Category: KPOP

[Album Review] Clé: Levanter (5th Mini Album) – Stray Kids

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Stray Kids is nominated for Best Male Group and Best Male Choreography in the 2019 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Miroh, Side Effects, Double Knot and Astronaut are also eligible for Best Song of 2019. To support Stray Kids, click here to vote if you haven’t before voting closes next Tuesday!

The second last album review of the year focuses on Stray Kids latest mini-album, Clé: Levanter. This third part has brought their Clé series to a close, following the release of Clé: Miroh (featuring the title track Miroh) and Clé: Yellow Wood (featuring the title track Side Effects). To help raise anticipation for the new release, Stray Kids released Double Knot in October and Astronaut in November, before dropping Levanter in December (all links below). This is also the first album release without Woojin, who left unexpected in November, which delayed the comeback to December. Let’s have a deeper listen to the album and its new tracks that we haven’t heard at all yet.

Clé: Levanter Album Cover

1. STOP – A commanding title to a very bold start to the mini-album. I am already sold. And it is even better as the song delivers intensity, energy and suspense through its fast tempo beat. To me, it feels dirty but in a good way. I also liked how they amp all those elements up by including that brief pause in the instrumentation just prior to the drop. Something that I did notice was that I associated the sound and vibe straight away to Stray Kids, which is definitely a good sign, as this means Stray Kids have a sound (at least, to me). The rapping and vocal work were equally superb. I am just not keen on the abrupt ending, though I had a feeling it was coming.  (9.5/10)

2. Double Knot (Pre-Release Track) – Click here to read the full review for Double Knot. (9/10)

3. Levanter (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Levanter. (9/10)

4. Booster – The group throws punches with Booster and they land these punches perfectly each time. It brings back the more powerful synths and definitely packed a lot of energy within its instrumental composition. I do think it could have been bolder, as it did feel a little tame. I found the vocals to be more melodic, with the melody in the chorus reminding me of ‘00s tracks. The rapping is a little more robust and gives it that roughness that I have come to expect with Stray Kids. (8/10)

6. Astronaut (Pre-Release Track) – Click here to read the full review for Astronaut. (9/10)

7. Sunshine – Sunshine is a ballad with a typical Stray Kids touch. And quite a soothing one at certain moments. Ballads tend to draw out more of a delicate side of a group. And this was definitely apparent when it came to the vocal sections of the song. The rapping and autotune is that twist I mentioned, and it prevented that delicate side to fully flourish. I wished that maybe they kept the autotune to a minimum so that Sunshine can be a little more impactful. I did like the pulsing beat and appreciate their execution for this song, overall. (7.5/10)

8. You Can STAY – For those who don’t know, the group’s fandom name is STAYs. And given the emphasis of the word STAY in the title, You Can Stay is essentially a track for their fans, thanking them for making their members better. It is a nice track. I find it particularly refreshing, but that might be me experiencing sweltering temperatures in the past week. I did like the brightness that came from the track, thanks to the vibrant and bouncy instrumental. I particularly like the ‘uh-like’ synth in the instrumental, helping make the song memorable. (8/10)

9. Mixtape #5 – In the past, I never reviewed their Mixtape tracks. However, that changed earlier in the year when I sat down to review them as part of the Yellow Wood album review. So, I made the executive decision to also review them on their original albums from now on. It essentially is a song abut the colder weather and some of the lyrics is about their outfit. There is a fun touch to the band instrumentation, and it felt jazzy in some cases. I also found the track to be quite lively, which is something different in the season of emotions. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.5/10

Clé: Levanter Teaser Image

[Review] Psycho – Red Velvet

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Red Velvet is nominated for Best Female Group, Best Music Video and Best Female (Group) Choreography in the 2019 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Voting closes on the 31st of December, which is almost a week away. So to support Red Velvet, click here to vote for them in the survey!

A major release this late into the final month of year tends to be quite rare, as groups are preparing from the end of year music festivals and other special events. But it seems like we will be getting a couple this year. The first is by Red Velvet, who returns with the final part of the ReVe Festival. The title track for this release is Psycho. Previously, the group returned earlier in the year with Zimzalabim and Umpah Umpah, as part of the ReVe Festival series.

Zimzalabim was probably one of their craziest tracks, while Umpah Umpah ended up resolving to be a regular pop track for Summer. So it was hard to form an expectation for Psycho. But it ended up being an urban pop dance track that felt very polished and refined. I would also say this would be a logical follow up to the R&B sound that we got through Bad Boy. Just Psycho ends up being much more appealing for me. The instrumental backdrop felt simple, allowing the vocals to do majority of the hard work. There was some falsettos in the pre-chorus and I really like how they all sing the chorus, making the song feel more impactful. The chorus also had this very addictive swaying effect, which helped make the song more alluring. The melodies also kept the song feeling fresh and smooth. There was a slight moment of rapping which I felt they could have extended to give the song an extra boost of oomph. But other than that, Red Velvet comes out with another smashing song.

The title Psycho definitely alludes to something eerie and dark. And I really like how the music video nails this idea. In terms of visual concepts, I must admit that Red Velvet is one of the most versatile groups ever. Of course, their stylists should also get a shout out for really helping Red Velvet pull off these changes. There seems to be a 1930’s vibe to the music video, given the sets and some of their outfits. Wendy’s shorter white coloured hair style is probably the biggest change of all. Each member looks very creepy, with the production team putting together a music video that makes the members look like crazed psychos/stalkers throughout the video.

Based on what I can see in the music video, the moves look like there is a bit of attitude infused into it. And it makes sense given the song style. Some parts look a little weak, while others look quite strong. So it would help if there was some live performance (to make a better judgement). But I don’t think there will be any until Christmas Day (25th of December) when the group’s first stage is scheduled at the SBS Gayo Festival. But for now, I think I rest with the comment that the choreography is satisfying.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 10/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 9.1/10

[Review] Come – NEWKIDD

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NEWKIDD’s debut track, Tu eres, is eligible for Best Song in the 2019 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. It is very simple to select Tu eres as one of the best tracks of the year. Simply click the link here, vote for your favourite artists in the various categories and in the final question, type in ‘Tu eres – NEWKIDD’ along with four other of your favourite songs of 2019. Make sure to press submit once you are done!

As mentioned a few reviews ago, I will slowly catch up on some reviews that I have missed, as we round out 2019. I had to take a short break from this, but I am now back and ready to do a review blitz. This review’s focus is on NEWKIDD’s first comeback track, Come. This was released on the 28th of November. And as far as I know, the track didn’t get much attention. Hopefully this review will help get the group and song a few extra listeners. Previously the male group made their debut with Tu eres.

One way to really draw attention to the song from the get-go is to do what Come did. It kicked the song off with the blaring brass-like synth that really caught my attention. And with an opening like this, I just had to keep on listening. The verses is a lot smoother, going with a sleek beat and vocals that just kept on flowing. The opening synth returns for the chorus, but this time they added deep vocals with some edge and attitude to give it a different feel. We return to the smoother verses, throwing us into the typical rap-vocal lineup that songs tend to opt for during the second verse. But the song doesn’t repeat the chorus. The song then changes up once again, returning with the same synth based instrumentation. But the vocals are changed, giving the song an even sleeker texture. It is a bold track and a definite improvement from the group’s debut track. There is something lacking that weighs it down and prevents it from being memorable. But what we got is very satisfying. There is definitely potential behind this track and group, waiting to be discovered. And Come is a step in the right direction.

When it comes to music videos, I think it is clear that I do prefer the darker and edgy concepts. Compared to the music video for Tu eres, Come‘s video is definitely superior. I liked the mysterious nature of the video. It gives off an intriguing feel and I felt that a plot felt like it could have intertwined in the video, particularity when Hansol picks up the diamond at the end of the video. But the closeups felt just like closeups in the video and don’t offer much else to the video. I liked the emphasis on red and gold in this video, popping out from the darkness that surrounds the set.

The group definitely gives off a lot of charisma in this comeback and this is shown very clearly throughout the stages. Their smiles throughout the choreography was very alluring. I thought their chorus routines were very edgy, sleek and powerful this time around. Good job!

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 7.5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.6/10

[Review] Coming Home – NCT U

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NCT is nominated for Best Male Group, while both NCT Dream and NCT 127 are nominated for Best Subunit. NCT Dream is also nominated for Best Male (Group) Choreography and Best Collaboration (with Yeri from Red Velvet). Click here to support NCT and their subunits before the 31st of December.

While EXO hasn’t released a Christmas single for the past two years, it seems like other SM artists may be taking the mantle. NCT U has reformed into a four member subunit (Jaehyun, Taeil, Haechan and Doyoung) for the release of Coming Home, which is part of the SM Station X project. This is also the first NCT U release since 2018’s Boss (one of my favourite songs of the year!).

Per the Christmas singles that EXO have released in the past, Coming Home comes in the form of a ballad. Made up of classical instruments, the background has this very warm and soothing vibe to it, but this is a rather typical aspect when it comes to Winter singles. But I like how there isn’t a stillness to the instrumental compared to other ballads (i.e. they are made of strictly one or two instruments). There are number of instruments working together in this song at any one second, and this really helps push the song along in a captivating manner. I could also sense an elegant vibe to the song. Compared to the other ballad that I reviewed during the week, this one has a little extra appeal to it. This added layer of appeal can be attributed to the vocal work. Jaehyun, Taeil, Haechan and Doyoung are the part of the vocal line of NCT, so it was expected that we would be getting some sort of vocal push to it. However, we are treated to powerhouse vocals in this song, especially with all the high notes at the end. The song also allows the members to showcase and move about (in terms of their vocals), showcasing and exploring their talents in this department. Overall, Coming Home is a Winter single to enjoy.

At the start of the music video, we are shown the members of this NCT U lineup in a way that gives off the impression that they are alone. But as the the video comes to an end, we are shown the member are actually very close by as they walk in the background of each other’s shot. The song is about coming home to a loved one. But I think at the end it is shown that Jaehyun is the one going home and he is only imagining the other members as they are the people he is going home to. It is a nice concept and I liked how it wasn’t as emotionally charged as other songs. I really like their outfits and the sets created for this video.

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

[Album Review] 360 (2nd Mini Album) – Park Ji Hoon

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Park Ji Hoon’s performance for L.O.V.E is nominated for Best Solo Choregraphy in this year’s KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support Park Ji Hoon and your other favourite artists by clicking here to vote.

Between now and the end of the year, there will be three more album reviews (inclusive of this one). The first of the final three 2019 albums to be reviewed this year is Park Ji Hoon’s 360. His title track also shares the same name as the album. This is strong album from the solo artist, further highlighting his potential in the industry. Former co-member of Wanna One, Kim Jae Hwan, also participated in the album by co-writing the lyrics of the final track, Strange. To see what I thought of it, keep on reading!

360 Album Cover

1. I AM (Introductory Track) – Usually, I do not review the introductory track as it tends to be just an instrumental piece of some kind. However, if it contains vocals, I will include it in the review. Based on these criteria, you can tell by now that I AM contains Park Ji Hoon’s vocals. The track kicks off with a soft piano start, before transforming into a full-fledged EDM dance track. I really like his vocals in this song, especially paired with the background vocals and also the way he emphasised the English during the ‘chorus’ of the intro track. I also thought this was a nice and bright lead into the title track, 360. (8.5/10)

2. 360 (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for 360. (9/10)

3. Whistle – Whistle takes a brighter approach, reminding the listener of Summer. It is super energetic and the instrumental even contains some subtle island sounds, hence why is suits the hotter months of the year. Park Ji Hoon does a really good job with his vocal work. His rapping, on the other hand, felt a tad too heavy and serious for the upbeat sound. I really liked the chorus of the song, with the ‘Whistle, Whistle now, Oh Oh Oh…’ keyed into my memory bank. I also like the fancy piano bridge we got. But it did feel a little ill-fitting for such a vibrant and energetic sound. But apart from that, it is a good track. (8/10)

4. Hurricane – When I saw a track titled Hurricane, I expected something a little more erratic than a smooth sailing track that Hurricane ended up being like. It isn’t a bad track, but I wish that Park Ji Hoon’s production team would be a little more ambitious with his sound. And besides, I feel like Park Ji Hoon would suit an edgy song. The song included some flute work, which did sound nice. His vocals did feel a little tight and I think it would have been a little nicer to hear some space in his vocals during some parts, especially paired with an easygoing and light-ish sound. I did like the chorus and the odd ad-lib that Park Ji Hoon throws in the background. (8/10)

5. Casiopea (닻별) – It seems like my prayers that I mentioned in the previous song’s review are answered. Casiopea is distinctively different to his previous tracks, throwing a whole heap of that requested edge. It has sharp impact to its sound through its snare drum-like instrumentation. I also really liked how they kept on pushing the song by adding to the instrumental. It helped it develop the song and really gave it a dynamic touch. His voice helped inject a bunch of textures throughout the song, which I thought was really cool. His rapping is also quite unique, very unlike his other tracks. (9/10)

6. Still Love U – The last two tracks on the album are the softer tracks on the whole album. Still Love U still has the upbeat sound to it and I can imagine a nice choreography routine paired to it. I thought the beat was cool and consistent, but the instrumental felt somewhat bland. His focus on vocals really showed in this song. As a rapper, there is a bit of a husky and raspy tone in this song, which really helped the appeal of the track. Given the lyrics, it is a sweet song which I am sure would appeal to fans as well. Overall, not bad. (7.5/10)

7. Strange (이상해) – The final song on the album is Strange. It is an R&B track with sweet lyrics, ending the album on a very positive note. Interestingly, the song doesn’t really get into the ‘strange’ territory. There is the odd quirk with a sudden deep autotune twist at the mid-point of the song and few other smaller sections throughout the song. Park Ji Hoon’s shows off several different vocal technique in this track that showcases his capabilities. But whether he nails it, I am not too sure. I really like the chanting part of the song, which was my favourite bit. (7.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.2/10

360 Teaser Image

[Review] Orgel – Sungmin (Super Junior)

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Many of your favourite artists are nominated in the 2019 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. To find out who is nominated and to vote for your favourite artists, click here to be taken to the voting page!

Super Junior was active this year through the release of Time_Slip, SUPER Clap and I Think I. However, Sungmin did not participate in this year’s comeback. In fact, Sungmin has been an inactive member of the group since 2015, after fans demanded for his departure from the group due to his marriage. However, on the 22nd of November, Sungmin made his official solo debut with Orgel. This is Sungmin’s first solo track since the release of Day Dream in 2018 as part of SM Station.

Sungmin, while still active as a member of Super Junior, held the role of lead vocalist. And as cliche as it is (for a lead or main vocalist), Sungmin’s official debut song comes in the form of a ballad. Unfortunately, the cliche release doesn’t really offer anything new and felt like a typical ballad that we hear often at this time of the year. I have listened to Orgel a number of times since its release a month ago, but the song has sadly not stuck with me. It was often forgotten and I haven’t gone out my way to actually seeking the track to listen to it. Paired with a simple yet warming instrumentation featuring piano and acoustic guitar (made to sound like a music box, which I think was the intention based on the title of the song), we are given an opportunity to hear Sungmin’s vocals once again. He sounds nice, with a raspy voice and showcases falsettos during the chorus. And this does a lot to make the song feel appealing. But I don’t think that is enough to make the ballad a stand out. I do like ballads, but this one just felt standard to me.

Orgel, in Korean, means music box. And as mentioned in the song section of the review, the music does give off a music box vibe. In addition to that, something that I felt while watching the music video is that the song ended reminding me of the nice feeling when the sun manages to shine through the blinds in the morning and you wake up as a result. And we do get some of that through the natural lighting present in the music video, as Sungmin walks around the neighborhood. The music box that is shaped like a carousel is what he uses as inspiration for this song and the music that he writes in the video. And it seems like the mentioned music box also reminds me of his childhood, getting him to flip through that book with the cute drawings. Overall, I thought it was a nice video, going hand-in-hand with the song.

Song – 5.5/10
Music Video – 7/10
Overall Rating – 6.1/10

[Album Review] New Moon (6th Mini Album) – AOA

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So many artists are nominated this year in the 2019 KPOPREVIEWED Awards, including BLACKPINK, Dream Catcher, Red Velvet, Oh My Girl, CLC etc. Click here to support your favourite artists before the 31st of December.

I am finally getting around to finishing the album reviews that I intended to do from October and November (every album review up from the next one to the end of the year are December releases). The final album from November and the focus of today’s album review is AOA’s New Moon, which was released on the 27th of November. This is the group’s first comeback since reforming a five member. Changing the number of members is always a challenge, particularly if the group has been well known for a previous set of members (i.e. AOA’s OT7). But I found that AOA’s return (through this album) was definitely proves that they haven’t been impacted negatively by the change in lineup and is still a force to be reckoned with.

New Moon Album Cover

1. Come See Me (날 보러 와요) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Come See Me. (7/10)

2. Sorry – Click here to read the full review for Sorry. (9/10)

3. Magic Spell (주문을 외워봐) – AOA shows an even stronger profile through Magic Spell. It is a typical pop track. But it features a bold and powerful rolling drum beat. There are some rock influences embedded in the instrumental, which really emphasis that strong side I am talking about. Alongside the whistling in the instrumental, I think the track ends up being very dynamic. I thought the vocal work was one of the best yet and the Jimin’s rapping packs a punch as expected from the rapper herself. One other thing I love about this track is the energy that comes off it, which also helps the track to become memorable. (9/10)

4. Ninety Nine – We start off with a sketchy autotune section courtesy of Jimin, with the lyrics just recognizable. The track then changes its tone with a more seductive and attitude heavy verse, on top of some bass guitars. The pre-chorus features some twinkling profiles, while guitars and falsettos are the main component of the chorus and the rest of the song. I thought the melody was quite strong and this helped the song become quite iconic on this album. The lyrics also go towards the suggestive/sensual side of the spectrum, which was definitely interesting. The song ends with another sketchy autotune segment, which I still have not warmed up to, despite it being at the start and end of the song. (8.5/10)

5. My Way – We end the album with My Way, which has a bold retro sound to it. The retro sound can be attributed to the brass present and the very deep thumping in the background helped with giving the song some stability. Though, I think the retro sound was loss towards the end thanks to the electric guitar. It was a catchy song, with strong hooks and a very appealing instrumental. I really like how the song pushed along with its momentum. Jimin’s rap sequence was also an interesting change up to the song, giving it edge and power in a unique sense. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.3/10

New Moon Teaser Image

[Weekly Chart] 2nd Week of December 2019

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A reminder that voting for the 2019 KPOPREVIEWED Awards have opened and will close this coming December 31st. Have your say on who is the best of the best by clicking here to vote for your favourites! Remember that YOU decide the winners!

Another week has gone by and we are slowly counting the down the days to Christmas and the New Year. And we are slowly seeing the influx of Christmas songs in the KPOP industry (though it seems a lot less than usual) and the resurgence of carols that you just unconsciously start humming while shopping. But as it is another Sunday, let’s have a look at the ranking of songs during the past week in the Weekly KPOP Charts segment.

For the past few weeks, we have seen Mamamoo and GOT7 fight each other for the top spot. However this week, Stray Kid’s Levanter manages to bypass both Mamamoo and GOT7 for the top spot. Mamamoo’s HIP finds itself in the second position, while GOT7 dropped out of the Top 5 this week. Kim Jae Hwan’s The Time I Need finds itself in the third position, while IU’s Blueming rises back into the Top 5, sitting snugly in the fourth position. Finally, WJSN remains steady with As You Wish, completing the Top 5 for the second week in a row. For more of the charts, scroll down below.

  8th Dec – 14th Dec 2019
Title Artist Status
1 Levanter Stray Kids (new)
2 Hip Mamamoo (▼ 1)
3 The Time I Need Kim Jae Hwan (new)
4 Blueming IU (▲ 3)
5 As You Wish WJSN (Cosmic Girls) (=)
6 360 Park Ji Hoon (=)
7 Remember Me BDC (▲ 42)
8 Numb CIX (▲ 11)
9 You Calling My Name GOT7 (▼ 7)
10 Come See Me AOA (▲ 4)
11 Blue Flame ASTRO (▼ 3)
12 Curious About U Lee Jun Young (U-KISS) (▼ 9)
13 Touchin’ Kang Daniel (▼ 2)
14 Above The Time IU (▲ 7)
15 Oopsie (My Bad) NATURE (▲ 21)
16 Obsession EXO (▼ 12)
17 Follow MONSTA X (▲ 11)
18 Wannabe Golden Child (▼ 1)
19 Astronaut Stray Kids (▼ 9)
20 Sweet Chaos DAY6 (▲ 2)
21 Nuna Kim Jae Hwan (new)
22 Sweater Ailee (new)
23 Starry Night BoA (new)
24 Forever Love Yoo Youngjae (▼ 6)
25 Wonder Woman Brown Eyed Girls (▼ 1)
26 Poison VAV (▲ 17)
27 Nostalgia Night VICTON (▼ 4)
28 Flower Shower Hyuna (▲ 21)
29 Aurora Rainbow (▲ 20)
30 Coming Home NCT U (new)

Songs leaving the charts this week include:

  • Set Me Free – Ladies Code [Fulfilled 9 Weeks on Charts]
  • SUPER CLAP – Super Junior [Fulfilled 9 Weeks on Charts]
  • Dear Love – Lim Hyunsik (BTOB) [Fulfilled 9 Weeks on Charts]
  • Good BAM – N.Flying [Fulfilled 9 Weeks on Charts]
  • Blah Blah – 1THE9 [Fulfilled 9 Weeks on Charts]
  • Silent Movie – Yubin ft. Yoo Mi Rae [Leaving Charts Early]
  • Starlight – Jun Hyosung [Leaving Charts Early]
  • Butterfly – Bang Minah [Leaving Charts Early]

Thank you and see you later!

[Review] The Time I Need – Kim Jae Hwan

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Kim Jae Hwan is nominated for Best New Male Solo Artist. Begin Again is also eligible for Best Song of 2019 (The Time I Need and Nuna are NOT eligible this time around). To support Kim Jae Hwan and your other favourite artists, click here to vote before the 31st of December.

I have one major tick box that needs to be ticked when it comes to writing these reviews. It needs a music video. When Kim Jae Hwan released The Time I Need two days ago, it did not have a music video. And hence I decided not to proceed with the review. But a music video was released yesterday, so now the review can be written. Accompanying The Time I Need is Nuna, as the second title track. But there is no music video, so no review. This is also Kim Jae Hwan’s first comeback after the release of Begin Again earlier this year.

It was slightly surprising to hear that Kim Jae Hwan didn’t release a ballad this time around as the title track. I had expected another ballad from the soloist, particularly given how ballads are well suited for the colder season. But at the same time, I am happy to hear that he is branching out with his sound in the main track off his mini-album. I found The Time I Need to be a very pleasant song. However, it is a typical pop track and it unfortunately doesn’t develop into anything grand or epic. Though, I did like the consistent fast keyboard tapping in the instrumental as it came off somewhat striking. What does earn a big tick is that Kim Jae Hwan’s voice was shown off nicely. Some parts were slightly muffled, which helped transform the song into some you would hear off a record player. I thought that was a nice and interesting touch. Overall, it was still a nice track. It just needed to develop in some manner to be even more interesting.

The main set that the music video looked really cool. The 3D clock that came out of floor is definitely going to be an iconic look. And if it doesn’t get to that status that it will definitely be an underrated set up. I also thought the colour emphasis was really good. The green scenes looked really beautiful, while the clock set were well accented with just the colour black. The sunset scenes with the yellow wall looked really nice, while Kim Jae Hwan’s red leather jacket gave off a bold look. The lighting played a really important part in the music video, especially during the sundial replication scenes. Overall, ticks all around for the music video.

A song about time should include clocks. They obviously did so in the music video. And I liked how they also included it in the choreography. The start looked really nice, with the backup dancers spinning arm clocks. The circular formations and flailing arms looked really cool during the chorus as well. The female back up dancer felt liked a shadow, which I thought looked really cool technique, as well.

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

[Album Review] The Dream Chapter: MAGIC (2nd Mini Album) – TXT

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TXT is nominated for Best New Male Group and Best Music Video (for Crown). To support TXT, click here to vote for them and your other favourite groups before December 31st!!!

Now this is one very delayed album review. TXT returned back in October with Run Away (also titled as Nine & Three Quarters), which was featured on their second mini-album, The Dream Chapter: MAGIC. The main reason to why I held back their album review was due to the release of a few music videos during the ‘Album Review Blitz’ I did at the end of November/start of December. But I have since realized that I won’t be able to write separate reviews for them, so I will look at the music videos some other time. And that brings us back to their album review, which I will finally publish today.

The Dream Chapter: Magic Album Cover

1. New Rules – The first song on the album starts us off with a fun and vibrant sound, which I quite like. The instrumental has this retro funk that really gives it that fun tone during the chorus, otherwise it would have been a very standard dance number. But the song manages to keep the retro funk subtle, allowing the song to get serious. I also like the rock touch that the song has, which helped supply intensity to the song. The group’s vocals were good but the rapping was probably the bigger highlight, especially when it went low and almost whisper-like, giving the song a very intriguing start and end. (8/10)

2. 9 & Three Quarters () (Run Away) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for 9 & Three Quarters/Run Away. (8.5/10)

3. Roller Coaster – Roller Coaster is memorable, but it might only be so for a bad reason. All is good with the track up until the chorus. Everyone is saying it felt choppy. But to me, that piece was continuously looped. I am troubled by it, as it catches me off guard each time I listen to it and it does sound off-putting. Though, I assume that this was done for a reason. I just can’t see any reason that validates it. Some people have theorised that this was done to stimulate a roller coaster, but I don’t get this feeling at all. The vocal work in this song is pretty good, with it being consistent throughout the track. But that is the only thing good I can say about the track. (5/10)  

4. Poppin’ Star – We are treated with a soft-ish bubblegum pop-like through Poppin’ Star. It is still a dance track, but it’s extremely light and doesn’t pack any heavy synths in its instrumental. The group members sound more like their age in this track, innocent and very youthful. It isn’t anything special, but it was likeable and enjoyable. (7/10)

5. Can’t We Just Leave The Monster Alive? – Henceforth referred to as Alive, the track brings back the tropical house and island influences, a trend that has disappeared. Its presence is slightly refreshing, as it has been some time since I have heard this style (oh, what a break can do to you). I like the how the pre-chorus becomes light, before they throw the tropical/island sounds at us. While their vocal work and rapping was okay, I wanted more from this department. It gives the song a linear profile and pretty much made Alive feel one-dimensional. (6/10)

6. Magic Island – Magic Island gives off an enlightening tone whilst dabbling in the R&B genre. It is the soft track, showcasing the groups vocals. I did like the huskier tone they incorporated into their voices, giving the smooth song some texture. The whistling in the background was a nice small detail. Overall, I find Magic Island to be quite different, given the fact that the group has been doing mainly dance songs up until now.  I would like to hear the group explore this sound, provided they don’t put typical sound destinations on their itinerary. (8/10)

7. 20cm – The group gets even huskier in 20cm, compared to their other tracks. They also answer my wish for further exploration of this side of the group. My first impression of the song was that it felt like a BTS track. Even some of their voices sounded similar to the senior group. While the song was soft and the instrumental being almost ballad-like, I really liked how they used to the vocals to build up the song. It allows for a stronger focus on the vocals and made the song so much more captivating. What the song needed was a rap sequence, which I think would have really suited this song. (8.5/10)

8. Angel or Devil – Angel Or Devil returns the group’s sound to its more upbeat dance roots. The song seems to showcase subtle island influences in the background, but it overall felt like a typical dance track. I liked the fun and carefree vibe that came from the song. I also felt both the singing and rapping was on point in this track, bringing a slight hip-hop influence. It was also very catchy, bringing the album to a close on a very addictive note. (8.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.4/10

The Dream Chapter: Magic Teaser Image

[Review] Sweater – Ailee

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Ailee is nominated for Best Female Solo Artist in the 2019 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. To support Ailee and your other favourite artists, click here to vote before the 31st of December.

Earlier this year, Ailee made her long awaited comeback with Room Shaker. However, it was quickly forgotten due to lack of promotions and what was assumed to be conflict with her managing company. But since then, Ailee has signed with another company, making way for new releases in the future. She has also signed with an American company for future releases in the Western market. Her first release since signing on with different companies comes in the form of Sweater, a single released in both Korean and English.

Described as a Christmas ballad, Ailee draws our attention to Sweater in an effortless manner by appealing to our emotions through a beautiful and elegant sounding piece. Per usual, the ballad opts for a simple piano and violin instrumental, providing a very bare blank canvas for Ailee’s vocals to paint a picture on. And the image she manages to draw just sounds amazing. Her voice alone captivates and builds in a manner that makes the song as captivating as a dance track that builds perfectly into a dynamic piece. The only thing that changes between the two versions of the song are the language that the lyrics are in. I had expected there to be minute differences in the melody or overall audio aesthetics of the song (as often observed in Japanese version of Korean tracks and vice versa), but Ailee seems to have managed to polished both in a manner that these minute differences are well covered up or are non-existent.

Yes, you can feel the emotions when you listen to Ailee sing the song. But the music video just enhances the emotions you feel so that it is a lot more impact. Everyone we see in the music video has experienced loss. And from what I know, Christmas in Korea is more of a time to spend with your lover or friend, rather than family. So in this video, we see the first guy leave flowers by the intersection where his fiance was killed. The piano playing lady lost her husband and is counting down the days to his anniversary. The female student lost her mother, while the old man lost his wife. But each of these people have an item from their significant other. The guy has the two rings, the piano lady has a diary, the student has a key ring and old man has a notepad of his wife’s recipes. The saddest part is seeing them hold these items to themselves and watching them cry, as Ailee’s voice echoes in the background. In the end, we see them with their loved ones in a shop, showing the bond they had and still have during the Christmas period.

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

[Review] Starry Night – BoA ft. Crush

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A reminder that your favourite artists may be nominated in the 2019 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Click here to vote for them before voting closes this coming December 31st.

The legendary BoA has returned with a new mini-album. Newer fans of the KPOP genre may not know BoA, who made her debut back in 2000 and has since become the Queen of KPOP due to her many successful hits throughout the years. Yesterday, the Queen herself returned with the eponymous title track and mini-album, Starry Night. BoA previously returned to the industry with Feedback earlier in the year.

The one reason to why Feedback never got a review was simply I found it very boring and couldn’t think of anything to express my views in an appropriate manner without stating the obvious. So, when I heard that BoA was returning, I knew that I had to write a review to make up for the skipped review. Unfortunately, Starry Night gives off a similar first impression. It stays fairly safe and consistent with its twinkling instrumental and doesn’t develop into a more interesting track as it progresses. It is pleasant-sounding and extremely light, so don’t me wrong. There is also a warm feeling that the song does extremely well putting forward thanks to the husky vocals of the two singers (which also makes it well suited for the colder season). Both BoA and Crush vocals have been established in the past and Starry Night further reiterates this. Their harmonies were also quite nice, showing us that the pairing was ideal. But other than that, it needed something to make it captivating. Otherwise, it feels like another typical Winter track on our playlists, easily forgotten once the season is over.

I thought this was a very nice video, reflecting well with the warm sound that the song showcases. Firstly, it shows how sometimes your day can be frustrating or how it just go wrong (i.e. lock yourself out of your car or house, or how the vending machine just doesn’t work properly). But after a long day, everything will somehow work out, as it did for everyone in this video. In the case of the video, everyone had the help of a starry night, which gave them hope. The starry night in the music video happens to be BoA in a dazzling silver dress, that glimmers perfectly in the presence of the light directed at her. It looked really beautiful.

Song – 5.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Overall Rating – 6.5/10

[Review] Remember Me – BDC

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Remember Me was released during the eligibility period for the Best Song award in the 2019 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support BDC’s debut song by clicking here to vote for your favourites and include Remember Me as a potential Best Song of 2019 recipient.

With the end of the year approaching and new releases tend to be scarce during the month of December, I will reviewing some of the many releases that I have missed over the last few months. Many of these releases are shown on the ‘Coming Soon’ list. I will start with BDC’s debut track, Remember Me, which was released on the 29th of October 2019. BDC (Boys Da Capo) is a unit group consisting of Kim Si Hun, Hong Seong Jun and Yun Jung Hwan from Brand New Music.

Remember Me starts off as a ballad. It was rather soft and felt sentimental. But as the song progressed through the first verses, the presence of the synth makes you come to the realization that the song is a dance track. The chorus ensures the dance track realization becomes reality, going for an EDM based drop and background. There is a lot of contrast between the two, as a result. But I thought the contrast ended up being quite clean and well portrayed. The two different sides of the song also allow the unit to show off their vocals and the dance group flair. I did expect a little more to the rapping, as it could have been used to drive the song to a better endpoint. But all was very good. My favourite part of the song has to be the ‘Remember Me, Remember Me...’ repetition, which was held back for the right moment to be the most impactful. Overall, I think the song is a very strong track for a debut and I am thoroughly surprised that I glossed over this track.

I will be honest, I haven’t checked out their music video until today. And I am very ashamed of this. I thought it was a good video. The scenes at the start and the second verse (where they were alone) made it look like they were forgotten. Hence, why the video was quite depressing start to the video. But once the chorus kicks in, we are treated to choreography shots that show otherwise. I think it would have been better to see the members in their solo shots to break free of their forgotten state, though I am not exactly sure how you would showcase that. I also liked how the video went for both flowery boy and edgy concepts, which might be a good indication that the unit is versatile.

I thought this was another good choreography routine. The start had more elegant moves to fit with the ballad-like style. They kick it up a notch for the chorus to reflect well with the dance style. Both sections are quite captivating and they had good stage presence (on the few stages that I watched). Essentially, there is potential for the unit in the future. And given the content that they have shown us, I would definitely like to see them return in the future.

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

[Album Review] Obsession (7th Studio Album) – EXO

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EXO is nominated for Best Male Group, Best Music Video, Best Male Choreography. Baekhyun and Chen are nominated for Best New Male Solo, with the latter also nominated for Best Vocals. Finally, EXO-SC is nominated for Best Subunit. Click here to support EXO and its members in the 2019 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. 

Despite being downgraded to 6 members due to military enlistment and Lay’s continuous Chinese promotions, EXO has remained strong through their latest promotions. The group returned with Obsession, the title to both their 7th studio album and title track. This is the group’s first comeback since their return at the end of last year with Love Shot (which is also eligible for Best Song of 2019 in the 2019 KPOPREVIEWED Awards – see above paragraph). The group, however, has been active through individual and unit promotions. So let’s see what their comeback after a year offers.

Obsession Album Cover

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

2. Trouble – Trouble features a slight reggae beat and mixes it with some trap elements, resulting in an epic vibe. This also got me intrigued, as it merges two styles that we often hear in KPOP into one and the combination does come off as unique. I liked their approach with the chorus, sounding anthem like. But the song did feel weighted. While this isn’t an issue for some songs, the weight in Trouble made it feel slightly sluggish and takes away the energy that the song could have potentially channeled. (8/10)

3. Jekyll (지킬) – I really liked how sleek the start to Jekyll sounded. It really sets the mood and tone of the track. The suspense it built was awesome and the members sounded really good. I just didn’t see the chorus coming. It continued that sleek sound, but the vocals opted for shouting and a rougher texture. This kind of makes sense, as the verses would represent the calmer Jekyll, while the chorus changes to a scarier tone, representing Dr. Hyde. Overall, another unique sound. (8/10)

4. Groove (춤) – Groove is not what I had expected. It opts for a jazzy R&B number when we arrive at the chorus, whilst keeping it more R&B centred during the verses. There was also a sensual vibe to the song, which I thought the group nailed very well. Their vocal work was really good, with Chen’s vocals being a definite highlight. Chanyeol and Sehun’s rapping helped give the song some rhythm, I also loved the flute and how it transformed the song without going for an extreme change. (9/10)

5. Ya Ya Ya – Ya Ya Ya had a good feel to it. It is a lot brighter in terms to sound and tone, when compared to the preceding tracks on the album so far. And I liked this energy, as a result. The vocals in the background were nice, giving the song’s already upbeat 90s influenced instrumentation. Their vocals were nice (once again) and the rapping had a good push to it. But I don’t think it is the most exciting track on the album. And that has stayed with me since my first listen to the album on the day after it was released. (7/10)

6. Baby You Are – I think the vocal work shined the brightest in Baby You Are. The harmonies were top-notch, and the chorus was very smooth. The vocal work was also very complimentary to the instrumental, which was funky and groovy. It just felt weighted. This time, I use this word in a more positive context, as this allowed the song to match with the more mature and serious sounds we have heard on the album thus far. I did think the song was rather fragile, but the rapping really gave this song some stability and that fragility that I felt was no longer present. (9.5/10)

7. Non Stop – For a second, the piano at the started sounded like Non Stop was going to be a ballad. But within a split second, the song transforms into a funky beat. I also love the retro vibe that the song throws in, thanks to the brass and percussion. The ‘Hey. A Little Bit of Love. My Love Non Stop’ line is amazingly catchy. I think the song could have went a little further, giving us a stronger chorus. But the hook that we got did enough and it is another great song. (8.5/10)

8. Day After Day (오늘도) – Day After Day is another song that showcases the group’s vocals, singing over a simple instrumentation that opts for acoustic guitar to be the main centerpiece. The song has a nice melody. Given what EXO has showed us in the past, the song obviously sounds very nice and pleasant. However, it just doesn’t sound as amazing as before. It just feels like something we have heard before and hence I don’t find it special this time around. (6/10)

9. Butterfly Effect (나비효과) – We end with another amazing track, featuring great vocals and appealing harmonies that hook you onto the song within the first listen. The instrumental for Butterfly Effect places the song into pop territory and everything sounds so smooth in this track. I also quite like the melody and the beat it had. And given its position at the end of the track list, I put this down as a hidden gem. I feel like any other description I give will not give it justice, so I recommend you listen to this track. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.2/10

Obsession Teaser Image

[Review] Levanter – Stray Kids

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Stray Kids is nominated for Best Male Group and Best Male (Group) Choreography. In addition to that, all their 2019 releases (Miroh, Side Effects, Double Knot and Astronaut) are eligible for Best Song of 2019. To support Stray Kids, click here to vote for them and your other favourites of 2019.

Stray Kids has had a jam-packed year. The group have previously released 2 mini-albums this year, with Miroh and Side Effects leading the albums released in March and June (respectively). And now, the group have moved onto their 3rd mini-album of 2019, Clé: Levanter. The title track of the new album is Levanter and it also features Double Knot and Astronaut as pre-release singles. The album was also scheduled for release at the end of November. But due to the sudden and unexpected departure of Woojin, it was pushed back to 9th of December (today). Their first concert went ahead at the end of November prior to this comeback, as well.

After the release of everything mentioned above, Stray Kids have a lot of shoes to fill when it comes to Levanter. And within one listen to the new song, I was confident that the group had managed to fill those shoes without any issues. Levanter manages to find the middle ground between Double Knot and Astronaut, in my opinion. The song opts for a lighter than usual instrumental, going with mixture of synth and rock vibes in the background. I liken this element of the song to Astronaut, which was notably light in comparison to the rest of their discography. However, it is undeniable that the song features a strong level intensity. The chorus also has these epic vibes that remind me of Double Knot as well. The song is also very much vocally centered, with the vocalists of the group pushing their voices further during the chorus to enhance the epic impression of the song. I found their voices to be very piercing and this stood out during the chorus. The rappers, even though felt limited, sounded really cool during their parts. Overall, Levanter is an awesome track.

Once again, I do not want to dwindle on the music video for long as I will be returning with a Stray Kids music video theory post some time in the new year for you all. While doors have been a recurring theme in their past few music videos, I am still equally as confused as before when it comes to how the Leventer music video plays into the existing story line (and possible connection to their past music videos). But I hopefully shall unravel the story line some time in the new year (though, I would love to read about any theories you may have). Visually, this is a really good video. The members looked good and the sets looked really cool (and I think they were designed to remind us of the previous videos). I thought the graphics in this video was very cool and it felt pretty much different to anything that we got before.

Something that I felt very strongly when watching the choreography was how loaded it felt. It seemed to match the heaviness and deepness of the lyrics in a way that felt powerful and strong. Also, Felix gets a mini solo moment, which I am looking forward to! And the rest of the dance break looks really cool!

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

[Album Review] Re-Boot (1st Studio Album) – Golden Child

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Golden Child’s Spring Again and Hong Joo Chan’s A Song For Me are nominated for Best Song in the 2019 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. To support Golden Child, click here to vote and select Golden Child’s 2019 as Best Song (final question in the survey).

Golden Child returned last month with their very first studio album. Titled as Re-Boot, the album also marks the beginning of a new era for the group, with the supposed ‘reboot’ of the group. Known for their more brighter concepts, the group made their return with a edgy and darker style through the title track Wannabe (link below). Let’s see how the rest of the album and group fares with the reboot.

Re-Boot Album Cover

2. Wannabe (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Wannabe. (7.5/10)

3. Lately (느껴져) – Lately opens with a little retro throwback, before settling into the 80s with its driven background. It features synths that felt like it was pulled from an Infinite track; strings that give the chorus a grand launch and extra momentum; and electric guitars that really made a strong impression on me from the start. One thing that really stood out with me is that the song doesn’t go overboard with the synths and any EDM-element, like other dance tracks. Going hand-in-hand with the instrumentation are the vocal work and rapping sequences performed by all the members. I am not familiar with each individual member of Golden Child and their potential, but this shows great promise. (9/10)

4. Compass (나침반) – What stood out for me in Compass during my first listen was the effortless flow that the chorus had. It makes the song feel so pleasant and smooth. The vocal work and rapping was really good, once again. It showcases more of the group’s potential, extending what they presented to me in both the title track and Lately. I would have enjoyed the song a level more if the song had some sort of oomph to it. Whether that would have been in the instrumental or within the vocal work, I think the song would rivaled their more memorable works (i.e. Lady). (8.5/10)

5. No Matter What (by Jangjun, TAG and Joo Chan) – What the last two tracks is made within an instant from the very first second. No Matter What features a synth heavy instrumentation, which no doubt forces this track into dance territory. The trap influences in the instrumentation give way to a vibrant and powerful dance track. The song is also very rap intensive, with the verses focusing on the rapping work by Jangjun and TAG. Both sounds good here. Their delivery was very clean and helped boost the energy of the song to a new level. Joochan features during the chorus and I felt his vocal work was very clean cut as well, providing a little relief from the intensity brought upon by the rappers. (8/10)

6. A Song For Me (문제아) (by Joo Chan) – Click here to read the full review for A Song For Me. (9/10)

7. Spring Again (그러다 봄) – Click here to read the full review for Spring Again. (7.5/10)

8. She’s My Girl – Kicking off She’s My Girl is a very bold set of drums, before launching us into a concentrated funk mix that is very infectious and memorable. The energy that comes from this track alone trumps the rest of the songs on the album. On top of the upbeat and powerful energy/sound that the song delivers, the vocalists show off a powerful set of vocals. This was necessary and at the same time, they managed to enhance the boldness of the track. My favourite part of the entire track was clever the rap was incorporated into the song. I really liked that short pause in the background when the one of the rappers throw us the legendary line ‘I’m Gonna Make You Mine’. (9/10)

9. Our Heaven (둘만의 천국) (by Daeyeol, Seungmin, Donghyun) – Following the loaded She’s My Girl, we are gifted 3 and half minutes of relief through Our Heaven, which is performed by three of the members of the group. It is a decent track that is vocally centered. And I feel like the three did a good job with the material that they were given. I did like the pre-chorus, with it being the most memorable part of the song for me.   The song does feel like a typical pop track, however, which might just be the one thing working against the track for me. I just think if they incorporated more a rock sound towards the end, it would have been a little more captivating to the very end. (7.5/10)

10. Fantasia (by Y) – The second solo track on the album is by Y (who I gather is another main vocalist). He has a nice set of vocals, as demonstrated through the song. I liked how his song is not a ballad (we already have one solo ballad on the album). Instead, it takes on a form of a pop centered track. I would have liked the song to have more development. It felt too consistent instrumentally from start to end, so it would develop into a repetitive track quite easily through repeat listens. But it is still a decent track, overall. (7/10)

11. Don’t Run Away – Don’t Run Away is another pop track that sounds pretty good. I liked the pleasant nature of the song and how it doesn’t become overly saturated with any element. It is well balanced and has good momentum to it. It just doesn’t ping me as the best track on the album as there is bit of a typical vibe to it. I liked how the rapping was posed in this song, providing a little extra sprinkling to the song (in a good way). I also liked that high-pitch bouncy synth in the background. It is something quite typical but it works well in this song and is worth mentioning. (8/10)

12. Go Together (놓지 않기로 해) (by Jaehyun, Jibeom and Bomin) – The final song on the album features the final three members who have yet to have their ‘own’ track. I thought this was a great end to the album, as it a calming and pleasant song (in a soft manner). Go Together is a ballad that showcases the vocals of the three members in a very positive light. It isn’t a slow ballad, as the song does pick up along the way (appropriate for a ballad). The song itself reminds me of those tracks that the final set of trainees sing on stage prior to the announcement of their ‘final group’. I like those songs as well, so it is no wonder that I liked this one. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.1/10

Re-Boot Teaser Image