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 of their best material, and "Dazzling Girl" is no exception.

The instrumentation in "Dazzling Girl" is very unique and moving, resulting in there never being a dull moment. A soulful piano line introduces the track, followed by a funky electronic riff leading into the bubbly chorus. It also has a nice bassline, despite it being relatively unchanging. One thing I'm surprised about, though, is that synths are used sparingly throughout the song. This is rare for current K-Pop songs, as they are riddled with them; it works for "Dazzling Girl", though. Although the instrumental is full of various eclectic sounds, it's still a bit bare in some parts; but this allows for the group's hypnotizing harmonies and vocals to shine through.

One thing I've always loved about SHINee is that each member's vocals are really unique, and they can all make the best out of any genre they are given. The bareness in parts of "Dazzling Girls" allows for more vocal clarity than in their other uptempo songs, showcasing their distinguished sound. SHINee's last album, Sherlock, left me wanting for more, but they definitely delivered that with this single. 3.8/5

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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 two instruments coupled together gives the song a sort of reggae feel, but it gets annoying after awhile. The producers are brave (heh) for trying something a little different, but it just doesn't fit with the funky, party feel that comes across throughout the rest of the song.

One thing I especially like is that Niel's parts were slightly cut, giving other members a chance to shine more. Not that I don't like Niel's voice, but the group shouldn't have to rely on one member to sing the whole song. The synths in varying parts of the song are a nice touch, as they aren't too overbearing. I also like the little electro bits sprinkled throughout. But altogether, the track isn't that great.

"Be Ma Girl" is different, which is something that kpop is lacking right now. Teen Top's sound is also maturing, but that's not always a good thing. Different is good, but in this case it fails. The single is catchy and the vocals are great, but the producers coupled it with a lackluster beat. I'm a Teen Top fan, but I genuinely feel like they came out with great songs first and are regressing into 'okay' songs now. Hopefully, this trend won't prevail for long. 2.5/5.

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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, fun feel, but it's still nothing new. It has the typical kpop song elements, riddled with synths and hard-hitting kicks. One thing I'm happy about, though, is the strong bass line. Many kpop songs today are scared to make use of the bass line, so it's a nice change. Talent is apparent in the group, as the vocals and raps are quite strong. This is slightly countered by the cheap chanting present throughout the song, though; but most commercial songs possess some kind of chanting, so it makes sense for a debut group to try and incorporate it. It's okay, though, as the chanting along with the beat makes "HOTBOY" quite catchy. The boys' energy is also infectious, adding to the likability of this song.

"HOTBOY" is just right for BIGSTAR to catch some attention, but not enough for them to really stand out. The change in style halfway through the song has also thrown some people off, as it feels like it's a totally different song. Their debut single is a good start but the boys should come back stronger next time, specifically in trying to create a unique sound without reminding listeners of other groups.2.8/5.

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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 an electric guitar is introduced into the mix. Right after the chorus, the tempo slows again and gives off a sort of ballad feel before returning to the original tempo. All of this rhythm changing doesn't give listeners a chance to focus on the song itself, but instead keeps us trying to keep up with the pace. It also doesn't do the vocals any justice, as they are cut short with each transition. The only time I was slightly impressed by the vocals was the ending note with rising pitch.

After a long hiatus and a drastic sound change, I don't think this was the right way to come back. It's catchy and definitely different, but that's about it. The song has way too much going on and takes away from showcasing their talents. I believe with a better song, they could have done much better. 1.9/5.

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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 album. The track strays from their usual funky-style used in past singles like "Sorry Sorry" and "Mr. Simple," giving listeners a refreshing sound. There are a lot of good points in the song, most notably SM's excellent production quality (as always), and Super Junior's strong, confident vocals. It also presents listeners with a more, long overdue mature sound from the group; but all this is countered by poor execution. The transitions lack variety and the build-up of the song is very anticlimactic. It's a VERY good song, but not as great as it could be. "From U" utilizes Super Junior's top 3 vocalists, KRY, and introduces listeners to a smoother side of the group. The pretty melody and simple instrumental woos listeners, yet can get pretty old pretty fast. As an ELF I appreciated the message behind the song, but it left much to be desired musically.

Next on the album is "Gulliver" with lyrics written by Eunhyuk. The instrumental is hard-hitting and showcases a more hardcore side to Super Junior. This track especially stood out to me because it is exclusively a rap track, with the exception of Ryeowook singing the chorus. It gets listeners excited for the few listens with its uniqueness, but quickly loses its "umph." Once again the build-up leaves much to be desired, and the tempo change comes out of nowhere. Eunhyuk's lyrics of comparing Super Junior to Gulliver are clever, but the chanting after the change is really repetitive and really should go.

"Someday" had the potential to be an amazingly pretty song, but falls short in a lot of areas. Most of the arrangement is extremely boring and the vocals are shaky in some parts. The chorus and hook are really nice and the jazzy cut adds a nice touch, but it's still not attention-grabbing enough. It's a nice listen for once in a while, but not everyday. The same could be said for the next track "Now," as well. The song gives off an electro-British-rock-pop feel and seems extremely out of place in the album. This is the experimentation Super Junior should be making, which is good, but it didn't quite make the cut. The instrumentation is kind of all over the place and the chorus, which is the most memorable part of a song, is not nearly as strong as it should be.

"Rockstar" is an LMFAO-type song, full of in-your-face lyrics and a fun, funky instrumental. This song stands as one of the better ones, as Super Junior is always best when they don't take themselves too seriously. This track allows their playfulness to shine and isn't half bad in terms of production. Although this type of track has obviously been done before and isn't the best, it's something new for Super Junior and that's good. "Bittersweet" is a track consisting of only KRY and Sungmin's sweet vocals, giving listeners a break from the previous fast-paced songs. This song is sort of like a lullaby with a punch. It's a bit boring and leads to nowhere, but it's not entirely bad. It's an okay song, but can be forgotten easily.

The last uptempo song on the album is "Butterfly." The opening instrumental grabs your attention along with the theme of repetitive sections in the lyrics, but it soon becomes boring. The instrumental is initially exciting, but gets old after a while with each consecutive listen. The track also could have done without the dubstep cut in the middle. I like the song for its different style, but could be better from a musical-standpoint.

"Daydream" is one of my favorites from the album. I'm a sucker for songs built around piano melodies, so this song really stood out to me. The instrumental isn't too complicated and allows the emotions of the song to really shine through. But, once again, there's no big explosion after the build-up; it resumes it's mild feel. "Daydream" had the potential to be great, but it wasn't polished enough.

The album ends with "A 'Good' Bye." The cheap keyboard line before the hook doesn't quite fit, but the rest of the song is pretty good. There is a LOT of experimentation in this track, much like how the rest of the album should have been. Sounds varying from a ticking clock to a string section are present, keeping the listeners on their feet. But after the first listen, it loses its charm. It's another unique track, but still isn't great. "A 'Good' Bye" is a nice way to end the album, and with a fitting title, but still isn't their best effort.

Sexy, Free & Single is a really good album with excellent production quality and a good lead single, but Super Junior can do better. Many songs were looked over that had the potential to be great, and the album feels rushed-- probably because of leader Leeteuk's impending leave to the army. Blunders such as these resulted in their sixth album not being as good as it could be. I just hope Super Junior releases another great album like Sorry Sorry before it's too late. 3/5.

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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" reaffirms this fact. The dance track fills listeners with a feeling of euphoria and the want to just get up and dance. Most dance tracks at the top of the charts nowadays are very commercial and cheap; this is not the case for "Beautiful Night." The track is well-rounded musically and is of excellent production quality. As a bass fiend I would've liked more bass, but that's the only complaint I can really make. The vocals are very confident and attention-grabbing, but subtle enough to let listeners enjoy the complicated instrumental underneath. The synths are very rich and the guitar line during the hook adds a nice touch.

"Beautiful Night" is definitely a track that could be listened to everyday without losing its punch. Sure, it isn't the most original song out there. But it's perfect for summertime and is of great quality. It's also better than most songs that have attempted the dance-pop genre. 4.8/5

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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 tempo and simpleness of the track to be a breath of fresh air compared to the fast-paced dance songs being released now. The bareness of the track allows listeners to focus more on BoA's strong, clear vocals instead of a chaotic instrumental. Also surprising is how sparingly synths are used throughout, considering they're all the rage right now. This isn't a bad thing, though; the amount used is enough for the track to appeal to the evergrowing electro taste without being overbearing.

The style of "Only One" allows BoA to really shine compared to her earlier songs like "Hurricane Venus" and "Copy & Paste." Auto-tune is used significantly less, and her vocal skills are better showcased. The composition also exhibits her maturity as an artist and realization that songs don't have to be riddled with complicated melodies to showcase musicality. Also noteworthy is the fact that the track is composed and written by BoA herself. If "Only One" is any indication of the quality of the rest of her upcoming album, I'm definitely looking forward to it. 4.3/5.

The choreography is, as always, also really impressive!

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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 melody and instrumental of the song sound like countless of other k-pop songs out there. In all honestly, while listening to "Solo," it strongly reminded me of a song Teen Top would perform. The ending of the song was also rather abrupt, leaving a rather lackluster first impression. There are, though, many good points of the song. The bassline wasn't too overbearing, and the subtle electronic riffs added a nice touch. I also liked the raindrop bit; it reminds me of sound effects a pop group in the 90s would utilize.

Yes, C-CLOWN is good. The singers have a wide vocal range and the rappers are hard-hitting with their lines, but this is not enough for them to truly stand out. "Solo" is a prime example of the k-pop industry's redundancy and lack of variety. With a bit more work I believe C-CLOWN can be strong contenders, but their debut just wasn't strong enough. 2.8/5.

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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 the girls' fun raps and strong vocals. Although not totally original, as the opening raps are reminiscent of artists such as Nicki Minaj's style, the girls manage to make it their own. One thing that surprised me was the strong, jazzy feel of the vocals. These different vocals give GLAM's debut song an extra "umph," setting it apart from the usual auto-tuned dance songs. "Party (XXO)" is also different from usual k-pop songs as it is more Western-influenced. Following the current trends of Western music, the song is littered with electro-house kicks and synths.

I also want to call attention to the lyrics. The song song starts out with "Can I kiss ya baby girl?" which caught me off guard, but I disregarded it and continued listening to the rest of the song. As I later looked up the English translation, I was really surprised. GLAM sings about how it doesn't matter if one is a guy or girl when it comes to love and anyone can be a Romeo or Juliet. Singing about this touchy subject in a country as conservative as Korea is really daring, and I give them their props.

If GLAM keeps it up, I feel as though they would be a good contender to break into the Western market. A song like this would instantly make it to the top of the charts. 4/5.

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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-- almost too much. The song starts out with a generic "boom boom clap" rhythm, followed by recognizable guitar riffs. This is disappointing considering how original both "Power" and "Warrior" are. These components of the instrumental repeat throughout most of the song, even during the many (unnecessary) transitions. Many of the transitions are random and don't fit with the melody, such as the 8-bit game sounds under one of the numerous rap parts.

It just seems like the producers tried to fit as many "cutting-edge" and modern sounds they could in one song, disregarding how they would sound as one. For me, B.A.P's clear, piercing vocals helped take the focus off of the scattered beat and put the song back on track. The idea behind the song is great, but the execution leaves a little to be desired. Overall, I'd give the song a 3/5.

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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 hand!

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