you with colour. Most of it wasn’t artificial, however, as the entire video is shot outside. The colours are just vibrant and feel fitting for the Summer season. The invisibility cloak scene and the massive red balls added a cute tone to the video. I do question the flying whale. Not sure what it means exactly, but I have seen it often in KPOP. As for the members, we see them have a bit of fun in the sun and in the shade, bringing forth the energy of the song. Overall, the music video is fitting for the song, so there isn’t much else to ask for.

I really like fun the choreography looked for this comeback. It has this slight bounce to it and I felt some of the moves were just a bit fun infused into the routine (like how they move about in the second half of the chorus). I think there is opportunity in the final chorus for the group to change the routine a bit between performances. It think this would make the performance more enticing to continually check in on.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.9/10

[Review] Hurt – Baekhyun (EXO) & Seomoon Tak

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One week ago, I said I was going to prioritise one particular song for review as it rose to the top of my personal Weekly KPOP Charts for the 4th Week of May 2021. Unfortunately, I didn’t around to writing that review during the week. But it is still a priority, especially since I am publishing this review before so many other releases that I have promised myself to write reviews for (some of them released weeks before this particular song was released). But just in case for those who missed it (or don’t pay attention to my Weekly KPOP Charts), the song I am talking about is titled Hurt and it is a collaboration between Baekhyun (from EXO) and Seomoon Tak, who is a South Korean rock singer. This collaboration was released on the 10th of May, and has gone since without a review. However, that will change today with the release of the review! Just a few days prior to the release of Hurt, Baekhyun enlisted as a public service worker to fulfil this military enlistment duty.

I didn’t immediately check out the song upon its release. And that turned out to be a regret, because Hurt is soooo (yes, the extra o’s were necessary) good. Hurt is a rock track, showcasing both Baekhyun’s and Seomoon Tak’s vocal powers. The instrumentation has a nostalgic factor (i.e. synthesizer keyboard) for me, bringing me back to music I used to take a liking towards when I was younger. On top of that, the instrumentation is fiery and powerful, acting as the perfect backdrop to help lift those power vocals I just mentioned to be even more so. The song starts off with Seomoon Tak, who I am unfamiliar with. She is a rock singer (as stated earlier) who made her debut back in 1999. She takes the first verse and presents us with her raspy and husky vocals. Based on what you hear, you can tell she has experience in the genre. She sounds amazing throughout her solo parts, teasing us with her vocals with what you know is coming. Baekhyun doesn’t make an appearance in the song until the first chorus, in which he leads. We all know Baekhyun is a capable singer through a lot of his solo work and through EXO’s songs. But I don’t think we have ever heard him like this, showcasing powerful vocals that leave in me in awe. I really like the echoing they do with the song’s title in the chorus, which added so much depth to the song, The pair play switcheroo for the second part of the song, with Baekhyun singing the verse and Seomoon Tak taking helm of the second chorus. That being said, there is some crossover. Baekhyun has some stunning high notes in the second chorus. But I think the ultimate singer has to be Seomoon Tak who blew me away with the heft and intensity she throws behind her vocals in her chorus. But remember, Hurt is no competition between the two singers. They come together in a spectacular fashion for the final chorus, harmonising their power vocals together to create a really satisfying end to the song that just touches your inner soul in all the right places. Overall, the passion and intensity of Hurt, along with the pairing of Baekhyun and Seomoon Tak just makes Hurt unforgettable and highly recommended.

The music video for Hurt is quite simple. The pair perform their songs into microphones in front of a band, who plays the instrumentation of the song. The lighting makes the video’s ambience quite moody. But the song itself prevents the video from entering a gloomy feel. I liked the hand held camera work in this video, which I think made the video more impactful with its shakiness. It gave off a live impression. While we are on the topic of ‘live’, I did wish this was a live video, where they were singing and recorded live. That would have made it more stunning and impressive, whilst also showcasing the song in a very gripping way.

Song – 10/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9.6/10

[Review] Where Are We Now – Mamamoo

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Mamamoo is the next big name group to make their return this week. So far this year, we haven’t heard too much from Mamamoo. This might be due to the fact the members were renewing contracts with RBW. Currently, all members aside from Wheein have confirmed to have resigned with their company, with Wheein’s contract still being negotiated. That being said, we have seen some of the members since their promotions of AYA and Dingga at the end of last year. Solar has released an OST track for the Korean drama Vincenzo, Wheein made her comeback with her first solo mini-album and the track water color and Moonbyul collaborated with Bumkey for the single The Lady. On Wednesday, the group made their comeback with their 11th mini-album, WAW and the single Where Are We Now.

For a group who is known for their amazing and power vocals, it is pretty interesting that this is Mamamoo’s first full-fledged title track that is also a ballad. They did release Paint Me in 2018 as single, but it didn’t get the same promotional treatment as Where Are We Now. The new song was initially breathtaking as Paint Me, showcasing the group’s vocals abilities in an undeniable sense. The song starts off with Hwasa’s husky vocals and piano/guitar backdrop, before we are introduced to the lightness with Wheein’s vocals. And this is all followed by Solar’s soaring vocals. I really like how they keep the song grounded, despite all the lightness and high notes we do get. It brings the song back to a stable point and allows for the thrill of the same lightness effect and high notes to return as we listen to the song some more. But let’s skip back a few sentences. I stated that ‘The new song was initially breathtaking…’. Key word in this statement is ‘initially’. It came off as breathtaking the first time I listened to it for sure, but I think the effect has worn off with multiple listens. Sure, the song is still captivating. But with multiple listens, I am pretty familiar with the song and yet I find myself preparing for the disappointment that comes in the song’s second verse. And that disappointment has to be Moonbyul’s rapping. It isn’t her style or delivery that I find disappointed. I just find the rapping to be an ill-fit for Where Are We Now. I wished Moonbyul had stuck to singing like the rest of the members, and showed off some vocals like in 10 Nights. I am not looking for Moonbyul to replicate her high note that from example song, but I think Where Are We Now would have sounded better full of vocals rather than with a rap sequence. I also think Moonbyul could have been given more parts and not be confined to just the second verse. Overall Where Are We Now had potential to be grander, if it hadn’t conform to the need for a rap sequence as per most KPOP songs.

There was a mix of elegance and casual visuals throughout the video for each the members. But regardless of which scenes fell along the spectrum of elegant and casual, they all came together to make this a really beautiful video to watch, complimenting the same captivating feeling that the song had. While I tend to not like the moody colours filter that was applied throughout the video, I felt that the moody colour tone was expected to fit the ballad genre. The most stunning scene has to be the one where they are in their white dresses, surrounded by the revolving lights. The birds-eye view shot we got with the lights started twinkling was amazing to watch, and appropriately matched the peak of the song.

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

[Review] GAMBLER – MONSTA X

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Next up on the reviewing block is yesterday’s release of GAMBLER by MONSTA X. The new single comes from their ninth mini-album, One Of A Kind. It follows the November release of LOVE KILLA and their third studio album, Fatal Love (which I have previously reviewed). Since then, the group released Japanese versions of their previous Korean title track, a new original Japanese single (titled Wanted) and their third studio album in the Japanese pop music market titled Flavour of Love. The lead single off that album hasn’t been reviewed yet and I will doing that in an upcoming International Song Review post. In the meantime, sit back and prepare for a secretive listening session with MONSTA X’s GAMBLER.

MONSTA X takes a few steps away from their usual EDM based tracks for a sleeker sound. The usual intensity that we have gotten through many title tracks from MONSTA X is still present, just delivered in a different manner this time around. GAMBLER features this groovier foundation, which is a refreshing sound for the group. Sure, it might not be the most innovative technique out there in the wider KPOP music scene, but it is definitely so for the group. The bass in this song brings forth that funkier sound and is highlighted by the electric guitars and drumming. There are synths in the song, that bring a rougher texture and bombastic sound, but they are not as intense and don’t contribute to the ‘noise’ as much as in their previous songs. The best part of the instrumentation, for me at least, is all the deep instrumentation we get. So much depth and texture to GAMBLER. Also adding so much texture to the song are the vocals and rapping. To me, I feel like the members are making up for that lack of EDM through their deliveries. Kihyun blasts us with his power vocals throughout the song, and we see more coverage of Hyungwon and Minhyuk in this song. I like Joohoney’s and I.M’s more rhythmic rapping sequence in the second verse. Usually, they come at us with this really aggressive sequence, featuring a lot of growling and raspiness. However in GAMBLER, they tone it back but still have that really impressive tone to it. Joohoney, in particular, also surprisingly brings us a high note towards the end of the song, showcasing his vocals which we have previously heard during their Versace on the Floor cover a few years back. His skillset is reiterated further down the track during a really intense ad-lib which compliments the electric guitars that come into play to close out the song. I have been waiting for Joohoney to bring that to a track and it is finally here. My most favourite part, in terms of vocals/rapping in GAMBLER, has to be the harmonies we get following the thumping dance break. There was a lot of unpack from the song and I don’t think I even covered all bases with regards to what I liked about GAMBLER. Though, I think it is safe to say that this is one of the best in a very long while.

Throughout the video, MONSTA X successfully hatch a very lucrative plan to steal a gem that has been dubbed MX0514 (MX standing for MONSTA X and 0514 representing the date in which they made their debut over seven years ago – which I guess means they have renewed their contract with Starship Entertainment given that initial contracts last 7 years). They each infiltrate a private auction and try to scare the potential buyer by putting him under some bidding stress by following his bids very closely. All the members become bidders by killing other bidders or stealing their invitation. Meanwhile, Joohoney kidnaps the person who is supposed to be overseeing the auction and takes on the role of the auctioneer. Assuming that they didn’t have money to begin with to win at the auction, Kihyun and Minhyuk start a fight at the auction, timing it to when Kihyun had set the timer to go off to cause an extensive blackout, which resulted in the members defeating everyone who is not part of their team and hence allowing them to steal the gem without any problems. I am not exactly sure of the ending though, as they drive away from the scene in police cars (i.e. are they police?). My guess that this is just a cover to help they get away from the scene. It is a really cool video that shows off their fierce and bad-boy looks, showing us who not to mess with.

Unfortunately, Shownu is sitting out of promotions for GAMBLER due to a medical issue. Despite this, the rest of the group make up for their leader’s absence by filling up the stage with their stage presence. I have said this before, but facial expressions make up a really massive part of the stage performance. And watching their performance, each member really hit the nail perfectly in regards to facial expressions, filling up any gaps with their stage presence. The energy that comes from the performance as a result is thrilling and really captivating.

Song – 9.5/10
Music Video – 10/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9.6/10

[Review] Hello – Joy (Red Velvet)

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Hello. Welcome back to the usual transmission of song reviews. We start off today with where we left off on Monday. Joy, one fifth of Red Velvet, made her solo debut at the start of the week with Hello and the mini-album of the same name. She is the second member to officially go solo, with the first being Wendy, who made her solo debut earlier this year with Like Water. While we are all excited to hear from Joy (and the other members through solo and unit promotions), I am still waiting for a full group Red Velvet comeback, which hasn’t occurred since December 2019 with the release of Psycho. But I guess we just have to wait a little longer. In the meantime, let’s have a listen to Joy’s Hello.

If Monday’s review was for an emotionally charged rock track is at one end of the spectrum, then Hello is another rock-influenced track at the other end of the spectrum. Joy’s Hello is cover of a 1999 single titled Good Bye by Park Hye Kyung. I personally do not have much to say about the song aside from the fact that I really liked it. I didn’t know what to expect from Joy when it was announced that she would be making her solo debut. So I was geninuely surprised to hear such an enjoyable song that really boasts addictive and colourful energy. Joy’s cover carries over the same energy and cheerful vibe from the original song. If anything, Joy’s version amplifies the energy, released in a day and age where technology gives that opportunity to take it to the next level. But the rock influences within Hello is only one side of the song’s instrumental. There is a lot of brass during the chorus to really heighten the energy and happy feeling of this version. And this really appeals to me (because you know I like my brass). I also find the song really suitable for the upcoming season of Summer, as it is chirpy, extremely upbeat and refreshing to listen to. It ticks all the boxes of what you would want in a song positioned for release in Summer. As for her vocals, I find Joy’s vocals make this version super sweet and youthful, which fits her image and personality. Like the original song, the choruses was probably its most defined moments, with the verses falling into the forgettable category unfortuately. The chorus had the really catchy and colourful melodies that the song relies on. Overall, Hello was a great step for Joy for her solo career. Hopefully she returns soon with an original track as the title track that shows off more of her skillset!

The music video for Hello was super cute. While I am sure there is a deeper meaning to the video, just looking at what you can see on the screen in a literal sense already brings a smile to your face. Based on the start of the video, it appears that Joy is in some sort of stagnant part of her life. She clearly looks tired and is pretty much over whatever she is experience. So after some responsible cleaning up, she starts afresh and goes on a road trip. On this road trip, she comes across a young girl and decides to take her home. The only probably is, she is relying on a map that is handdrawn (by the young girl I persume). So she seeks the assistance of local bikers. seafood divers, farmers and surfers, who point her in the direction of the young’s girls home. After a long road trip, we see Joy reunite the young girl with her family. It is such a happy and feel-good type of video, complimenting the energy coming from the song. Even the waves and smiles on the faces of the locals bring one to your face.

Not entirely sure if there will be any choreography for this solo debut. Based on the original performance of the original version, there was no choreography. Instead a live band played in the background while Park Hye Kyung sang live. There is a possibility that Joy might do the same. But I think this is a great opprtunity to separate the cover from the original. We will find out more come Friday when she makes her first appearance on stage with Hello.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 10/10
Performance – To Be Updated
Overall Rating – 9.4/10 (To Be Updated)

[Review] 0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You) – TXT ft. Seori

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Kicking off the week is TXT with their first comeback in over eight months! Last time we saw the group was through their single Blue Hour and their third mini-album, Minisode1: Blue Hour. Since then, we have seen the group make a comeback in Japan with the track Force, and their first studo length album in Japan titled Still Dreaming. On a brief side note, I have not been able to review it this new Japanese release as there is no music video as far as I am concerned. But we are here today to talk about their newest Korean release. Today, the group returns with 0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You) and their second studio length Korean album, The Chaos Chapter: Freeze.

TXT takes on a different sound with their new song, opting for rock influence in 0X1=LOVESONG . Since the unveiling of the highlight medley last week, I was excited for this comeback based on the various upbeat tracks on their new album. But it is the rock influences on the album that really caught my attention. For me, there is no feeling like finding just the right rock song that has the right amount of intensity and energy to put on. There is just something about being able to head bang to a song and tap my foot away that gets me all giddy and excited. 0X1=LOVESONG really ticks those boxes for me. What I also really liked about 0X1=LOVESONG was how pure it was. Not in the sense of it being innocent or cutesy. But rather, in the sense that it was untouched by any synths. With a lot of the pop music relying on electronic and synths to some degree, it is nice to hear something a bit traditional in terms of instrumentation. And in this song, it somehow gives the rock sound a chance to be easy on the ears, which is a rather interesting thought I had about the song. When it came to the chorus, the energy exuded by the rock sound made for a thrilling dynamic that made the song even more appealing to me. Another aspect that I really liked about 0X1=LOVESONG is that it shows off the members’ husky and raspy tones. It made the song more impactful and allowed emotions to be poured into their vocals. 0X1=LOVESONG is also quite catchy. While the instrumentation and energy of the song is already quite memorable, they really hone it in during the post-chorus hook. Seori features in this segment, and she adds a very crisp and refreshing vibe to the song that I find to be ideal. It cuts through the intensity of the rest of the song (so it just doesn’t become a relentless track) and boldens the hook to be even more memorable. If I were to be critical about the song, I do feel that 0X1=LOVESONG there might be a potential overly consistent issue in the song’s sound if it gets replayed too many times in a short period of time. A substanital rap sequence would have been nice to relieve this issue. I think it would have been a nice addition to the song, adding further momentum to the song to drive it forward. But as it is early days, I think 0X1=LOVESONG is a fine song that showcases TXT in a new light.

The music video seem to tell a story of being alone. Yeonjun, who plays the main character in this video, is alone in this world. His parents are fighting, which causes him to find escape. He steals his car keys and go on a drive. The reason why I think he is alone is that this didn’t seemed plan. But yet, his ‘friends’ are awaiting him at the car, welcoming him to his adventure. Throughout the video as well, we see Yeonjun physically separated from the rest of the group highlighting the loneliness that he has. But as I said before, it is his escape from reality. At the end of the video, we see Yeonjun wake up alone. Aside from the story, I really like the grey filter that is on the video and the choreography shot with all the speakers behind them.

I like how they added to the song’s initial energy with their angsty approach to the choreography and vocals. It made the performance look really good and even more powerful that what you would expect. However, there wasn’t really a memorable move for me in this performance, which is a pity. But the routine is still worth watching! I also want to give a shoutout to their stylists who hit the brief perfectly with their grungy outfits that feel so fitting for the song.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.8/10

[Review] FIRST – EVERGLOW

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Earlier this week, EVERGLOW made their long-awaited comeback with FIRST, which headlines their third single album, Last Melody. This is the group’s first comeback in just over eight months, with their previous comeback being LA DI DA at the end of September 2020. LA DI DA was such a big comeback for the group, which earned them Best Music Video, Best Female Group Choreography, Best Album (for -77.82X–78.29) of 2020 in the 2020 KPOPREVIEWED Awards, as chosen by you. LA DI DA was also the third Best Song of 2020! Let’s see if FIRST has what it takes to repeat or exceed the standard set by LA DI DA for EVERGLOW’s discography.

Thrilling is how I would describe FIRST. From the dramatic violins that open up the song to the bombastic nature of the instrumentation during the chorus, everything instrumentally comes together to give off a thrilling atmosphere and evokes what felt like an adrenaline rush for me. That is a really strong effect and I am impressed that EVERGLOW managed to pull it off, This is especially considering that so many songs attempt to do the same, but disappointedly fall short. But this clearly is not the case for EVERGLOW’s FIRST. I particularly really like that final sequence, which felt like an additional treat. The energy that comes suddenly out of nowhere really caps off the song splendidly. To aid the instrumentation and show off EVERGLOW, the members’ vocal work and rapping reaches the same effect. What easily could have happened, that we have heard time and time again in other songs, are the members are hidden by the instrumental. Despite FIRST falling into what some might call the ‘noisy’ category, the members still come out on top of everything, which is what you want. So far, everything comes together really well to be such a dynamic track. But following the likes of LA DI DA was, from the start, going to be a hard feat. And I feel that while FIRST is dynamic, it lacks one element that prevents it from overtaking LA DI DA. At least, this is what I think. To me, FIRST lacks that robust hook that really catches on. I enjoyed the energy and feeling of the song, but I didn’t really remember much when it came to the lyrics. If only FIRST had memorable hook, I would have bumped this song to the start of my personal favourite EVERGLOW song, but LA DI DA manages to still hold onto that title.

The music video for FIRST was extremely dynamic in a visual sense. Everything in the music video really works extremely well to create a stunning visual piece to accompany the likes of FIRST. This includes everything from the styling of the members’ outfits, to the choice of background and sets for all the shots, to the visual effects add to the video. There was a sense of boldness to the video which was fitting for EVERGLOW. Their outfits just make the members pop right out at you. The stylists definitely deserve a shoutout for this! The various sets and locations they used for shooting came with an epic feel to it, which added a thrilling tinge to the video. The visual effects gave the video a bit of an interactive fanfare and made the transitions look so cool, which made the video even more dynamic. The camera work fitted the energy of the song. It is one of the best videos of the years, thus far.

To match the powerfulness and boldness of the song, the performance aligns well. However (since it looks like the routine is so intense) by the time they get to that final sequence where the music comes out at you, the choreography just didn’t seem as satsifying. I feel like the members put in so much of their energy throughout the earlier sequences, that there isn’t much left over to push themselves for that ending sequence.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 10/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10

[Review] Advice – Taemin (SHINee)

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While I was on break last week, a number of comebacks occurred that I could not review. Now that I am back, I will try my best to get on top of the last week and this week’s comeback. First up is SHINee’s Taemin, who made his last comeback with Advice (the title of both the mini-album and its lead single) before his impending miltary enlistment at the end of the month. While his fellow group members have completed their miltary enlistment, Taemin pushed forward with his solo career, releasing massive hits like Want, Criminal and Idea. Luckily for all the Shawols out there, SHINee was fortuate enough to make a group comeback earlier this year just before Taemin enlisted with Don’t Call Me and Atlantis (Album Review Here!) in addition Taemin’s solo release.

What makes Advice sound stunning was the piano present in the instrumentation. It was definitely captivating for me to listen to, especially since it was incorporated really well into the electronic trap-centric instrumentation and made the otherwise standard electronic influence a bit more gripping than if it was packaged as a standalone. Furthermore, I really like the vocals throughout the song. Taemin slips into falesetto mode for some of the song, especially when it came to the chorus, giving the song a bit of dynamism to make it a little bit more exciting. I really like it how his vocals are backed up when it came to the chorus, adding some depth to the song. And I feel that the additional dynamism and depth were much needed. Without the much needed dynanism and depth that we got, Advice would have been a bit shallow and too ‘safe’ for my liking. As a whole picture, Advice is good. But I will admit that Advice isn’t as show-stopping as some of his previous hits. There is a couple of reasons for this, but I feel like this boils down to one of two reasons (or maybe a combination of both). Advice felt overly consistent and stuck in neutral gear for the three and a half minutes or so. Also, Taemin’s solo releases tend to explore unexplored territory for KPOP, or repurposes rare styles to be his own. I felt that Advice didn’t have that individualistic spark which always perks my interest. But nonetheless, Advice is still a listen and might be a good song if you want to ease into Taemin’s discography. But as someone who has reviewed all of his solo tracks, Advice lacks what it takes to be at the top end of Taemin’s discography.

While those are my thoughts about the song above, it doesn’t mean the same thoughts necessarily apply to the rest of the comeback. The music video for Advice, to me, is haunting. And this is all done without slipping into a dark or twisted theme. The initial scene with Taemin’s body marked with grease and covered only by a black mask with white stitching and web-like overlay (whilst playing the piano) was very impactful and made the video feel sinister and creepy. We are then shown Taemin in a choreography shot with long hair with grey-blue ends, which make him look chraismatic as a vampire. Very impactful imagery. The rest of the shots (I don’t have time to go through them one by one) follow a similar pattern. This is also complimentary to the atmopshere which the lyrics create. Based on what I understood of the lyrics and visuals aspects of the video, his lover is driving him insane and makes him a crazed person (“The more you trap me, the more I go off the rails“). Based on his lyrics, he warns this lover to stay away from him, but they don’t. This results in Taemin going insane completely, driving recklessly on the road and dying at the end of the video. A very interesting set of events.

Once again, Taemin pulls off an impressive routine for this comeback. There was a lot of footwork and I really like how he carried that haunting atmosphere from the music video over to the stage performance. I really like the dancers contributed to the start, setting the scene of the performance. I also really like how they were slowly brought in using small body rolls at the end of the bridge.

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

[Album Review] I’m (2nd Mini Album) – Kim Sejeong

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The next album that I am reviewing is Kim Sejeong’s second mini-album, I’m. Once again, I was drawn to the mini-album while vetting albums for review. A number of the songs on the album appealed to me. And so, I put the album on my reviewing list for review, which is where we find ourselves today. The release of this album, and the title track Warning, is her first major activity since the disbandment of Gugudan at the end of last year. Previously, Kim Sejeong’s first mini-album (unreviewed) was released in 2019 and titled Plant. It also featured the title track, of the same name Plant. But today, we are here to listen I’m.

I’m Album Cover

1. Teddy Bear – Teddy Bear starts off the album with an easy listen. It delves into the pop rock genre, which I find brings a nice colour to Kim Sejeong’s discography. The drums and electric guitars were all a really decent pace that was appealing to my tastes. What also I like about listening to Teddy Bear is that it was a no fuss and no commitment type of track. Nothing felt heavy. But rather, the entire song felt blissful. The solo artist’s vocals were extremely fitting for the style and drove the song forward in a very soothing manner. (8.5/10)

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

3.  Do Dum Chit (밤산책) – Do Dum Chit was a favourite of mine. I really like the refreshing colour that Do Dum Chit has. It is also an extremely likeable upbeat track with a really nice contrast of heavy and light elements. The heavy comes through via the instrumentation of the chorus, whereas both the verses and vocals brought lightness to the song. And this combination resulted in a really appealing song. I also find the addition of the phone sound effects to be a nice touch (working with the lyrcis). Kim Sejeong’s sweet vocals, rapping at the end and ab-lib were standouts as well. This song had it all for me. (10/10)

4. Let’s Go Home (집에 가자) – Let’s Go Home starts off with thumping beats that instantly sold me the song. The rest of Let’s Go Home falls into rock genre, but on the softer and maybe pop side of the spectrum. And it was no let down. To me, the song showed off Kim Sejeong’s vocals extremely well. She brought this breathy tone to Let’s Go Home. I also liked how the soft pop rock instrumentation and her vocals worked together to create a very dreamy and organic sound. (9/10)

5. Maybe I Am (아마 난 그대를) – Like all KPOP albums, there is a need for a ballad. And for this album, the ballad comes in the form of Maybe I Am. It is also the album’s final song. The presence of Maybe I Am on this album is no surprise to me, given that most of her well-known tracks have been of the ballad genre in some degree. And like those past works, Maybe I Am captivates with both vocals and instrumentation front. It is hard to describe the song any other way than ‘perfect’, especially when she gives us stunning vocals and a really soothing orchestral backing. It ticks my swaying criteria for ballads, is easy to get lost with, and was a beautiful listen to finish up this album. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 9.3/10

I’m Teaser Image

[Album Review] SCENE26 (3rd Mini Album) – Lee Jin Hyuk

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The next album which I wanted to delve into for a closer listen is Lee Jin Hyuk’s recent comeback with SCENE26, his third mini-album since his solo debut in 2019. At the forefront of this mini-album is 5K, which dropped with the mini-album at the start of April 2021. Personally, I am not a fan of his releases in the past (which includes I Like That and Bedlam) and this detered me from sitting down to write an album review for those past mini-albums. But as I was vetting albums by a casual listen recently, I was drawn to a few tracks on this mini-album that caught my attention. Furthermore, 5K garnered the most positive review I had for Lee Jin Hyuk since his solo debut. So with those factors combined, I am excited to finally sit down to have a closer look at one of Lee Jin Hyuk’s mini-albums.

SENSE26 Album Cover

1. 5K (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for 5K. (7/10)

2. Silence – If 5K’s tone was playful and fun, then Silence is edgy. The second track on the album is an EDM track, which isn’t really the ideal genre to push for some ‘silence’. In fact, I really like how loud this track ended up being. There is also a lot of character to the song, which isn’t standard with typical EDM song. There is just something more to the song that I find very exciting. I really like the layering of all of the rough and harsh synths and textures, which creates an energy that sounded like it could easily have fitted into an intense, suspenseful and ‘edge of your seat’ type of action movie. For Lee Jin Hyuk himself, his rapping was quite dynamic and robust. And he too inserted a lot of character into the song himself. (9/10)

3. Asteroid (소행성) – Asteroid is my favourite track on the album. While his vocal work at the very start wasn’t really the best foot forward, the rest of the vocals were extremely fitting for this rock song. I really like the harshness/roughness of his vocals, which make it fitting for the rock genre. And he sounds so good throughout the rest of the song that I am willing to overlook that tiny detail at the start. The rock instrumental is relentless and powerful, blasting us with energy from practically the first second. Altogether, everything felt like an anime OST. And I would be willing to watch any anime with a lead in track like Asteroid. (10/10)

4. HATI-HATI – HATI-HATI is a blast of intense hip-hop energy. If you are a person is easily overwhelmed with intense songs, then this one might not be for you. But if you enjoy that thrill, then definitely check out HATI-HATI. For me, I don’t mind being blasted by energy, but I much prefer the song’s more melodic moments in the pre-choruses and bridge. That being said, Lee Jin Hyuk really pushes himself to deliver lines that really stand out on top of the instrumentation, showcasing an ability that definitely can be helpful with some songs. On top of that, his rapping was impeccable and definitely shows promise. (8/10)

5. Be Half Awake – We return to a more playful and fun track, allowing us to take a break from all that intense energy from the pervious songs. It isn’t my personal favourite song on the album, as I felt that the harshness in his tone was competing with the synths and instrumental. Sometimes they clashed, and this was a jolt of sound that I personally did not enjoy as much. Be Half Awake‘s more melodic moments were appreciable. But once again, it is rapping that steals the show for me in this song. I just wished the energy from both the song and Lee Jin Hyuk was toned down a bit to gives us more of an opportunity of a break from the album’s intensity. (6.5/10)

6. Wave (끄덕) – If I were to pick a song which showed off his rapping off the most, then Wave would be my pick. His rapping in this song is definitely his best work yet. The energy, the character and the charisma are all showcased in this song to a high degree. If he had started off his solo career with a song like Wave, then I would have been an avid follower. I also like the underground vibes of this song, which is really cool. Not only was it a great style to showcase Lee Jin Hyuk’s talents, it is also very different from most rap songs we hear in a KPOP album. (9/10)

7. Coup-d’état (활) – In addition to ending the album, Coup-d’état was selected as the follow-up promotional song to end 5K promotions. The powerful and intense nature of the EDM that makes up Coup-d’état makes it a song that is extremely fitting for the stage. Actually, I think this would have been a strong contender for the title track position of this album The energy from this song would have been thrilling as the entrance track to SCENE26 and would have started everything with a bang! In addition to the intensity and stage-worthiness for this song, Coup-d’état also showcases Lee Jin Hyuk in an explosive manner that doesn’t feel like was capitalized in any of the above songs. We have heard impressive rapping from the soloist in the above songs, but I don’t think we have heard him like this before! (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.5/10

SCENE26 Teaser Image

[Double Review] Inside + Whatever – KEEMBO

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It is time tap back into that ‘Coming Soon’ list and pick another artist to review. For today’s review, I have selected an artist that I never have reviewed before, a female duo named KEEMBO. Well, technically that is not true. I have reviewed the duo KEEMBO before. However, back then KEEMBO were members of the female group SPICA, who released some of my favourite KPOP songs such as Tonight and You Don’t Love Me. SPICA disbanded in 2017 and the members went their separate ways. In 2020, Kim Bo Young and Kim Boa formed the duo KEEMBO and debuted with the single Thank You Anyway and since continued to promote with one another. This year, KEEMBO released the singles Inside and (more recently) Whatever, which I will be reviewing both today.

Inside was released as the title track from the duo’s first studio album Scandal back in February of this year. I missed it when it first released and it didn’t really catch on until I paid actual attention to the song weeks after its release. Now, it is a song that I look forward to when I see it coming up on my playlist. What makes Inside so good is the pairing of KEEMBO’s vocals and groovy electronic instrumental that we get. If you know them from their SPICA days, then you will know how capable they are. While Inside doesn’t really showcase the extent of their capabilities, Inside really shows how substantial they can be. Their vocals were solid through and through and I enjoyed that little spike and push they gave in the final chorus. I do wish there was more to give that song that oomph it needed, but they did well. For the instrumentation, Inside was extremely satisifying. It was straightforward but in a no mess type of way. I also quite like the instrumentation for its contrast to the lyrics. The song is very upbeat, yet the lyrics are very emotionally driven.

Whatever was released nine days ago as a digital single. To me, it delivers what felt was missing from Inside, though very briefly. It is a very peppy retro instrumented track that is very upbeat and exudes this very cheerful energy that I find enjoyable. The trumpets were a really nice touch and give this song colour that the drums didn’t have when it was the only instrumental centre piece in the verses. The chorus was definitely the more memorable parts of the song, with the brass and the powerful vocals. Whatever definitely shows off more of that ‘extent of their capabilities’ which I noted that I wanted in Inside. Those powerhouse vocals come through via the word ‘Whatever‘, which is an extremely small dose. But a step towards what I wanted. Those ad-libs at the end seem to be tease us a bit. But while I do love a good belting, I also enjoyed the softer moments of the song that KEEMBO gave us in this song. The softer approach was a nice contrast with the chorus, especially when it came to the ‘dadada‘ hook. It gave the song that additional addictive tinge.

Further to the contrast between music and lyrics of Inside, the contrast between lyrics and music video is also quite remarkable. In a way, it makes sense to me as love can make you twisted things (and so does a heartbroken person). Essentially, the music video shows KEEMBO recovering from a relationship in their own way. The person they were once in love with had told them to move on, but KEEMBO do not want to singing lines, by singing lines such as ‘Forget it if you want to‘ and ‘My tears are mine to shed‘. This angers them and they result to killing the ex-lover (Bohyung dragging the bag, Boa holding the knife or glass shard by the sharp end in her hand while staring at something) to just stop their ex-lover from continually saying the same thing. You just don’t expect that darkness behind such an upbeat song. I also really liked how creepy they looked in some of their indivdual shots, further fueling that darkness. Miles away is the music video for Whatever, which is protrays the cheerfulness and peppy profile of Whatever in a straightforward way. I really like how they were singing to really nice paintings, who also sang back to them. I just wished they looked like they were belting those high notes in the chorus, rather than acting cutesy or cheerrful. I just don’t think it is a good fit for those moments in the song.

Despite the two upbeat songs, only Inside got a dance performance for its promotions. It was a decent performance, with the focus being on vocals rather than the dancing for the pair. But they did participate in some of the moves. I really like the light sensual tinge the choreography had, which felt appropriate for the song.

Inside
Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 8.4/10

Whatever
Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 7/10
Overall Rating – 7.9/10

[Review] Make Up Your Mind – Ailee

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We turn to a more recent release following my review yesterday for a 4 to 6 month old song (depending on what you would consider its release date). And this release is by Ailee, who makes her return to the KPOP scene through the title track Make Up Your Mind. Make Up Your Mind is featured on her pre-release mini-album, Lovin’, which marks her impending return with her third studio album in the near future. Lovin’ also features Spring Flowers as another lead track from the mini-album, but it doesn’t have an official music video and hence I won’t be reviewing it. Her last comeback was back in October of last year with the mini-album I’m and the title track When We Were In Love.

Make Up Your Mind is a pretty decent modern pop song with an instrumental that is quite airy but also textured. I guess this combination was intentional to keep the song interesting and substanced. Otherwise, I think the song would have been a bit too light and would be unforgettable. The main issue for me in regards to Make Up Your Mind is that it is a pretty repetitive on the instrumental front and doesn’t really delivery anything new or memorable by the time the song wraps up. If you heard the first verse and chorus, you have pretty much heard all of Make Up Your Mind. And after multiple listens, you are looking forward to a different song from the artist. I wished there was something more gripping or dynamic about the song. That way I would be more inclined to return to the song for further replays. On the flipside, I do appreciate that airiness and breezy nature, which is still a nice contrast to the texture we get through the synths as mentioned at the start. Per any of Ailee’s songs, her vocals are what is foremost and centre in the song. Ailee compliments that airiness and breezy nature of the song by opting for light vocals herself. While this is a great match, I do miss her more substantial releases that contains super powerful vocals. We know what Ailee is capable of based on her earlier singles. Make Up Your Mind doesn’t satisify that craving and I personally wanted more. To me, this songs fits neatly as a pre-release single and not as title track material. Let’s just hope that whatever follows Make Up Your Mind satsifies those cravings I mentioned earlier and provide us with something that is more driven.

The music video (or music v-log as the video has it in the title of the video) features both Ailee and Park Eun Seok (more recently known as Logan Lee from The Penthouse series). In the video, the pair acts as friends who have feelings for one another. They go on trips with one another and care for each other. But it seems like Ailee is waiting for Park Eun Seok to make the first move. And in the end, he doesn’t for whatever reason. This is why Ailee is singing lines such as “You take your time. Like a lover, show me how you feel to me now.” and “Tease is attractive. But” in this song. It makes sense. One thing I wished about the music video did better was that the story came together a lot more fluildly that what it did. They felt very disjointed and poorly sequenced in my opinion. Personally, I don’t have much to say about the couple scenes, but her solo shots during the pre-choruses gives off an snobby impression which I am personally not a fan of. I might be percieving the visuals wrong but that is what I got from the video unfortuately.

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

[Review] Dangerous – E’LAST

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Time to cast our minds back to 13th of January 2021. A few comebacks from some artists happened on that day (one of which is Yubin, and her song Perfume – and that is a review coming your way some time in the near distant future). One of the releases that day was a music video from E’LAST for the single Dangerous. Dangerous was selected from the group’s Awake mini-album to be a follow-up promotional track following promotions for Tears of Chaos, which was released back in November 2020. Member Wonhyuk rejoined the group for promotions of Dangerous, after sitting out of promotions for the main title track as a result of scheduling conflicts. Four months on, I am finally getting around to writing a review for the song/music video/performance!

I can’t actually recall my initial thoughts regarding Dangerous when it was first released in November (that was six months ago!). I do remember checking out the album but I am guessing that nothing really stood out of me from the mini-album, based on the fact that I don’t remember anything from it. When the song resurfaced in January thanks to the follow-up promotions that E’LAST proceeded with, the song attracted my attention and earned itself a position on my ‘Coming Soon’ list, which is why I am writing a review for it today. To me, Dangerous really yells out title track material. It might not be as impactful as Tears of Chaos was for me, but Dangerous felt overly substantial to be just a side track in retrospect now. The song taps into deep house for the bulk of its instrumentation. I really liked the roughness it gave the chorus and the edgy vibes from the song’s post-chorus dance break at the end of the first and last choruses But there is a bit more to the song than just deep house. I really like how they set up the bridge of the song which features classical piano and strings. Coming off the intensity high from the chorus, the contrast felt bold and gave us a brief moments of relief from the EDM. Dangerous also benefited from amazing vocals from the members, especially when it came to the chorus. There was this electrifying energy that came from the chorus from the instrumentation and the member’s vocals really managed to pierce through. Sometimes intense backdrops tend to cover up vocals in some songs, but the producers and E’LAST themselves did a good job of ensuring they could be heard. The melody that the member’s brought to the chorus was also catchy for me. The rapping was also really good. I wasn’t much of a fan of the rapping in the first verse (sorry Wonhyuk), but I was floored by the rapping in the second verse by Rano. That was extremely cool sequence! Overall, powerful and intense track that you should totally put on your playlist now if this style is your jam.

The music video is okay. It uses the typical formula of choreography and close up. But I will be fair and assume that this music video was probably shot in the midst or soon after promotions for Tears of Chaos wrapped, which doesn’t give much time to put together something substantial (i.e. plot lines, acting etc.). But there is this dullness to the video that really drags it down for me. I wished the music video was more dynamic that what we got served. I think when it comes to powerful and intense songs like this, you would expect flashy lights and a bit more vibrant colours in the set design to really uplift the video and compliment the song. But here, we didn’t get much of that, aside from the intense red light and plain/monotone cream colour of their set.

Like the song, the choreography is definitely powerful and intense. It is actually a great routine that does a good job of reflecting the song’s nature. The synchronisation looks cool and does wonders to this routine.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.4/10

[Review] Next Level – aespa

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Taking their careers to the ‘next level’ today is aespa, with their third comeback since their debut with Black Mamba in October of 2020. You may have missed their first comeback occurred earlier this year and through a remake single titled Forever. Interestingly, it didn’t attract as much attention as you would have expected for SM Entertainment’s newest group. But don’t fret, aespa has a long career ahead of them. And that next step comes today with the comeback Next Level. It is another digital single from the female group (no album release just yet). But hopefully they will get one for their next comeback. But in the meanwhile, let’s check out Next Level.

Next Level is the type of songs that jams a lot of styles into one song. Sometimes it works fine, but other times, it doesn’t. For me personally, Next Level falls into the latter category. The individual styles themselves all sound great in their own right. But the issue is when they are all strung together. It is a bit of a reach to make it one whole piece. I personally feel these parts differ in a very distinct manners. Let’s break down the various parts of Next Level. The song starts and ends with this electronic background that reminds me of the soundtracks for those scenes in action movies where the main character is riding the motorcycle in a very cool manner (we will call this Part 1). This makes sense as the original version was from one of the Fast and Furious movies. Part 1 also features the chorus – the ‘Next Level‘ repetition hook, which is a really simple chorus. But one that works extremely well and catches on. While I did enjoy Part 1, the enjoyment unraveled briefly when this cutesy and innocent ‘Lalalala’ sequence was brought in. The original version has this sequence, but it kept it at a low tone. I think aespa’s version pushed for a more innocent style, which didn’t fit the cool sounding profile that kickstarted and ended the song. The atmosphere and style of Part 1 returns briefly, before we are handed the ‘Watch it while I make it out‘ repetition. To me, aespa’s version of this sequence fits with the cool side of the song. But because of ‘Lalalala‘ still fresh in my mind, this repetition carries the same effect which is unfortunate. aespa’s version of Next Level starts to divert from the original here. Part 2 seems to be a transitional piece and maintains the cool thumping beat of Part 1, but features a bit more percussion and textures. In addition to the instrumental change in Part 2, we get a greater focus on vocals, which were powerful and well executed by the members. Ninging and Winter’s vocals here reminds me of S.E.S’s Bada’s vocals (which is a huge compliment). Part 3 comes soon after with more peppy backing that is full of colour and brings forth urban city vibes. The result is an instrumentally light and cheerful sequence. It seems to merge both the strong rapping from Part 1 and the powerful vocals of Part 2 together. But while I really like this part, I feel this is miles away from the coolness of Part 1 (which returns to end Next Level following Part 3). Overall, I just wished Next Level didn’t flip the switch to suddenly change to Parts 2, 3 and back to 1 out of nowhere. It needed a bridge to glue it altogether and make it more cohesive.

Following the visuals of Black Mamba, I had high expectations on the visual front of the music video. And they delivered! A lot of the stylistic choices from Black Mamba were carried over, which I quite like and it allows the music video to appear connected to one another. (which I believe is intentional as the videos are under one universe). The fantastical colour scheme and some of the sets (the big tree and the rocky set) felt similar to the ones we saw in their previous music video. But Next Level makes sure to be its own standalone music video as well, bringing in a sci-fi futuristic concept, which I think was suitable for the song’s various parts. Also returning are the other four members of the group (i.e. the “æ” members). I liked how they were worked into the video and the transitions between the doppelgangers. I wished they played a bigger parts, especially if they are considered an additional four members. In terms of plot line, Next Level shows us snippet of their travels to “Kwangya to hunt down Black Mamba that estranged us from our avatars”.

Performance wise, I think the routine for this comeback looks awesome. I don’t think there is an iconic move like in their previous dance routine (i.e. the drop lunge). But this performance looks cool and full of confidence nonetheless, which is fitting in with the song.

Song – 6.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.3/10