Tag: NCT

[Album Review] YOUTH (1st Studio Album) – DOYOUNG (NCT)

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Another album review today (standard transmission of song reviews will resume tomorrow and into the weekend). This time, it is for DOYOUNG’s debut solo album, titled 청춘의 포말 or YOUTH. This was released in April and features 10 songs, including the title track Little Light. DOYOUNG is the 3rd member to have an official solo release in NCT, following TAEYONG and MARK.

YOUTH is a remarkable album that shows us a few styles of music, all intersecting with one another through DOYOUNG’s heavenly and stunning vocals. There are literally no bad songs on this album, making it one of the highest-ranked albums of the year thus far. A definite recommend to anyone who is looking for a new artist to delve into.

청춘의 포말 (YOUTH) Album Cover

1. Beginning (새봄의 노래) – Beginning (not an exact reference to the song) the album is a stunner. Beginning (the song) is a beautiful track that starts soft and delicate. As it progresses, it builds into a powerful track that captivates you. The piano is the song’s best part, with the recurring riff being so lovely. DOYOUNG vocals follow the same trajectory as the instrumental and add to that captivation, making it hard to skip this opening song. (10/10)

2. Little Light (반딧불) (Title Track) – Click here for the full review of Little Light. (9.5/10)

3. From Little Wave (나의 바다에게) – Rock infuses into the album through From Little Wave. From the start, I liked how DOYOUNG controlled From Little Wave, turning what arguably sounded like strong rock elements into a soft song with his vocals. However, as the song progresses, the rock takes over. But it doesn’t overwhelm DOYOUNG’s vocals, which remain the song’s focal point. Another great song with a strong trajectory. (9/10)

4. Time Machine (ft. TAEYEON (SNSD) & MARK (NCT)) – Of all the tracks on the album aside from the title track, there was a lot of anticipation of Time Machine. After all, it features DOYOUNG, TAEYEON and MARK – all big names from SM Entertainment. I love how dreamy the track was, with beautiful acoustics as part of its mid-tempo instrumentation. All three members sound amazing, but it was best at the end with their harmonies and DOYOUNG and TAEYEON’s ad-libs. (9/10)

5. Serenade (내가 됐으면 해) – Another dreamy vocal track from DOYOUNG. This one taps into R&B and has this jazzy vibe to it. I love how soothing his vocals are on this track at times and how warm the track sounds. However, this song is on more of the typical side than the others on the album. But it still liked how Serenade sounds nonetheless. (8/10)

6. Rewind (끝에서 다시) – Rewind is the type of ballad you must close your eyes to and just let DOYOUNG take you away. I don’t think there is any other plausible way to appreciate the song. The best way I can describe Rewind is using a painting analogy – the piano-only instrumental would serve as a blank and smooth canvas that makes paint easy. In contrast, DOYOUNG vocals (which were so raw and emotive) would serve as the brush strokes that make up the painting on the canvas. Rewind was truly a beautiful listen. (10/10)

7. Warmth (온기) – Ironically, I get chills listening to Warmth, from DOYOUNG’s vocals which are breathtaking in Warmth. He is a lot breathier in the song, making his vocals feel silky and smooth. I also enjoyed how his vocals build in the song. The classical instrumental is really beautiful itself. Another amazing ballad to earn a 10/10. (10/10)

8. Lost In California – Lost in California plays with dynamics, which makes it an interesting song. Lost In California goes almost grungy in the choruses, but the verses are much softer. The bridge takes a balladry turn. DOYOUNG perfected the transitions between each, ensuring the song stays cohesive despite each section being distinct. The launch between verse and chorus was impactful, while he tapers the end of the grungier choruses with a wispy, memorable tone. I also love how he delivers the “Dream in” and the “Leave here” in the outro. (10/10)

9. Rest (쉼표) – Rest is quite likeable thanks to its pop melodies and the overall energy exuded from the song. The band instrumental is quite refreshing and upbeat, while the electric guitars help give the song some zing. I find it a bit standard compared to the string of songs preceding it, but still a good listen. (8/10) 

10. Dallas Love Field – Closing out YOUTH is Dallas Love Field, which delves into the pop rock subgenre. I liked how passionate and vibrant DOYOUNG’s vocals were throughout Dallas Love Field. At times, I thought DOYOUNG slipped into a dreamy demeanour, which was an intriguing direction for an upbeat pop-rock track like Dallas Love Field. I loved it when the backing vocals came into play, and DOYOUNG moved into ad-libs territory. I just wished he finished the song by easing out and not being abrupt as it was. But it’s a wonderful end to the album nonetheless. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 9.3/10

청춘의 포말 (YOUTH) Teaser Image

[Review] Rains In Heaven – NCT DREAM

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Back in August, NCT DREAM released their first original English single, Rains In Heaven. This follows their Korean comeback earlier in the year with Smoothie and DREAM()SCAPE, and their Japanese Moonlight comeback (which I have yet to review and will do so in a future International Song Review post).

If you cast your mind back to before this release, NCT DREAM’s other non-Korean release (Best Friend Ever) was quite subdued. Rains In Heaven continues that subdued trend. Just like how I stated in Best Friend Ever‘s review, there is nothing wrong with the subdued sound and Rains In Heaven is another great example. Sure, it has not reached the same heights as their Korean non-subdued releases, but that doesn’t mean Rains In Heaven should be overlooked. Everything you hear in Rains In Heaven is just so heavenly and pleasant, which complements the song’s comforting and heartfelt message that empathises with those who are hurt or struggling, and being a support to those people. I am sure this song has touched many listener’s hearts – it did so for me. As for the other elements of Rains In Heaven – the atmopsheric and etheral instrumentation delves into 1980s pop, with the synths and beat coming from that era. There are some modern elements in the song, but these are very minute. The subdued nature allows NCT DREAM to explore melodic material, evident by the stunning all-vocal chorus that take the centre stage in Rains In Heaven. Both the harmonies and melodies captivate me each time I listen to the song. It still contains some rapping, which does contrast with the melodic and harmonies. But they strike a really good balance that doesn’t disrupt the energy of the song. The outro is a really good example of this, with the harmonies, melodies and rapping working together to close out the song in a very memorable and strong fashion. it is needless to say, but I really liked Rains In Heaven.

To me, it was still a good video, but there wasn’t a whole heap going on in the video to really comment on. We see the members wander around for majority of the video, but it isn’t clear if they are experiencing struggles of their own. The scene between JENO and JAEMIN does seem to depict that, but I am not sure of the scenes with the other four members. But what the video does convey strongly is the support for one another when they are together and not alone, which complements the song’s lyrics. From the second chorus onwards, choreography scenes are infused into the video and I like that mini wow factor it brings when we see them for the first time in the video.

While there has not been an official performance video for this release, a big portion of the music video is dedicated to the choreography. NCT DREAM has also performed Rains In Heaven as part of their current world tour in America. I like the range of smooth and softer movements, with the sharper and more intense movements in this choreography. By having this range of moves, the performance acknowledges both the emotive sides of the song and the relatively hefty beat of the track. But the best part of the entire routine has to be the outro, where they really go in hard.

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

[Album Review] DREAM()SCAPE (6th Mini Album) – NCT DREAM

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NCT DREAM’s DREAM()SCAPE is next up for review. Released in March 2024, the mini-album features a total of six songs, including the title track Smoothie. In the lead-up to this comeback, the group released videos that made up the ‘()Scape Film‘ series, which I highly recommend you check out if you have not already. The storytelling and acting of the members were very riveting. It was a solid start to this era of NCT DREAM’s careers. More recently, NCT DREAM made a comeback in Japan with a single titled Moonlight, and an English single titled Rains in Heaven. The group is also on a world tour associated with last year’s ISTJ studio album and DREAM()SCAPE.

Dream()scape Album Cover

1. Icantfeelanything – Icantfeelanything is quite an opener. Can’t say it is the best from the top of my mind, but it would definitely be up there. The track is quite euphoric, with the dreamy start and vocals throughout the track being the main driver. The abrupt EDM switch-up and the pulsing beats give off a psychedelic feel that makes Icantfeelanything so unique. The title is realized, regardless of either side of the song. (10/10)

2. Smoothie (Title Track) – Click here for the full review of Smoothie. (8/10)

3. BOX – BOX’s best part is its chorus. There is something about the members coming together in BOX during the chorus, which feels smooth and blissful. The “Don’t put me in a BOX” is quite memorable. I also like how dramatic the synths get during the central piece. The rest of this R&B dance track featured hip-hop geared rapping from the rap line and alluring vocals. HAECHAN, CHENLE, and RENJUN’s vocals in the bridge were also another highlight in BOX. The etchy synth loop was quite characteristic, as well. (8.5/10)

4. Carat Cake – The Jersey Club mix in Carat Cake’s background makes this track bold and intriguing. The beat hits hard. Some are subtle and soft, while others are short sharp jabs that artistically contrast Carat Cake‘s softness. All of this created an alluring atmosphere that I still find myself become so captivated by. I really like the mix of vocals and rapping in Carat Cake. Some vocals were airy, while others were heavier and more textural through autotune. RENJUN’s part at the 1:15 mark is one of the best in the track which I would be glad to replay. The rapping was slighter than usual, but still punchy. The whispering also gives Carat Cake a lot of character. (10/10)   

5. UNKNOWN – UNKNOWN takes the mini-album down a few notches with this chill R&B track. Again, the song features atmospheric synths in the background, and the trap percussion feels like sprinkles over the top of the synths. What makes UNKNOWN good are the vocals and rapping. The vocals are so delicate and soft throughout UNKNOWN, while the rapping contrasts with the rest of the song by going in hard. I just wished the melodies were a little more memorable. (9/10)

6. Breathing (숨) – The final track on the mini-album is Breathing. It is more of a heart-warming and beautiful track compared to the other tracks before it. The vocals were lovely, as are the melodies and harmonies that NCT DREAM showcases in the song. The instrumentation follows the same vein as the above tracks – atmospheric. But there is a soothing and comforting element to the Breathing that sets it apart from the rest. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.9/10

Dream()scape / Smoothie Teaser Image

[Review] Smoke – JAEHYUN (NCT)

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I flip back to the start of the week when JAEHYUN made his official solo debut with the single Smoke and his first studio album, J. Previously, JAEHYUN teased his solo debut a week ago through a unique music video combining the tracks Dandelion and Roses into one video. Through the NCT Lab project, he has also released other solo singles (Forever Only and Horizon).

Smoke ventures into the hip-hop side of the R&B genre. This shouldn’t be a surprise, given that JAEHYUN has shone under the R&B spotlight before (see his pre-release singles). And it makes sense for him to do something a little different, like infusing a bit of hip-hop into the folds of Smoke, rather than just doing straightforward R&B (which we got two sides of last week). While this sounds good, I don’t think it is well executed (more on that in a second). I must really highlight the guitar present throughout the track. It added rhythm to push the song along. Towards the end of the song, we hear a jazzy instrumental background come into the mix, which I thought was an excellent trajectory for the track. The piano here really sounded great! The Smoke‘s verses and bridge were fine. R&B comes through strongest during the verses, and JAEHYUN sounds like he is in his element. On the other hand, the choruses of Smoke were questionable. The hip-hop style becomes more prevalent here, and I like the deep, bouncy beat of the central piece. But his spoken delivery just didn’t do it for me. It takes away the sultry flow of the R&B building in the verses and leaves a void that wants to be filled. It also dulls the song, which I found to be an issue in the performances. I get that such a chorus is an attempt to do something different (as noted above), but ‘doing something different’ shouldn’t detract from the rest of the song. Smoke‘s chorus then leaves another problem – how does Smoke reclaim its glory and stand out positively? I don’t think it has the means to. The only logical part of Smoke to look towards is the verses. But while I do like the verses, I don’t think the verses were as memorable as the void-creating choruses and could not have compensated for the choruses. I guess JAEHYUN should have just kept to Roses.

I am confused about how the music video and song relate. The song’s lyrics invite one’s lover on a sexy car trip. But the music video tells a reimagined story of Narcissus, a Greek mythology of someone falling in love with his own reflection. In the video, JAEHYUN plays a narcissist who desires to escape the “suffocating gaze of the outside world and face oneself” (this quote is taken from JAEHYUN’s commentary on the video – see the pinned comment in the YouTube comments for the video). Hence, he tapes or covers up all the gaps, holes, cameras, windows and mirrors in his room. But the narcissist he is, he ends up watching himself in his own mirror and sees his reflection in the bathtub. He is then interrupted by a person knocking on the door. Narcissistic JAEHYUN struggles with the constant knocking (and his desire mentioned above) and escapes through the couch, taking him into a different world to live out his desired life (which I guess replaces the part of Narcissus’ story where he disappears). The person knocking is revealed to be another JAEHYUN (dressed in white), which I guess represents the white flower that sprouts in the same place where Narcissus disappears in Greek mythology. In the video, the JAEHYUN in white ventures out into the world in place of the narcissist JAEHYUN we saw throughout the video. JAEHYUN’s acting throughout the video was very good, particularly when he struggled with his reflection in the mirror. The noir vibe of the video was also quite exciting and an aesthetic way of portraying this story.

I applaud JAEHYUN for performing during a week of turmoil for his group. It definitely would not be easy on JAEHYUN, and he should be acknowledged for that. I like how the choreography vibes with the different parts of the song. While I am not a fan of the choruses in the song, the way that part comes through in the choreography is my favourite part of the routine. And I like how the jazzy instrumental at the end is used for JAEHYUN and his dancers to show their performance skills in this comeback.

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

[Double Review] Dandelion + Roses – JAEHYUN (NCT)

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Earlier this week, JAEHYUN (from NCT) pre-released two songs, Dandelion and Roses, before his upcoming solo debut on 26 August. The music video released alongside the two songs features both tracks, creating a unique situation. Because of this, I will review both songs, Dandelion and Roses, in a double review format.

Dandelion

If you want to listen to Dandelion’s full version – click here.

Dandelion is a bright, mid-tempo R&B track with a good rhythm and a pronounced beat that brings out an upbeat energy. But despite being the more upbeat track of the two songs, Dandelion’s mid-tempo pace makes it feel standard and generic. As such, I feel it falls behind in the ‘appeal’ department. Don’t get me wrong, Dandelion is still a good song, but it’s just not as strong in this area as compared to the next song. I did appreciate the brief spurts of the string synth towards the end of the song, which served well as a strong hallmark of the impending end of Dandelion alongside JAEHYUN’s ad-libs. On the topic of JAEHYUN’s vocals, it must be mentioned that he was clear throughout this track, and the melodies made Dandelion feel smooth. The latter actually contrasts nicely with the backing of the song.

Roses

If you want to listen to Roses‘ full version, click here.

The stand-out element that gives Roses an edge is the chorus. The choruses sounded so good, especially the choral vocals echoing JAEHYUN’s delivery of the song’s title. It just makes Roses so impactful and memorable. The melodies also evoke a sensual swaying motion, making the song stick even more in my head. JAEHYUN’s airy delivery and the variety of sounds throughout Roses strengthen the song. His falsettos just oozed so much charisma. Thanks to the synths, the instrumental features some extra texture, making Roses a compelling listen. All in all, Roses was just the superior track by my standards – so much so that I returned to Roses more times throughout this week than compared to Dandelion.

Music Video

The music video features a small segment of each song. First up is Dandelion, which is the brighter portion of the video. It looks at the idea of love blooming. The contextual text at the bottom of the screen, while the images flash at the start of the video, speaks to this. We see a couple holding hands and embracing each other while JAEHYUN is all smiles and hangs out with small children. The children’s presence suggests purity and innocence, which we associate with the idea of new love. At the mid-point of the video, JAEHYUN takes a dive, and we see a quick montage of the couple pulling apart and releasing each other’s hands (amongst other things). From there, we enter the Roses portion of the music video, which takes on a darker and moodier atmosphere. Captioning this section of the video is the line ‘Even the things that love can hurt you‘, giving you a strong idea of what Roses is about. Here, JAEHYUN (who looks very handsome during this portion of the video) stands on top of a building at night with the cityscape behind him. I liked the idea of the bounce that he and the background people do, emphasising the choral parts of the choruses. The video ends with JAEHYUN taking another plunge, which may represent the idea of new love and love being a source of pain occurs in a continuous cycle. The contrast between the two sides of the music video made for an interesting watch, and the concept was quite unique.

Dandelion
Song – 7/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 7.8/10

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

[Review] WISH – NCT WISH

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This is another review for a newly debuted group: NCT WISH, the final subunit of NCT. They are officially the designated Japanese unit of NCT (like how WayV is the designated Chinese unit of the broader group) but have been active in South Korea (where they are co-managed by SM Entertainment) and Japan (where they are co-managed by AVEX TRAX). The six-member unit, consisting of Sion, Riku, Yushi, Jaehee, Ryo, and Sakuya, made its debut in February of this year with the single WISH. I will return in the near future to review their more recent single Songbird.

Despite being from one of KPOP’s biggest companies, the main reason why I hadn’t reviewed NCT WISH’s debut single, WISH, before today was that I never really connected with the song. Five months later, I feel the same way about it. Don’t get me wrong – WISH isn’t a bad song. It just needs to be better in some departments. WISH is a buoyant dance track with a youthful tone, which suits the group’s current charms and stage in their careers. To complement the WISH‘s youthful tone, it remained light all throughout (for a dance track), which sets it apart from other NCT releases (which nowadays tend to be heavier in both tone and punch). I enjoyed the combination of synths and piano/keyboard in the background, particularly in the pre-chorus, as it had a calmness to it. I also feel there is a bit of funk and groove to the instrumental in the chorus, which was a good direction for WISH to head in. However, I think the producers of WISH missed an opportunity here to capitalise on the funk/groovy elements. This could have made the song go ‘further’, adding definition and colour to the song to make it more memorable. Another element that I thought was particularly weak was the melodies, which have implications on their vocals and rapping. The melodies in the verses were bland, and this resulted in the song downplaying NCT WISH members’ individuality. When the members sang together in the choruses and during the shoutier chants like “Future is in my hands…“, the group had a better hold of my attention. But this was short-lived for one reason or another.

Music videos for the Japanese and Korean versions of WISH were released simultaneously. Both videos contained a mixture of the same and different scenes to tell the same story. If you knew about it, this would have made watching both refreshing. In both music videos, the members of NCT WISH act as not-so-great Cupids. They fall from the sky, inadvertently making an arguing couple fall for each other once again. When they intentionally try to pair a couple up, the two music videos tell you they aren’t great at their jobs. In the Japanese version, one of the members stole a guy who was gifting his partner flowers and positioned him in front of another lady in hopes of encouraging the potential couple to make a move on each other. This ultimately failed when the partner caught her guy on his knee later on, causing them to fight. At the end of the Japanese video, one of the members intentionally shoots his love bullet at a dog. The dog becomes infatuated with the guy, and this leads to another couple forming a relationship – just not the one they intend to pair up. In the Korean version, another member shoots a love bullet into a tree, and this causes one person from the potential couple to fall in love and make out with a tree. At the end of that video, one of the NCT WISH members dives in front of the love bullet, causing the female protagonist to fall in love with him instead. It turns out, as she saved his life earlier in the video and came across her again, he had fallen for her. I really enjoyed the members’ reactions to these different developments and thought the music video was fun to watch.

The choreography for WISH was exciting to watch. I like how it portrayed the group’s youthful charms, as teased out in the song. But they didn’t do it as cringingly as some of their other counterparts, which I appreciate. I really liked the routine during the song’s chanty sequences, which highlights both their synchronisation and sharp movements—which are strong attributes in all of NCT choreographies.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.8/10

[Album Review] TAP (2nd Mini Album) – TAEYONG (NCT)

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TAEYONG’s 2nd mini-album, titled TAP, is up for review today. It is lead by the same named single as its title track and 5 additional side tracks. Following promotions of the new mini-album and a solo concert, TAEYONG enlisted in the military. Unfortunately, this does mean he isn’t part of NCT 127 promotions of their most recent comeback Walk. But he did leave us with 6 new songs to dig into when he returned back in February of this year.

I must admit that TAP is one mini-album that I was very keen on reviewing. There are some really amazing side tracks on the mini-album that have unexpectedly blown me away. I wasn’t expecting much from this mini-album, particularly since TAEYONG is not a member I follow as much and is no whom I expect such dreamy and vocally driven tracks from. Also, I did not expect the rest of the mini-album to be so strong after I gave the title track a cold review. But the side tracks warm me right back and I want to share them with you. So if you have not yet, do check out TAEYONG’s latest mini-album and my thoughts on each song below!

TAP Album Cover

1. TAP (Title Track) – Click here for the full review for TAP. (6/10)

2. Moon Tour – The mini-album slows down considerably with Moon Tour, going down a R&B path. I am quite surprised with how much I enjoyed Moon Tour. The instrumental is super dreamy and paced (the latter works extremely well in this song). I particularly like how the instrumental came to be, despite the use of harsher and abrasive synths. I also really enjoyed TAEYONG’s vocals. He isn’t known for his vocal capabilities given his rapper status. But I really loved how delicate and heartfelt his vocals sounded in Moon Tour. I particularly enjoyed the way he dragged out the ‘You & I’ at the start of each chorus. An easy 10/10 from me. (10/10)

3. Run Away – Run Away features several changes in its instrumentation and vocals as it progresses, making it an interesting piece to me. We get an atmospheric start to the song, with TAEYONG building up towards a first verse that features a light touch of rock. The pre-choruses refocus on TAEYONG’s vocals via a dreamier melody. The choruses bring a heavier rock presence, with a beat that is foot-tapping and head-bopping worthy and electric guitar shredding gives Run Away an additional punch of energy. I also like how TAEYONG’s vocals get so raspy in the chorus. A more upbeat energy takes over in the second verse, before the same pre-chorus comes into play. The heavier rock presence returns in the second chorus (featuring a different set of lyrics) and in the end via the little outro we got. Overall, a fair bit in Run Away to digest, but another strong effort from TAEYONG. (8/10)

4. APE – Out of all the songs on the mini-album, APE feels the most aligned with what I know of TAEYONG. It is a very cool dance track, with some awesome synth work and rapping from TAEYONG himself. This is definitely enough to get me interested in it. His flow was really good, the energy was wild, and I can definitely imagine some impressive dance moves from the man himself to accompany the track. The ending of APE was probably the most interesting aspect of all. The instrumental reverted from synths to a soothing fade out, as TAEYONG raps over it with some heavy autotune. Very intriguing concept and way to end the song, but it worked really well. (8/10)

5. Ups & Downs (나에게 했던 것과 같이) – The opening verse Ups & Downs had me thinking this was going to be a ballad, but it ends up being more of an R&B piece. I really liked how TAEYONG carried himself through the song. His vocals and rapping made it a very captivating. The instrumentation was very riveting, as well. Ups & Downs started off with lo-fi beats, moves into R&B territory for majority of the song, and finally ends with a fade towards a classical motif. I am not as into this song, compared to the other songs on this mini-album. But I cannot deny how amazing Ups & Downs sounds. (9/10)   

6. 404 Loading – TAEYONG continues to blow me away in the final track on the mini-album. His vocals are stunningly beautiful in 404 Loading. The way it builds up in the song and the raspier tone he has just makes it a captivating piece. Also stunningly beautiful are the song’s melodies. The way the melodies carried me through 404 Loading just had me swaying along to the song, just like what I would expect from a ballad. The synth work in the background goes down a dreamy direction. But it also gave 404 Loading texture to anchor down TAEYONG’s vocals. Altogether, a memorable ending to TAEYONG’s mini-album. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.5/10

TAEYONG’s teaser image for TAP.

[Review] Walk – NCT 127

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NCT 127 returned with their new single and 6th studio album, both titled Walk, yesterday. This is their first comeback following their Fact Check single and their 5th studio album of the same name from last year. The group Leader TAEYONG will not be participating in the comeback promotions for Walk as he is carrying out his military enlistment.

NCT 127 taps into the groovy side of early ’00 hip-hop with Walk. To me, NCT 127 executed this style very coolly. This allows them to stand out instantly from the other currently trending releases and highlights NCT 127’s versatility. One of the most strongest aspects of Walk is its production. It felt very clean and crisp. I really liked the bouncy beat of the song, which is synonymous to the ’00 hip-hop style. I also liked the accents and detailing in Walk‘s instrumental, particularly the emphasised beats in the choruses. They gave off a slight dramatic effect to the song and added a little something different to Walk to keep it from being overly consistent. The instrumental break brings the 90’s disc scratching effect into play, in combination with the pre-existing instrumentation, and this was a very cool change up. I was actually wishing for something dynamic in Walk, and they gave me just that with this segment. In terms of the delivery, this is was definitely another strength of Walk. I really liked the vibe NCT 127 exuded with their lower and deeper rapping. It definitely fits in with the style of music in Walk. The vocals were very clean and the high note ad-libs contrasts with the lower/deeper tones well. Following the instrumental break, I really liked how the vocals had a little more oomph to it. I personally would have liked a little less repetition in Walk, just to further promote a more dynamic flair in the song. A touch more could have really transformed the song for me. But in its current form, Walk is already a top-notch song.

The music video shows the member showing off their foot wear as they sing about walking their own path in life. Very fitting. They also show off their passion, burning the rubber on the soles of their feet as they walk and run down their path. It does appear that TAEIL is still unable to participate in the choreography for this comeback as he is notably absent from the music video’s choreography scenes. But I did like how they managed to still incorporate him into the music video aside from his standalone solo shots. For example, they kept TAEIL in the car as the driver and showed the choreography shot from the driver seat window. In later scenes when he crashes the car into the restaurant, you can see him vibing in the driver seat as the other members dance. I also commend their casual and urban style they had going on in the video. Again, looks very cool.

From what I can see in the music video, the choreography looks to be as cool as the song and the group’s style in the music video. It embodies the hip-hop genre, bouncy beats and low registers of the song quite well. When the song speeds up for the instrumental, the corresponding dance break definitely hastens up and gives the routine some complexity. The footwork is a constant feature in the routine, and I am most excited to see that in the stage performances.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10

[Review] Little Light – DOYOUNG (NCT)

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It is a new week. And that comes with new comebacks and debuts. Kicking it off this week is DOYOUNG’s solo debut with the single Little Light and his first studio length album YOUTH. DOYOUNG becomes the fifth member of NCT after TAEYONG, MARK, TEN and JAEHYUN to have some sort of a solo career outside of their NCT works, which spans across NCT, NCT U and NCT 127 discography. If I also read correctly, we will be expecting more NCT solo works this year. We already have TAEYONG’s TAP and TEN’s Nightwalker (which I have yet to review) this year, and JAEHYUN is preparing a solo album himself.

But today’s focus is on DOYOUNG’s Little Light. The track is described as a band song with powerful guitar riffs (according to SOOMPI), which is an accurate description for Little Light. I would have also thrown in a ‘refreshing’, ‘revitalising’ and/or ‘uplifting’ descriptor into the mix when describing Little Light. When I first heard the song, I thought how nice some strings would have been in the background (particularly at the end of Little Light) and that led me to think of LUCY’s work (a South Korean band that I have reviewed before who is known for their use of strings in their band tracks). It turns out that Little Light is co-written by Cho Won Sang from LUCY! As for DOYOUNG, he sounds really nice. Not only does his vocal tone showcases those extra descriptive words I mentioned at the start of this section, I like how he presents himself throughout Little Light. There is a bit of a range with some some powerful notes, high notes and even some falsetto. Each were well used and at the right time, furthering Little Light as a captivating track. I do wish there was a bit more consistency within the melodies in Little Light to make it feel more cohesive. But as it stands, Little Light ticks off many boxes for me, especially the idea of it being a band track with a refreshing vibe.

The lyrics to Little Light talks about how a little light can lead someone to their hopes and dreams . Certain lines of the song speak about how it needs to be lit, is it can be the dimmest light you can ever find, or even be a star in the sky that is miles away etc. It is all quite clever imagery and presents to us the idea that little light can be something different for all of us. In the video, DOYOUNG goes searching for his little light, which he does come across a number of times. He goes chasing after it, but he loses sight of it just as many times as he spots it. But as it is his little light, it does come back to him to lead him forward. DOYOUNG went through windy conditions at one point, and also trips and grazes his face/hand. At one point, he almost gives up on his search. All of this represents the tribulations and journey we all must go on that is life. But in a happy ending, he finds his light and follows it to a hidden area that has even more little lights. While not shown, these lights somehow take him home. But before we think it all a dream, DOYOUNG notices his hands (and we can see his face) are still scraped, which alludes to the fact that journey he went through the previous night (i.e., life) still occurred. I also notice that the little light in the video is green in colour, which is also NCT’s colour. And I have a feeling that all those little lights that become one big light might be reference to the NCT fanclub. I also enjoyed the scenery and the aesthetic of band instruments behind him in the scenes where he is singing into a microphone. What a stunning backdrop.

Song – 9.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9.3/10

[Review] Smoothie – NCT DREAM

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NCT DREAM made their return yesterday with a brand new mini-album Dream()Scape and the single Smoothie. This is the group’s first release after their ISTJ, which featured the title track of the same name, saw a whopping 4.2 million in pre-orders and 3.65 million in sales. Dream()Scape is already breaking records for NCT DREAM, with the new mini-album already breaking the group’s highest first day sales record (from what I could see on my timeline on X).

Unlike what the song title suggests, Smoothie is not a smooth song. It is definitely more coarse in terms of texture, given the mixture of rough and hard-hitting synths, intense rapping and melodic vocals (which does give Smoothie a hint of smoothness) that make up the new NCT DREAM track. I also note that Smoothie is a lot darker than usual, with the song leaning super hard into that intense and serious territory via these same elements – not expected with a song titled Smoothie at all. Each of these elements are great aspects of the track. The backing of Smoothie goes down hip-hop territory with 808 bass line and snare rhythm (based on a Soompi article). There are also some cool and interesting synth choices made for the detailing of Smoothie throughout the track, which gives the backing of Smoothie some liveliness and colour. The rapping is definitely the highlight of the track, with MARK, JENO, JAEMIN and JISUNG really bringing their A-game to the track and contributing to the intensity of Smoothie. And as mentioned above, the vocal sequences are melodic and brought a much needed relief from the intensity in the form of smoothness. The only gripe I have about Smoothie is the chorus. As charming and catchy as it is, it felt plain. I was waiting for something exciting to happen in the central part, but that never eventuated due to the simultaneous and consistent monotonous repetition of the title and the anti-drop in the instrumentation. Overall, another song from NCT DREAM, just let down slightly by the chorus.

The music video (and every teaser that was released prior to the video) was quite interesting to watch. I presume they are all linked together, as my theory involves the ()SCAPE videos being the first chapter of the story, followed by the Dirty Smoothie teasers and then the music video. The first chapter showed the members being brainwashed by an entity via instructions, medication and binary code. While they do break away from the brainwashing facility at the end of the ()SCAPE videos, life doesn’t appear to be the same as at the start of the ()SCAPE video (note the glass of water on the table in the foregrounds of the initial and final video of the ()SCAPE series). The Dirty Smoothie teasers, we see the members assimilating back to normal life, but also ignoring the dangers and negativity around them. This to me suggest that the brainwashing was successful, but ‘in part’ as the members are not mindless as the facility had intended them to be. In the opening of Smoothie‘s music video, we see a black thorn wrap around the building they are in. As the video progresses, we see the members gather ingredients for a smoothie. By the end of the video, the members have drank said smoothie and the black thorny vines have unraveled, leading me to think that brainwashing has been dispelled. As for the rest of the video, you could definitely feel the intensity from different aspects of the visuals, matching up with the song quite well.

From the snippets of the choreography I could see in the music video, intensity and energy is definitely the first thing that pops into my mind, as the performance really throws both elements right at you. For the chorus, to complement the fact that the song slows down, the members maintain the intensity but goes down a more alluring path with their dance moves. Almost sensual, but definitely holding onto that cool factor. Definitely an interesting combination for the group that I definitely going to pay attention to.

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

[Album Review] Fact Check (5th Studio Album) – NCT 127

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Another NCT related review, once again. This time around, the review is for NCT 127’s 5th studio album, Fact Check, which was released in October 2023. The album features the title track of the same name as the album and an additional 8 songs. Since the release and promotion of Fact Check (both the title track and studio album), NCT 127 had an additional comeback in December 2023 with a special Winter single Be There For Me and began their 3rd world tour – Neo City – The Unity. Anyhow, onto the review aspect of this post for Fact Check. There are a number of good songs to check out below!

Fact Check Album Cover

1. Fact Check (불가사의; 不可思議) (Title Track) – Click here for the full review of Fact Check. (8.5/10)

2. Space (무중력) – After the tightness from Fact Check, Space provides us with some relief with a much looser track. From the get go, I find it to be an ‘oh so dreamy’ track listen to and I am totally digging that. The vocals add to this by adopting a raspier and breathy output. I also have to draw your attention to the punchy ‘Space’ repetition in the choruses, with each coming at the most ideal times. The synths give Space a modern profile and rhythm, but the saxophone in the background ultimately steals the spotlight as it fades in and out for the chorus and gives off a classy vibe. Everything felt balanced and perfect. As a whole, Space felt very chill and relaxing. (10/10)

3. Parade (행진) – NCT 127 switches back to their usual energetic style and intensity with Parade. And they really make sure that we know by amplifying a lot of the components in the track. Parade features a shouty-like delivery, in some parts, allowing the rapping to become more dynamic and richer. Parade opts down the hip-hop direction, which also contributes to the amplification of the song and builds a very solid foundation for the song. As for the vocals, they did a really good job of contrasting with the rest of the song, keeping it from going too crazy and grounding it. (9/10)  

4. Angel Eyes – Click here for the review of Angel Eyes. (10/10)

5. Yacht – Yacht takes a more laid-back approach. The energy is all there, but things feel a lot less intense in Yacht. I have to admit that I find that brass-like synth in the chorus to be a little too scratchy for my liking. I wished that was toned down a bit, as it does have its charming point. But I felt like it overpowered the chorus a tad. The rest of the retro approach to Yacht was appreciable. I really liked the idea of the vocalists and rappers harmonising with each other, which adds depth to the song. However. I wished the melodies were a little more polished, especially as we lead into the chorus, to really get the full effect of that. (8/10)

6. Je Ne Sais Quoi – Je Ne Sais Quoi takes us back to NCT 127 territory with a hip-hop track. There is a lot going on in this track, especially with the contrast between the rapping and vocals. Moments of Je Ne Sais Quoi had me doing that slight bounce you do when you listen to a bop hip-hop track. Other parts saw the song smooth right out for the vocals to be showcased. It all makes for an interesting track. Nothing really sticks out as a sore thumb and the different parts all come out together quite cohesively. If you want to hear multiple facets of NCT 127, Je Ne Sais Quoi is a good example of that. (8/10)

7. Love Is Beauty (별의 시) – As one of the longer tracks released in the KPOP industry this year, Love Is Beauty is a captivating number to listen to. For me, the most amazing aspect of this track has to be the stunning vocals that the members showcase. It is really hard to pinpoint a member who did exceptionally well when everyone did a spectacular job in Love Is Beauty. We do get some rapping in the song, but they were tweaked in a way that fits the mid-tempo nature of Love Is Beauty. The twinkling synths and instrumentation was a really nice touch to what easily could have been a more typical R&B release. (9/10)

8. Misty (소나기) – Again, amazing vocals are on full display in Misty. But that is something the members have already done a few times on this album. What really sets Misty apart from the rest is the abundance of harmonies throughout the track, as well as the really atmospheric and dreamy instrumentation. I found it extremely hard to put the song down or skip it once it started, knowing that the whole almost 4-minute track needs to be experienced in full to really experience Misty and that it should not be missed. (10/10)

9. Real Life – Finally, the end of Fact Check (the album) features the softer pop track Real Life. The instrumentation actually gives the track a lot of life and colour. I particularly like the orchestral-like approach to the backing, which helps give the track a slight epic feel. The vocals and rapping were well done, as well as the melodies, which I find myself swaying to. The repetition of “Real Real Real … Real Life’ was actually quite hooky and catchy. Overall, a neat song to end off the album on. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.9/10

Fact Check Teaser Image

[Review] Angel Eyes – NCT 127

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I know a lot of my reviews lately have been related to NCT, with the most recent reviews being the 4 tracks that had an ’archiving video’ from NCT’s 4th studio album Golden Age, the album review for that particular album, and NCT 127’s special winter single Be There For Me. But ahead of the album review for their fifth studio album Fact Check (released back in October 2023), I will also be spending some time to review the b-side Angel Eyes from the Fact Check album, which also got a full length-track video.

My thoughts on Angel Eyes are super simple. Angel Eyes is a straightforward pop track with great vocals and rapping from all of the members. The pop rock instrumentation is extremely likeable. I personally felt the instrumentation was very clean and crisp, which heightens the pop rock energy and the members’ contributions to the track. Angel Eyes exudes a fun vibe, with my mind picturing everyone is having a blast with one another. It feels wholesome and pulls me in quite easily with its simple melodies. The chorus features everyone singing together, almost coming off in a chanty like manner. While that is sometimes a hit or miss, it works extremely well here in Angel Eyes. It is one of the best side tracks off the Fact Check album and I highly recommend you check it out.  

The track video is rather simple. It shows the members performing live on a stage that is floating in a river near the city. Some shots of the cityscape at night, and the members are casually dressed with evidence of a nice breeze. It would have been cooler to see the members have a bit more fun, but they do look like they are enjoying their time out there on the river.

Song – 10/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9.6/10

[Review] Be There For Me – NCT 127

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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.

Days prior to Christmas, NCT 127 released a special Winter single, Be There For Me. It follows on from their October 2023 comeback with Fact Check and the commencement of their 3rd world tour – Neo City – The Unity.

The comforting feeling of warmth comes through Be There For Me, especially since this new single steps away from the likes of EDM or synths that we know NCT 127 for (i.e., Fact Check) and into more acoustic territory (the organ in the background at the start signals this for me). The acoustic nature of Be There For Me naturally allows most of the members to showcase vocals and melodies, which were very easy on the ears and enjoyable to listen to. Be There For Me does have some rapping (courtesy of TAEYONG and MARK), and it brought nice rhythm. But they aren’t the most memorable aspect of the song. Aside from being a pleasant listen overall, I don’t have much else to say. My only complaint about Be There For Me probably is a ridiculous one but I found the song to be quite paced and mid-tempo, which does make it feel a bit long-winded. But that doesn’t offset any of the appeal and enjoyment that Be There For Me brings.

The music video brought a smile to my face. But I am not entirely sure if that was because of the combination of music and imagery, or the cringy nature of what is happening in the video. We start off with JOHNNY and JUNGWOO playing ping pong. JUNGWOO accidently hits the ball a bit too hard and it lands in JAEHYUN’s cereal. JUNGWOO and JAEHYUN fight, before DOYOUNG gets them to resolve their conflict so they can all seriously plan out their participation in a furniture auction. They build a chair and some fast auctioning happens, causing the auctioneer to bang their hammer down a little too hard, smashing all the windows. It causes the debris to fly everywhere, mimicking snow, which leads onto a snowglobe transition. That is what I took away from the video. I did like the beginning, which felt lighthearted. But the video got odd from the auction setting onwards.

The choreography was pleasant and enjoyable to watch. Nothing too flashy or too hard.

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

[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 🙂

[Review] Kangaroo – NCT U

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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.

In preparation for an album review for NCT’s Golden Age that dropped back in August with Baggy Jeans and Golden Age at the helm, I have been reviewing the tracks that had an ’archiving video’ released alongside it. And for the final time – what on earth is an archiving video? So far, I have reviewed PADO, The BAT and Alley Oop. But there is one more to review before I can post that album review – Kangaroo.   

TAEIL, KUN, RENJUN, YANGYANG, CHENLE and JISUNG are the members that form the lineup for Kangaroo. Out of the four additional songs that I am reviewing separately from Golden Age, Kangaroo is the least interesting for me. I personally find this track to be fairly standard of the bunch and it doesn’t really offer anything new or memorable that gets me coming back for more. That being said, I don’t personally mind Kangaroo. If it pops up on my queue, I won’t turn away or skip over it. Kangaroo is still a bright and upbeat track. The members make it bubbly and fun with their vocals. And most notably, there is a pleasantness, chillness and carefree vibe which I do see as charming.

The music video is also just as bright as the song, and the members turn on their cute charms to bring it all to life. While I would usually find such concepts to be cringy, it isn’t as bad as it could have been. Maybe they could have expanded on the idea of the ‘escape plan’ that we see in the video. It is just kind of shown and casted aside. I also don’t really see much of a kangaroo reference aside from the paw-like dance move, which I think is a missed opportunity to make the video even more fun than what it is. Plus, I do like kangaroos (though that might be my Australian-side coming through).

The performance is just like the music video. It is definitely bright and cutesy. But I do also see the fun and kind of see the kangaroo reference in the video. Maybe more hopping would have made the performance a bit more aligned with the title, but I enjoyed this aspect of the release nonetheless.

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

[Review] The BAT – NCT U

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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.

As mentioned previously, I will be reviewing the side tracks that was treated with an ‘archiving video’ (whatever that means) from NCT’s latest studio album, Golden Age. The album, if you missed it, was released in August of this year and is lead by the singles Baggy Jeans and Golden Age.  In addition to those two songs, I have also reviewed PADO already. Next up is the 5th track from the album – The BAT.

The BAT brings together TAEIL, JOHNNY, YUTA, JUNGWOO, HENDERY, JENO and JISUNG. I can easily see The BAT being slipped into any of the main units’ (NCT 127, NCT DREAM, WAYV) discography. But I am glad that we hear it here on this NCT album instead, as it gives the best of the three. The BAT goes dark and sensual, which is a ‘done before’ sound profile that has been proven to be successful in the past. What makes The BAT slightly more unique than past iterations of these two energies merging together is the song’s textural and abrasive instrumentation, which is synth-heavy. Not entirely new territory for NCT (or KPOP in general), but the abrasive textures do feel unique as I don’t think we have heard anything that leans into that as much as The BAT. We also see some really impressive delivery from JENO and JISUNG in the second verse, where they both rap quite rapidly. Again, not as new. But fast rapping is no easy feat and can be a drawing point, as it was here. I also like the edgy vibes both the rapping and the instrumental gives The BAT. The ‘Ma bat apex’ hook was pretty memorable (though I would like to know the meaning of this line). The vocals are also impressive in The BAT, especially when the latter reaches its peak in the high notes. Another likeable track on Golden Age.

Dark and sensual is the way to go, and the archiving video for this release definitely went with that. The dark comes through via the concept of the video, which I can’t exactly pinpoint what that is. But the lighting, the heavy reliance on the colour black on practically everything from background, props and outfits, and the ‘dangerous’ aspects of the video (i.e., speeding) that alludes that they might not be up to any good just screams out darkness. The sensual comes through via the all of the members, with JENO and JISUNG really surprising me the most in particular. All I can say is you should re-watch the video in detail if you want to find out why.

Again, the dark and sensual vibe comes through in the choreography for this particular release. The darkness actually taps into more of an edgy territory, which I think works really well. And the slow and deliberate moves, along with the outfits, emphasise that sensual energy. It is an engaging performance, overall, which shows off each individual members’ fatal charms and performance skills.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video (or “Archiving Video”, in this case) – 9/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10