Category: Reviews

[Review] singasong – V8 (SEVENTEEN)

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SEVENTEEN is at the point in their careers where some members need to enlist in the military. So the number of members currently actively promoting is dwindling, making it hard to promote as a group. Thus, SEVENTEEN have been focusing on unit activities more recently. SEVENTEEN have successfully launched BSS (which is now inactive, given HOSHI has enlisted), JxW (made up of JEONGHAN and WONWOO, also currently inactive), HxW (HOSHI and WOOZI, also inactive), CxM (S.COUPS and MINGYU) and DxS (DK and SEUNGKWAN). Yesterday, SEVENTEEN debuted their latest unit, V8 (VERNON and THE8), with the single singasong and their eponymous mini-album, V8.

singasong delves into electronic and hyperpop. I thought it was a pretty decent track and enjoyed it on my first listen yesterday. singasong had a catchy and very hummable hook and a fun video game vibe from its background to remember it by. I also feel like there was enough of a club beat to give singasong some much-appreciated oomph. But the new song isn’t perfect – singasong is repetitive, which places it in a neutral state of flow. I also wish VERNON and THE8’s vocals were not as low-key as they were. It was an interesting choice, and I do realise that they played to their strengths by keeping themselves low-key and processing their vocals the way they have. But the song needed some variety, and the pair are overpowered by the background many times throughout the song. But overall, I think the stronger aspects of singasong help overcome the weaker aspects, which is why I enjoyed the song nonetheless.

The music video sees VERNON and THE8 being carefree and hanging out with their peers and each other. This reflects well with the lyrics, which are about ‘charging forward without hesitation, embodying the spirit of youth breaking free from rules and limitations’. From the start, we see the pair break away from the idea of Korean music at that club and the karaoke set. Things get wild and unexpected from there, with the pair embracing it all to represent the lyrics visually.

Shuffling is back! Personally, to me, this dance style feels rather dated, given that it was big whilst I was growing up. But certain trends will re-emerge (for better or worse – shuffling has already made a few comebacks since then), and I can see V8 bringing it back again by simply promoting this routine. Their movements across the stage, whilst shuffling, made the routine look very cool.

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

[Review] BAD – ATEEZ

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It has only been a couple of months since Adrenaline and ATEEZ’s 13th mini album, Golden Hour: Part 4. But yesterday, ATEEZ returned with the next instalment of their Golden Hour series (Part 5) and its lead single, BAD.

BAD incorporates Brazilian Funk to infuse some fun and to pull in current trends into ATEEZ’s discography. After all, it is summer, and such energy (when done right) can make the song feel synonymous with the hot season. The start is ear-catching thanks to the Brazilian Funk. But the song then barely barely moves on from its beginning, keeping BAD‘s instrumental similar throughout its verses and choruses. As a result, BAD feels empty and dull. BAD only steps it up in the final chorus, adding more bass to make the ending feel more pronounced. While appreciated, it is too late in the song to spark much excitement. As for the chorus, the monotonous repetition of the song’s title only adds to BAD‘s dullness. There have been times where the delivery works, but with BAD‘s already empty feeling, the monotone and repetition didn’t help as much. The members’ delivery was good, overall. Their rapping was decent, and the vocal moments, when they finally appeared in the bridge, had potential. Again, it was a pity we had to wait that long to get to something appealing.

Unlike the song, I enjoyed the music video. It sees the members confront their lover, who appears to have played multiple people (including the ATEEZ members) in the past, making them fall in love with her. Her finger is full of wedding rings, and we see some members on dates with her, while other members catch on or discover her scheme. Later on, she uses her charm on other people to hypnotise them into helping defend her, rivalling the members in the courtroom. We see a great montage of everyone (including the accused lover herself) performing ATEEZ’s choreography, before walking out of the courtroom with a ‘not guilty’ verdict. But in an unexpected twist, an epilogue video uploaded after the music video dropped, shows WOOYOUNG succumbing to the hypnosis, just like everyone else who defended the accused lover. Assuming Part 5 follows the same promotional agenda as their past releases, we might get treated to a second music video for a follow-up single from the mini-album to connect to the broader Golden Hour lore.

The choreography for this comeback is on par with their other routines. There is definitely a sensual vibe in the routine, especially the chest pops at the end. There is also a subtle, powerful quality that works well with ATEEZ’s alluring performance style and makes the routine even better.

Song – 6/10
Music Video – 8.5/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 7.4/10

[Review] RUN IT – Stray Kids

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In a flurry of announcements earlier this week, Stray Kids confirmed that their upcoming comeback will be in August with their 10th mini album, THIS & THAT, a new pre-release single RUN IT would be unveiled later in the week (today) and plans for a world tour that shares the same name as the mini album and starts in July. Today, I will be reviewing RUN IT, their first major release since Do It and DIVINE from the end of last year.

RUN IT sees Stray Kids focus less on the electronic sound that they have been promoting over the past couple of releases and focus more on the anthemic and melodic side of music. This anthemic side felt as if Stray Kids were rallying the troops for their next release, which is a different way of hyping up the crowd for the upcoming release. The brass elements and militaristic percussion style really complement this idea as well. The chanty aspects of the chorus pull everyone together to be as one, fitting for the ongoing World Cup. RUN IT also features a more prevalent focus on vocals. Whilst very nice sounding (FELIX and LEE KNOW’s bridge moment, as an example), I will admit that some of the vocals do feel overly soft for the broader feel of RUN IT, which holds the track back and softens the powerful potential of the track. RUN IT really feels strongest during those anthemic chants and through HAN and CHANGBIN’s rapping at the end. I really appreciate the oomph that the rappers give in the song’s final moment, and their transition from one another was quite seamless.

RUN IT appears to build on the traditional concept that DIVINE‘s music video flourished with and combines it with an army-building concept (going back to the idea of ‘rallying the troops’). The black-and-white contrast of their outfits and the dancers’ outfits probably represents differences between people, and it’s through Stray Kids’ confidence and leadership that brings everyone together as one, per the ending of the video. I also enjoyed the artistic side of the music video, which brings out a whole different vibe and pace from their usual style and concept.

Like all of their choreography, Stray Kids impresses with this one. On this occasion, they really embraced a powerful and intense side to showcase their confidence and drive that they express in RUN IT‘s lyrics. I do wonder how they will bring everything together on stage, but I am definitely hoping for each member to have a solo moment as shown in the music video. That is most likely enabled by how the music video is set up, but that would be a cool stage concept, especially for Stray Kids. I am most excited for FELIX and LEE KNOW’s solo moments during the bridge.

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

[Review] IF I SAY, I LOVE YOU – BOYNEXTDOOR

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I deeply apologise for how long (1.5 years, if you are curious) it has taken me to review what is BOYNEXTDOOR’s biggest hit to date. In my sad excuse of a defence, I was on holiday when it was released and came back to a massive backlog of reviews – one of which was this track, which ultimately got lost in my unsuccessful attempt to catch up. Released back in January 2025, IF I SAY, I LOVE YOU ended up becoming a big hit, particularly for a male KPOP group in 2025. IF I SAY, I LOVE YOU also featured as part of BOYNEXTDOOR’s NO GENRE mini-album that was released in May 2025 (led by the single I FEEL GOOD). This review also flags the incoming album review for NO GENRE, which will be released later this month.

ICYMI – BOYNEXTDOOR most recently returned with the single VIRAL and the pre-release track ddok ddok ddok from their 1st studio album, HOME.

While IF I SAY, I LOVE YOU is an upbeat dance pop song, the song lyrics focus on the bittersweet events following a breakup and the desire to confess even though it might be too late. BOYNEXTDOOR’s tone and take on such a sensitive and vulnerable time in the song is rather playful, which is why the song is so intriguing. Even without the context of the lyrics, that playfulness and brightness from the song still transcend to the audience. Another charming point of IF I SAY, I LOVE YOU is its simple and straightforward melodies and hooks. Both elements were easy on the ears and catchy, especially the chorus. But for me, after an entire year of hearing the song, the most appealing and memorable aspect of IF I SAY, I LOVE YOU is the funky electric guitars that follow the chorus. This section alone consolidates everything I have described about the song thus far and adds a touch of vibrancy to emphasise its light-heartedness. And the members’ delivery of IF I SAY, I LOVE YOU has really cemented BOYNEXTDOOR’s sound.

My theory about the music video is that TAESAN get a second chance at confessing his love to his crush. But only after he mistakes another person for his crush and gets knocked out by a snowball. In between being knocked out and waking up from the incident, we see what life looks like without his partner, aligning with the lyrics. He becomes secluded from the world, staying at home and trying to keep himself busy. Throughout the video, he (and the members, who aren’t physically there with him – they appear to be part of his personality) is reminded of the love and memories with this crush. From there, he wakes back up in the snowfields and seizes the opportunity to confess to his crush (correctly) this time.

The performance was fittingly playful and bright to match the upbeat tone of the song. I liked the energy the members put behind both their live performance and choreography. It wasn’t enough to earn a nomination in the 2025 KPOPREVIEWED Awards, but it was still a worthwhile watch.

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

[Weekly KPOP Chart] Week 3 of June 2026

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Welcome to the latest Weekly KPOP Chart post for Week 2 of June 2026, covering 14 to 20 June 2026. Not much to update you on again, so let’s get right to the usual segments!

What else have I been listening to?

Each week, I spotlight a song not on the Weekly KPOP Charts that I’ve been listening to. This week was a SPICA-filled week, so I have to link my favourite SPICA song from their discography, Tonight.

Non-Korean Song of the Week

Each week, the top-ranked non-Korean Song on the Weekly KPOP Chart is spotlighted (as this is an area I haven’t been focusing on as much on my blog lately). The non-Korean song from the past week is JACOB’s (from THE BOYZ) SLOW DANCING.

The Chart

ONF’s Open The Door claimed the top spot on the charts this past week. Congratulations to ONF!

Pos.TitleArtistStatus
1Open The DoorONF(NEW)
24 FlowersMAMAMOO(▼ 1)
3DDI RO RIMEOVV(RE-ENTER)
4Do Your DanceRIIZE(NEW)
5ddok ddok ddokBOYNEXTDOOR(▲ 25)
6Baby FlowertripleS(RE-ENTER)
7SuddenlyI.O.I(RE-ENTER)
8AtmosSHINee(▼ 2)
9BOOMPALALE SSERAFIM(▼ 2)
102 LOVESTAYC(NEW)
11Crowi-dle(NEW)
12TOP 5ZEROBASEONE(▲ 7)
13VIRALBOYNEXTDOOR(▼ 11)
14In Between SeasonsN.Flying(NEW)
15SLOW DANCINGJACOB (THE BOYZ)(▼ 1)
16PERMISSIONTAEMIN (SHINee)(RE-ENTER)
17LaybackJAY B (GOT7)(NEW)
18Dream With UsTWS(NEW)
19EVERLOVEPark Jinyoung (GOT7)(▲ 4)
20BUMPABIBI(RE-ENTER)
21FLY!IDID(RE-ENTER)
22WDA (Whole Different Animal)aespa ft. G-DRAGON (BIGBANG)(RE-ENTER)
23CPRB1A4(RE-ENTER)
24MmchkNEXZ(RE-ENTER)
25GirlSOYOU(RE-ENTER)
26AuroraPARK HYUN KYU(NEW)
27DON’T HOLD ITJUNGHOON(NEW)
28Run To WinDRAGON PONY(NEW)
29TNTCORTIS(RE-ENTER)
30MOYAKay Park & LNGSHOT(RE-ENTER)

[Review] DDI RO RI – MEOVV

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As promised in MEOVV’s album review for MY EYES OPEN VVIDE, here is my review for MEOVV’s latest comeback single, DDI RO RI. This song, along with their 2nd mini-album titled BITE NOW, was released at the start of the month. This release follows BURNING UP from October 2025 and is yet another MEOVV release that I have not gotten around to reviewing (but will do soon).

I am in two minds about the new track. I actually liked the idea of sampling Johann Sebastian Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. MEOVV really captured the sinister and suspenseful aspects of the classical piece well in other elements of the comeback. However, I don’t think the same can be said about its presence in DDI RO RI. Its presence at the start and throughout the song serves to attract attention. But its continued use is just lacklustre and unexciting. I thought the hip-hop-centric verses were boring. But the pre-choruses were very much the opposite, amping up the song and creating nice momentum towards DDI RO RI‘s chorus. The vocals here were really nice. Unfortunately, the chorus opts not to continue the momentum, repeating the sample in a repetitive loop and revisiting the bland hip-hop motif from the verses. As for the bridge, I liked NARIN’s vocals here, but the part felt unnecessarily rushed. It leads into the outro chant, which is my favourite part of DDI RO RI. The instrumental seems to layer the vocals over the repetitive loop of the sample and trap elements. It isn’t bad, but I wish there was a bit more hype and oomph to the outro. A lot of DDI RO RI was missing sparks to do the Toccata and Fugue in D Minor sample justice.

I am very impressed with the music video. The visuals look as if you had front row seats when they were filming the video. The ‘vampire in the attic/basement’ medieval concept goes nicely with the Toccata and Fugue in D Minor sample, which is commonly associated with Dracula. It also shows their rise from being hidden figures to the public eye quite well. There is also an unnerving side to the video that makes it quite intriguing to watch. I am mainly talking about the parts where the members appear with very plastic-looking makeup and silver hair, which definitely adds to that whole attracting attention aspect of the comeback. The same can be said about that whole montage at the end alongside the outro’s chant, where the silver hair look also makes an appearance.

On the stage, the group’s serious and charismatic visuals work really well alongside DDI RO RI. They also encapsulate those sinister and suspenseful elements from the song’s sample quite nicely to showcase their intensity and confidence in the routine.

Song – 6/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.3/10

[Review] Open The Door – ONF

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Back in February 2025, ONF made their comeback with Part 1 of their second studio album, ONF: MY IDENTITY, led by the single The Stranger. Pitching a Part 1 usually means there would be a subsequent part. But when it came to their November 2025 comeback, ONF return with a completely different sound to usual in Put It Back, and with their 9th mini-album, UNBROKEN, confusing everyone as we were expecting Part 2 of their second studio album. The sound change was due to ONF’s long-term producer, Hwang Hyun, being absent from production. But upon departing WM Entertainment earlier this year, the group has rejoined forces with Hwang Hyun under KI Entertainment to release Part 2 of ONF: My Identity and the title track Open The Door.

With ONF working with Monotree (Hwang Hyun) again, you know that they are in safe hands. And this is evident in their new song, particularly when it comes to its chorus, melodies and the familiarity of the members’ vocals. It all feels perfect for ONF and feels like a solid addition to their discography. Open The Door sees ONF bring in some rock intensity into the fold and the producers cleverly use it to their advantage to intensify parts of the track (like in the intro, outro and chorus). If I wanted anything more to Open The Door, it would to just hit it harder with the rock sound. The use of the “Door Door Door” echo as part of the instrumental in the intro and outro was quite interesting. I also enjoyed the simplicity of the “Open the Door” hook, which was quite memorable for me. The Latin in the bridge was a surprise, but served as a nice vocal interlude from all the members. And talking about vocals, we have to acknowledge the amazing outro, which literally ends with a high note from the members. Open The Door was a definite return to form for ONF, and like most ONF songs, I liked this one, as well.

The video makes perfect sense in the context of the song and its lyrics, and I also liked the encouraging messages it seeks to convey. The lyrics of Open The Door encourages listeners to ‘open the door’ and embrace the unknown beyond the door in our minds, particularly when you are in a dark place. The music video sees the members suffering from their inner demons and being confined by their own minds, before seeking to open the door to discover what sits on the other side. In the process, they escape and are able to destroy their inner demons.

The intense rock moments in Open The Door lends well for the performance, with the members able to show off with some intense choreography in the intro, pre-choruses, choruses and outro. I really liked the domino effect at the start of the routine and there are subtle door references to look out for in the routine, such as knocking and turning the door knob moves. Very relevant!

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

[Review] Do Your Dance –  RIIZE

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RIIZE kicks off the week with their new single Do Your Dance and their 2nd mini-album, II. It has been over 6 months since their last release, Fame, and over a year since their studio album Odyssey (featuring the title track Fly Up). An album review is coming up for that album, but first, my thoughts on the new single.

Unfortunately, Do Your Dance doesn’t garner a positive reaction from me. Production-wise, I think the electronic background is the song’s strongest (and only) asset. There was so much potential to it. And yet, the opportunity was not seized. Amongst the dynamic and intense synth work, you can hear the hip-hop influence throughout the song, with the instrumental break really concentrating that influence in a straight-forward manner. The buildup during the pre-chorus was amazing and created some heightened suspense that just didn’t go anywhere. Beyond Do Your Dance‘s instrumental, I don’t like the rest of the song. The lack of melodies, the monotonous and repetitive “Heads, Hips, Shoulders, Toes” chant that is intended to be the song’s primary hook yet sparks nothing, and the fact that the members are stripped of any individual character to all sound the same. There is some potential for the chorus to catch on, but the way I have described it in this review makes it looks bleak. I am honestly not sure what the producers were thinking for Do Your Dance.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, the music video for Do Your Dance looks really cool. In case you didn’t notice, here were some impressive moments from the video that I noticed: the ‘hallway’ set folded out to become the stage for the first chorus; the spinning transition between the first chorus and second verse (flawless); the wavy platform during the second verse (innovative); the lead-up to and the transition between ANTON and SOHEE between the second verse and chorus; the jump transition into the dance break and the pyrotechnic waterfall at the end (which contrasted nicely with the rest of the set and the members still standing out during this sequence).

Another thing RIIZE nailed in this comeback is the choreography. There was sharpness, intensity, synchronisation and chemistry between one another, all of which made this routine really worth checking out. Alongside the song’s disappointing chorus, I liked how the moves were paced with the chant and still somehow made sure that it remained balance with intensity. The hip-hop dance break was also awesome. Once again, RIIZE really killed it with their choreography.

Song – 5/10
Music Video – 10/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 7.5/10

[Review] IF I – TREASURE

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With each release that TREASURE puts out, I become more convinced that their company, the famous YG Entertainment, has no clue what to do with them. Their releases are consistent: they average 1-2 comebacks a year, but their sound profile changes frequently. After some strong performances exploring pop and retro-pop releases with LAST NIGHT, YELLOW, and PARADISE in 2024 and 2025, the group has made their first comeback of the year with a sound change (or reversion) with the title track, IF I, and their new mini-album, NEW WAV.

TREASURE hails from YG Entertainment, which is known in KPOP for its more hip-hop-leaning releases. And they did start off with some of that sound in their initial releases. Hence why I described this as a sound reversion. But at least the music back then had some meat to it. IF I perplexes me, however. It is very clear that the new song has mature and edgy vibes, intense production, and powerful delivery from the members throughout. But none of it lands. The production feels very generic and bland, and there isn’t a memorable aspect to the song. There isn’t much of a hook I can grab onto for the song to grow on me. IF I simply blur by with little recognition. To the point where I didn’t even get a chance to realise that the entirety of IF I was in English. Beyond that, I don’t have much else to say about the song, unfortunately.

The music video did fair a lot better than the song. I liked how IF I‘s edgy vibes translated into the music video’s visuals. The members looked cool and bold throughout the video, particularly in their styling. The monochromatic nature of the video helps build intensity and also makes it look old-school. Some of the reverse shots and the off-centring of some solo parts also make it feel modern and trendy.

Again, the members do a good job of showcasing the edgy vibes and their stage presence in IF I‘s performance. But what I remember the most from the entire performance was the penguin dance (not sure how else to call it) and the subsequent body vibration bit that occurs during the “IF I, IF I, IF I” part of the song/chorus.

Song – 6/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 6.8/10

[Review] VIRAL – BOYNEXTDOOR

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After pre-releasing ddok ddok ddok a couple of weeks ago, BOYNEXTDOOR has finally returned with their first studio album, HOME, and its title track, VIRAL. This comeback marks BOYNEXTDOOR’s first release since last October’s mini-album, The Action, and single, Hollywood Action.

At first, VIRAL didn’t register as a BOYNEXTDOOR song to me. The new song sees the members adopt a more serious, emotional tone, which is very different from their usual vibrant, energetic hip-hop sound. But as the song progresses and the members start showing more of themselves, BOYNEXTDOOR maintains their usual sound in their delivery of VIRAL, so it registers as a BOYNEXTDOOR song. Anyhow, VIRAL features ‘intense guitar work’, which brought on a cool and classy vibe. But alongside the guitar work, the beat and percussive elements of the instrumentation give VIRAL some rhythmic flair. I really liked the chorus’s smoothness (thanks to the melodies and the members’ delivery), while the synths in the chorus just prick it at the right timing. WOOHAK and JAEHYUN’s rapping in the second verse also had the right level of punch. The same can be said as VIRAL goes through its tonal shifts, allowing for more intensity and delicate moments within the song, making it more interesting and dynamic. I also appreciate that VIRAL lasts more than 3 minutes, which allows the song to shift its tone and explore itself a bit more.

The hope in VIRAL‘s lyrics is that the song they created reaches their former lover, with whom they hope to rekindle their love with. But while the song does that, we see the members go through intense moments at home, at a factory, alone in a field, and during a weather event throughout the music video. These most likely represent the tribulations they are going through without their lover, as they desire to return to their former lover for a better future. I really liked the moody tone and colour of the music video. This is just my take on the music video, however, so I am open to hearing other theories if you have them.

This performance really showcases BOYNEXTDOOR’s capabilities on stage. I liked how the routine captured the smoothness of the chorus’s opening line, the delicacy of the stripped-back moments, and the song’s more intense moments. It all created a dynamic and cool performance to watch and enjoy.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10

[Review] 4 Flowers – MAMAMOO

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Welcome back to MAMAMOO! It has been four years since MAMAMOO’s last group comeback with ILLELLA. Since then, the members have been focused on unit and extensive solo careers. But as confirmed late last year, the group will return with new music and embark on a world tour. The first of the two events occurred last week with the release of the special single album 4WARD and its title track, 4 Flowers. The second of the two events (i.e., the world tour) will start later this month.

Given we have been deprived of MAMAMOO material for the last four years, it wasn’t going to take much for me to like the new song. I did have some concerns that the release could have been similar to some of the later songs in their career, which I agree aren’t among MAMAMOO’s best tracks. But upon hearing 4 Flowers, I am reassured that the track focuses on MAMAMOO’s greatest asset – their vocals. Their vocals just elevate the track, giving it some really stunning, enjoyable melodies to sink into. I enjoyed how graceful everything sounded, and then, when it came to the bridge, the members added some punch to the song through their delivery. I also liked how they sneaked some of their powerful vocals through ad-libs, and the shared harmonies between the four members at the end brought the track to a wonderful and touching close. On the instrumental side, 4 Flowers is more of a pleasant mid-tempo pop song, with beautiful piano and classical elements, lovely guitar work and nice drumming. Altogether, MAMAMOO’s grand return after four years, through the track 4 Flowers, is a nice reflection of what MAMAMOO does best.

It is very clear from its lyrics that 4 Flowers expresses their strong bond as a group over time. With lyrics such as “Even scattered, we share the same root“, “Flowers bloom, and flowers wilt away again,” and “After parting, we love even more“, you can definitely hear and see the everlasting bond that connects them together. In the music video, we see solo shots of the members in the sterile set, feeling empty and isolated. When they come together in the group shot, as in the featured image above, and as they hand outside in nature, the set becomes less empty and the colour in their world returns. Also, with the lyrics centred on flowers, the nature scenes felt logical and natural.

I used the word graceful earlier to describe their vocals, but I feel I must extend this out to their performance as well. I liked how they included choreography to embrace the more upbeat moments of the routine while maintaining their vocal focus, which is a nice throwback to their earlier stages that always did the same.

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

[Review] Atmos – SHINee

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It has been over a year since SHINee’s last release as a group, Poet | Artist, which featured the late JONGHYUN and celebrated their 17th anniversary. Since then, the members have been busy focusing on solo careers and activities. Earlier this week, the quartet regrouped to release Atmos, the name of both their 6th mini-album and latest title track.

No matter how many times I have listened to Atmos, I have found myself getting lost in the track. It doesn’t mess around, doesn’t let up and gets right to sounding like a SHINee track. Atmos sees SHINee revisit the house sound they have explored before. However, it is refreshing thanks to its tighter, fuller arrangement and glitchier, more percussive synth work. The bass also gives it so much depth and tone. From the instrumental alone, Atmos has so much energy and momentum that it shows great promise. SHINee’s vocals bring the familiarity and nostalgia to the song. I really liked how the instrumental moulds around the vocals to create such a captivating track. The twists and turns in the pre-choruses keep Atmos interesting, while the stripped-back approach at the start of the first and second choruses was a memorable moment in the song.

The music video depicts the members, despite being in different locations, as all connected in some way. It relates well to the lyrics, which describe experiencing a “perfect love” through each of the five senses, comparing the sensation to floating in the air. Essentially, the video relates the members to the five senses, which are all interconnected. I really liked how the various images and shots were crafted together to match the fast-paced tempo of the song and glitchiness of the synths. The animation sequence and the fireworks at the end were also super cool, with the latter ending the music video in spectacular fashion.

While the group has yet to promote the track on music shows, they have already performed at their latest concert. Even after 18 years, SHINee still manages to dazzle on stage. I enjoyed the fast-paced nature of the routine and the fact that they don’t hold back. I really liked the slight movements and lean that kick off the first and second choruses, as well. Along with that moment in the song, it has become a very memorable moment of the choreography for me.

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

[Review] LEMONADE – aespa

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After briefly teasing us with their WDA (Whole Different Animal) (featuring G-DRAGON) pre-release a month ago, aespa officially dropped their second studio album and title track at the end of May. Both the album and the title track are titled Lemonade, marking their first comeback since Rich Man.

Even though LEMONADE has had the benefit of multiple listens since its release to grow on me, I just can’t get over how much it sounds like a rehash of their hit Whiplash. There are some differences between the songs, such as LEMONADE having a fuller club-beat instrumentation and a different hook to remember it by. The instrumentation feels attitude-heavy and sassy, just like the former song. I also enjoyed the drive and momentum behind the song. There is a lot of potential in LEMONADE‘s production – it just wasn’t used well. On the other hand, the song’s primary hook has become especially grating as I relistened to LEMONADE in search of something good on the track. The “I’ll make it lemonade, no way, no way, I’ve got no ETA-TA-TA” makes very little sense, and using it as the main feature of LEMONADE was a bit silly, in my opinion. But don’t fret, my search for something decent within LEMONADE did yield the bridge. I enjoyed both the vocals and the rapping in this part of LEMONADE, which was a nice relief from the intensity of the instrumental’s club beats without losing the song’s drive. It would have been better if the bridge had not been sandwiched between the choruses.

My guess, based on the lyrics and what is shown in the video, is that both are exploring the saying “If life gives you lemons, make lemonade”. Throughout the video, the members are nonchalant and don’t worry about much, even as lemons are being hurled at them from the ground or as the giant hole forms in front of them. The members appear to also be taunting someone or something by pouring lemonade onto the ground. The production in the music video was very cool, and the members look amazing throughout, in both retro and modern outfits.

It looks like there were parts of the choreography where the members seemed to be having a blast. We often see aespa in a more serious, stoic light, but this routine manages to embrace both the serious and the lighthearted sides of the group. However, I don’t see anything defining in this routine to be the comeback’s killer move, which is slightly disappointing.

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

[Review] Motto – ITZY

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Following YUNA’s solo debut earlier this year (with Ice Cream), ITZY regroups with their latest single, Motto, from their 12th mini-album of the same name. It is also ITZY’s first release since their November 2025 TUNNEL VISION comeback and the unexpected resurgence through the track THAT’S A NO NO.

Motto has had the benefit of further listens since its release a couple of weeks back. But to be fair, I don’t think Motto needed them. Since its release, Motto has been a satisfying listen that I have really enjoyed. If anything, Motto has grown on me even more and become one of the top releases of the year in my opinion. The track delves into a dreamy synthpop style, with a hint of funkiness and grooviness. In comparison to the rest of their lead singles, Motto‘s instrumental is a little more muted than usual. But that doesn’t mean the ITZY quality isn’t there. I quite enjoyed the choruses, which are a definite highlight of the song. I really liked how clean and straightforward it is. ITZY’s delivery and its melodies are extremely pleasant (in a good way), and I liked how simple yet catchy the hooks were. For the most part, the rest of Motto was also really good. I really liked the relatively intense ramp-up in the second half of the pre-chorus and YEJI’s piercing note just before the final chorus. The only part of Motto that I am not a fan of is when the song gears towards a hip-hop motif in the first half of the pre-chorus. It felt cliché and didn’t fit the rest of the pop track.

ITZY is at the 7-year mark of their music careers. While they are able to survive the 7-year curse that ends other groups’ careers (they renewed their contracts last year with JYP Entertainment), Motto‘s music video serves as a reflection of some sort. This complements Motto‘s lyrics, which are about choosing oneself even in uncertain situations. In this case, their ITZY identity. The music video starts with small replicas of their past music videos, briefly reflecting on their career. They are pulled away to reveal a castle that appears like a blank canvas. Throughout the video, the members go through events and circumstances that help define them, building the castle around them, which they perform in front of at the end.

Many people have noticed that their signature crown move is missing from their performance. But I don’t think it is missing. Reflecting on the song’s lyrics and meaning, the formation the members stand in, and the outward arm movement they make at the very end, these elements symbolise the shape of a crown. In the context of the song, they have become the crown, choosing themselves over anything else, which is probably the biggest honour you can bestow on yourself.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10

[Review] Curious – AND2BLE

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Earlier this year, YH Entertainment withdrew their “trainees” from ZEROBASEONE (Zhanghao, Ricky, Kim Gyuvin and Han Yujin) and EVNNE* (Yoo Seungeon) to create the new male group, AND2BLE. Today, the group officially debuted with the single Curious and their debut mini-album, Sequence 01: Curiosity.

*YH Entertainment also withdrew Ji Yunseo from EVNNE, who ended up leaving the company soon after.

Curious is most enticing through its verses. The bold, thumping beat and powerful vocals from Zhanghao and Yoo Seungeon made for a very memorable start to their new chapter. Similarly, the thumping beat and Zhanghao created a really nice flow, while we got a little more from the other members through strong vocal work that followed. To me, the verses were a good showcase of their talents and skills, with their vocals definitely feeling refreshing. Curious ends up being more typical when it comes to the choruses. I did like how they maintained the bold energy in the central piece, but the chanting delivery was very ‘done before’, and the instrumental didn’t feel as exciting as the thumping beats at the start of Curious. After the second run of the chorus, the producers focused on a future house EDM instrumental piece that I have a feeling a few people might describe as loud and noisy. It closes out Curious, and I liked how they blended it with the “Da dda dum” hook from the very start of the song and choruses. This just makes the ending feel cohesive without having to rehash the standard chorus, and it doesn’t detract from the idea of offering something a little “different and new” to keep Curious engaging.

Curious‘s lyrics depict “the group’s confidence and ambition to face the changes brought by dangerous curiosity at the moment of a new beginning without fear” (from Soompi). Some digging around yields the following description from Chosun for the video: “The released video depicts the members waking up with a curious gaze in an experimental composition like a fantasy movie. The mysterious atmosphere, including the strange eyes of the five members staring at the front and the wing-shaped objects, added to the sense of immersion.” With all of this in mind, I am still not sure what the music video is about. But despite that, I do like this mysterious atmosphere, the industrial vibes and the members’ visuals throughout the video.

Performance-wise, it looks good. There is some cool footwork from the members, and I liked the hip-hop motif they brought to the choreography. It isn’t until the EDM instrumental break that the members show off more of their performance skills via an impressive dance break.

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

[Review] BOOMPALA – LE SSERAFIM

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After teasing their comeback a couple of weeks back with the EDM track CELEBRATION, LE SSERAFIM officially dropped their 2nd studio album, Pureflow Pt. 1, yesterday, led by the title track BOOMPALA.

No matter how many times I have heard BOOMPALA since its release yesterday, I am a bit lost and confused with the new song. On one hand, you have the track sampling the Macarena. The original is super fun, and BOOMPALA maintains that aspect to do it justice, even though it’s been high-pitched in this song. But at the same time, the track tries to create its own catchy, fun moment by building on the sampled Macarena with the spoken “BOOMPALA”, which has some earworminess to it, but its delivery does not have an ounce of brightness or excitement like the Macarena. LE SSERAFIM and BOOMPALA’s producers then try to add some melodic vocal lines, but they don’t add much to the song’s memorability. Elsewhere in the song, the verses don’t have much staying power, and the instrumental was a mixed bag (though best at its fullest). Overall, BOOMPALA tries to do a couple of things that I am not sure land with me.

The track expresses the message “that fear may be just an illusion depending on the perspective or attitude” (based on SOOMPI’s article). The music video shows the members and other people moving from different emotional states to a state of zen and at peace. I really liked the video’s colourful moments and overall vibrancy, which match the energy from the song’s instrumental and the summery period that South Korea is approaching.

The performance was very fun and energetic, so props to the members for pulling this off. With the song building on the Macarena, it would make sense for it to be a part of the performance. The ‘BOOMPALA‘ parts added variety and additional fun to the performance.

Song – 6.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 7.4/10