When KEP1ER debuted I sort of introduced the group and how they came together in my review of their debut, I could do the same here but I feel like it's pretty useless and I stopped watching after the first round of elimination I think. Anyway, KEP1ER deserves better but let's talk about their sibling's debut, ZEROBASEONE's 'YOUTH IN THE SHADE'.
And who would have thought that with a name like that, they'd start off with a really great EP. Like really most of the time groups with those sorts of ... read more
This english version joins the very selective "great english versions" club. And this thanks to no weird phrasing or things that don't make sense and a great pronunciation. I don't usually go back to english versions much but I can see myself going back to the english version from time to time.
Woah it's actually pretty great! Maybe JYPE learned about its past mistakes with NMIXX and decided to give them proper music. It's cool how they dived into house for this one and I think it would be a pretty move to get the group to release a single album heavily influenced by the genre.
PS: Lily's high note was just a free bonus
JYP Ent constantly showing signs of not caring about ITZY is getting on my nerve. I just don't really understand why they would drop a pre-release for ITZY and NMIXX a few hours apart, the same day for some. And just having comeback dates for those two groups in the same month. Even in terms of sound, this is 1M steps away from the ITZY sound I know and it's genuinely making me worried about the sound direction they're going to take with their upcoming EP. It sounds super basic, and flat. I'm ... read more
If you've read at least one of my Purple Kiss reviews, there is a chance you've seen mention how much I love Swan's voice because I think I say it every time - if not well I have something to tell you, Swan's voice is my favourite in Purple Kiss, and one my favourite within k-idols overall. Her tone has a warmness and softness that very few can deliver the way she does. Since I first heard her, I wished for an entire song just for her and there it is!
Of course, I wish we got more than two ... read more
I love the idea so much but i really wish they would have found a way to incorporate the features in a better/more natural way. It really sounds like a random person kept the audio looping and layed some bars on it without reworking the beat to make it more cohesive. It sounds quite rushed and I think if they tried to do some more work on the arrangement it would sound 100x better.
I'm no rap expert but the verses are fine in my opinion, it just sort of clash at times.
With that said, I think ... read more
You know I really like Yena, she's such a fun girl and feels genuine. I think this single album does represent her well, it's quite fun and doesn't feel serious (apart from "WICKED LOVE"). Now is it good? It's just basic, the 3 songs are quite different from one another, and every time it's kinda giving the least it can. I'm still giving this a 65 (as of the day of release) because there's still this fun energy that Yena brings, underneath those generic tunes. I'm honestly hoping she ... read more
I don't know why, but I tend to always enjoy anything Kang Daniel puts out, if the b-sides here aren't really strong, I like the title track, "SOS". I find the melodies catchy and like how he sounds on this. To be honest, it almost feels like something ENHYPEN would put out and I do think their sounds can overlap. This EP is very Kang Daniel from A to Z and in a way, it's very cool that he's one of those artists who have a clear sonic identity but at the same time I'd love to see him ... read more
I was so happy when the album ended and I'm sorry for starting this mini-review like this. It's not like it's the worst thing I heard but it's just too much all the time. I think I would end up deaf if I listened to this like 3 times in a row at a normal volume and twice loudly would be enough for me to not hear any sound again for the rest of the week because of how I physically can not take all of those sounds being thrown at me with 0 break.
With that out of the way, "This World" ... read more
I've been following her for a couple of years and I love seeing how her work evolved from those short little lofi songs to those well written indie rock tracks.
PS: i always found those little songs well written and composed already
AOA's first full Korean album is um how to explain? Surprising? I found it somewhat messy overall. There are a couple of great songs, and hopefully, one of the 2 title tracks "Bing Bing" is one of those. I had fun but once the album is over I forgot about it, which sucks because to me, if there is one thing title tracks need to be the best at, it's being memorable. Now it's true that "Excuse Me" is more catchy but some of the production isn't too much of my taste.
The two ... read more
I already knew "Miniskirt" when I went into this and it's such a great tune, no one can change my mind. "Under The Sreet Light" has this same sensual vibe, warm vocals and silky rnb production. This is very short and deserve to be longuer but then they would have had to call it long skirt and I agree it doesn't sound as iconic!
Thanks to seeing Chanmi more and more in survival shows and ending up falling for her, I decided to get into the complicated story of AOA. Starting with their debut, which sounds outdated, but if I listened to it when I was in 11yo back in 2012 I would have absolutely loved it. Of course, with today's musical context, it feels super 2010s cliché but at the same time it's a 2010s release and I had a great time to be honest! It seems like I have something for groups that went through hell ... read more
When I saw the rating I thought no way it's that bad c'mon! And then I pressed "play" and understood.
I guess they wanted to drop this little funny messy tune to wrap up with AAA and Krystal Eyes before they debut LOVElution and EVOLution. I will just pretend it doesn't exist!
To me, fromis_9 is one of those groups - alongside Weki Meki - I want to stan because I truly think the music is super good and I want to show support for all the shitty things they went through. Since their debut, it seemed like the girls' future was uncertain half of the time, MNET's usual sneaky moves led to a controversy and if I'm right they had to go on a hiatus early in their career. On top of that, they've been constantly mismanaged and don't seem to do as well as their male ... read more
I heard better from the group but I also heard worst, so I'm fine with this project.
There are a couple of very cool tunes like "TOPLINE" and "Collision", I also like the first two tracks "Hall of Fame" and the title "S-Class", the later even grew on me. Unfortunately, it gets too messy for me at times, like with "ITEM" and "Super Bowl" where they kinda lose me and I find myself thinking eh what is this? And the ballad ... read more
The basic cover speaks for the music.
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But I Like You / 60
One and Only / 50
Serenade / 60
Is this really a CIX released? No because I had higher expectations you know, I thought they would save the first half of 2023 for boy groups but if neither ENHYPEN or CIX are dropping top tier EP than can live up to some of the exciting music girl groups fed us, who will?
One of they main reason behind my appreciation for the group is their vocals and delivery, despite not being anything too special if there's one thing this mini does well, it's showcase their voice and how well they use it. ... read more
In my opinion, the first 3 songs are pretty much the same things. "HYPE ENERGY" introduce this idea well, and to put it simply, you have this ethereal beginning, and then a hard-hitting rap, this formula is slightly tweeted track after track but the core is the same. It's also kinda giving Kanye West at some point with the use of autotune, mostly on "Voice". This contrast between the vocals and raps is even more true in the title "FREEDOM", I was quite surprised at ... read more
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Recent Review Comments
On BLACKPINK - DEADLINE
"@suddenlystarlit late reply but it's track 3 and 4"
On i-dle - Mono
"@primari thank you so much!! i'm trying to slowly get back to writing reviews again and words like this truly motivates me haha <3"
On i-dle - Mono
"@KayleNevie that's cool! i also saw they were performing it on music shows"
On ARTMS - Dall
"@rbbaddie thank you so much, this makes my heart melt"
On i-dle - We are i-dle
"@ShadeRD I have accepted the "no-return" of Soojin (her solo debut made it clear), but still I find that they were playing with the fans by hinting at her.
I'm not annoyed at them releasing those songs, as it does make sense and every group ends up doing it. It's more about how it's done.
But again, I have zero idea of the real situation, what they're allowed to do or not and the making process. Idk if what seems like Soojin's references are intentional or not. I repeat myself but I guess I needed to let that out last night and then thought about it again haha!
In conclusion: I don't know anything about the situation and therefore shouldn't assume anything either, because then I'm just creating conspiracy theories, which I deeply hate!
2/2"
On i-dle - We are i-dle
"@ShadeRD You're right it's probably just about publishing, performance's rights. While it's true many other groups did that, but they do it in the following months or so, and songs are often put at the end of another album, or without promo. To me it's a little weird that it's done now and not earlier, and I struggle with the way they used her name/image for marketing strategy (it looks like that did at least).
But we have no idea of what happens behind the scenes and some stuff take times and are beyond our understanding. In the end we're here overanalyzing something far more complex than it seems. As listeners we only see the outcome and not everything that comes before which can make up come up with wrong interpretation.
1/2"
On i-dle - We are i-dle
"im writing this in bed right before sleeping so excuse any poor wording. shit cant believe im going to mess up my sleep for a silly comment under a silly album for something silly like that which is probably not THAT deep, but still pretty silly imo"
On enderkeenan's review of CIX - THUNDER FEVER
"100% agree with the daft punk sound, it reminded me of them too"
On ShadeRD's review of XG - AWE
"@ShadeRD yeah in the official lyrics it's written "bold" but it's just more fun to say "bald". one could say coco is bold for going bald!"
On ShadeRD's review of XG - AWE
"wait on which track is the Coco bar about being bald??? i didn't notice i guess"
On Vision@ry Vision - Performante
"@distopiadan oh yeah that's right i saw about it! the vocal album can come after that then 🙏"
On ILLIT - I'LL LIKE YOU
"@oaaat i'll give it a rest next comeback! dont worry it's not that deep really. the lack of impressive vocals applies to a few other groups primarily made of very young members. newjeans and triples are two other examples of this, but the production and melodies make up for it"
On Billlie - appendix: Of All We Have Lost
"@luneo tbh The Billage of perception: chapter 3 might have more of those straightforward tunes"
On Loossemble - TTYL
"@distopiadan thank u sm!"
On ShadeRD's review of LUN8 - AWAKENING
"lmao "you can’t exactly blame the group for avoiding calling the entire fandom crazy" so real"
On enderkeenan's review of TAEMIN - ETERNAL
""pitched-down moaning Taemin" lmaoooo he kinda slays this style compared to many others tho!! (expect kai)"
On ShadeRD's review of beabadoobee - This Is How Tomorrow Moves
"sweet review; i agree on how different the impact is compared to previous album, but i think it's a welcomed change as it shows how much she grew as both an artist and a person.
im not seeing her on tour this year but i saw her in Feb 2023 and istg she is top 5 cutest people ever!"
On Red Velvet - The Red Summer
"@enderkeenan thank you so much 🤝"
On NewJeans - Ditto
"@alstanskiof lmao yep!"
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