Category: KPOP

[Review] body – DAYOUNG (WJSN)

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Despite most WJSN members renewing their contracts with Starship Entertainment in 2023 (LUDA and DAWON left Starship, but remain as part of the group), there has been minimal music release from WJSN or the members themselves. The only member to release music since 2023 is SEOLA with her solo debut single Without U in January last year. Over a year and a half later, DAYOUNG is the next member to release her solo debut single, body.

I don’t think any KPOP song released this summer has earned the annual title of a Summer hit. Maybe Soda Pop from KPOP Demon Hunters, but I don’t consider that to be KPOP. With that said, perhaps DAYOUNG’s almost-all-English body potentially has what it takes to earn that title. Both the dance pop track’s instrumental and DAYOUNG herself sound refreshing and upbeat at the same time. For the instrumental, I enjoyed the bouncy bass and beat in the background, while the synth work feels very cool and chill. body also benefits from being straight forward and easy on the ears. As for DAYOUNG, I enjoyed her vocals. Like the instrumental, she was also very straight forward in her delivery, but she also brought a lively touch to body. The rap-sing in the second verse did take a couple of listens for me to warm up to (as it felt very plain at first), but it works fine now. body‘s hooks in the chorus are extremely pleasant and catchy, and I find myself easily humming along to the chorus when body plays. Personally, I would have liked for something a little more dynamic towards the end, just to offset the potential risk of repetitiveness and the main hook becoming monotonous . But that is something I can overlook, which will help body to edge closer to becoming that yearly summer hit in my books.

Looks as if the music video was shot in the USA, this visual aspect of body embodies the summer season quite well. The location is extremely bright, with the house chosen for the video having a lot of open space and tall windows to emphasise the presence of the sun. I liked the summery outfits worn by DAYOUNG and the dancers. I also liked how sexy the video got during the bridge, with DAYOUNG and the dancer’s silhouette being the main focus.

As mentioned earlier, body is upbeat and dynamic dance pop track. DAYOUNG and her dancers do a great job of showing just that on stage, and also have a blast while they are at it. I liked how there was something different in each chorus, but it all came back to the same moves. The performance looks best when everyone is on stage dancing together.

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

[Album Review] ONF: My Identity (2nd Studio Album – Part 1) – ONF

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While we are patiently awaiting the second part of ONF’s 2nd studio album, here is my review of the first part of ONF: My Identity, which was released back in February this year. Leading the 6-track album is the title track The Stranger. Once again, ONF did not disappoint with their album release, almost reaching the same heights as last year’s mini-album release (see info below). I ranked all the tracks highly, half of which received a 10/10 from me. For more of my thoughts on the album, keep on reading.

Before the release of this album, we last saw ONF through their 8th mini-album, Beautiful Shadow, which was led by the amazingly superior Bye My Monster.

Album cover for ONF: My Identity (Part 1)

1. The Stranger (Title track) – Click here for The Stranger’s full review. (9/10)

2. Night Tale – Following the title track is Night Tale, a cool electro funk number. While the song is under 3 minutes long, Night Tale packs quite a bit into its short span and effectively uses the time to make a punchy number. I really like HYOJIN’s ad-libs at the end, as well as WYATT and E-TION’s rap/rap-speak delivery in the second verse. The rest of the members’ deliveries also appear strong. The instrumental break, particularly thanks to the retro touches, definitely makes for a worthwhile dance break – exactly what the SEUNGJUN and the group gave us when Night Tale was performed on stage. (9/10)

3. Nothing But A Stranger – Next up on the mini-album are the unit tracks, with Nothing But A Stranger from the ON Team (HYOJIN, E-TION and MINKYUN). It is an R&B track that showcases what the unit is all about – vocals. I love how dreamier the melodies of Nothing But A Stranger gets as it progresses, allowing the trio to really whisk us away with their warm and comforting vocals as the song progresses. (10/10)

4. Anti Hero – The OFF Team (SEUNGJUN, WYATT and U) takes over the album with Anti Hero. The track features a rock-based track that is definitely exciting and powerful. The rock style reminds me of TVXQ’s Red Sun. I find myself head-banging along to the choruses each time I replay the song. Their rapping and vocals are on par with the instrumentation in terms of power and intensity, with WYATT’s deeper voice put on full display during the pre-chorus sequence, and SEUNGJUN and U’s vocals working perfectly in the chorus. (10/10)

5. Good Place – Good Place is probably the most unique and intriguing track on the album (and probably in recent times in KPOP overall). It is a fun house and tropical blend track, which doesn’t sound too out of the ordinary. But it also features a cool flute synth accompaniment that just gives Good Place something different to separate it from the rest. I like how the melodies and vocals were ‘easy on the ears’, which is also channelled throughout the rest of Good Place, which makes for an intriguing listen overall. (10/10)

6. Collab – Continuing on with the upbeat vibes from the previous song is Collab, a bossa nova-influenced track. It is a more mellow and pleasant track compared to the others on the album. But it is still very bright, bouncy and has some boldness to it. I liked how pronounced their vocals and rapping were over the top of the instrumentation, and the brass elements were very appreciated. It is more on the ordinary side, however. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 9.3/10

ONF’s teaser image for ONF: My Identity (Part 1)

[Review] INSIDE OUT – DAY6

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DAY6 celebrates their 10th anniversary through the release of their fourth studio-length album, THE DECADE. Leading the album are the singles INSIDE OUT (focus of this review) and Dream Bus. The album follows the release of the digital single Maybe Tomorrow from earlier this year and the news that the band has re-signed with JYP Entertainment. Yay to more years with DAY6, but for now, let’s celebrate with my review of INSIDE OUT.

I personally found INSIDE OUT to be a great song, as it tickles the DAY6 nostalgia within me. It revisits pop-rock territory and has the right elements to make it feel like familiar to me. But there is still a bit of freshness to the song, which comes mainly in the form of the groovy, thumping first half of the chorus. I found this part of INSIDE OUT to be very unique, and I liked how the second verse briefly revisits this in the first instance. The second half of the chorus brings a rush of upbeat energy that makes the song exciting and there is a comforting feeling to thanks to DAY6’s vocals. INSIDE OUT‘s melodies are fine and pleasant, though I think they could have done more in this department. It felt a little too ordinary, but this shouldn’t deter you from listening to INSIDE OUT at all.

INSIDE OUT speaks to how someone cannot keep their feelings for another person hidden any longer, leading them to a love confession. In the music video, we see DAY6’s lives at a standstill due to keeping these emotions bottled up. We see nerves, sickness and even the idea of their relationship (and perhaps their friendship) not working out, as represented by the dancers dressed up as crash test dummies and the messaging of ‘failure’ in the pool scenes. As the video progresses, the members build up the courage to confess, leading the finale where the test dummies explode, which suggests that the fear from earlier probably did not eventuate. It is a bit of an abstract concept, but I think it works well in telling the story that the members were once worried that their confession could lead to the breakdown of their friendship with their crush.

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

[Review] CRZY – HAECHAN (NCT)

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As of yesterday, HAECHAN has become the 7th member of NCT to make his solo debut, following TAEYONG, TEN, DOYOUNG, JAEHYUN, YUTA and MARK. HAECHAN’s solo debut comes in the form of a studio album, TASTE, led by the single CRZY. More recently, HAECHAN has been busy promoting as part of NCT DREAM through their BTTF and CHILLER singles, which form part of NCT DREAM’s 5th studio album, Go Back To The Future.

HAECHAN is most known for being the main vocalist of the NCT subunits he is part of. And so, it should be no surprise that his solo debut title track shows off some of his vocals. His tone is consistently refreshing throughout CRZY, complementing the R&B pop dance genre that CRZY delves into. That being said, I do feel like the material within CRZY could have done more with his vocals, especially on the melodic front, which felt plain in CRZY. I do appreciate the smoothness and sleekness of his vocals and the melodies that we did get. But it wasn’t exactly the amazing material I had expected from a main vocalist. CRZY does give us a different side to HAECHAN that we don’t usually hear much of – some rapping. I appreciate that this is something different for HAECHAN, and it gives us something more to talk about. Instrumentally, I liked how upbeat CRZY got via the rhythmic guitar and percussion. It definitely made CRZY feel cool and suave.

CRZY is about the influence someone you are attracted to can have over you. In the music video, that person is likened to a piece of art that HAECHAN find in an art gallery. At first, we see HAECHAN admire it and then graffiti the art gallery around it, showing the influence the art (or someone) can have on him. By the end of the video, the art piece itself is replaced by another (representing that the someone mentioned earlier has left his life), and leaves HAECHAN wondering what life could have been like had that someone stayed in it. I liked the concept of the art gallery, and it speaks to the fact that art (in whatever form) can be powerful and influential to the point that it can affect people.

I wasn’t really sure what I was expecting on the choreography front for CRZY. So I guess I can say I was genuinely surprised by how good HAECHAN pulled it all off. Though considering that he is part of NCT DREAM and NCT 127, which are known for their dance performances, should this really have been a surprise? Anyhow, I really enjoyed the smooth moves that HAECHAN and the dancers pull off during the chorus, while the term ‘crazy’ was slightly elongated. The MJ influence was also unmissable, and I love how controlled those spins were throughout the routine.

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

[Review] Rich Man – aespa

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The last two reviews are for releases from the start of the previous week. I now skip forward to the end of the week to review aespa’s new title track, Rich Man, which serves as the title track of the group’s 6th mini-album of the same name. This is the group’s first release since June’s Dirty Work.

Production-wise, Rich Man is a fantastic song. I love the hard rock influence the group goes for in Rich Man. The guitar work has a grungy quality that lends the song character, and it pairs well with the synths chosen for the song. The resultant instrumental piece is very energetic and dynamic, yet different from aespa’s usual output (which has been more synth-based). However, the disappointing thing about Rich Man is that it uses a lot of the same hook. While the members sound nice delivering the line “I’m a rich man” over and over again, the repetitiveness loosens Rich Man‘s power that has been building up throughout the song. It also doesn’t help that another side of Rich Man‘s hook is the “La La La“. After hearing something that channels power, the softer and delicate “La La La” hook just doesn’t feel like the logical follow-through to really push the song further. From the first presence of this hook, Rich Man has to rebuild itself, which just doesn’t deliver the same result as before the hook. Overall, Rich Man is a strongly instrumented track with weakening material.

The music video shows the members being independent and not needing a ‘rich man’ as they continuously iterate throughout the song. We see the members driving a race car, playing American football against a dog (unsure if this is a real-life occurrence) and alongside an actual team, fixing and supporting a vehicle without a lift, and taking on other typical male professions (this video chose a camera operator to showcase this). Later in the video, we see the members on a farm, demonstrating self-sufficiency (whilst the city in the background burns down). Out of all these locations and sub-concepts, I think everything that revolved around the race track and football was more fitting with the music, compared to the farm scenes.

On stage for Rich Man, their confidence and charisma, as well as their robust and (sometimes) complex dance moves, make for a performance that is worthwhile to check out. If that isn’t enough for you, their performance is also full of a sassy attitude that the song allows for and makes this performance even better.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.8/10

[Review] N the Front – MONSTA X

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Earlier this week, MONSTA X made their first album release since 2023 (as the majority of the group were carrying out their respective military enlistments) with their 13th mini-album, The X. The mini-album celebrates the group’s 10th anniversary since their 2014 debut. Leading the mini-album is the title track N the Front, and the pre-release Do What I Want (which I have already reviewed).

While it has been almost a week since N the Front dropped, the song has left the same impression on me during every listen I have given it thus far. Put simply, N the Front is shouty and boastful, but it does so without much to it. While shouty and boastful can make a strong song (and this is definitely the potential N the Front has), I just felt the repetitiveness in this song leaves only the hook in mind and makes you forget the rest. If you were to ask me about what else is going on in the song, I couldn’t tell you about it. And that says a lot, given MONSTA X themselves and their songs are powerful. That is how I would describe the synth-based instrumental that forms the basis of N the Front. However, I couldn’t fully describe it without relistening to the track and tuning out the repetitive hook. Even the members themselves appeared to be overshadowed by the hook, though re-listening to N the Front for the purposes of this review has made me realise that the raps in particular are pretty strong, while the vocals were okay at best when away from the song’s hook. Obviously, the hook is where the members are their strongest within the song.

The music video shows the force and power behind MONSTA X, telling people around them not to mess with them. Otherwise, you might turn into green goo like the guy they tied up and relocated in the van via loud music. Other parts of the video convey a message that they are different and should be allowed to be themselves. I actually liked the various premises of the video, which include taking over a TV studio and commandeering a junior taekwondo class. The best part of the video has to be the bridge, as JOOHONEY and I.M are delivering the lines “Make the ground shake, bring the earthquake, Feel the floor crack, we are not fake“, and the people we see in the video are stomping along with the music. It is a very cool and commanding part of the video, which is why it is my favourite part of the song.

Despite recently going on hiatus for back pain and treatment, it is nice to see I.M participate in the promotions for the comeback. While he isn’t performing the choreography, he is still actively joining the members on stage throughout the performance to deliver his parts of N the Front. As for the choreography, it is definitely a powerful routine with a hip-hop influence that looks cool. I also enjoyed the bounce in the routine during the chorus.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 8.5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.7/10

[Review] ICONIK – ZEROBASEONE

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ZEROBASEONE is back with their 1st ever studio album, NEVER SAY NEVER. The album is led by the title track, ICONIK, following last month’s SLAM DUNK and the earlier single BLUE, (plus the mini-album BLUE PARADISE, which I have yet to review). This release is timely, as their original 2.5-year contract (starting in July 2023) leaves the group with less than 6 months remaining. But in some exciting news, WakeOne (the company that manages ZEROBASEONE) is looking to extend ZEROBASEONE’s contract. So there is hope for more music from ZEROBASEONE, potentially including another studio album.

ICONIK is a song with the potential to be awesome. It has only been a couple of hours since the song’s release, so it needs a few more listens to develop. However, with a strong first impression already made, ICONIK will likely grow on me easily. Throughout this dance track, the group incorporates funky and groovy elements boldly with its disco-pop style. I really liked this direction of ICONIK, but I just wish the chorus had a bit more time to breathe. It felt too tightly strung together. While it worked well in terms of intensity and boldness, it also made ICONIK‘s chorus feel like a fast-paced blur, preventing us from fully taking it in. The obsession with keeping a song under 3 minutes might have been a driver for this, and while it has helped make repetitive songs feel less so, I don’t think it was necessary here. The melodies in ICONIK ultimately fall victim to the fast pace and tightness, feeling slightly undeveloped and rushed at certain times. But it isn’t all bad news. Vocally, I felt ICONIK is strong, while KIM GYUVIN’s rapping was very sleek. I was very impressed with MATTHEW’s bridge, HAN SUNGBIN’s high note and KIM TAERAE’s ad-libs at the end.

According to SOOMPI, ICONIK “represents the path ZEROBASEONE has walked down as artists and expresses their determination to shine even brighter.” In the music video, we see the members in the midst of their journey they speak of in the song’s message, stopping at an airport along the way that serves as a midpoint of their trip. Their destination is probably wherever that floating jewelled star is. It may represent stardom, as we see one of the members grab onto a microphone and jump off it. I really liked the styling of the members throughout the video, as well as the cool post-production. I also liked how the producers ensured the energy in the video matched the song, which makes it very appealing to watch alongside the song.

I like how the choreography captures that funky and groovy side of the song, creating a very energetic performance to watch. The best part of the routine is undoubtedly the transition between the bridge and the final chorus, where the deep rumbling synths take centre stage, and the routine intensifies in that moment.

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

[Album Review] SAD SONG (7th Mini-Album) – P1Harmony

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Next up for an album review is P1Harmony’s SAD SONG, their 7th mini-album since their debut. The mini-album features a total of 7 songs, including the title track, which shares the same name, as well as its English version. For the side tracks on this mini-album, P1Harmony explores a diverse range of genres and successfully interprets them in their own style. I do encourage you to check the rest of the SAD SONG mini-album, especially if you are just discovering or getting into P1Harmony.

SAD SONG follows on from P1Harmony’s 1st studio album, Killin’ It, which was released last year alongside the title track of the same name. More recently, P1Harmony returned with their 8th mini-album and title track of the same name, DUH!, which I have yet to review (but will).

SAD SONG Album Cover

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

2. It’s Alright – It’s Alright brings a reggae influence to the mini-album. Also featured prominently are some funky-tinged electric guitar and really awesome vocals. The former helps reinforce the reggae influence, while the latter is on full display from THEO, KEEHO and JIUNG. Both THEO and JIUNG suit this song’s style so well, while JIUNG’s high note blows me away each time I listen to It’s Alright. “It’s Alright” is very much an understatement for It’s Alright. (9/10)

3. Last Call – Pop rock is next up on the mini-album through the single Last Call. The energy for this track is a definite selling point, and this encapsulates the desire to continue celebrating and partying that is expressed in the lyrics. Compared to the last song, Last Call is a well-balanced track that showcases the best of P1Harmony, with some members (KEEHO and INTAK, namely) pulling double duties. The rappers really give it their all in Last Call, and they all sound awesome. The vocalists continue to display their good vocals from the previous song, making the pop-rock feel familiar. (10/10)                 

4. Welcome To – The rock elements continue onwards in Welcome To, but in a grungier manner. I really liked the head-banging potential behind the rock instrumental, as well as the melodies during the chorus. I did wish the instrumental was a little more energetic, as this would have taken the song to the next level. And since I have been naming the key players in each song, I should continue this theme throughout the video by pointing out that SOUL really shines throughout Welcome To. (8/10)  

5. All You – All You presents us with feel-good vibes with a jazzy introduction and an easy-going instrumental with brass elements. It is an extremely pleasant sound for the group, and they do a decent job with it. I do prefer P1Harmony in their more upbeat dance numbers, but this was still a good number from them. (7/10)

6. WASP – WASP serves as P1Harmony’s first subunit track, featuring the main rappers of the group – INTAK and JONGSEOB. I really liked the rough voices the pairs bring to the song. But JONGSEOB’s softer tone rap takes the cake for me. There is also something catchy about the “Wiung Wiung” hook in this hip-hop track. While WASP isn’t my go-to track for the usual reasons, it was still a decent number on the mini-album. Hope there are more unit tracks in P1Harmony’s future. (7.5/10)

7. SAD SONG (English Version) – See SAD SONG’s full review above.

Overall Album Rating – 8.3/10

P1Harmony’s SAD SONG teaser image

[Review] XOXZ – IVE

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IVE made their return at the start of the week with their 4th mini-album, IVE SECRET, and the lead single XOXZ. It is their first overall release since their July Japanese comeback with Be Alright and their first Korean comeback since their 3rd mini-album IVE Empathy, which featured singles REBEL HEART and ATTITUDE.

Except for last year’s Accendio and TKO from their previous mini-album, whenever IVE has promoted a song with an edgier and darker style, it has been a miss for me. The new single XOXZ appears to follow that trend. The choruses were the biggest miss in the entire song, in my opinion. It was very dry and lacklustre. There was some good to be found in the chorus, such as the dramatic flair in the instrumental and the whispery delivery of the XOXZ title. However, somehow, putting all of that together just didn’t have the desired impact and created a fizzler of a centrepiece. The fast-spoken lines should have been an intriguing component, but the execution just didn’t stick with me and was easily overlooked. A similar comment can be applied to most of the song. However, it isn’t all bad news for XOXZ. I really liked the ethereal pre-choruses. It is just a pity that the follow-through (i.e., the chorus) was a let-down.

The music video for XOXZ unfolds as a dream, starting with a truck crashing through the window of a high-rise apartment. This is then followed by the dream version of IVE taking the sleeping member on a journey of her dreams. I really liked IVE’s edgy looks throughout the music video, and I feel elements of the video call back to IVE’s Accendio‘s music video (i.e., the goat horns). The only aspect of the video I didn’t like was the dings that start to appear during the bridge portion and in the ending card. It just made the video feel overly cheesy.

The performance aspect of the comeback was pretty good. Nothing stood out on its own, but rather the choreography (as a whole) did a decent job of encapsulating those edgy tones from the song. I also enjoyed the balance between the members’ cuteness and power in the routine.

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

[Album Review] 19.99 (3rd Mini Album) – BOYNEXTDOOR

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Last September saw BOYNEXTDOOR make a comeback with their 3rd mini-album, 19.99, and the lead single Nice Guy. Today, I am finally getting around to reviewing the mini-album, which sees the members explore all sides of almost reaching their 20s. Upon realising this theme, it is a bit confronting to figure out how much older I am in comparison to the group. 19.99 also features the pre-release single Dangerous, the English version of Nice Guy, a skit and 3 additional side tracks.

More recently, the group returned with their fourth mini-album No Genre, led by the single I Feel Good. The group have also released their first original Japanese single, Count To Love, in the last week or so. More on the newer releases in the near future. For now, my thoughts on 19.99.

19.99 Album Cover

1. Dangerous (부모님 관람불가 – Pre-release Track) – Click here for Dangerous’s full review. (8/10)

2. Gonna Be A Rock (돌멩이) – Gonna Be A Rock falls into melodic pop-rock territory. It explores a more delicate yet resolute side of the group. I liked the touch of strings in the instrumental and how the rappers delivered their raps melodically to fit into Gonna Be A Rock. I also liked how the pop-rock instrumental really comes in during the chorus and gives some angsty energy to the song. (9/10)

3. Skit – The third track on the mini-album is a radio skit. It is a short audio piece, but it shows off their chaotic energy and playful vibes, which fit in nicely with their image and in this mini-album. No rating has been assigned to this track, but it was a fun interlude to introduce the second part of the mini-album.

4. Nice Guy (Title Track) – I can confirm Nice Guy did grow on me slightly since I reviewed it last year. As such, I have decided to bump up my original rating by a whole point. The key part of the original review I would change is that the Nice Guy’s hook did become memorable. Alongside the funky and groovy instrumental, it helped me warm up to Nice Guy. Click here for my original thoughts on Nice Guy in its full review. (7.5/10)

5. 20 (스물) – The guitar-centric instrumental for 20 delves into mid-tempo pop territory. At the same time, the group shows vulnerability whilst reflecting on their journey that sees them reach the young age of 20. I have to say I am consistently drawn to WOONHAK’s smooth vocals in 20 each time I listen to the song. A nice song, overall. (8/10)

6. Call Me – Call Me takes us further into soft mid-tempo pop territory. The chorus for this track was catchy, thanks to the melodies. These same melodies bring a flowy and swayable motif, which makes Call Me pleasant. The vocals and raps balance each other out, and their tone bring a certain youthful and comforting energy to the song. (8/10)   

7. Nice Guy (English Version) – Refer to the Nice Guy’s review above.

Overall Album Rating – 8.1/10

BOYNEXTDOOR’s teaser image for 19.99

[Review] HER – MINNIE (i-dle)

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I made a promise on the blog a while back to review MINNIE’s solo single ‘soon’. Well, ‘soon’ has come as I am finally getting around to reviewing MINNIE’s official solo debut single HER, which is featured as the lead single off her debut mini-album of the same name. An album review for this mini-album will follow, after I’ve reviewed some of the other singles with accompanying music videos. I haven’t decided whether to review all of them separately before the album review, but you will find out soon enough. (Note: ‘soon’ has been used this time around to mean soon, and not a couple of months away.)

HER leans into the groovy and upbeat pop music trend that we have been hearing a lot in KPOP (now and back when HER was released). I find the instrumental to be pretty simplistic, with a hefty beat and those groovy tropes serving as the main elements of HER‘s background. MINNIE’s vocals throughout the song are light and delicate, which I find to be well-balanced with the instrumentation. I did wish MINNIE had been given material that made her sound stronger to give HER some additional oomph and dimension. Yet, somewhere along the way, both vocals and backing come together to make HER sound sophisticated, which suits the concept the debut went for (more on that in a second). What I have always liked about the song is how catchy it is. The chorus plays the repetitive card, but it was effective and has allowed the song to stay strong in my books. Overall, a strong solo debut track from MINNIE.

The music video sees MINNIE play 3 versions of herself. The first version we see, MINNIE dressed in white, is actually MINNIE herself. She goes on a drive at the start of the video, but returns home later on presumably to deal with the other two versions of herself. Left behind at the mansion are playful MINNIE (dressed in pink) and serious MINNIE (dressed in red). They are polar opposites, representing two distinct halves of MINNIE’s mind and personality. I like how they are continuously clashing, though I wish it were more physical than verbal clashing. I also like MINNIE’s final expression in the entire video, clearly fed up with her alter-egos.

I liked how MINNIE embraces her sensual and seductive sides for their accompanying performance. I liked how sassy the chorus felt, both on stage and within the music. It was definitely worth checking out.

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

[Album Review] abouTZU (1st Mini Album) – TZUYU (TWICE)

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If you don’t remember from last year, TZUYU made her solo debut last year with the single Run Away and her debut mini-album aboutTZU in September. She was the third member of the group to embark on solo promotions, following NAYEON and JIHYO. While the title track didn’t really hit the same as her other members’ title tracks have, the rest of TZUYU’s debut mini-album does. I highly encourage you to check out the mini-album if you haven’t yet.

Also, keep your eyes out for an upcoming song review for fellow member CHAEYOUNG, who will be the fourth member of the group to officially go solo with her debut studio album, Lil Fantasy Vol. 1, dropping next month.

In the meantime, here are my thoughts on each song that featured on abouTZU.

abouTZU Album Cover

1. Run Away (Title Track) – Click here for Run Away’s full review. (7/10)

2. Heartbreak in Heaven (ft. Peniel of BTOB) – Heartbreak in Heaven is an unexpected all-English pop song. It sounds quite pleasant and enjoyable in the moment. Although it sounds nice, I would have enjoyed Heartbreak in Heaven more if it had a bit more substance. It is a rather light song, which doesn’t bode all that well in the memorable department. The instrumental feels a little bare. TZUYU’s vocals were rather linear in terms of trajectory (though we did get some range from TZUYU), and Peniel’s featuring felt too constrained in the bridge. (7/10)

3. Lazy Baby (ft. pH-1) – If the previous song and Lazy Baby were battling for best collaboration on this mini-album, Lazy Baby will take the win. And it takes the win as best track on this mini-album. It has so much more character and energy that makes it super enjoyable in the moment and remains vividly in your mind even after the song wraps. The funky old-school vibes make Lazy Baby super fun. The same can be said for TZUYU’s vocals, which have a significant impact and oomph. pH-1 follows through with dynamic rapping, and I love when the pair come together in the song. (10/10)

4. Losing Sleep – At first, I didn’t think much of Losing Sleep. But repeating the song for writing this review was quite interesting. I actually quite like the single. Losing Sleep brings on the summery vibes that reflect the season in which the mini-album was released. TZUYU sounds quite mature in the song, and I liked this side of the TWICE member. The bouncy synth, featured consistently throughout the song’s tropical instrumental, doubled as a great textural element. The “Losing sleep over you” is very catchy and memorable, as well. And the high-pitched autotune vocals in the bridge brought interesting flair. (8/10)

5. One Love – I would have liked One Love more if it leaned slightly more into the pop-rock sub-genre. I really liked the direction of the song, especially the fun, light-hearted vibes in the verses, and the extent to which it went down the pop-rock path. But I keep on wondering what if it had gone bolder or pronounced with the pop-rock. I think it would have sounded awesome. TZUYU sounds heavenly in the track, especially in the chorus. She really suits the sound, which makes me wish there was more of it in the song and mini-album for TZUYU to really explore. (9/10)

6. Fly – TZUYU ends her debut mini-album with the pop-ballad Fly. I feel like this could have been on the soundtrack of a Disney movie. It just sounds beautiful. From the dreamy piano, strings and orchestral touches in the instrumentation to TZUYU’s vocals, everything was stunning and breathtaking. I love Fly so much that I’m giving it a 10/10, which is definitely the definition of ending on a high note in review land. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.5/10

TZUYU’s teaser image for abouTZU

[Album Review] AMORTAGE (1st Mini Album) – JISOO (BLACKPINK)

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Next album up for a review is JISOO’s debut mini-album, AMORTAGE, which was released in February 2025. Led by the single earthquake, the mini-album features a total of four songs. All songs on this mini-album are definitely a great addition to JISOO’s small yet growing discography.

AMORTAGE and earthquake serve as her first solo release since her Me single album and lead single Flower from 2023.

AMORTAGE Album Cover

1. earthquake (Title track) – Click here for earthquake’s full review. (9/10)

2. Your Love – Despite being released back in February (which is Winter in South Korea), Your Love radiates summer energy. To this day, Your Love has remained my favourite side track on this mini-album. It starts off soft with atmospheric synths and delicate vocals from JISOO, before building to a really nice drop which helps the pop melodies of Your Love shine. I love how simple and pure JISOO sounds in the song, and the energy just hits all the right spots for me. (10/10)

3. TEARS – TEARS goes down the pop-rock direction. The deep beats during the verses were very riveting and commanding, while the rock instrumentation gives TEARS some appreciated texture. I also like how dramatic the bridge got and how JISOO’s vocals are solid throughout. However, compared to the other songs on the mini-album, TEARS is just a little too plain for my liking. (8/10)

4. Hugs & Kisses – Bringing the short mini-album to a close is Hugs & Kisses, a powerful EDM song that definitely leaves an impression. The autotune placed over JISOO’s vocals in certain moments (like the very end) reminds me of some ‘00s pop diva songs. The chorus is actually quite catchy thanks to the pop melodies. The pre-choruses are dramatic, and the progression of Hugs & Kisses adds to the memorable factor. I liked how strong her vocals got to remain on top of the boastful EDM, and in some moments, she definitely soars. The bridge is a little awkward for me, but I liked how JISOO’s high note connects the bridge and final chorus. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 9/10

JISOO’s teaser image for AMORTAGE

[Review] Do What I Want – MONSTA X

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It has been over two years since we last heard from MONSTA X as a group through their 2023 release of Beautiful Liar, the title track from their 12th mini-album REASON. Since then, the group has been on hiatus due to military enlistments, while those who finished their enlistment (Shownu) and those who had not enlisted yet (I.M) focused on solo activities. Now that all members are available, they will be celebrating their 10th anniversary as a group with the release of their 13th mini-album THE X on 1 September 2023. In anticipation of the album release, MONSTA X has dropped the single Do What I Want.

The new single is quite different to what I remember of MONSTA X pre-2023. While the track does sit within the hip-hop realm, like most of their past title tracks, Do What I Want distinctively draws upon Brazilian funk, which is very unique and different for the group, but also KPOP in general. And the final result is definitely something fun, energetic and lively. There is also a club beat in Do What I Want, which I appreciate for keeping the single grounded and giving it some bite. But at the same time, it is quite generic and so does zap some of the fun and energy from those livelier and funkier moments. Do What I Want also lacks a strong hook. The song’s spoken hook in the song’s centre does have a catchiness to it, but it felt underbaked and does not necessarily reflect the song’s energy. It does create some contrast (i.e., between the low and high tones), but it wasn’t enough to be the song’s main selling point. The group’s delivery (i.e., rap and vocals) is sound, but without that strong hook, I don’t really remember much of the delivery. Overall, Do What I Want is refreshing and different, but I miss the old MONSTA X edgy hip-hop dance sound that we heard previously from the group.

I do appreciate the group doing something utterly different music-wise. And to match the completely different music, the group has gone for a very wild and chaotic visual to accompany the new song. The members are horned and sharp-eared creatures in the music video, which is very unusual. I am not entirely sure what these horns represent, but it’s possible they’re connected to the upcoming music video for THE X‘s title track. Regardless, the members are seen vibing along and being very free with the music and each other in a home video-style video in a summery fashion. This seems pretty normal. But while being perplexed isn’t the way I expected MONSTA X’s first music video in a while to go, I will admit it is very memorable for obvious reasons.

There might also be some choreography to the release, with the routine being shown slightly alongside the second and final choruses. However, I don’t think there is enough for me to comment on it. If it is the accompanying choreography, it does share that wildness that I mentioned earlier with the flailing arms and such. So, I won’t include it in the ‘Overall Rating’ for the time being.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.7/10

[Review] Unfair – FELIX (Stray Kids)

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With news that Stray Kids will be making a comeback soon with their fourth studio album, KARMA, I thought I would start on the many reviews I have not posted for Stray Kids – the solo tracks from their Hop mixtape and the unit tracks from their Mixtape: Dominate album. Next up is FELIX’s solo single from Hop, Unfair. For the other reviews of Stray Kids’ solo songs from the Hop mixtape, see the links below the music video.

It is interesting to hear a more vocal-centric track from FELIX, who is known for his deeper voice, which tends to lend well towards rapping. Unfair combines FELIX’s vocals with a cool hip-hop beat, giving it a semblance to the style he is more known for. Within the verses of Unfair, we also get some delicate piano accompanying the hip-hop beat. These two elements come together quite well, creating an emotive and heavenly atmosphere that allows FELIX to liken his journey to the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast. Unfair speaks to the insecurity he feels (references to feeling like a ‘beast’ in the lyrics) and how love (references to Belle in the lyrics) can help him overcome his insecurities. As for FELIX’s vocals, I am a bit torn. I very much prefer his usual deep style, as he showcases in the raps and the choruses, even in a melodic manner. It feels natural and allows Unfair to be associated with him. However, in the verses, the autotune strips away his characteristic deep voice, leaving behind an artificial-sounding voice that I cannot connect with. I wished FELIX and the producers had fully embraced his deeper voice and utilised it in the verses, as this would have felt fitting with what he is conveying in Unfair.

The music video draws upon the Beauty and the Beast storyline that I mentioned earlier. We see FELIX portray a winged beast, like a fallen angel, wandering alone in the dark forest. In the presence of the rose, he is reminded of his love (the flashback scenes earlier show him in the presence of Belle, dressed in white to represent innocence and purity). He comes to terms with his beastly appearance, which briefly reappears and then disappears, showing the audience that there is hope for one to overcome their insecurities. The visual aspects of the music video are amazing, particularly those underwater scenes.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 10/10
Overall Rating – 8.2/10

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

[Album Review] HOT MESS (4th Mini Album) – EVNNE

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Next album up for a review is EVNNE’s 4th mini-album from earlier this year, titled HOT MESS. It features 6 tracks, including the lead single that shares the same name as the title of the mini-album. HOT MESS (the mini-album) is their brightest and most vibrant release to date. For a group that excels with a powerful dance sound (like their debut single TROUBLE), they delivered HOT MESS with great strength and earned a super high rating from me (I think it is one of the first in a while to go above a 9).

More recently, EVNNE released their 5th mini-album, LOVE ANECDOTE(S), and its lead single How Can I Do. Do check it out (after you check out HOT MESS down below).

HOT MESS Album Cover

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

2. Birthday – Birthday sees EVNNE in a softer pop motif. The instrumental has an enjoyable and fun groove, and I liked the lighthearted vibes that come from the song. The vocals and rapping were nicely executed, with pleasantly catchy melodies to make the song appealing to listen to. (8/10)

3. Love Like That – Love Like That features pop-rock guitar riffs and upbeat vibes that make this track an instant favourite in my books. I enjoyed the delicate and comforting approach EVNNE goes for in the chorus. The combination with the pop-rock sound makes for a feel-good number that brings a smile to my face every time I listen to Love Like That. And with that effect being consistently delivered, even on bad days, I don’t think it is fair to give it any other rating. (10/10)

4. CROWN – The first impression I always get from CROWN is that it is like their past singles. While the mini-album has consisted of light and bright tracks so far, CROWN is the first with a powerful instrumental and fiercer vocals/raps from the members. The rappers definitely had an opportunity to shine with the hefty and powerful instrumental. That high note at the end and the incline in energy from everything else were perfect. CROWN honestly could have been the title track, and I would have been fine with that. (10/10)

5. Youth – Youth stick out for two reasons. Firstly, that powerful electric guitar riff in the background definitely leaves an impression. And the rest of the instrumental definitely follows similarly, becoming slightly grungy during the bridge for impact and effect. Secondly, right off the bat, the members show more emotion and sentiment in Youth. The fact that I can feel that without digging into the lyrics tells me that the members are doing a great job vocally. I really liked how powerful their vocals were consistently throughout Youth. I did wish there were some powerful rapping in the track. This would have really fit, particularly with the emotions being explored in Youth. (9/10)

6. KESHIKI (Korean Version) – KESHIKI was originally released 9 months ago by EVNNE as an original Japanese single. I never got around to reviewing it then, but I am excited to review it now. KESHIKI reminds me of an anime OST. The fast-paced nature and brass elements amongst the rock elements were super unique and fun. I also love the powerful vocals throughout the track, which keep the members over the top of the vibrant and energetic instrumentation. I honestly can’t find anything critical to say about the single, so it ends off the mini-album on a super high note. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 9.2/10

Teaser image of EVNNE for HOT MESS