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Red Velvet Mini Album Vol. 6 - Queendom (Girls Version)
Red Velvet
Just when we thought we'll have to wait for Red Velvet's comeback till kingdom come, the girls surprise us with a new mini-album after almost two years of wait. Irene, Seul Gi, Wendy, Joy and Yeri radiate queen energy through their sixth mini-album Queendom! "'Cause we are Queens and Kings / Put your hands up higher / Even if it rains / Strong and beautiful / A rainbow completed with different colors" – Red Velvet comes back stronger with their self-empowering title track Queendom (Track 1)! Making their first group comeback in 20 months, the girls go for a safer choice with a catchy but not particularly stunning title song. Queendom forthrightly spreads the message of "we are the queens... [read more]
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Hangout With Yoo - MSG Wannabe Album Package
Yoo Jae Suk
| KCM
| Ji Suk Jin
| Simon Dominic
Following last year's SSAK3 and Refund Sisters, MBC variety program Hangout With Yoo surprises with another music project – MSG Wannabe, a parody of well-known vocal group SG Wannabe! This time, Yoo Jae Suk acts as producer Yoo Ya Ho to bring quality K-ballads with aspiring singers Byeollu Ji (Ji Suk Jin), Kim Jung Su (Kim Jung Min), Kang Chang Mo (KCM), Jung Ki Suck (Simon D), Lee Dong Hwi, Lee Sang Yi, Wonstein and Parc Jae Jung. MSG Wannabe officially debuts with their first album that features songs from a strong lineup of songwriters, ranging from Park Geun Tae (composer of SG Wannabe's Timeless) to Brown Eyed Soul's Naul and Young Jun. Subunit M.O.M (Byeollu Ji, Kang Chang Mo,... [read more]
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SF9 Mini Album Vol. 9 - Turn Over (Special Version) (Random Version)
SF9
Mnet's Kingdom: Legendary War successfully wound down in early June. During Kingdom, SF9 displayed their "classy sexy" charisma to the finest with grand and deep performances. They continue to illustrate this glorious chapter of their music journey with the ninth mini-album Turn Over. Instead of dropping summer jams like many other groups, SF9 goes moody and sentimental in title track Tear Drop (Track 1). At first listen, it gives off a pretty strong Good Guy vibe with its catchy topline, UK garage beats and song arrangement – both songs are from the same writers and producer. The group once asked their loves not to miss out on them in Good Guy. They are now left with broken hearts in Tear... [read more]
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Twice Mini Album Vol. 10 - Taste of Love (Random Version)
Twice (Korea)
Let's catch the summer fever with more summer jams! Following last week's Summer Queen by Brave Girls, another girl group arrived with more bangers – it's Twice with the new EP Taste of Love. This time, Twice gives us another taste of summer with their mature, sultry charms in the mini-album. Rather than going for an energetic and passionate night like in Dance The Night Away, Twice takes their time to chill and get tipsy in the title track Alcohol-Free (Track 1). With hip-hop elements blended in a bossa nova-based melody, Alcohol Free enacts a dreamy, magical summer romance in a tiddly atmosphere: "You are my champagne, my wine that I drink with my eyes. My tequila, margarita, Mojito with... [read more]
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Brave Girls Mini Album Vol. 5 - Summer Queen (Random Version)
Brave Girls
Considering the numerous scandals that broke out earlier this year, the rise of Brave Girls with viral hit Rollin' was perhaps the most positive and hopeful thing to happen in the K-pop industry. Now, the girls are back, and they're gonna be summer queens with their fifth mini-album! Brave Girls continue to go strong with the title track Chi Mat Ba Ram (Track 1)! Again produced by their boss and producer Brave Brothers, the tropical house dance number Chi Mat Ba Ram conveys a summer love that freshly arrives like the breeze blowing through their dresses. Despite coming with an entirely different melody, the song feels very much like Rollin' – from Yu Jeong's sweet opening to the addictive... [read more]
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Red Velvet : Joy Special Album - Hello (Photo Book Version)
Joy (Red Velvet)
Last year, Red Velvet's Joy surprised us with her hit song "Introduce Me a Good Person" from the Hospital Playlist OST. This year, she accompanies our summer days with the special remake album Hello for her official solo debut! Joy says goodbye to lonely days and welcomes sunny days in life with the modern rock title track "Hello" (Track 1). Carrying the dual meanings of "hello" and "goodbye," Annyeong (the Korean title of "Hello") is a remake of Park Hye Kyoung's "Good Bye," and encourages listeners to start their days with positivity. Kenzie's arrangement, along with Joy's bright tone, adds a more dynamic energy to the heartening anthem. When listening to Joy's rendition, you can totally... [read more]
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Sung Si Kyung Vol. 8 - Siot
Sung Si Kyung
It's hard to believe that Siot is only Sung Si Kyung's eighth full-length Korean album, given that he's entering the 21st year of his career this year. You may know him as a host, entertainer, OST singer, or Instagram foodie, but he is officially back to claim the title of "ballad prince" in the music scene. A full decade since the release of his seventh album, Sung Si Kyung fondly sings about love, life and stories that deeply touch our hearts. Opening with the English single And we go (Track 1) sets a delightful ambience for the album. Produced by singer-songwriter Cho Kyu Chan, the tranquil and beautifully written "Wanderer" (Track 2) captures the feelings of solitude and longing during... [read more]
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Highlight Mini Album Vol. 3 - The Blowing (Random Version)
Highlight
In their two-year group hiatus, Highlight fulfilled their military service, and unfortunately went through yet another lineup change. Du Jun, Yo Seop, Gi Kwang and Dong Woon embark on a new journey, hand in hand, unfolding Highlight's new chapter with their third mini-album The Blowing. Highlight asks fans to count on them with the heartfelt and assuring line "I'm still here, it's not the end" in the title track. Co-penned by Gi Kwang, Not The End (Track 1) is a synthpop plug that delivers hope with the message of "winter has passed, spring has arrived, and I'm still here as always." Now without a main rapper, the group is focusing more on vocal parts, and they still show improvements every... [read more]
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Red Velvet: Wendy Mini Album Vol. 1 - Like Water (Case Version)
Wendy (Red Velvet)
After seven years of wait, Red Velvet's Wendy finally gifts us her long-awaited first solo mini-album Like Water! Having gone through hardships in her yearlong hiatus, Wendy comes back in a stronger self, and with a stronger voice, to welcome a new chapter of her life. Wendy shows off her vocal color and skills all at once in the mellow but powerful main title track Like Water (Track 2). Produced by Coach & Sendo, the acoustic pop ballad describes a love that is soft, healing and important Like Water: "My love is like water, filling up your painful spots, wrapping around your wounds, and hugging you tightly, making you stand up again." We're used to hearing Wendy sing high notes in Red... [read more]
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Pentagon Mini Album Vol. 11 - LOVE or TAKE (Mild Version)
Pentagon
After going wild and crazy for love with Dr. BeBe and Daisy last year, Pentagon brings back their signature gleeful and bouncy music in their latest release! Eight manhwa boys pop up and melt your heart with romantic songs in LOVE or TAKE. The physical album is well designed in a manhwa concept complete with comic book sleeves, making it especially worth collecting. Making their first refreshing-style comeback in almost two years, Pentagon goes all bright, sweet and lovey-dovey in their 11th mini-album. Opening track 10s and (Track 1) sets a dreamy and fantasy ambience for the album, leading you into the world of a melodrama or romance comic. "Say you like me, just stick with me or not / Do... [read more]
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Pentagon Mini Album Vol. 11 - LOVE or TAKE (Romantic Version)
Pentagon
After going wild and crazy for love with Dr. BeBe and Daisy last year, Pentagon brings back their signature gleeful and bouncy music in their latest release! Eight manhwa boys pop up and melt your heart with romantic songs in LOVE or TAKE. The physical album is well designed in a manhwa concept complete with comic book sleeves, making it especially worth collecting. Making their first refreshing-style comeback in almost two years, Pentagon goes all bright, sweet and lovey-dovey in their 11th mini-album. Opening track 10s and (Track 1) sets a dreamy and fantasy ambience for the album, leading you into the world of a melodrama or romance comic. "Say you like me, just stick with me or not / Do... [read more]
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Weeekly Mini Album Vol. 3 - We play (Random Version)
Weeekly
While Weeekly may not be a huge name as of yet, they in fact swept five newcomer awards last year at different year-end ceremonies. One of the few rookies to not go for the trendy "girl crush" style in their debut, the group has continued with their youthful and lively "high-teen" concept in their third mini-album We play. Following Tag Me (@Me) and Zig Zag, Weeekly pursues their overwhelming teen energy and passion again in this album's title track After School (Track 3). Produced by Denzil Remedios and Ryan Jhun, the cheery pop number mixed with reggae and trap beats captures the joy of students enjoying their free time after school: "We're on our skateboards. Stamping our feet like we're... [read more]
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ONF Vol. 1 - ONF:MY NAME (Random Version)
ONF
After five mini-album releases, ONF finally drops their ambitious and conceptual first full-length album. The boys take us along on their youthful journey to search for freedom in the future through their 11-track album ONF: My Name. ONF first lifts us up with the funky house jam Beautiful Beautiful (Track 1). Again produced by Hwang Hyun, Beautiful Beautiful is an encouraging, upbeat self-love anthem with a retro spin, performed with lyrics that are plainly straightforward: "It's all about the frame people made up / Never gonna give in I'm a break it / Courage I set to be hated my man / Damagin' me but it makin' me strong / Taking off for today baby, God, bless me." The song may feel odd... [read more]
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BAE173 Mini Album Vol. 1 - INTERSECTION : SPARK
BAE173
We all need something lively to cheer us up while we're trapped at home every day. Enter PocketDol Studio's (formerly known as MBK Entertainment) fresh-faced new boy group BAE173, whose nine member lineup includes X1's Han Gyul and Do Hyon. Unlike many other groups, BAE173 pursues a bubbly and high-spirited style that makes them stand out from the crowd! The rookie group collaborates with well-known K-pop producer team GALACTIKA* for all the tracks on their first mini-album Intersection: Spark. The prelude With Me (Track 1) starts the record off with a youthful and bright ambience and lyrics that share their hopes: "I'll never let you down, yeah. You just have to look at me…. I want you to... [read more]
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(G)I-DLE Mini Album Vol. 4 - I burn (Flower Version)
(G)I-DLE
After their successful summer comeback with DUMDi DUMDi, (G)I-DLE geared back up in bold and fierce fashion for their fourth mini-album I burn. (G)I-DLE sets the bar high with the stunning intro HANN (Alone in Winter) (Track 1), which sets the mysterious wintry aura of the album. This theme is also meant to connect to their 2018 single HANN. Landing at #1 on various music charts, HWAA (Track 2) takes the Chinese characters of "fire" and "flower" as motifs to project the pain of breakup. So Yeon creates another masterpiece that blends Moombahton-based pop dance with traditional East Asian music and sentiments. Though it isn't as catchy as their previous title tracks, HWAA is the best... [read more]
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18 Again OST (JTBC TV Drama) (2CD)
Korean TV Series Soundtrack
| Yoon Sang Hyun
| Sondia
| So You
JTBC's 18 Again is arguably one of the best yet underrated Korean drama series of 2020. It conveys life lessons on family, love and friendship through a fantasy story about Dae Young (Yoon Sang Hyun), who returns to the body of his 18-year-old self (Lee Do Hyun) just before his wife Da Jung (Kim Ha Neul) files for divorce with him. Even though it's been almost three months since the finale, I'm still left with lingering feelings whenever I listen to the drama's original soundtrack. Overall, 18 Again is a very heartwarming and comedic drama, but it occasionally includes flashbacks that make our hearts wrench. Three songs – So You's "The Only One" (Track 1), So Hyang's Hello (Track 2) and Sol... [read more]
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BTOB 4U Mini Album Vol. 1 - INSIDE (SIDE Version)
BTOB 4U
| BTOB
We all need some love and healing music to conquer this difficult time. Four out of seven members from BTOB – Eun Kwang, Chang Sub, Min Hyuk and Peniel – reunite as BTOB 4U, sending love to Melody and the world through their music in the subunit's first mini-album Inside. Despite having enlisted in the military, Hyun Sik still managed to produce the title track Show Your Love (Track 1) for his bandmates. Hyun Sik again worked with EDEN for the song production, along with Ollounder and LEEZ (who both took part in ATEEZ and Dreamcatcher's works). Show Your Love, needless to say, encourages us to express love heartily: "Everybody singing Show Your Love, Show Your Love. There is nothing more... [read more]
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LUCY Single Album Vol. 2 - Snooze
LUCY
Among the countless survival shows in Korea over the past few years, JTBC's Super Band was certainly not the most internationally popular audition program, but it's been unexpectedly well-received among viewers. It has brought more recognition to bands like Hoppípolla, Purple Rain and LUCY and musicians like zai.ro and Woo Sung. I recently came across the show's first runner-up LUCY, and their new album Snooze is beyond my expectation. LUCY's second single album Snooze features a rearranged version of the same-titled song, which was one of their semi-final singles on Super Band. Co-produced by the members, "Snooze" (Track 1) is written for adults who aren't ready for society yet: "But you... [read more]
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Golden Child Single Album Vol. 2 - Pump It Up (C Version)
Golden Child
K-pop groups don't always go back to cute and sunshiny vibes after pursuing mature or chic styles. For their third comeback of the year, however, Golden Child surprised fans with the bright and upbeat new single Pump It Up after wrapping up the trilogy of Wannabe, Without You and One (Lucid Dream). Produced by MosPick (IZ*ONE's "Secret Story of the Swan"), title track Pump It Up (Track 1) is an uptempo dance number that conveys the heart-fluttering feeling when looking at a crush. The cheery vibe and energy of the song just naturally pumps up listeners and brightens up the mood. As usual, Jang Jun and TAG took part in writing the rap of the single. The verse where Jang Jun, Bo Min, TAG, and... [read more]
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WEi Mini Album Vol. 1 - IDENTITY : First Sight (Random Version)
WEi
With a full six-member lineup of survival program contestants, Oui Entertainment's first boy group WEi consists of familiar faces from Produce X 101, Produce 101 Season 2, Under Nineteen and YG Treasure Box. X1's Kim Yo Han, JBJ's Kim Dong Han, RAINZ's Jang Dae Hyeon, Produce X 101's Kang Seok Hwa and 1THE9's Yoo Yong Ha and Kim Jun Seo re-debut as WEi with their first mini-album IDENTITY: First Sight! Penned by Pentagon's Hui and Flow Blow, the alternative R&B title track Twilight (Track 1) unfolds the first chapter of their story, which evokes the image of butterflies searching for light in the time between dog and wolf: "You're a star shining brightly in the twilight / You are filled in... [read more]
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