Category: Reviews

[Review] Slow Dancing – V (BTS)

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The big release of the day is V’s debut solo mini-album, Layover, which is lead the single Slow Dancing. This release makes V the final member of the group to debut as a solo artist officially. But interestingly, he is not the last member to release an album. Slow Dancing joins V’s pre-release single from last month – Love Me Again and Rainy Day (the latter is yet to be reviewed) as the songs from the album that have an accompanying music video.

Lo-fi R&B takes reign in Slow Dancing. Instrumentally, it is not my cup of tea. I never find much to talk about in lo-fi songs (and my shorter than usual paragraph on the song is a clear indication of that). But I must admit that Slow Dancing is extremely pleasant and easy-on-the-ears for a number of reasons. It has a slow yet flowy melody and brings on a swayable effect (something you know I like). I also like how charismatic V’s voice sounds in Slow Dancing, with his huskier vocals tones being showcased in the song. His vocal tone is also quite comforting and warming, as well. The prolonged instrumental ending of Slow Dancing is probably the most interesting aspect of the song. I did like the jazzier energy and flute work it gave Slow Dancing, which does end up being the song’s memorable element. But this instrumental end accounts for approximately 47% of the song, which I am a bit disappointed in. I was lowkey expecting V to start singing again somewhere along the way, but that never became fruitful. I wished he returned (even a one liner could have sufficed) to close out Slow Dancing and bring closure to the song.

In the music video, we see V developing what looks a virtual world in which he can enjoy the company of friends on the beach, and per the lyrics, potentially slow dance and romance with someone. But while that sounds like it explores the lack of privacy KPOP idols have to undergo (which is definitely what V goes through a lot per many news articles we see surface about the idol and whom he hangs out with), V did make a comment about wanting to relax, use and share this song to relax and this video is probably his way of showing this relaxation – an escape away from reality. Either way, it was a nice video that still has a connection to the Summer season that had just past, but also help eases to a more Autumn mindset.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 7.6/10

[Review] I Love My Body – HWASA (MAMAMOO)

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Following the expiration of her contract with RBW Entertainment earlier this year, HWASA went on to sign with P NATION (live on stage as a matter of fact!)- the company founded by PSY and houses Crush, Heize, TNX, Penomeco & Swings. She appears to still remain as part of MAMAMOO, however. And yesterday, she released her first solo single under the new company – I Love My Body. Her last solo single was I’m a B in 2021.

I Love My Body has a lot of potential, but unfortunately is let down by the song’s most vital sequence – it’s chorus. More on the latter in a moment. I Love My Body takes on a retro pop, very much Megan Trainor style. The very start of I Love My Body, the brass and retro-prevalent instrumental and vocals throughout its verses and the backing vocals in the chorus pretty much embodies this style quite well. And we are lead to believe the chorus would follow suit with I Love My Body‘s incline towards the central piece and the classic piano that is synonymous with retro-pop numbers. But then the chorus takes an unexpected turn, with the retro instrumentation being substituted out for a bubble-synth backing piece and HWASA delivering the chorus in a monotonous spoken (almost mumbling-like) manner with a descending melody. I am not too bothered by the bubble-synth backing (I actually liked it as part of the backing for the instrumental/dance break I Love My Body ended with), but it does make for an odd drop in terms of I Love My Body‘s trajectory. With the spoken delivery, I am not a fan, even though I do find it memorable, unique and somewhat catchy retrospectively (just not for the right reasons). The combination of both terminally disrupts the flow of the song, making I Love My Body restart its momentum and appeal from scratch. It is a pity, because we do get a few good moments of vocal work from HWASA in I Love My Body, particularly the second half of the second chorus (or is it the bridge?). That sequence blew me away, but it (and the song’s verses) did not compensate for the chorus we got. I Love My Body and HWASA unfortunately disappoints.

From the music video and the title of the song alone, you can tell that this song is about self-confidence. And in this video, HWASA shows off her body throughout the video with no hesitations. The ending of the video with the dance break between the two police cars felt like a homage to the classic KPOP hit Bubble Pop, which was released back in 2011 by HyunA (a former P Nation artist). And I thought that was a fitting video to pay homage to in the summery period that is just ending. I also enjoyed the choreography scenes with the many dancers (definitely a 2023 trend to me) in the car park. It looked cool and epic without doing too much.

I actually quite enjoyed the choreography. It actually looks like a refined routine that show confidence in those who perform without needlessly flaunting their body and doing too much in the routine. It also fits the retro-pop song well. I don’t think I would ever associate retro pop with a flaunting performance. Per usual with HWASA’s performance style, she and the dancers do give bit more intensity to make the routine a bit more enticing.

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

[Review] But Sometimes – BOYNEXTDOOR

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I know I have not yet finished reviewing all of BOYNEXTDOOR debut/pre-debut singles. I have already reviewed One & Only and But I Like You, but not yet Serenade (I will get to that). However, should that stop me from reviewing their first comeback single, which dropped yesterday? I think not. BOYNEXTDOOR has returned with their first mini-album, Why.., which features all of their debut/pre-debut singles mentioned above and three new tracks – one of which is the title track But Sometimes.

But Sometimes departs from the more innocent sound that they started off with a few months back and goes for a punkish rock sound. It is definitely an on-trend change in direction for the rookie group and I do like how they sound in But Sometimes (more on this in a moment). To be fair, I had expected the group to have debuted with an edgier sound, particular since the group boasts Zico as their producer. And the edgier tone in But Sometimes seems to satisfy that expectation. It also sounds on brand for Zico. I am glad that they do explore an edgier sound, as BOYNEXTDOOR sounds much more engaging in this form. I really like how straightforward the punk rock instrumentation was. The guitar riffs and drumming were very expressive in delivering the punk rock sound, but also they keeps the energy upbeat enough to form But Sometimes into a dance track. The melodies in But Sometimes were memorable, particularly in the chorus. There is something about those melodies and the group’s shouty delivery that just clicks and works tremendously well. Elsewhere, there was some other strong delivery from the members. For example, the second verse rapping sequence was top notch and well-executed. I also liked how clean the final moments of the bridge were, in both instrumental and vocal departments. It made for a really nice incline towards the final chorus. Overall, But Sometimes gets my tick of approval.

Compared to the music videos and songs released for their debut (which were all about falling in love), the music video and But Sometimes deals with the heartbreak associated with one’s first love. I really like how the video has tie-ins to their previous videos, such as the replicas of the burger joint sign and the house of their first love/crush. But instead of the sunny blue skies and lovely neighbourhood, the video depicts these settings on fire and the sky around them is a hell-ish red tone. I also like how the members are dressed in black whilst everything around them was burning, as if they are mourning and grieving. Elsewhere in the video, we see a teddy bear become decapitated and the members struggle through the heartbreak. It was a well-shot video that really sums up the meaning of the track quite well. I also like the recurring presence of doors, which I had pointed out to likely be a recurring element in their One & Only review.

The edgier sound mentioned above allows the performance to show a different range and energy in the choreography. And BOYNEXTDOOR pulls off the performance quite well. Nothing really stood out for me, but given it is their first edgy routine and that they pull it off well, I think the performance is a success. Their stage presence is also a positive, with the members having great chemistry with the camera.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8.5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.2/10

[Review] Get A Guitar – RIIZE

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Officially making their debut yesterday was RIIZE, the latest addition to SM Entertainment’s lineup. RIIZE is a seven-member male group consisting of Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Seunghan, Sohhee and Anton. They pre-released the single Memories two weeks back ahead of their debut yesterday with the single Get A Guitar.

Get A Guitar moves away from SM Entertainment’s venture into the world of synths with the debut and ongoing discography of NCT and aespa. Instead, RIIZE begins their career with a pop centric song that has a lot of funk and energy. Right off the bat, Get A Guitar makes for a fun listen. With the title making reference to the guitars, Get A Guitar features a recurring guitar riffs, some of which located in the chorus reminds me of Queen’s Another One Bites The Dust. These recurring guitar riffs felt like jabs throughout the instrumental and it made for a unique setup that pulls me in. Alongside the guitar, there is some old-school synthesizer in play in Get A Guitar, adding a retro flair to the song. This latter is present in the background of the entire song, but it is heard most prominently alongside the guitar solo that, in combination with one another, serves as the instrumental break in Get A Guitar. The vocals were quite refreshing to hear. While there isn’t much of a standout from this department, I did enjoy the simple melodies and the light approach the members took. Nothing felt too heavy and this made their vocals charming. The repetition and hooks were all very catchy and this helps makes Get A Guitar a memorable piece. Oh, also the absence of rapping in this song is notable, but felt just right. Overall, to my ears, Get A Guitar is a refreshing and successful debut track. Looking forward to RIIZE’s next release already!

The song is about coming together around the sound of a guitar and enjoying each other’s company. And we see this with the members hanging out with each other throughout the video. Of course, guitars make a presence in the video, just not as much as I had expected initially. While everything in the video is pretty sound and it does a nice job of showcasing the members as young teenagers, some of the members’ styling is questionable. I am not a fashion guru, but I feel like their mismatched styling here feels a bit too loose (some of the baggy pants were too baggy) and clashes with one another. Their hair styles, which I agreed with the general public looked dated in their Memories music video, have improved. But I guess that came at the expense of the fashion.

I quite liked the choreography. It really showcased the energy and funkiness of the song quite well. I like how some of the choreography had the members holding their arms to resemble them holding a guitar. We unfortunately don’t see any air guitar playing however (which feels like a missed opportunity). The funk was show clearly during the dance break and was a highlight to the performance for me.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.4/10

[Review] Dangerous – TEMPEST

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TEMPEST has announced they are making a comeback later in September. But I have yet to review their April 2023 comeback – Dangerous, which is featured on their fourth mini-album, The Calm Before the Storm. Well, I am finally going to review the track today ahead of that comeback. This was TEMPEST’s first release of 2023, following last year’s debut with Bad News and their two subsequent comebacks with Can’t Stop Shining and DRAGON.

Dangerous is unequivocally a fun and upbeat pop dance track that makes up for the likes for DRAGON, which was a let down in terms of TEMPEST’s discography. The energy that comes from the song leaves quite the impression, which is line with their more likeable tracks like Can’t Stop Shining. Not only does the instrumentation make the song upbeat, but the brightness the members bring to Dangerous via their vocals gives the song a playful and entertaining flair that brings a smile to your face. The ever-so-light descending tinny-like synth line in the background is something that I noticed and cannot seem to forget. Dangerous also features a catchy chorus that easily gets the song keyed into your mind within a few listens. That being said, I did wish (and still do) there was bit more to the chorus, especially as the song progresses. I think this could have made Dangerous more dynamic and appealing, and prevents the song from relying too heavily on repetition. The danger (ha!) of repetition, to me, is that it overdoes the hooks and dulls out the catchy effect. Dangerous didn’t step over that threshold, but it could potentially have. The members vocals and rapping were solid, though I think Dangerous could have benefited from a more powerful and harder rap sequence than what we got. This too could have played towards that more dynamic and appealing wishes I had for Dangerous. Overall, Dangerous is a strong return to form for TEMPEST and I hope their upcoming comeback shares a similar upbeat and exciting style.

Dangerous‘ video is another one where I am not entirely sure of what is going on. We can see from the start that school in which the video is set at is frozen (along with the members). I really like how the video from the get-go really plays into the playful side of the song. It makes it quirky and intriguing to watch. Slowly, the school thaws out and the group ends up having fun performing the track with no hesitations. But at the end, all their dancing causes ice to fall back onto the school, which might lead the school back into its ice age (but we don’t see it eventuate to that). I think there is a bit of a mismatch with the lyrics, as it mentions villains and being dangerous. But there isn’t much of a connection to that in the video.

To me, the performance was the part of the comeback that got the least positive response from me. It is more so that the choreography didn’t really do much justice for the song. There was intensity and there was energy – everything that the song calls for. But nothing stood out and I was waiting for that something to appear.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 7.8/10

[Review] Shhh – KISS OF LIFE

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Another newly debuted artist that I haven’t written a review for is KISS OF LIFE, a four member female group under S2 Entertainment featuring JULIE, NATTY, BELLE and HANEUL. You may recognize NATTY as she was a contender on SIXTEEN (the trainee survival show that formed TWICE) and Idol School (the trainee survival show that formed fromis_9). She also debuted as a solo artist in 2020 with the single NINETEEN. KISS OF LIFE debuted in early July with the single Shhh and their self-titled first mini-album, KISS OF LIFE. Prior to the debut, the group did release music videos for the four solo tracks and a group track that also make up the rest of the mini-album.

Shhh was quite a debut song, giving off Ariana Grande vibes. For a newly debut group/artist to be liken to one of the biggest pop stars currently who is also known for her unique style, that is quite a feat. Shhh still manages to showcase KISS OF LIFE’s musical ability, with a strong showing of vocal and rapping styles in the verses of the song. I really enjoyed this playful side of Shhh and it keeps the upbeat R&B pop number interesting. The energy that the group throws at us make it feel like they are seasoned professional, and not rookies. I particularly liked the falsetto part in the verses (you know I am a sucker for those). The rapping in the second verse was also commendable, along with those powerful vocals that soon followed the rapping. The ad-libs we get at the end were also super cool. The anti-drop chorus does pull the song down. Shhh had an opportunity to be taken up a notch with some central piece that could have gone further than the verses, and I am not entirely sure if an anti-drop and chanty motif was the right way to go about it. Also, the ‘What you really want‘ autotune repetition that serves as cornerstones in the song doesn’t exactly fit in well with the rest of Shhh. Overall, Shhh still has a lot of offer as a debut track and it does put KISS OF LIFE on the map for me.

The music video for Shhh follows on from the other music videos released alongside the solo tracks and another pre-release single of the group’s – Bye My Neverland. I will do a super quick recap for that, as I should keep thoughts on that music video for that review whenever I do get around to it. But essentially, NATTY screws up her audition, runs from the stage embarrassed and ends up getting hit by JULIE’s car. In Shhh, NATTY ends up being taken in by JULIE and becomes friends with both JULIE and BELLE who live together. They go out one night and notice that HANEUL was being followed by the same guy who took notice in HANEUL in her solo video, but they end up stopping him from doing anything bad to HANEUL. The four ends up being a tight knit group of friends, sharing their troubles with each another. In the end. the group comes together to audition at the same place that NATTY had run away from at the end of the Bye My Neverland video. The entire universe that is shared amongst the 6 videos explores their passion to be themselves on stage and gives a story to their formation, and I quite like that side of this debut. The end of the music video sees the video extended out to show part of Shhh‘s performance, presumably what they went on stage to audition with.

The energy they bring to the stage was amazing and I liked how they captivated me on stage despite only being just four members. That wide and well-timed swing in the first verse was impeccable, while the routine of the instrumental break brought a bounce to the choreography. I also enjoyed the confidence and attitude that was infused in the performance. But what I like the most is the four members had fun on stage and you can see it on their smiles towards each other and the audience.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8/10

[Review] DLC – Stray Kids

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Stray Kids made their comeback two-months ago with ★★★★★ (otherwise known as 5-STARS) and the title track S-Class. But like many of their recent comebacks and labelmates (ITZY, Xdinary Heroes etc.), additional music videos for other tracks from the album. So per usual, I will be covering the songs with the music videos in a separate song review post and collate them to form part of the album review that I will be posting in the future. Today’s focus is on the first music video released following S-Class – DLC (Dance Like Crazy).

On the album, DLC serves as the sixth track and it brings a brightness to the album that wasn’t heard in the songs preceding it. For me, DLC stands out for being simple, relative to much of their single discography. If you consider DLC‘s instrumentation, it doesn’t feel as simple as I make it out to be. In text, DLC features a wide range of influences, such as moombahton, deep house, tropical house and Eurodance in its instrumentation. It does sound like an overload of noise (which people might say is Stray Kids’ forte), but DLC‘s instrumentation actually feels quite spacious and is not potentially overwhelming or overpacked like some of their other songs. It is this spacious feel that, relatively to their other songs, feels simple. DLC also features striking delivery from the members. From the vocals to the rapping, the members stood out quite strongly over the instrumentation. Some of the vocals are pitched quite high, particularly Seungmin’s part in the bridge of DLC. The melodies were very easy to get into and the hooks were also on the simple yet memorable side. That screechiness of the ‘La La La‘ towards the end tends to be off-putting, but it somehow finds a place in DLC (and this I find to be memorable). The saying ‘more is less’ is very applicable to the likes of DLC despite the breakdown I have made about the song.

DLC is song about leaving your worries behind and letting loose by dancing like crazy. And this messaging was well represented in this video. We see I.N in stagnant job, Changbin is depleted of energy and Seungmin is distracted from reality. But the other members bring the trio back and convinces them through song and dance to shake off those worries and distractions. Incorporated into the video are dancers on the street, which was another neat and artistic way to bring more dance into the video. The greyness the video opted for and kept up with until the very end was interesting. I guess it represents the worries, distractions and tiredness in the world, and that it still exists. But seeing the members having fun and dancing with one another suggests that this greyness should not hold you back from leaving those feelings behind once in a while.

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

[Review] Smooth Sailing – cignature

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After how much I enjoyed AURORA from earlier this year, I had to check out cignature’s next release much closer to the release date then what I did with AURORA. Dropped two days ago, cignature’s latest song is titled Smooth Sailing and is featured as part of the group’s fourth mini-album, Us In The Summer. This comeback does not feature member Belle, who is currently participating on the SBS survival show Universe Ticket.

The best way I can describe Smooth Sailing is that the new song has that cutesy tinge that AURORA had, but the sound profile also felt very OH MY GIRL. This combination feel very natural, especially for cignature, and this helps makes Smooth Sailing a very appreciable song. The song does lack the catchiness and memorable hooks that AURORA had, but what we do get is pretty decent. And I can only imagine them growing on me as I listen to the song more in the future (which is usually the effect on me). Their vocals and rapping was pretty good. I like the definition behind some of the vocals and chanting they had in Smooth Sailing, which gives everything a nice boost. Also, the cutesy tone that I mentioned before keeps the song buoyant and bright. But it is the instrumental that ultimately speaks the most to me. Smooth Sailing‘s pop instrumental features a large dose of brass that always makes any song feel upbeat and fun, and that effect is definitely felt across the broad in Smooth Sailing. It also gives the track a nice warm glow, which makes it feel even more suitable for the summery weather. And in combination with the vocals and hooks the song has to offer, Smooth Sailing feels very satisfying.

The music video features the members as school friends who discover a music competition. The majority of the rest of the video shows the members preparing for the music competition and having fun at the same time. I really liked the choice of having the video outside, which the light and weather that we see in the video contributing to a refreshing and breezy feeling. The natural aspect was also equally as refreshing. I did wish the video saw a crowd at the end, which would have been better than having cignature perform on stage without an audience. The lack of a crowd, as we see in the video, just felt weird.

The choreography was great. Again, nothing fancy. But it looks fun and likeable. Also, a simple routine feels just right in order to pair it with the song, and that is exactly what we got.

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

[Review] Baggy Jeans – NCT U

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This week kicked off with the return of NCT U and its familiar lineup of members for the release of the single Baggy Jeans, which also serves as the second title track off the NCT 2023 studio album Golden Age. For those who may not know, within NCT, NCT U is a rotational unit that changes its lineup depending on the single. For Baggy Jeans, we see the return of the lineup of The 7th Sense (the single in which launched NCT U back in 2016) – Taeyong, Mark, Jaehyun, Doyoung, and Ten. Last week, I reviewed the first title track from the album, which shares the same name as the album and features all the members in NCT currently active.

My review of The 7th Sense was pretty harsh in retrospect. While it came from a time where my thinking and writing wasn’t as mature as now, the review is truthful (and I still do not understand why so many people rave about it till this day). Maybe if I had a chance to rewrite the review, I would say it in a less harsher manner and think of the finer points to discuss in the review. But I am not here to discuss the initial single of NCT’s career. I am hear to discuss Baggy Jeans. But let me just say that when I first read the reference to The 7th Sense (which was in relation to the lineup, but I actually thought of the song in the first instance as I couldn’t remember who was part of the lineup then) when reading into the details of the comeback, it didn’t raise the bar of expectations for me. And that stands true to even after listening to Baggy Jeans. The hip-hop dance track does catch on thanks to the power of repetition (even though the repetition of the song title in a dull manner) and I enjoyed the whispery, descending, spoken vocals just before the choruses. I also thought the tinny instrumental break adds some dynamic flair to Baggy Jeans (though I could have done without the ‘Baggy/Baggy Jeans‘ repeats) and Mark’s ‘Yeah Boy‘ line just after the 2-minute mark was memorable. Unfortunately, that is all I personally enjoyed from the song. Baggy Jeans‘ verses were a bore due to the lack of attractive melodies from both the rappers and vocalists. The choruses was largely plain and the instrumentation in the central part lacked creativity. Talking about the instrumentation, the backing for some reasons gets scratchy and jarring within itself in the final run of the chorus. I am not entirely sure why this was a necessary development, but it made the already unappealing instrumentation even more unappealing. Unfortunately, Baggy Jeans doesn’t do it for me, just like how The 7th Sense never did as well.

Glad to see the members in baggy jeans for the video. Relevant and they look good. I also like how it wasn’t just denim central, with the stylist putting in some thought about how the members could blend in more cohesively with the plain yet simple backgrounds the video had and the hip-hop sound. The video could have been saturated in blue denim and I think that would been cliché and a bore to watch. I did like the choreography scene where it was just Mark and the four baggy jeans dancing along. That looked cool and emphasised the title of the song quite well.

The choreography was also quite good. I really liked how the routine captured the hip-hop side of the song and the members really took on that ‘swag’. My favourite bits were the formation around Doyoung, the striking start of having Taeyong on the floor between the other member’s legs and the dance break during the instrumental break.

Song – 6/10
Music Video – 7.5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 6.9/10

[Review] But I Like You – BOYNEXTDOOR

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Continuing my coverage of releases I should have reviewed much closer to when they were released is BOYNEXTDOOR’s But I Like You. It was one of three singles off the group’s first single album, Who!, all of which had an accompanying music video and were promoted on the weekly music shows. The other singles include One & Only and Serenade (the latter I have yet to review, and will return to review on another day). In other related news, BOYNEXTDOOR is due to make their comeback next month.

But I Like You is a fair song. Not as punchy as One & Only, but it does the job as an introduction to the group, given it was the first of the three singles to be released. But I Like You features a held-back form of pop rock. The beat keeps the song bouncing along, but there isn’t much else to the song to build excitement. But I Like You just doesn’t have enough meat to really deliver on that front and I wish it had that oomph as it does slightly frustrate me when the rest of the song is quite good. Vocally, the members sounded very nice. Their vocals had the right amount of texture to fit that pop-rock motif and they give enough energy to give But I Like You a vibrant flair that adds to the song’s appeal. The melodies and hooks had a catchy tinge, just not to the same degree as One & Only. Had the instrumental not been suppressed, I think the reach of melodies and hooks could have heightened. My only other two gripes of the song occurs at the end – the fact But I Like You is very short (it only goes for 2:17 minutes) and it has an abrupt ending that leaves you hanging for more. And that craving is never satisfied, as the single album goes onto the next song. Overall, But I Like You is decent and it is clear to me more could have been done on many fronts to make go further.

But I Like You is all about the feeling of falling in love. In the music video, the members all express this feeling after falling for the same girl. Not a foreign concept in KPOP, but it feels like it has been a while. We see the members sit around at the start, explaining their interactions and excitement to each other. However, those interactions are quite brief, such unintentional physical contact, glimpses from afar or with one another and short text messages. They all get invited to a party and realize their feelings are for the same girl. An awkward second occurs during the party, before the members appear to play it cool and leave the party. A short video, but I liked how succinctly yet effective the story was. And this is in addition to the choreography scenes.

The members did a super good job at making the song appear more vibrant and poppy. Their chemistry with the camera and one another does not allude to the fact the group were a newly debut group. I also like how they express themselves in the performance, with a youthful and cheerful vibe to compliment the song.

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

[Review] Blank Effect – PARK JI HOON

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A couple of months back, PARK JI HOON made his solo comeback with his seventh mini-album Blank or Black and the title track Blank Effect. Apologies for the delay in getting around to reviewing that track, but there is a reason for this delay which I will touch on in a moment. Blank Effect is PARK JI HOON’s first comeback in six months following the release of NITRO and The Answer in October 2022. It also follows the high praises he earned for starring in the successful K-drama Weak Hero Class 1, which turns the tables against PARK JI HOON’s widely known cute image (more on that a little later, as well).

In the intro paragraph to this review, I alluded that there is a reason to why I am reviewing Blank Effect four months after its release back in April. And the reason is very simple, I just forgot about the song’s existence. And listening to Blank Effect for the purposes of writing this review, that forgettable impression of the song still stands. Not only that, but I had hard time writing about the song today – there is barely anything notable to mention. Blank Effect lacks foundation without anything in the song sticking out as being memorable. This easily could have been resolved with a meaty melody or hook would really grab my attention. But even that was lacking. Even when it comes to the instrumental, aside from the fact that Blank Effect is dark and intense, there isn’t much to remember it by. PARK JI HOON, himself, was decent. His vocals had the subtle touch of hoarseness and this brought a really nice texture that works well with the dark nature and intensity of Blank Effect. Beyond that, there isn’t much else to mention for Blank Effect.

The music video for Blank Effect is much more interesting than the song itself. The video sees PARK JI HOON in a much darker and more mature lense, which probably captialises the darker turn his image took through his leading role on Weak Hero Class 1. The lyrics are about showing the true side of you as you get deeper into a relationship, with the video exploring PARK JI HOON’s transformation into a darker and more manic person as the video goes on. I applaud his acting in this video, as he does an amazing job of conveying this desire and emotions. The ending was particularly creepy, with PARK JI HOON catching on fire to complete the transformation mentioned above. There was also a some steam coming from the video with his interactions with the women in the video. The red-orange lighting also brings forth an evocative vibe, as well.

The lack of anything exciting or notable in the song did mean I didn’t pay attention to the live performances when the song was first released. And truthfully, upon watching a couple of the performances for Blank Effect today, I won’t be paying attention to them any time soon. The performance just didn’t have anything to it, and felt lethargic. I wish there was more to the song to really help out this routine be better and compelling.

Song – 5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 5/10
Overall Rating – 5.9/10

[Review] Golden Age – NCT 2023

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The release of Golden Age, the title of one of the two title tracks off the same-titled studio album of the NCT 2023 release, follows the news that NCT will no longer be an expansive group, with the lineup of NCT to be finalised following the the debut of the next unit (NCT Tokyo – the lineup of this unit has yet to be confirmed and any members debuting for the first time under this unit is not included in promotions for this NCT 2023 release). It is also follows the news that Sungchan and Shotaro are no longer part of the NCT lineup and have left the group to debut under RIIZE, and Lucas who departed from the group following controversy. We last saw NCT perform together as a group as part of their 2021 album release Universe with the single Beautiful.

I was surprised by both the teaser and start of the Golden Age, which alluded to a potential balladry direction of the lead single. Golden Age opens up with a soft piano melody of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 8, “Pathétique” 2nd Movement and harmonies from Doyoung. But this allusion was brief. The song then launches into some heavy electronic synths and less than memorable rapping (from Mark, YangYang, WinWin, Jeno and Taeyong). We then re-enter softer territory with a vocal-focused pre-chorus featuring Xiaojun, Renjun, Haechan. The members of NCT then all join forces to deliver an equally soft chorus, which features some comforting harmonies and melodies from everyone, that soft piano from the start. Yuta and Ten also gets some solo moments during the first run of the chorus. I will admit that the chorus didn’t have the level of impact I hoped it would, with the reversion to soft pop makes the song too mellow and drifty in my opinion. The rapping/synths verse, followed by the vocal pre-chorus and whole-of-group chorus, repeats itself, with Jaemin, Hendery, Jisung, Johnny, Jungwoo, Jaehyun, Ten, Haechan and Kun getting their own moments during this repeat sequence. Finally, Taeil, Chenle and (more) Xiaojun, YangYang, Jeno, Doyoung and Haechan are featured in the bridge, which brings the two sides of the song together pretty nicely. Golden Age then ends with a couple more lines of comforting harmonies, rather than a repeat of the chorus. While I like the potential of another beautiful song, the idea behind Golden Age and understand the complexity of incorporating 20 members into the song in a way where each member is given a fair go, I found Golden Age doesn’t come off as well as their past whole-of-group singles have like Beautiful or Resonance. I wished there was more memorable zing to the song (without disrupting the softness and flow of the track, as I think Golden Age has that covered as it is), just to make it more appealing and compelling to return to listen to.

I did like the two sides of the group that is shown in this video. On one hand, we have a softer and golden tinge to one half of the video (which mainly consist of the vocalists). On the other hand, the rappers appear in the video with an edgier tinge of darkness and red lighting. I would have liked to send more intersection between the two sides, but we do get some through the very brief interaction between Jaehyun, Ten and Jungwoo. I do want to know more about the keys the members are holding in hand. Some of the members hold onto theirs (i.e. Mark), but other members throws theirs into the fire (i.e. Jungwoo). I presume it might relate to the idea of the group now ceasing their international expansion and that they are becoming a fixed group without the need to open more doors. But that is just speculation from me.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.4/10

[Review] Memories – RIIZE

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Earlier this year, it was announced that Sungchan and Shotaro would be leaving NCT and debuting as part of SM Entertainment’s newest male group that will not be associated with NCT. Since then, it has been announced that new male group is named RIIZE and the rest of the seven-member lineup has been confirmed (Eunseok, Wonbin, Seunghan, Sohee and Anton join the two former NCT members). Officially, the group won’t be making their debut until early September. But they have teased their debut with the performance video for Siren and the pre-release single Memories (the focus of today’s review).

Surprisingly, I am not too upset with Memories. There are parts of the song that I really like more than others, and I do agree that there are some parts that do weaken the song. But despite those (and I will expand on them in a second) weaknesses, I didn’t go away from Memories with too many strong feelings about the song. Memories‘ chorus was very well done, bringing forth a very notable pop influence. If you have read this blog for a while, you probably could have guess that this is the segment of the song that I like the best and find super enjoyable. I like the impression of a faster tempo that came from the beat of the chorus, and the brightness and comfort the melodies and vocals brought to the song. On the other hand, Memories‘ verses were very hip-hop centric. While I thought the display of hip-hop in the first verse and pre-choruses were fine, it is the swap between pop to hip-hop in the second verse and bridge that I found to be clashing and jarring. They were good examples of the group’s potential approach into the hip-hop genre, and shows that the new group could potentially one day release a song that might be similar to the hip-hop style that is synonymous to NCT 127. But they just don’t mix well with the rest of the song. Overall, Memories does show promise for the new group in different areas. Memories doesn’t show much of it, but I am intrigued with this idea of ’emotional pop’ that SM Entertainment is marketing them with. I am also hopeful and looking forward to seeing what that style exactly means and what RIIZE has that separates them from the current groups.

The music video shows the group as a bunch of youthful teenagers hanging out with another. It is a decent introduction to the members and I hope what we saw showcases the members’ personalities to some degree. Something personalised would help start off their careers with a more relatable connection with the audience and also potentially be unique, so I think that would really help separate out the group with its competition somewhat. Apart from that, I concur with the recent articles that reported the group was being criticised for their dated hairstyles. I am sure the members have very little say in this, but some of the hairstyles in this music video (along with the outfit styling) looked very dated. I am also intrigued by the closing segment of the music video, which I presume alludes to their upcoming single Get A Guitar that is due to be released two Mondays from now.

While I found the switch between pop and hip-hop clashing in terms of music, I liked how they maintained some bounciness in the choreography for both sides of the song. It made for a seamless blend of styles on stage. I also enjoyed their fresh energy they brought to the stage.

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

[Review] Killin’ Me Good – JIHYO (TWICE)

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JIHYO is the second member of TWICE to release solo music, following the footsteps of NAYEON, who debuted last year with POP! JIHYO’s lead single is titled Killin’ Me Good and it is contained on her first solo mini-album, Zone – both of which dropped yesterday. JIHYO’s solo debut also follows TWICE’s early 2023 comeback with READY TO BE, TWICE’s Japanese comeback with Hare Hare and the debut of the group’s first unit (MISAMO) in Japan.

First impression of Killin’ Me Good yesterday is that JIHYO captivates in this solo debut project. Her vocals stand out from the very beginning and are an absolute highlight. I also like the fact that the vocals are bold and doesn’t waver at any point, which helps makes Killin’ Me Good a compelling listen. Her vocals also help propel the song forward, which also gives the song tenacity and drive. The instrumentation sits firmly in the R&B realm of music, but there is also a groovy presence to the song. While this combination isn’t anything new, the instrumentation of Killin’ Me Good feels amply upbeat and its boldness does work well with JIHYO’s vocals. My first listen to the song yesterday did deliver the impression that there might be a bit too much to the instrumentation, but that thought is officially long gone from my head. I am absolute in love the post-chorus sequence of the song that features the line “You’re making me feel something new“. It is more so how that sequence manages to switch up the momentum, and that JIHYO and the producers does so in a flawless and successfully manner without disrupting the song. Without a doubt, Killin’ Me Good is a successful solo debut in my books and I cannot wait to check out the mini-album and hear more from JIHYO.

The music video shows the breakdown of a relationship. At the start and for the majority of the video, we see the relationship between JIHYO and the male lead appear as strong as a rock. But once we enter the bridge of the song, the relationship breaks down with unanswered calls and text messages. Ultimately, this leaves JIHYO to call it quits and become a new version of herself. Upon reflection, I feel the lyrics of the song can be interpreted both ways. A relationship can make someone feel good (what the literal meaning of the lyrics are), but it can easily be dangerous (what the lyrics could potentially mean if you read between the lines). The fact that the music video does provoke thoughts about the lyrics and its meaning is pretty cool. I also really like the choreography scenes and JIHYO’s solo shots. She looks very pretty throughout and her outfits felt bold.

JIHYO’s command of the stage and stage presence made for a stage to watch. She killed it all departments, from vocals to dance moves. I really like how she doesn’t shy away from the routine at any point, and the moves were perfectly executed in both strong and sexy points of view. If you want to take anything away from this whole comeback, it is simply that JIHYO was born to be on stage.

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

[Review] SLAY – EVERGLOW

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EVERGLOW’s last comeback was with PIRATE back in December 2021. Then the group went on a 20-month hiatus, with minimal releases and zero promotions (but they did perform at some festivals and concerts) during that time. Well, EVERGLOW’s release drought finished yesterday, following the release of their fourth single album ALL THE GIRLS, and the title track SLAY.

Let me start of by saying I am glad EVERGLOW is back and isn’t no longer stuck in ‘no comeback’ limbo (which usually ends up in disbandment for those who have been in such a state for a long time). But with a song titled SLAY, you kind of expect the song to … well … slay. And knowing what EVERGLOW is capable of from their past releases such as LA DI DA to PIRATE, that expectation is definitely a given. But SLAY did not meet those expectations nor slay, which leaves me disappointed. While SLAY does have the hallmarks to really live up to those expectations, the song itself just doesn’t fully realize its potential. The synths could easily have been bombastic with additional definition, bass and bolstering. SLAY also lacks memorable melodies that could have helped the song be more appealing. The repetitive ‘Na Na Na” that dominates SLAY is too typical for my liking. And while the rapping was definitely a highlight in SLAY and the song is designed to be more of an anthem of female self-confidence, I do think the song could have benefited from a presence of stronger melodies, which would have highlighted their vocals strongly. And what we did get in terms of vocals in SLAY could have been taken to the next level had it too been bolstered. Some soaring high notes to accompany the start of the choruses would have ‘slayed’ as well. That being said, I did enjoy the more vocal moments of the song, such as those during the bridge and pre-choruses. They give SLAY bring a nice touch to the song, and if there is to be an alternate and stronger version of SLAY, then I wished those to be retained. While SLAY does appear to head in the right direction, it pretty much lacks the execution on both the members’ and production side to really go anywhere.

The music video looks good. There was a striking nature to the video and the solo shots of each member that works really well. When you consider their 20-month hiatus and the growth of KPOP over this same period, the music video for SLAY also serves as a re-introduction to the group for many new listeners. And I think the striking visuals and boldness of the video successfully does that. Kind of wished the song was like that. But apart from that, there isn’t much else to the video. I am not too troubled by it, as what I have already mentioned does feel enough and anything more could have been overwhelming or questionable.

I quite liked the performance. While nothing stands out specifically in the performance, their energy, sychronisation and sharpness really makes for a cool performance to watch. I also liked how during the vocal moments of the song, the choreography also incorporates some moves that provide a smoothness and gliding-like texture, which I thought brought a nice change of pace to the routine.

Song – 6.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.3/10

[Review] Bubble – STAYC

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STAYC made their comeback earlier this week with their 3rd mini-album TEENFRESH and the title track Bubble. It is their second comeback of this year, following the release of Teddy Bear in February.

For me, I love how unapologetically pop and fun Bubble is, especially when it came to the chorus. The hooks and melodies in the central piece of Bubble feels comforting and pleasant, whilst the instrumentation does a good job of keeping the song upbeat and vibrant. I particularly like the presence of the slightly rougher synths used in the background of the second half of the chorus, which boosts Bubble and gives it some interesting texture without ruining the pop flair. The “Bubble Bubble” hook is catchy and a few more listens can really cement Bubble into a memorable song. The members themselves brought a cutesy sweetness to the song that doesn’t feel overbearing or overwhelming, while the instrumentation elsewhere maintains that upbeatness and momentum of the song quite well. The strings at the start, while don’t appear to add much value to the song than just being the intro, actually serves well as an introduction and leads well into the track. While Bubble is very much an ‘all-good’ type of song and I really enjoyed it, I do think Bubble could have been taken further. Some harder synths and melodies would not hurt Bubble and could have helped bolster up the final product, delivering an even better track. But as it is, Bubble is definitely a bubbly track.

In the music video, we see what appears like a Disneyland-esque park, which draws a crowd of people waiting to enter. STAYC is a group of students living in a dorm, and they ditch their dorms for one day to join the line. From there, they have a fun day out and enjoy their time at the park with everyone else. I liked how they kept the storyline light on and focuses on the fun nature in a light-hearted and enjoyable manner, which reflects well on the song.

The choreography is very bubbly and playful. Like the music video, the performance fits well with the song. Nothing really stands out on its own, but there were some good moments and cutesy elements to the choreography that didn’t feel too heavy.

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