Tag: NCT DOJAEJUNG

[Album Review] Golden Age (4th Studio Album) – NCT

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NCT is nominated for Best Male Group, while MARK (NCT) is nominated for Best Rap Performance, and NCT DREAM and NCT DOJAEJUNG are nominated for Best Subunit (amongst other categories) in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support NCT and their associated acts, songs and performances by clicking here to vote today.

NCT returned with 20-members (sans LUCAS, who left the group due to controversy, and SUNGCHAN and SHOTARO who both were transferred to RIIZE) in August this year with a new album – Golden Age. Leading the charge on this 10-track album are Baggy Jeans and Golden Age. In addition to the 2 title tracks, I have also been busy reviewing 4 songs that has an ‘archiving video’ released as part of the promotions. And with all possible tracks eligible for a separate song review now ‘reviewed’, the only thing left is the rest of the album, which is why we are gathered here today. Golden Age is a fair album, with some great tracks on the list. For more of my own thoughts on the individual, continue reading onwards.

Golden Age Album Cover

1. Baggy Jeans (Title Track) (TAEYONG, DOYOUNG, JAEHYUN, TEN & MARK) – Click here to read the full review of Baggy Jeans. (6/10)

2. Call D (TAEYONG & TEN) – You might remember the pairing of TAEYONG and TEN from their Baby Don’t Stop days (almost 6 years ago). They are paired together again (just like how Baggy Jeans reunited the initial NCT U lineup) for Call D. And boy, this is an amazing track! I really like the synth work in this instrumentation, which translates to an awesome performance. It feels very textural, and the glitchness double downs towards the end. I find both TAEYONG and TEN to be quite charismatic in Call D with their rapping and vocals (that bridge was beautiful), captivating us further. (10/10)

3. PADO (JOHNNY, TAEYONG, JAEHYUN, MARK, XIAOJUN, HENDERY & HAECHAN) – Click here for the full review of PADO. (10/10)

4. Interlude: Oasis (YUTA, JAEHYUN, WINWIN, JAEMIN & CHENLE) – Oasis is a very soft R&B-like number, much different to what we are used from NCT. ‘Easy on the ears’ as I tend to say, but this description also comes about from the overall smooth vibes that comes from the track. This interlude track also highlights the vocals and rapping from this lineup, particularly from CHENLE and JAEMIN. (8.5/10)

5. The BAT (TAEIL, JOHNNY, YUTA, JUNGWOO, HENDERY, JENO & JISUNG) – Click here for the full review for The BAT. (8.5/10)

6. Alley Oop (YUTA, WINWIN, HENDERY, JENO, JAEMIN, YANGYANG & JISUNG) – Click here to read the full review for Alley Oop. (8/10)

7. That’s Not Fair (JOHNNY, TAEYONG, TEN, MARK, JENO & YANGYANG) – That’s Not Fair takes on the hip-hop style of music in a unique manner. Firstly, the instrumental has this subtle type of intensity which bubbles way. It never really builds, but you can tell it happening in the background. I also like the ‘down low’ nature of the backing, which complements the deeper and lower registers that the unit delivers their line in. This lower tone also enables a monotonous approach in That’s Not Fair that just screams out hip-hop. The melodies that manage to come through helps push the song along, and there are some catchy hooks in That’s Not Fair. All of this contributes to an experience that I wouldn’t mind going back to time and time again. (8/10)

8. Kangaroo (TAEIL, KUN, RENJUN, YANGYANG, CHENLE & JISUNG) – Click here for the full review of Kangaroo. (7.5/10)

9. Not Your Fault (TAEIL, KUN, DOYOUNG, TEN, JUNGWOO, XIAOJUN & RENJUN) – For the second last track on this album, this seven-member vocalist lineup brings us a R&B ballad. Not Your Fault is pretty much a familiar track for the likes of an R&B ballad. It features a warm and pleasantly instrumented piano-centric backing and stunning vocals from the lineup – JUNGWOO’s vocals at the end is soooo nice. It isn’t the most memorable track of the bunch, but it is still a nice listen. (7.5/10)

10. Golden Age – Click here for the full review of Golden Age. (7/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.1/10

  • YUTA’s teaser image for Golden Age
  • YANGYANG’s Teaser Image for Golden Age
  • XIAOJUN’s teaser image for Golden Age.
  • WINWIN’s teaser image for Golden Age.
  • TEN’s teaser image for Golden Age.
  • TAEYONG’s teaser image for Golden Age
  • TAEIL’s teaser image for Golden Age.
  • RENJUN’s teaser image for Golden Age
  • MARK’s teaser image for Golden Age.
  • KUN’s teaser image for Golden Age.
  • JUNGWOO’s teaser image for Golden Age.
  • JOHNNY’s teaser image for Golden Age.
  • JISUNG’s teaser image for Golden Age.
  • JENO’s teaser image for Golden Age.
  • JAEMIN’s teaser image for Golden Age.
  • JAEHYUN’s teaser image for Golden Age.
  • HENDERY’s teaser image for Golden Age.
  • HAECHAN’s teaser image for Golden Age.
  • DOYOUNG’s teaser image for Golden Age.
  • CHENLE’s teaser image for Golden Age.

Happy Holidays 🙂

[Album Review] PERFUME (1st Mini Album) – NCT DOJAEJUNG

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NCT DOJAEJUNG is the latest unit to debut under the NCT group and consists of Doyoung, Jaehyun and Jungwoo. They released PERFUME back in April of this year, the shared title of both the title track and mini-album. Alongside the title track, the mini-album also features an additional five side tracks. Following this unit debut, the trio rejoined the rest of NCT for their 2023 full group comeback with Golden Age/Baggy Jeans (in the case of Doyoung) and the trio are also set to join the rest of NCT 127 in another comeback later this year.

PERFUME is a R&B centric mini-album, with the trio exploring the genre in all but one track. And their exploration of the genre is super engaging. I enjoyed all the tracks on this mini-album and each track got a high rating from me. This, overall, contributed to the higher end rating for an album release on my blog. I would recommend it to you if you are into the R&B genre or like the songs with the same effect or aspects of the R&B genre. Or if you are an NCT fan, especially if you find yourself overwhelmed with their more synth-heavy releases.

PERFUME Album Cover

1. Perfume (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Perfume. (9/10)

2. Kiss – The unit’s exploration of R&B continues in Kiss. This track has such a cool layered and rhythmic instrumentation that pulls you in. I liked the brass and jazzy elements that features in this song. The vocal work from the trio is on point and encapsulates what you expect from the R&B genre. The harmonies in the chorus also work extremely well. I particularly enjoyed the more jaggered approach Doyoung and Jaehyun took in the post-chorus sections that follows the first and last choruses. It was an interesting texture in this otherwise smooth number. (8/10)

3. Dive – Dive slows down the mini-album with a paced and atmospheric number. The instrumentation features short, sharp yet hefty beats, and a dotty but prevalent synth line. The trio takes a softer approach with their vocals, with Jungwoo and Doyoung really standing out in this song. Altogether, it is a very interesting mix. But it somehow works cohesively and is an extremely palatable track. (8/10) 

4. Strawberry Sunday – Just as sweet as the title suggests, Strawberry Sunday is a sweet track. It is also the most upbeat number of the mini-album and I appreciate this infusion of energy. I really like the funkiness the instrumental had and the synthesizer was a really nice touch. The dreamy instrumentation to the bridge was also a highlight. The chanty moments in Strawberry Sunday gives some punch to the song. I also enjoyed Jungwoo’s part in the second chorus, where he breaks up the title (by syllables) between the beats. It made for a cool ad-lib in the track. Doyoung and Jaehyun also provide some ad-libs and these sounded amazing, as well. As you can tell by my long breakdown of Strawberry Sunday, there is a lot to like. And it all enough to earn it a 10/10 rating. (10/10)

5. Can We Go Back (후유증) – Signs of the trio forming a unit emerged many months ahead of this album release, with Can We Go Back being previously performed at the MBC Gayo Daejejeon. Can We Go Back features some smooth melodies, guitar riffs and rhythmic beat – all of which feels synonymous to the R&B genre. The vocal work from the trio is impeccable, especially in those memorable “Oooh, Oooh, Oooh” melodies. Each member had standout moments, with Jungwoo standing out in the second verse, and Doyoung and Jaehyun shining the most in the bridge of the song. (9/10)

6. Ordinary (안녕) – The final track on the mini-album is Ordinary and it departs from the R&B centric exploration. Instead, the final track is a ballad, which was expected somewhere along the way from the trio, given vocals is what comes to mind first when you put together the names Doyoung, Jaehyun, Jungwoo. The vocals are showcased well in the song, with the trio given another opportunity to convey emotions to the audience (which they do successfully). The piano centric instrumental does seem to have a tinge of R&B to it, which does help make it relevant and fit in with the rest of the mini-album. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.7/10

Perfume Teaser Image

[Review] Perfume – NCT DOJAEJUNG

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Yesterday, NCT unveiled their newest unit, NCT DOJUNGJAE, which consists of members Doyoung, Jaehyun and Jungwoo. While the focus of the units in the past has been on global expansion (i.e. the debut of WayV and the upcoming debut of NCT Tokyo), age (i.e., the basis of NCT Dream’s debut in 2016), and genre (i.e., NCT 127, who has a hold on experimental hip-hop), I am not entirely sure of the basis of NCT DOJAEJUNG’s debut just yet. Kicking off this new unit’s discography is the shared titled mini-album and title track, Perfume. In other relevant news, SM Entertainment has announced that with the debut of NCT Tokyo this year, the lineup of NCT will become fixed and no further units will debut to expand the group. However, I don’t think we will stop seeing units being formed from the final lineup of the group, such as NCT DOJAEJUNG. Of course, time will tell if that is the case. But for now, let’s focus on NCT DOJAEJUNG and Perfume.

When I first heard Doyoung, Jaehyun and Jungwoo were joining forces in this unit, I honestly thought the unit will be geared towards ballads (as is the case with most vocally geared tracks). But consider me genuinely surprised with the more upbeat and groovy nature of Perfume. And this unexpected twist in sound has me coming back for more. Perfume‘s combination of the R&B influences and funky electro groove calls back to the 90s, which is an era in which KPOP does not seem to get enough of. The trio steps the song up with a more sensual vibe coming from their vocals, which I vote as Perfume‘s best aspect. While all the members do shine in this department, I must commend Doyoung in particular, who effortlessly brings a consistent level of smoothness to the song. The bridge does make make me go ‘Ooh~’, which is the best reaction you can get from me. I also enjoy the harmonised shoutier approach the second half of the choruses takes, which gives Perfume a bit of oomph that pays off tremendously. While the smoothness is also another strong aspect of Perfume, I did feel the same element may have hurled Perfume forward to make it feel like it ends quite soon after it starts. I wish there was something to ground Perfume just a bit. Also, the “Woo” and whistle in the second verse was a tad cringy for my liking. But these are honestly minor criticisms from me. Apart from them, Perfume is such a strong showing from the three members and is super well-done.

Based on the opening of the music video and the loose clothing that the trio don throughout the music video, it is clear to me that the concept is of a sensual nature. And I find this super fitting for a song title Perfume, given that scent can be a turn on for many people and the message behind the lyrics of the song. The members were flirty throughout the video, which speaks to their chemistry with the camera. I also enjoyed the fact the members got to film outside in the open for once. I know we have seen some NCT music videos in an outside location before (i.e. NCT Dream’s Beatbox as an example). But more often then not, we see NCT music videos filmed in the confines of a studio.

Complementing the strong song is an equally strong performance. I really liked the combination of sensual and powerful moments in the routine. Sensual during the slower moments where smoothness prevails. Powerful in the choruses, when the song is at its peak with the beat and chest pumps are the main move. I also like the incorporation of pulse points in the choreography for the first half of the choruses, which is where you are supposed to apply perfume and cologne to ensure you exude the strongest scent.

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