Category: KPOP

[Album Review] Map Of The Soul: 7 (4th Studio Album) – BTS

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There is no doubt that BTS’ return is the biggest comeback of the year so far (or even possibly the entire year – and that might be saying something since we are only in February/March). The group’s fourth studio album, Map Of The Soul: 7, features a whole stack of new songs, their pre-releases tracks from January and the tracks from their 2019 Map Of The Soul: Persona mini-album (which features the title track, Boy With Luv). The group has already sold over 4 million copies world wide and have topped the domestic and international charts upon release, as they have been doing with many of the releases. Let’s see how good their latest album is this time around!

Map Of The Soul: 7 Album Cover

Tracks 1 to 5 can be found on the album review for Map Of The Soul: Persona, which I have previously reviewed. The song ratings I gave in that album review were not considered in the album rating (i.e. only new songs contributed to the this album’s rating).

6. Interlude: Shadow (Suga Solo) (Pre-Release Track) – Click here for the full review of Interlude: Shadow. (9/10)

7. Black Swan (Pre-Release Track) – Click here for the full review of Black Swan. (9/10)

8. Filter (Jimin Solo) – The first of the few solo tracks on the album belong to Jimin. There is a slight Latin feel to the song, thanks to both the melody that Jimin applies over the predominately acoustic guitar in the instrumentation. But rather than being in your face about, the song manages to keep it on the down low, which I thought was interesting. The song has a very smooth run and Jimin’s vocals seems perfect throughout the song. The song doesn’t reach a peak, however. I think that is the only issue with the song as it felt like it was stuck in the neutral gear. (8/10)

9. My Time (시차) (Jungkook Solo) – Similar comments about being stuck in neutral gear can be said about Jungkook’s solo track for majority of the song. But what My Time manages to do in its final chorus was change its gear and give the song a much-needed peak. Jungkook’s song falls under the genre of R&B, while the instrumental is given a modern feel with its synth basis. Jungkook’s vocals must also be applauded as he gives the song a very mature and captivating feel. I mean, look at the way he ended the song with his constant ‘ah’s and ‘ugh’s. (8.5/10)

10. Louder Than Bombs – I was already intrigued with Louder Than Bombs with just the title itself. I had expected a really pop and colorful track (for some unknown reason). But we got something a lot more interesting, much darker and captivating all at the same time. The thumping instrumental and the mysterious vibes we get from the song really draw my attention in. Throw in the higher pitch vocals from the vocalists and the very deep voices that the rappers channeled, you basically have a recipe that will make me return for more. The way the song built up was very subtle and occurred without you even knowing. This is one of the best songs on the album, I can’t emphasis that enough. (10/10)

11. On (Title Track) – Click here for the full review of On. (10/10)

12. Ugh! (욱) (RM, J-Hope & Suga) – The rap line is the focus in this song, and you can tell that it is going to be something on a different level. The energy that the trio manages to bring to this song with their line delivery and the hip-hop based instrumental really makes this track a strong one. Suga is fast becoming my favorite rapper of the group and his presence in this track really consolidates his position. However, that isn’t to say that RM and J-Hope were letdowns. They were equally as strong, and I enjoyed the part where they passed the baton to each other at the end. Also, the song became quite explosive at the end with all that gunfire. It drew the song to a close in a manner that really felt like icing on the cake. And it makes me want to see a performance this track, as I would suspect it to be lit! (9/10)

13. 00:00 (Zero O’Clock) (Jin, V, Jimin & Jungkook) – When you think of the vocal line of any group, you would expect them to be singing a ballad as it is easier to show of the vocals in that capacity. I guess the case applies even for BTS. But Zero O’Clock is no slow or depressing ballad. There is some light in this track, thanks to the member’s vocals. The instrumental also this inspirational vibe to it, which matches the song’s lyrics of hoping for a happier day. I thought the unit sounded pretty good, especially at the end when the song reaches the climax. The song also has a melody that makes we sway along, which makes it a good ballad in my opinion (as I have mentioned before). (9/10)

14. Inner Child (V Solo) – V, over the years, have been shaped to be the one with the most interesting vocals due to the huskier tone that he brings to the group. And that hasn’t been focused too much on in the past during the group tracks. His huskier voice definitely is full capitalized in this pop track. You know I love a good buildup and Inner Child has this. The chorus is fantastic, giving us that blast of energy that I think is so good. It makes the song feel so fresh and the feeling remains every time I play the song and when the chorus comes around. This is also one of the best tracks on the album and I highly recommend it. (10/10)

15. Friends (친구) (Jimin & V) – This is another track that has a good blast of energy during the chorus. And the way the instrumental manages to perfectly execute the explosive nature of the chorus makes it so addictive. It is a song that I get stuck on each time I listen to the ballad, unable to move to the next as I am so keen on replaying this track constantly. I just want to kick back, put this song on repeat and nod along to it. Jimin and V reflect on their friendship in this track, so there is a lighthearted and fun tone to it. At the end, when they bring the more inclusive feel to the song with the backup vocals, it just makes the song a lot more wholesome. (10/10)

16. Moon (Jin Solo) – With V, Jin is also an underrated vocalist. And I have mentioned this time and time again in past album reviews. Moon continues the album’s momentum with its energy. At the helm is Jin, which pushes his vocals in a manner that suits the song so nicely. The vocals lay on top of a upbeat beat and some guitar beat. It is a catchy number, with infectious energy. I just feel the instrumental drags it down a bit by being a little too consistent. It needed some definition. But it’s a good song from Jin, nonetheless. (9/10)

17. Respect (RM & Suga) – And we get more of the energy through RM and Suga’s collaboration track. The song throws you back to the 90s with its urban hip-hop beat and the many instrumental effects. The way they shout ‘Respect’ throughout the chorus is a very 90s thing, as well. They delivery is pretty good, with autotune weaving in and out of the song. The energy is also quite infectious, and I love how the energy rubs off on me. I mean, this is the track that you want to play while walking down the street on a good day (to make it better, obviously). (9/10)

18. We Are Bulletproof: The Eternal – The album takes a slight serious turn with The Eternal. It isn’t really a ‘happy’ track, as per the energy that preceded the track. But this one encapsulates where the members are at in their career. They are strong, they are bulletproof. And it all thanks to their fans, whom they thank in this track. This track displays amazing vocals and rapping, on top a very warm, trendy and dramatic instrumental. (10/10)

19. Outro: Ego (J-Hope Solo) – The album returns to its infectious and upbeat energy for the outro track. Performed by J-Hope, I love the fast incline to the fast tempo (and the fast tempo, in general) the song had. The entire track was 3 minutes, yet it felt only like one minute. It just makes the song so captivating and groovy. I find the outro track is also be very festival-like, especially in the last few seconds. Because why not end the album with everyone dancing along. J-Hope’s playful side also got to shine through in this track, with the upbeat nature being an excellent platform. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 9.3/10

  • V Teaser for Map Of The Soul: 7
  • Suga Teaser for Map Of The Soul: 7
  • Jungkook Teaser for Map Of The Soul: 7
  • Jin Teaser for Map Of The Soul: 7
  • Jimin Teaser for Map Of The Soul: 7
  • J-Hope Teaser for Map Of The Soul: 7

[Special] Catch Up Review #18 – M.O.N.T, Teen Teen, GreatGuys

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It is the final Catch Up Review post for the meantime as I will knock off the final four songs from the ‘Coming Soon’ list. But the segment might come back in a near future so I can tackle reviews for the tracks that I might miss throughout the month. After all, they are quite short to write compared to my full reviews. But before that, we need to tackle four more reviews with the focus on M.O.N.T, Teen Teen and GreatGuys.

Rock Paper Scissor – M.O.N.T

For this review, we need to cast our mind back in January 2011, where M.O.N.T made their debut with Will You Be My Girlfriend?. I’ll be honest, I don’t remember that track whatsoever, so I thought M.O.N.T made their debut with Rock Paper Scissors. But actually, the group made their first comeback with Rock Paper Scissors in August 2019. The group recently came back (unknowingly) and I will have a look at their most recent single another day. But on with the actual review. The song capitalises on the funky hip-hop influences that has been attempted by a number of groups so far. And it is these funky elements including the brass really make the song standout for me. I thought their rapping and vocal work was pretty good. The only issue with the song is that you don’t really hear much development with the track. It stays rather neutral and very consistent with the retro funk sound. But I think the song is very vibrant and appealing that I look pass this and thoroughly enjoy the song as a result. The music video shows the guys catching a glimpse at a lady and battle against one another to get to her with the game in which the song is titled after. As cliche as the next part sounds, they all manage to win and end up going up to he, overwhelming here most likely. It is a good video, with the comic book word effects landing on our screen every now and then throughout the video, which I guess helped the video from developing into a boring mass. The performance was rather weak though. For a song as vibrant as this, you would expect the routine to be a little more uplifting and energetic. (7.1/10)

Bae – M.O.N.T

As far as I know, Bae is a b-side track from the same album that Rock Paper Scissors is featured on. And well, the ‘b-side’ description is very much the song summed up in a nutshell. Firstly, Bae isn’t as heavy or loaded as the title track. Secondly. I find the song a lot sweeter and lighthearted, which contrasts significantly with the title track (see review above). However, I have my reasons to why I am including this song on the review (minus the fact that it has a music video). I thought it was a decent track. Their vocal work was very solid and the song was rather catchy after multiple listens. The song also showed off a different side of the group which we haven’t seen yet, which is always a nice thing since KPOP is very dependent on variety. The music video was shot in a European country that I cannot identify and it showed the members going on a scavenger hunt. They follow clues left on Polaroids and have to complete mini missions to get the next clue. At the end, their prize was a mini fan meet, which I am sure the group will remember for a long time. I am not sure if the group knew at the time, but I thought it was a nice way of showing gratitude to their fans with a lighthearted song like this. As far as I am concerned, there is no live performance/dance routine for this track. (7.6/10)

It’s On You – Teen Teen

I will be honest that this is the first time in a number of months that I have checked out the music video for It’s On You (obviously, for the review). What really strikes me in regards to this group is that that look very young. And after some fact checking, all the members were born in 2003 or 2004 (i.e. when I was in first grade). The group are also former contestants on Produce X 101, so that is why they might seem familiar. It’s On You is another funky hip-hop track. similar to the first song on today’ post. This one is a lot lighter and not as vibrant as the earlier track. It is a little disappointing as the instrumental does feel like it is lacking something to give the song some much needed oomph. I do think the song is a lot more suited for their age. The singing and rapping balances on a fine line of being suitable for the song but also lacking energy, which I thought was interesting. The chorus was at least vibrant enough to really catch my attention. The music video is based around planes, which I think is a fine concept. The video also looks like a 3 minute video of friends having fun, which is obviously the route you would want your music video to go if the artists performing are from such a young age range. I am not for the cutesy side of their performance, however. Yeah, they may be young. But after many years watching music videos and performances, it just looks when they overdo it. And I feel like it that is the case here. (7.1/10)

Be On You – GreatGuys

The final on the list is not a funky retro hip-hop track of any kind. Rest assured. As far as I know, this is my first time reviewing GreatGuys, so I am very unfamiliar with the group. According to a Google search, they are a 9 member male group under DNA Entertainment since 2017. Past works include Illusion, Dang, Ganda and Last Men. Be On You is a very ‘noisy’ dance track. The instrumental, described as a R&B dance track, is loaded with elements that really either works well with one another or you will think is headache inducing. I go back and forth between the two sides depending on my mood. But there is no point in denying the intensity of the song, which I think really helps make this track feel bold. Its noisiness might also be a charm, depending on how you feel about it. I thought the rapping and vocal work (when you can hear it over the instrumental) was pretty good. One concern about the song I have is the questionable title/repeated chorus lyrics. The music video shows two sides of the members. The first being the more intense and dark side of the group, while the second side is the more casual side. Obviously, the latter is more appropriate for the song’s vibe. For some fans, the presence of skin might be a draw point. I personally don’t find the video captivating. It more of the ‘seeing it one is enough’ type for me, as the concepts have been done before by other groups. The choreography was definitely a strong point, in my opinion. Given the song’s sound, I had expected this and through the group delivered nicely on this front. (7.2/10)

[Special] Catch Up Review #17 – Sunny Hill, Ladies Code, ANS, 3YE

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As promised yesterday, I will finally be post reviews for the number of songs that I have kept on the ‘Coming Soon’ list since September/October last year. But they come in the form of these ‘Catch Up Review’ segments, where I review (very briefly) four tracks. Yesterday’s review centered around Zico due to a number of his tracks were on the list. Today, we will be focusing on female groups. In particular, it will be focusing on Sunny Hill, Ladies Code, ANS and 3YE.

NomNomNom – Sunny Hill

One name that I had never expected to see again in the industry was Sunny Hill. This is because after the release of On the Way Home in 2016 and their departure from FAVE Entertainment (formerly known as Loen Entertainment), the group disappeared entirely from the industry. Since then Jubi and Misung left the group; Seungah (the only original member of the group to remain) changed her stage name to Bitna; and Eunju and Geonhee was added to the lineup, joining Kota and Bitna. Their returning track was NomNomNom, which is best described as a quirky number that seems to repeatedly throw in horse related sounds effects. Heck, the chorus is like the sounds you often associate with horse-riding in movies. It is a little odd but it reminds me of Sunny Hill’s past wacky numbers that drew my attention in. The effect isn’t as strong anymore, but it is still present. The vocal work is quite strong and surely one day this lineup can continue the amazing vocal work we got throughout Sunny Hill’s past. The music video is very low budget. And as a result, this dulled the music for me, which otherwise would have been a song deserving of a fun visual concept. I did like the ‘horse riding’ theme that was incorporated into the choreography though. (6.9/10)

Set Me Free – Ladies Code

This is one song that I will admit was bumped around the agenda for quite a while before it was removed and put onto the ‘Coming Soon List’. Ladies Code’s Set Me Free was released in early October 2019 and could potentially be the group’s final song, as the group was announced to have left their company (Polaris) whom they have been with since their debut in 2014 (and the group have been announced to be focusing on solo work for the time being). To me, Set Me Free merges the more modern feel that the group recently visited through Feedback, with their energetic vibes from their retro tracks that they debuted with back in the day. The instrumental is a very rough mix, which I find very appealing. I find this contrasts very nicely with the smoothness and raspiness of their member’s vocals. Overall, this makes the song a very promising track that I regret not reviewing last year. The video shows the members getting away with stealing and cheating in a casino. They do so in a confident manner, which I think is the entire point of the video (obviously, it wouldn’t be to steal clothes and cheat). My main questions is how did it take one member to scare a bunch of guys with a fake banana gun that she revealed before running away? It makes no sense. The choreography that accompanied Set Me Free was actually a nice routine. It paired well with the energy that was coming from the song. Not really memorable, however.

Boom Boom – ANS

A few weeks ago I reviewed ANS’ new song, Say My Name. How backwards of me to review their debut track after their comeback track. Say My Name featured a fair amount of ‘Boom Boom‘(s) in the track. But none of it was sung in the manner which we heard in the actual Boom Boom song. Very interesting. The song, Boom Boom, is more a tropical song and it had a very anthem-like feel to it. It conformed to very typical standard, but it became slightly addictive with multiple listens. Interestingly, I thought the vocal work was weak in this song as the song relied a lot on that anthem vibe that I mentioned. The rapping was also a massive miss for me. While I did just say there was a slightly catchiness to the song, the song’s longevity was short lived and was easily forgotten. Other songs that were more innovative with sounds and showed off more of the themselves rose to the top afterwards, suggesting that ANS needed to do some more work, which I think Say My Name delivered. The music video opened (and ended) with a rock intro that I am sure perked every one’s attention. The song in comparison is a little disappointing. The video just showed the members doing a bunch of things with some edgy vibes. The ending seems to suggest the presence of another person, which I guess is a new member. Their latest comeback added two members to the lineup, which confirms it. The routine is a little different from most female groups, which I quite like. The start of the dance was amazing and I liked how the knife-like precision came through the rest of the routine. (6.7/10)

OOMM (Out Of My Mind) – 3YE

I am due to review 3YE’s latest song some time in the next week. But before we do that, we must have a look at an earlier single, OOMM or Out Of My Mind. A little background – 3YE is a female trio currently under GH Entertainment. The members were all from the short-lived group, Apple.B. It is another track that manages to conform to a very typical sound of hip-hop that many other artists have done before. But one part of the song really caught my attention. The whisper that featured before each chorus was definitely something that lifted the song by a huge deal. Firstly, it was an epic change to the song that was unexpected. Secondly, it helped the chorus that followed stand out more. The chorus itself was definitely promising and really packed a punch with its hip-hop sound. The verses had the same style flowing through it but it just wasn’t nearly as strong. The vocal work was pretty good, along with the rapping. In comparison to the above song, 3YE really set themselves up in a strong manner for their future releases through this song (even though it isn’t their debut single). The music video shows the three members in prison. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think this is one of the few to actually show female members in prison, locked behind bars and wearing prison outfits. Nothing glamorous or flashy here. The editing to this video was very strong and it helped make the video interesting and worth talking about. The performance showed toughness, sexiness and charisma all in a span of 3 minutes. Definitely a hard thing to pull off given that most groups go with one or the other. (7.8/10)

[International Song Review] EXID, ONEUS, TWICE, MONSTA X, CIX

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Welcome to the very first International Song Review post. This segment will replace the Japanese song review that I publish sporadically on Saturdays. The segment will also allow me to cover more of those Japanese releases, which was an issue I previously had (I used to post once a week and this would mean some releases won’t be reviewed until many weeks after – which is the case for all of the songs to be reviewed today). On top of that, I wanted to keep up with the KPOP advancement into the Chinese and Western music industries, a niche that I was not reviewing as I could not dedicate more time. By putting these all together, it saves time and it allows me to cover more songs. The artists I will be focusing on today include EXID, ONEUS, TWICE, MONSTA X and CIX.

Bad Girl For You – EXID

Bad Girl For You is a very different song from any of the Korean releases. The group’s Korean releases have this level of vibrancy that I feel is noticeable absent from this track. Instead, the song has this mature and sensual feel to it that I think is very suitable for EXID. I liked how the instrumental is very toned down and almost quite eerie. The chorus has a heavier beat to it, which offsets the song from becoming plain and boring. Their oval work complimented the style, which was definitely a nice fit to the song. I do find the use of that laser shooting synth a little random and doesn’t fit well with the rest of the song. The song may not seem much at first, but after many listens, you will be coming back for even more. For the music video, I liked the use of the 5 colours (green, blue, yellow, red and purple) in the background and how each colour is usually concentrated to a particular area of the set. It helps give the video a minimalist feel. The choreography is also quite nice but not really memorable.

808 – ONEUS

I think 808 is a smashing song. The sound of the instrumental was posed in a manner that really caught my attention. I love the strings that feature in the instrumental, along with the intense style they had adopted from their Korean releases. There is an epic vibe to the song, but they do it in a manner that masks it. You think you are getting another typical song, but you will be blown away by the song’s sound. The song is vibrant and definitely knows how to bundle a bunch of energy in a fashionable sense. The vocal work was good and the rapping gave the song a little more edge. The music video looks really artistic. I am not sure if these are music video sets or whether the group filmed their music video in some sort of modern art museum. It looked very cool. The performance looked good with cool moves. Just not memorable like EXID’s performance.

Fake & True – TWICE

I was blown away with Breakthrough when it was first release for its mature and edgy style, something that was a little foreign for the very pop-based and cutesy TWICE. And it seems like Fake & True continues the momentum and extends TWICE’s reach into this new territory. I thought the brass in the chorus was very nice and the rest of the instrumental was very energetic and vibrant in a way that suits the group. I also liked the synths that they employed throughout the song, especially for the dance break bridge. I did think the chorus was a little one-dimensional as it repeated the title of the song all throughout and felt a little awkward. The vocals were good but the rapping in this track was epic. It was also nice to see Mina as part of this November release, as well. The music video was pretty typical for TWICE but I thought it did a really good job of showing off their visuals. The choreography was also very nice and continued that mature vibe that I really enjoyed as part of their previous Japanese comeback.

My New World – CIX

My New World is CIX’s debut track into the Japanese music industry. It is also an extension of their KPOP works, with the group’s intense sound definitely channeled and presented in this song. I like how eerie and dark the song sounds. The dance style is very well suited for CIX, given that this is their title track style for their comebacks in the KPOP industry so far. I also like the kick of energy that the song gives during the chorus, which contrasts neatly with the shout-y style of vocal works. The rapping that dominates the second verse was also extremely promising and intense. I also like the piano that featured very quietly over the top of the dance instrumental. I think the music video shows the members on a new world. Other than that, I am not exactly sure if the video is showing anything else worth mentioning. Their dance sets looked really cool, with the floating stairs and the moving lights. The choreography is very intense and reconfirms that when it comes to the dance side of the industry, CIX might be a group to look out for.

Middle Of The Night – MONSTA X

The final song on today’s reviewing agenda is Middle Of The Night and it is also the very first Western song that I am reviewing on my blog (I am not including English versions that I have done reviews for in the past). Middle Of The Night is different from the rest song on the list as it is also an R&B track. A song that I can finally understand as well. Hahaha… I can really say much else but to tell you to check out this song below as everything felt flawless. It is one of those songs where the main complaint was that it was over so soon! The vocal work was superb from very member. I really love that Jooheon finally got to showcase his vocals that he previously showed off during a performance of Versace On The Floor. The music video was shot with every scene is interlinked with the previous and next scenes. I think that this was a really good way to show off the smoothness of the track. There is no choreography for this song, so this finishes the review.

[Review] On – BTS

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We end the week with the return of the KPOP group that is breaking records left, right and centre. BTS has broken more ground that any other artist in KPOP ever in the industry. And yet they continue to do so with every comeback. Today, the group returns with On, the title track from their fourth Korean album, Map of The Soul: 7. The album also features all the tracks from their 2019 mini-album, Map of the Soul: Persona, including Boy With Luv. The album also features Black Swan and Interlude: Shadow, which were pre-releases back in January.

One of my previous complaints with BTS previous comebacks (they were still good songs) was that it was catered to the Western industry and consequently lost the darkness that I really enjoyed from BTS back in the day. While On isn’t totally a dark track like Fake Love or Blood Sweat and Tears, the song is a step in that direction with its edgy vibes. I love the marching drums in the instrumental. It keeps the song coming at you in a consistent manner, driving the song along with a subtle yet heavy intensity. The subtle voice synths (what is the technical terms for this?) in the chorus that were made to match the style of a rolling drum beat was also quite cool. The dance break took me by surprise when I heard the first time. It takes a slight trap influence and infuses it with brass and some electric guitar, which I think is really cool. The vocal work was superb (loving how Jin got more lines than usual) and the rapping was, as always, top notch.

The music video is awesome. There is an epic feel to the video thanks to the wide shot and the very familiar backdrop. I am sure it has appeared on other shows and videos before, but I recognize it from American Horror Story. The lighting is also quite bright, while everyone else is dressed in black. There is a strong contrast with the backup dancers and the scenery. In the end, the members pop, which I think is really cool. They are in a mixture of black and white, so they do standout in the crowd. I also liked how the video was set up and made to look like the members (for some parts) appear out of nowhere. Whether that is part of the choreography, I am not sure. But it looks fantastic either way.

The choreography was also a standout. The chorus, for one, was pretty memorable by the end of the music video. Especially when it came to the raining lyrics. The circular motions they made with their hands somehow keyed into my mind. The second part has to be the dance break. Intense, edgy and very tough, bringing me back to my favourite eras of BTS releases. I do wonder, with such an extravagant music video and routine setup, how they will pull off comeback stages. It is either going to be mind blowing or over the top.

Song – 10/10
Music Video – 10/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9.8/10

[Review] Dazzle Dazzle – Weki Meki

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The next artist that needs to be reviewed (according to my list of comebacks) is Weki Meki, who made their return yesterday with Dazzle Dazzle. 2019 saw the group return with Picky Picky and Tiki Taka, which I enjoyed moderately and forgot the existence of the two songs quite soon after. I do know that since their last comeback, Yoojung did go on a hiatus to attend to some health concerns, but has returned as part of the full lineup for Dazzle Dazzle. Let’s find out if the group is able to dazzle their through this review and get a high rating.

To me, the song reminds me of the many female tracks that we got over the past few years that just never got popular in the industry. But guess what? Many of those songs were totally big highlights and standouts to me. And it seems like Dazzle Dazzle is going down that under appreciated route. Sorry to say that, but given the other big name artist that just dropped their new track today, Dazzle Dazzle will definitely be overshadowed. But here are some reasons to why you should check out this track. Firstly, the energy coming from the instrumental is so infectiously fun. The brass, the very bubbly synths and the synthpop backdrop in the chorus was just a fun and vibrant combination. The vocal work was pretty good. I really liked how they toned the track down for the bridge and how it allowed the vocals of Doyeon and Suyeon to be showcased in the limelight. I am not usually one to enjoy this, but I thought it was a good change in this song. I do find the rapping a little standard, but it was fitting for this track when I think back. The song was also smothered with catchy hooks, which definitely is appealing. Overall, I think the group did managed to dazzle me with Dazzle Dazzle.

Despite it being a pretty video, it wasn’t much to it. There some diamonds and other stuff to give off some dazzling effect. But I think the producers could have been a little more creative when it came to the music video. Maybe they could have revolved it around the diamond or something that dazzles. That is probably is a lame idea. But the video honestly needed a little more of something to give it some sort of memorable element. On a more positive note, I did think the video had a nice pastel colour palette and highlighted the visuals of the members in a beautiful manner.

I find the performance of the song pretty unique. The foot and hand move they did during the chorus and verse actually looked cool. It is probably very hard considering they need to move their limbs while balancing on one leg.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 6/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.9/10

[Album Review] # (2nd Mini Album) – LOONA

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No reviews today. But I thought it might be a good opportunity to get the album review that I am holding onto out or else everything else will be pushed to a later date (which screws with another break I am planning to have). The artist in focus today is LOONA, who returned with # and their latest title track, So What. This is the group’s first comeback in a year since Butterfly. The group did release 365 as a single back in December and this is also included as part of the album. For those who didn’t read my So What review, (spoiler alert) it is epic! So let’s see how the rest of the album fair.

# Album Cover

2. So What (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for So What. (10/10)

3. Number 1 – The album is co-produced by Lee Soo Man, who some people may know as the SM Entertainment CEO. So, I was wondering if we would hear some influences of the big company on the album. Number 1 confirms this, with a song that is right up BoA’s alley. The entire time I was listening to the song, I could imagine BoA singing this R&B track, as well. And while this may sound like a good thing, some of you might not know that I am not really a big BoA fan (some of her tracks are good, others sound very plain). The plainness comes through in this track and this leaves me disappoint. I do find the vocals to be elegant and delicate in this song and there is a nice melody. But, not really enough appeal from the instrumental department, in my opinion. (6/10)

4. Oh (Yes I Am) – Another very typical instrumental. Oh (Yes I Am) attempts to exploit the trap genre of music that has been very dominant over the last few years. I think the chorus and pre-chorus are pretty good examples of fresh usage of the genre, given that the energy that does come from the song is very promising. Another way of thinking about the song is that it is pretty much a tamed and held back version of GWSN’s title track. This is also a really good set up for the rappers, who are given another opportunity on the album to shine. The genre’s usage in the verses, however, was very boring and I didn’t enjoy this part of the song as much. I thought the vocals were good, especially with the ‘Oh~’ that we get every now and then in the chorus. (8/10)

5. Ding Ding Dong – After Number 1 and Oh (Yes I Am), I was wondering when the album will start to infuse some energy into the album. And we get it through Ding Ding Dong, which is probably more of a cutesy and innocent sound. It does sound like the group is stepping back from their routes through this song. But I reassure, it is still a good song nonetheless. The instrumental contains a slight jazzy like touch, which is where the energy comes from. The rapping is very typical in this track for a LOONA track, but I guess that is because of the innocent side of the track. The vocal work is a strong point in this song, especially Chuu’s parts in the bridge, which I thought gave the song a really good peak. (7.5/10)

6. 365 (Pre-Release Track) – This pre-release track was released back in December 2019. It was a ballad, suited for the Winter season that we had just left. There is a warming feeling to the song, thanks to the piano and the vocal work of the song. There is also a few Christmas-related touches in the song. The chorus is probably the best part of the song, which is where I start to sway along to the music (those who have been reading my blog for a very long time would know what this means). It isn’t the strongest song on the album and I didn’t really think much of it when it was released. But writing the review now, I find it a nice track. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.9/10

# Teaser Image

[Review] Scream – Dream Catcher

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This is the first review in a while that I managed to complete on the same day of its release. Dream Catcher is back with a brand new song, Scream. It is featured on their very first studio album, Dystopia: The Tree of Language. If you watch the music video, you may notice that there is only 6 members involved in this comeback. This is because Handong is sitting out of this comeback due to overseas schedules. Dream Catcher has also confirmed that they will be releasing their third Japanese single, so keep an eye out on Saturdays for the review!

One listen in and I am already overwhelmed with the epic nature of the song. What I find very interesting is that Dream Catcher has been very consistent with their sound. Just everytime they return, they manage to reinvent the sound in some manner that makes it sound so epic and grand. Scream starts off with that rock sound that we are used when we discuss Dream Catcher. But slowly the thumping beats creeps in and we are introduced to a twist that leaves your jaws hanging. The chorus throws electronica into the mix and this gives the song that rush of intensity and dramatic flair that is unlike any I have encountered before in my many years of listing to Korean music. What I really thought was cool is how the members brought a deeper tone to their voices to the chorus. This definitely added to that flair I just mentioned. Another cool detail in the chorus as to be that choir-like ‘Scream, Scream, Scream‘. The rappers really shined, going with a deeper than usual tone as well. The vocals were superb in this song. In fact, I think all the members managed to top whatever song I considered to be their best previously as this was an awesome track which I highly recommend if you want some intensity in your playlist.

Darkness seems to overtake the members in this video, as seen by the start of the video with light being taken away and the members are running away from the dark clouds. There seems to be a little witchcraft in the video as well, based on some scenes looking like had a magic component to it. Their outfits seems to allude to witchcraft. But other than that, I have no idea what is going on in this video. What is the significance of the mask? What is the darkness and cloud? And why did it take over the light? What role to the members play in this video? It looks like we are going to get answers (hopefully) in an upcoming comeback, so I guess we have to wait and see. When it comes to the visuals of the video themselves, I thought the video looked amazing. The post production looked awesome and it definitely really appealed to my taste.

The choreography routine features backup dancers, which I don’t think Dream Catcher has ever used before. I find that fairly cool. I also think there is a lot of attitude to this song, thanks to the routine they perform for the chorus. I also liked how they kept Handong in mind while choreographing this routine, as I believe she might take the position of the masked female dancer when she returns.

Song – 10/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 9.4/10

[Review] Fiesta – IZ*ONE

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It has been a rough end to 2019 for the female group IZ*ONE. Originally, the group was meant to return in November (presumably with the same title track and album). However, the group was whisked into a voting rigging controversy that occurred throughout the Produce 101 series. As IZ*ONE hails from one of the seasons where vote rigging did occur, the group went on hiatus (along with X1). Fortunately, IZ*ONE was able to push through the hiatus (X1 unfortunately disbanded at the request of the individual companies) and, as of today, return to promotions with Fiesta and Bloom*IZ.

As expected from the title of the song, Fiesta, the song is a colourful mix of sounds that is bound to get your attention. Whether the song is an appealing mix will definitely depend on the individual due to the unique sounds that the song features. We start the song off with what I would describe a typical pop instrumental for this current era. But it is one that showcases good producing talents. I liked the thumping beat which gives its a slight dramatic flair. The chorus is where the song gets a little wacky, thanks to the use of very squeaky horns. It was subtle at first when the members are singing, but it gets turned up a notch during the post-chorus instrumental break. I personally thought they gave the song a very unique character and helped the song in the charming department. Vocally, the song showcases a more powerful side of the group, which I really like (as you may know from past reviews).

I thought this was a stunning video. Let’s start off with the visual of the members. Their outfits and their closeups all make so damn beautiful. I am not exactly familiar with each individual member (I don’t follow the Produce 101 seasons closely). But this is the type of video that makes you want to learn everyone’s name. Secondly, the video features some of the best post-production editing I have seen in a long time. I definitely appreciate this and love the polished feel it gives off. Oh, and the video is colourful, as one would expect.

Two things stood out for me when it came to the performance for Fiesta. The first was regarding the bounciness of the chorus, which I thought was pretty cool. The dress twirling also looked cool. The second aspect which I liked was the pre-chorus formations, where they be walking and dancing at the same time. It is the little details that can make or break a routine and I think the group nailed it.

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

[Review] Eclipse – Moonbyul (Mamamoo)

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Apologies for the 3-day late review. I know I promised the reviews would only be a day late last week, but I took some time off over the weekend as I needed to recover from a lack of sleep. One of the reviews that were meant to be published on Saturday is Moonbyul’s solo comeback, Eclipse. The Mamamoo rapper and vocalist made her solo comeback back in 2016 with Selfish (which featured Seulgi from Red Velvet). It has been a while since we heard any solo work. I do need to warn you. If you are expecting something along the lines of Selfish, I would quickly change those expectations now.

Why would I lead into the review with a change in expectations? Well, Moonbyul goes full blast with Eclipse. We have never seen her like this. Not in Selfish and definitely not as part of Mamamoo. I think the relevant way of it saying it nowadays (Internet jargon/slang is not my thing) is that ‘She snapped’. The song has this intense trap-based dance instrumental as its backdrop. While this is typical in the industry, the way the song manages to come together makes it sound epic and helps breathe new light into the style/sound. There are also some smaller details such as the song’s slow down moments (which provide relief from the intensity) and the deep voice in the background during the chorus that helps with this. We see a mixture of Moonbyul rapping and singing in this song. I won’t describe this as an extension of what we have seen so far. Not when she raps with such intensity and her vocals shine through thanks to the raspy nature of her voice. I feel like Moonbyul created her own identity through Eclipse, far away from what we are used to. The song itself is also catchy and has a nice rhythm, which appeals straight to my tastes.

Talking about ‘sides’, Moonbyul presents two sides of herself in the video. I think the first is Moonstar, which is represented through the white outfits and her much lighter makeup. The second is Monster. This side of the artist is presented by the black outfits and heavy eye makeup. I definitely thought this was a very strong concept. Two sides of an artist has been visited before. But this one feels a lot more fulfilling once you finish watching the music video. I am not usually a fan of the flashy nature of music videos, but I thought it was very well used in this video and helped with the intense aesthetics.

I liked how despite the fact that Moonbyul still had to rap and sing throughout the performance, she delivers with her moves. No moves stood out to me. But I thought it was a cool performance, regardless.

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

[Album Review] Labyrinth (8th Mini Album) – GFriend

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Apologies for the random publishing dates for these album reviews. I expect all my reviews to normalize back to the usual days in the coming weeks.

GFriend have returned and took the past week by storm by taking the top spots of the Weekly Music Shows with their most recent comeback, Crossroads. Today, I will be looking at the rest of their album which is titled Labyrinth. Within the review, you will notice that they experiment with their sounds but stay relatively safe for their title track. More on that very soon (literally as part of the review of the first song on album). But I find that very interesting. Let’s see where their side tracks sit relative to the title track, Crossroads.

Labyrinth Album Cover

1. Labyrinth – In my Crossroads review, I mentioned that the group’s sound is becoming a little too consistent and this might be an issue if they were to keep to the same sound for their future releases. If we were to get a change in sound from GFriend, something like Labyrinth would be amazing. The start of the song reminded me of Fingertip, a previous title track of theirs. I really like the melodies in this song. Paired with a funky techno-like dance beat, the song is a great opener and track from the ladies, overall. All of this helps make the song extremely addictive and I keep on coming back for more. It is okay for GFriend to keep some of their influences in the track, as they did with the electric guitar during the bridge of Labyrinth. (10/10)

2. Crossroads (교차로) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Crossroads. (7/10)

3. Here We Are – The verses in this song were very unimpressive. It was a pretty bland start and I was wanting to pass the song the first few times I was listening to the album. But it until the song starts building up during the pre-chorus that the song has a kick to it. And the kick delivered a pretty solid chorus full of harmonies and melodies that highlights the best of the group’s vocals. I find it a very wholesome song, where the group longs to return to the best moment of their past or dwindling relationship. The bridge brings out a new sound that we haven’t heard from the group, opting for a slight anthem-like vibe. (8/10)

4. Eclipse (지금 만나러 갑니다) – Here is another good change to the group’s sound. This one would be considered to be in more familiar territory, as it retains the group’s classical instrumentation. But they seem to add a little Latin influence into the mix. There were also moments that I thought the song had a ‘diva-like’ vibe to the song, which I would love to hear the group explore more. Regardless of the slight touch add to the song, I thought the energy coming from the track was very encapsulated. There was a rush to the song but it wasn’t necessary a rush that we would associate with in this era. The vocal work is quite nice in the song, even though it seems a little linear for the most part (Yuju helped recover this at the end, but I would have liked to hear more character throughout). (9/10)

5. Dreamcatcher – Dreamcatcher is a very soothing song, suitable for a song about dreams and how their partner/crush is recurring in them. I don’t think this is very new territory for the group, as there is an ongoing trend on this album regarding ‘new sounds’. The way the group does perform the song do give is a refreshing feel. Their vocals are also very delicate, which makes sense regarding the theme of the song, and I thought the song had really good hooks/melodies to help drive the song and make it even more appealing. (8/10)

6. From Me – The final song on the album is a ballad. No surprises there, as this is commonly the place for the ballad of the song. The way the song started, I thought that there was a chance that the song would not be a ballad given the heavy thumping beat. But the song develops in that direction regardless. One thing that does make this song very appealing to me is its acoustic guitar that builds on and on as the song progresses. I thought that was very cool. Their vocals shine in this song, as you would want with a ballad and I think their vocals get even better towards the end. So, it is another song to listen through all the way! (8.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.4/10

Labyrinth Teaser Image

[Review] Red Moon – KARD

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The next comeback to receive a day-late review is by KARD. The co-ed group is finally back after the release of their 2019 Bomb Bomb and Dumb Litty. Their new track is titled Red Moon and it is the title track from the album of the same name. In a recent review, the group aspires to release a a studio album in the future, which is definitely long overdue for the group. The only thing standing in the group’s way is J.Seph’s impending military enlistment, which means that there won’t be a full group comeback for about two years. While J.Seph is still here, however, let’s enjoy what Red Moon has to offer.

My first impressions of the song wasn’t that great. I thought it was rather bland. I am kind of glad I didn’t write this review yesterday, as it would have been so different. Red Moon swings right at you at the right moments. The song is another house based dance track (it is a KARD thing) that employs very heavy beats throughout the song to provide it with some definition. I think the song has good melodies and will be one to stay on my playlist for a long time. The vocal work is pretty amazing and the rapping is very impressive. I really loved how Somin echoes Jiwoo during the second verse. Something that I am still not 100% used to yet is how the song feels like it is a mashup of two songs. The verses and (what I believe) is the first set of choruses is one song, while the more robust and heavy part (the ‘run baby run’ one) felt liked it belong to another. While they are distinct, somehow they come together quite well the second time. The first times feels a little awkward but I guess a few more listens might just help merge the two together. Overall, a good song.

I thought the video was very classy. It is a dance track that looks and sounds likes what KARD has been doing throughout their careers thus far. But there was a little high-end feel when it came to the visual side of this comeback. All the members appeared in a glass box and wore really fancy outfits that really looked stunning. Likewise, that second heavy drop chorus featured the members in a cat-walk like moment. I thought was really cool and made perfect sense. There were more urban looks in the music video and they looked cool as well. But we have seen so much of that already, so it was a nice change.

The key point dance was from the first heavy chorus, which I thought looked cool in the small snippet that we got initially. And it is still looks impressive in the whole routine. I liked how they repeated the same routine but in a completely different formation the second time around. And it looks fresh as well, rather than using the same repeated moves that we have seen from the group before.

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

[Review] Dr. BeBe – Pentagon

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Yup, still a day late with the reviews. Bringing us one of two late reviews to be published today is Pentagon, who are finally back with their very first studio album. In my last album review, I was hoping a studio length album and my wishes came true! The group returns with Dr. BeBe, which is featured the album titled UNIVERSE: THE BLACK HALL. This release follows their Korean Humph! and Japanese Happiness.

Pentagon has had a strong run with their brighter concepts over the last few years. And while the group could continue what they have been doing with these brighter sounds, it is quite unfortunate that none of them really managed to hit the mark like how Shine got their name out there. So, the obvious choice was to change sounds and boy, what a change it was. The song kicks off with a suspenseful, anthem-like opener that really intrigues you. It would have been nice if the rest of the song followed through. But instead, we were presented with a very standard dance track setup. I do admit that I do find this new song a lot tighter and intense with its overall sound (which are all good things, especially with a song that opts for a darker profile). The chorus does provide a little more rhythm to the mix, giving the ends of some lines a little kick in the high note department which is rather unique. I wouldn’t say the song is catchy, but rather it was memorable for those high note line endings. The presence of violins during the bridge was good to help cut through the standard dance synths we get in this song. Vocally, I thought the vocalists and rappers did a good job. I just wished the sound wasn’t as generic and that the track be a little more unique.

Not only did their sound go from bright to intense, but their visual concept also shared the same change. Obviously, it matches up with the song. The lyrics provided insight into a crazed split-personality and the members did an amazing job of showing that in the music video. From their crazed dark side to their scared innocent side, their acting was spot on. In the end, it was shown that they were all patients in a facility, which makes me glad as they did seem they were freely roaming before. I really liked the dark scenes, particularly the choreography shots. It just really emphasizes the new image. I do agree with the netizens this time around when it comes to Hongseok’s outfit. I do think it is a little overkill for this concept and it is more to show off the abs that has been in spotlight.

No moves really stood out to me in the choreography, which is slightly disappointing. But that doesn’t mean it was a bad routine. In fact, I did think it was powerful and strong, which we have seen from Pentagon in the past. It just had no moves that I could really direct your attention to.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.7/10

[Review] Hands Up – Cherry Bullet

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My reviews are going to be a day late, unfortunately. With that warning in place, I start this review for Cherry Bullet’s Hands Up, which was meant to be written yesterday as it was released yesterday. But as I say quite often on here, better late than never. This is the group’s second comeback, which follows their addictive Q&A debut and their alright Really Really comeback. Since their last comeback, the group reformed into a seven-member lineup after the departure of Mirae, Kokoro, and Linlin. Let’s see what seven-member Cherry Bullet has to offer us.

If I were to put their last two title tracks into list, Hands Up will fall into the Q&A list. Why? Well, I was blown away by the song from first listen. The most memorable aspect of this new song has to be the sample of Beethoven’s Für Elise. I thought it was a one time thing in this song but it kept on reappearing in the background. It had a very unique charm and gave the song some class. I particularly liked how the vocals merge with the sample at the very end of the bridge, which I thought was very cool. In addition of that sample, the song takes a mature profile, compared to their earlier works from 2019. And I thought that this was a nice change. It is another one of those songs that you expect a massive drop for, but they never delivered this drop, which adds to the suspense of the song. The vocal work and slight rapping we heard in the song was very good. The melodies give off a polish feel, further highlighting the mature side of the group. Overall, enjoying the song.

What I think the group is also nailing are their concepts. We first got a video game centred music video for their debut. Their comeback showcased the virtual reality aspect of gaming. And now, we are given a look into their Cherry Bullet Development, where videos games are made. I liked how to match their mature sound, the group is given mature colours to wear. Their sets are definitely less colourful (but not dull in anyway). Overall, I thought this was both a very visually and conceptually video to watch. I wonder if the group will extend their video game concept further somehow with their next release.

I thought the choreography was good. Not really the most unique performance out there or the most captivating. But it does the job in my opinion, especially for a song that does not drop.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 7.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10

[Review] Bouncy – Rocket Punch

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Rocket Punch made a mediocre debut last year with BIM BAM BUM. Their debut track was just another one of those that left me on the fence with both good and bad moments. Now, the group is back to take on the industry with a new track titled BOUNCY. This is featured on the group’s second mini-album, RED PUNCH. Let’s see if the track is any better than their debut song.

I will get straight to the point and address what I had left off at. I do think BOUNCY is better than BIM BAM BUM by a mile. Sure, it takes on that bright pop sound that majority of KPOP female groups attempt. And their debut track did just that. I just find this a lot more energetic and colourful than their debut track. I do like how the song lives up to the group’s name, with the beat during the chorus being literally punchy. There isn’t a dull moment in this song. It is super catchy and the pop moments really do pop out. However, the song isn’t perfect and it does bring back the ‘on the fence’ comment I made previously. The song features hip-hop focused parts and trap-based instrumentation. Usually, this could be infused well into some tracks. In this case, I think it would be best described as ‘trying too hard’. It flip-flops between the two sounds and I don’t think it mashes together well. I also don’t like how they get shout-y during the more intense moments. I think it pushes the group in the wrong direction. There were moments that I feel like they were channeling ITZY as the sounds are similar. That is all good. They just went overkill this time around.

Given the energetic and punchy sound they had going, there was no doubt that the video would be full of colour. It would be a complete dud if the video was dark and mysterious. It just doesn’t work with one another. Other than a colourful video, the video doesn’t have much else to offer content wise. If you are after a video that is definitely lively, then this is a video for you to watch.

Putting the song behind and focusing on the choreography, my comments are slightly different. There is no way this choreography could have come about if the group didn’t have the different sounds that BOUNCY has going on. It is an intense routine that shows off the group’s talent in the performance department. And like the song’s title, the chorus has this bouncy feel that I thought made it a fun routine.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 6/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 6.9/10

[Review] Reveal – The Boyz

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The Boyz had another busy year with three Korean and one Japanese release. This is quite similar to their jam-packed debut year. Could 2020 be a repeat with multiple comebacks from the male group? Well, we will have to wait and see. The group does kick off 2020 with the release of their very first studio album, which shares the same name as their title track, Reveal. The music video was released 18 hours prior to the actual album drop, which is a rare occurrence. Unfortunately, I was asleep when the music video was revealed (and was busy yesterday) and couldn’t cover it until now.

I am torn about Reveal. The song has been out for a while now and I think my feelings to the song have budged at all. I thought the song is rather typical for a male group. That edgy and dark territory is pretty much a phase that majority of male groups must touch on in some capacity and is much preferred by many fans (myself included). So creatively, I don’t see anything new about this dance track (with trap synths and other trendy styles). And this was my mentality during the verses. It felt flat and disappointed me with its lack of memorable hooks or synths. The chorus was a lot better. There is definitely a kick to it with the ‘Down for your love‘ repetition (though, it took me a while to try to decipher what they were saying during this moment, as I thought they were chanting ‘devil’ or ‘dev-u-lah’). Vocally, The Boyz did an okay job. It was like how I thought the song was. Plain during the verses and a lot more lively during the chorus. The rapping was a lot more impressive, especially with how the rapping was incorporated during the lively choruses. Overall, I am on the fence when it comes to Reveal.

The music video had a ‘wolf’ concept. But I didn’t get much of a ‘wolf’ concept as it lacked canines. I think the only canine-related moment that I could detect in the video was the line ‘Time For Dogs and Wolves‘ just before the final chorus. It honestly just felt like a standard edgy and dark concept that majority of male groups do throughout their career. The video ended up being very mysterious, which I guess goes well with their dark concept. I did like the use of colour within the darkness of the video, which helped the colours pop out.

While the song and the video have been disappointing for me, the choreography is quite the opposite. I thought the performance they put on was actually quite cool. I liked how minute everything felt during the start, but the aura they had was very intense. That could be used to describe the rest of the choreography, with it being powerful in some parts and subtle in other parts.

Song – 6.5/10
Music Video – 6/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 6.7/10