Tag: Stray Kids

[Album Review] ★★★★★ (5-STAR) (3rd Studio Album) – Stray Kids

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After a series of posts reviewing the side tracks from ★★★★★ (5-STAR), I am finally getting around to posting the entire album review for ★★★★★ (5-STAR) today. Slight apologies in the delay, as this was supposed to be posted on Sunday, but I become preoccupied with some personal stuff yesterday night. So I have rescheduled it for today instead. ★★★★★ (5-STAR) dropped in early June 2023 with S-Class leading a total of 12 songs. Many of the side-tracks, as mentioned above, have their own song review post as they had their own music video. But there are a few tracks that hadn’t received a music video, so my thoughts on throe songs are contained below. Overall, ★★★★★ (5-STAR) is a very positive and dynamic listening experience. One might even say – there is not a bad song on this album release!

Oh, as a side note, guess what officially announced last week – Stray Kids comeback for November 2023 with 樂-STAR (ROCK-STAR). So I most likely will be doing multiple Stray Kids review in the near future all over again.

★★★★★ (5-STAR) Album Cover

1. Hall of Fame (위인전) – Kicking off Stray Kids’ 3rd studio album is Hall of Fame. And it does so with a very bold approach. Felix’s lyrics “Shaking the industry, Quaking reality” actually sums up Hall of Fame quite succinctly, with the group making sure to do just that in its opening track. It brings together R&B and trap metal, the latter is actually a unique sound in KPOP as far as I can remember. The rapping works extremely well in the track, channeling the energy very well. The vocals were iffy in some parts, but powerful at other moments. (8/10)

2. S-Class (특) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for S-Class. (8.5/10)

3. ITEM – The fact that ITEM doesn’t have a music video is a massive mysterious for me. To me, ITEM is the most recognisable track following the title track. And it due to the aggressive nature of the chorus. It is BOLD, shocking to the core and just so damn memorable. The vocals help balances out the track, so it isn’t too much. I also like the piercing end of the vocal lines in the choruses, which helps its rise to the same level of the rapping. And the rapping had amazing flow and fire to it. The arcade-like sample in the background is also a memorable aspect of the song. (10/10)

4. Super Bowl – Super Bowl ended up having a music video, but as part of its Japanese release (but I will be passing that up to review Super Bowl in this album review post). On ★★★★★ (5-STAR), however, Super Bowl is an all-English track. From what I am reading, Super Bowl was the original God’s Menu. The whispery aspect of the song reminds me of ASMR, with cooking featured heavily as part of that trend. The rapping and all-member parts were very cool. The chorus is also quite iconic, given it features both whispery and all-member delivery that I liked in the track. (8.5/10)

5. TOPLINE (ft. Tiger JK) – Click here to read the full review for TOPLINE. (8.5/10)

6. DLC – Click here to read the full review for DLC. (8/10)

7. GET LIT (죽어보자) – Click here to read the full review for GET LIT. (9/10)

8. Collision (충돌) – The final track that did not get a music video is Collision. But no music video is fine here, as the R&B track still manages to capture my attention with its jazzy vibes, saxophone feature and the vocal-centric approach. The rapping in the track is equally as good, but I think the jazzier sound helps the vocalists flourish in this song more so than the rappers. (8/10)  

9. FNF – Click here to read the full review for FNF. (8/10)

10. Youtiful – Click here to read the full review for Youtiful. (9/10)

11. THE SOUND (Korean Version) – I previously reviewed the Japanese version of THE SOUND and will be carrying my thoughts/rating from that review to this review. Click here to read the review for the Japanese version of THE SOUND. (9/10)

12. Mixtape: Time Out – Click here to read the full review for Mixtape: Time Out. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.6/10

★★★★★(5-STAR) Teaser Image

[Review] Youtiful – Stray Kids

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Finally, the final song review for the ★★★★★ (5-STAR) era. The song in question is titled Youtiful, which serves as the album’s 10th track. Including the title and this track, I have written a total of 6 reviews for this era, with the most recent being TOPLINE (ft. Tiger JK). This does not include an additional two reviews for two other tracks that were release prior to ★★★★★ (5-STAR). Following this song review, I will be posting the full album review for ★★★★★ (5-STAR) on the weekend. I do find it funny, however, that I will be doing this all over again for the next era that will occur some time in the remainder of 2023.

Youtiful blends the words ‘You’ and ‘Beautiful’ to create its title. And based on this alone, you can tell that the song is about how everyone is beautiful as they are, and that the track is directed to towards their fans and other listeners. It is extremely heartfelt and brings a smile to my face every time I listen to it. To reach an even wider audience, the entirety of Youtiful is in English. All of the members perfectly delivery their lines and sing wonderfully throughout the track. The combination of the piano and guitar backing and the members singing gives off such warm and comforting vibes. The melodies and instrumentation are very simple and straightforward, but this makes Youtiful an easy listen. Overall, I find Youtiful to be such an effective track and it does exactly what it is set out to do.

Youtiful‘s music video differs from the rest of the other music videos we got from this era, as it is more of a lyric video and it is also animated. It is also the only video to not feature Stray Kids in any form aside from their vocals. I find the animation to be cute, with the animation showing the lives of an ordinary people finding out news that space is coming closer to them. The news and the wider population sees the whole situation in a more upsetting sense, focusing on asteroids coming close to the Earth’s orbut. But a select few in the video sees the situation from a more beautiful perspective, focusing on the closer presence of the planets and stars.

Song – 9/1`0
Music Video – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.6/10

[Weekly KPOP Chart] 4th Week of September 2023

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Welcome back to the Weekly KPOP Charts for the 4th Week of September 2023. It is a long weekend where I am, so I will be using this extra time to knock out as much reviews on the blog as possible to give myself time for something special later this month or next month (TBC). So I am going to get right to it with the Weekly KPOP Chart post for the 4th Week of September 2023.

Recap of the past week

This past week, I posted:

Joining all those new releases above this week are the following songs:

  • Either Way – IVE
  • Baila Conmigo – ONEUS
  • PUPPET SHOW – XG
  • BYOB (bring your own best friend) – Billlie
  • MAYDAY! – Kwangmin (BF) ft. Sungjae (BTOB)
  • 4 Letters – B.I ft. James Reid
  • Your World – Mark Tuan (GOT7)

Throwback Song of the Week

I was listening to a compilation video this week of someone’s favourite KPOP songs. Amongst the song featured in that video, I stumbled across Nine Muses’ / 9MUSES’ Dolls, and have selected it as my throwback song of the week. I am also still hoping their reunion comeback is still on the cards for this year.

The Charts

Stray Kids and LiSA’s Japanese single Social Path is back on the top of the Weekly KPOP Charts, the second time in the song’s run on the charts. As it is also a non-Korean song, Social Path is also this week’s Non-Korean Song of the Week. For more of the charts, keep on scrolling down below.

Pos.SongArtistChange
1Social PathStray Kids ft. LiSA(▲ 6)
2BubbleSTAYC(▲ 8)
3SomebodyD.O (EXO)(▲ 1)
4Back For MoreTXT with Anitta(▼ 3)
53DJung Kook (BTS) ft. Jack Harlow(NEW)
6GalileoKep1er(NEW)
7Better Thingsaespa(▲ 23)
8Baila ConmigoONEUS(NEW)
9PERFORMERVANNER(▲ 77)
10dangdangMAMAMOO+(▲ 9)
11Get A GuitarRIIZE(▲ 4)
12ICE CREAMTFN(▲ 74)
13SageFTISLAND(▲ 73)
14RUSHMUST B(▲ 22)
15Baggy JeansNCT U(▲ 9)
16Golden AgeNCT(▲ 70)
17Win For YouIm Siwan (Z:EA) & Winter (aespa)(▲ 69)
18On The RoadCHEN (EXO)(▲ 68)
19On My WayKIM WOO JIN(▼ 1)
20HazeLUCY(▲ 66)
21OUTLAWBZ-BOYS(▲ 12)
22VoyagerW24(▼ 9)
23Smooth Sailingcignature(▲ 63)
24But SometimesBOYNEXTDOOR(▼ 2)
25Top or CliffKim Sejeong(▲ 61)
26BOOMRocket Punch(▲ 5)
27SEOUL (Such a Beautiful City)H1-KEY(▲ 59)
28WonderThe Rose(▲ 58)
29Heaven On EarthHELLO GLOOM(▲ 57)
30LET’S DANCELEE CHAE YEON(▲ 2)

Songs leaving the charts

The following songs have wrapped up their nine week run in the charts system, and will no longer be on the charts from next week:

  • MAD – ABLUE
  • Turn It Off – NINE.i
  • ONE MORE TIME – BBGIRLS
  • Planet – BXB
  • dangdang – MAMAMOO+
  • Peanut Butter & Tears – DPR IAN
  • MADELEINE – LIMELIGHT
  • Say Something To Me – Kim Woojin
  • FREE WORLD – CHEN (EXO)
  • PARTY’S NOT OVER – Stray Kids
  • Higher – n.Ssign

[International Song Reviews] Stray Kids ft. LiSA, TXT with Anitta, Jung Kook ft. Jack Harlow & aespa

Posted in International Song Review, JPOP, Western POPTagged , , , , , 10 Comments

Songs in Japanese, Chinese, English or (more recently!) Spanish by our favourite KPOP artists are continually being pumped out this year, especially since the appeal of these artists internationally are growing exponentially. So much so that I am still behind. I am taking a break from covering some slightly older releases from earlier on this year, and look forward to cover some more recent non-Korean language releases – Stray Kids’ SOCIAL PATH, TXT’s Back For More, Jung Kook’s 3D and aespa’s Better Things. Last weekend, I looked at songs from SEVENTEEN’s VERNON, ATEEZ, TWICE and IVE.

Social Path – Stray Kids ft. LiSA

Language: Japanese
Release Date: 6 September 2023
Release Type: Social Path / Super Bowl (1st Japanese Mini Album)

Social Path is one of two songs in this post that has reached the top of my personal Weekly KPOP Charts, which is uncommon for non-Korean tracks given I do dedicate most of my music-listening time towards KPOP releases. Social Path is actually more English, with the rapping only featuring Japanese. Social Path features rock influences on top of the usual presence of synths in Stray Kids, and does so in such a straightforwardly manner. With the chorus being the most recognisable, the rock influences comes off very cleanly. Talking about the chorus, I had the vocal melodies of the central piece stuck in my brain, leading me to humming and revisiting Social Path quite often. Similarly, I found the vocals and rapping from all members of Stray Kids to be very clean and straightforward, as well. LiSA’s featuring in the track really helps adds more vibrancy and to the song, and she balances out the song quite well with her sharp vocals. But ultimately, the best part of Social Path is when both Stray Kids and LiSA joins forces to lead into the final chorus. It is a such a simple yet effective highlight of the song, worthwhile after such a strong buildup.

Despite it being an intense and energetic track, Social Path speaks to what they had to sacrifice in order to be where they are now (i.e. their younger years, freedom, privacy etc.). To me, the lyrics hits hard, especially when you consider the recent stories of privacy invasion and their companies basically owning their lives. Throughout the video, we see the members struggle with being followed, chased and surrounded by people who has their face covered in paper bags with question marks on them, which most likely represents the negative comments and haters on the internet. LiSA is trapped in a cage for most of her parts. But Stray Kids come together to fight this nightmare and join LiSA to rise to the top and conquer the fiery world. The choreography was pretty good. The chorus routine is memorable and I really like the huddle just before the final chorus.

Overall Rating – 8.8/10

Back For More – TXT ft. Anitta

Language: English
Release Date: 15 September 2023
Release Type: The Name Chapter: FREEFALL (3rd Korean Studio Album)

Back For More is the second song that has risen to the top of my Weekly KPOP Charts. It was also first performed at the MTV Video Music Awards that occurred mid-September and serves as a pre-release single for their upcoming third Korean studio album, The Name Chapter: FREEFALL (which will be released later this month). Back For More is a solid pop track, featuring a funky underlay throughout the track and some really cool cymbal flourishes as we head into the main parts of the song. The melodies and hooks are also quite straightforward, but catchy and addictive. Just like the song, their vocals are very solid throughout Back For More, coming off as alluring the more you listen to Back For More. I also really like their vocal homage to Michael Jackson towards the end of Back For More via the ad-libs. As for Anitta, I do like how her part attempts to change up the momentum slightly and create a different atmosphere. It is what I thought Back For More needed to avoid the overly consistent issue (that is until I heard the TXT version, which my preferred version now). But Anitta herself just seems to be plugged in and doesn’t really meld with the rest of song. I also really dislike the soft taps in the background of her part, distracting me away from the song.

I thought the music video for Back For More was simple, with the members performing the track on stage and ‘behind the scenes’ in the music video in navy suits. I guess I would wish for a bit more variety, maybe different coloured suits, just to give the music video a bit more depth. The choreography for the comeback was super cool, with the members showcasing a bit more of a mature and sleek energy in the routine. The best bit is the Michael Jackson sequence in the choreography, which they all pull off effortlessly.

Overall Rating – 8.7/10

3D – Jung Kook (BTS) ft. Jack Harlow

Language: English
Release Date: 29 September 2023
Release Type: 3D (2nd Solo Digital Single)

Jung Kook’s solo release, once again, is the most recent release in this post. I really like the early 2000s influence that is going on in 3D, throwing us back to when Justin Timberlake was starting out as a solo artist. It is the era that I grew up in, and so 3D plays towards the nostalgia I have for that era. The percussion and soft beats make it an easy listen. Jung Kook himself sounds very charismatic throughout 3D and pulls you into the track further. The whispery pre-choruses were an excellent shift in vocals, adding to the momentum of the track in a subtle and soft manner that fits the rest of the song. We also see the return of rapper Jung Kook in 3D, which is exactly what I had hoped for when I passed the first verse and entered the chorus for the first time. I did think he could have incorporated something with a little more definition as the song tracks along, just to give 3D some more oomph and flair. Jack Harlow features in the song and also brings adds more rapping to 3D. While I do like the flow and added rapping, I did think Jack Harlow’s section was quite cringy. But for the most part, I really liked 3D and that Jung Kook is definitely psyching us up for his solo album (which he has said is coming out later this year).

As for the music video, I found it a bit boring. Jung Kook obviously looks fantastic in the video and I am sure fans are swooning over his visuals and style in the video. And the early 2000s style is pretty strong in this video. But I do like my music videos with a bit more to them than just visuals, and I don’t see anything more but visuals in this video. Also, someone pointed out that Jack Harlow mentions ABG in his rap, but there were no ABG in the shot at that particular moment. As for the choreography, it is another great routine from Jung Kook. This one has an edge over Seven, with both Jung Kook and the dancers doing a lot more interesting moves for 3D.

Overall Rating – 8/1`0

Better Things – aespa

Language: English
Release Date: 18 August 2023
Release Type: Better Things (1st English Digital Single)

Better Things isn’t aespa’s first full English track, but it is their first original English single for the Western market. I do like how refreshing the instrumentation feels, which makes it a good release for the Summer season that it was released in. It is quite a rhythmic background piece, but I did think it needed some flourishes or a bold element to it. It just chugs along in the background and doesn’t really go or do anything further than that. As such, Better Things does become dull and dry towards the end. The melodies and hooks share a similar issue, but I don’t think it was as bad as the instrumentation. At first, they are catchy and simple, making Better Things another easy listen. But as the song goes on, it just feels like a repeat of what we had heard earlier from the girl group. But the addition of the sleek rap-speak in the bridge and the added vibrancy to the vocals throughout does add more to the track, and this helps makes it less repetitive. Overall, Better Things is a fair track from the group. Not as striking as I wished it could be, but pleasant enough.

The music video follows on from the Better Things sitcom that was released in the lead to the release of this track. I somehow missed this, so I am going off what I understand. The fish that appears from in the video comes from a device that appears in the sitcom. From there, the members follow the fish and discover brand new worlds in a rainforest, under the sea and on an island. I do like the summery colours that featured in the video and the striking blue of the choreography set that offsets these warmer colours. Complementing the more mellow sounds of Better Things, the choreography features softer moves. While it isn’t as bold or sharp as compared to their other works, the routine is just as captivating and pairs well with the song.

Overall Rating – 8/10

[Review] TOPLINE – Stray Kids (ft. Tiger JK)

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It has been a week since my last Stray Kids’ side track review. And as alluded in that review, there are a few more music videos before I can finally post my thoughts on their ★★★★★ (5-STAR) studio album. Today, I am reviewing the single TOPLINE, which features the Korean hip-hop legend and royalty Tiger JK. TOPLINE is ★★★★★ (5-STAR)’s fifth track.

As I say constantly, the hip-hop/rap genre is not my personal cup of tea. But even I have to see what the likes of Stray Kids and the legendary Tiger JK sounds like. It comes as no surprise to me that TOPLINE sounds like another hype hip-hop track. It carries the energy that Stray Kids is known for, while also allowing the rappers (including Tiger JK) to show off their skills. More specifically, TOPLINE is described as a minimalistic boom bap, old-school and East-Coast hip-hop track. Naturally, the rappers shine in this song. Needlessly to say, Tiger JK’s featuring was very clear and crisp. His flow was amazing and definitely added some finesse to the track. As for Stray Kids’ themselves, I particularly enjoyed HAN’s rapid and clean delivery in this song. But Hyunjin’s slurring is quite interesting and had more impact, while Changbin’s punctuating delivery is very much in his wheelhouse. Felix’s deep voice just adds flourishes to TOPLINE that pays off and gets the track grounded when it hits energetic peaks. The rest of the members handle the vocals. They don’t have much material to work with, but they managed to mirror the energy of the rappers quite well in the chorus. TOPLINE is a successful collaboration between two generations of Korean artists and a highlight on the album.

My overwhelming initial impression of the video is that it reflects TOPLINE‘s intensity very well. The music video features the members in a very confident demeanour throughout the video. The song is about the members being at the top, and so having the money (which probably represents their net worth and successful thus far) rain down from above is definitely behaviour that one can only indulge in when they are top tier. The video also shows the members at heights (like on top of shipping containers and on the edge of the building, above everyone else) and up there in the hierarchal chain (i.e. underlings counting their money for them). Higher heights would have been cooler. The hype energy and the fire further emphasises the tone and intensity of the song, respectively. What I thought was rather interesting was the contrast between Stray Kids and Tiger JK. He too brought intensity to the video with his cameo, but does so in a more laid-back and easy-going manner, whilst Stray Kids was moving about and flailing their arms a lot more in comparison. I put it down to the fact that is his style, but it also goes to show how a legend does it.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.3/10

[Review] Get Lit – Stray Kids

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You can probably guess by now that when I am covering the side tracks off an album that has a music video released alongside it, I am gearing up for their album review. And that is definitely the case of Stray Kids’ ★★★★★ (5-STAR). So far, I have covered DLC and FNF, as well as the title track S-Class. But there are a few more music videos released for the ★★★★★, so do expect a review for each of those associated songs over the coming weeks. Today’s review is focused on Get Lit, which is 7th track from their 3rd studio length album.

Loud and shouty are the exact words I would use to describe GET LIT. While that might sound negative, I use them quite positively in the context of GET LIT. I really enjoyed the bold energy of this track. The instrumental itself, which is a mixture of moombahton and bounce EDM, has a squeaky-like distorted effect that made it quite unique. The twangs in the instrumentation also kept it fun and playful. The loudness that I mentioned before stems from the instrumentation, as well. Again, squeaky and loud doesn’t sound appealing, but that is not the case with GET LIT. As the instrumental is quite loud, the vocals and rapping had to come off as shouty to work in the track. And it does. Both had to follow through, and I like the control and balance they strike. The rapping in the verses was very impressive and the shouty vocals in the pre-choruses and choruses still managed to bring a brief yet memorable melody into play. Altogether, the elements of GET LIT come together to exude the one thing that the title promises – an energetic and hyped up party vibe that doesn’t hold back.

The music video features both a fashion show and a party. The fashion show highlights the members’ amazing visuals and felt very appropriate given the group and individual members’ recent ventures into the fashion world with modelling work and the announcement of global ambassadorships for some big named fashion brands. The party itself felt very exclusive, coming off from the fashion show concept and with Bang Chan DJing in the midst of the party. The music video also does a good job of ensuring the video is lit, matching with the energy and title of the song.

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

[Review] FNF – Stray Kids

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It is time for another Stray Kids review and their 3rd studio album ★★★★★ (5-STAR) has an abundance of side tracks that have become eligible for a review with the release of a music video. So, today, I will be picking another track from album for a quick review. FNF is the 9th track on the album and is the third song review from ★★★★★ (5-STAR), following on from S-Class and DLC.

FNF stands for floral and fauna, and was written by Bangchan and Felix in honour of the plants and animals that lost their lives during the devastating bushfires that occurred over Summer in eastern states of Australia in 2019-2020. As for the song, it is very pleasant, with a bright and summery pop instrumental that instantly reminds you of the feeling of a nice warm day. The guitar work was very refreshing and I like how pure this element of FNF sounded. The beat that came through with the synths gives the song some bite to it. The vocals were very nicely pitched, and FNF also sees the members adding a slight delicate and emotional touch in their delivery of their vocals, which works well with the lyrics and other take on FNF‘s meaning. The melodies were also enjoyable and there was a decent flow to them. While FNF doesn’t stand out as the best track of the album, it was super appreciable and touching number to feature on this album.

I mentioned above that the song reminded me of the feeling a nice warm day. And that is exactly what we see in the video, which was shot in Australia. In the video, we get to see the members appreciate, the really nice weather that Australia has to offer in the cities and at the beaches. We also see the members being pensive throughout the video, which complements the other meaning of longing for someone who isn’t there anymore. Also, not a compliant and more of a suggestion, but I thought that the video feature more of the regional areas of Australia, where the floral and fauna are located in Australia given the inspiration of the song, For me and knowing what regional Australia has to offer, that is what I personally felt was missing from the video.

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

[Weekly KPOP Chart] 1st Week of September 2023

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Welcome back to the Weekly KPOP Charts for the 1st Week of September 2023. I have some work to knock out for the blog for the week ahead, plus the usual Sunday chores to get through. So I am going to get right to it with the Weekly KPOP Chart post for the 1st Week of September 2023.

Recap of the past week

This past week, I posted:

Joining all those new releases above this week are the following songs:

  • Voyager – W24
  • Voyage – Kim Sejeong
  • Top or Cliff – Kim Sejeong
  • nothing but – Young K (DAY6)
  • 7HEAVEN – PURPLE KISS
  • LEMONADE – XODIAC
  • Acid Dream – Kim Boa (KEEMBO)
  • I Do – D.O (EXO)
  • MY WAY – TRENDZ
  • Hello – Jaechan (DKZ)
  • LET’S DANCE – LEE CHAEYEON
  • BOOM – Rocket Punch
  • Sage – FTISLAND
  • N.Y.C.T – Taeil & Haechan (NCT)
  • Only For A Moment – Eric Nam

Throwback Song of the Week

This week’s throwback song is from Gain’s discography, the youngest member of Brown Eyed Girls. The particular song is Truth or Dare, which was released back in 2014.

The Charts

Stray Kids’ Social Path, featuring LiSA, is the top song and artist for this week’s Weekly KPOP Charts. Social Path is also this week’s non-Korean song of the week as it also a Japanese song. For more of the charts, keep on scrolling down below.

Pos.SongArtistChange
1Social PathStray Kids ft. LiSA(▲ 68)
2Get A GuitarRIIZE(NEW)
3But SometimesBOYNEXTDOOR(NEW)
4I Love My BodyHWASA (MAMAMOO)(NEW)
5Girls’ CapitalismLOVElution (tripleS)(▲ 64)
6ETANewJeans(▲ 19)
7HOMEBOYxikers(▼ 1)
8NEW DANCEXG(▲ 61)
9TimeJaechan (DKZ)(▲ 60)
10The FlashKwon Eun Bi(▲ 25)
11STARLIGHTSECRET NUMBER(▲ 35)
12Cream SodaEXO(▲ 57)
13PADONCT U(▲ 42)
14Slow DancingV (BTS)(NEW)
15Party O’ClockNMIXX(▲ 54)
16Top or CliffKIM SEJEONG(NEW)
17LIP GLOSSTHE BOYZ(▼ 5)
18ElevatorBAEKHO(▲ 41)
19RowdySORN ft. Seungyeon(▲ 25)
20BubbleSTAYC(▼ 18)
21Killin’ Me GoodJIHYO (TWICE)(▼ 10)
22CAKEITZY(▲ 47)
23ISTJNCT DREAM(▲ 29)
24In BloomZEROBASEONE(▲ 45)
25SUPER BOWL (Japanese Ver.)Stray Kids(▲ 44)
26PADO (wave to me)PENTAGON(▲ 43)
27SEOUL (Such a Beautiful City)H1-KEY(▲ 34)
28RUSHMUST B(▲ 41)
29Vuja DeYUNHO (TVXQ)(▲ 40)
30DUBI DUBIARTBEAT v(▲ 39)

Songs leaving the charts

The following songs have wrapped up their nine week run in the charts system, and will no longer be on the charts from next week:

[Weekly KPOP Chart] 5th Week of August 2023

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Welcome back to the Weekly KPOP Charts for the 5th Week of August 2023. I had a lot to do today and I had the Weekly KPOP Charts down as one of the final things to do today before bed (which I am all very much craving for). So before I sign off for the night, here is the Weekly KPOP Chart post for the 5th Week of August 2023.

Recap of the past week

This past week, I posted:

Joining all those new releases this week are the following songs:

  • IN MY ROOM – Lim Young Min
  • SALTY BOY – ONEWE
  • Omnipresent – ONEWE
  • PADO (wave to me) – PENTAGON
  • I don’t wanna lose you – COiBLEN
  • SYNCHRONIZE – X:IN
  • SEOUL (Such a Beautiful City) – H1-KEY
  • Different Hearts – GINJO & SOLE
  • On My Way – Kim Woojin
  • Elevator – BAEKHO
  • WANT – B.I.G
  • Hongdae R&B – BIBI
  • Cheese – CRAVITY
  • Everyone Else Fades – Mark Tuan (GOT7)
  • I’ll Hold You – Ailee
  • The BAT – NCT U
  • Kangaroo – NCT U
  • PADO – NCT U
  • Alley Oop – NCT U
  • Rest – BDC

Throwback Song of the Week

I have been on a binge of Stray Kids’ SKZ-CODE series this week. So, today I will be picking a song from of their earlier albums to be this week’s Throwback Song. And that song is Astronaut, from their Clé: Levanter mini-album from 2019.

Non-Korean Song of the Week

Each week, I feature the highest ranking non-Korean song by a Korean artist in this part of the Weekly KPOP Charts. For the 5th Week of August 2023, that song is SEVENTEEN’s Sara Sara.

The Charts

NCT U’s Baggy Jeans is the top song and artist for this week’s Weekly KPOP Charts. For more of the charts, keep on scrolling down below.

Pos.SongArtistChange
1Baggy JeansNCT U(NEW)
2BubbleSTAYC(▼ 1)
3Smooth Sailingcignature(NEW)
4ShhhKISS OF LIFE(▲ 66)
5PictureHYO (SNSD)(▲ 73)
6Homeboyxikers(▲ 65)
7The 6th SummerPLAVE(▲ 71)
8Sara SaraSEVENTEEN(▲ 9)
9SevenJung Kook (BTS) ft. Latto(▲ 14)
10Rainy DaysV (BTS)(▲ 28)
11Killin’ Me GoodJIHYO (TWICE)(▲ 10)
12LIP GLOSSTHE BOYZ(▲ 10)
13PERFORMERVANNER(▼ 4)
14Love LeeAKMU(▲ 49)
15HWEEKTEEN TOP(▲ 63)
16The BATNCT U(NEW)
17KangarooNCT U(NEW)
18ASAPNewJeans(▲ 60)
19TwentySwan (PURPLE KISS)(▲ 59)
20I DO(G)I-DLE(▲ 58)
21Pop PunkBIGONE ft. Dive & Do Hanse (VICTON)(▲ 57)
22INEEDYOURLOVELOCO(▲ 56)
23Like A WindVROMANCE(▲ 55)
24SIX7EENHORI7ON(▼ 4)
25ETANewJeans(▼ 10)
26Mirage of FlowerCHEN (EXO)(▲ 52)
27One and OnlyENHYPEN(▲ 51)
28Drop ItBLASÉ ft. Lee Young Ji(▲ 50)
29Better Thingsaespa(▼ 19)
30Super ShyNewJeans(▲ 48)

Songs leaving the charts

The following songs have wrapped up their nine week run in the charts system, and will no longer be on the charts from next week:

  • Sea&U&I – polar
  • Twenty – Swan (PURPLE KISS)
  • All The Way Up – Thunder
  • Roller Coaster – NMIXX
  • HWEEK – TEEN TOP
  • Close The Shutter – Super Junior L.S.S
  • Someday – BOL4 ft. Ha Hyunsan
  • Shhh – KISS OF LIFE
  • Metronome – pH-1 & Kieta (ciipher)
  • UN-NORMAL – Queenz
  • Eye Write & Draw – Kim Boa (KEEMBO)
  • Super Shy – NewJeans
  • Do It Like That – TXT & Jonas Brothers
  • Youtiful – Stray Kids
  • PSYCHO – JUN (SEVENTEEN)
  • New Jeans – NewJeans
  • BET ON ME – ITZY

[Review] DLC – Stray Kids

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 8 Comments

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

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

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

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

[International Song Reviews] STAYC, Jung Kook (BTS), Stray Kids, TWICE

Posted in International Song Review, JPOP, Western POPTagged , , , , 7 Comments

Welcome back to another International Song Reviews post. Last week, I continued the coverage of 2022 releases, including Japanese songs from ITZY, LOONA and Rocket Punch, and an English from JAMIE. During this week, it dawned on me that we are already in the latter half of 2023 and I haven’t reviewed any 2023 non-Korean releases yet. Pretty behind schedule, if you also just noticed. So, today, I am going to start my coverage of 2023 non-Korean releases (and return to the existing 2022 songs in later posts). In this post, I will be covering two Japanese songs released by trendy Korean artists (STAYC & Stray Kids), one English song from earlier on in the year (TWICE) and one very fresh English-language release that dropped just yesterday (Jung Kook’s solo debut).

Poppy – STAYC

Language: Japanese
Release Date: 23 November 2022
Album: POPPY (1st Japanese Single)

Before you say it, yes, STAYC’s POPPY is technically a 2022 release. But it was not eligible as part of the 2022 KPOPREVIEWED Awards, so I am considering it as part of the upcoming 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards (and hence have included in my list of 2023 songs). For me, the strongest aspect of POPPY was its chorus, which was definitely catchy and addictive. I really liked the slightly monotonous and breathy approach that the producers and members utilised in the first half of the chorus, followed up with a very vibrant set of melodies in the second half. Combined with the quirky and bouncy synths, POPPY ended up being a very cool and fun track from my point of view. Elsewhere in the song, we got strong vocals and rapping from the group. Altogether, POPPY is a successful extension of their discography and highlights their pop style. The music video is indeed colourful, which works well with both the song and the Japanese market. It creates a playful atmosphere, which appeals to the latter as well. I did like the retro flair the music video, bringing in a 90s element to the video. But I aloo enjoyed the modern special effects that were used to help fill out the background. The choreography feels catchy and fun, just like the song and music video. There is also a more apparent cutesiness to the choreography, which I don’t find too overbearing to watch.

Overall Rating – 8.4/10

Seven – Jung Kook (BTS) ft. Latto

Language: English
Release Date: 14 July 2023
Album: Seven (Digital Single)

I figured I prioritise Seven’s review, given it is one of the biggest comebacks of this past week and it could potentially take months for me to actually review Seven per the usual schedule. But before we begin, I am genuinely surprised Jung Kook’s solo single would be in English (and that there is an explicit version). It was quite unexpected when I checked out the songs yesterday, but I am not upset about it. There is a lot to like in Seven. I really enjoyed the up-tempo nature of the song, with the glitchy beat really driving the song forward. This instrumentation works really well with Jung Kook’s vocals, with the pairing of these elements feeling well-rounded and balanced. The ‘Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday‘ hook is very catchy and Jung Kook makes this roll along so effortlessly. The verses are very clean and straight-forward. Latto makes an appearance in what is supposed to be the bridge of Seven. While I am not too troubled by this featuring, I was not entirely fond of the sound effects she was adding to the song. I felt that this should be been maintained in the explicit version, rather than the clean version.

As for the music video, it was unexpectedly a funny watch. Throughout the video, we see Jung Kook chase after Han So Hee after the pair had an argument. He wants to make amends, while she is not having it. We see these events transpire over dinner, in a flooded laundromat, on a train and a very stormy day. At one point, Jung Kook supposedly dies whilst chasing after her. We cut to his funeral, in which he miraculously wakes up and Han So Hee reacts by giving him the biggest eye and head roll. In the end, Han So Hee does relent and forgives him, and the pair walks away into the distance. Jung Kook also preformed Seven on Good Morning America, so the comeback does have some choreography to it. It isn’t anything major or epic, but it shows Jung Kook’s stage presence and style.

Overall Rating – 9.1/10

The Sound – Stray Kids

Language: Japanese
Release Date: 28 January 2023
Album: The Sound (1st Japanese Studio Album)

Just like how I said POPPY is a successful extension of STAYC’s discography above, the exact same comment can be applied here for The Sound and Stray Kids. The Sound is your classic Stray Kids track, complete with a full dosage of intensity and ‘noisy’ synths that people have previously described Stray Kids comebacks. I do find that The Sound is a lot more electrifying and the chorus is probably their most in-your-face effort to date. The group nails the vocals and rapping aspects of the song, which isn’t much of a surprise for me. Though, I am appreciative that the members can still be heard over the instrumentation. Otherwise, the combination of intensity and synths could easily drown out the group. If I had to be critical of anything, I am bit disappointed at the short length of the track. it just felt like it was over so soon. But on the flip side, they did pack a lot in and pulled it off. The music video depicts two sides of the group. On one hand, the group lives a peaceful life. But ever so slowly, the members can feel the presence of energy that shows the group’s more intense and powerful side. I liked how the music video depicts the energy as a tornado and intense storm (which they can see in the distance). The special effects were super cool, especially the effects that depicts the sound energy and the moments in which the house is being ripped apart by the storm. Choreography-wise, I like the clock-like formation, the group’s embracement of the song’s intensity by incorporating vibrations into their performance and the group’s command of the stage.

Overall Rating – 9/10

MOONLIGHT SUNRISE – TWICE

Language: English
Release Date: 20 January 2023
Album: Ready To Be (12th Mini Album)

Another reason to why I am looking at 2023 releases now in this segment is that I am slowly getting around to writing album reviews for certain releases which include an English song that was pre-released or promoted as part of the comeback, which is very much a growing trend in KPOP nowadays. And TWICE’s MOONLIGHT SUNRISE is on that list of songs that I need to review before I write the album review. All my thoughts on MOONLIGHT SUNRISE in this review comes after the song has grown on me a lot. MOONLIGHT SUNRISE does indeed sound pleasant and has a decent ring to it. But my craving for something more out of MOONLIGHT SUNRISE still stands. However, it lacks the energy and punchiness that makes it a prolific TWICE track. It feels constricted and limited, which leaves the song deflated and monotonous (but not in a good way like in POPPY). As the song progresses towards its end, we do get a teaser of what MOONLIGHT SUNRISE potentially could have been like, with JIHYO and NAYEON’s soaring vocals and ad-libs really helps bring life back into the song. Had the song mirrored similar energy in its body and gone further in the end, then MOONLIGHT SUNRISE would have been set up to be a much better track. But as it is, even though decent enough, MOONLIGHT SUNRISE still feels lacking. For the music video, it showed off the visuals of the members really well and I enjoyed the purple hue that was quite prominent. The group appears to be appealing to their lover to come by, which we do see happen at the end with the car rolling up by the love heart lock house. Honestly, however, I haven’t really returned to the music video since its release, just because there isn’t too much in it to pull me back. On the other hand, the choreography was a very big positive for this pre-release. The group shows a more mature energy and executed the moves so well. I also enjoyed the synchronisation and smoothness, particularly during chorus.

Overall Rating – 7.6/10

[Special] Personal Favourite Songs from the 1st Half of 2023 & more

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As already mentioned prior to my break, one of the first posts after posting the outstanding Weekly KPOP Charts will be the annual ‘Personal Favourite’ post. Each year, to help round out the first half of the year, I post a list of my personal favourite songs from the 1st half of the year in July of each year. As we are now in July 2023, it is time to post my personal favourite songs from the 1st half of 2023 (with a few extra tidbits).

For this year’s post, I am following what I did last year, as I quite liked how that turned out. This means in addition to the usual list of 10 songs (which are in no particular order and not related to my reviews as songs do grow immensely on me) for the first half of 2023, I will also be posting two songs from the November – December 2022 period. And I will be posting 3 non-Korean songs (i.e. English, Japanese etc.) by Korean artists that caught my attention so far this year. So without further delays, here are the list of my personal favourite songs of the year thus far (in no particular order, of course).

From November – December 2022

Personal favourite non-Korean songs of 2023 thus far

Personal favourite KPOP songs of the year so far (January – June 2023)

[Review] S-Class – Stray kids

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Stray Kids continues to rise in the KPOP industry, as evident by the success of the group’s latest release – their 3rd studio album titled ★★★★★ (5-STAR) and the title track S-Class. It has only been a day since the album and song release, but Stray Kids has managed to sell the most albums in the pre-order period than any other KPOP album ever. And the album sales thus far are tracking to overtake the likes of MAXIDENT (lead by the single CASE 143), which was also a record breaking album for Stray Kids as well. Today’s review will focus on the title track S-Class, with more Stray Kids related reviews on their way (based on how their promotions went under past album releases – i.e. music videos for side tracks).

It is needless to say that there is a lot going on in S-Class. It is pretty much Stray Kids’ answer to the current trend of MIXX pop tracks that JYP Entertainment has been experimenting with through NMIXX’s debut era. However, S-Class plays towards Stray Kids strengths, with the producers (which includes Stray Kids’ inhouse producing team 3RACHA) loading up the song with a lot aggression and intensity. In a way, I think this makes S-Class super bold and appealing. But it easily can slip into overwhelming territory, which was my first impression of S-Class (and the ongoing opinion of others). Luckily, the help of their promotional material prior to S-Class release and a number of listens since its release has helped reduce that overwhelming sensation. There were many segments that I found enjoyable in S-Class. Going back to the pre-existing promotional material, they really helped make the chorus of S-Class quite catchy (even before the song was released). A lot of the different styles within S-Class stood out to me, such as the dramatic opening that introduces you to Seoul and sets up the song, the melodic direction taken by the pre-choruses, the second verse’s callback to the 90s hip-hop, and the groovy influence to the start of the final chorus. All of this (including the parts that I did not mention), but not the 90s hip-hop middle verse, comes together somehow and melds into a strong track. That 90s hip-hop middle verse somehow is the outlier that just doesn’t fit in, but it still manages to work. Per usual, Stray Kids’ rappers really popped off in this song, adding energy to the song and making it even more intense. But for me, the vocals (courtesy of Seungmin, Felix and Bangchan) in the all English pre-choruses stood out for me, as they brought a crisp and refreshing tone to the song. Overall, I find myself enjoying S-Class.

Just like the song, the music video also has a lot going on within it. I did like how the video references the group’s past concepts of monsters, members as transitional sequences between shots and having misplaced people somewhere in some of the shots. It all helps gives the music video a sense of familiarity, whilst also introduces a newer concept. In this video, we actually see a battle play out with the octopus-like monster. But Stray Kids’ is not part of the battle. Rather the battle occurs around Stray Kids. Evidence of this can be seen in the second pre-chorus sequence, where Seungmin is dancing around with noise cancelling headphones on whilst the SWAT team was being eliminated effortlessly by the monster. That was hilarious to watch. Elsewhere in the video, the effects and post-production really makes this a bold and fun music video.

Once again, the group pulls off a cool and amazing choreography routine that is undoubtedly deserving of any choreography award when it comes to award season in Korea. The arm and footwork in this video is incredible. But the thing that really jumps out at me and sells the choreography the most was the intense charisma that all the members showed off on stage. It just makes the performance so riveting and serious.

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

[Album Review] SKZ-Replay (3rd Compilation Album) – Stray Kids (Part. 3)

Posted in KPOP, Weekly ChartsTagged 3 Comments

What do you mean today isn’t Friday? Apologies for the delay in posting the third and final part of the SKZ-Replay album review. I may or may not have slept when I should have been drafting this post. Anyhow, as started earlier this week, I began reviewing the SKZ-Replay compilation album. The album is split into two sides. The first side, known as the A-Side of the album, features the lead single FAM, a single previously unofficially released through a special YouTube video and 8 solo songs from each Stray Kids member. The second part of the album is known as the B-Side. And it consists of 15 songs from the SKZ-RECORD or SKZ-PLAYER web-series from a few years back. These songs have never been released digitally until the release of this album.

For the purposes of this album review, I have now posted the album review in three parts – Part 1 focused on the A-Side. Part 2 will focus on the first half of the B-Side, and Part 3 (this post) will focus on the second half of the B-Side. Also, there was no teaser images for this compilation album. So I have gone through and selected images from past promotions to serve as the featured and teaser images for the album review.

SKZ-Replay Album Cover

8. Alien (외계인) (Han Solo) – Alien begins the second half of the B-Side. Han really pushes his vocals in the choruses, as if he wants to be heard. The song speaks about being lonely, like an alien who dropped down onto Earth (taken from Soompi). Wanting to be heard definitely makes sense in the context of the song. This stylistic choice, to me, feels impactful. His rapping isn’t as powerful in this song, as opposed to his other solo tracks on this album. I felt it was a nice choice to tone down the delivery, given the chorus. Otherwise, it easily could have been an overwhelming and full-on track. However, Han still manages to infuse emotions into Alien whilst rapping. I also enjoyed the chilled nature of the instrumental. (8/10)

9. Because (좋으니까) (Changbin & Felix) – Released on White Day in 2021, both Changbin and Felix adopt more of singing delivery to their rapping for Because, presumably for a softer and sweeter approach for the romantic day. However, this created more of a neutral atmosphere, and this ended up boring me. It doesn’t help that the instrumentation was pretty much bland, as well. The pair is more well known for their intensity and rapping, and if Because demonstrated anything, that is when they are at their best. (5/10)

10. Piece of a Puzzle (조각) (Changbin & Seungmin) – Unlike the preceding song, Changbin’s rapping is more appreciated. He isn’t as powerful like how he is usually heard, but his fast delivery in the bridge was a neat return to form. Plus, his other parts were likeable. Seungmin himself sounds charming throughout the song and does a great job of delivering the melodies of Piece of a Puzzle to us. Unfortunately, the combination of hooks and the instrumental just made the song feel overly repetitive, and this ultimately ended up being a lukewarm track. (6.5/10)

11. Wish You Back (Han Solo) – Han definitely dominates the B-side with his fourth (out of five) solo tracks. And I do think we are in a bit of a rut with another neutral track, Wish You Back. We do get some strong rapping from Han and the bass does help make the track a bit livelier. But the rest of the song was just plain (i.e. the autotuned vocals) and doesn’t live up to the other solo tracks he present us on this album. (7/10)

12. HaPpY (Han Solo) – Wishing a person, who is no longer by your side, happiness is the message behind the track HaPpY. Again, this is another dry track for me. The mid-tempo nature of the song was probably the biggest driver of this. The instrumental was pretty repetitive, as well. However, I did like the last moment’s push Han gives just prior to the song ending. (6/10)

13. Up All Night (Bangchan, Changbin, Felix & Seungmin) – Up All Night features the most members, four in total. Latin influences feature in the instrumentation and there is a playful energy to the song that makes it a fun listen. Felix kicks off the song with a very seductive approach. Bangchan brings personality to his vocals, while Seungmin’s vocals had a nice easygoing vibe. Changbin was the weakest member in the song in my opinion, with the higher pitch feeling quite unnatural. The bridge with the deeper notes/bass was my favourite bit in the entire song. (7.5/10)

14. Drive (Bangchan & Lee Know) – Drive is the other song that I mentioned in Thursday’s half of the B-Side review that is more recognisable than most other tracks on the album. The undeniable yet iconic sexy lyrics that I don’t think we know who of the pair wrote, the rhythmic and atmospheric hip-hop instrumentation, and the mature tone that both Bangchan and Lee Know brings just makes this a cool listen. I also like the smidge of upbeatness that Drive had, which is another appreciable energy booster during this part of the album. (8.5/10)

15. ice.cream (Hyunjin Solo) – The honour of closing the 25-track album goes to Hyunjin’s ice.cream. I liked the R&B nature of the song and Hyunjin’s husky vocals make the song charming. Don’t get me wrong, however, when I use the word “charming”. ice.cream is a very much bittersweet love song. Hyunjin also raps in the verses, and there is a nice showing of his rapping skills. The abrupt ending is not something I enjoyed and I think the song could have eased out to make the closing of both song and album more palatable. (7.5/10)

Overall B-Side Rating – 7.6/10 (this also includes song ratings from the first half of the B-Side of the album)

Overall Album Rating – 7.9/10

Teaser Image from Stray Kids’ God’s Menu era

[Album Review] SKZ-Replay (3rd Compilation Album) – Stray Kids (Part. 2)

Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged 2 Comments

Yesterday, I posted the first part of a three part album review for Stray Kids’ 3rd compilation album, SKZ-Replay. That first part focused on the A-Side of the album, which featured the lead single FAM, a single previously unofficially released through a special YouTube video and 8 solo songs from each Stray Kids member. Today, I post the second part of the album review, focusing on the first half of the compilation album’s B-Side. As mentioned yesterday, B-Side consists of 15 songs from the SKZ-RECORD or SKZ-PLAYER web-series from a few years back. These songs have never been released digitally until the release of this album.

For the purposes of this album review, I will be posting the album review in three parts – Part 1 focused on the A-Side. Part 2 (this post) will focus on the first half of the B-Side, and Part 3 will focus on the second half of the B-Side. Also, there was no teaser images for this compilation album. So I have gone through and selected images from past promotions to serve as the featured and teaser images for the album review.

SKZ-Replay Album Cover

1. Zone (Bangchan, Changbin & Han) – Starting off the B-side of the album is Zone, which was previously revealed four years ago by 3RACHA. Personally, Zone isn’t my cup of tea. But it is decent hip-hop track that shows us who 3RACHA are and what they are about. The powerful energy they channel through this track is quite bold. Changbin, who has been nominated for Best Rapper in a few KPOPREVIEWED Awards, proves to me why he is constantly stands out and worthy of the award. (7/10)

2. Close (Han Solo) – Most of the appealing elements of Close comes from Han himself. The instrumental itself was pretty chill and lowkey. This allows Han to show off a deeper tone than what I hear from him usually, and his rapping was well done. I liked how he varied his delivery in the song, which keeps listeners interested in Close, rather than going from start to end in a flat or consistent manner. The song is about meeting stranger by chance, being drawn to them, and the desire to get closer to them. (8/10)

3. Streetlight (Changbin ft. Bangchan) – You don’t need to know the language to hear the heartfelt message and emotions that Changbin pour into Streetlight. But in case you are interested, you can read more about the song from Changbin himself in the linked SOOMPI article. I have opted to not summarise the meaning of the song into a few words, especially since it touches on the topic of seeking help and is already beautifully explained by the songwriter himself. As for the music, I liked how consistent the drumming is, and how beautiful the piano and orchestral influences are in the song. I also like how the instrumental doesn’t get into the way of the Changbin and the message he is trying to deliver. Plus, his flow and tone are quite impeccable. (9/10)

4. I Hate To Admit (인정하기 싫어) (BangChan Solo) – For this particular half of the B-Side of SKZ-Replay, I Hate To Admit is my favourite track. The way Bangchan delivered this ballad was so captivating and gripping. It is one of the songs where you need to stop whatever you are doing to take it all in. You can feel the heartbreak and heavy emotions that Bangchan relays to us. It practically pours from the song when it reaches its peak. The piano and strings were beautiful yet minimalistic, allowing Bangchan’s vocals to front and centre, which was an excellent choice. (10/10)

5. I GOT IT (Han Solo) – Again, Han focuses on raps in I GOT IT. In terms of instrumentation, it is a repetitive hip-hop background. Nothing really special. But that is not the reason why I like I GOT IT. It is more so the rapping that floors me. He really showcases his talents in this song. He shows off how expressive he can be and the fast tempo he throws at us is literally fire. The autotuned high-pitched rapping at the end of the song was very interesting, but charming in its own way. (9/10)

6. Miss You (꼬마별) (Hyunjin Solo) – This half of the B-Side has been pretty 3RACHA dominant thus far. It is not until the sixth track (this one, in particular) do we hear from someone else. And that someone is Hyunjin. Miss You is a song dedicated to Hyunjin’s first pet, who has since passed away. Miss You is a touching and delicately instrumented song. Not exactly ballad territory, but you can feel the reflective emotion behind Hyunjin’s raspy tone in the song. It is a comforting listen. Personally, Miss You is not a track I have gone back to since its initial release two years ago, but revisiting it was a pleasant experience. (7/10)

7. Maknae On Top (막내온탑) (I.N ft. Bangchan & Changbin) – Maknae On Top is one of the two songs from the SKZ-RECORD series that is more recognisable then the rest. I.N is the main character in this one, with the entire song about him. I liked the colour and energy that the Latin influences bring. The combination of the influences with I.N’s playfulness makes this one fun and humourous track. And this effect is pretty much hard to avoid. Bangchan and Changbin also features in this track to help fuel the fun and humour, and the fact they feature in this track also helps reiterate the idea of the song that I.N is in fact the boss of the group. (8/10)

Overall B-Side Rating – 7.6/10 (this includes all songs from Part 2 and Part 3 of the album review, which focused on the B-side of SKZ-Replay)

Overall Album Rating – 7.9/10

Teaser Image from Stray Kids’ Mixtape: On Track era

[Album Review] SKZ-Replay (3rd Compilation Album) – Stray Kids (Part. 1)

Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged 3 Comments

As mentioned in my review for FAM song review yesterday, I will be posting an album review for SKZ-Replay. This is a compilation album, consisting of a total of 25 tracks. It is led by the Korean version of FAM, which also dropped as a single on the same day at the end of December 2022 as the album release. Due to the length of this album, it is split into two halves – an A-Side and a B-Side. A-Side consist of 10 songs – the single FAM, a single unofficially released by Stray Kids in a Youtube video and 8 never-heard-before solo singles from each member. B-Side consists of the remaining 15 songs, all of which have previously been released as part of SKZ-RECORD or SKZ-PLAYER web-series from a few years back. These songs have never been released digitally until the release of this album.

For the purposes of this album review, I will be posting the album review in three parts – Part 1 (this post) will focus on the A-Side. Part 2 will focus on the first half of the B-Side, and Part 3 will focus on the second half of the B-Side. Also, there was no teaser images for this compilation album. So I have gone through and selected images from past promotions to serve as the featured and teaser images for the album review.

SKZ-Replay Album Cover

1. FAM (Korean Version) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for FAM (Korean Version). (8/10)

2. Connected (Bangchan Solo) – Bangchan’s Connected is a decent all-English EDM track. The choruses were by far the most likeable moments within Connected, bringing some cool synths and effects to the song. This is in stark contrast to the verses, which didn’t have much going on and was pretty forgettable to me. Even the rapping in the second verse didn’t ping me as a strong element. On the other hand, Bangchan does a good job with his vocals. He shows promise, delving into falsettos during one part of the song. However, I think there is a possibility to strengthen the song with a more memorable hook or melody. (7/10)

3. Limbo (나지막이) (Lee Know Solo) – Limbo is the main reason why I decided to write an album review for SKZ-Replay. I was (and still am) impressed by Lee Know’s vocals in this track, mainly because he usually isn’t known his vocals in Stray Kids’ usual releases. However, the push he gives himself in the choruses strongly shows off his vocals and makes the choruses a highlight for me in Limbo. I wished there was more to the instrumental and the verses, as they were more on the typical side and lacked anything interesting. But despite that, it doesn’t change the fact that Limbo is a standout for me thanks to Lee Know himself. (8.5/10)

4. DOODLE (Changbin Solo) – DOODLE was a bit of a weird one for me. I remember thinking that Changbin’s solo was going to be an immature and childish sounding track, just based on the title alone. But surprisingly, it ends up being a heavy hip-hop track that shows Changbin’s rapping skills. The track itself has the message of not being set to the rules and being carefree, like a doodle we make on the page. His delivery was quite powerful, and adds to the heaviness of the song. There are some moments where it was quite textured and the intensity just hits you (in a positive manner). I do find DOODLE to be on the repetitive side, which is a bit of a letdown given how expressive the song is already. (7.5/10)

6. Love Untold (Hyunjin Solo) – Love Untold is a mix of rock (gearing towards rock balladry territory) and hip-hop. Overall, it was a nice showcase of what Hyunjin has to offer when it comes to both rapping and vocals. However, I do feel like the chorus could have been better had be executed by a stronger vocalist. That being said, Hyunjin does show off his emotive and passionate side, especially when it comes to the rapping. It also helps that the melody of Love Untold is a lot clearer and cleaner. (8/10)

6. Run (Han Solo) – Han has demonstrated that he is an all-rounder over the last few years, and this made me curious to what direction his solo track would take. For Run, he chooses to showcase his rapping skills. I really liked his flow and the minimalistic vibes of the instrumental. It feels trendy and super unique. The deep autotuned vocals during the bridge of Run pretty much can be described the same way. Overall, I was impressed with Run and really enjoyed it. (9/10)

7. Deep End (Felix Solo) – Out of all of the members’ solo track on this compilation album, Felix’s Deep End was quite unexpected. It takes the form of a ballad. I really liked all the different vocal tones and variations he gives us throughout Deep End. He definitely utilizes his infamous deep and husky tone. But he also shows off so much more – like falsettos, a raspy tone and a set of smoother mid-range vocals. The instrumental is kept to a minimal with piano and the light presence of some other instrumentals, enabling the focus to be placed on Felix and his vocals. Quite a compelling listen. (9/10)

8. Stars and Raindrops (내려요) (Seungmin Solo) – I remember think how Stars and Raindrops felt like it could have been a DAY6 song. And knowing that he is a fan of the band, I do like how he drew upon his influence to deliver a strong track. I like how pleasant everything is, from the synth-featured band instrumentation, to his vocals, to the melodies of the song. The beat in Stars and Raindrops was also a nice change in momentum, given the preceding tracks. (9/10)

9. Hug Me (안아줄게요) (I.N Solo) – At first, I thought Hug Me was going to be an acoustic ballad with the way it started for some reason. But within seconds, as soon as I.N starts singing, the song instantly transforms into a pleasantly brighter and more cheerful number. The guitar work keeps the song grounded, while I.N’s vocals were sweet and loveable. (8/10)

10. #LoveSTAY – The final song covered on the A-side of the album (and this part of the album review) is #LoveSTAY, which is undoubtedly a love song for their fans. Musically, it is a ballad. Beautifully instrumented with orchestral touches and the vocals are so dreamy and touching. I really liked the way they ended the song, reiterating the loving and appreciation message they have for STAYs. Also, the group released a video for the song at the end of 2021, so check it out below if you missed it. As a recap, it features behind the scene shots of the members recording the song and snippets throughout their promotions/award shows. A nice nostalgic walk down memory lane for fans and the members alike. (9/10)

Overall A-Side Rating – 8.3/10

Overall Album Rating – 7.9/10

Stray Kids’ Teaser Image from the MAXIDENT/CASE 143 era