Category: KPOP

[Review] Always You – ASTRO

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ASTRO has been gaining momentum in the industry with their last comeback in November, Crazy Sexy Cool. However, with indivudal schdueles and the previous concern of Fantigo’s stability due to company politics, ASTRO’s comeback was delayed. But that is no longer the case, as the group have finially released their second special mini-album, Rise Up, and the title track, Always You.

Always You is a more mature sound than what we are used to from the group. It is a shift from their previous work which tends to focus on a brighter canvas. It is even a big shift from their last comeback, which was quite mature sounding as well. For this comeback, they went with a pretty epic piece of instrumentation that really sets the tone of the song.  It is nothing special when you think about how it contains synths and electronic influences but it is definitely something. I really like the drop during the chorus, which really does make the song memorable and grabs your attention. I felt that despite it not being your usual Summery song, the song does have momentum and does feel refreshing. Their vocals were pretty good. But I think the real winners of the track are the rappers. I feel like their part showed off a different side of them, a side that we don’t see all too often in their bright and bubbly songs. While it is different, I do like this new sound and hope that they can incorporate it somehow into their future releases (but doing so in a unique manner).

Not exactly sure how the video adds up. Besides the fact that the atmosphere is a lot darker and serious, the members do a good job at portray what I am taking as sorrow and pain. There is a scene within the video which shows the members coming together, which may allude to the fact that they are coming back as a group very soon. That is my guess at the meaning of the video. I did like the cinematography and the use of colours throughout the sets. It makes this video feel even more powerful, going hand-in-hand with the music.

It seems like Moonbin, JinJin and Rocky partipated in the choreography of this song, whereas the other members did not. Not too sure why that was the case. But doing so, the choreography looks extremely well down and powerful, which also goes well with the song (as mentioned previously). [Note that they are not promoting this release so I am basing my review purely on what I saw in the video].

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 8.5/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.6/10

[Double Review] Is Who + Zero – Minseo

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Minseo made her debut this year with The Grand Dreams but I have no recollection of this debut whatsoever. However, she then came back with Is Who in June and this caught my attention. By the time I decided to actually review her, I saw that she will be making an additional release with Zero in July and thought I wait for that. And with the music video for Zero released, we are here today to have a closer look at Minseo, who is under APOP Entertainment.

Is Who caught my attention for its instrumentation which really made the track feel very unique. The song takes on a folk sound, which isn’t something you hear all too often in KPOP nor is it something that I commonly review. However, the instrumentation made the song so colourful, that I couldn’t pass the opportunity. On top of that, her vocals were superb in the song. They were extremely husky and my favourite bit was the bridge (I am not too sure how to refer to it (music jargon is non-existent in my life) but it felt almost like freestyling vocals sound effects).

Zero shows off how Minseo is capable of diversity. Instead of folk, this time around she stays within the parameters of classical music. But the instrumentation is extremely epic sounding that it leaves me in shivering. Another way which I would describe it is a dramatic cinematic soundtrack to a very suspenseful movie. I loved the intensity of the percussion and the dramatic nature of the violins throughout the song. Throw in her clear yet crisp vocals and we pretty much have a winning combination.  I pretty much enjoy the song, despite it leaving me speechless each time.

Is Who‘s music video takes on a circus concept, without the circus. I found the video very confusing and found that the words shown on the screen went by a little too fast for my liking. That resulted in me start stopping the video every time some words popped up (even though I didn’t get very far with a plotline). I did like the choreography shots, which I thought were quite cool. Zero’s music video was far more easy to grasp. If you enjoy parkour, this video is pretty much for you. But what I think the video is showing the two people are in parallel universes (i.e. they never interact and appear in the same spot after the other), which shows different perspectives on the world. A little cryptic at the end with how the guy has both the bike and the keyrings. And I am not too keen on her outfit. But other than that, it was a really well-done video.

Is Who has come choreography, which I think fits perfectly with the song’s instrumentation and upbeat vibes. Liked how it also went with the concept of the video as well.

Is Who
Song – 10/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 9.3/10

Zero
Song – 10/10
Music Video – 9.5/10
Overall Rating – 9.8/10

 

[Review] 20 Something – Jeong Sewoon

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Personally, I think Jeong Sewoon is one of the best male soloists active at the moment. I have enjoyed the title tracks for his debut and 1st comeback, so I am interested in what type of music he going to release next. And today, he joins the Summer comeback rush with his comeback track, 20 Something,  which is produced by Melomance’s Jung Dong Hwan. The song is featured on Sewoon’s 3rd mini-album, Another.

The song has this particular vibe that I have grown to associate with Soyou’s work and collaboration with other artists. The harmonies and the very ‘traditional’ instrumental does feel that way. I say ‘traditional’ because it uses piano and drums, creating a very sombre atmosphere, whereas his previous songs have featured synths and feel more modernised. And with that, I imagine this song going nicely in Autumn environment, especially a walk in the park with leaves falling. I didn’t necessarily get a Summer’s vibe which I thought was interesting. I wasn’t a fan of the ending as this is probably the most absurd of all abrupt endings. I did really like the instrumental break, where his vocals contribute to the instrumental. I thought that section was really unique and memorable. His vocals were pretty good. Overall, I  liked the song but there were aspects that don’t feel that typical for a Summer’s release.

The video opens up with Sewoon checking into a hotel but then going for a movie, which I thought was rather confusing for a second. And it seems like he is watching a movie about himself travelling to different places around Europe. The video shows nice residential scenery. While the video does look really good, I think a more Autumn setting to would have been more fitting for the song. For example, it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch for the darken piano scenes which were shown during the instrumental break. I don’t know why it is darkened but it really does look cool (and I thought he was going with a dark concept for this comeback). But it was a nice and soothing video to watch.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 7/10
Overall Rating – 7.3/10

[Album Review] Summer Nights (3rd Repackaged Album) – TWICE

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TWICe made their return to the stage with their latest Summer comeback, Dance The Night Away. And while they are topping charts, the group also unveiled a repackaged version of their fifth mini-album, What Is Love?. The repackaged album is named Summer Nights and features 3 new songs. Today, we will be looking at those three songs. I will put a link down to the other songs originally on 5th mini-album, which I previously reviewed. Note that all songs from both albums are included in the ‘overall album rating’.

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Summer Nights Album Cover

1..Dance The Night Away (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Dance The Night Away. (9/10)

2. Chillax – Like the title of the song, there is a soothing and calming nature regarding the song. This actually becomes quite useful as it follows the upbeat (and favourite) title track. I did like the vocals, which gave off this innocent vibe through its youthful sound. Throw in the catchy chorus and you pretty much have a really good track. But it isn’t perfect. I didn’t enjoy the rap as much that opens the second verse. Finally, I feel like them singing ‘chill’ and ‘relax’ throughout the entire song’s choruses defeats the purpose of naming the song ‘Chillax’. But that is me being picky. (8.5/10)

3. Shot Thru The Heart – Unfortunately, the song was a complete miss for me. Shot Thru The Heart is your traditional pop song but it felt extremely light. You know when you bite into a cake, but it was way too sweet for your liking? That is what I felt here. It also didn’t help that the song was the most skippable track on the entire album (including the songs following it). It does have that TWICE brightness that we associate with them, along with good vocal/rap sequences. But that wasn’t enough for me to enjoy the song. (5/10)

For tracks 4 to 9 (What Is Love, Sweet Talker, Ho!, Deja Vu, Say Yes, Stuck), click here for /their reviews!

Overall Album Rating – 8/10

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Summer Nights Teaser Image

[Review] I’m So Afraid – HOLLAND

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HOLLAND’s plans for his latest comeback was a twin singles return. He unveiled his first single, I’m Not Afraid, two weeks ago. In that review, I had predicted that his second single would be titled as On The Second Moon as those were the words that closed off his music video. However, as always, I was incorrect and his second single as part of the twin single comeback is I’m So Afraid.

I’m So Afraid opens up like a ballad but it turns into an EDM track, which I thought was an interesting combination. The synths used in this song is a little more explosive (in volume) that we are used to. But in a way, I thought that this extra volume and the synths contributed to a more suspenseful drop and eerie feel to the song, which I thought plays neatly to the title of the song. Particularly during the buildup to the pre-chorus, there was this very epic yet gradually building feel, which I tend to like in some songs. His vocals throughout the song had some sort of quivering effect, which also worked nicely with a song called ‘I’m So Afraid’. It then closes off as a ballad, ending the song as a full circle. The song seems to allude to his feelings of himself prior to realizing/accepting who he is. Overall, the song was quite good and it is something that I would listen to often, given its epic buildup.

The video starts off with where we left off in I’m Not Afraid. HOLLAND wakes up in the forest, wearing pink pyjamas. However, HOLLAND only appears at the start and end of the video. The rest of the video involves a female dancer, who dances interpretively in a city setting wearing the same pink pyjamas as HOLLAND. I liked her dancing, which spoke in volumes alongside the epicness of the music. Besides that, I don’t really know what the meaning of the video is. I would like to learn a little more about the storyline and the connections between the two videos. Was the first video like the reality but on the inside, he feels more like the second video – conflicted and scared?

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

[Review] 1,2,3 – Seungri (Big Bang)

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After 5 years, Seungri is officially back with his first ever studio album! Seungri is the youngest member of Big Bang and is the only member yet to enlist in the military (the rest of Big Bang are currently in the army). He has had a successful solo career so far, with his last release way back in 2013 with Gotta Talk To You. His latest title track is 1,2,3 (셋 셀테니) and this is featured on the studio album titled as The Great Seungri.

1,2,3 is probably going to be next favourite hit of 2018. The song itself is super energetic and upbeat, aspects that I tend to find extremely appealing. It is definitely something that we haven’t heard in a long time. I really like the retro vibes from the instrumental, which can felt most prominently through the bridge of the song. KPOP does retro pretty well and this is probably proof. I also really like the sudden 1,2,3 that throws us (literally) into the chorus, along with the addictive nature of the chorus. I also liked his vocals, which definitely added an extra layer of appeal, in my opinion. Personally, I didn’t expect this song from him, considering his past titles. However, it does fit in with his playful personality, which I do admire him for.

Like the retro sound, the video goes for a retro concept as well. Some parts remind me of the Grease era, especially the leather jacket, the smooth comb over hand movement and the bleachers on which the second verse focuses on. Anda features as the female lead in the music video, who does a jive (or something – I am not a dancer in any way) during the first chorus and rejoins the party in the final chorus. I also like how everyone joins in at the end of the song for the final chorus, which is definitely something we see often in a retro context. The last two minutes showed behind the scene footage, which I thought was nice. Overall, it was an excellent video.

The dancing is definitely quite good. While there isn’t a live performance for the comeback yet, what we see in the music video is definitely convincing me to check out the live performances. Really like the dancing between Anda and Seungri, along with the rest of the choreography.

Song – 10/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 9.7/10

 

[Review] Sunny Summer – GFRIEND

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Joining the Summer rush is GFRIEND with their summer track, Sunny Summer. The track is featured on their 7th mini-album which also shares the same name as the title track. This Summer comeback comes right after GFRIEND made their comeback in May of this year with Time For The Moon Night.

The first time I heard the song I thought it was a very mediocre song. There wasn’t any special with the song, going with a very normal pop-styled Summer instrumental. But with a few more listens, I find the song quite good in some aspects despite my initial thoughts remaining. The pre-chorus was a section of the song which I liked quite a bit and it did its job of hyping the song to the chorus quite well. The chorus was equally as good with the ‘Yeorum Yeorum Hae‘ entrance my favourite moments of the entire song. I also like how the song focuses more on their vocals this time around, allowing us to hear more of their talent. Other than that, the song didn’t really reach out and it failed to capture my attention. It is still a good song but not their best.

Despite being a fitting music video for the song, I find the idea of shooting a Summer video indoors quite unconvincing. And there have been many fantastic studio-shot Summer videos that looked quite good. Just I never had the opportunity to touch upon it. There is also a number of retro/olden day references throughout the video, like Eunha’s impersonation of the video, the quote at the very start of the video (seems to be Old English/Shakespearean-like) and the silent films’ way of telling us the sound in the video (‘Door. Bang’ at 1:48 of music video). I am not exactly sure of the context behind these shots but they must have some meaning!

Unlike all of GFRIEND’s title track performances, this one is a little more cutesy and lacks any dance break, which I look forward to in each comeback. Hence, I found it a little lacklustre. I did like the fanning during the chorus but other than that, it was an okay performance.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 6/10
Overall Rating – 7.1/10

[Album Review] One & Six (7th Mini Album) – APINK

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APINK recently made their return with a completely different image than what we have seen ever before. APINK’s latest title track, I’m So Sick, takes on an exciting mature concept, which is proving to be quite successful. I’m So Sick is also the title track of the group’s 7th mini-album, One & Six, which is the focus of today’s album review. Apologies for the lack of Sunday’s album review. I was so busy that I had to cancel it. It is here now, so let’s move!

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One & Six Album Cover

1..I’m So Sick (1도 없어) (Title Track) – Click here for the full review of I’m So Sick. (9/10)

2. Alright – Alright is your typical pop song when you just glance over the track. However, when you listen to it, you notice it is a lot more than the ‘typical pop song’ description. Overall, the song felt fitting for the group who establish what can be described as a ‘lovely’ vibe and hence I thought it was a good selection for a promotional track. Starting off the song were these beautiful sounding twinkles, which gave me shivers the first time I heard the song (which is a good thing). The chorus was catchy with the ‘Alright’ repetition and melody. I particularly liked the drop, as it felt just right for the entire song. I really liked the suspense created before the final chorus. (9/10)

3. Don’t Be Silly – The song felt very mature, even more than the title track, which I think is a rather interesting direction for the group. But they pull it off well. The song feels like an R&B dance track with an extra something that makes it work for APINK. I thought the chorus was quite good, despite the questionable English. I liked the epic feel in the bridge, which was my favourite section of the song. I was disappointed, however, when the song didn’t carry on that epic feel into the final chorus. But other than that, it was a good song. (8/10)

4. Forever Star (별 그리고..) – Forever Star is just your typical ballad from a girl group. While the rest of the album did showcase some great ‘typical’ songs, Forever Star doesn’t really feel great. Instead, it felt a little bland and doesn’t really capture my attention on the album. But it was still listenable. It did feature good melody and nice harmonies. It was quite delicate and did a good job keeping that innocent sound that the group is widely known for. (7/10)

5. Promise Me – With the piano in the first few seconds of the song, I thought the song was going down a ballad route. But the way the clock was ticking soon after gave me a hunch that it wasn’t going to be a ballad. This proved true once the violins kicked in and you could hear many synths during the chorus. Once again, I liked how the chorus felt and hook made the song quite catchy. It had a particularly happy tone, which appealed to my personal taste quite well. The song did feature great vocals from all members, but the spotlight was on Bomi and Eunji (especially the end). It is also one of my favourites on the album! (10/10)

6. I Like That Kiss – A review or description of the song will not do it justice. I highly recommend you give the song a listen as it is extremely hard for me to explain in words. The energy on this track and its quirky instrumental makes the song stand out, particularly that changeup prior to the chorus. The chorus was extremely addictive with the title repetition. The bridge was extremely unexpected, going for a remix style feel in the first half and a totally different sound in the second half.  As I said, my description isn’t enough, and you should check it out for yourself. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.7/10

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I’m So Sick Music Video Image

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[Review] Retro Future – Triple H

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Triple H, consisting of Hyuna, Hui and E’Dawn, have finally returned after 1 year and 3 months! Their latest sexy comeback track is titled as Retro Future and is featured on the trio’s second mini-album, REtro Futurism. They previously made their debut last year in May with 365 Fresh. In other news related to the members, Hyuna has confirmed that she will be making a comeback right after these promotions are wrapped up, while Pentagon (where you find Hui and E’Dawn) has been enjoying a lot of popularity over their latest song, Shine.

It is no surprise that Retro Future takes on a retro sound. The fact that they went with ‘retro-futurism’ as the basis of the song makes it very unique and individualistic. The song is definitely quite catchy and enjoyable, with its simple yet very impactful repetitional hook of the title. I just can’t get it out of my head. I loved the opening lines of the song, which definitely sets the tone for the rest of the song. I really liked E’Dawn’s rap in the second verses and Hui’s vocals throughout the song. But my most favourite part is Hyuna’s vocal line halfway through E’Dawn’s second verse rap. It leaves me shaking every single time I listen to it. The only section which I am thinking is a little ambigious is the ‘let’s be funky’ at the very end, which does sound like the members are cursing. But other than that, it is one amazing song.

The song seems like a continuation of 365 Fresh. Likewise, the music video seems to be the three members having a little fun after the evens of the 365 Fresh video (ignoring the fact that they fall off a building). The plotline is rather simple. The lady has contacted the trio to help ‘spice up’ her relationship with her partner and they come running. And by the end of thr video, they complete the mission in which they set up for. There is a werid side to the video about half way through, when Hui is filmed wiping his butt after going to the toilet. It all makes for an interesting video and it works with the vibes set up by the earlier video.

The performance looks amazing. A little disappointed that they slowed down the choreography for the chorus, as the verses/ending was very intense and I really liked that feel from it. It is definitely a more exciting performance that 365 Fresh, which definitely makes want to go back for more.

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

[Review] Love U – Kim Chungha

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Kim Chungha is back with a summer single, in time to enjoy the sun and heat! We last saw Kim Chungha on stage in January with Roller Coaster, which ended up ranking high on the charts for many weeks, even after her promotions ended! And to continue that run of success, she has returned with Love U, which is the title track off her third mini-album, Blooming Blue.

Just at first glance, the song reminds me of Chungha’s debut track, Why Don’t You Know. It might be the tropical sound that KPOP is still utilising but there is something else that really has me automatically thinking of her debut song. Her song does feel quite refreshing and very upbeat, which in turns suits the Summer season very well. I really like her vocals in the song. Each song she has put shows some growth in that department and this reflects wonderfully for us listeners. I thought the pre-chorus was nice and there was this certain intensity that made it interesting (to an extent). What I do not like about the song is that is plays to her strengths a little too safely. It doesn’t offer anything new or different, which leaves me a little disappointed. While her skill set and abilities are growing, her portfolio isn’t expanding. If she were to release another song of the same nature, I am not too sure if I would be as appreciative of it. But despite that minor concern, it is still a good Summer track to listen to!

Kim Chungha is extremely pretty and I think the video does an amazing job of highlighting this known fact. With the sun shining brightly in the music video and her choice of outfits, the video does a good job of summarising Summer up in a span of 3 minutes. It was a little dry but still decent. I assume in the end, she finds part of the shooting star which shot over the sky at the start of the video.

I find the performance very nice to watch. It doesn’t go for anything too sexy but it isn’t you traditional cutesy dance. Instead, it is well balanced of both extremes. The first word that came to my mind while watching the performance was that is was ‘prance-y’. I loved how the hearts were incorporated into the choreography, which goes to show how something so simple and small can please me.

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

[Review] Egotistic – Mamamoo

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Two of my most favourite groups are making their return on the same day! This is getting a little too much to handle. But we are for Ma-ma-moo~! Mamamoo has returned with their Summer comeback, Egotistic, the main title track off their 7th mini-album, Red Moon. Mamamoo previously made their comeback earlier this year with Starry Night and they seem to be continuing on with their exotic flair concept with this comeback.

Egotistic brings on the Latin flair to a whole new level (with the basis being their Starry Night comeback). And it is an extremely powerful song, which I think plays towards their strengths. I say that because paired with the powerful vibes is the strong vocals we associate with the group. I really did like the guitars in the instrumental and liked how they managed to incorporate some change at the final moments by adding some electric guitar, which I felt was expected. What was rather unexpected was the reggae vibes the song managed to incorporated for Moonbyul’s rap in the second verse. It isn’t something that I would associate with the Latin flair but it worked really well. The chorus was super catchy and definitely making it on my playlist! I think the most impactful moment of the song was the final moments of the pre-chorus, which the members sing-speaking the ‘Egotistic’ title with the accompanying grunt.

Egotistic is a video that catches you off guard and you don’t know where to look after viewing the first few scenes (with the lyrics kick in). That is exactly what I felt when I first watched the video today. The video was extremely sexy, which was somewhat unexpected (though I should have paid more attention to the teasers, to be honest). The concept plays well with the song’s sound, going in with Latin and quite heavily with the exotic vibes. I really liked the use of fire for the final chorus, which definitely brought up the heat for viewers at home. I particularly liked the dress swirls at the end of the video.

I liked the performance because it looks relatively simple, allowing them to focus on their vocals during the performance. It definitely also played towards the song’s sound and was definitely very fitting. I think to match the overall presence during the music video, the choreography could have been a lot sexier but knowing Korean standards, this is good enough.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.3/10

[Review] Oh My! – Seventeen

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Seventeen are officially back with their brand new song! While a comeback was rumoured for some time now, the company denied such these claims for May or June. So I was genuinely surprised when they announced their return earlier this month, as I assume it would take a little while for preparations, especially since they are dubbed as ‘self-producing idols’. But I am not complaining! Their title track is Oh My! and it is the lead track off their 5th mini-album, You Make My Day.

The first thing that comes to mind with Oh My! was that it isn’t as powerful or impactful as their previous title tracks such as Clap or Thanks. Instead, it relies on a melodic drive, which I think is a nice change. The rappers were the exception to this change, who went for a busier yet well fitting rap sequences, which does keep the song feeling too cheesy. The melody of the song really makes you smile and it is something that I can find myself humming to after a few listens. It does suit the brighter season a lot. What really makes this song pop are the vocals of all members, particularly DK and Seungkwan, who are known to be happy viruses off the stage (what I mean is that this is more of their element). Where the song lacks in impact, it makes up in cheerfulness and melody, which still makes a memorable track.

I love it how with 13 members, a warehouse looking room was adopted to be the makeshift ‘bedroom’ for them. The concept for the video seems to be a sleepover and/or dreamland, which the members do find themselves on. And I think the message of the video is that the members still think of their crush while dreaming (at least, that is what I think when you combined the visuals of the video and the lyrics). It was a nice video to watch and definitely reminds me of the Summer nights in which you cannot sleep.

And once again, we find ourselves at the choreography section of the review. I liked it, quite a bit. There was a level of cuteness to it that wasn’t overbearing. It also felt remarkably fun. Vernon’s injury was considered for the performance, which I thought was rather nice than sitting out of it. Really like the shuffling of the members are the start and when Vernon rejoins the performance at the end of the song (DK has this part during the music video).

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

[Review] Grapes – Busters

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Around a month ago, Busters made their comeback. But who is Busters? This is my first time reviewing them/hearing of them as well, so let’s find out. Busters is a 5-member girl group (consisting of Minji, Hyeongseo, Jisu, Minjung and Chaeyeon) under JTG Entertainment. All members were born after 2000 (and you can see more of their profiles here). They made their debut at the end of November 2017 with Lalala and Dream On.

But we are here to have a closer look at their Grapes comeback, which was released in June 2018.  The song is your typical cutesy KPOP song from a girl group. What do you expect from a song that relates sweetness of a grape to the love that the members can give? But while it does suit the youthful energy that the members have, the song is somewhat cringy at certain moments. However, multiple listens after, I am drawn to the song for its chorus. I thought the way the chorus was presented was extremely catchy and it soon became a very addictive song on my playlist. The verses weren’t that special, being the most skippable moments of the song. The chorus also provided some strong vocals. I am not exactly sure how the use of the synth in the post-chorus compliments the song but it works. Overall, it is a good song with some notable flaws. But definitely a great introduction to the group.

The music video was definitely quite crisp and I appreciate the high quality it was shot in. The concept seemed to be a commercial for a new soda brand called Grapes, which I think is quite creative. I think their use of green screen and special effects is probably one of the best in the industry, which is quite surprising since they come from a smaller/unknown company. The rest of the video consisted of choreography and cute close-ups, so I don’t have much else to say about the video.

I wasn’t impressed with the choreography. It looks typical and doesn’t set them apart from the rest of the competition. The most memorable part would have to be the start of the chorus but it was honestly still quite forgettable.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 4/10
Overall Rating – 6.7/10

[Review] KeePer – The Boyz

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Despite wrapping up promotions for Giddy Up a few months ago, The Boyz have returned with a brand new special single, KeePer. The single is produced by Park Kyung from Block B, who is known for a number of chart topping singles. This comeback also marks the return of Hwall, who was not present during the promotions for Giddy Up due to an injury.

From my understanding, all of Block B’s title tracks were produced by Zico. However, KeePer, despite being produced by Park Kyung, has a few moments that reminded me of Block B’s tracks, such as the start of the song. On top of that, the song was quite pleasant sounding and had a similar flair that I would commonly assoicate to the one Springtime or Summer season song that would get popular on the charts. There was also an innocent and youthful feel to the song which suits the group quite well. Its instrumental was more traditional and refreshing compared to their past title tracks which have been more eletronic based. KeePer had good vocals and rap sections, which added some more colour to the already bright sounding song. I found the chorus to be quite catchy and the track overall stands out because it is a little different to what I would associate with the group. Overall, it is a good song.

The music video takes on a Summer concept where the actual group is split into two smaller groups who don’t really hang out together. Through some events, the two groups come together in the video. I think that was the main plotline in the video, but I am not too sure (I confess I haven’t read the lyrics of the song yet but I have been told that it is a confession song). What I did like was how bright the video felt and the fun vibes that they were channeling through the video.

Despite being limited to a few scenes throughout the video for the choreography, I think I have seen enough to say this performance does stand out due to its youthful and fun vibes. I really liked the formations, particularly the X formation seen at 1:34 of the music video. Also really liked the aeroplane they form at the start and end of the choreography and it is equipped with propellors!

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.2/10

[Album Review] You Complete Me (2nd Mini Album) – ONF

Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged 2 Comments

For those who notice, there are a select number of artists for whom I will always write an album review for (usually, they are my favourite artists). However, I do give all albums that I can find a listen to see whether they have anything worthwhile to talk about. In my recent hunt, I identified ONF’s 2nd mini-album, You Complete Me, as one with high potential. Hence, why I am writing an album review today (it is also one of the late ones, apologies for the lateness).

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You Complete Me Album Cover

1..Complete (널 만난 순간) (Title Track) – Click here for the full review of Complete. (10/10)

2. Fly Me To The Moon – The song follows up nicely after the title track. It has potential and I see how it attempts to ease us off the high energy from the title track. However, I personally think the track could have been more cohesive if the song was a little more intense. I was really impressed with the rapping in the song, with Wyatt’s deep voice very unexpecting but extremely fitting. I thought the chorus had a good hook. But my favourite bit has to be the bridge, with the slowdown for another Wyatt rap section and the saxophones delivering some flair to the song as well. (8/10)

3. Good Morning (아침) – Good Morning is a sweet ballad, fitting for the Summer season. There is a nice melody and the harmonies were quite good. I particularly like the final chorus when ‘everyone’ is singing together, which is something I am liking more and more nowadays. I put ‘everyone’ in quotation marks because I don’t think the rappers participated in the song. And while it was an enjoyable song, when you look at the entire album, this song fails to standout, in my opinion. (7/10)

4. fifty fifty – fifty fifty started off quite soft but knowing that there were some electronic elements in the song, you could tell it was going to build up to become a dance track. And if you thought the verses were promising, then you will be speechless with the chorus, which kicked the song up a notch by providing intensity and energy. Vocal work (particularly the high note) and the rapping were also quite good. My only complaint against the song would be that borderline annoying ringtone sound played throughout the entire song. Other than that, it was a promising song. (9/10)

5. Incomplete (나 말고 다) – Seeing the title of both this song and the title track are opposites, you kind of expect the same thing between the two. And that is what we get. Incomplete is a lot slower and soothing, despite there being a subtle upbeat atmosphere that prevents it falling into the ballad domain. I like the tropical influence during the second half of the chorus and the husky vocals that the song uses. Another element of the song that must be discussed is the lyrics, which are quite saddening (expressing their differences with the rest of the world). Altogether, this song becomes the hidden gem on the album. (9/10)

6. 86400 (스물 네 번) – The group finish off the album with an orchestral ballad. Everyone knows how much of a sucker I am to this type of song, so it definitely ticks the appeal box for me. It features breathtaking vocals, which are shown throughout the entire song. Even Wyatt (the deep voiced rapper) sings through his part! I really liked the build-up of the song and thought the bridge was amazing. The lyrics of the song seem to be reminiscent of memories of a loved one but I am not 100% sure. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.7/10

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You Complete Me Teaser Image

recommended red round grunge vintage ribbon stamp

[Review] Is It True – TARGET

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 1 Comment

TARGET is a lesser-known KPOP group in the industry, who made their debut earlier this year with Awake. While I wasn’t exactly a fan of their debut track, I am always willing to give artists such as TARGET another go, mainly because the type of songs change as groups mature. Is It True is released as the group’s first single album.

Is It True isn’t as awkward sounding as their debut single, which already says this track is much more likeable as a result. The rapping this time around feels fitting for the song, going hand-in-hand with the melodic driven song. The vocal work was nice, with the vocalists each having a different colour or roughness to their voice, which in turn gives the song some texture. I did like its flowy nature, which got that swaying effect that I commonly like. The only problem with this song has is that it quite plain and doesn’t really develop much. It is nice but it isn’t something that sets the group apart from the other rookies that are debuting at the moment. I think the song would have done a little better if it was released a few years back, mainly because it does remind me of some KPOP tracks in the past (i.e. songs released earlier in the decade).

The music video doesn’t have much going on. In a way, it matches the peaceful vibes that the song has. However, I don’t really find it that interesting because it lacks that factor. I did notice how each scene had a certain dominant colour, with the rest of the scene in a very neutral colour (see image below). And usually, the dominant colour was very confined to a small section within the scene, which allowed it be bolder. Not sure what its intended effect was but it was an observation picked up from the video.

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Notice how the green is confined to a small section and everything else is rather neutral. This is seen often during the video.

Watching the choreography, I can’t help but notice that their hand movements resemble sign languaage. Know I don’t know exactly if this is the case (though some people agree according to the comments on YouTube) but it definitely makes the performance look extremely graceful and smooth. I also like the choreography during the bridge, especially when the members transition.

Song – 6/10
Music Video – 5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 6.1/10