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[Review] Love Me A Little – SHOWNU x HYUNGWON (MONSTA X)

July 27, 2023Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged MONSTA X, SHOWNU X HYUNGWON (MONSTA X)1 Comment

SHOWNU x HYUNGWON made their debut as the first official subunit of MONSTA X earlier this week with the single Love Me A Little, and their 1st mini-album, The Unseen. It is the first time we are seeing a unit from MONSTA X, who made their debut 8 years ago in 2015. And the duo’s unit debut follows MONSTA X’s latest comeback Beautiful Liar and REASON, and also serves as SHOWNU first release since completing his military enlistment earlier in the year.

While the song had good bass, and the vocals brings a satisfying deep and groovy tone to the song, Love Me A Little‘s instrumental is the song’s weakest point. Aside from the hefty paced drum beats, repetitive piano work and a few synths (most of which were percussive, so it blends in with the drum beats) to give Love Me A Little some texture, there isn’t much else to the background for a good portion of the song. It does lend well towards a sensual slow-burn atmosphere which Love Me A Little does go for, but it also doubled up in creating a sluggish and dry atmosphere as well. Thus, I found it difficult to maintain focus on Love Me A Little. It doesn’t help that the song didn’t have any memorable hooks or melodies to standout on or compensate the instrumentation. It isn’t until after the second run at the chorus do we start hearing the incorporation of additional instruments to the background, such as a brass element, strings and electric guitar. This does increase the appeal of Love Me A Little and gives the song some much needed flair, but I personally felt this was too late in the game. The instrumental’s existing makeup also gets interesting and builds towards something a lot more dynamic, which helps Love Me A Little end on a much stronger note than compared to the first two thirds of the song. I wished there was more to Love Me A Little, something that sparks a bit of energy and dynamism a lot earlier in the song.

As per the title of the song, the duo sings about wanting more love for themselves from their partner. The video doesn’t make much of a plot-line. Instead, we see the pair in an emotionless state caused by the lack of love that their partner is giving them. Honestly, there isn’t too much else to the video, so the music video becomes one of those that you watch once and you don’t really need to watch it again. On the flipside, however, the video takes a dark and moodier approach, which works well with the sensual slow-burn atmosphere of the song. I did like the choreography sets and locations chosen in the music video, and the transition between the pair in the driver’s seat of the car.

If there was any aspect of a comeback this duo would be sure to ace, that would be the performance aspect, given they are the dancers of their group. And they really did showcase a really cool and captivating performance to watch. Firstly, they made everything look effortless and smooth. Secondly, the dance sequences towards the end of the song were so well-executed and their chemistry was on point. Their backwards bending move was super cool and clean to watch – it is the part of the routine that I would gladly watch again and again.

Song – 6.5/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 7.2/10

[Review] Summer Comes – OH MY GIRL

July 25, 2023Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged OH MY GIRL4 Comments

Making their comeback at the start of the week is OH MY GIRL, who returns for the first time in 16 months with their 9th mini-album Golden Hourglass and the title track Summer Comes. Their last comeback, Real Love, occurred back in March of last year. This comeback also is the first time we see OH MY GIRL as a 6 member female group, following the departure of Jiho, who left the group and WM Entertainment to focus on acting instead.

For me, my main issue with Summer Comes is that it is a bit of a blur. It felt like it was whizzing past to the next section, and this does give the impression is over-stuffed. I don’t necessarily think the latter is the concern in reality. But the impression does play a big part in reducing the song’s appeal, especially when I reflect upon the continuous string that is the second chorus, bridge and final chorus. I did wish there was more opportunity to digest and take in the song, either by making it feel more paced and/or utilizing breaks that are either better placed or more innovatively or creatively used. We did get two brief breaks in the music prior to the first two choruses, but there wasn’t much of a change to the fast tempo and momentum that preceded and followed these breaks, so they didn’t make much of a difference for Summer Comes. This causes a bit of a ripple effect on other parts of the song, which I will touch on in just a small moment. Some good news such that, the song brightly upbeat and felt appropriately summery. I really liked how Mimi had more opportunities in Summer Comes to show off their rapping, and the vocals were decent. Again, I felt the speed and momentum of the song does causes some issues with the vocals and instrumental. There were moments where the vocals felt almost chipmunk-like and the instrumental had a shrilly type of effect. Had Summer Comes been a bit more paced, I think this potential issues would not have existed and Summer Comes would have been more appreciable.

The music video looks like the members are in some sort of video game against some ghosts, zombies and scary clowns. For majority of the video, the members do struggle in their battle. But they do prevail in the end. While I am not entirely sure what the connection with the song is (taken from SOOMPI – the song “convey the joys of hearing the voice of a loved one, which feels like the heart-fluttering excitement of summer arriving”), my best guess is that the members are seeking the voice of a loved one to help them through their battle. And for the video, it looks like Yubin is that voice given the heaven-like scenes during the bridge, where she grants Mimi a second chance at the battle. But aside from that, I like the brightness that stems from the colourful nature of the video, and the summery/beachy-like setting the green screen brings to the video.

The fast-paced nature of the song does lend well towards a great performance, which I find to be evident in the chorus sequences of the song. I also liked how the bubbly and upbeat the performance is, which does make it fit very neatly in the range of performance we have seen stem from the summer season.

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

[Album Review] READY TO BE (12th Mini-Album) – TWICE

July 23, 2023Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged TWICE2 Comments

Today’s album review is for TWICE’s 12th mini-album, READY TO BE. Released back in March of this year, READY TO BE features the title track SET ME FREE (and the English version of the song), the all-English pre-release single MOONLIGHT SUNRISE and 4 additional side tracks. It also serves as the group’s first Korean album release since BETWEEN 1&2 from August of last year.

I have checked my records and READY TO BE is my pick for the best TWICE album yet, earning the highest ‘Overall Album Rating’ ever for a TWICE album since I started reviewing TWICE’s albums in 2017 (I know, I have missed a few albums released prior to 2017). While the title track and pre-release had the lowest rating on this mini-album, the side tracks on READY TO BE really pulled through and boosted the mini-album to the high rating. And I think they deserve some recognition for this, so I have inserted a recommended icon at the bottom of the review, so that you know this mini-album is additionally worthy of a listen if you are ever looking for one.

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

2. MOONLIGHT SUNRISE (Pre-Release Single) – Click here to read the review for MOONLIGHT SUNRISE. (7/10)

3. GOT THE THRILLS – GOT THE THRILLS is honestly a standout track for me. The chorus is without the doubt the best aspect of the song. Here, Jihyo, Nayeon and Jeongyeon’s vocals really packing a punch. The rest of the members did a really nice job in this dance-pop track, as well. I also liked how beachy and summery the instrumental is, particularly during the verses and the synth selection. The speed of the instrumentation was also perfect and really gets you going. If you want a blast of energy, then GOT THE THRILLS is the song for you. (10/10)

4. BLAME IT ON ME – We enter rock territory with BLAME IT ON ME. Again, it is a solid song. The song features grungier vibes of the instrumentation which I find to be an unexpected yet fitting sound for TWICE. The song also thrives with amazing vocals from each of the members, particularly the main and lead vocalists really coming through in the song once again. The pre-chorus tones back the song, which serves as an extra treat for the listeners as this allows the choruses to become explosive and so much more impactful. My only gripe with BLAME IT ON ME is the processing of Dahyun and Chaeyoung’s vocal work in the bridge of the song. I am not a fan of the filtering that happened here. (9.5/10)

5. WALLFLOWER – WALLFLOWER brings a subtle Latin feel to the mix. It tones back the album a bit, as the song doesn’t have much of an impact, which the preceding tracks had. However, WALLFLOWER comes together and holds quite well. The vocals captivate, and they bring WALLFLOWER such so much charisma and matureness. The rapping was also well executed. I also enjoyed the groovy undertones of the single. I wished they somehow incorporated some more oomph to the song, just so it feels on par with the other smashing songs. (8.5/10)

6. CRAZY STUPID LOVE – It is the melodies that steal the show of me in CRAZY STUPID LOVE. It just makes the song so easy to get into and brings a nostalgic factor, a feeling that is very much built upon by the early ‘00s pop-rock instrumentation. Unlike all of the songs before it, the best showing of vocals for this song are in both the verses and choruses. I also can hear their passion and emotions in this track, which makes it a very successful number on the mini-album. (9/10)

7. SET ME FREE (English Version) – See above for the review of SET ME FREE.

Overall Album Rating – 8.7/10

[Album Review] MASTER: PIECE (5th Mini Album) – CRAVITY

July 22, 2023Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged CRAVITY1 Comment

Next up on the album review block is CRAVITY’s MASTER: PIECE, the group’s fifth mini-album since their debut in 2020. The mini-album was released in March this year. Leading the mini-album is the single Groovy and five side tracks. It follows the group’s 2022 PARTY ROCK era and their fourth mini-album NEW WAVE, which I reviewed previously earlier this year.

While MASTER: PIECE is not necessarily a masterpiece in itself, it is still a solid mini-album from the group. I didn’t find a single song in which I disliked and the group really showed themselves off in this mini-album. As such, I have placed a recommended sticker at the bottom of the review, just to indicate that I would recommend this mini-album (if you are looking for new music to listen to!).

1. Groovy (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Groovy. (8.5/10)

2. FLY – I have been listening to a few musical numbers lately and FLY definitely hits that spot directly. It is such a super duper vibrant and upbeat track, and the members make it a casual and fun affair. The opening synth and electrical guitar work were such a cool opener, and this combination brings out a funky tinge to the song when it reappears as an instrumental break. I also really liked slight change in momentum in the chorus. Overall, it is all very catchy and a strong side-track. (9/10)

3. Get Lifted – Get Lifted merges a hip-hop motif with a rock instrumentation. While I did like Get Lifted, I think there were moments (i.e. the rapping in the verses) that could have gone harder. The vocals bring a neat pop colour to the song, but I think the strongest aspect of the song was within the choruses. The anthem approach taken, hype energy, and the crunchy guitar work makes it a very cool centrepiece. (8/10)

4. Baddie – The rock elements carry on from the previous song, but Baddie sees the rock intensifies, creating an urban rock track that I am all for. Many elements stand out in Baddie, but it is the instrumentation that really wins me over. It has this slightly grungy, bad boy vibe, a sound that feels like CRAVITY is very much in their element. The electric guitar work, particularly in the instrumental break, was awesome. Elsewhere, the members executed this track perfectly, with both vocals and rapping earning big praises from me. (10/10)

5. A to Z – A to Z attempts to bring a new and different sound to the album, thanks to the fast beats and synths that come together to create something synthwave-esque. But there is some pop mixed into the instrumentation to give it a more upbeat and buoyant feel. The vocals and rapping were solid efforts, but I wished there was something more within these elements (i.e., texture) to add additional flair to level-up A to Z. (8/10)

6. Light The Way – As an ode to fans, the album ends with Light The Way, which is an acoustic ballad-like track. It serves as a heartwarming ender to the album and brings out some wholesome feelings from the group. I enjoyed the repetitive backing vocals in the choruses and appreciated the flowy melodies of Light The Way. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.6/10

[Review] ETA – NewJeans

July 22, 2023Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged NewJeans2 Comments

As mentioned last week’s review for Super Shy and the day before yesterday’s review for Cool With You, NewJeans was scheduled to make their official comeback yesterday with the release of their second mini-album, Get Up, and the mini-album’s third lead single ETA.

While I was impressed with Super Shy and disappointed with Cool With You, I find myself to be on the fence with ETA. I find the upbeat nature of the song to be a strong aspect of the song, and it sounds like that is a bit of a party flair to it. The vocals were solid, and I liked the chanty nature of the “What’s your ETA?” hook that forms part of the chorus. All of this brought a nice level of excitement to the song. One of the issues with ETA is that repetitive nature of the instrumental. While I usually don’t have much of an issue with repetition (which NewJeans and their producers employ a lot in their songs), I did feel like the repeated brassy-like synth was a bit much for me. I already didn’t enjoy as much in the first instance, and having it on repeat for majority of ETA doesn’t really help much. It stole the attention away from the vocals and clashed with the rest of the song by being overly prominent. Also, I didn’t remember that much from the verses and wanted more from them. Those were the big sticking points of ETA for me, but the rest of ETA falls into the nice and pleasant category.

This entire video was a product placement for the iPhone 14. I don’t think it was necessary to have the members hold a mobile throughout the entire video, as this just felt so forced and made for a distraction from the storyline, which I felt was the main star of the video. On that front, however, I am impressed. The video features a dark twist, in an otherwise vibrant video. The NewJeans members call up their friend after noticing her boyfriend was getting friendly with another girl at a party. The NewJeans members proceed to keep tabs on the boyfriend and his new friend, while their friend beelines to where the group is. A lot of emotions is felt by the friend, who surprises the boyfriend and his new girl by hitting them on the road. At first, it was a no fatality/injury crash with the boyfriend and his new girl on the car bonnet. But I guess her anger sees her drive over the pair off-screen, with the guy (and presumably his new girl) stuffed into the boot of the car as she drives to an isolated place to get rid of the evidence of their murders (as alluded to by part of the boyfriend’s shirt sticking out from the boot).

The performance for ETA is both familiar and refreshing. It felt very much like NewJeans’ style in terms of formation and execution, but it is also felt summery and vibrant. The members members felt like they had a more relaxed demeanour/mindset to the performance, and the appeared to look like they were having genuine fun on stage.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 8.5/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.1/10

[Review] Cool With You – NewJeans

July 20, 2023Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged NewJeans2 Comments

As mentioned in last week’s review for Super Shy, NewJeans will be making their official comeback this week. The group has earmarked Friday as the official release of their second mini-album Get Up and a third lead single for said album. But earlier today, NewJeans have unveiled their second lead single from the mini-album, Cool With You. As part of the teasers leading up to the release, ADOR announced that two global stars would be featuring in the music video for Cool With You. Continue reading to find out who featured in this music video!

Just as simple as Cool With You is, my thoughts about the song is just as simple. This could either be a good or a bad thing, but I am not speechless over the song because I am amazed by it. Instead, I find that I more so lack words to describe Cool With You as I found to be an empty vessel and boring. There are some things to appreciate in Cool With You, such as the more mature sound profile that the group brings to the KPOP landscape (a complete change to Super Shy), the instrumental’s chill and atmospheric vibe to it, and the nicely soft and flowy vocals. But somehow when these elements come together, Cool With You doesn’t come off as memorable piece. It also didn’t help that the song was very quick to end, lasting less than 2.5 minutes. Instead, I find myself skipping through the song, particularly when I watching the music video as there isn’t much within Cool With You to focus on. The song does have one primary hook – the repetition of the title with the elongated “Cool“. But as we get to the end of the song, I felt like I heard the primary hook one too many times. Overall, I think Cool With You is a miss and a disappointment following the likes of Super Shy. Hopefully, tomorrow’s release of ETA is more promising.

As mentioned above, two global stars feature in the music video Cool With You. Furthermore, there are two versions of the music video! In the Side A version of the video, Jung Ho Yeon (who rose to fame in Squid Game) features as the main character. She plays the role of a ghost who becomes infatuated over a guy she sees in the art gallery. I am not entirely sure what happens exactly, but I think her character becomes tired of being unseen and her embracing the rain at the end of the video is her way of wanting to be seen and interact with the world around her. NewJeans, for some reason (maybe it is because they are angels), are the only people to notice her (which Jung Ho Yeon’s chraacter is aware of). In Side B of the music video, we are treated to choreography scenes with NewJeans (it looks artistic, but I don’t think I can say much else towards the choreography aspect of this comeback – hence no choreography section of this review) and Jung Ho Yeon is granted the chance to be seen and interact with the world (I assume NewJeans granted her wish, given they are angels). The first thing she does is become friends with the guy she was infatuated with. However, that opportunity is cut short when she disappears once again from the world (and her guy friend forgets about her) following the appearance of Tony Leung (who is the second global star to appear in the videos). Again, not entirely sure what his role is, but he has the ability to revert Jung Ho Yeon’s wish. At the end of Side B, we hear a bit of Get Up (the single) and Jung Ho Yeon sees NewJeans. But she smiles as she turns around, which might represent a subtle thank you to NewJeans for granting her wish. I personally would love to read alternative theories, as I am sure there are a few flying about at the moment.

Song – 6/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 7.2/10

[Review] ISTJ – NCT DREAM

July 18, 2023Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged NCT, NCT DREAM5 Comments

Making their explosive comeback yesterday was NCT DREAM, who returns with their 3rd studio album ISTJ. This new album is lead by the title track of the same name as the album and the pre-release single Broken Melodies released a couple of weeks back. As mentioned in the pre-releases’ review, a fair bit has kept the subunit busy since their last Korean comeback with Candy, such as releasing their 1st original Japanese single Best Friend Ever (still yet to be reviewed) and the continuation of their first world tour.

I could potentially see ISTJ rivalling the likes of BOOM (which has grown and remained my pick for most favourite NCT DREAM track ever) had it not flip back and forth between melodic vocals and intense raps/hip-hop moments. I wished the sections were more cohesive and blended into one another, rather than be fragments (which is more or less the trend nowadays particularly with NCT to fit in multiple styles into one song). Such an example is the calmer and ‘introverted’ vocal focused pre-choruses. I personally felt this was too much of a slowdown and it really cut the amazing flow the verses/choruses had going on. That being said, however, ISTJ still manages to pack a massive punch in one way or another. The start of ISTJ‘s verses really kicks the song into gear, especially the starting combination of Mark and Jaemin’s rapping, and the instantaneous fast pace instrumentation that literally launchpads right into the song. As for the choruses, they can be described as ‘extroverted’ sections of the song. The choruses are very much the concentrated moments of intensity that makes ISTJ super memorable, with the rap-singing in first part, followed up by some powerful vocals from the vocalists and finally the ‘Let’s Get Down‘ refrain at the end of each chorus. The bridge mixes in a dreamy-like sequence that doesn’t really fit into the bigger picture of ISTJ, especially with the choruses serving as bookends on either side of the bridge. it does raise the same issue about cutting the flow of the song and needing to be more cohesive with the rest of the song. But I thought it was an impressive display of vocals from the entire vocal line, the rapping was a lot more soothing to a degree and I appreciated the dreamier instrumentation that accompanied it. In other words, I appreciated the blissful moment that was the bridge amongst the high-energy packed choruses. Overall, ISTJ is a strong track and it does work in terms of appeal. However, I wished the issues I touched on were improved upon to make ISTJ a better listening experience.

I am not entirely sure what is going on in this video. Supposedly, the lyrics depicts an ENFP type person trying to understand an ISTJ type person in their own way, thus breaking the stereotypes of the MBTI indicator personalities. And I think we see that in some capacity in the video, with the group hanging around ISTJ people, being conditioned to become ISTJ types after kidnapping a doctor, trying to teach themselves of the trait etc. But based on the scene in which the members are walking around the maze (which is later shown to be the brain), not all the members are ENFP types. Personality aside, the video had some really cool styling and sets, and I liked how the lighting made things chaotic and erratic during the more intense moments of the song.

With the calmer and more intense parts of the song, there is a good mix of moves to represent either side of the song. My favourite has to be the more intense parts, simply because NCT DREAM really thrives in these moments. And the synchronisation and execution are on point! I particularly enjoyed Renjun’s solo moves in the final chorus, which appear to be moonwalk-like.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 7.5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.9/10

[Album Review] Truth or Lie (1st Mini Album) – HWANG MINHYUN

July 16, 2023Posted in KPOPTagged HWANG MINHYUNLeave a comment

Today’s album review focuses on Truth or Lie, HWANG MINHYUN’s first solo mini-album since his debut as part of NU’EST 11 years ago. Leading the charge on this min-album is the single Hidden Side, and it stands alongside 5 other side tracks. The mini-album is a mixed bag for me. We have one half of the mini-album that features the more mediocre songs, while the other half features smashing songs. To me, you have a better chance of telling which half is which, rather than what is the truth or the lie. Continue reading the review to find out which half is which!

1. Honest – Honest opens up the mini-album with a balladry number. The instrumental predominately features piano, but we do get some soft guitar work in the mix as well. Together, it creates a calming piece. As with most ballads, there is a nice flowy momentum brought to life by MINHYUN’s vocals. However, it would have been nice for the song to be more memorable in some way (such as, via a more soothing melody) as a way to bring the audience back to the song after Honest finishes. (7/10)

2. Hidden Side (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Hidden Side. (7//10)

3. Crossword – Crossword is a more unique track, with its drum percussion and jazzy tinged guitar work. This combination makes the track feel upbeat and it helps make it stand out for me. I did like MINHYUN’s breathier vocals, however, I wished there was a more riveting melody and hook to the acoustically upbeat song. (7.5/10)

4. Perfect Type – Vocally, Perfect Type fairs much better than the side-tracks before it. MINHYUN brings his breathy vocals back into play in this song, but also combine it with falsettos and oomph (which allows it to go along way). This enables a sensual energy to come through. The rapping and speak-sing portions of the song were also cool moments in the song. The instrumental has a subtle groove to it and a fun retro vibe. (9/10)

5. Smile – We remain in upbeat territory with Smile, but it feels a lot more loaded with the brass elements and thumping beat combination that we can hear in the background. The strings gave the song an elegant touch. Everything altogether makes the entire instrumental package feels grand. MINHYUN’s vocals are a lot more vibrant (which makes sense, given the song’s title is Smile) and has more character, which does wonder for appeal. I do feel like the instrumental does drown out the vocals a bit, but not to the extent where it hurts the song. (9/10)

6. CUBE – CUBE begins in R&B territory. But as we get to the first chorus, the track unexpectedly reverts to epic synths that really wakes you up. From there, the song maintains the momentum. But despite all of that, CUBE sees MINHYUN maintains a R&B vocal approach. His vocals, again, have character and we also hear him draw on his breathy tones and falsettos in this track. The way song eases out at the end allows CUBE to serve as a strong and bold ender to the album. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.1/10

[Review] Small Talk – Kim Sung Kyu (INFINITE)

July 15, 2023Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged INFINITE, Kim Sung Kyu (Infinite)2 Comments

The countdown to INFINITE’s long awaited comeback is officially underway. But prior to the group’s comeback, INFINITE’s leader (Kim Sung Kyu) has managed to slide in a solo comeback with his latest single Small Talk and his fifth mini-album, 2023 S/S Collection. Last week, Kim Sung Kyu and Small Talk topped my Weekly KPOP Chart for the 1st Week of July 2023. And in that post, I promised to review Small Talk during the week – so, here we are! We last heard from Kim Sung Kyu through his Savior comeback from mid-2022.

If I am being honest, I personally do not have much to say about Small Talk. This shouldn’t be taken as a criticism, however. To me, Small Talk is straight forward song with some groovy and fun appeal. The mid-tempo upbeat nature of Small Talk does make it stand out in Kim Sung Kyu’s discography, given that Kim Sung Kyu hasn’t really venture down the more upbeat nature of music with his solo work. Even though this is new territory for himself, Kim Sung Kyu does keep true to his roots in Small Talk by having band instrumentation make up the entirety of the song’s background. The guitar work was charming and made the song likeable. I particularly really enjoyed how they were utilised in the instrumental break, bringing a funkier groove to the song and consolidating the already mentioned funky and fun appeal that the song had consistently going on. Small Talk also serves as a nice refresher for Kim Sung Kyu’s vocals, as it has been a while since we heard from the artist. And the melodies and hooks in Small Talk were catchy and had a nice ring to them. Overall, Small Talk is a really nice yet different addition to his solo repertoire. And given how it is lined up right before INFINITE’s comeback, it serves as a nice way to ease back into my Inspirit (INFINITE’s fanclub name) mindset.

The music video sees Kim Sung Kyu’s desire to communicate with the people around him (even if it is just some small talk), despite being in a society where people are more isolated due to technology, social norms and the active decision to not participate in conversations (me, every time I find myself in some sort of training at work). The video captures all of this in a slight comedic manner, with the people around Kim Sung Kyu refusing to acknowledge him even as he is pushed around or as he has a breakdown (i.e. the train scenes), actively seeking ways to avoid communicating with him (i.e. the office scenes), or just decide to film him whilst he is doing something wild (i.e. him sitting on an utility pole, and everyone just filming him instead of trying to get him down or talk him out of the dangerous stunt). At one point, someone does listen to him, but ends up bleeding from the ear. Yikes! Apart from the concept, the video features a nice pastel brightness that fits in with the song and a small amount of choreography that adds a bit of more fun to the video (but not enough to warrant a separate section for this review).

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

[Review] Super Shy – NewJeans

July 14, 2023Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged NewJeans9 Comments

Ahead of their upcoming comeback next Friday, NewJeans made their return with their pre-release single Super Shy last week. Since its release, the song has risen to the top of the charts, proving once again NewJeans’ power and popularity in the industry. We last heard from NewJeans through their very successful Ditto/OMG comeback at the very end and start of this year.

Whoever is choosing the songs for NewJeans’ comebacks is doing a fantastic job. Their releases thus far have been top notch, consistent and super catchy. And Super Shy is no different to the small yet impactful discography that NewJeans boasts thus far. Super Shy‘s instrumental is just like the song title and lyrics – super shy. For the most part, the song features atmospheric synths that can just be barely heard and staccato drumming that feels quite prominent and brings good rhythm to the song. Both the synths and drumming weren’t bold or spontaneous, but rather they stay in their lane and is quite consistent. Towards the end of the short song. Super Shy bring in a light sprinkling of electronic synths that gives the song a very subtle funky/groovy undertone, which keeps the song from feeling too consistent for its 2.5 minute run. The members adopt a very consistent lighter and innocent sounding tone in Super Shy that gives off the impression of the members being shy, which reflects well with the title and lyrics of the song (which is about finding the courage to confess to a first love). The combination of this lighter and more innocent sound from the members also brings a very appreciative level of brightness to the song that just fits super well into that summery vibe the industry is going through at the moment. And it helps that Super Shy has super easy and enjoyable melodies to tie everything up together with. Overall, a strong pre-release that promises great things for the actual title tracks (yes, double title track situation once again) that will be released in a weeks time.

The music video for Super Shy was quite bright and vibrant, in terms of both energy and visuals. Both regards suits the song quite well. The idea of flashmobs feels refreshing (however, it isn’t the first time we see a music video use flashmobs in KPOP) and the place in which they shot the music video feels lively. It is my understanding, from the Wikipedia article, that the video was shot in Lisborn, Portugal. I also like how the world is still going around them.

The choreography was quite cool and was an interesting watch. There were moments in the song where there wasn’t a prominent beat, and to see the members still pull off choreography during these moments was quite the aesthetic. The up-tempo and speed of the choreography makes it a difficult routine, particularly during those non-beat moments. Definitely a worthwhile performance to watch.

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

[Review] In Bloom – ZEROBASEONE

July 11, 2023Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged ZEROBASEONE2 Comments

Officially making their debut yesterday was ZEROBASEONE, the new male group formed via the Boys Planet survival show that aired earlier this year. The final lineup of the group consist of Kim Ji-woong, Zhang Hao, Sung Han-bin, Seok Matthew, Kim Tae-rae, Ricky, Kim Gyu-vin, Park Gun-wook and Han Yu-jin. It has also been confirmed that the group will be active for 2.5 years. But for now, let’s focus on their debut with In Bloom and their first mini-album, Youth In The Shade. ZEROBASEONE is already setting records with this first mini-album, which earns the group the title of million-album seller already within one day of its release and sets a new record for the most pre-ordered and sold debut album in Korea.

In Bloom is a pleasant dance track to debut with. And for the most part, I think it is a strong effort from the group. The instrumental for In Bloom earns a big tick of approval from me. The recognisable and iconic synth line of Take On Me by a-ha adds such a bright pop to the song, while the beat and other instrumentation of In Bloom mordernises the song towards the 2020s trends It also enables a fast paced atmosphere that in turns allows for an upbeat choreography (more on this in the last part of the review). Altogether, In Bloom feels quite fresh (even though the song does feel safe) and is quite vibrant without doing too much. It helps that the vocals and melodies keeps the song from going overboard, with the aforementioned pleasant side of In Bloom coming through these elements. The members do infuse a youthfulness to the song and I do like the flow of both vocals and rapping. This creates an harmonious approach with the instrumentation, which in turn gives off that bright and energetic atmosphere that I found to be enjoyable. I did think more could have been done to make the song more memorable and potentially punchy like the song it pays homage to, such as stronger hooks and melodies that really stay with you after the song finishes. At the moment, In Bloom doesn’t really pull me back in via this department when the song ends. And as already mentioned, there is also a relatively feeling of safeness to In Bloom which I cannot seem to shake despite the couple of listens I have given the song so far. But as a debut track, I think the new group has done a great job as putting In Bloom as a foot forward into the industry, which they will undoubtedly soar in.

For the music video, I quite enjoyed their concept. The song is about the group’s “determination to sprint toward “you” as they take their first meaningful step toward an inevitable end”, and I quite liked how the producers introduced a gaming concept to bring that to life. The members are searching for flowers individually that are required for them to progress onto the next stage of the game. We see the members work together to clear the first stage, while the second stage is a bit harder given they have to work alone. In the end. all the members arrive at the final door, completing the second stage of the game. There was also a brief moment in which the members “left the game”. Not sure what the significance of this part of the video is, but I guess it could be that the members had the option to explore a different world, but chose to go back towards that “inevitable end” with “you”. Overall, a well concepted video that works nicely with the pleasant side of the song.

As for the choreography, it feels energetic and youthful – all of which suits ZEROBASEONE at this stage of their careers. The group has good chemistry with one another and there was a vibrant element to the choreography that made it enjoyable to watch.

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

[Review] Cream Soda – EXO

July 10, 2023Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged EXO10 Comments

After two pre-releases over the last month (Let Me In and Hear Me Out – the latter I have yet to review) and a bit of uncertainty with EXO long awaited comeback due EXO-CBX’s threat of withdrawal from SM Entertainment (which has since been resolved), we have finally arrived at the release day EXO’s 7th studio album, EXIST. The title track off the album is Cream Soda, which music video also drops today with the rest of the album. While this is the group’s first comeback in two years (their last being Don’t Fight The Feeling), it does not feature KAI and LAY, who are sitting out of the comeback due to military enlistment and solo promotions in Japan respectively. KAI’s vocals, however, is featured on the album and the pre-releases’ music videos.

Cream Soda revisits the sensual and mature sound profile with this dance pop track, a sound profile which the group previously visited most infamously in Love Shot. However, while the former song really went for the some very concentrated sensual energy, Cream Soda‘s dance pop side gives the newer song some bounce and liveliness. This helps give an upbeat and refreshing tinge that feels right for EXO’s trajectory given their vast repertoire of past releases, and also keeps the group’s new song trendy and relevant. The brass and drum beats gives Cream Soda fanfare and some intensity (which in turn allows for some strong choreography – more on this later). Cream Soda is also described to have an exotic rhythm, which I can totally hear and this adds to that refreshing vibe. The vocals are amazing and showstopping in this comeback, with the members slipping into falsettos effortlessly for the chorus. The rapping was punchy as it is presented to us, with Chanyeol and Sehun giving as a dynamic and energy-packed rap sequence which goes super well with the verses’ instrumentation. The melodies and hooks in Cream Soda are slowly catching on, and I can definitely see Cream Soda growing on me in the near future (if it has not reached its max appeal yet). Overall, both Cream Soda and EXO served and delivered in this long-awaited comeback.

I found Cream Soda‘s music video quite good and alluring to watch. I liked the moody lighting, which goes well with the sensual lyrics and meaning behind the song. The members gave off a luxurious vibe for their dinner party, even though they ended up trashing the place. Elsewhere in the video, the members looked super good and amazing. Out of all the members, D.O stole my attention in this comeback. The more concrete looking dance set was super cool and minimalist, though the choreography set with the building front as the background felt like it has been done one too many times. It reminded me of the background of their 2023 Love Shot performance at the SMCU Palace show and brought nothing new to the table for EXO. I liked that the video still acknowledged KAI with a name card at the table. But I didn’t notice anything for LAY, which was odd. I know he left SM Entertainment, but he still an EXO member at the end of the day and deserves to be acknowledged in some form.

It doesn’t feel right that KAI is missing from this choreography. This routine would have been within his wheelhouse. But the remaining seven members did a really good job. The music video, which is what I am basing the choreography aspect of this review on, fails to really highlight a key move in my opinion, which disappoints me a bit. However, I liked the subtle sensual moves in the routine, and that there were moments where the members did reflect the intensity in the relevant sections to give off a strong performance.

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

[Album Review] BE AWAKE (8th Mini Album) – THE BOYZ

July 9, 2023Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged THE BOYZLeave a comment

The next album to be reviewed on the blog is THE BOYZ’s BE AWAKE, the group’s 8th mini-album, which was released back in February of this year. The mini-album features the title track ROAR and five additional side tracks. This comeback is the first comeback from the group since BE AWARE / WHISPER in 2022 and also marks the return of Eric, who had taken a hiatus due to health reasons in early 2022.

If there was one aspect that was showcased in most (if not all) songs on BE AWAKE, it was THE BOYZ’s vocals and rapping. I particularly enjoyed their deep and raspy vocal tones featured in the first half of the mini-album, and how well fitted (and sometimes unexpectedly good) the rap sequences were on this mini-album. This consistent showcase of the members really helped make BE AWAKE a captivating mini-album and is a definite improvement from BE AWARE (which got a fair reaction from me). Check out the mini-album below to see if you agree with me (and my overall rating of the mini-album)!

1. Awake – Kevin’s narration at the start, the group’s vocals and rapping were bone-chilling and so riveting to listen to. The R&B and EDM instrumentation for Awake came together to create a paced and sensual atmosphere, with the members really showing the latter through their deep and raspy tones. The song also features elements from the title track, which makes it an ideal track to kick off the mini-album and lead into the title track that follows. (9/10)

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

3. Blah Blah – Blah Blah changes up the mini-album, diverting to a brighter territory (compared to the opening and title track). The producers of Blah Blah do maintain the deep tones from the earlier in the songs, allowing the track to still fit into the mini-album. But they offset this with some subtle groove in its melodies and hooks. However, I did think there was room for Blah Blah to do a bit more on these fronts, just to make the track more appealing. That being said, though, Blah Blah’s central piece was smooth and velvety to listen to. (8/10)

4. Savior – The 4-minute track on this album has a lot of great moments/elements. Some of my favourite include the hard-hitting and dynamic rap that changes up Savior out of nowhere; the groovy EDM that without a doubt enables THE BOYZ to show off some create choreography; and the sensual energy from the R&B motif at the start of the song, showcasing the members’ vocals. Savior pulled me back a few times when the mini-album was released, and it continues to do so months after its release. Definitely a sign of a great song. (10/10)

5. Horizon (숨) – Horizon is the BE AWAKE’s answer to a ballad piece. The instrumentation is made up of a range of balladry regulars, such as acoustic guitar, piano and orchestral strings. I liked that the track builds as it progresses, ending with some dramatic drumming. This helps makes the ballad more riveting, yet also maintaining a peaceful exterior. In addition to that, the vocals and rapping in the track are so captivating to listen to. A strong ballad, overall. (8/10)

6. Diamond Life – Ending the mini-album is Diamond Life, which has a lot more crunch thanks to its electronic synths. I vividly remember when I first checked out the album months ago, this track caught me off guard (more so scared me) as it a dynamic and bolder track following on from a calm and peaceful ballad. There are catchy bits in the song, and the vocals and rapping were solid works from the group. I would have liked Diamond Life to have a bit more of a zing to it, just to close out the mini-album on a lesser consistent note (as the song does feel a bit repetitive after listening to it a couple of times. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.4/10

[Review] HWEEK – TEEN TOP

July 7, 2023Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Teen TopLeave a comment

TEEN TOP is one of the growing number of second generation KPOP groups that have recently announced their return to the KPOP scene for the first time in years. And earlier this week, TEEN TOP officially returned with the single HWEEK and their 7th single album 4SHO. Since their last comeback in 2020 with the 2020 version of their hit single To You, the group went on hiatus due to the member’s military enlistment requirements. All the members have since returned from the military, but leader C.A.P departed from the group earlier this year following some controversy. As a result for this HWEEK and 4SHO comeback, the group reformed into a four member male group.

My thoughts on HWEEK are my actual initial thoughts of the song, as I have only gotten around to listening to the song for the first time today (it has been a busy week back at work, so I hadn’t had a chance to listen to new releases in the background). But I can already tell you just after one listen that HWEEK garners a positive review in my mind. What I really like about HWEEK right off the bat was its fun, lively, foot-tapping energy that I can definitely see being super infectious and catching on (if it hasn’t already). Based on the group’s more recent outputs in the late 2010s, I kind of expected a darker and more mature sound from the group. But HWEEK‘s brighter and upbeat appeal was much appreciated, given the summery season Korea is now in (and my yearning for such weather). The retro vibe of the rock instrumentation is quite refreshing take on both the rock and retro genres in KPOP, and I like how consistently upbeat and energetic the instrumentation was. I also liked the shorty snappy lines and melodies of the chorus, which helps build on the catchiness of HWEEK. They also made it easy to get into the song. I found the pre-choruses, handled by Changjo, to be an intriguing part of the song (but in a good way). It infuses a bit of a hip-hop vibe to the song, which changes up the momentum and direction of HWEEK momentarily. But it doesn’t feel too out there and works. The members did a solid job in the track with their vocals, as well. Overall, I think it is needlessly to say that I found HWEEK a very likeable song with strong potential to grow on me over the coming weeks.

The music video was alright. The video nails embracing the summery and upbeat vibes of the song, particularly when it came to the outdoor scenes (i.e. the beach and the road trip). I also liked the energy the members brought to the video. However, when it came to the use of the green screen, I wished the editors/post-production team made the background felt a bit more natural. The use of the green screen cheapens the video in my opinion, especially when it came to focusing on their footwork in the video.

The choreography was indeed a fun aspect of the comeback. I liked how there was a slight bounce to the routine and that it felt lighthearted, and not as intense as their usual choreography. This allows the members and dancers to bring a likeable level of energy to the performance. Their consistent live vocals made it enjoyable to watch, as well. I also liked how they threw in a Rocking dance reference to the end of the choreography. Obviously not as intense as the usual Rocking choreography, but a nice homage to one of their iconic dance routines.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.2/10

[Special] Personal Favourite Songs from the 1st Half of 2023 & more

July 6, 2023September 23, 2023Posted in JPOP, KPOP, Western POPTagged Amber (F(x)), APINK, cignature, Dreamcatcher, iKon, IVE, KANG DANIEL, MONSTA X, NMIXX, STAYC, Stray Kids1 Comment

As already mentioned prior to my break, one of the first posts after posting the outstanding Weekly KPOP Charts will be the annual ‘Personal Favourite’ post. Each year, to help round out the first half of the year, I post a list of my personal favourite songs from the 1st half of the year in July of each year. As we are now in July 2023, it is time to post my personal favourite songs from the 1st half of 2023 (with a few extra tidbits).

For this year’s post, I am following what I did last year, as I quite liked how that turned out. This means in addition to the usual list of 10 songs (which are in no particular order and not related to my reviews as songs do grow immensely on me) for the first half of 2023, I will also be posting two songs from the November – December 2022 period. And I will be posting 3 non-Korean songs (i.e. English, Japanese etc.) by Korean artists that caught my attention so far this year. So without further delays, here are the list of my personal favourite songs of the year thus far (in no particular order, of course).

From November – December 2022

Personal favourite non-Korean songs of 2023 thus far

Personal favourite KPOP songs of the year so far (January – June 2023)

[Review] HARD – SHINee

July 5, 2023Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged SHINee3 Comments

Here I am with my first review since returning from my week off. You know I have to start with the biggest comeback from last week – SHINee’s grand return to the KPOP scene with their 8th studio album and title track, both titled HARD. The group previously pre-released The Feeling a few weeks back, raising the excitement for this comeback. HARD also celebrates the group’s 15th anniversary since their debut back in 2008 with Replay, one of the most iconic and legendary KPOP debut songs that have stood the test of time. Unfortunately, only three members (Key, Minho & Taemin) promoted the comeback on stage, with Onew sitting out due to health issues.

My first impression of HARD was that it felt too hip-hop oriented for SHINee. It actually sounded more like a NCT release than a SHINee release, and I wasn’t exactly sure what I honestly thought about that. But as usual, the power of multiple listens since its release has helped HARD grow on for me. I still don’t see the SHINee influence, but I find HARD to be strongly executed (as one expects when it comes to a SHINee comeback) and its production and energy to be one of the strongest points of the track. I really liked how ‘hard’ the track ended up going in the hip-hop direction, especially when it came to the choruses. The choruses kick off with an anti-drop and whispery vocal approach, which help builds anticipation to the second half, which is where the energy peaks and HARD feels very hype, 90s and punchy. There is also a catchy appeal to the chorus here. KEY’s take on the whispery half of the chorus was the best version in the song, while Minho’s execution of the second half during the second run at the central piece was my standout. As for the verses, they were not as memorable. They contain a bit of the hip-hop influence in its backing, with the first verse pairing it off with piano flourishes and the second verse doesn’t do too much else than electronic elements. The piano flourishes gives HARD a trendy dynamic and allows the song to dip into a melodic mode for the pre-choruses and bridge. Vocally, the group doesn’t miss a beat and delivery another strong track. Unsurprisingly, they do branch out into a rap-like territory, which allows them to fit more neatly into the hip-hop driven HARD. While this hip-hop side of SHINee is a bit foreign to me still, HARD has grown immensely on me.

As for the music video, I felt like the video had that SHINee artistic flair, which fits it neatly into the SHINee videography. The sets look quite cool, such as the twisty piano keys structure and the broken/smashed piano set. The stylists did an amazing job with their outfits for this comeback. It had a modern flair, but felt very appropriate for the 90s hip-hop music influence. It is also nice to see ONEW make an appearance in the video alongside the other three members, albeit not as much in the choreography side of the video. I do hope he is doing okay.

A strong performance rounds out this comeback. They really embraced the hip-hop influence of the song in the choreography. I really liked the routine for the choruses, starting off with small and softer movements to fit with the whispery vocal approach and then stepping it up with a bouncy on-the-spot bop in the second half where the music was livelier and hype-like.

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