An artist whom we have not heard from for a while now is EXID. Their last Korean release was back in 2019 with ME & YOU, which followed the news that some members would be leaving their company at the time (Banana Culture) and an agreement between the members that EXID would go on hiatus to focus on solo endeavours. The group did remain active throughout 2020 in Japan, however. Last week, EXID regrouped to release the single album X and the title track FIRE to commemorate their 10th anniversary as a group since their debut back in 2012.

For those are not aware, I am a very big fan of EXID – even for releases that pre-dates their viral Up & Down. So to hear news that the group would be returning and releasing new music was quite exciting for me. However, FIRE is not like their any of their past hits. Instead, it slips back into pretty mediocre territory, which is slightly disappointed with. It would have been nice to hear music that reminisces over their past hits like Up & Down, Ah Yeah, I Love You etc. But given that this is their first release in three years, I am still pressing the replay button to the song. FIRE starts off with (and features prominently throughout) an ethnic influence, which I personally find to be a dated trend in KPOP. Hani and Elly (formerly LE) leads the charge into FIRE with an underwhelming interchange of vocals and raps. I wished their parts were more bolstered and defined, just to add some dynamism. Hyelin and Solji’s melodic pre-chorus comes next and this was by far the best part of FIRE. Then FIRE‘s chorus comes into play, which is is set up to be only instrumentation with the minimal lyrics. There isn’t anything wrong with this, but I felt a title like FIRE would have alluded to something more ferocious or electric. And I wished that the chorus, of all places, would have reflected this. At least the ‘Burning Up‘ sequence of the chorus does pick up the song to a degree to just add a bit of dynamic flair to the song. Junghwa’s main part occurs in the second verse. If you have not noticed from Hani’s vocal delivery (or the chorus sequences of the music video), FIRE is a mature comeback and Junghwa’s part really reiterates that. The amazing pre-chorus repeats, before we are taken to the 1st bridge, 1st half of the chorus and then 2nd bridge (which probably featured the cringiest set of lyrics in the song) and ending it all with the second half of the chorus (i.e. the ‘Burning Up‘ sequence), which helps end FIRE on a more dynamic note. Overall, FIRE is definitely not their best song ever. But it is still bearable and I would still take the song over no song any day.

As mentioned before, the concept for this comeback is sexy and mature. And this is a major selling point to the comeback in my opinion. The member’s visuals were charming and alluring throughout the video, and I am loving all of it. The only questionable element of the comeback is the prison location. I assume it was part of the producer/director’s vision for this comeback. Aside from that, I was burning for some fires in this video, probably due to the lack of energy I was getting from certain points in the video. This wish was fulfilled when that car exploded in the background. Some dynamic camera work at the end helped add energy to the video. I would have liked more, but what they did at the end was satisfying and fulfilling enough.

When it comes to EXID and their releases, you think of their key dance moves. If you were into KPOP in early 2015, you would know all about EXID’s Up & Down hip thrust move. And each subsequent comeback had a key move like so. FIRE does have that potential, with the hip movements in the first half of the chorus. I also quite liked the way the members were spaced out for the final sequence of the song, as it forces the camera to zoom out to capture everyone. And with the dancers circling Hani, Solji’s high note, LE’s vocals and Hani, Junghwa and Hyelin fast arm movements, it all comes together to look epic.

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

As mentioned previously, EXID will be going on an indefinite hiatus after wrapping up promotions for their latest mini-album, WE. This is due to Hani and Junghwa not renewing contracts with their current company. However, despite this headline, the group have continually stressed that the group is not disbanding and that they will be continuing as a five-member group in the future. As this will be the group’s final mini-album for some time, I jumped on the opportunity to review the mini-album, which features 7 tracks, including an urban mix of their previous single, Lady, and the instrumental version of their title track, ME & YOU (Note that these two tracks will not contribute to the ‘Overall Album Rating’).

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

2. We Are – Reading the lyrics to this song, We Are is a song for the fans. The members thank their fans in the song and remind that ‘We Have Each Other’ no matter what. It is definitely touching and at certain times, you can hear some emotions behind their voices (particularly Solji’s part of the song). The song itself features an R&B influenced instrumental and a chorus that continually repeats the title of the song in a heavily autotuned fashion. I am not too troubled by this as it gave the song an interesting texture. But I do see how it does chip away at the emotive side of the song. Personally, my favourite part of the song is the ending, with each member singing one line to the outro. It is definitely a nice way to leave us for the time being. (8/10)

3. The Vibe (아끼지마) – Impact is delivered from the very first second with The Vibe. Hani starts off the song in a spectacular manner that I cannot stop replaying. And her vocal performance throughout the rest of the song is outstanding. Usually, Solji is the member that gets the attention for vocals. But Hani is the real winner in the song. The other members (including Solji) do display great vocals. And while I really like the bluesy feels of the song, I felt the song was lacking in the instrumental domain. Sure, a complex instrumental would have been detrimental to the song and hide the vocals in this track. But I think the one they stuck in The Vibe was relatively plain and almost bland (if it wasn’t for the vocals). (8/10)

4. How You Doin’ (어떻게지내) – This is probably my pick for best song on the album. How You Doin’ has a groovy beat that I cannot help but enjoy. The upbeat atmosphere was something missing on this album (excluding the title track), so I am quite appreciative of the energy it brings. Junghwa’s ‘How You Doin’’ repetition was addictive and hooked me onto the song. The vocals and rapping were amazing in this track, drawing me in from the start as well. Some of the members brought a husky tone to the song, which I really enjoyed. I personally do not think there is any disappointing second in this song, which is an excellent thing. (9/10)

5. Midnight (나의밤) – Midnight closes out this album review, but it isn’t the final song on the album. Midnight has a pleasant tone to it. I cannot deny that. The song just doesn’t have any aspect that I think it is worth diving in for a second or third listen. In other words, I find it to be the weakest song on the album. The vocals were okay, but they don’t offer anything interesting, as per the other songs on the album. Likewise, the hooks weren’t strong or memorable enough. The ‘Bam Ba Bam’ was probably my pick for the highlight for the song but it just didn’t stick around for much due to the progression of the lyrics. (6/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.9/10

EXID returns today!. If you haven’t heard yet, EXID will be entering an indefinite hiatus as Hani and Junghwa chose to not renew their contracts with their current company, Banana Culture. Despite the label changes, the group will be remaining together (just under various companies). But given how groups who are scattered between companies don’t make comebacks, it does look quite grim for EXID (even though they are still contracted in Japan as a five-member group and seem confident that they will be returning as a quintet sooner than later). But this means that this will be their last comeback for some time. And as an avid EXID fan, I am very saddened to hear this news.

Their latest title track is titled Me & You and I think it is another fantastic song to their portfolio. It is a little different (like I Love You) from their more popular hits like Up & Down and Ah Yeah. Firstly, the song seems to conform to trends in the industry nowadays. I am referring to their instrumental only chorus, which I thought was a really good beat drop. It particularly contrasted nicely with the more acoustic start and almost still-like verses. Secondly, I also liked how the song focused more on vocals/raps, rather than repetitive hooks. In particular, Hyerin managed to use her vocals that she built up during Solji’s absence in the song, which I was slightly worried that she would not be able to anymore. All other members sound really nice and LE’s rap provided a very appealing rush of energy and intensity. I like that buildup to the party-like and dynamically instrumented ending of the song, once again contrasting nicely with the verses of the song. It does cap off the energy well. Personally, I don’t find the song as catchy as their previous tracks. But I do predict that the song will become very addictive very soon (especially after writing this review due to my repetitive listens).

I think the contrast between the verses and the more upbeat chorus/ending was shown well in this video. The verses were highlighted by the use of black and white scenes, along with the lack of movements within the red sets (with the latter being very elegant looking). I thought the members looked very beautiful in their wedding inspired outfits during these closeup scenes. But the chorus and end take a turn by showcasing more of the choreography, shaky camera shots and the neon party outfits. Both are highly fitting with their parts of the song. I like the music video and thought it was rather cool.

Due to an injury, LE’s participation in the performance was quite limited. While this can’t be helped, I did miss her during the chorus. I really like the elegant nature of the choreography during the pre-chorus, before they get into the more intensive chorus. I thought the ending section was really cool and definitely the moves made the ending feel more bombastic.

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

This is the comeback that I have been waiting for all week. EXID has finally returned, along with Solji who has been absent from group promotions for almost two years now! Welcome back Solji! Their comeback single is titled as I Love You and is their first comeback since Lady, which was released back in April. Since then, the group (with Solji) made their official Japanese debut with their hit track, Up & Down.

I Love You opens up with the most addictive hook of the year. I have no idea if I will find it annoying in the future, but at the moment, I am totally digging it. It is definitely attention-grabbing. The verses were good but there isn’t much to talk about. I like how the chorus comes into play. Both Hyelin and Solji have ‘louder’ sections with their vocals jumping right at you. It is unexpecting but it manages to fit in. To avoid being too repetitive, the song takes a change for the second verse, becoming a lot more techno-y and much sexier. I love Hani’s whisper that comes at the end of the verse, which I thought was another highlight of the song. I do think the Solji’s high note at the end clashed with the song, making the ending appear slightly messy. But other than that, I Love You is probably my next favourite song.

Hopefully, you did not gag throughout this music video. EXID did a lot of gagging, which seems a little odd at first. I had a quick look at the lyrics but they don’t really fit the gagging into the song. It seems like there is some sort of regret going on, as Hani changes the course of the video to prevent each member from gagging/throwing up by editing some footage, which allows everyone to spend a more enjoyable night. And the worst thing after a night out is the hangover in the morning! I liked the comedic effect the video touched on and the Elmo character in the background for some of the scenes. The music video was also very colourful, which I thought added to the atmosphere of the video.

And I love the choreography. The moves associated to the hook were simple and can potentially rival their Up & Down hip thrust that drove them to the top of the charts. It was also sexy and oozed confidence, which is right up EXID’s alley. I also thought it was rather interesting they staggered the same dance move in the middle of the song, which I thought was a nice effect.

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

Making their first comeback of 2018 just a few hours ago is EXID with Lady. This is EXID’s latest comeback since DDD, which was released in November last year. EXID is still 4-members, with Solji sitting out of this comeback entirely due to health reasons. With not much else to say, let’s get right into this review.

Lady is a 90’s throwback song. The song features new jack swing instrumental which literally takes you back to that era. Despite retro being a very large aspect of the Korean pop scene, Lady was surprisingly fresh and interesting to listen to. It features great vocals and raps, which is usual for EXID. The song also managed to throw in a few ad-libs by Hyerin (just before the chorus), which has confirmed how far Hyerin has come since he had to cover for Solji. While it only has been out a few hours, there were a few things that I noticed to be potential flaws. The first being the chorus. Don’t get me wrong, it is melodic and a decent chorus. But it isn’t as strong or catchy as their previous title tracks. On top of that, the chorus would have felt more lively if the jump into it was more exciting and attracting. Instead, what we go made the song feel almost ‘one-sound’. It may take a few more listens to warm up to the chorus but overall, it was still a decent track.

Like the song, their fashion in the video is extremely ’90s. It is a trend that I am seeing amongst some idols nowadays, with the reemergence of baggy clothing. However, this video does it extremely well, with each member looking stunning (what else do you expect from EXID). Also liking the pixelated quality of the video, which is similar to the VCR or just normal boxed television you would get back in the day. Some of their transitions (such as the star and the slow motion is distinctively ’90s. It is a very cool video that suits the song very well and honestly, there is nothing to else to add to the video to make it feel more like the ’90s.

I even think some of the moves they included in the instrumental are directly related to the ’90s. While I don’t think it has anything to rival their past popular dances, it looked fun.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 7.6/10

EXID has made their return with DDD. This is their first comeback since Night Rather Than Day and their Eclipse mini-album. This is also their first comeback with Solji since she announced her hiatus due to health issues. However, despite featuring on the album and in the actual title track, she is not promoting alongside the group this time around, so fans must wait a little longer. But regardless, it is great to have her back with her group and (somewhat) in her element.

I personally think DDD is an excellent song. Yes, it feels similar to their past hits like Up & Down and Ah Yeah but it can stand alone. I really like how they surround LE’s rap with the vocals, something they did in Ah Yeah that blew my mind. That structure shows off some creativity. The good thing is that they haven’t done it with every single comeback since then, so it feels somewhat fresh. Plus the contrast between the high-pitch vocals and LE’s edgy raps add a nice appeal. The chorus takes a turn to standard pop while the verse felt more grungy and tough. But that also has a nice contrast with the upbeat instrumental that featured in the chorus. The vocals themselves are definitely another standout to the song, particularly the addition of Solji’s to the mix, which was definitely missed (but Hyerin has been doing amazing covering for the missing member). The best part of the song was the “Dul Dul Dul“. So catchy and addictive. It is up there with all my favourite EXID songs.

덜덜덜 (I know, I am including Korean in my review. This is a first.) is basically a slang way of expressing the shaking feeling you get when you are surprised or shocked (Source). And the way they managed to represent it in the music video is by coldness. It goes hand in hand. But the girls manage to take it all back to their sexy days (which started their fame in the first place) with this video. I pretty much thought this was a great video. Through the different camera angles (check out the see-through floor) and the cinematography throughout the video, you can see that this video is well-produced and put together. I love the concept and how all the members stand out in it. It does remind me of Up and Down quite a bit but with a different flare to it. 

The most disappointing part of the choreography is the lack of key dance moves. I don’t find anything that stands out as a moment that would make me think and say ‘this is the DDD dance’. It just felt ordinary.

Song – 9.5/10
Music Video – 9/10 
Performance – 6/10
Overall Rating – 8.65/10

Last year’s hottest group is officially back. EXID has returned with their first ever full album in their 4-year career.

Big fan of the group, but when I listen to the song, it doesn’t blow my mind. I kind of go “meh” every time I hear it and just listen to it. It doesn’t have me head banging or bouncing around in joy. It isn’t as catchy (which they are known for) nor addictive.   According to some people Up & Down, Ah Yeah and Hot Pink sounded very similar, which I disagree with. This song sounds a lot weaker than any of their previous singles. I do have to say it is a great mash-up of the classy and electronic genres. There is definitely some class in the verses and chorus. As for the electronic additions, you can hear them in the instrumental break down. It is a little weird as it barely matches up, but it still manages to work pretty well. I personally liked them a lot, but yeah, it did make the song sound awkward. The vocals seemed to be held back. Not bad, but once again, I do miss that powerful vocal style. I do agree with many people and say that LE’s rap gave the song more meaning (and is probably one of the few reasons to why I would actually listen to the song). And if you cannot tell how I feel about the song so far: I am disappointed with it.

The music video is pretty nice to watch. It does fall a bit on the boring side, but I actually put up with it every time I listen to it. I just want to start off with the “sexual controversy” that the video had. Many people (netizens) have complained about the many sexual references made in the video.  The director responded with “it was deliberate” and that pretty much made my day. Anyway, those sexual scenes were probably my favourite parts of the video. Hani, seasoning the meat so suggestively and LE in that bathtub. OMG. The music video starts off with a couple checking into the hotel. It seems like the girls are searching for the guy, who probably from the title is lying to a lot of people. I love Hyerin in the black dress, who instead of picking petals off the flower, is ripping hair out of a Ken Doll. Their acting in this video is quite nice and very bright. I just felt something else in terms of the plot should have made the video more interesting. The guy exploding at the end was a little alarming and confused me quite a bit, but they should have included what happened in between, like “why did the guy explode?” and “how did that occur?”.

The dance was okay. Not as memorable as their previous dances. Loved the dance break but felt the chorus was a little lacking.

Final Rating – 6/10