Category: Reviews

[Review] Home – JBJ95

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While November is promising to be one jammed packed month for comebacks, it seems like we are given a small teaser to what November a few days earlier. One of the comebacks revealed today (or rather debut depending on how you look at it) is JBJ95, which is made up of two former members of JBJ – Kenta Takada and Kim Sanggyun. Their debut single is titled as Home, which is also the title for their debut mini-album. 

I think of the appealing aspects of Home is that is a warm song. You don’t often get that feeling when it comes to a song of an electronic instrumental, like this one. But the song wasn’t that hard hitting and was actually quite soothing for the most part. The vocals and rapping also contributed to this sense of warmth,  with the vocals showcasing nice melodies and the rap-singing similar to the instrumental in the sense that it isn’t too impactful. I think the next thing to talk about is the very noticeable squeaky synth. While I tend to turn away from songs with unpleasant sounds, the way the producers of the song managed to make it feel fitting and intriguing is quite remarkable. The chorus to me was quite dynamic in a very subtle way, which makes it even better. I think the way the song turned out is definitely quite unique and it stands out in a crowd of very upbeat and energetic songs.

The video takes an artistic approach and has great cinematography. Essentially, from what I can gather from the lyrics and the visuals of the music video is that their loves have left them after a fight (represented by the broken glass and household items all over the floor) and the guys are essentially hoping they return (represented by the reverse motion of these household items returning to their original positions/ state). Besides the small plotline, their close-ups and choreography shots looked standard. Overall, it was a good video to watch that felt fitting to the song.

I think what really impressed me with the performance is how they managed to incorporate aesthetics into the choreography. I really like the pulsing balls they formed with their hands at the start of the routine, while the rest of the performance has a whole heap of various hand motions that add to the aesthetics. I also like how the chorus looked overall as well.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8.5/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.3/10

[Review] La Vie en Rose – IZ*ONE

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Produce 48, the third season in the Produce 101 series, recently wrapped up in August of this year. While it follows the same concept of allowing the public to choose the final lineup of the resulting girl group, it is an extra unique season as the Produce 101 series collaborated with AKB48 (and its sister groups) to form the contestant pool. Hence, the final group, IZ*ONE, which is made up of the top 12, is made up of both Korean and Japanese contestants.  Today, they dropped their debut title track, La Vie en Rose.

La Vie en Rose started off with a bit of guitar (which sounded very unnatural) as the main instrument. It combined with standard synths, which didn’t feel too special at first. However, once we got to the pre-chorus, it had impact and energy which I really became fond of. I think the vocals aid in this and it results in what seems to be a pleasant sounding song. The chorus was lacklustre. It wasn’t what I expected and following the powerful pre-chorus buildup, I was expecting something a little more feistiness. However, the aesthetic of the chorus was rather interesting and fulfiled. So I am a torn between the two opinions. I personally did think the chorus was too repetitive, especially at the end of the song, hence why I am leaning towards the ‘I am disappointed’ opinion. I wanted to hear more rap because those small segments didn’t feel enough for me. It isn’t a terrible song by any means but I wanted more (if you know what I mean).

I like the concept of the use of red in the video. With everything very pastel and ‘bland’ in the video, the red allows the members to really pop. The song seemed to go in that direction as well, so I thought it as rather fitting. The video was made up of the closeup shots with the members interacting one way or another with the colour red and choreography shots, so there wasn’t anything too amazing with the video. It was a nice video and that is all that matters.

I really like the choreography for this song. Especially during that powerful pre-chorus buildup, which was definitely my highlight for the entire debut. I also really like the choreography during the bridge as it felt very strong and showed the girls off in a very promising and confident light.

Song – 6/10
Music Video – 7.5/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 7/10

[Review] Reincarnation – VIXX

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I hope you all are enjoying these Japanese reviews. I know I have dropped them for the last few weeks due to my studies but now, with more time on my hand, I will be returning with weekly Japanese reviews. VIXX recently returned to Japan with their next single, Reincarnation, which is also the name of their 3rd album in Japan. The album also features the Japanese version of Scentist and Shangri-La, while also contains a number of original Japanese songs.

Reincarnation feels rather typical. It doesn’t really offer anything new to the listeners as the song goes jump on board of the EDM train, with some drums layered in the background, This combination does bring some intensity but it masks any impacts that the song attempted to make. I guess the added bonus of this is the tempo, as it is quite fast paced. However, I don’t get why they stripped away the instrumental in the moments leading up the chorus. It completely stole any energy that the ‘Flashback’ buildup (which was my favourite bit, by the way) had. I thought the vocals were nice, while the rap sections were rather interesting, giving the song some different textures. I felt like I focused on a lot of negatives for the song so I will end up on a positive note. The delayed start to the final chorus (where they only had drums) was a winning moment.

I am a little disappointed by how the members had little to no interaction with each other in the video. There was a “dance version” but the choreography scenes were edited into the original version, so there wasn’t really anything new there. But despite that, they managed to tell what I believe seems to be a complete story. I just have no idea what it is (so there isn’t anything new with me as well!). If you know any theories, please post them below! There is a lot of colours, which I quite like. And a lot of reverse action going on, which was interesting. My favourite section has to be exploding clouds in the background of one of Hongbin’s solo scenes.

With the performance I watched for the review, I thought the choreography could have been more intense fast paced. Like they slowed down when required but I felt like they could have picked up the pace for the chorus. The dance break did look cool and probably was the most intense section of the entire performance.

Song – 6/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 7.5/10
Overall Rating – 6.6/10

[Review] Treasure – ATEEZ

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Make their official debut this week is ATEEZ, an 8-member male group under KQ Entertainment. The group is made up of Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San Minji, Wooyoung and Jongho. Four of the members (Jongjoong, Minji, Wooyoung and Jongho) participated in the survival show MIXNINE. Treasure is their debut title track, which comes from Treasure EP1 All To Zero. They did also release a music video for Pirate King (review coming soon) but it is interestingly omitted from the Treasure album.

Starting off the song is a whole verse of rapping. I think this is a great opener to the group as they boast some skilful rappers as part of their lineup. I like it even more as they put the rapping over that ‘movie style’ wind sound, giving us an opportunity to really process their rapping alone. We then have given a little taster to the vocals in the pre-chorus. Nothing too special however the two lines (the one with everyone joining in and the one split between Wooyoung and Jongho) give off some nice textures to the rest of the song. The chorus felt epic and definitely a major highlight. However, the winning combination has to be the bridge where some of the vocalists and rappers come together to provide a very epic climb to the peak of the song. And it just feels amazing alongside the drum beats we get (building suspense) prior to the final chorus. I would have liked to hear more vocals in the song (on their own) but what we have is an excellent debut song.

Whoever decided to the shoot the video in the desert is incredible. What I have failed to mention about the song thus far is that is rather intense. And the video does a really good job at channelling this intensity.  Interestingly, they didn’t need a military bridge of backup dancers or crazy flashing lights to show off this intensity, They just had themselves, some beautiful yet deserted backdrops and the desert as ways to show off dominance. Their presence was very powerful as well.

To me, the choreography scenes in the music video didn’t feel like they were up to par with the song. It felt much weaker and I was a little disappointed by that. I cannot say for sure, as I cannot seem to locate a live performance for Treasure (they have only begun promotions for Pirate King – which is rather confusing). So I will update the performance section once there is a performance available.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 6/10
Overall Rating – 8.4/10

[Review] Genie – Golden Child

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Returning to the stage with their third comeback of the year is Golden Child, who has been growing in popularity thanks to their multiple comebacks. After It’s You and Let Me, the group’s third title track for 2018 is Genie, which is featured on the group’s third mini-album, titled Wish.

Honestly, I do not think this is their best song as I think the song lacks a strong hook (like the one in Let Me). However, there were moments that were really impactful or memorable for me, which ticks a few boxes for when I am looking for songs to enjoy. Firstly, it was rather pleasant. I say this because the song started off very boring and standard. But there was a beat change in the first verse, which got me interested in the song. While it did seem to return to that standard feel for a while, another kick (the dance break) came in and it worked wonders in changing up the song once again. For a very bright and happy-filled song, I was surprised by the dance break, which was intense and felt like it came from another song. But I am not complaining! I liked the vocals and the rapping in the song, especially after the dance break. Overall, another good song from Golden Child.

The music video shows the members being workers in a factory, which seemed to make presents. Though, it did look like a factory that makes happiness from the way the video showed everything. I thought it was a nice and light-hearted way to showcase the song in a visual form. Towards the end, you get to see the members become dorky, which was rather interesting. Who knows, I may check out some of their other stuff like VLIVE’s now that I have some time on my hand. Also, the room at the start of the video (with all the scrunched up paper balls) is literally my room at the moment (I had a few intense days of studying). I thought that was rather funny.

The choreography for this comeback looked quite good. Once again, the dance break was fitting for the music but it looked like it came from a completely different routine. While I have seen many idols flip across the stage, I don’t remember anyone jumping like the guy in this performance (it was like a handstand mid-air). It looked cool and very memorable.

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

[Review] Woman – BoA

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The Queen Is Back! BoA has officially returned with her 9th full-length album and her latest title track, both titled as Woman. For a while now, BoA hasn’t had the opportunity to make multiple comebacks (with promotions) within a year (her last was One Shot, Two Shot, released earlier this year), which is a very interesting observation. The Queen touches on a very important topic within the song, female empowerment, which could not have been released at a better time, with the topic all over the news (and dominating the entertainment industries around the world).

And as much as I really like how the idea touches on such an important topic, I am not too fond about the idea of having a guy say ‘Woman’ throughout it. It is striking and it does have a certain level of impact, especially the way it is presented. But I felt like a woman’s voice saying ‘Woman’ could have been more suitable, context-wise. What was even more striking was the sound of those high heels. I thought that was a very nice addition to the song which shows how confident BoA was with this song. The instrumental was nice but it did feel rather standard.  I really like her vocals in this song because there were moments that were delicate (such as in the verses) and extremely powerful (like during the chorus and build up to the chorus). Overall, this song is pretty good.

Hands up if you think BoA looked amazing throughout this video! Mine is definitely going up. Never did I expect to see anyone in KPOP pull off a full-body leopard print suit. But damn, BoA rocked it. But my favourite scenes of BoA were when she is wearing those hats. Love it. What I didn’t like was how unnatural her blonde wig looked. If you look closely, you can also see her black hair underneath. It just looked out of place in this video. But everything else (along with every other element of the music video) looked amazing.

A very impressive choreography that was showcased in the music video. I thought everything was very cool and showed off confidence very well. But the most mindblowing part (and I think no other KPOP idol has ever attempted before) has to the very start when she is walking upside down! Like that was shocking yet so right for this performance/song/comeback!

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

 

 

[Review] I Am YOU – Stray Kids

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The biggest secret when becoming successful in KPOP nowadays is making multiple comebacks. The very moment a gap between comebacks is a month too long, artists run the risk of being forgotten. This is especially important in the year of your debut. And Stray Kids has definitely taken this on board. With two comebacks already under their belt this year (District 9 and My Pace), the group is not going to be forgotten any time soon. And now their third comeback of the year, I Am YOU was released yesterday, so let’s have a closer look.

While District 9 and My Pace have primarily been about intensity and impact, I Am YOU takes a step back. It has been described as ‘sentimental’ on KPOP news outlets and I think that is a perfect way to describe the song. Despite that, the instrumental does have a particular Stray Kids sound to it, which I can’t really define it. Instead, when you hear it, it kind of makes sense. I thought the song had a nice melody and I liked the way the rappers were presented in the song. Vocally, this has to be their best title track yet, mainly because the step back from intensity definitely caters for their talents. The chorus was catchy (those English line at the start of the chorus are beautiful) but I feel like they could have done something to it to make it even more appealing.

The music video features scenes (and music) from the My Pace music video at the very start, which indicates that this is some sort of continuation. After the events in the previous music video, the members basically hang out with each other, creating a small oasis on the top of a building for themselves. It was nice. I did think they took a somewhat soft route in terms of issues, which does make sense but I personally felt the video was lacking. I did think the choreography scenes on the truck was cool (even though I know it is CGI) but it gave the video that kick that we got from past Stray Kids videos.

[Updated] Like the song, they have toned down the energy to make it fitting for the song. And it was quite fitting for the song. Despite it being slower, the performance felt very strong and felt equally as impactful as their more powerful dances tracks. I think the best word to describe it is ‘smooth’. The chorus was my personal favourite section as this was when the smoothness kicked in the most.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8/10 [Updated]
Overall Review – 8/10

[Review] Shoot Out – Monsta X

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It is a new week and we starting off strong with Monsta X’s comeback, Shoot Out. The title track is featured on the group’s second studio album, which has been titled Are You There? (and you can expect an album review in the coming weeks!!). It has only been a few months since we last saw Monsta X in Korea with Jealousy. Since then, the group has been busy with Japanese promotions (Puzzle and Livin’ It Up) and the rest of their world tour.

If I ever described their past title tracks as ‘their most intense comeback track yet’, I’d take that all back. The opening to Shoot Out has to be their strongest and most intense yet. The “walker walker growling‘ start is very interesting but quite addictive. I want to know why those were the lyrics and what the meaning is behind them. But putting my curiosity to the side, the tension is broke with a nice vocal part, which felt relatively smoother and gave a nice contrast. However, to me, it was the weakest moment of the song because I still feel like they took too much of the intense instrumental (which featured elements from multiple intense genres such as rock and trap) away. So when they returned to the catchy chorus, the vocal pre-chorus felt more like an unfulfilled hole (hopefully, that makes sense). It is still quite good, so don’t assume that I hate it. Vocally, all the members did really well. But it the rapping that stole the show here. Overall, another great song from Monsta X.

The music video matched the intensity of the song by using a very edgy concept. From their very simple yet intriguing sets to their outfits, everything like it came together quite well. There is some storyline somewhere amongst the different images we see on the video, as the ending of the video references the seven deadly sins. And those references just crept up on me, so I had no idea what was happening. Can I also take a moment to backtrack to their outfits, which I think looked amazing. The teasers image already amazed me (Jooheon’s, in particular, looked captivating). The outfits in this video just took it to a whole new level.

The music video featured many choreography shots which I have to admit looked awesome. Everything in the video just felt right for this song and their presence on stage is going to be killer if they manage to replicate everything from their stares and charisma from the video on the stage. I thought the vibrating start and the chorus looked cool.

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

 

[Review] Hurry Up – SOHEE (ELRIS) ft. BOL4

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ELRIS made their debut last year with We, First and had a summer comeback with Summer Dream. Now, one of the members have branched out for solo promotions and it seems like she has brought the ‘big guns’. Sohee was a former participant on KPOP Star and was runner-up in her year of participation. Her solo debut, Hurry Up, was written by (and also features) BOL4, whom last year reached the top of their charts with their indie hits.

Right off the bat, Hurry Up doesn’t deviate from the traditional light-weight and youthful sounds that most KPOP girl groups start their careers with. It does, however, manage to stay modern with the use of its colourful and upbeat synth-based instrumental, which I personally like, as it is the what makes the song feel light. Her vocals also doesn’t step into that cutesy domain, staying at the border, which was nice. BOL4’s featuring was in the form of a rap, which I am genuinely surprised about, given their success with their vocals. Altogether, it was a rather clean song that was quite pleasant and well-balanced. Its memorability is the concern that I wish to raise. The hooks were there but they weren’t strong. Pleasant is good but the song can easily come and go and I wouldn’t bat an eye. Hence, it would be a nice addition to playlists but can easily be hidden around other tracks.

The music video is another ‘out-there’ video, which makes you question things. However, it is quite interesting to see the quirkiness, which I found to be quite cute. And the good thing is that is doesn’t go over the top. I really like the start of the choreography scene (first chorus), where she brings a completely different vibe with her outfit. I also like how the backup dancers were added to the video with the editing. It looked cool and quite unique.

The choreography was okay. I just didn’t find it that interesting while watching the live performance. Sorry for my lack of comments here.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 6/10
Overall Rating – 7.1/10

[Review] Cookie – Lee Hong Gi (FT Island) ft. Jung Ilhoon (BTOB)

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Another solo return from another artist! This time, it is Lee Hong Ki with Cookie. Lee Hong Gi made his solo debut back in 2015 with Insensible, which earned him two weekly music show awards. And while it has taken him 3 years to return, Lee Hong Gi has been active in dramas, variety shows and also FT Island comebacks (the most recent being Summer’s Night Dream.

I personally expected Lee Hong Gi to release a ballad for his solo comeback. So it was very unexpecting to hear tropical influences in his song. It feels like an attempt to modernise his sound for the current market, which is a complete opposite to what FT Island is doing. But it is still a fairly decent song. And even though it is a tropical house sound, Hong Gi brings his signature husky vocals, so you can’t really go wrong there.  I personally really like the bridge as it brings out the best out of the vocals and instrumentation. Jung Ilhoon (from BTOB) also makes an appearance in the song. Surprisingly, his section is earlier on in the song and was fairly short. As the song progressed, I was kind of expecting Ilhoon to rejoin to fully complete the song, Just it never happened. I am also not too sure about the odd whisper of ‘You should wait for the cookies‘ at the end. What context is this in?

I am not too sure on what is going on in the video. It looks like Hong Gi is some alien with anti-gravitational powers that he may not be able to control. When he walks inside the building, the things around him start floating away. When he is supposedly meant to face off with Ilhoon, he causes both of them to float around. And everyone comes around him for some floating experience. I guess it would be cool. It isn’t the most interesting video but it boring in any way. Fun observation: Hong Gi also released a pre-release single with Cheetah featuring on it (review coming soon), which was also shot in a barn (and I assume it is the same one).

What perked my interest with this comeback is that it was going to feature some choreography Lee Hong Gi doesn’t dance when it comes to FT Island comebacks, so it was going to be interesting. I have to admit, while it isn’t much, he pulled it off well without looking awkward (which is the case for first-time dancers) and he looked really proud of himself. Good job!

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

 

[Review] Being There – Jeong Eunji (APINK)

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Also making her solo return today/yesterday (depending on your time zone) is Jeong Eunji, with Being There. The last time we saw Jeong Eunji promote solo was last year with The Spring. More recently, she appeared in the drama, Untouchable (if you enjoy thriller and mystery, this is a K-Drama that I highly recommend) and APINK’s latest comeback, I’m So Sick.

Give me any synonym to the word ‘Beautiful’ and they can all be used to describe the song. The vocals are what drives this song and give it that beautiful sound. Her voice was so captivating in this song that I had to stop whatever I was doing and listen to it in its entirety. The best part was when she sang with no instrumental in the background. This was a really lovely moment of the song that really had an impact for me. The song has a soothing instrumental, made of guitars and piano. It is quite warm as well, suitable for the cold Autumns. This gives light to the song, which touches on missing home. I like how she does that, as it can be an emotional topic for some people.  Do check out this song if you want a nice ballad to listen, especially if the weather is getting colder.

It is an 8-minute long video that does a wonderful job of showing the song in a visual format. Jeong Eunji lives in the city and has a very set routine for her life (like most people who live in the city). However, she makes a snap decision and boards a train en route to her hometown. Once she arrives, we see her return home, greet her mum, share multiple meals and take in the memories she had at the place where she grew up, going hand-in-hand with the lyrics of the song. What I liked about the video was the focus on was Eunji. We never got to see her mum nor anyone else in the video. But we got to see Eunji take in her surrounds and have a beautiful smile throughout the video.

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

 

[Review] Good Night Kiss – Kim Dong Han

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Kim Dong Han had a successful solo debut with Sunset after the disbandment of JBJ earlier this year. He won a music weekly show with his solo debut song and became one of the memorable debuts of the year (for me at the very least). And now he is officially back with Good Night Kiss, which is featured on his second mini-album, D-Night. So let’s have a very quick dive into his new song.

Good Night Kiss is quite good though it lacks in some areas. I thought the future bass genre was quite nice and offers a little something different in this climate of EDM songs. He showcases good vocals and there is a slight rapping tone in the second half of the verses, which was a nice spin on the song. I liked the melody of the chorus which felt smooth. But I didn’t get the need for autotune for the song, especially the chorus. While it isn’t as bad as some other songs, it did feel unnecessary. Also, the song lacks impact. I wanted a strong drop that would wow me. But it felt slightly weak and underwhelming.  I feel like if the song was somehow made punchy (not sure if it is possible for future bass but creativity knows no boundaries), I would have enjoyed it a lot more. It is still a good song, however.

I liked the style the video went with. It is sensual, which went well with the song. It was also quite mysterious which makes it enjoyable to watch for some odd reason. The kisses were left everywhere, which was definitely a mystery in itself. I do know the song is about the feelings of a first kiss but the video gives this an interesting spin. The one thing that bugs me, howeer, is Kim Dong Han’s outfit. That lack of fabric in his chest area is very distracting because it looks so weird. While it isn’t necessarily terrible, it isn’t my cup of tea.

I thought the dance was cool. I liked everything about the routine as it felt extremely fitting for the song. The thing I would like was some smugness at the very start of the choruses, which would lift the concept to a new level and fill the odd void during those closeup shots.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.8/10

 

 

[Review] Oh! My Mistake – APRIL

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APRIL has returned with a brand new song, Oh! My Mistake. This is the group’s second comeback of the year, with the first being The Blue Bird which was released back in March.  Oh! My Mistake is featured on the group’s 6th mini-album, The Ruby.

Oh! My Mistake takes on a completely different sound that was completely different from my expectations. APRIL has made comebacks with bright songs, while also some mature sounding track due to the instrumentation that they went with. However, this felt powerful but in a very subtle way. It feels linear or monotone at first as it doesn’t feel like it builds up to the extent you want it to. However, the pre-chorus builds up in a way that really gives the song some punch. The chorus was also quite catchy, especially with the hook in the second half. Looking back, the buildup was there but it wasn’t as profound or that obvious like in other songs. The song has this retro sound which feels really cool. I thought the instrumental break was a well-done connection between the retro sound and our current era. I personally like this song and think it is a great addition to their portfolio.

The music video had elements of the retro era such as the VHS tapes at the start and the end of the video. I liked the direction they took. APRIL is a group that I usually associate a really strong cutesy charm too, as this has been utilised in their comebacks on numerous occasions. But there were no cutesy charms here. Instead, they looked mature and it really suited them.

While there isn’t a live performance for this comeback yet, there was enough in the video for me to say that it looked really nice. It isn’t your most energetic routine but it was formed in a way that suits the perceived linear nature of the song. They showed some of the pre-chorus routines which I liked, along with the routine in the second half of the choruses.

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

 

[Review] Senorita – VAV

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One of my favourite underrated male groups has returned to the stage. If you do not know this group, I highly recommend you check out some of their past tracks (which I have linked at the end of this paragraph). VAV has returned with a brand new single, Senorita. This is their second comeback of the year, after the release of Gorgeous and Spotlight earlier this year.

VAV’s comeback is obviously a Latin-influenced track, which is definitely an undeniable trend now. Last week along, 3 artists (Super Junior, NCT 127 and VAV) made their comeback with the Latin sound. But unlike the other two tracks, I found this one to involve fewer synths and felt a lot more acoustic. I thought that was quite nice, especially in a climate where electronic and Latin tends to be smashed together to become modernised. Instead, it forms a pleasant sounding track that isn’t drowned out by instrumentation. Vocally, I thought it was a good song. The rapping was also quite nice. However, I felt the song could have gone an extra length to be more memorable. There are hooks but there just wasn’t enough of a strong hook to really make it that addictive track that we commonly seek for in a KPOP track. Overall, it was good but it could have been better.

The music video was okay. I really like the golden colour that the video featured which felt very fitting for the song and its roots. Everything else just felt standard and didn’t really become that eye-catching or overly amazing.

I thought the choreography was quite nice. Nothing spectacular once again. But I thought there was enough to be appropriate for the song. I like their air guitar skills that they played at the start of the performance alongside the Spanish guitar instrumental.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 6/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 6.7/10

 

[Review] Crush – Weki Meki

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With the ongoing issue regarding Fantagio, I did not expect to hear the return of their artists to the stage so soon. Astro surprised me with their special mini-album and Always You release. And now Weki Meki has returned with their second comeback of the year, the first being La La La. Kicks Kicks, the group’s first single album dropped on Thursday with Crush as the title track.

Crush gives off the same vibes as BLACKPINK’s songs do. However, it seems to be more pop than the hip-hop sound that BLACKPINK tends to go for. Crush is a tad messy with its overload of sound. It does get overwhelming during the initial listen but the song does grow on you as you listen to more of it. I thought the verses were good and I did like the explosion of instrumentation for the chorus (which is what I want when it comes to the most upbeat songs). The chorus was quite catchy but I felt they could have lowered the instrumentation a small amount because their voices were a little overshadowed by the music. I am also not a fan of the ‘Crush’ at the end of the first chorus (and end of the song). It just felt like it was thrown in there and didn’t really serve any purpose to the song. Vocals were okay and I thought they could have given more of Yoojung’s rap lines to another member. But overall, it was still a good song.

Watching this video, I felt like it was a BLACKPINK video mainly due to the presence of the black and pink throughout the video. I liked their concept but felt they could have fully committed. I didn’t like the producers presented the girls as cute and innocent when it came to what could have been an edgy concept. It just defeats the purpose of the ‘girl crush’ concept, in my opinion. Everything else was quite good just the execution of the video was a complete mismatch.

Their dance was a lot sexier and maturer than their previous comeback. And this does suit the song to an extent. It also proves my point in regards to the music video. Because when you see this dance routine, you do not think of cutesy girls.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 6/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 6.9/10

[Review] Regular – NCT 127

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2018 has been one busy year for NCT. They started the year off as NCT 2018 and returned with a studio album, which featured songs from each of the three subunits. NCT recently made their comeback with We Go Up. SM Entertainment has also confirmed that a Chinese subunit will debut later in the year. NCT 127 also made their official debut in Japan with Chain. And now, NCT 127 is back with Regular, which the title track off their latest full-length album, Regular-Irregular. Woah!

I don’t think anyone expected NCT to go with a Latin sound, given their past work never fitted any of the ongoing trends of the industry. But it is a new twist in their portfolio that sounds somewhat fresh, as they managed to keep to their roots by infusing it with some trap. It is an interesting combination that works well with each other, in my opinion. It is just – I don’t mind the sound but I am not too keen on the ‘final product’. The song lacks a memorable chorus. Yes, there is intensity but hook-wise, I don’t really find it appealing. It just felt generic. While the rapping and vocals blended well with each other, they don’t really stand out, against each other or when heard with the instrumentation. I think the best part of the song would have to be there start-stop bridge they had. Overall, I feel like the song, to an extent, was good but it just wasn’t enough to really become a hit for me.

I did like the music video for this comeback, which felt really edgy and intense. The video featured great cinematography which really did a good job of capturing not just the members but also their surroundings. The black and white choreography scenes did look a little too plain, reminding me of some of their stuff earlier in the year. I also like Mark and Taeyong’s floating star scene, which looked cool. Same could be said about their individual close-ups. Them bringing many people in at the end of the video looks like the producers are taking a page out of BTS’ music videos. But it is done in a way here that looks boring.

The choreography for their comeback was definitely my pick for the highlight for the entire comeback. It fits in with that Latin sound, while also accommodating to the trap side of the song. I quite liked their footwork in this routine, which looks amazing on stage.

Song – 6/10
Music Video – 7.5/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 7/10