Category: KPOP

[Review] SEMINA – gugudan SEMINA

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Making their subunit debut yesterday is gugudan’s SEMINA (구구단 세미나), who is debuting with a song also titled as Semina (샘이나). Interesting fact: while the romanization of the hangul is the same between the title and subunit’s name, the title of the song can be translated to ‘Jealous’, whereas the subunit’s name is a combination of the names of the members who make up the subunit (Sejeong, Mina, Nayoung). Coincidently, the 3 members were also past Produce 101 contestants. This is gugudan’s second subunit to date (the first being gugudan OGUOGU).

When I first listened to the song a few hours ago, I was speechless. It is one of those songs that make you stop whatever you are doing and really tune in to fully get the full song (if you know what I mean). I really like the explosion of energy from the song. From the vocals to the instrumentation, it is definitely suitable for the Summer season. There is definitely an undeniable colour in the song, which I really think makes this a unique track. The song takes on a funky retro sound filled with brass that definitely brings energy to the forefront of the song. On top of that, the members put on an amazing display of vocals throughout the song. I am surprised that gugudan hasn’t put out a similar song to this yet as there are definitely vocals within the group worth looking into. On top of that, Mina does a really good job with the rapping sections, which proved to be quite fitting as well. I can’t find any flaws in the song, it is just that good!

The music video is definitely perfectly fitted for the Summer season, as well. The members take a break from their lives and go on a holiday. What I liked more was the humour that was shown in the video. My favourite example was Nayoung opening a bag of popcorn and indulging herself. The next scene shows her hula-hooping to work off those extra calories and her facial expression says it all! I think all the members looked amazing in the video and some of the shots were really nice. I also liked the bright colours throughout the video.

Not sure if the performance I am watching was lip-synced but they really have stable vocals despite the choreography. I really liked the start of the chorus. However, the rest of the performance was rather plain in my opinion.

Song – 10/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 9.1/10

 

[Review] She Bad – MYTEEN

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It has been a while but MYTEEN is back with their first comeback, She Bad. For those who don’t know MYTEEN, they are a seven-member boy group who made their debut last year with Amazing. While they haven’t had much activity since their debut, they did participate in the now-failed MIXNINE survival show.

She Bad starts off with these distorted/muffled sounds that really grab your attention. While it does kind of tell you that there would be an upbeat nature with the song, the opening verse does a really fantastic job at easing you into the song. With promising vocals and an awesome slow-ish rap section at the very start, the song gives you a taster to what is in store. But while I praise the verses, the more interesting section is actually the chorus. It doesn’t really take you in the direction that you would expect, particularly after that buildup during the pre-chorus. Instead, it takes a more minimalistic approach in terms of instrumentation and allows the vocals to take reins of melody. I would like to have heard some more bass to give the chorus that extra bit of appeal but it was definitely quite cool. And that is just the 1st minute of the song. The rest of the song falls in line pretty nicely. The only other aspect that I personally thought could have made the song better if the song developed a little more towards the end to create some instensity.

I thought the video was equally as interesting as the song. The members kidnapped by their lover escape from their confinements throughout the video. There were certain shots throughout the video which I thought was really well done. For example, the start when the vocalists were blindfolded and on the floor. I thought that was a really good angle and lighting. Likewise, the scene where the member is taping the statue’s mouth had equally good lighting. Only thing that seemed to be out of place were the outfits that they wore. Didn’t necessarily fit the vibe of the video. But other than that, good video.

Really liked the choreography during the chorus. I thought it looked rather cool and sensual, which I think would appeal to the likes of many fangirls/boys. Also liked how they got into the single line during the second pre-chorus and the way they got into the diagonal formation during the bridge. Overall, it was good to watch.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.4/10 

[Review] Dance The Night Away – TWICE

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Summer is always a great time for a comeback and TWICE is joining in on the fun with their latest release. Dance The Night Away is the group’s first Summer single, and it is featured on the group’s repackaged album, Summer Nights (formerly What Is Love?). While the release took place 4 hours ago, the girls have already topped the charts, proving once again that they are a force to be reckoned with inside the industry.

Right off the bat, Dance The Night Away appeals to me. Mainly because it doesn’t feel like anything else that we have listened to in the industry. The verses were quite good, showcasing their vocals. Not so much in the second verse but the first verse featured some moments which drew my attention. The pre-chorus definitely hyped me into the chorus, making what we were about to get into very worthwhile. The chorus, to me, feels very unique, especially with the presence of the brass instrumental and catchy lyrics. The combination of these make the song very addictive and it may be hard to stop listening to it. I think the only section that I didn’t really feel much for was Dahyun’s rap.  It just didn’t feel like it carried the same momentum as the rest of the song but more like an addition to give Dahyun a section in the song (Chaeyoung, the group’s other rapper, was given vocal lines instead). But other than that, loving the new song.

Me being me who have watched many music videos in the (almost) 7 years I have operated this blog notices a few impossible (but funny) details. Firstly, the girls are washed up onto the beach. No wet clothes, not that much sand in hair. Secondly, they managed to pack extremely stylish and plentiful clothing in the limited luggage that came onshore with them and also some decorative lights, to which they somehow power up at the end of the video. Thirdly, they see a boat on the horizon and they didn’t bother with getting its attention to be rescued. But then again,  they have electricity already, so they are kind of set for the technological side of life. I only point these out because I didn’t know what else to say besides it had a fun vibe and was well-presented.

I thought the choreography was really nice. I liked how well the dance moves paired with the chorus, especially when the chorus kicked in. Extremely fun and definitely hints of tropical influences in their inspiration here.

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

[Album Review] Who, You (2nd Mini Album) – NU’EST W

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NU’EST W is officially back with a new mini-album, Who You, after their highly successful return as a subunit last year. And I thought I check out their mini-album this time around as well. Once again, I feel like this is a little late, due to some shuffling. But better late than never (which I say quite a bit here). So before I do some even more shuffling, let’s push along.

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Who, You Album Cover

1..Signal – Opening up the album is a dance track which has elements of tropical and EDM but feels R&B-like. I thought that is a rather interesting combination. Starting off the song, there was a seductive nature, which I think would make this a great performance song. I thought the pre-chorus was awesome, particularly the vocals at this moment. Overall, I thought the song was really impressive, with the chorus kicking it up a notch. Also, I really liked the final section with the instrumental feeling more dynamic here than any part of the song. The rapping is also quite commendable in this song. (8/10)

2. Déjà Vu (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Déjà Vu. (8.5/10)

3. Polaris (북극성) – I personally do not have much to comment on in regards to this song. It had a slow jazzy ballad type of instrumental, which I thought was cool. The verses do a good job of showcasing the vocals. The chorus had a nice soothing vibe, with the falsetto in the latter half of the chorus, complimenting the jazzy sound. The raps were really well done (especially since rapping isn’t commonly associated with this type of music). (8/10)

4. ylenoL – The bright and upbeat nature of the makes this song really unique and stand out for me. I thought the instrumental which felt groovy yet jagged, which gave the song some interesting textures. The title of the song is ‘Lonely’ spelt backwards. I thought that was rather interesting, as the word tends to have a negative connotation. But being spelt backwards, it flips its definition in the opposite direction, leading to this positive atmosphere. The ‘Lonely’ hook as also quite catchy, and the vocals/raps were quite cool. (9/10)

5. Gravity and Moon (중력달) – Can we take a moment to appreciate how smooth Ren’s vocals are in this song? I thought that was a nice element. Apart from the vocals in the song, I thought it was rather typical. The instrumental didn’t really feel like it stood out on the album. Other than that, I thought how the lyrics complimented the title was nice. I did like the ‘Singing’ hook in the song (for the time being) but it is the type that can easily become annoying if you do not control the number of replays. (7.5/10)

6. Shadow – The album ends on an appealing song. There was a groovy vibe to the song with its fast-paced tempo standing out. I also thought the slowdown during the bridge was nice, along with the launch back into the chorus. I found the combination between the vocals/raps and instrumental to be quite dynamic. I really like the way Baekho sings ‘Shadow’ and the raps that were delivered by both Aron and JR. I would like to point out that the instrumental of this song is quite like HOTSHOT’s Jelly (only during chorus). I liked both songs but I am not too sure about the technicalities of this situation. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.33/10

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Who You Teaser Image

[Review] I’m Not Afraid – Holland

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Holland is back with a brand new single, I’m Not Afraid. For those who don’t know of the solo artist, he is openly gay and debuted with Neverland in January of this year. I’m Not Afraid is a two-part single project, with the likely title of the second single (to be released at a later date) being On The Second Moon, as these are the words that close off the music video for this comeback. But until then, let’s focus on his latest single.

While I wasn’t really a fan of Neverland, I find I’m Not Afraid to be much more captivating and interesting. I think this is partly due to the retro synth-dominated EDM instrumental that forms the basis of the song. I really liked the instrumental overall. It is refreshing and somewhat different to what we hear constantly throughout the industry at the moment. The echo effect that is placed on this vocals really make him sound so much better and adds an extra layer to the retro element of the song. I also like the way he sings ‘I’m not afraid anymore’, which is definitely a strong (in a subtle way) hook. While the song was consistent, I didn’t find it one bit boring or repetitive, which is a feat worth mentioning.

What also makes this a great comeback is the lyrics of the song. While Holland clearly takes inspiration from his life, I liked how the video isn’t just about him. Featuring in the video is people of colour, a drag queen and other gay couples. The song’s main message is that nobody should be afraid anymore. You shouldn’t be afraid to be yourself. I thought the video was well presented with everyone turning up for a party and enjoying themselves. It also pushes boundaries with a very steamy kiss between Holland and his boyfriend It was a good video with a powerful message.

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

[Review] Blue Moon – Kyungri (9MUSES)

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Nine Muses (also 9MUSES), for a very long time, has been known as a highly underrated group in the industry. And over the years, there has only been one member that has stood out. Kyungri is probably the group’s most well-known member, given that she has shot a few CFs in the past. And now the 9MUSES member has finally made her solo debut with Blue Moon. To make this debut extra special, her debut date also lies on her birthday, so Happy Birthday Kyungri!

Blue Moon takes on the well-known charms of Kyungri. That is, the song sounds quite seductive and trendy. And I think the song does a pretty good job of portraying the strengths of the artist. She is known for her vocals within the group and she puts them on full display. The chorus is extremely dynamic. It starts off with some deep thumping, which really gets the seductive nature going and then (maintaining the thumping in the background) goes on to a pop vibe instrumental, which sounds quite nice. While I was kind of irked by the presence of the autotune, it actually made the song feel a little different and kept it from being too repetitive. I like the instrumental break into the song, which I am sure is useful for a really sexy dance break (though I would have loved to hear some more vocals from her). Overall, really nice debut song.

Her next charm (and what I commonly associate with her) is sexiness and this video has loads of it. The entire video focuses on her and her charm, which I would say is a masterpiece. But the video was lacking and prevented me from really appreciating what I saw. I was rather disappointed with the sets. They looked incredibly plain and boring. They could have gone with a more elegant route for this video, which would have paired nicely with the concept and her sexiness. They could have gone for something glittering in the background or a fancy looking bar set.

Kyungri takes the seductive and sexiness nature mentioned and channels it well through the performance. It isn’t the most mind-blowing choreography out there but it definitely works. And the backup dancers (including the men) are all wearing high heels. That is definitely a feat and I liked how all the backup dancers do a wonderful job of meeting the standards set by Kyungri on the stage in terms of sexiness.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 6/10
Performance – 7.5/10
Overall Rating – 7.3/10

[Album Review] Shoot Me: Youth Part 1 (3rd Mini Album) – DAY6

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Today’s album review is DAY6’s latest release, Shoot Me: Youth Part 1. Given the title, it suggests there will be a continuation of this album, which I am highly anticipating.  While there are a few albums released prior to this one that I should be reviewing, I had to push this one up due to the quality of the music! On top of that, Young K penned each song, which I thought was really cool. If you want some good music, continue reading cause that is what you will get!

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Shoot Me: Youth Part 1 Album Cover

1..WARNING! – Starting off the album is a rock number. It is a great yet very intense opener. There were a few interesting aspects that make the song stand out. The opening words (‘It’s dangerous’) were sung in a way that I thought was very intriguing and appealing. The silence just before the choruses created suspense and really allowed Jae’s voice to pop. I thought the ‘Warning’ (sung by Dowoon, according to comments on YouTube) was highly appropriate and what I had expected with a song titled as so. The execution of the vocals and melody was also well done. (9/10)

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

3. Somehow (어쩌다 보니) – The presence of the keyboard throughout the song what drew me to the song initially. Despite that, the song can be described as a breakup song with an intense rock instrumental. The build-up to the chorus was spectacular and this can be attributed to the presence of the drums (which was amazing throughout the entire song). The bridge brought everything down, which was rather interesting in my opinion. It cuts the intensity, providing some relief and gives a moment of fragility to the song, which in turn compliments the lyrics (though I am not sure if this is its intention). (9/10)

4. Feeling Good – Feeling Good tones down the explosive nature seen in each of the three preceding songs, opting for a much more poppy and brighter instrumental. There is also an experimental nature within its sound, which I thought worked really well. The atmosphere that came off from the song was rather positive, which makes it quite attractive. I liked the catchiness of the hooks, which makes it become an addictive side track to listen to. I also liked the ‘zap’ into the chorus. While this is just a small detail within the song, it definitely goes a long way for me. (9/10)

5. Talking To (혼잣말) – Talking To felt retro to me. Not sure if it is even a valid description to the song but I thought that was the case with the hollow/echo-y effect placed onto the vocals at the start. I really liked the inserts of background vocals throughout the verses, which felt cool. I also thought it was interesting how this was the only song with rapping in it, which was decent sounding. Standout vocals from Jae, particularly during the bridge. Other than that, I thought the song could have benefited from a more exciting drop. But it still a good song. (8/10)

6. Still (원하니까) – At first, I had my doubts about the song but with multiple listens afterwards, it turns out to be a quite beautiful sounding song. Still is the closest song to a ballad. It reminds me of some of the songs from their monthly project last year. The emotions could be felt via the vocals. I thought the instrumental was well balanced and didn’t overpower the vocals (which were amazing). Its calm nature ended the album on a good note. (8.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.9/10

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DAY6 Shoot Me: Youth Part 1 Teaser Image

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[Review] Let Me – Golden Child

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Golden Child is a boy group that I am keeping my eye out for. I am a major fan of their It’s You title track from their earlier promotional run in the year and was super excited when they followed up with their awesome Lady b-track. And now they are back with their 1st single album, Goldenness, which features their latest title track, Let Me.

Let Me has a similar feel to a Summer pop track released by Western boy group (i.e. One Direction). And while I am not a fan of songs released by these certain groups. Golden Child does a pretty good job with it. The song seems to be infused with a bit of rock which can be heard during the chorus of the song. The vocal work was pretty good, with the bridge standing out the most. But I think this song let the rappers shined more. Sure, the rappers are limited sections. But I felt that their parts were extremely dynamic, particularly how there was an addition of a siren-like synth (in the background) paired with the rap sections. The “Let Me Let Me” felt like it was repeated one too many times in the song, though I may have an inkling that it might become a really addictive hook after a few more listens. Other than that, Let Me is a really good Summer song.

Suiting their image thus far, the group has returned with a fun concept, which is also bright, colourful and well-suited for Summer. It seems like the members start off by trying to impress a cute girl. As the video goes on, I noticed that she doesn’t appear anymore and the video is more of the boys having fun. I thought the snapshots that were taken throughout the video was really cool and the members looked cute throughout those parts. I really like the background which they used throughout the video. The sports theme appears once again through the on-field location that they use, while the indoors locations looked very stylish and it would be somewhere I would like to hang out.

There doesn’t seem to be much choreography scenes within the music video that actually focus on the choreography (or that many wide shots for that matter). As a result, I will update the performance section of this review tomorrow once a live performance is released.

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

[Review] Lover – Teen Top

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In a number of days, Teen Top will be celebrating their 8th year together. And they will be celebrating with the newly released repackaged album for Seoul Night (which was released yesterday), Teen Top Story: 8PISODE. The title track (Lover) will not be promoted on the weekly music shows, with the group opting to perform Lover for the very first time at their upcoming solo concert. As a result, this will not be a full (song, m/v and performance) review.

Lover uses a standard formulation of the tropical side of EDM and heavy bass to bring some momentum to the song. While that gives the song a good beat, it just feels a little too dry and repetitive. As a result, I personally find the song very disinteresting and lacking in impact. I think what the producer was trying to do was in the right direction but the song could have benefited from some more elements that could either cause the song to change up slightly or add a little more energy to the song. I think out of all the sections within the song, I was most impressed with the verses as they did attract my attention. The vocals were good, particularly during the chorus, with its delivery of the lyrics being the driving force which I enjoyed.

The music video isn’t really a music video. It is more of behind the scene footage for their teaser images leading up to the release of the repackaged album. So there is absolutely nothing to comment about.

Song – 6/10
Music Video – 5/10
Overall Rating – 6.6/10

[Album Review] Something New (3rd Mini Album) – Taeyeon (SNSD)

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Apologies for the lateness of this album review. I am still trying to catch up with some of the albums from a few weeks ago and keeping up to date with some of the latest albums. But we are here for Taeyeon!  The vocalist released ‘Something New’ two weeks ago, along with her 3rd mini-album, which shares the same name as the title track. I have noticed that some people have been searching the site for this review, so I bumped its release to be a little earlier than what I had planned. So let’s not waste anymore time and get the show on the road!

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Something New Album Cover

1..Something New (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Something New. (8/10)

2. All Night Long (저녁의 이유) (ft. Lucas from NCT) – The pop-reggae song opens up with Lucas rapping, following with Taeyeon singing the rest of the song. It is here where I get a bit of Where Is The Love (by Black Eye Peas) vibes and this stays throughout the song. I personally liked the chorus of the song, which has this bright and upbeat feel that makes me sway along to the beat of the song. It also makes you feel good, which is amazing (considering how stress I have been the last few days). Taeyeon’s vocals shine here as well, especially the high note at the end. (9/10)

3. Baram X 3 (바람 바람 바람) – Baram X 3 has this upbeat feel that you won’t get anywhere else on this album. And for that, the song does standout quite a lot. I thought the horns used in the instrumental for the track really gave the song that pop, which makes it stand out even more. The chorus was super catchy, especially how she sings the Baram Baram Baram with a lot of enthusiasm, which gets the listeners interested. (9/10)

4. One Day (너의 생일) – The song opens up with instrumentation (xylophone or triangle?) that has a really nice twinkling effect. It sets the tone for the song and instantly sets you to a calm mode, which I really like. Other than that, Taeyeon manages to show off her vocals throughout the song, which isn’t any surprise. However, it sounds so nice. It is a nice song to have a stroll to. The English line that starts off the chorus is surprisingly catchy, sticking in my head for a very long time after the song ends. (9/10)

5. Circus – With a title like this, I expected the song to be have some fun vibes. Instead, the song takes a ballad approach. And while this wasn’t to my expectations, the song is definitely show-stopping enough. Its very simple instrumental, consisting of piano and percussion makes you feel like you are alone with her on a very beautiful starry night. Her vocals were exceptional, to the point where when I listen to the song, I can’t do anything but take a moment and listen to its entirety. It ends the album on a truly beautiful note and is easily a song that I do end up going back for more. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 9/10

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Something New Teaser Image

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[Review] I’m So Sick – APINK

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APINK is a group once known for their cute concepts and addictive songs. This time around, APINK returns with a completely different image and concept. The ladies of APINK are back with their 7th mini-album, titled as ONE & SIX, which also features the title track, I’m So Sick. We last saw them on stage last year with Five.

Right off the bat, you can tell that the song has a completely different feel to any of their previous releases with those background vocals at the very start (and throughout the song), which are used as instrumentation. They do sound quite questionable but it definitely attracts your attention to the song. The verses were a little interesting, as they seem to be a more bright and cutesy feel to it, which contrasts interestingly with the rest of the song, particularly with the chorus. I thought the upbeat instrumental was really nice and provided an addictive atmosphere. The ‘Bye Bye‘ line in the chorus was quite catchy, with it (along with the background vocals) being key memorable moments of the song. I also thought the electric guitar at the end of the bridge (prior to the of the final chorus) was extremely well-suited for the song and would have loved to hear a bit more of it throughout the song. Overall, I’m So Sick is a really good song that will be on my replay list for days to come.

The lyrics of the song basically tells of a simple message. That the girls are sick of the love they are receiving and are losing interest in their relationship. In the music video, the members do a good job of portraying that. They look really disinterested in what they are doing, while still staying in character throughout the video. It is a very bold video, given its concept and stylistic approaches. This is definitely their most mature look yet. I thought the sets were nice and definitely something that really looks visually appealing.

I thought the performance was extremely fitting for the song. Very mature and sensual at times, words which I never thought I would use to describe APINK. I feel like they could have been a little sassier with some moments, as that would leave a longer lasting impression on the audience.

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

[Review] Wag-Zak – Lovelyz

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Lovelyz have made their return to the stage with their first Summer digital single, Wag-Zak. They have already started promotions for the new song prior to its release on Sunday (yesterday), which doesn’t occur all that often. The girl group previously promoted That Day and wrapped their promotions about a month ago. They are, however, short one member this time around, with JIN sitting out of promotions due to health issues.

Wag-Zak fits perfectly into the growing Lovelyz song protfolio, keeping true to their cutesy and bright image that they have maintained throughout all of their songs to date. It also does its job as a ‘special Summer single’, even though the first descriptive word might be questionable. It is extremely cold where I am at the moment, so I enjoyed listening to the song throughout last week, as it does paint a nice image of blue skies and a sunny environment that feels warm. The song does feature a tropical sound, which was felt prominently throughout the post-chorus instrumental break. However as I write this, it does feel very cliche to go down that route for the Summer season, particularly after last year’s tropical-dominated releases. On top of that, I thought the song was rather lacking in terms of memorability. While the instrumental and overall vibes from the song were okay, I just didn’t find myself humming the tune or awkwardly mouthing along to the lyrics (which I do with most addictive songs). Instead, I would describe the song to be more suited for casual listening.

The music video simply shows the members having some fun at the beach (or resort). While it has definitely be done before, the combination between the beach theme and the song is pretty much the only video concept/idea that would sound plausible and make the most sense. I thought their enjoyment seemed genuine to an extent and the cutesy vibes that they had going on were nice.

The performance for this song did seem a little rushed for the stage. Though, this promotional round would only be for a week, so I don’t see the need for this to be overly perfected. But as a disclaimer, there wasn’t anything too impressive if that is what you were expecting. However, it does feel nice and fitting for the Summer vibes from the song.

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

[Album Review] The Story of Light EP. 03 (6th Studio Album) – SHINee

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Over the last few weeks, SHINee have been releasing segments of their 6th Studio Album, The Story of Light, as a unique form of promotions. Each of these segments featured a couple of songs and their own title tracks. EP. 01 featured Good Evening, while EP. 02 featured I Want You. EP. 03 is the final segment, featuring Our Page and is the final installment of their latest album. I have linked my album reviews for the first two segments below, so you can read them if you have yet to before we get started on the final part.

[Album Review] The Story of Light EP. 01 (6th Studio Album) – SHINee
[Album Review] The Story of Light EP. 02 (6th Studio Album) – SHINee

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The Story of Light EP. 03 Album Cover

1..Our Page (네가 남겨둔 말) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Our Page. (10/10)

2. Tonight – I really liked the piano that was repeated throughout the ballad. It really sets the tone of the song, creating a nice atmosphere for the song, which reflects well with the lyrics of remembering a lover who had left them. The song zones into the vocals, who each do a wonderful job at delivering the lines. While the raps do feel like very standard KPOP raps, they fit extremely well into the song and gives the song a little more interesting notes in order to keep the song from becoming that repetitive ballad that you would get bored of easily. Tonight won’t be one of those and I am extremely glad for that. (9/10)

3. Retro – Retro is a very unique song which takes on a jazzy type of song. I liked the upbeat vibes from the song, which does set it part from the rest of the admittedly depressing feels that this section of the album present. I thought the chorus was nice, with the ‘Emotional motional mo motional‘ line being my absolute favourite in the entire track. I thought the vocals were really nice but the raps felt very underwhelming. Overall, it was a nice track overall. (8/10)

4. I Say – This is another song that focuses right on the vocals of the group. It takes a classical approach to the ballad genre, which you know that I am a major fan of. What I like about the song is that they manage to change up each section of the song (i.e. verse, chorus etc.) allowing the members to buildup the song with their vocals alongside the instrumental. While that is expected in most songs, it is much more noticeable with a classical-based instrumental. I really liked it how they sing together towards the end and the harmonies at the 1:50 mark of the song really got my attention. This is probably one of their best works on the album. (10/10)

5. Lock You Down (Special Track) – Catching most fans (including myself) offguard, the song features the vocals of the late Jonghyun, who passed away at the end of last year. And while the song is quite lively and upbeat, it is really nice to hear him alongside his bandmates for one last time. Moving back to the song, the rap sequence and the chorus was definitely my picks for highlights of the song. The opening rap sequence was really attention-grabbing but its effect was far greater when it appeared midway into the song. The chorus, especially the falsetto vocals, and the ‘Run Run Run‘ hook was superb. The ending was an equally awesome section as well. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 9.2/10

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The Story of Light EP. 03 Teaser Image

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[Review] Summer Dream – ELRIS

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ELRIS has made their return to the stage with their Summer single, Summer Dream. This is my first time reviewing a song from these ladies, so let’s get acquainted with them. ELRIS is a 5-member girl group under Hunus Entertainment, who made their debut last year in 2017, with We, First. Summer Dream is their second comeback as the girls made their first comeback in September 2017 with Pow Wow. The group consist of Sohee, Yukyung, Bella, Hyeseong and Karin.

Summer Dream is your standard KPOP cutesy track fitted well for the Summer season. It isn’t necessarily the most catchiest or memorable song out at the moment but it has a few moments that really had me interested in the song. Despite the song being ‘standard’, the song does give off APINK’s Remember vibes. That being said, the two songs are not the same. Another section which I felt was odd was the instrumental breakdown at the bridge. It doesn’t necessarily suit the cutesy vibes of the song but it manages to work well together. The girls also have really nice vocals. Throughout the song, I was drawn to the song through the vocals, especially the moments where they are singing without any instrumental playing in the background as they sound the best there. Apart from that, the ‘standard’ issue does get to you. If they managed to make the chorus more dynamic and make the hook more catchier, I think they would have a really nice song. For now, it is decent.

There really isn’t much in the video to talk about. Summer makes you think of the beach, so this is where the video is set at. It does also take a cutesy approach, which was expected from the song’s sound. They also went with a sailor outfit, which looked cute. They managed to bold the colour blue, which really made the music video pop. But other than that, I wasn’t that interested in the music video.

It was a nice performance to watch, fitting in with the cutesy vibe of the song once again. But it wasn’t a memorable stage that makes me want to return to watch their performances.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 6/10
Performance – 5/10
Overall Rating – 6.3/10

[Album Review] Square Up (1st Mini Album) – BLACKPINK

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It has been a very long wait for fans but BLACKPINK has a mini-album under their name! Woo! With multiple digital hits, BLACKPINK have gone past the level of success which their previous hits have reached with their latest title track, DDU-DU DDU-DU. Many records have been broken by the ladies themselves with this comeback. So without waiting any further, here is my review of their Square Up mini-album.

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Square Up Album Cover

1..DDU-DU DDU-DU (뚜두뚜두) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of DDU-DU DDU-DU. (10/10)

2. Forever Young – Opening up the song is Jennie, whose voice in this song reminds me of CL a lot. The song ended up being quite memorable, with a catchy beat and vibrant sound. The song feels very Summery, which would make sense with its youthful lyrics. The vocals and rapping were quite cool. And for that, the first two minutes of the song becomes quite memorable. The only issue I had with the song was the last minute. I think it could have been a song on its own and created this massive mismatch with the sound/vibe that came off the first two minutes of the song. It did bring the members together as a closer but it just didn’t feel right. (8/10)

3. Really – Really has a very simple R&B/hip-hop beat and hook, which makes me hear the song as ‘standard’. As a result, it doesn’t really hit the mark or feel that memorable. The vocals and raps were nice but not exactly their best. The raps attempted to give the song some texture but sadly I don’t think it was enough to make me fall for the song, like what the other songs on the album did. Personally, I think it is their weakest track on the album and in their portfolio. (6.5/10)

4. See U Later – I really liked how the song started for some unknown reason. I cannot pin the reason why but it set the verses up for success. And they delivered as a result. The verses had this bright feeling to them which made them pop out for me. But what was unexpecting was the chorus’s drop, which also included a drop in the tone and entrance into a more serious hip-hop domain. But it works wonderfully. The raps and vocals were awesome. Best part of the song has to be the sassy ending. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.3/10

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Square Up Teaser Poster

[Review] Black Heart – UNB

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Right after wrapping up their Sense/Only One promotions, UNB announced that they will be going straight into preparations for a new album. And they didn’t mess around with that announcement, as the newly debut group has officially dropped their second mini-album, which shares the same title as their title track, Black Heart. This comeback also features 4 special guests: Jungha (BEATWIN), Hangyul (IM), Jueun (DIA) and Anne (SIS).

From my understanding, none of the special guests participated in the recording of the song. Black Heart is a great dance song that is fast beoming another highly addictive song. I really liked the showtune-like piano introduction at the start of the song, which built up the suspense for what was to come. The song then progresses into a synth based dance track, which somehow felt unexpecting at first. There is this energy buildup within the verses, which allows the entrance into the chorus sound so much good. On top of that, I thought the chorus was really well done, especially with how all the members singing together. It gives the song a punch in its melody and makes it memorable. I really liked the post-chorus instrumental break as well. To keep the song from becoming repetitive, the song returns to that showtune piano introduction during the bridge, which also works wells within the song. The only thing I think the song is missing is a rap sequence, which could have added some interesting textures to the song. But othet r than that, it was a really good song.

Out of the 4 guests, the music video only features the male guest (that is, Jungha and Hangyul). To why it is only them, I am not too sure. But I have to admit, they fitted in pretty well. It did cause some friction within the screentime department, however, which is quite sad to hear. All the members (and the male guests) had good chemistry with the camera, which makes this video even better. I really liked the edgy vibe that was coming from their outfits. I thought the dance-off concept was rather interesting and well executed.

All 4 special guests feature in the performances. And I think it help boosts the number of people of stage, which contributes to the livelihood of the performance. I really liked the start of the performance, when some of the members are doing acrobatic-like jumps. The performance also features awesome footwork, seen most prominently during the post-chorus instrumental break. Also, the ending looked quite good.

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