Category: KPOP

[Album Review] Plus Minus Zero (4th Mini Album) – Jeong Sewoon

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Just before the clock ticks over to the next day, I come running with Friday’s album review! Jeong Sewoon made his comeback last week with the upbeat Feeling, which featured Penomeco. And that title track was featured on his 4th mini-album, Plus Minus Zero, since his debut! Jeong Sewoon is one of the artists that I keep coming back to because his songs are so good and this album is just further undeniable proof of this fact. Let’s see what I had to say about his new album below!

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Plus Minus Zero Album Cover

1..Feeling (ft. Penomeco) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Feeling. (10/10)

2. My Ocean (나의 바다) – My Ocean is a ballad. A beautiful sounding ballad. It is one of those songs which you have to stop whatever you are doing and listen to it in stillness, in order to get a complete sense of the song. The song features a piano-only instrumental. Simply, that is it. There are not strings or percussion. Just straight up piano. And it was a very beautiful backdrop to Sewoon’s voice. It isn’t a song to show off vocal techniques or high notes. Instead, the song remained very consistent and his voice painted the picture of the ocean in which he continually referred to as part of his lover. And for that, I think this is the best song on the album. (10/10)

3. Your Favourite Song (니가 좋아한 노래) – This is also another ballad but it seems to delve into the R&B side of music. It seems like the song talks about the regrets after a breakup but it is too late to fix anything. The song is also quite nice, with a slight huskiness identifiable in his voice. It features guitars in the instrumental. But it seemed to have been filtered as it sounded distant and hollow. Not saying it was bad because it was a rather nice touch to the song, which I would have otherwise said was plain. (8.5/10)

4. Distance – Distance is a mid-tempo R&B track. The song starts off with some whistling and felt like it was going to be a slow song at first. But the song starts incorporating other instruments and this continues throughout the song, creating a very satisfying build-up. I thought the melody in this song was rather nice. The combination of the build-up and the melody make this song a little bit catchy. I find his sing-speaking second verses to be an interesting spin and was a fair attempt of keeping the song interesting. There does seem to be a barrier of some kind that prevents me from 100% liking the song but I am not exactly sure of what is holding me back. (8/10)

5. Going Home – We return to a ballad with Going Home. It is another good ballad but lacked the boldness that My Ocean thrived upon. The instrumental for this track is a more typical style, with the inclusion of piano, strings and a slight touch of drums in the background. Once again, Sewoon’s voice shines brightly. The raspiness in his vocals was defining in this song. For his young age, it is always surprising to hear such a mature sound from him and that makes this track stand out a little bit more. (8/10)

6. White – Listening to the start, you could tell that the song was going to pick up. The song started off like those live performances where the vocals are being presented over simple guitar instrumentation. And I couldn’t see the song remaining that way for its 3:45 length. So, when the song did pick up, I was extremely glad. And it was a nice pickup, as well. A well-presented melody and the nice soothing instrumental went well with each other. What I didn’t expect was that second pick up where the song becomes even brighter and infused with even more instrumentation. And I love this second rush of energy, which keeps the song interesting in the best way possible. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.9/10

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Plus Minus Zero Teaser Image

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[Review] Sha La La – Pentagon

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Also making their comeback is Pentagon, who has returned with SHA LA LA. This is their first Korean comeback since Naughty Boy was released in September last year. This comeback also sees the return of Yanan, who sat out of the last comeback. However, it is a gain-a-member and lose-a-member scenario with Pentagon, as Kino would not be able to participate in the stage performances due to an existing injury. In other news, Pentagon made a comeback in Japan earlier in the year with Cosmos, while Wooseok also formed a unit with KuanLin and released I’m A Star two weeks ago.

When I considered my thoughts for Sha La La, it felt like I was rather satisfied with the components of the song. But it is one of the songs that when you look at it as a whole, it doesn’t shine as much. It is a weird perception of things but I don’t know how else to really describe it. I really liked the house instrumental, especially with the groovy first half of the chorus. The second half was also quite interesting, providing the song with an infusion of energy which also contrasts well with the first half. The vocals were also quite nice, especially Hui’s falsettos. They were very clear and crisp. I also liked their trap-influenced raps, which I thought gave some extra punch to the song. But when you put these elements together, I felt like the song was rather typical and didn’t shine as much as the individual components. I might just be confused about my feelings but this is how they are at this very stage.

The music video is what I really like about the comeback. The bird-eye view perception we saw at the very start of the video was really intriguing. When they followed with a retro computer feel as the different images and footage was shown in the olden style windows, which I thought was really cool.  I thought the dance sets were really cool as well, matching with the dance vibes the song had. I also enjoyed how Kino was given a small frame in the middle choreography scene, which he couldn’t perform in due to his injury. It was rather nice that he was still incorporated and wasn’t left out.

I really liked how they picked Jinho up at the start. It too gives the performance an intriguing start. The best part of the choreography goes to the chorus. I liked how some of the moves were rather simplistic. But when you put them all together, it looked very complex and this matches the way the chorus came together.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.2/10

[Review] Bomb Bomb – KARD

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Now let’s get back on track with the new releases of the day. KARD makes their long-awaited comeback with Bomb Bomb. It is their first since Ride On The Wind, which was released back in July of last year. Like JBJ95, I have also been out of the loop for KARD and not exactly sure what they have been doing since Ride On The Wind. But I have been going back to their previous tracks every now and then, which is definitely a great thing given the number of artists that I need to keep up with for this site.

Based on the visuals of the teasers, you know that Bomb Bomb will be edgy and very intense. And KARD delivers with the song being very well described by those two words. The song does have a foreign element to it, which does make it very unique. I attribute this to the slightly scratched and sketchy moombahton beats that are displayed dominantly throughout the choruses of the song. I really like the explosive energy that the song manages to give off during the chorus. It makes the song very appealing and memorable. I really liked BM’s part during the drop, which gave a hint of suspense. His rappings during the second verse was also a drawing point to the song. The instrumental was dropped from the song for his part, which was very different from the rest of the song. But he manages to stay in line and continue the song’s momentum using his deep tone. The other members didn’t feel like they were given that shining moment they deserve. They had good moments but not good enough.

Bomb Bomb also brings some visual heat to the comeback through the music video. Every member was rather sexy in their own way, which I think is amazing. Usually, they give that role to one person but everyone here managed to flourish. It seems like that ending was done to really provide an extra minute or so of the sexy appeal that the members had. Personally not sure if it was necessary but it did feel a void that otherwise would have made the video feel incomplete (I think its due to the fast nature of the song, it ended too quickly and hence the video would have shared that same feeling). I also like the Middle Eastern concept they had going on during the video. It seems to be a trend in KPOP now, given how the concept has emerged in many videos over the past year.

Watching the choreography scenes from the music video has me excited for their comeback stages. Small things like matching tempos and how they split off during the verses really make it look captivating. And the use of backup dancers seems to hype up the performance a little more, which makes it even more captivating.

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

[Review] Awake – JBJ95

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Yesterday, JBJ95 made their very first comeback since their debut back in October last year with Home. Now, they are Awake with their second mini-album, which shares the same name as their title track. As far as I am concerned, I haven’t heard much of the duo since their debut, which I thoroughly enjoyed even after its release. Let’s hope Awake manages to leave the exact same impression on me.

The very first thing that hits me in regards to the song is how similar it is to SHINee’s more recent releases. The song is of a house genre, which may be the reason why it felt so similar to SHINee’s tracks. But JBJ95 still manages to put their own spin on it. The song seems like it is more suited for a warmer climate but I think that is how the genre is set up. The song features a very nice drop into an upbeat instrumental. I also found that the instrumental was not overpowering in any way, which I think was rather nice and benefits the song greatly. The chorus was also quite catchy, which makes the song very memorable and appealing. Paired with a nice set of vocals from the duo, the song manages to feel refreshing for my standards. I also liked the trap-influenced rapping, which I think gave a nice kick to the song. It also kept the song from becoming too repetitive, which was much appreciated as the song could have easily gone into that mode. Overall, Awake is quite good and definitely catchy enough to get me listening to it some more.

I thought the music video was really good. Interestingly, we don’t see any choreography scenes, which is a little different to what we see typically. Usually, songs of this nature will have choreography shots but that was noticeably absent. Instead, they compensated with a fair amount of closeups for each member. Not only that, but the video included some abstract explosions created by some modelling software. I am a major fan of this in my life (based on the amount of Instagram accounts that I follow who post these really modern yet sleek videos of art). So, I thought they were a really cool addition to the video. I also like the pale colour palette that they went for and how they paired it with the music drops, which makes the viewing and listening experience a lot better.

Unfortunately, there is no live performance for Awake yet. A little disappointed but I guess we just have to wit for their comeback stages, which I think starts tomorrow. I will update soon during the weekend (and after my many reports are submitted).

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

[Album Review] The Clan Part 2. Guilty (4th Mini Album) – Monsta X

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It is time for another ‘Past Album’ review. This time, we turn back to Monsta X, who returned with the fierce Alligator earlier this year. Actually, this album review was written and scheduled to be published around the same time as Alligator’s release. But to avoid clashing, I decided to wait a bit before releasing. And here it is, after a month and a bit! The Clan Part 2. Guilty was released in October of 2016 and it was their second release in The Clan series (which I previously made a music video theory post, as well).

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The Clan Part 2. Guilty Album Cover

1..Fighter (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Fighter. (9/10)

2. Be Quiet – Unlike the title for the song, Be Quiet isn’t quiet in any sense. Instead, it offers loudness and energy with its hip-hop centred sound. The song reminds me of their debut track for its synth-based instrumental. I really like the ‘Be Quiet’ whisper, which still manages to stand out amid all of the loudness that surrounds it. I felt like this could have been the song that allowed the rappers to shine. Instead, they didn’t get much of the song, which I felt was a little disappointing. But despite that, I still thought the raps (and the vocals) were still good elements to the song. (8/10)

3. Blind – Blind the blandest dance track on the album for me. I just don’t find it as interesting or exciting as the other dance tracks on the album. Blind seems to have some R&B mixed into it and it resulted in an okay track. But I felt like they could have done more to really make it appealing. The vocals and raps were good but it felt like it could have been stronger. Same could have been said regarding the hook of the track, which I thought was rather weak, resulting in its bland nature. (5/10)

4. Queen – Queen seems like it could be an elegant track, but it stands out more for its rough textures. It is also a good hip-hop hype track that really grabs your attention. The rappers are the winners for this track, with the song being built for just them. The vocalists of the group weren’t let down as they had parts that were quite melodic, especially after that brief pause in the bridge. I also liked the ending of the song (or rather, that part of the song as it appears in the track beforehand). Very catchy and a great way to get the hype up. (8/10)

5. White Girl (하얀소녀) – The song tones down the tough and dance-heavy side of the album by opting for an acoustic sound. And this Is much appreciated since the album is quite on the heavy side thus far. Vocals were the focus, with all the members (including Jooheon and I.M) singing in the song. And they give the song a nice delicate touch on top of the acoustic instruments. I thought the harmonies in the song gave the song a beautiful feel. While it is distinctively different from any of the other songs on the album, it is a hidden gem in the midst of the other dance tracks. (9/10)

6. Roller Coaster – Roller Coaster returns to the dance side of the album. And like what the name suggests, the song is like a roller coaster. There is a lot going on and there is many twists and turns that are not anticipated. So, repetitiveness is not an issue with this track. And while a correct term to describe the song would be ‘messy’, the song actually comes together nicely, and it is quite pleasant sounding. The song doesn’t showcase their best vocals or rapping but both elements are still good. Overall, I thought it was a nice upbeat song to end the album on. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.8/10

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The Clan Part 2. Guilty Teaser Image

[Review] L.O.V.E – Park Ji Hoon

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We have another Wanna One member in our midst. After Yoon Ji Sung and Ha Sungwoon, the third member we will be able to meet again through the stage is Park Ji Hoon. Since returning to his original company, Maroo Entertainment, Park Ji Hoon has already accepted an acting role in an upcoming drama and today, made his solo debut with L.O.V.E, which is featured on his first mini-album, O’Clock. Congratulations on the debut and here’s to a great career!

I was interested in seeing how Wanna One’s rapper would handle a solo track and what direction he would take. L.O.V.E is an R&B dance track that manages to pack a punch through the instrumental. It is like it is pulsing but in a very odd fashion. And I find this is a very unique point of the track. This pulsing effect is quite loud in the instrumental but I am surprised how Park Ji Hoon still manages to be hearable on top of it. And now, let’s return to Park Ji Hoon himself. He sounds wonderful in this track. We didn’t hear him sing too much in last year, so that is why I was unsure about the direction the song he ould take. But this was more vocals then rap, which was quite interesting. The rapping was quite good but I really like his vocal moments during the song more.  But that was my thoughts on it. Other than that, this was a very strong debut song and one that I would be coming back for more.

Whoever decided that this mansion was the best place to set the video needs a promotion. It was stunning and extremely majestic. And to really encapsulate the beauty of the setting, great cinematography was employed. I also liked the special effects that were put on top of the video. It gave the music video a magical feel. Throughout the video, he goes looking for his lover, which is extremely fitting for a love confession song. I think he does find what he is seeking for, based on the ending of the video. I did feel like the credits didn’t contribute much of the video and the cute BTS videos of Park Ji Hoon took away from the aesthetics. But it was still a nice video to watch.

I think the choreography for this stage was perfect of the song. It is one of those stages that feels like any changes would just take away from the performance if you know what I mean. I really like the chorus, which I think allowed the solo artist to show his dancing side more.

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

[Review] Miroh – Stray Kids

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Stray Kids have returned with their first 2019 comeback. Last year, the male group made their debut with District 9, and continued promotions throughout the entire year with My Pace and I Am YOU. If you ask me, that is an extremely busy year for a rookie group. Today, the group dropped their 4th mini-album, Clé 1 : MIROH. But they released the music video for Miroh 18 hours prior to the album drop, which was extremely unexpecting. But hey, I am not complaining.

Miroh is an even more intense sound than any of their previous releases. But we don’t really get a sense of that intensity at the start but you can definitely sense the exponential buildup as we head towards the chorus. Instead, we open with Felix’s deep tone voice and sirens layered over birds tweeting. We are then lead into a nice vocal verse. Out of nowhere, the intensity picks up and the rappers come at us with a very powerful rap pre-chorus (also my favourite part of the song). Continuing the momentum is the chorus, which takes a half-instrumental piece and half singing approach. I actually quite like this and thought the song was extremely dynamic due to the dance influence the instrumental featured.  I also find the ‘Woah-Oh-Oh’ very addictive as well, as it seems to provide relief after all the intensity. The fade-out was also nice. Not too typical for a dance song like this but given its heavy-handed nature, I think it works excellently, My personal biggest issue with the song has to be how short it felt. Two choruses in and I actually wanted more, though I am not sure how I would handle more.

I am personally not sure what the song is 100% about. My interpretation of the lyrics is that the song talks about reaching new heights and being yourself in the process (but this may be wrong). I like how the video relates to the song in a more literal sense, however. The members are singing about the concrete jungle and how they ‘ran to the next city’ to go ‘higher in the next city’. And we see that. We see the members taking over the city from the rich men who run it by leading another rebellion. We see them on top of buildings, performing their choreography. It all works out well. I like how the edgy feel of the song seeps onto the video. Furthermore, I enjoyed the editing in this video, which made everything feel so intense.

Big ticks for this choreography. The best part has to be the chorus for me, where the song peaks. And there is nothing better than the peak of a song! Definitely intense and I always like a jump that is timed with the song.

Song – 9.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9.3/10

[Review] Bon Bon Chocolat – EVERGLOW

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EVERGLOW is a brand new female group to grace the stage. They made their debut last Monday with Bon Bon Chocolat and their very first single-album, Arrival of EVERGLOW (which I think is named very appropriately for a debut). The group consists of 6 members (E:U, Sihyeon, Mia, Onda, Aisha and Yiren) and are currently under Yuehua Entertainment. Some of the members may look familiar including Sihyeon (participated in Produce 101 and Produce 48), Yiren (participated in Produce 48) and Onda (participated in Idol School).

Bon Bon Chocolat is not a sweet song as one would expect, based on the translation of the French title. Instead, EVERGLOW goes with an extremely edgy style that is surprisingly addictive. The instrumental is an electronic centred piece with a robust and tough hip-hop influenced drop. I think this is one of the elements that give the song its addictive nature. I did want more to the chorus, however, despite me already enjoying the simplicity of it. Another thing I enjoyed about this release is the vocals. Particularly the pre-chorus, where they go with some slight chanting before one of the members start singing. I also liked the drum beats during the same part. I did think the autotune did fit the song very nicely, though I hope they don’t become dependant on it in the future. While the vocals were all good, notably missing was a rap sequence. Surely a powerful and tough song like this could have used a rap sequence to really pull the track together. But they didn’t and I am not sure what to really think of that. I mean, the song handled it fine without one but it was an expectation to have one given its edgy nature.

Can we take a moment to look at the views for this music video? Almost 12 million views for a newly debut group not from the Big 3 within a span of a week? They must be doing something right! While the song is already doing a lot in gaining attention, the music video is extremely visually appealing. The quality is extremely crisp and something I expected from a larger company. I also like how they managed to showcase the beauty of each of the members. Usually, KPOP companies will focus on one member but everyone seemed to have a fair go, which I think is amazing. As far as I can tell, this is a debut done right.

The performance is on par with the song. It is edgy and powerful, as you would expect. I really like the chorus section of the performance. It feels very ‘in-your-face’, which I think matches with the song’s style. I also like the bridge of the performance. While they do they sing the exact same part as the pre-chorus, their formation is completely different and isn’t ‘towards the audience’. I think this is quite cool and a little different from other performances where everyone is usually facing the audience.

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

[Weekly Chart] 3rd Week of March 2019

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Welcome back to the third week of March 2019. It is another Sunday, so we all know what that means! Once again, I am a little delayed with some reviews. I should be able to get some written up today and hopefully schedule some for during the week. Hopefully. They will be coming out eventually, so keep your eyes out for them. But before then, let’s see the top 5 for this week!

We have another song topping the charts this week! Park Bom’s Spring climbs to the very top of the charts, managing to win over the other digital chart-toppers from the last week. Following behind them is DIA’s newest song, Woowa. Mamamoo’s gogobebe and LOONA’s Butterfly enter and re-enter the Top 5 respectively from their chart positions last week. And final Key’s I Wanna Be, featuring Soyeon from (G)I-DLE remains steady in the fifth position and hence completes this week’s Top 5.

For more of the charts, scroll down below.

17th Mar – 23rd Mar 2019
Title Artist Status
1 Spring Park Bom ft. Sandara Park (▲ 10)
2 Woowa DIA (new)
3 gogobebe Mamamoo (▲ 3)
4 Butterfly LOONA (▲ 5)
5 I Wanna Be Key (SHINee) ft. Kim Soyeon ((G)I-DLE) (=)
6 Don’t Close Your Eyes Lee Gikwang (HIGHLIGHT) (new)
7 Still Loving You 100% (new)
8 Crown TXT (=)
9 Focus On Me Jus2 (▼ 6)
10 Thrilla Killa VAV (new)
11 TicToc NEONPUNCH (▲ 34)
12 Noir Sunmi (▼ 11)
13 I’m So Hot Momoland (new)
14 Four Seasons Taeyeon (SNSD) (new)
15 Feeling Jeong Sewoon ft. Penomeco (new)
16 Tuxedo Ravi (VIXX) (▼ 3)
17 What You Waiting For? R.Tee & Anda (▲ 7)
18 A Song For Me Hong Joo Chan (Golden Child) (▲ 24)
19 Want Taemin (SHINee) (▲ 26)
20 Enough SF9 (▼ 5)
21 Pinky Star (RUN) GWSN (▼ 17)
22 Bon Bon Chocolat EVERGLOW (new)
23 Q&A Cherry Bullet (▼ 11)
24 No CLC (▲ 5)
25 Alligator MONSTA X (▼ 11)
26 Piri Dream Catcher (▼ 19)
27 Dear Diary Yeri (Red Velvet) (▲ 18)
28 Clock Infinite (▲ 13)
29 Slow Dance Park Yoochun (JYJ) (▼ 10)
30 Twit Hwasa (Mamamoo) (▼ 20)

Songs leaving the charts this week are:

  • Q&A – Cherry Bullet
  • U Um U Um – Hyomin
  • Only U – IMFACT
  • I Wanna Know –  Roh Taehyun (HOTSHOT)

Thank you once again and see you all again next week!

[Review] Four Seasons – Taeyeon (SNSD)

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Taeyeon has returned with a brand new single, Four Seasons. Actually, let me fix that. The music video for Four Seasons was released yesterday, while the actual song won’t officially be released until tomorrow night. But that won’t stop us from having a review written up as both elements for the review are present. We last saw Taeyeon through SNSD’s subunit, SNSD-Oh!GG and the title track, Lil Touch.

A few releases of Taeyeon’s the past have been of an experimental nature including Something New and I Got Love. Four Seasons seems to follow this trend. While it takes the form of an upbeat ballad, there is a slight reggae influence mixed into the melody of the song. Despite that, it featured some classical instrumentation, giving that impression of a ballad. And I think this is a fairly interesting mix. Since it is something we don’t get often, it is quite refreshing and unique. Once again, you cannot write a Taeyeon centric review without discussing her vocals. Her vocals are showcased very elegantly, with some variety in her tone. I particularly like those speaking moments just before the chorus. It gives the song some texture and really made the chorus feel slightly suspenseful. I also like the ‘Ooh Ooh‘ in the background. I can’t describe how it adds to the song but it is definitely there for a reason. Without it, I think would be a tad empty for my liking. Overall, Four Seasons was served as a fresh comeback from the pop queen.

The song talks about the pros and cons of love in each of the Four Seasons. And to compliment that, we have Taeyeon in each of the Four Seasons throughout the music video. She licks an ice cube and has the fan running in on Summer. The trees are bare and snow is present, alongside a deer during Winter. Spring features falling petals, while Autumn is a golden glow. Pretty aesthetic ways of showcasing the seasons. I also like how there is also time to include a different set, which involved Taeyeon singing in a very nice dress and in front of a large mural of a couple going in for a kiss. I also like the selected English lyric subtitled throughout the song and the borders we get with them. interesting to have but very nice, overall.

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

[Album Review] White Wind (9th Mini Album) – Mamamoo

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Mamamoo returned last week with the very last instalment to their 4 Seasons 4 Colours project. It is in the form of their 9th mini-album, White Wind, and the title track, gogobebe (link below). It definitely has been an interesting and worthwhile project, as we got enjoyable and well-liked tracks every few months. This is something MooMoos have been appreciating from the group. And now that it is over, I think everyone hopes the girls will be able to have a long rest before for their future activities. But before we say goodbye to the project for one last time, let’s have a look at their album!

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White Wind Album Cover

1..Where R U – To me, Where R U is a flowy R&B track that showcases the lighter side of the group’s vocals. If you are looking for a song that showcases their signature power vocals, then this isn’t the song for you. Instead, the softness is what speaks volumes in this song. The instrumental say compliments the softness of their vocals, opting for a simple and light house instrumental. I think another thing that I don’t speak too much about Mamamoo is the fact they manage to be extremely cohesive as a group in their songs. And this is a recipe for success, as established by this song. My personal favourite part of the song has to be the bridge, due to the presence of the heavy drum beats, which is what the song needed. (9/10)

2. gogobebe (고고베베) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of gogobebe. (8/10)

3. Waggy (쟤가 걔야) – Mamamoo goes softer with Waggy. The song feels like it is one of their gag songs and I think the live stages lead us in that direction. But rather, the song seems to like their crush to an extremely cute puppy. Or that they are directing the lyrics just at a puppy. It is a light-hearted song that really makes the song sound fun. I thought the trumpets were a nice addition to the light song. There are two other things about the members that I want to quickly point out (and yes, their vocals are superb here). Moonbyul shines the most for me. I really like her vocal lines that came out so smooth and her rapping was quite fitting. Finally, I love how Hwasa sang some French and Solar responded with ‘what are you saying?’. It made me chuckle and gives confirmation of that fun vibe. (8.5/10)

4. 25 – 25 is Wheein’s solo song on the album. And she does a really nice job with this ballad-like track. From what we know already, Wheein has a very nice voice. And 25 does an amazing job of highlighting this. I thought the slight breathiness to her vocals gave the song a very nice texture. I think the main issue with the song for me was the instrumental. It didn’t necessarily captivate me, which left Wheein’s vocals a very large gap to fill. Yes, there was some buildup along the way, but I felt like it wasn’t enough and hence it felt too consistent from start to end. Unfortunately, that was the case and it left feeling slightly disappointed with the song. (6/10)

5. Bad Bye – Bad Bye deviates from what we heard so far on the album. It is a power ballad, showcasing that noticeably absent powerful vocal form that the group is more commonly known for. They put a lot of emotion into the song, fitting in the with the clear message that comfort isn’t always a good thing in a breakup. There is no doubt that their vocals were flawless. But can we take a moment to discuss the amazing rap sequences that Moonbyul got to bring to the song? I was floored with her delivery and how it managed to also pack a punch during this emotionally-driven song. My favourite part, once again, is the bridge. Why? Well, we hear all the members in a short time frame and it shows how well they compliment each other. (10/10)

6. My Star – When I think of a song named My Star, I don’t think of something dramatic, edgy or powerful. But that is what Mamamoo’s version of My Star is. And it is extremely drawing, as a result. The extremely heavy beat really makes this song stand out, alongside their vocals which take that powerful form once again. It is one of those songs that you need to listen to really feels its energy and punches. No text description would do this song justice. It left me speechless. (10/10)

7. 4Seasons (Outro Track) – I don’t review outro (or intro) tracks as they tend to be instrumental-based only. This has vocals, hence I felt the need to talk about. On top of that, 4Seasons is the final song of the entire series, so I think that is a bigger motivation to quickly describe the track. The song is an R&B track with an airy feel. It has great vocals and wraps up the entire series in a breezy manner, which I think was very suiting for a series about seasons and the weather. I like it for its length, which felt just right. I think this is the style that I don’t enjoy at full length. But this was good and satisfying to my ears. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.5/10

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White Wind Album Teaser

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[Review] Dear Diary – Yeri (Red Velvet)

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As mentioned previously, I am (extremely) slowly catching up on reviews from last week. Due to another week of a high workload, I predict that catching up on reviews for the past two weeks may lead onto the next week. But that is an issue to be dealt with then. Today, I have picked Yeri’s first solo single to be the main focus. Dear Diary was released last week on Thursday and is also part of the SM Station series. The track is quite special as it is self-composed by Yeri herself. that it was self-composed by herself. We also last saw Yeri as a solo artist in her collaboration, Hair In The Air, with members of NCT Dream for the Trolls show.

Dear Diary is an acoustic ballad that I find fitting for a nice day. But it isn’t a ballad that I am falling for. I find it a bit plain for my liking and hence why I haven’t been enjoying it as much. The song has a nice piano and guitar combination, keeping true to its acoustic description throughout the entire track. I also do think the song did a nice job of showing off her vocals. We don’t see much opportunity for her to do so in the Red Velvet title tracks. so it is quite nice to hear a Yeri solo track. I did like the airy sound she brought to the background vocals, which I thought was both nice and gave a flowy feel to the song. To me, the song is very straight forward and doesn’t have much to really create a cause for me to stay. I would be happy to listen to the song if it appeared on my playlist, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to really find and play it.

The music video is slightly better. I really like the simplicity of the music video and how this flowed to even the effects of the video. For example, I liked the snapshots of her footage appearing throughout the video. But rather than flashbacks or some fancy transition, they are just layered on top of the main scene as rectangles. There was no editing of colours or borders. Just straight forward footage on one another. I also enjoyed the lighting of the video. Really gave the song a homely feel. There was some dryness to the video which may have stemmed from the song. But overall, I thought it was a nice video to still watch.

Song – 5/10
Music Video – 7/10
Overall Rating – 5.8/10

[Review] I’m So Hot – Momoland

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Following a very successful 2018, Momoland has returned with a brand new title track, I’m So Hot. It is featured on the group’s 5th mini-album, Show Me. And as already mentioned, the track follows one of the biggest hits of 2018, Boom Boom, and a favourite of mine, Baam. So there are very big shoes to fill. But these shoes will not be filled by Taeha or Daisy, as they will be sitting out of promotions this time around due to health and personal reasons. It has already been promised that they will return in the next comeback.

I’m So Hot takes a retro spin to their existing formula adapted from their successful hits. The song opens up with saxophones that also doubles as the song’s instrumental hook, as it is played throughout the song and thus becoming extremely addictive as a result. I liked how it was combined with relatively simple electronic, reminding us that this is, in fact, a pop song. I have to admit that despite the blaring saxophone, I felt the instrumental was rather weak and didn’t have a bass component to really give it some definition. And I felt the chorus was rather messy with a lot going on at once. There are also other things that I enjoyed about the track. Firstly, the vocals are really good on this track. In particular, I enjoyed the vocals during the pre-chorus and that bridge-like part just before the final round of saxophone. If they can pull it off in the live performances, I think this will be a killer stage to watch out for. I also liked the rapping this time around. Yes, it clearly delved into the hip-hop genre once again. But it didn’t feel as overloaded as Baam’s rap sequence was and actually, it felt kind of fitting for the song. Overall, I’m So Hot was nice in some parts but it didn’t feel like a complete packaged.

The ladies of Momoland are showing off how they are ‘So Hot‘ as they prepare for their performance. And that was essentially the entire music video in a sentence. They did seem to have some fun along the way, though. There are some other things that I noticed that I just want to comment on. I know 1THEK now sponsors some of the music videos, especially for release on their channel, but their brand is becoming very noticeable. Like obnoxiously noticeable. I felt like the massive 1THEK brand just took away the appeal of the music video. I also don’t like their outfits as much. It seemed mediocre and didn’t feel as fitting as I hoped to the music video sets or sound of the song.

Like the song, this performance is very weak. After Baam, I expected something with a little more flair and attitude, especially since they will be explaining that they are ‘So Hot‘.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 6/10
Overall Rating – 7.3/10

[Review] Thrilla Killa – VAV

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It is time to also start catching up with reviews for songs released this week! So there is a lot to do! And we start with VAV, who made their comeback yesterday with Thrilla Killa. This is the group’s first comeback since Senorita, which was released late last year. This comeback also features a 6-member lineup, as Jacob has other schedules that prevent him from participating.

Thrilla Killa continues the group’s highly satisfying list of songs that they have been releasing since last year. The song draws from funk and retro, combining it a modern pop take of electronic music. I found the track to be very energetic and upbeat, as you would want with most dance tracks. At the same time, I thought the song was very polished and definitely had a classy vibe, which managed to come through via their vocal and instrumental combination. While we are talking about their vocals, I thought it was rather nice. I also like that autotune ad-lib or shout that they used a hook. Definitely addictive but also a very interesting textural component in the song. I also like their melody, which was another reason why the song was polished for me. I also liked how their rap didn’t go onto the ‘hype route’. Instead, it stayed within the boundaries of the song and remained classy like how I mentioned before. There was also an auotuned section in the bridge, which I think counts as a rap sequence. That, once again, gave the song nice texture and felt perfect for the rest of the song.

The music video features DIA’s Chaeyeon (who also made her comeback yesterday with her group. Check out the review here!). She only appears at the start, where she seems like she is looking for something. One of the members is behind her and shines a light at her, which she blocks out. So what purpose does she serve in the video? As you can tell, I am not too sure about the plotline of the music video. The lyrics suggest that they are falling for her and I guess they become hot and bothered in the process. That’s my take on the video though and that is probably not right. Anyway, the music video was very stylish. From the sets (especially the golden hallway with the rapper) and outfits, I think everything was well-aligned to the song.

Another good performance from the group. It wasn’t as spectacular as I had hoped it to be, given the instrumental of the track, however. But there were some good moments, namely the chorus as a whole and the mini dance break, where the autotuned rap sequence was present (this, in particular, looked cool).

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

[Album Review] Dream Part 01. (4th Mini Album) – ASTRO

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Today’s ‘Past Album’ Review is ASTRO’s 2017 comeback, Baby and Dream Part 01 mini-album. This review was actually intended to be released earlier in the year. But since ASTRO returned with All Night and their All Light studio album, I decided to postpone it to avoid any clashes between the two albums (I am worried that it might cause confusion for some fans to why I reviewed a previous album and not their latest one). But fast forward 2 months, I think it is time to release this album review to read! So let’s get going!

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Dream Part 01 Album Cover

1..Dreams Come True – Dreams Come True begins with a quirky bubble sound in an 8-bit format, which really starts off the album on a unique touch. It progresses into a standard pop dance track for the chorus which I think was nice, but I am a little disappointed that it lost some of that uniqueness. I did like the violins in the background, which I thought was a nice small detail to add to the song. The vocals were nice, especially with that falsetto high note towards the end. The overlapping with the rapping did make the ending a tad messy for my liking but it was still a good ending overall. (8/10)

2. Baby (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Baby. (8/10)

3. You Smile (니가 웃잖아) – You Smile has that Summertime band instrumental feel but ASTRO manages to transform it into a dance track. Come to the think of it, this reminds of their previous comeback at the time of release (Breathless). It is slightly different with the chorus sung individually and the track isn’t overly pop. I enjoyed the vocals in the song. But I think I liked the rapping more, as it felt more suited. The deep voices of the rappers go really well with the fresh feel of the song, hence why they stood for me. (8/10)

4. Because It’s You (너라서) – Because It’s You is a ballad that thanks their lover for being there for them and the joy for being by their side. It is a really nice ballad at the start that gradually builds up to a very melodic chorus. It showcases their vocals in a light that I personally have not really seen too much from ASTRO, especially in their earlier days. I would love to hear the rappers sing in the song alongside the rest of the members, especially since they only got a very small portion of the song. I felt like that could have really been nice as it could have doubled up as a song for fans, given the message of the song. (8.5/10)

5. Dream Night – Dream Night takes on an upbeat pop instrumental. I did enjoy the energy and bright atmosphere they had within the song. I also thought that the song did well with their vocals. It just didn’t have that excitement to really make it… well… pop. It is another one of those songs that have an instrumental that felt too typical and consistent over the entire length of the track. Furthermore, I wanted a little more to the raps. They could have been more interesting and defined to really stand out. (6.5/10)

6. I’ll Be There – I’ll Be There is another ballad-like song. But instead of relying on a beautiful melody like in Because It’s You (see track 4), the song relies more on their youthful side. It seems light-hearted and more carefree. Once again, the vocals are on full show but not to the extent as the previously mentioned ballad. The rapping seems to be more reminiscent of their title tracks hence why I can’t really describe the song as ‘beautiful’. I would have liked a more memorable instrumental and less abrupt ending. Personally, the song in passing would be overlooked as it was forgettable for the most part. (7/10)

7. Lie (다 거짓말) – We have another ballad-like track and this one features a very nice orchestral-like instrumental, which really makes the track feel so much more heartbreaking. Lie seems to hint at a broken relationship caused by the lies of their lover. A lot of the lyrics seems to show the members alone due to their lover not being there anymore and that they have to lie as a result to keep up the impression that they are okay (That’s my personal take on the lyrics. The translations that I found don’t really make sense). I thought the song was also a nice presentation of vocals and I really liked how they integrated the rapping into the sad song. (9/10)

8. Every Minute – The album ends with Every Minute, which is a return to their bright and youthful style that ASTRO presented for this comeback. The song features a slight retro and funk touch within its electro-pop instrumental. As a result, it felt like a fun song. I liked their change up for the bridge and the rebound-like transition between this part. I do have to admit the ‘Every Minute’ repetition feels like it would get really annoying with repeated listens but for the time being, it is keyed into my mind as a good hook. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.9/10

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Dream Part 01 Teaser Image

[Review] Feeling – Jeong Sewoon ft. Penomeco

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The second comeback of the day that I wanted to discuss is Jeong Sewoon’s Feeling, which is featured on his fourth mini-album, Plus Minus Zero (also dropped today). The song features Penomeco, an R&B singer and rapper. This is Sewoon’s first comeback since 20 Something, which was released back in July of last year. Since his last comeback, we haven’t much from Sewoon (from what I remember). But I did come across news that he was debuting as a musical actor in a Grease production earlier this year (and I think there are some videos of him performing on a stage somewhere on the internet).  Congratulations to Sewoon for his debut once again!

Sewoon brings back the guitar from his debut single, Just U and plays it very passionately throughout the song. The guitar flourishes within the pop instrumental and it works extremely well with the rest of the instrumentation to create an energetic and upbeat atmosphere. There isn’t a dance performance for this comeback so I will mention it here. Sewoon looks like he is having a lot of fun with the guitar on stage and his interaction with the band surrounding him shows his commitment and willingness for the song. Once again, his vocals are so good in the track. It is extremely hard to really point out anything wrong with his voice. The winning part of the song was when she speaks ‘I Like You‘, right after the first chorus and before launching into an instrumental break. It is so deep and contrasts so well with the rest of the song. Penomeco’s rapping sequence (and vocals) was very cool. It gives a smooth feel to the song and I really liked how his delivery went along with the guitar. I think this is one of the few times that I do agree with the abrupt ending, giving the song that climax it needed at the very end.

At this stage in time, I cannot find the lyrics of the song in English. But I think I have an idea regarding the music video. Essentially, the video shows Sewoon singing about the feeling of love. It seems like he hasn’t confessed to his lover just yet, as we see him sitting from afar and smiling just by being in the presence of his crush. He also gets nervous when he dreams about her. In the end, it seems like he confesses to her and I think we infer that she accepts the confession. I have to admit that Sewoon was rather cute during the music video. His smiles are just so loveable. I also like the band scenes, where Sewoon is seen strumming it out on the guitar. I also like the ‘film’ border that surrounds the music video, kind of like showing his time in the video as a memory to reflect upon in the future.

Song – 10/10
Music Video – 8/10
Overall Rating – 9.2/10