SHINee - "Dazzling Girl"

It's been a while since SHINee has released any Japanese material, and their new single "Dazzling Girl" is a great track to come back with. The upbeat, happy single stays true to the group's signature bouncy style while still showcasing their maturity as artists. Many SHINee fans feel that their Japanese singles are lacking compared to their Korean tracks, but I beg to differ. Singles such as "Stranger" and "To Your Heart" have proved to be some...

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Teen Top - "Be Ma Girl"

Teen Top has come back quickly with another single produced by Brave Sound. The single "Be Ma Girl" has a similar vibe to "No More Perfume On Me," which I feel, besides the lyrics, is their best song yet. But unfortunately, their new single doesn't quite hit the same mark.The reverberating wave sound at the start gave me a little hope for the song, but it promptly changes to a horn and toms pattern that repeats during the song's transitions. These...

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BIGSTAR - "HOTBOY"

BIGSTAR's debut track "HOTBOY" is definitely interesting. As I pressed play, the sound immediately reminded me of a mix between Big Bang, Teen Top, and Psy's "Gangnam Style." The middle of the song undergoes a style change which is definitely Teen Top influenced with vocals similar to Niel's. The mix of these different styles could have been a disaster, but it's actually pretty good.Their incorporation of many styles into one gives off an interesting,...

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ChAOs - "Racer"

ChAOs's new single "Racer" is, in one word, confusing. I wasn't sure if I was listening to rock, pop, or techno. The rhythm is constantly changing and introducing listeners to a new sound additions. It's always good to keep listeners on their feet, but in this case it just isn't working.As soon as the track starts a tempo change is introduced, immediately throwing listeners off. It turns into a kind of pop/techno track before the hook comes, and...

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Super Junior - "Sexy, Free & Single"

Super Junior is back with their sixth album entitled Sexy, Free & Single. To be honest, it's a little disappointing. For a group of such high standing, I was expecting a lot more. The album is good, but not good enough for where they are in the industry. With almost 7 years of experience under their belt, it's time to stop playing it safe and take their music to the next level."Sexy, Free & Single" acts as the lead single and starts out the...

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BEAST - "Beautiful Night"

I've never been a big listener of BEAST's music, but I think that's going to change now. Following the release of Fiction and Fact, BEAST is back with their new lead single "Beautiful Night." The dance-pop track is reminiscent of tracks such as Big Bang's "Love Dust" and "Ain't No Fun," but manages to stand out a little bit more.BEAST was recognized as a strong group in the kpop industry with the realease of their past album, and "Beautiful Night"...

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BoA - "Only One"

The Queen of Kpop is back with her new single "Only One," as well as a new album of the same name releasing on July 22. I honestly was unaware of her comeback until the MV came out, but I definitely was not disappointed. BoA has always been reinventing herself with each single she releases, and "Only One" is no exception.Unlike most of the new kpop songs coming out, "Only One" is a slow tempo track built on a fleeting piano melody. I found the slower...

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C-CLOWN - "Solo"

C-CLOWN is another debut group taking advantage of the rising popularity of synths. Their debut song "Solo" starts off slow with piano riffs and melancholy acousitc guitar chords, promptly switching to a midtempo synthpop track. In a time where so many new groups are popping up, it's important to be original; C-CLOWN group falls slightly short of this goal. The group has strong vocals and sound great together, but that's about it. Both the...

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GLAM - "Party (XXO)"

GLAM is Big Hit Entertainment's new girl group focusing on the girls' dancing as well as their hip hop-based vocal skills. Straying from girl groups' traditional cutesy image, they lean more towards an edgy and urban look. While debuting, groups want a song exhibiting various talents the group has to offer while showing a promising future. GLAM's debut song "Party (XXO)" definitely achieves said purpose. "Party (XXO)" is an upbeat track that amplifies...

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B.A.P. - "No Mercy"

B.A.P. is back with another edgy and hard-hitting track, following its predecessors by continuing to utilize varying whistling patterns throughout. "No Mercy" is a great effort, but not quite up to my expectations.There's no doubt that B.A.P. consists of superb vocals while Bang Yongguk and Zelo always deliver solid raps; that's not the problem here. The vocals and raps do a good job of carrying the melody, but there is a lot going on underneath--...

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Welcome!

Welcome to Seoul Reviews! This blog will primarily be used for my short reviews of various K-Pop singles and albums, with occasional editorials and specials. I'm new to reviewing music, but I will try my best! I've been involved in both music and writing all of my life; so I figured I should give it a shot. Keep in mind that these are all my personal opinions, so please don't feel offended. Feel free to comment with your own opinions and views on the subject at ha...

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