Taeyeon - I

Taeyeon has finally made her debut as a solo artist with her album "I". The title track goes by the same name and is a mid-tempo pop track featuring Verbal Jint. The music video was filmed in New Zealand and features beautiful beaches and rolling hills. 

It's no secret that Taeyeon has some of the best vocals in the K-Pop industry, so her vocal performance on "I" is unsurprising; she's great as always. I was surprised to see that she didn't go with a slower ballad for her title track to better showcase her vocals, but I think "I" is fast enough to keep listeners' attention while also showing off some of her vocal range. Regarding the instrumentation, the percussion line is the most prominent throughout the song. The electric guitar line is used sparingly throughout, only taking the spotlight during the bridge and chorus. There's also not a lot of bass, just enough to make an impact. 

The only thing a bit weird with the track is Verbal Jint's appearance in the music video. His shots stuck out as they don't really flow with the rest of the scenery presented throughout the rest of the video. Other than that, I think Taeyeon will make a big splash on the charts and "I" will capture the hearts of many. 4.7/5

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iKON - "AIRPLANE" and "RHYTHM TA"

iKON is YG Entertainment's newest boy group and their debut has been long-awaited. Although their album Welcome Back won't be released until November, they've debuted two of the tracks from the album. These two tracks, "AIRPLANE" and "RHYTHM TA," are of two completely different genres  and showcase the group's versatility.

"AIRPLANE" is a chill track featuring staccato synths and a smooth bass line, but minor chords are scattered in the bridges adding a bit of an edge to the overall sound of the track. The music video features the theme of young love and displays the members' acting skills. On the other hand, "RHYTHM TA" is an EDM hip hop track that displays more of the group's "cool" side along with their rapping abilities. This music video also has a bit of a drama aspect, but their dancing skills are put on display. 

Fans have been waiting a long time for iKON's debut, and I think these tracks will satisfy them for now. Although their album isn't due for another month, we can look forward to seeing them promote these two tracks in the meantime. 3.3/5

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24K - "Super Fly (날라리)"

24K is a group that debuted in 2012 under Choeun Entertainment. They haven't released an album since late 2013, so their comeback was much anticipated. There also seems to have been a member change, as they debuted with six members and now there are seven. Their fourth album shares the same name as the title song, "Super Fly (날리리)," and includes 5 tracks.

"Super Fly" is capitalizing on the growing popularity of the EDM hip hop genre while also incorporating some rock elements during the bridges of the song. This genre also allows the rappers of the group to shine throughout, while the singers' voices go well with the brassy and electric riffs during the chorus. The boys are also able to showcase their hard-hitting choreography in the music video, and their live performances should be even better.

Although 24K isn't well-known, this release could be the one to propel them to more success. I can easily see "Super Fly" becoming part of the regular playlists played in Korean clubs. This group is one to keep an eye on. 4.2/5

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GOT7 - "If You Do"

GOT7 has made a quick comeback with "If You Do" from their new mini-album "Mad." Their single "Just Right" made Billboard's summer list of 20 most popular K-Pop songs in America, and their new single will hopefully live up to those same expectations.

"If You Do" starts off with 80s-style synths and a plucked guitar line, but quickly transitions into a melody featuring acoustic guitar chords and more subdued synths. Everything except for the synths and bass are stripped from the instrumental during the rappers' lines, allowing the boys to deliver whispered raps that will stir the emotions of listeners. The overall instrument combination allows for a versatile song: you can play it while relaxing or when you want to get up and dance. 

The music video is a mix of choreography and drama, and it seems well-choreographed from the parts I could see. Hopefully, JYP will release a dance version so fans can dance along to the track. Although they're coming back with a completely different concept from their previous song this year, it's sure to be a big hit. 4.7/5

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Jonghyun - "하루의 끝 (End of a day)"

Jonghyun has released his second solo album titled "The Collection ‘Story Op.1’." The album has 9 tracks, all produced by him, and showcases his personal style outside of SHINee's work. The title track is named "하루의 끝 (End of a day)" and is fitting for a preview into his album.

The track is a simple ballad with Jonghyun's vocals overlaying a flowing piano line. The lack of other instrumentation throughout the song conveys a bare feeling, and listeners are able to understand the emotions that Jonghyun's trying to convey through his singing. It also reveals that he needs no other support to deliver a flawless performance or create the illusion of him being better than he is.

The music video for the track features a man and a woman silently walking through the streets, meeting each other at the end to embrace after a tiring day. This directly corresponds to the lyrics of "하루의 끝 (End of a day)," resulting in a great release all around. 4.6/5

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Luhan - "That Good Good"

Although Luhan is no longer part of EXO and therefore has nothing to do with K-pop anymore, most of his fans stem from his days in Korea so I will still review his tracks in this blog. He just released his Chinese solo album soon, Reloaded, and the title track is called "That Good Good." Contrary to the image portrayed under SM Entertainment, he aims to give off a more manly image this time around and it works for him.

The track is a mix between Hip-hop and EDM, mixing a deep, heavy bit with electronic sounds to keep up with the current trends. The overall feel of the song also reminds me (and other listeners) of Justin Bieber's former releases. Some of the harmonies are a bit off and seem out of place, especially in the beginning, but Luhan does well on the bridges and chorus. A bit too much auto-tune was used throughout, but the end product is still a well put together song.

The choreography in the music video for "That Good Good" successfully captures the feel of the song and showcases Luhan's dancing abilities, as we weren't able to see his full potential before in a group full of other members. With Luhan's rising popularity in China and existing fans from EXO, this track will surely be a hit. 3/5

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Super Junior - "Magic"

Super Junior already released the first part of their 10th anniversary album, Devil. Now they're back with Magic featuring four new tracks, including a title track of the same name. According to the boys' previous statements, this may be the last group album for a while until Eunhyuk, Donghae, and Siwon return from their respective enlistment assignments, so these albums were prepared specially for ELF.
"Magic" is a vintage-style track that combines a funky guitar line with brass accents and a groovy bass line to make a great track in time for autumn. Super Junior has already established their vocal and dance abilities, but this is a new sound that they've been trying out on their last few albums. I wasn't so sure about it at first, but they've found out what works for them and it seems to be the sound they like best. 
This track definitely aims to get people on their feet and it does just that. The music video is creative and has a bit of a story line, reminiscent of their old videos. Although there's a general consensus that the album cover design could've been done better, the music and video quality didn't suffer. 4/5

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Junho - "SO GOOD"

Junho, a member of 2PM under JYP Entertainment, has released a "best of" album of his self-composed Japanese tracks translated into Korean. The album, titled One, has 11 tracks with the title tracks being "Fire" and "SO GOOD." I will be reviewing "SO GOOD," as there isn't a full music video available for "Fire."

The track is a mix between EDM and funk, reminiscent of recent French House music. Although the track seems more like a summer song and it's almost fall, it's still a good song to play during the season's transition. The chorus is catchy and Junho's vocals are smooth, as usual. The music video is also fun, featuring Junho and friends riding on boats, running on beaches, and swimming in pools. The oversaturated coloring done in the editing really compliments the fun feeling of the track.

Although there hasn't been a lot of promotion done for this album, I think Junho will do well based on his sheer talent and current fanbase. His last Japanese album, So Good, placed number one on Oricon as soon as it was released; maybe this album will follow suit.

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DAY6 - "Congratulations"

DAY6, formerly known as 5live, has finally made their debut under JYP Entertainment. Although under one of the big three labels, they are a rock group. It's refreshing to see other genres besides pop music being represented in the mainstream market. The title track from their mini-album, "The Day," is titled "Congratulations".

DAY6 is just a rookie group but they have the sound of veteran artists. It's apparent from the start of the video that all of the members have mastered their respective instruments, and have spent time to perfect the group's sound. None of the instruments overpower each other, and the use of both acoustic and electric guitars make for a mellow track just in time for autumn. We also get to hear all of the members sing throughout the song, showcasing their versatility and talents even further.

Hopefully DAY6 isn't left by the wayside among the other artists on JYPE's roster, as they have plenty of potential to grow and become a top contender in the music industry. 4.6/5

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UP10TION - "Dangerous"

TOP Media's new group UP10TION is a 10-member boy group focused on having members that can participate in all areas of the entertainment business. They are described as "having all talents for idol groups including singing ability, performance, visual, acting, and entertaining sense" (source). They have finally released their long-anticipated mini album titled "Top Secret" with "So Dangeous" being the title track.

The track starts out with strong synths similar to 2NE1's "I Am the Best", but implements different chords to twist it into a melody reminiscent of Middle-Eastern music. The bridges lose that melody and in favor of lighter synths and a more booming bass line. The rappers are also introduced in these sections, one of which has a surprisingly deep voice compared to the other members. Following the bridge is the chorus which features a memorable chant and dance from the boys. 

Along with production quality, the music video editing is something worth noting, featuring various transitions between outfits and displacing members in and out of frames. Although UP10TION is just a rookie group, they have the potential to become big contenders in the K-Pop world if their future songs and videos are of this standard. 3/5.

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Red Velvet - "Dumb Dumb"

Red Velvet has released their first full-length album titled "The Red." Although they've release tracks and a mini-album before, listeners are finally able to clearly see the group's versatility. The album consists of 10 tracks with genres ranging from dance to rock. The title track, "Dumb Dumb" was produced by London Noise and is about a girl who acts "dumb" and awkward in front of her crush.

The track starts off with a funky vibe, featuring a big band sound and a groovy bass guitar, but the ever-popular booming trap bass is also incorporated into the mix. 8-bit inspired synths are also thrown on top of the girls' chants in the background. Later in the song, a soothing piano-driven bridge overlays the girl's smooth vocals. This tiny section is my favorite part and I wish it would've been repeated more throughout the track.

We've already been introduced to the girls' singing skills in other songs, so it's no surprise that their execution is flawless. The rapping is also hard-hitting and doesn't seem forced. The concept and marketing of this album is also unique, and I think it may be the best one SM has thought of in a while. Their outfits remind me of a combination of Pippi Longstocking and Lucille Ball and the music video is delightfully creepy. "The Red" is doing well on the charts so far, so I'm sure we'll see some wins from the girls in the upcoming weeks. 4.5/5

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