Quickie Catchup Reviews: BVNDIT, Day6, DKB, KEEMBO, Monsta X, Nu’est, NCT127, ONEWE, OnlyOneOf, Sujeong

BVNDIT – Jungle

Another BVNDIT track that just doesn’t connect with me. I appreciate the attempt to incorporate a more tribal vibe but most of the track just plays like generic moody girl crush. The central drop is especially grating and retains almost nothing that made Dumb (their best single) at least mildly enjoyable.

Rating: 6/10

Day6 – Zombie

After their brilliant ‘Entropy’ album, I had massive hopes for the latest Day6 album. As result, Zombie felt quite underwhelming on first listen but consequent listens have really brought forth more of the tracks hidden charms. It may not be the Deep In Love or I Wait style banger I was hoping for but its soft rock melody is perfectly suited for our current world climate.

Rating: 8.25/10

DKB – Still

DKB are the current holders of the lowest rated song on this site and comeback single Still doesn’t do much to spark any interest. Though the opening guitar riff shows some promise, the rest of the track is more or less the same lethargic trap dirge that’s overstayed its welcome in modern pop music. In my mind Still is a slight improvement over their debut, though that’s not saying much.

Rating: 6/10

KEEMBO – Scandalous

I actually wanted to give this song a full review but just wasn’t able to scramble the time to do so. Scandalous is the return of my favourite production duo Sweetune to the Kpop realm and while its not the show stopping masterpiece I would expect for a Spica x Sweetune reunion, it’s still a hell of alot of fun. One of the most enjoyable songs we’ve gotten this month.

Rating: 8.75/10

Monsta X – Fantasia

Monsta X have always been a coin flip group for me. While most of their songs follow a similar sound, I either love them or they feel incredibly boring. Unfortunately Fantasia falls into the latter portion of the groups discography. Without much a hook to fall back on, Fantasia rests more heavily on the groups personality to really do much. And while they clearly give it their all, the end result just feels underwhelming.

Rating: 6.75/10

Nu’est – I’m In Trouble

Harkening back to the groovy sound that made songs like Dejavu so alluring, I’m In Trouble attempts to harness a more sensual sound for the group. Although this is largely successful, the track feels like it’s missing something. I can’t put my finger on it but it just feels incomplete. It’s no where near a bad song, just brings nothing really new or exiting to the table. The album on the other hand, boy now thats some good shit.

Rating: 7.25/10

NCT127 – Punch

NCT 127 have always been at the forefront of K-pop experimentation but with Punch they prove that they couldn’t care less about current trends. The track is as far from modern kpop as you could expect, combined an almost endless number of instrumental and vocal samples into one ever-morphing beast. I’m not sure everything works as successfully as they would have liked but it for sure is a spectacle.

Rating: 8.5/10

ONEWE – End Of Spring

Though not the synth rock anthem I had been expecting from the teasers, ONEWE channel their inner Avici to give us a track that would fit right in with the EDM boom of the early 2010’s. While it docent really bring anything new to the table, it’s a fun piece of upbeat pop that we most definitely need in a time like this.

Rating: 7.75/10

OnlyOneOf – Angel

Produced by hip hop sensation Gray, Angel is the groups most upbeat and buoyant single yet. This already wins it points in my book as those bouncy verses are some of most fun we’ve gotten in a while. I could do without those weird tropical squiggles during the hook though.

Rating: 8.25/10

Sujeong – Tiger Eyes

Taking a page out of Kylie Minogue’s handbook, Lovelyz’ Ryu Sujeong made her solo debut with the sassy catwalk ready groove of Tiger Eyes. It’s one of those tracks that seems deceptively simple on first listen but becomes much more invigorating overtime. I just wish it weren’t so repetitive.

Rating: 8.25/10