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[Album Review] One Shot (2nd Mini Album) – B.A.P

February 12, 2019Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged B.A.PLeave a comment

We recontinue the ‘Past Album’ review segment this week with B.A.P’s One Shot mini-album, which was released back in 2013. The group’s second mini-album features Rain Sound and One Shot, the release’s main title track. One Shot also gained attention for its plot-twisting alternative ending and choreography. It is also what I would deem as one of their most iconic songs to date. Currently, the future of B.A.P is up in the air with the departure of Bang Yong Guk and Zelo (B.A.P’s rappers) announced last year. But regardless of what the future may hold, B.A.P has given us an outstanding discography that should not be missed!

1..Punch – Starting off the album is Punch. It is best described as an impactful song based on its meaning and its sound. The song is about standing up against those who think lowly of you. That already is loaded with a deep message! The music reminds me of a boxing match. The crowd goes wild in some parts and they seem to be close by. On top of that but the music does get you pumped up for what is to come. Throw in the vocal and rapping work of the members, in particular, Daehyun and Yong Guk’s and this song speak volumes on its own. (8/10)

2. One Shot (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of One Shot. (8.5/10)

3. Rain Sound (Pre-Release Track) – I was under the impression I had previously written a review for Rain Sound, but it turns out that wasn’t the case. Rain Sound is presented to us as a ballad and it seems to focus on more of the vocals than the rapping, which isn’t a normal thing from what I could remember B.A.P doing back in the day. The vocals were very good, at the time from memory and I liked the softer approach with the rapping, which once again allowed for the shift in focus. The instrumentation also featured acoustic guitars and thumping drums, which I thought were extremely notable in a song like this. Listening to the song now, you can tell how much the group has developed in both technique and sound. (8/10)

4. Coma – Embedded into the One Shot music video, we have Punch and Coma. Coma is extremely fitting to the video for its very dramatic instrumentation and sound, which I think is the main highlight for this track. I also like how serious sounding the track is, which makes you wonder what the song is about. The vocals are quite good, with all the members standing out. Both rappers sound amazing, but I think Yong Guk stands out once again as his raspy voice fits into the song’s atmosphere quite well. I did like how they got Son Ji Eun (former member of Secret) to feature in this track but did feel out of the blue for me. (8/10)

5. 0 (ZERO) – I really liked the melody of Zero as it has this flowy nature to it that felt so smooth. I liked the pop vibes from the instrumental, especially the guitar in the background, which I thought was nice. It compliments the vocals of the members. I did like how the rapping took a more melodic approach and kept itself in the background of the song, allowing the vocals to be the flourishing component of the song. The song overall has a very nice melody, which makes it a nice song to end the album with. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.1/10

[Review] WANT – Taemin (SHINee)

February 11, 2019Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged SHINee, Taemin (SHINee)3 Comments

Finally, after a year’s wait, Taemin has finally returned to South Korea with his second mini-album and title track of the same name, WANT. His last Korean comeback was back in 2017 with the sexy Move and Day and Night. But Taemin wasn’t completely absent from the scene in the year break from his solo Korean works. In fact, he participated in SHINee’s 10-year anniversary comeback last year and also released a solo album in Japan.

The first thing that popped into my head while listening to WANT was how perfectly suited Taemin was for this track. In fact, it fits extremely well into his portfolio of songs so far. It is a powerful track but the powerfulness into explicitly apparent. Instead, it takes a subtle approach, which is similar to what Move ended up demonstrating. Want has this element of funkiness to it, which I thought was alluring. The song is described to be ‘space disco’, which I think is a new genre to really discover. His vocals are amazing in this song as they sounded flawless throughout the track. My favourite bit has to be the peak at the very end of the bridge (and the end of the second verse). It caught me off guard as it doesn’t fit the atmosphere but it left an impression on me where I ‘wanted’ more of the song.

How aesthetically pleasing is this music video? I am extremely amazed at the quality and work put into this video. The song calls for an aesthetic video and that is what we definitely got. The video seems to play on temptation, which is essentially what the song is about. We got Taemin acting all sexy and homme fatale throughout the video as if he is tempting fans with his sexiness. The inclusion of snakes in the video hints back at the temptation of Eve. The sets were elaborate and looked breathtaking, especially that final choreography scene with the big screen behind him and the dancers.

The dance takes on sexy once again. It is what Taemin does best. His movements are rather sharp when needed but smooth when it is time to be tempting, which I think was quite fitting for this entire comeback. The dance looks quite complicated yet Taemin manages to pull it off effortless, especially during the choruses, which I quite liked form the music video.

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

[Review] DALLA DALLA – ITZY

February 11, 2019Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged ITZY2 Comments

The performance It is expected to be an intense year with new groups debuting from 2 of the Big 3 (YG Entertainment and JYP Entertainment. Note that SM Entertainment hasn’t confirmed any debuts as of yet). And kicking off this particular competition is JYP Entertainment, with their brand new five-member female group, ITZY. The group is made up of Yuna, Ryujin, Chaeryeong, Lia and Yeji. You may find Ryujin familiar as she earned first place in the MIXNINE survive show for the female side, while Chaeryeong would be familiar due to her presence of SIXTEEN. The group made their debut earlier today with DALLA DALLA.

DALLA DALLA is a hip-hop techno infused track that really grabs your attention for its trend instrumental from the very start. And I like this uniqueness about the track as it is something you haven’t heard in KPOP at all yet. And as expected, the song is very catchy with its addictive melody and lyrics just practically in front of you the entire time as you listen to the track. It is vibrant and it surely does pop from the rest of the competition. I thought the vocals were good, while the rap gave the song more intensity that I had expected. But that isn’t a bad thing as I thought it was cool. I also like their message of self-confidence in the lyrics. However, that ‘Keep your chin up. We got your back‘ line during the bridge felt too cheesy for this song. I had expected some sort of chanting as we progressed through the song but what we got didn’t fit the song’s vibes in the end. Apart from that, it is a fun song.

The music video is a good opener to really introduce the girls in a visual manner. However, I couldn’t help but think how mediocre the entire video was when you reflect back on it. It just didn’t have any memorable moments. But I did like the graphics that were used for the different sets. I also liked their edginess, while keeping that direction that JYP girl groups tend to have (look at TWICE at the moment and Miss A’s earlier days).

The performance accompanying this debut is quite good. From what I can see in the music video, it is energetic, bold and well suited for the song. They also seem to go with some complicated moves, which I think looks good. I am excited to see the whole performance in full!

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 6.5/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8/10

[Album Review] Treasure Ep. 2: Zero To One (2nd Mini Album) – ATEEZ

February 11, 2019Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged ATEEZ1 Comment

It is time for another album review (though this one should have been released yesterday). And the artist I have been dying to delve into their discography is ATEEZ. I, unfortunately, did not get around to reviewing their first mini-album but I thought I did. Don’t you hate it when you have those moments? Anyway, I will return to do their first mini-album sometime in the future but until then let’s have a closer look at Zero To One, which features the title track, Say My Name.

ateez-treasurepart2_zerotoone-2 — *TREASURE EP2: Zero To One* Album Cover

1..HALA HALA (Hearts Awakened, Live Alive) – Click here to read the full review of HALA HALA. (9/10)

2. Say My Name (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Say My Name, (9/10)

3. Desire – I find this song very interesting. It is mainly the instrumental that does a lot of the intriguing appeal work for me. The start is distorted in a way that really sets the aesthetic tone of the song. The verses felt the song was going to be upbeat and energetic. But the fake drop featured in the chorus really gives it an unexpecting twist that makes the song appealing. The vocals and rapping were nice. But I think the best part of the song has to be the bridge, which was very motivating to listen, and it also started this adventurous tone in the instrumental, which I thought was another great twist in the song. (9/10)

4. Light – Light features a jazzy R&B instrumental, which I think is ideal for a café setting. The song is slower paced than their previous tracks on the album, which I think is also quite nice. I like how the rappers sang or rap-sang in the song. The main rapper who had the raspy voice was just perfect for this song and his part stood out the most for me. I think the song a little on the mediocre side but it was still nice to get something a little more wholesome and softer from the group. (7/10)

5. Promise – Promise is a more typical approach to an EDM dance track. But it does a good job of showcasing the members in both areas of vocals and raps. That high note was really cool and the rapping was, as usual, giving the song that needed level of intensity. The song had a very vibrant instrumental and the drop made the song feel energetic. I also thought the song was very addictive with its strong and dominant hook. It may be a standard route but it is still quite good. (9/10)

6. From – Based on the information I gather for these reviews, From was actually a pre-debut single for the group that was omitted from the first mini-album (though I am not sure why). There is also a music video for this song, which you can view here. Listening to the song, you get laid back vibes and light-hearted despite it going for the EDM route. I liked the vocals, especially in the pre-chorus and the rapping also standout. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.5/10

ateez-treasurepart2_zerotoone-3 — *TREASURE EP2: Zero To One* Teaser Image

[Review] HALA HALA – ATEEZ

February 8, 2019Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged ATEEZ4 Comments

Last month, ATEEZ returned with their first comeback since their debut, Say My Name. As part of the teasing process for their comeback and second mini-album (album review coming later this weekend), the group had released a Performance Video for the track HALA HALA, which lasted 1:29 minutes. Now, almost a month later, the group has released a full music video (or another performance video) for entire HALA HALA track that was also featured alongside Say My Name on the Treasure Part 2: Zero to One mini-album.

I liked how the song first started off soft. Knowing ATEEZ and the tracks they have done so far, this softer start really creates a tense atmosphere. It gradually builds up, peaking off during the pre-chorus vocal part. Vocals here were superb and this showcased more of the group on that side of things. The chorus has one of those fake drops, which I think was an interesting choice and definitely gives the song some aesthetics. The rapping in the second verse and bridge was perfectly rough for the song. And I liked how they changed the final chorus up to really give the song that peak ending. I think the song was a really good track to follow up with. The hip-hop influence was strong and I felt like this further extends their potential. It isn’t your typical song, so I understand how this may not be for everyone. But for someone who is looking for a new group to follow, this song just solidifies the need to pay attention to ATEEZ.

I will be completely honest. The black outfits, along with the mask and wide brim hats really give me the creeps. It is actually quite mysterious. The same outfit appeared in the Say My Name video but I am still a little confused on why they don the outfit in the earlier video. They do take it off towards the end, showing a smear of blood on the corner of one of the member’s mouths, so I guess the idea of vampires has to be thrown into the possible theory mix. This video just leaves me with more questions. Apart from that, I thought the performance video was well put together.

I don’t know about you but I wanted more stomping in the performance. The song was perfect for just that. But everything else we got was equally as good. I really liked that slow fist slash that appeared during the first pre-chorus. I thought that was rather cool to watch. The chorus itself looked dynamic and the entire performance does a good job of showcasing their skills in dancing.

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

[Review] Why – Kim Hyun Joong

February 7, 2019Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Kim Hyun Joong, SS5015 Comments

It has been almost 5 years since we last saw Kim Hyun Joong on the stage in Korea. But due to Japanese promotions and a number of scandals, he put his solo career on hold. On top of that, he also enlisted in the military and completed his duty in 2017. And now, he has returned with his new mini-album, New Way and the title track, Why. This is his first comeback since Beauty Beauty was released in 2014.

Why is a completely different sound to what Kim Hyun Joong used to release as a solo artist in the earlier in the decade. It is a vocally driven ballad. I personally did not expect this vocal style from him. Sure, I knew he could sing but not in this manner. The song gives off Roy Kim or John Park vibes, which I thought was a very interesting approach. I also liken his vocals to those artists. He doesn’t nail it perfectly but he is in that vicinity if we were to put all vocalists onto a spectrum of some sort. I liked the soothing nature of the ballad but I felt like the instrumental could have been a little bolder. I wanted a stronger orchestral touch to the song, which I think could have helped the song to sound more emotionally driven. Overall, Why is a nice song. It could have been more but it was still good nonetheless.

The music video was also quite interesting. We see Kim Hyun Joong and a female break up and they part ways. He spends a lot of his time walking in his chosen direction and this continues until the final chorus, to which he turns back and starts running in the direction of his former companion. But he lost her in the crowd and it comes until then that their relationship is no longer possible. The music video also features French (correct me if I am wrong) subtitles for all of the Korean that he sings but English subtitles when he sings words or phrases in English. Don’t really understand the point of that but thought it was intriguing. Another thing I noticed is that a lot of the people in the background are staring at him throughout the video. That has never bothered me before but I guess it is a lot noticeable due to the slow nature of the video.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.4/10

[Review] We Must Love – ONF

February 7, 2019Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged ONF5 Comments

After their release of an absolute favourite, Complete, ONF has returned with We Must Love, their latest title track. It has been 8 months since the release of the previous track, which has set the bar extremely high in regards to the high quality of the title tracks for the group. Since their last promotions, the group have been relatively quiet with the exception of their Japanese debut back in July 2018 with the Japanese version of On/Off.

We Must Love is not a relatively quiet song, however. In fact, it is a dance track with smashing instrumental. It doesn’t necessarily pop as much as Complete but it has a show-stopping chorus which I am already hooked to. The instrumental for the chorus is staggered in a way that is unique. It is quite profound and the combination with the vocals from the main vocalists definitely makes it a highlight. I also like the piano featured within the verses, which made them feel very different from the chorus. The vocals here are equally as amazing as the chorus. On top of that. I also enjoyed the squeaky post-chorus instrumental hook, which provided the song with energy. But my absolute favourite part of the song has to be the rapping. I thought the instrumental in this section was perfect. I really enjoyed the dramatic buildup and it really highlights the rapper’s voices. We Must Love is a must love song, based on how much I have enjoyed it so far.

I find the music video quite confusing as all the members are all over the place. And I think time travel might be an element within the storyline of the video. The members used to all be part of this group in this futuristic place. But one of the members (the guy wearing the aqua jumper) uses a wrist device to travel to a different time era, to which he runs into himself at the local train station, identifiable by the barcode tattoo. I assume the other members too travel to this other time period in search of the missing member but instead run into his old self, who doesn’t recognise them. That’s my take on the video but I am not too sure. It is still a good video with amazing scenery shot in the video. It is also filmed in Hue, a beautiful city in Vietnam.

Interestingly, the performance video for their comeback has already been released. This is highly unusual due to the fact that the performance video is usually released either a few days or weeks after the actual music video release. But this gives us a great insight into their performance, which looks amazing. The dance break looks really cool and the synchronisation of the performance really makes it stand out even more.

Song – 9.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 9.2/10

[Album Review] No. 1 (8th Mini Album) – CLC

February 7, 2019February 7, 2019Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged CLCLeave a comment

It is Thursday and I am finally getting around to publishing the first post for this week! It was Lunar New Year on Tuesday, so it has been a relatively slow week on the music scene and hence the lack of reviews. But today, we are going to jump start this week with an album review from CLC. The album was released last week and titled as No.1 (pronounced as No One). It contains the title track, No, that I am enjoying quite a bit in the past week or so. But what about the rest of the album? Let’s find out!

1..No (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of No. (9.5/10)

2. Show – Show is one of the tracks that could have had potential as the title track. It is a little more mainstream, compared to the actual title track, which is more in your face. There is a lot of nice hooks in this track that are well appreciated, resulting in a very catchy track. The rapping in this track is spectacular and gave the song some added intensity. I liked how the vocals weren’t really as in your face. Instead, they were quite soft, complimenting the instrumental in their respective parts. I think if those were amended, the song would have been a 100% standout. I did like how they incorporated some of that electronic transitional effects. (9/10)

3. Breakdown – I liked how paced and sexy this track sounds. I personally don’t remember CLC doing anything as sensual as this, so this is quite nice. The song tackles the R&B side of music quite successful. I liked the sound of glass breaking, which gives the song some texture. I also quite liked the low bass in the background, which felt like a humming effect. I also like the trumpet brass, which added that extra needed detail to really make the song pop out. Vocally, this is a strong song despite it being more on the weaker side of things. (8/10)

4. Like It – I would describe Like It as a mash-up of the sensual side that we got from Breakdown (see above) and their current edgy style that fans are enjoying. The result of this mashup sounds good but I can see why it is chosen as a side track and not the title track. I thought the hip-hop instrumentation was quite nice. Also the instrumental, combined with the hooks of the song make the song quite addictive and ear-catching. I liked how tough the rap sounded and the vocals were quite good. (7.5/10)

5. I Need U – I Need U is undeniably the brightest song of the bunch. And it is a great energetic dance track to end off the album. It feels like a Western song based on the melody of the track. I really liked the saxophone in the background during the post-chorus hook. It is quite subtle, but it manages to become a highlight of the track for me. I thought the vocals were nice, especially when they all sing together during the hooks. The rapping was unexpected as it took a softer approach. I am torn about this because I did expect it to be a little rougher to really tie the song together. But the soft approach still works exceptionally well. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.6/10

[Album Review] HUTAZONE (1st Studio Album) – HUTA (Lee Minhyuk (BTOB))

February 3, 2019February 2, 2019Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged BTOB, HUTA (Lee Minhyuk (BTOB))2 Comments

Many male groups that have been active for a number of years so far have reached that stage where their members have started to enlist into the military, a mandatory requirement for all males in South Korea. However, not many do send-offs like BTOB does. Changsub enlisted earlier this year and in December 2018,, he made his solo debut through the mini-album, Mark. Now, Minhyuk (or HUTA) is due to enlist in the coming week and has bid farewell with the release of HUTAZONE, his solo debut album, which features two title tracks (and is the focus of this album review). I personally hope that they continue doing this for all the members who enlist as this is an excellent way to say farewell for the next 2 years, whilst also leaving a treat for fans.

leeminhyuk-hutazone-2 — *HUTAZONE* Album Cover

1..Hutazone (Intro Track) – Opening the album is the track that shares the same name as the album. HUTAZONE is a great taster for the audience, showcasing his vocals and raps. But not only that we get a range of vocals and raps, which I think is quite impressive. It also gets you into the mood for the album, going with an R&B infused hip-hop track. But the music doesn’t spoil what is come. It just merely introduces the album, which I quite like. (8/10)

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

3. You Too? Me Too! (너도? 나도!) (ft. Jeon Soyeon ((G)I-DLE) – For some reason, this party sound, which is very vibrant and colourful, is quite unexpecting. I particularly like the high-pitch vocalisation in the background for the post-chorus hook. It gives the song that quirky feel on top of the fun vibes. I like his vocals in the song, especially when it was slightly husky. I also liked Soyeon’s featuring in the song as the song suited her tone and delivery quite well. (9/10)

4. Pretend Like I Don’t Care (아무렇지 않은 척) – Pretend Like I Don’t Care takes a step back and goes for a vocally driven song (however, he does rap in the song. Just the rapping felt more like a featuring). I liked how the instrumental sounded piano, giving the song a sweet sound. His low notes were shown off during this song and those were my favourite parts of the song. It is definitely interesting to see a change in pace for Minhyuk with such a song. (8/10)

5. This Must Be A Dream (ft. Yoook Sungjae (BTOB)) – This Must Be A Dream is a duet with Minhyuk and fellow BTOB member, Sungjae. It is a nice jazzy-influenced ballad to really showcase their harmonies and voices. I also liked Minhyuk’s rapping in the song. It didn’t feel needed, but it was still good. It isn’t the standout track for me though, but I am sure some fans (Melodies and co.) will think otherwise. (7/10)

6. Falling Flowers (화) (Interlude) – It was this Interlude that got me writing this album review. Falling Flowers is the hidden gem on the album. It only goes for a minute or so, but it is the best minute or so on the album (no offence to any of his amazing tracks on the album). His vocals are spectacular in this track. It brings chills to me when I think of this song. The instrumental is equally as profound and impactful. (10/10)

7. Fallin’ – Following the previous song, I did not expect something so cheerful right off the start. I expected some easing to occur. But nonetheless, it is another energetic and fun sounding track that really catches on quickly. Once again, both his vocals and rapping stands out in this track. I quite like its pop-centred and colourful instrumental, even though it did feel slightly squeaky. I also liked that xylophone ending. It is something different and refreshing. (8/10)

8. All Day (Korean Version) – All Day is a single that featured on Minhyuk’s Japanese solo album which he released last year. For this album, he obviously had it rewritten in Korean. To me, it is another passable track on the album. I liked how it flowed but it was necessary interesting. I think the most catching moment of the song was the synthesizer keyboard in the instrumental. (6/10)

9. Purple Rain (ft, Cheeze) – Purple Rain was previously released as part of the Piece of BTOB series back in 2017. You can read about what I thought regarding the track by clicking here. In that review, I did not post a score then but will do so today. (8/10)

10. Tonight (With Melody) (Title Track) – The second title track on the album is Tonight. The song, as suggested from the title, is for BTOB’s fans. It is another fun track. But this one was more light-hearted than the other tracks we have heard of the same nature. Everything about the song is quite likeable but it doesn’t feel memorable for me (though I would think fans would say otherwise). Watching the live performances for this track, I liked how the track was designed to let the fans sing along, which lives up to the ‘With Melody’ part of the title. (7.5/10)

11. Waiting For You – Bring his Minhyuk’s album to a close is Waiting For You, which I thought was a pleasant track to really tie everything together. It brings his vocals and raps together, once again, but in a way that it feels like a send-off. Not serious like his title track nor fun like his other tracks on the album. In a way, it is touching. The instrumental was very appealing due to the violins in the background. I quite liked this song. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.1/10

leeminhyuk-hutazone-3 — *HUTAZONE* Teaser Image

[Weekly Chart] 5th Week of January 2019

February 3, 2019February 3, 2019Posted in KPOP, Weekly ChartsLeave a comment

It is that time of the week again! The time where we find out which artist and song topped the charts for the week. And this time I am not late but on schedule. Hopefully, I continue to be on time in the weeks to come because it does throw my agenda off completely for the week.

Speaking about agenda, there will be no reviews or other posts this Monday (tomorrow) or Tuesday due to the Lunar New Year. I will be with my family during those days and will not be near a computer to write any reviews. And with that, I would like to wish everyone a new year filled with luck, prosperity, wealth and health. Happy Lunar New Year from KPOPREVIEWED!!!

And now, the song that topped the charts for this week is ASTRO’s All Night, which rose up 11 positions. Following behind them is Cherry Bullet’s Q&A, which remained steady in the second position since the last week. GFriend rose up one position to take out the bronze podium with Sunrise, while CLC disapproves with No in the fourth position. Finally, SEVENTEEN’s Home, which was last week’s Number 1 song, finds itself in the fifth position for this week. For more of the charts, scroll down below!

	27th Jan – 2nd Jan 2019
	Title	Artist	Status
1	All Night	ASTRO	(▲ 10)
2	Q&A	Cherry Bullet	(=)
3	Sunrise	Gfriend	(▲ 1)
4	No	CLC	(new)
5	Home	Seventeen	(▼ 4)
6	Only U	IMFACT	(▲ 1)
7	Ya	Lee Minhyuk (BTOB)	(▲ 8)
8	%%	APINK	(=)
9	Loca	Favorite	(=)
10	Lonely Night	KNK	(▼ 4)
11	Getting Closer	Seventeen	(▲ 7)
12	La La Love	WJSN (Cosmic Girls)	(▼ 7)
13	U Um U Um	Hyomin (T-ARA)	(▲ 6)
14	Love Shot	EXO	(=)
15	Say My Name	ATEEZ	(▲ 5)
16	TicToc	NEONPUNCH	(new)
17	Valkyrie	ONEUS	(▼ 4)
18	I Wanna Know	Roh Taehyun (HOTSHOT)	(▼ 6)
19	MILLONS	Winner	(▼ 2)
20	Faker	LU:KUS	(▲ 16)
21	Gotta Go	Kim Chungha	(▼ 18)
22	Dream About U	NATURE	(=)
23	Days Gone By	DAY6	(▲ 4)
24	I’m OK	iKON	(▲ 1)
25	Rooftop	N.Flying	(▲ 8)
26	Turn It On	Laboum	(▲ 2)
27	Ring Ring Ring	VERIVERY	(▼ 17)
28	Blue	Onew (SHINee)	(▲ 3)
29	Gone	Lee Changsub (BTOB)	(▲ 6)
30	First Sight	Heize	(▲ 6)

Songs leaving the charts this week are:

Miracle – GOT7
Turn It On – Laboum
Blue – Onew (SHINee)
Blue Rose – UP10TION

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

[Review] TicToc – NEONPUNCH

January 31, 2019Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged NEONPUNCHLeave a comment

NEONPUNCH made their comeback yesterday with TicToc. This is the group’s first comeback since their debut single, Moonlight. Since then, the only major piece of news that has affected the group was in regards to Terry leaving the group for unspecified reasons. However, NEONPUNCH has been able to remain as a 5-member female group due to the addition of the Dohee this year.

The first thing that comes to mind when I listen to TicToc is that it is a rather fun song. There is no serious tone to the song whatsoever. Instead, it gets onboard the 90s train and really pops with its vibrant sound. I thought the ‘Na Na Na‘ was a very memorable part of the song and it definitely is my pick for the catchiest moment of the song. I thought the lead up to the chorus was quite nice and dynamic. The chorus was a little disappointed, as I expected something a little more loaded and energetic. But it was still good enough for the song. I thought the vocals were really nice on this track, going nicely with that said vibrancy. I think the song could have done with a longer and intensified rap sequence, as that could have kicked it up a notch. But I quite like TicToc as it is right now.

It seems like the main theme for this music video is time warps, as that is what we are thrown into at the very start of the video. Besides that, the emphasis is largely on clocks, which I think makes the most sense given the title. I liked how fast paced the scenes were in the video, matching the fast tempo of the song. I also thought many of the closeup shots made the members look pretty and highlighted their visuals.

I think the choreography during the ‘Na Na Na‘ part was really well done. It kind of has what it takes to be the next trendy move. As for the rest of the choreography, there really isn’t anything memorable to mention. It was nice but quite passable for the most part.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 6.5/10
Overall Rating – 7.7/10

[Album Review] You Made My Dawn (6th Mini Album) – SEVENTEEN

January 31, 2019January 30, 2019Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged SEVENTEENLeave a comment

It is time for another album review! SEVENTEEN made their return to the stage with Home last week, which is featured on their 6th mini-album, You Made My Dawn. The album also features Getting Closer, which the group previously performed at some of the awards shows they were invited to. The album also refocuses on the 3 units of the group (Vocal, Hip Hop and Performance) and I will be having a closer look at each of these songs.

seventeen_youmademydawn-2 — *You Made My Dawn* Album Cover

1..Good To Me – Kicking the album off is Good To Me, which is an R&B dance track that really brings out the vocals and rapping capabilities of the group. I really liked the chorus for its rush of energy and the melody that portrays. But while I do like their execution and the song overall, I did think it was standard in comparison to the title track and the pre-release track, which are tracks that really stand out for their uniqueness when it comes to Seventeen’s discography. (7.5/10)

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

3. Hug (포옹) (Vocal Unit) – We now turn to the individual units of Seventeen. Hug focuses on the vocalists in a light that is quite delicate and fragile, which isn’t anything we usually get from the members. I liked the acoustic nature of the instrumental, which provides a feeling of warmth throughout the song. I was expecting it to pick up but I liked how they kept with the guitar throughout the track, as this lets us focus on the vocals of the Vocal unit primarily. (8/10)

4. Chilli (칠리) (Hip Hop Unit) – Chilli attempts to spice the album up. And it manages to just do that. Like I have mentioned numerous times before, I am not a major fan of autotune. But I personally do not mind it in this song. It contributes to the instrumental and creates what I think is a fun sound. It does maintain that hip-hop feel that the unit promises to bring along. The track also manages to be quite upbeat but in a rather subtle way, which I think is one of its appealing points. I also enjoyed the soft delivery from each of the members. (8.5/10)

5. Shhh (Performance Unit) – I think out of the three unit tracks on the album I am most satisfied with Shhh. The main reason to why that is the case is that while the Performance Unit focuses primarily on their dancing, the 4-member team also manages to bring good vocals and raps to the song. And their track has a very attractive instrumental that really fits their main goal. It is upbeat and techno, like their previous tracks. But that is also an aesthetic appeal to the track, which I quite liked. (9/10)

6. Getting Closer (숨이 차) (Pre-Release Track) – Click here to read the full review of Getting Closer. (8/10 – The review originally had a 7/10 but I have decided to bump this up to an 8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.3/10

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[Review] No – CLC

January 30, 2019Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged CLC4 Comments

Picked as the runner up for Most Underrated Artist of 2018 in the 2018 KPORPEVIWED Awards, CLC has returned with their latest single, No. It is featured on the group’s 8th mini-album, No. 1 (read as No One). After their amazing Black Dress release last year, I was wanting to hear more from the group. Today, it was revealed that the group was planning a comeback after Black Dress but that was ultimately cancelled. If their company could learn anything from their other groups, it should be that CLC will benefit from multiple promotional activities in one year. They deserve some attention for their edgy uniqueness.

And No is basically just that. I find it very edgy, which is in line with their more recent releases and it has this unique tone on to it, which I think draws listeners into the song. The song kicks off with a checklist, to which the members respond ‘No’ to. It is a very bold way to start the song and I quite like it. The chorus is the next best bit, with the “I Love Me‘ line quite memorable for me. The vocals are quite good. But I think the winning element, once again, is the rapping. It just works wonderfully in this track and it gives the edgy song even more edge! The instrumental reminds me of a confident model strutting their stuff on the runway. I attribute that to the deep bass in the background It also felt like it was Madonna or Kylie Minogue influenced as well. Overall, I thought No was that confident song that the group needed, especially following up from Black Dress. My only major complaint is that the song felt too short and that it went by too quickly!

Going back to how the song felt like a model strutting their stuff on the runway, it is the exact visual we get in the music video. I thought the video was quite powerful, especially when they came to the point of burning everything in the said checklist. I also like the coloured sets, which contrasted nicely with their black outfits (which added the edge to the video). I think they could have had more edge to the video (if I was going to be critical in any way) but what they did was pretty good itself.

The performance looked really cool. Not only does it feel 100% fitting for the song but they seemed to put their own modern take on some voguing in their routine. I thought that was cool. Of course, they do some strutting as well. I also like the sexiness they bring without it going overboard in any form.

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

[Review] Faker – LU:KUS

January 29, 2019Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged LU:KUSLeave a comment

It is time for me to quickly write up another review for a release many days ago. Today’s focus will be on LU:KUS (formerly L.A.U), who returned with Faker on the 14th of January. Faker is actually a previous Japanese song of the group. It has also been a while since I last reviewed them for their comeback track, Break Ya. A lot has happened since then including the group moved companies, lost and regained their original name (hence why they promoted with the name L.A.U for a while), had lineup changes and multiple comebacks that I have somehow all missed. Currently, they are a four-member group comprising of J.One, Donghyun, Kyungjin and Choi.

Faker is a mid-tempo dance track that uses guitars primarily in the instrumentation. I thought the use of guitar was very interesting as it manages to express the emotions from the lyrics quite nicely. I read somewhere that it sounds ‘tortured’ and I thought that was a nice way of describing the song overall. For those who don’t know, the lyrics are about not wanting to depart from a one-sided relationship. I personally like the chorus a lot. The song starts off quite acoustic but once the choruses come into play, they insert some energy into the song, contrasting in a memorable way. The melody was also quite catchy despite it being quite short and not that explicitly strong. I also liked the vocals and the raps in the song. Putting my thoughts aside, I would understand why some people would not enjoy the song as it does lack an appealing element (i.e. it is quite plain). But I am on the side of the fence that hears the great execution of song, from its lyrics to its fitting atmosphere.

The music video managed to fit in a small plotline, alongside the use of those overused sets we see commonly in music videos. Two of the members, along with the lead actress, work together in a car garage that specialises in car tinting. At the start, they seem to be shown as close friends. The two fall for her but she chooses to be with the grey-hair dude. This causes the other guy to become jealous, causing a rift in the three’s friendship. After a while, I guess they realized that their friendship is broken and they all trade in their rings, thus breaking their bond. My question is when did the black-hair guy get his ring? Slightly confused for that part but I thought it was still a good storyline to watch.

The choreography for this comeback looked quite fitting for the song. I did think it was rather weak at times but I am not too sure if that was due to the song. I really like the hand movement across the face when they sing ‘Faker” in the chorus, which kind of indicates a mask. I also like the post-chorus body roll that they remade.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 7.5/10
Overall Rating – 7.6/10

[Album Review] Hard To Love, How To Love (2nd Studio Album) – HIGHLIGHT / BEAST

January 29, 2019Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged HIGHLIGHTLeave a comment

For this week’s Past Album Review, we will be diving into a HIGHLIGHT (or BEAST, as they were commonly known during that part of career) album. While I do plan to slowly go through their earlier releases, I chose Hard To Love, How To Love based on my enjoyment of their title track for this album, which is Shadow (link below within the actual review). The album also contains an introductory track but like most album reviews, I have left it off.

beast-highlight-hardtolovehowtolove-2 — *Hard To Love, How To Love* Album Cover

2. Shadow (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Shadow. (8.5/10)

3. How To Love – How To Love was promoted in the final week of promotions for this album, as a special follow up. A music video dedicated to fans was released to accompany the extra week of promotions. While the song takes on the ballad route, it is bright and pop-ish (unlike their other ballads) and definitely very catchy. I remember the ‘How To Love, Love Love…” line being engraved into my mind for that week. I also really liked the vocals in the song, which added a sweet element to the song. The instrumental was also quite soothing and easy going, which was quite appealing as the other songs on the album did have a harsh side to them. (8/10)

4. Be Alright – If you want a little bit of electronic mixed into a pop song, then Be Alright is your song. When I listen to this song now for the review, I realised the song reminds me of their Good Luck days. It might be due to the electronic synths they used in the song. But on top of that, they applied a filter on top of the ‘It’s Gonna Be Alright’ part of the bridge to stagger the sound, which I thought was a nice way to cut the repetitiveness of the track. Once again, the vocals for the song were nice but the winning member was Junhyung, whose tone is perfect for a song of this nature. (8/10)

5. I’m Sorry (Pre-release Track) – This was the second track revealed from the album prior to the release of the album. And this is more of the sound that I like from Beast when it comes to ballads. They do sound best when they have emotions backing their vocals and this is exactly what they demonstrated in the song. I really liked how Junhyung is used as a backing during the chorus, which I thought was interesting given the contrast between deeper and higher tones. I also liked the guitars in the instrumental. I think the song could have been had a little more impact to bring it up to the standard of their more successful pre-releases, but this was still good nonetheless. (7/10)

6. Will You Be Alright? (Pre-release Track) – This was the first track revealed from the album prior to its release. While I did like the ballads that Beast (their name at the time of the releases) released, this one was easily forgotten and passable when I listen to the album. Why do I think that? Well, everything felt okay. And that just didn’t really do much for me. The song contained a nice melody and was quite pleasant. The vocal work was also quite nice but it wasn’t the most amazing piece on the album. And the instrumental felt standard, at best. So it was good, overall, but not their best sound. (6/10)

7. Hate You – I liked Hate You for its instrumental. The song falls into the standard pop domain but there is something about the instrumental that makes the song quite appealing to me. I am not really 100% sure what this certain element is but I did like the laidback nature of it. I thought the heavy nature that the title alluded to went nicely with the light tone of the music. The vocals and raps here were quite nice. There was also a nice melody. I think the main issue about the song is that it feels very standard but I think all the other elements make up for it. (7.5/10)

8. Encore – Wrapping up the album is the most techno-based song on the album. Encore. It does throw you back to that era when techno music was the big thing of the music industry. Encore felt cheesy but that was the descriptive word that I would describe most trendy techno-pop songs from back in the day. I have to admit that the vocals and raps in the song were really well done and I am slightly surprised that they weren’t more autotuned. It gets the blood pumping for the end of the album, leaving us all with a high. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.6/10

beast-highlight-hardtolovehowtolove-3 — *Hard To Love, How To Love* Teaser Image

[Album Review] All Light (1st Studio Album) – ASTRO

January 27, 2019Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged ASTRO2 Comments

With their growing fanbase, I spent the last year awaiting a comeback from the one and only ASTRO. But we were left with a special album that was barely promoted in 2018, which was a disappointment (not at the album but rather their lack of promotions). But now, the male group from Fanatigo returned last week with All Light, breaking their promotional drought. It features 10 tracks in total, one of them being the title track All Night, which I have enjoyed since its release. Today, we have a little closer look at the group’s album release.

astro-alllight-2 — *All Light* Album Cover

1..Starry Sky – Starry Sky is an R&B dance track that starts the album off on a bold note. And by that, I mean the song is very defined and robust. I like the thumping instrumental and the small details within the instrumental, which really gives off the effect of a beautiful night sky. The vocals were really good. The rapping was also quite good but it felt ordinary. I felt like the song could have benefited from a rougher or stronger rap sequence, showing off the rappers even more. (8/10)

2. All Night (전화해) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of All Night. (10/10)

3. Moonwalk – The deep pounding in the instrumental continues in Moonwalk. And this is one of the biggest attractions of the song. There is something about that really pulls me into the song. I thought the choppy nature at the start of the song, the use of autotune throughout the song, the pounding instrumental and their vocals/raps really create an aesthetically pleasing track. Overall, it left a very strong impression on me and it is a track (other than the title track) that I would personally recommend. (10/10)

4. Treasure – Treasure continues the electronic touch to the album thus far with a nice dance track that has influences in tropical house. It isn’t as strong as other songs in the same sphere, which I think is quite nice. I liked the small details scattered throughout the track such as the whistles and the layering of vocals and raps. I think the track could have benefited from a better hook, as this would have made the track more memorable. But other than that, it is another good track. (9/10)

5. Roleplay – Taking a break from the electronic nature of the album this far, Roleplay is an acoustic R&B track that really stands out. It is a style that sounds extremely mature for the group and I personally would like to hear more of this. I like the chill nature of the instrumental, fitting neatly into an urban setting. The vocals were quite nice. Interestingly the song contains no raps, which I think was unfortunate because a rap sequence could have done wonders to this song, if it was executed right. (9/10)

6. 1 in a Million – This song is probably an example of what many people would think boy groups do. It is bright, youthful and very energetic in nature. The electronic instrumental returns once again, this time it has pop-infused into it. I don’t mind this song, but it does feel rather generic, like it is a go-to style of song. I thought the rapping was nicely done in this track and the vocals were amazing, like everywhere else on the album. The chorus was catchy, so what more could you ask for! (8/10)

7. Love Wheel – Once again, we depart the EDM direction with a sweet pop track. Sure, the song fits ASTRO’s profile perfectly. The track has a very consistent instrumental but it doesn’t feel repetitive as each section (apart from the chorus) sounds slightly different but remaining tight together. The vocals were nailed, and the rapping was perfectly fitting for the song. It is one of the songs where despite you not being able to understand the meaning of the lyrics, you are able to smile along. (8/10)

8. Heart Brew Love – Another great pop song on the album. I can’t really find much to say about the song besides repeating a lot of the things I have said thus far on this album review. I must commend the rappers for doing a really good job of really ensuring the song doesn’t become too repetitive. Vocals were nice. I think the song could have had a stronger hook but I am happy with what we can hear based on the instrumental of Heart Brew Love. (8/10)

9. Merry-Go-Round – I really like the cheerful nature of the track. And this cheerful nature is quite infectious, given the major repetition of the song’s title as the main hook of the song. It is another song that fits ASTRO’s profile perfectly. Harmonies at the end of the song were nice. I think the verses could have been a lot more memorable, but I am not sure how. But that is me nit-picking at the smallest details. (8/10)

10. Bloom (피어나) – We come to the end of the album and we have yet to hear a ballad. Well, Bloom ends the album with just that genre. The instrumentation to this track is quite beautiful and somewhat dramatic. The vocals were really nice. Started off quite husky but soon built up alongside the instrumental. The rapping is a different story, however. It felt too heavy for a ballad of this nature. Rocky’s rap speak section just didn’t really click with the song. But apart from the rapping, everything was quite good. (7.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.6/10