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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