Category: Reviews

[Review] Night Rather Than Day – EXID

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EXID has returned with a brand new song. Their latest mini album, Eclipse, is their 3rd mini album. Their title track for this promotional run is Night Rather Than Day. This is also their first comeback since their L.I.E promotions last year and their Chinese debut. Unfortunately, Solji will not be participating in promotions this time around due to her health. Hence why we see 4 members on stage and in the video instead.

For Night Rather Than Day, the group opted for a more retro sound, with a much smoother instrumental. Compared to their past songs, this one seems to be more subtle in nature. That being said, this change is nothing too concerning because EXID handles it amazingly. The question that remains is if EXID can handle performing without Solji, who is the powerhouse main vocalist of the group. Hence, probably another reason to why they shifted towards a more softer tone. Hyerin takes over the reigns of the main vocalist and as heard, she can take on the role with ease.  She might not be the powerhouse vocals we know from EXID, but with a more softer song, Hyerin does a pretty good job during the chorus and ad-libs. Talking about vocals, all members saw an increase with lines and each member did a decent job with their parts. The different tones that each member has give the song depth, which makes it interesting to listen to. The contrast between a low pitch to a higher vocal pitch was showed in the song. LE’s raps are pretty good, but the ending seemed a little awkward. The song was quite catchy. By the second listen and I was already singing along to the chorus.

The video is more on the boring side of the spectrum. There really isn’t a storyline or anything to talk about the video. Their past videos have all had things going on in them that make them worth talking about. Here, they are either on a rundown train, on the street dancing or in their rooms. Things I have talked about in the past, such as the use of coloured filters, cinematography etc., don’t really apply much to this video (from what I see). The closeups, which shows off their looks, are the only things that I remember from the video. But then again, those bold colour jackets are quite memorable, but I am not a big fan of them. I am just going to stop here (just trying ramble now).

The dance is quite good. However, there isn’t anything that is memorable about the dance. All of EXID’s dances have been memorable to date, so it does disappoint me a tad bit. I like it though, because there is a bit of cuteness in the dance, while still keeping things sexy as always.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 4/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 7/10

 

[Review] Dream In A Dream – Ten (NCT)

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A week has passed since the first SM Station release for the second season. Which means another SM Station digital single has been unveiled for us! Last week, Red Velvet released Would U and this week, Ten from NCT, is the featured artist in the single, Dream In A Dream.

Out of all the tracks that I have reviewed and listened to (KPOP has dominated my life for the past 7 years), I had never heard with a Chinese-influenced sound (as far as I can remember). That being said, the track also infuses calming synths with the cultural sounds. It sounds quite nice and very refreshing. It reminds me a lot of chill-step, a subgenre of music that I enjoy, other than KPOP. The song is mainly instrumental, with a few lines here and there of English lyrics. It might sound boring to some people, but remember that SM Station is a way for the SM Entertainment to play around and experiment with different sounds. That is what they had done here and quite successfully might I add. While the vocal work is limited, Ten’s vocals fit the soothing nature of the song. Once the beat drops and the song start to pick up, it sounds spectacular! It’s a unique song and it’s a style that we probably won’t ever hear again for some time.

The main focus of this release is probably the dancing. You may or may not know, but Ten appeared on Hit The Stage, which gave viewers a chance to view the choreography and dancing abilities of KPOP dancers. Listening to the song, I had high expectations. And those high expectations were answered. While I think we saw Ten perform routines that were more powerful, what we get to see in the video fits the song perfectly. From his time with the back-up dancers to the interperetive couple dance, everything felt just right in this video. The colours did put me off a bit, but it didn’t ruin the experience for me. Also read somewhere that the recent SM Rookie member, Lucas, appeared in the video. Don’t know what for though, because those extra scenes made no sense. The choreography scenes would have been fine on their own. Maybe it was meant to be a confusing dream?

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

[Review] I’m Serious – DAY6

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The 6th of April just passed a few days ago, so guess what that means? DAY6 has returned with a brand new track. The 6th came unexpectedly fast. Maybe it was because I was occupied with my endless amount of assignments, but I just remember How Can I Say being released just yesterday! But who cares! The most important thing is that if you wanted more DAY6, you get more DAY6!

If this song proves anything, it shows everyone how versatile and flexible DAY6 is with their style and sound. While their past songs have been more rock influenced or ballad-like, I’m Serious sounds more upbeat and bright. There is a warm tone, which makes it suitable for the warmer months (which Korea and the Northern hemisphere are approaching). Though I do miss the more powerful sounds, the song is quite nice to listen to. The song also focuses more on the vocals, leaving out any possible rap sequences. All the member sings, even the rapper (Young K) taking the bulk of the chorus, which also shows the versatility of the members. The song itself is quite catchy. You catch yourself nodding along to the song, especially the chorus. But by then, you just nod your way through the rest of the song (with a smile on your face, of course) because you already started. The post-chorus is quite addictive and adds a little more colour to the song. I wouldn’t mind listening to just the instrumental of the song, as well. It sounds quite nice, with the softer and (at times) acoustic music.

The music video just shows the guys having a road trip, down by the beach and singing along to the song. There really isn’t much to say about the video. The idea of it is suitable for the song and it makes sense to go in that direction. The colour palette seemed to be dull, but it probably made things look a lot better than what it really was (the day looked cloudy and not that sunny, like in Summer).

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

 

[Review] Good Night – Dream Catcher

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Dream Catcher is finally back. The group made their official debut at the start of the year with Chase Me, which automatically caught my attention (and the attention of many others) with their unique rock sound and horror concept. This comeback is the continuation of their previous comeback, which video ends with a “To Be Continued” message.

And such, the group delivers again with that rock sound that attracted me. However, they didn’t launch into the song as such. Instead, they used a lullaby as the introduction, which gave the song that extra edginess. Then they launch into the rock dominated instrumental. Like their debut track, the song feels like it came from the OST of Japanese anime, or a song sung by Japanese artists. There were times in the song that I thought the instrumental just wasn’t as intense. It’s getting better as I listen to it more, but there is a little air of underwhelming-ness that I can’t really shake off. However, the vocals and raps of this song made up for that. Their vocals are getting stronger, and they seem more suited for a rock style song this time around. But for me, what stole the show was the rap sequence. Damn, that was quite amazing. You don’t really expect such a deep voice from a person (like the rappers). It was unexpected, but it felt just right. Overall, the group essentially has done it again. There were parts that didn’t feel perfect, but this track still manages to continue on from their debut, which is probably the most important thing here.

This music video is more confusing. It seems like Dream Catcher used to be alive and had a book full of dark magic that could control them. However, they lost it, and it somehow fell into the hands of the guy from the first music video. It seems like he used the dark magic to kill them in their own world (i.e. through the mirror). But somehow, they came back to haunt him and remind him of his wrongdoings (the events in the first music video). It seemed to all be an attempt to reclaim the book and destroy it once and for all, which they did so in this video. That’s my recount of the events in the music video. It definitely makes the storyline more confusing. However, that horror concept still lives on in this video, and it makes it a great video to watch. I personally thought some things looked quite cool, like the forest set. It kind of gave a dark spin on the story of Red Riding Hood. Maybe they were Red Riding Hood and the man was the Big Bad Wolf? Who knows!

The dance this time is quite impressive. I mentioned that Chase Me‘s dance was underwhelming. This time, they manage to fix that and perform a routine that attracts your attention. Their introductory tutting routine with the lullaby started the performance on a high note. The rest of the performance followed on quite nicely. The way they got back into formation in the final seconds to end the song was quite amazing as well.

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

[Review] Make Me Love You – Taeyeon (SNSD)

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Taeyeon has returned once again this year with a brand new song. This time around, she released a repackaged and ‘deluxe’ version of her solo album, My Voice, which was released last month. Make Me Love You joins Fine and I Got Love as the lineup of title tracks for the album. There doesn’t seem to be any promotions for this new release, which is quite disappointing.

Taeyeon’s newest song has me screaming approval from the very first listen. It is a simple pop RnB song that stood out of the pack (as in the many songs that were released the same day). While it was simple, it had a very grand production sound to it and the song overall could have described as elegant and classy. Taeyeon’s vocals are beautifully incorporated into the track. The elegance and classy nature of the song are lifted up higher with the presence of her vocals. There is no doubt to why many people say Taeyeon is one of the best soloists in Korea, with this song serving as promising evidence. The buildup to the chorus is worth mentioning. It’s a slow incline but it allows for the chorus to shine very brightly. Once the beat drop, we enter a very familiar chorus. I say familiar because it reminds me of Ellie Goulding’s Love Me Like You Do. Both tracks are quite similar in sound and style. The chorus in Taeyeon song isn’t overly complicated. It’s quite short and comprises of just a few English lines. While this has been done before in other songs, there is something that makes it click. And there is something that makes me sing along to it. I would have liked it if she had a more powerful ad-lib at the end, to give it that ‘cherry on top’. This song is definitely one that I would recommend to anyone!!!

The music video is fabulous. What was done here matched the song quite nicely.  I am glad that they didn’t make her sit in one place and just have that, especially for the chorus. Instead, many different shots of her sitting and walking around (and smiling at the camera) were in the video. I didn’t watch the video first and imagined the video to be exactly that and it was exactly that. The cool chromatics looked quite cool as well. The cinematography makes the video seem like it came out of a movie. While I said that I was glad they didn’t make her sit in one place, the scene where she sits in a room full of flowers (the feature image of this post) was probably the one scene that summed the video up quite nicely and showed off the elegance quite nicely. As I said, the video goes perfectly with the song. It might be boring after a while, but for now, it is definitely worthy to watch.

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

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[Double Review] Really Really + Fool – WINNER

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WINNER has returned with 2 brand new title tracks Really Really and Fool. This is the group’s first comeback since Baby Baby and Sentimental, which was released over a year ago. This is also their first comeback since Taehyun withdrew from the group due to health issues. Hence, WINNER has returned as a four-member group instead.

Really Really is a ‘really really’ addictive track. Hahahaha… I had to. The song falls under the tropical house genre and is the more upbeat track out of the two title tracks. The instrumental itself is already quite appealing, and it reeled me in. I absolutely fell for the song with the first listen, mainly because of the instrumental. Chuck in the vocals and raps and you have an almost perfect song. I say ‘almost’ because there is a little concern from my end of how long can the track stay on my radar. While I praise and compliment the track, I do see myself losing interesting in it (as fast as I fell for it). I am not too certain if the hook is strong enough, but we will see as time goes by.

Fool is the slower track of the two. Fool falls into the ballad category. This is also the track that seems to fit in nicely with their past releases, due to its slowness and style. However, it also sets itself apart from their previous tracks. Their vocals are quite impactful in this song, and that makes the song stand out. I have been bored with Winner’s past releases mainly due to the vocals, so it is finally nice to hear two songs (from Winner) where I actually like the vocals. The only problem is that it fails to attract my attention. I enjoy listening to slower ballad songs as much as I like the fast and upbeat tracks, but this one just doesn’t pique my interest.

Really Really looks classy with the black and white filter. However, its track demands attention, and while the aesthetics do the job, the lack of colour does make the video feel dull. The settings where the video was shot looked quite nice. When all the ladies started walking into the filming area and started to dance around the members looked quite cool. It felt simple, but it worked. I find some of other stuff in the video quite cringeworthy. Mainly the dabbing and bouncing cars. But besides that, the video was nice to watch.

Fool felt more like a YG video. Mainly due to the camera angles and cinematography. It was much more interesting to watch, compared to Really Really, due to the many scenes and small details that you find scattered throughout. Actually, after rewatching the entire video, it seems like there is a lot more to the video than what I expected. But don’t ask me what it means, I don’t know. It seems like the members are reflecting on some past actions where they somehow hurt (maybe possibly killed) their partners, which is why the members are singing about themselves being ‘Fools’. If you do have some sort of understanding the video, please do share in the comment section below! But overall, a very interesting video to watch.

[UPDATED] I don’t think Really Really‘s choreography was intended to be ‘fun’. But that is what I got out of it. The main dance during the chorus is simple and has the potential to become the next dance move at a party. There was also a nice sexy vibe and the interaction between the dancers and Winner themselves is quite noteworthy here. Fool didn’t need a dance, but it had one. It was extremely fitting for the song and still beautiful to watch. But it not necessary.

Really Really
Song – 8/10
Music Video – 6/10 
Performance – 8/10 [UPDATED]
Overall Rating – 7.5/10 [UPDATED]

Fool
Song – 6/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 7/10 [UPDATED]
Overall Rating – 7/10 [UPDATED]

 

[Review] Coloring Book – Oh My Girl

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Oh My Girl reaches new heights with their latest comeback. They have returned with their latest and 5th mini album, titled as Coloring Book. Their title track shares the same title as well. Oh My Girl became a group to look out for back in 2015, when they released Closer. 2016 confirmed their presence on my radar with the releases of Windy Day and Aing~.

And it seems like Coloring Book is another track to add to that list. It is a really good song. The track literally launches right into the energised and upbeat track. There is no holding back. They don’t give us a break at all, but instead they push ahead with it. The song falls into the same category as any of their past songs. Bright, funky and addictive to listen to. What makes the song a little awkward is the chorus. I am not sure if it is awkwardly placed but it seems to be a little premature. But besides that, I genuinely liked the chorus. It’s the more of the progression into the chorus and how they do it that throws me off. Maybe I am just not used to the style as it is different from their past songs and more traditionally structured songs. It’s just a minor detail that honestly didn’t affect my listening experience. Literally, the second listen in and I was bouncing along in my chair.  Maybe I should have left that ‘bouncing’ detail out. Anyway, like yesterday how I mentioned about Red Velvet’s song making you smile, this does the exact same thing. The vocals sound really good in this song. I have enjoyed their past vocal works, but here, they sound like they have worked on perfecting their vocals. Overall, it is a catchy song that, to me, is a worthwhile listening to. Just give it a few tries before you make up your mind!!!

From the title of the song, I assumed that they would start off with a blank canvas. And that is what we saw in the video. Just the blank canvas was a floating house in the sky. And while they attempt to make a cake (a rainbow cake, as shown at the end of the video), they end up colouring or splashing themselves with paint. I honestly want to know how many dresses were stained in the making of this video. They proceed to leave the house and paint more of the world by adding more colour. How they went outside, though, was with a physically impossible bridge. Watching it the first time, my geekiness came through and I just randomly thought “That bridge could not hold according to physics. It wasn’t even complete“. Thinking about the video, it’s the type of video that I would find boring. There really isn’t much in the video to talk about. However, for some unknown reason, I keep on coming back. Maybe Oh My Girl is rising in the list of groups that I stan. Or that the video pops with the rainbow colours that they use. I don’t know, but I am rewatching the video for the fifth time today, which is something that I don’t often do for that type of video.

Something I didn’t mention in the song part of the review, but it is a very intense track. And likewise, the choreography is just as intense. As I always say, it’s fitting for the music and it maintains that cute image that the girls have, without going overboard.

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

[Review] Would U – Red Velvet

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Red Velvet’s latest release marks the return of the SM Station project for its second season. SM Station is a project where SM Entertainment promised the release of multiple songs on a weekly basis for an entire year. The project saw never-seen-before collaborations between SM artists, along with other artists from other companies, something that seemed foreign when it came to SM. The project saw some big hits and some of the songs released were reviewed on this website, such as Rain by Taeyeon, Spring Love by Wendy and Eric Nam, and Heartbreak Hotel by Tiffany ft. Simon D. While I didn’t get around to reviewing every single song, I do hope that I will be able to do more reviews from SM Station project for its second season.

Red Velvet is a girl group well known for their more retro and upbeat based songs. On occasion, they have also returned with much slower and ballad-like songs. While this particular song does seem to fall into the ‘slower’ category, it is a nice mix of style between the slow and upbeatness. The instrumental is quite bright, and it makes you smile while you listen to it. The song uses a sweet melody that is hard to miss. The piano adds a more classical touch to the song. While it isn’t anything new or impressive, its addition makes the song sound a lot better. But the thing worth mentioning in this song are the vocals. The girls sound amazing. Sure, it isn’t powerhouse vocals, or none of the members is belting out a high note. It is simple yet still, leaves an impression on you. Their harmonies sounds amazing and probably the one reason why I keep on returning to this track. Also the “Would U, Would U” is unavoidably cute and catchy as well.

The music video features Irene and actor Kim Min Jae. The video is probably based on a well-known French story that I probably have no idea existed. Essentially, Irene has to find clues on where the mysterious man, who keeps on leavings these clues about. As she solves one, she gets a step closer to the man. I don’t like the video but I don’t mind it. It is very fitting for the song and the video does make you smile, as well. Irene is quite pretty too and she did look like an angel in the video. Loved the use of lights. I think the video was shot outside, but there was the use of artificial light. But the combination made Irene look like she was glowing and it made the video feel fresh.

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

[Review] Through The Night – IU

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My apologies for this somewhat late review. I totally forgot about IU’s pre-release for her soon-to-be-released album. I honestly didn’t remember until I was trying to schedule some reviews in and realised that IU’s song was missing from the list. Moving along, IU will be making her first comeback since 2015, when she released Twenty Three and her 7th mini album. She has been relatively quiet in the past year, with her primary focus on acting. Her 4th album is scheduled to be released on the 21st of April, and she is gearing up for another pre-release in early April (both I will not forget).

As mentioned previously, IU has been absent from the KPOP scene for two years. And usually, artists who stay away for an extended period of time become a distant memory. But despite all of that, IU has managed to topped charts and score perfect all kills with Through The Night. And I can see why. Through The Night is a ballad that sounds perfect with IU’s trademark husky vocals. The instrumental delves into acoustic, but it also sounds like there is a folk tone in the way the guitar is strummed. There isn’t much to it, but it sounds quite nice. It also sounds hollow to an extent. But a ‘hollow’ song doesn’t sound like a beautiful description of a song. To me, the ‘hollow’ nature of the instrumental compliments her vocals. To the point where the vocals seem to fill that missing core of the song. I can see the instrumental alone being incredibly boring. Her vocals are definitely the highlight of the song. The harmonies that she has with the background vocals make her sound like an angel. Currently, I am in Autumn, and this is the perfect song to be listening to. You can sit outside on a cloudy day, have this song playing and watch the leaves fall to the ground.

In connection with the final comments in the last paragraph, the video seems to play with that Autumn feel. The video uses colours that we tend of associate with the season of falling leaves. Maybe it is me trying to relate the video to myself (I say this because Korea is currently in Spring) but it does come off that way. The focus of the video is on her, and I am in love with that. She is a beautiful person and the video highlights that, despite the video being shot with a candle or dimmed lights. It is as if she is glowing. One thing I do with these reviews is that I keep on switching between watching the video and writing the reviews. While switching, I managed to see something quite nice. The ball of yarn that rolled down the stairs managed to be time with the beat of the song. While this may not be as spectacular for some of you, to me, it goes to show how nicely (with, of course, everything else in the video) the video was shot. The cinematography is fantastic and extremely fitting with the sound of the song. If you want to relax or calm down (for whatever reason), try watching the beautiful song and the equally as beautiful music video.

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

[Review] I’ll Be Yours – Girl’s Day

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Girls Day has been absent from the scene for nearly two years. They last time they were promoting was for Ring My Bell, their second full-length album. Now, they are back with their latest mini-album, Everyday 5, and the continuation of their Everyday series. Their title track, I’ll Be Yours, joins past hits like Nothing Lasts Forever, Twinkle Twinkle, Something and Darling.

I read somewhere on the Internet that this song oozes attention. And I totally agree with that statement. All elements just grab your attention from the start. As soon as you start listening to the song, there is no break from the energy that they pump out in the song. From their powerful vocals to the incredibly bold instrumental, there is just no stopping it. You may think that I am biased here, but I am not. This is what I felt when I heard the song. The piano usage in the song sounds like it could be annoying, but it works really well in this song by providing that striking element that grabs your attention. Throw in the amazing guitar at the chorus, and it just makes the already strong track even stronger. And I love the instrumental. I described the vocals of the track as powerful before. Minah’s short section at the end of the chorus is a prime example of the powerful nature of the vocals. But if I were to be somewhat critical with this track, it sounded like they pushed their vocals towards breaking point. Their vocals were superb, don’t get me wrong. It just sounds like a long rest is needed after promotions wrap up. If I were forced to wait another 2 years to hear a track that keeps you on the edge of your seat, just like this one, I would gladly wait. I think that summarised my opinion of the song quite nicely.

Matching the song, the video is equally as strong. The video shows Girl’s Day as strong women (at least, that is what I think it shows). Minah makes the first move by leaving her shoe (quite subtly, might I add) behind. Sojin is confident in front of all those men. Hyeri isn’t afraid to knock one out. And Yura… plays the piano so confidently, she set the guys on fire and also the piano. Not sure what she is doing there… The members each look amazing. The video uses colours to highlight the beauty of each member and also provide a level of boldness in the video. Some of the sets looked really cool (especially the choreography ones). But besides that, I don’t have much more to add to the video part of the review. I would have loved it if there was more to the video, personally. But what they have provided here has been more than enough for both the songs and our viewing pleasures.

The dance, on the other hand, was amazing. It starts off sensual and then it just kicks down the door when the chorus comes on. I personally love the dance. They are stomping around and showing off their toughness, while also their feminine side at the same time. I thought those chairs were a nice addition at the start, but their use at the end (where the backup dancers stand on top made) the ending look a whole heap cooler.

Song – 10/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 9.5/10

 

[Review] Wee Woo – PRISTIN

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PRISTIN is the newest addition to the industry. The 10-member girl group comes from Pledis Entertainment, which currently houses After School, NU’EST and Seventeen. They were formed last year under the name of Pledis Girlz and have only just officially debuted this year. Some of the girls participated in Produce 101, with Nayoung and Kyulkyung performing as part of I.O.I until their disbandment earlier this year. The other members includes Roa, Yuha, Eunwoo, Rena, Yehana, Sungyeon, Xiyeon and Kyla.

Wee Woo is a very relaxed track, and the girls bring a different energy to it.  It definitely has a unique sound. The song starts off pretty bland, but that buildup when a rap sequence randomly appeared, followed by some pretty good vocals, was actually pretty impressive. The chorus was probably the best part of the song, but it needed a better drop. The buildup was so good, but the chorus just left the buildup hanging there. The chorus had a nice catchy vibe to it, giving the song more energy. The brass in the disco influenced instrumental also stood out for me. The song was overall quite cool and chilled. Usually, girl groups go all out with their cute sounds, but PRISTIN did an excellent job at holding it back and at the same time, gave themselves a sound rarely heard of (if not unique) in KPOP. And I personally think the track sounds good because of it. But there is the other side of the song, where I am just disappointed by it.  The verses could have been a lot better. While I could describe the rest of the song with ‘having colour’, the verses seemed to be very grey and dull. Same could be said about the bridge as well. Some of the members sounded quite good, while some of the members just didn’t sound good enough. Overall, I am torn about the song. There is potential for the song, but it needs some sort of improvement. It is a solid song for a debut. It does put them on the map, but it needs to be followed up with a really addictive song.

The music video goes for a bright and fun concept. The girls are students at a school, and they have random encounters with a force (assumed to be the guy they are singing about). While the individual scenes look cool, I don’t really see a storyline within them. Nor is there a connection between the song and the video. But it is still interesting to watch. Water and soft drink explosions; flying cards; levitating hair etc. are just some of the weird and wacky experiences. But what I like more are some of the group scenes. I love the “Wee Woo” part after the first chorus, where a few members at a time, slide into the frame and pose for the camera. It actually looked cool and probably was the most memorable part of the video. Overall, great video.

The dance routine for this song didn’t receive that much attention from me. When I did watch the performance, I just simply stared at them. They are all very pretty. But the dancing just didn’t appeal to me. Probably the most memorable part was the ending of the song, where they look like they are about to pass out or avoid some sort of glare (assumed to be the guy they are singing about). (I know, my descriptions are sometimes shocking. I have no other way to explain the dance move above).

Song – 6/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 5/10
Overall Rating – 6.5/10

 

 

[Review] Beautiful – Monsta X

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Monsta X has returned with their third part of their trilogy. For those who don’t remember, the group made their comeback with the first part of the trilogy, All In, in May 2016. Fast forwarding to October 2016, they released the second part of the trilogy, Fighter. Now, they are officially back with Beautiful, the title track off their latest and first studio album, The Clan Pt. 2.5: The Final Chapter.

Another great song released this week. Monsta X follows their consistent sound and delves back into the world of EDM. It’s a fierce track that doesn’t hold back in anyway. The distorted introduction sounds very catching, and it then throws the listener into a more stable yet powerful rap sequence. The song slows down for a brief second and then builds up (in a matter of seconds) to the really addictive chorus. An instrumental break follows the chorus, giving us a break from the insanity that they just made us go through. What makes this song stand out is that chorus. I loved Jooheon and I.M’s rap, which provided the intensity needed but I personally loved the chorus more. As I said, it’s really addictive and catchy. You expect it to be overlaced with the EDM sounds (given the start and the verses). But instead, the vocals shine quite nicely throughout, and they weren’t overshadowed by a ‘loud’ and obnoxious chorus. Thr bridge is also quite interesting. Not their best part of the song, mainly because it did feel a little empty without the rappers and their own added intensity. But it is the first bridge of a dance song that I have noticed is made up of only vocals in a very long time. It isn’t unheard of, but the bridge is usually the safe-haven for producers to slide in a misplaced or (sometimes) unneeded rap sequence. Here, they swapped things around and made it sound more grabbing, which is amazing. As mentioned, everything in the song sounded fantastic. I did post in my review yesterday that I would recommend CN Blue’s latest song to any new listeners. And I will gladly do the same with Monsta X’s newest song.

When it comes to the music videos of this particular trilogy, I am a little confused. Personally, I see very little connection between this video and their previous two videos. I am absolutely certain that with each video, they are all somehow connected with each other, but I am really bad at picking out those connections. The only thing that I see as a running theme is the blue flowers used throughout the trilogy.  Besides that, I don’t have anything (Please help and explain on is happening in the videos for other readers and myself in the comment section below). But the video is quite nice to watch. It is quite aesthetic with each member’s individual scenes. The lighting shines on the members in a different way that I have never seen before in music videos. It makes them almost shine, which looks quite cool. What is more impressive is the choreography scenes. I really like the zoomed out perspective, where it made the platform and the members on it look small. As we zoom in, it looks massive and entirely different. A significant portion of the music video is dedicated to the choreography, so it only makes sense to move onto that aspect of the comeback. Overall, the video is worth watching, but connections aren’t that apparent to me (yet).

Guess who is a mega fan of the dance? I liked everything about the dance. But I want to skip to the end of the song. My favourite part has to be the one in the gif below. I don’t know why, but it made my jaw drop. It looked cool and tough (but in a subtle way). It impressed me and will forever be engraved into my mind. And it is the one part that I will keep on (and have been) going back to in every performance.

Song – 9.5/10
Music Video – 8/10 
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 9/10

[Review] Between Us – CN BLUE

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CNBLUE has returned with their 7th mini album, 7°CN. This is their first comeback to the Korean stage since You’re So Fine, back in April of last year. Since then, the group had another (5th to date) concert tour and released more songs in Japan.

This song is amazing. Am I too straightforward? At first, it sounded a little awkward to me. CNBLUE is a band and for the longest time focused on more traditional instrumentals when it comes to bands (such as guitars, drums, keyboards, pianos and vocals). But the chorus this time is dominated by synths and electronic sounds. This isn’t the first time the band has gone for this style, but it is done wonderfully in this song. It keeps true to the band’s roots and the rock sound that I yearn to hear from CN Blue each time they come back, something that was missing from their last comeback. The chorus is made to headbang along with, something that I have been doing when the song pops up on my playlists or as the next automatically played video on YouTube. Per usual, the song is dominated by Yonghwa’s vocals, with a small distribution going to Jonghyun. I am a little disappointed because it has been a while since we have heard Minhyuk or Jungshin in their title tracks. But this song suits Yonghwa and Jonghyun’s vocals very much. There is a big difference between their singing abilities, but in this song, both voices worked well with each other. Everything was really catchy and addictive. And I mean everything (vocals, beat, instrumental). It’s a really good track and is a track that I would be willing to recommend to new listeners of KPOP.

The music video was interestingly shot. I personally thought it was a cool video to watch. There isn’t much to it. For the most part, especially, the chorus focused on the band. The camera circled the band, who were playing the instruments. It complimented the more upbeat and faster tempo of the song at that point. The verses slowed down a bit and showed more of the individual members. They spoke on the phone to their lovers. They used a flip phone and a brick (for those who do not get the term ‘brick’, it refers to the old mobile phones that resembled the shape and weight of a brick) for those scenes and Jonghyun was featured in a phone booth. Next, you would tell me this video was shot 10 years ago. There was a lack of colour, but that didn’t ruin the video. Instead, it had other effects on the video. Either the scenes were presented using a black and white filter; or while filming, they directed quite a bit of light to focus only on one area. It looked stylish and focused the attention of the viewer at one spot, where the member(s) were in the scene. I just was not into the overlaps of scenes and images (see feature image above). It made it look too messy. The idea behind them was nice, but it just looked messy. Overall, the video fits the song perfectly and vice versa.

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

 

[Review] Plz Don’t Be Sad – HIGHLIGHT

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A new boy group is here to grace the stage. Well, they aren’t that new. Highlight is actually Beast. But since Beast did not resign their contract with their former company, Cube Entertainment (who also trademarked the name Beast or B2ST), the guys had to find a new company and a new name for themselves. Hence, the guys went on to form About Us Entertainment and named themselves Highlight, after one of their previous songs. This is the team’s first comeback since last year’s Ribbon.

The song is actually quite good. I think of the main concerns was what direction would the group go in, since they have essentially been given a new chance to restart. I personally would have loved to see them continue with their previous styles. But given this song, fans don’t need to worry too much. It is a song that sounds fun. It was a bit foreign, but it puts smiles on my face (since the song is about turning the frown upside down). The vocals are quite good and Junhyung’s rap is up to par with any other work he has done so far. The introduction (woooaaahh, woooaaahh) and chorus sounded spectacular. The instrumental is a little more on the traditional side of KPOP but in combination with their vocals/raps, it felt fresh and new. I don’t think there is anything that pulls the song down. It just a side to their musical side that I am trying to get used to. Given their current success on the charts, this song is bound to stay relevant for quite a while and if that is the case, I’ll probably fall in love with the song (like any other Beast song) very quickly.

Judging the song, we can kind of assume that they went with a more bright concept. A concept that isn’t really done by Beast. And while they nail channelling the sound into the video, I don’t really find the video impressive. To be honest, what they have done suits the song quite nicely. I cannot think of another way to produce a video to match the song, an important aspect of all videos that I consider. I don’t expect much usually, but when you have watched a video numerous times (because it is Highlight) and don’t really remember much from it, it sends a message. Sure, they have a few comedic moments. But they did have enough to make me laugh or even chuckle. You can just tell they were there to given the video a more lightened up feel. Furthermore, the video seems like a step back. It does have a rookie feel to it as if the members are rebuilding their presence from the very bottom. I would have liked it if they went with a vibrant concept that manages to carry over the same Beast feel.

The dance is actually quite enjoyable. While it is quite simple and not as impressive as their past choreographies, it manages to work well with the song. I really liked the chorus and the different hand movements they do, especially when they are singing about the sad faces. There is no actual live stage (from what I see) yet, but I have a feeling I am going to like the performances even more when those stages are released (starting tonight).

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

[Review] Yeah – BLANC7

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BLANC7 are the new kids on the block. They recently made their debut (3rd of March) and are under Jackpot Entertainment. The group is made up of Shinwoo, JeanPaul, Teno, D.L, SPAX, K-KID and Taichi. The group’s debut mini album, titled as Prism features their title track, Yeah. Interestingly, JeanPaul is actually a former member of BTL (which was a group that debut back in 2014 and disbanded when their company closed down in 2016).

BLANC7 went for an EDM-based song for their debut track. And that seems to be the direction the entire industry moving towards the electronic genre. The song starts off quite nicely with a classy vibe (which ended fitting their concept and music video). They then launched into the trap based instrumental. The heavy repeating beat gives off the impression that the song doesn’t have a proper backing. There are softer electronic sounds that sound like they float on top of everything, but the heavy beat gives the song some depth. The chorus adds more elements to the existing beat and with the combination of the “I’m just wanna yeah, yeah, yeah” vocals, it sounds quite nice. The post-chorus keeps the song interesting by adding a different instrumental track. For the bridge, they mix the post-chorus with the rap. And while it manages to do the job, there wasn’t really balanced, and it sounded messy. More me personally, I didn’t like the post-chorus instrumentals. I preferred the clean and much smoother sound the rest of the song. Another thing is that I do find the song lacking. Their vocals seem to just float on top of the music, rather than work with the music. The song lacks the connection between the music and the singing. It doesn’t make the song sound bad or terrible, though. It is still a solid song for a debut.

The music video could have done without the slow motion scenes. They felt highly unnecessary and dulled the already dull looking video. The filter really drained the energy from the song. Combined the two together and you get at pretty boring video. Let’s move along to some positives of the video. It is made up of choreography scenes, which did look pretty good (more on that later). The moving lights and fixed light fixtures as their background looked pretty cool. This is another prime example of a lower budget music video made to look more expensive than what it costed to make. And it looked successful, in my point of view. The overall simplicity of the video made the guys (in their suits) stand out more. 

The dance looked quite cool. While their moves are not groundbreaking, what they have presented in their routine is impressive. Probably the best part was the second pre-chorus section. That made me go wow, for a moment. Judging from this, the guys have great potential in the future. 

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

[Review] Without U – Romeo

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“Romeo is back ~” (if you guys don’t get it, it is the opening for this song).  Totally the right line to use to open this review. This is Romeo’s 4th mini album to date, which is titled as Without U, as well. While Romeo is a lesser known KPOP group,  it usually takes one song to thrust them into the spotlight and Miro is just that song. Miro was released back in June last year (I only reviewed them in December). However, it was not their latest release (before this comeback), as they later returned in August with Treasure.

If you want your pure KPOP fix, this song probably has it all. The first time I ever listened to this song, it reminded me of the bright and vibrant times for boy groups. It has the exact same feel. While I do prefer boy groups with a more tough and dark sound/concepts, it is always nice to have some music that is lighter in sound. It captures the similar song style that the boys have done before. That being said, the song doesn’t necessary show a new side to them, music wise. The instrumental was quite good (love the whistles)  during the chorus)and the chorus was probably the best part of the song. The verses felt a little dry and typical. While the vocals suit the song quite nicely, the rapper felt more suited for that tougher and darker sound. But while I do find some flaws in the song (here comes my hypocritical moment), I actually enjoyed listening to the song. Why? Well, my exact reasons were written at the start of this paragraph. It is a familiar sound that sounds, which is nice once in a while. Actually no, it is much needed, especially after listening and reviewing to all the songs recently released.

The music video is your typical KPOP video. While there is a plot this time around (well, a more understandable one), it is pretty generic. The main couple has a little awkward tension between them. I am a little confused on how they manage to get back together, though. Like he participates in a dance battle and she liked his dancing… So, now what? That ending scene where they just stand there and awkwardly look at each other doesn’t help. Anyway, let’s talk more about the video. The acting of the people in the background looked out of it and they made me cringe a bit. The black and white filter was used to make things look a little edgier and while it did have that effect, the song just didn’t suit it as much. Overall, the video felt generic and bland. I don’t think there is any other way to put it.

I think the video would have been better with just choreography scenes. It is honestly a pretty cool dance, but quite forgettable. Every time I watch the performances, I don’t really remember much at the end. The start (where there are whistles) looks pretty intense, but it does show off their skills and potential. It may not be memorable, but the dance does the job and suits the song quite nicely.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 4/10
Performance – 6/10
Overall Rating  – 6/10