History returns with Psycho (nd...yeah no)

History Psycho comeback stage

I don't know who History is, and I don't care to know. I am not feeling this song at all, and I am okay with letting this be the last time I listen to it. 

Because I am not done posting today: AOA bring it back with Short Hair.

First off, I thought AOA was a band...
Eh...
Anyway they are back with the help of Bravesound/Brave Bros./Whatever his name is.

AOA: Short Hair 

The song is soooo Brave Bros. Like you can hear Alone rocking in the background. Still it is a cute song. They are a cute group, and the video isn't half terrible. These outfits are meh...like what policewoman wears that? Still it is nothing terrible. The song is actually nice, and I don't have a problem nodding my head to it. Although I think I am getting to the point where Brave Bros just needs to be an album track...instead of a single.

AOA's first mini album has been release so be on the look out for a possible review!

JYPE's new boygroup Got7 comes back after...like four months

However in their time away musically, they have gotten a fandom name, a reality show, have gone to Japan and Brazil, and done the standard musical comeback stuff...
JYPE is really putting in the effort into making this group happen. How do we know...well they are back musically, with their new single A.
Performance and extra stuff under the cut.

Say it with me: Tahiti should have kept it.

I don't know what/who/why of the existence of Tahiti. All I know is that they made a comeback with the song Oppa Is Mine.

And well...

Tahiti: Oppa Is Mine

Why? Everything about this brings me :/.

That expression is all I can give.

The song itself is nice. It's nothing spectacular in the long run, but I would rank it in the ballpark of say Thank You Very Much, or at least a notch below that.It's entertaining, it's kind of fun, but overall, who really gonna to press replay other than fans?

What may have pushed me to this conclusion is this awful video. Their aesthetic is cute, but the everything of this comeback is giving me no thank you. Just based off the music video, the dance is uninspired. The music video is bleh. The fact that I was not even creeped out by the fact that they kidnapped two different guys and poisoned them...all because the video had me on some bored shit. Even the creepiest thing about it is boring.

How do you do that?

Regardless...Tahiti looks like a combination of multiple D-C+ girl groups, but here is to hoping they can do better...or something.

So...what do you guys think?

Jun K. releases the Korean version to his song No Love (With possible album following)

In a twist, we are getting the Korean version of a Japanese released record after. Jun. K is one of the six member group, who has stuck mostly to music. His fans have been very vocal about him releasing something in Korean, and it seems like their prayers are being answered.

So here is the Korean version of No Love

Jun. K: No Love (Korean Version)

Now I am not exactly a fan of 2PM. The first real full record I have listened to by them was Grown, which I absolutely loved. However as a group, I really am not into them. One I don't like boygroups, and two...I am not a particularly insane about JYPE boygroups. I don't understand why, but 2PM and Got7 just do nothing for me, and they are more or less set up like other boygroups. I do however appreciate the music they make though...just not enough to like them.

However I acknowledge that Jun K. is incredibly well rounded and has an actual desire for music. No Love is nothing short of a good song. It's a ballad that doesn't feel like your standard K Pop ballad, the lyrics make sense without trying hard...it feels like a lot of dedication went into making something worth the time. If  The beginning I have heard in another song (R. Kelly's When A Woman Loves), and this video really tries to be artistic to the point where it comes off as doing too much. Eh...

Also Jun K's delivery can be a tad bit on the annoying side...throaty and airy...but that is a personal thing. 

Anyway the song is nice, and from my understanding it is on an album. 

It has been confirmed that his Japanese album will be released in SK. 

What do you guys think of the song? Do you think his album will do well?

Comebacks that I was not aware of and probably should have been (The dude addition)

I tend to be very...picky when it comes to who I am really into. Most of my music is female idols, with a few dudes here and there. And by few...I mean I got like an album from SHINee, an album from 2PM, and a song from GOT7.


Infinite

InfiniteL Last Romeo

I'm going to be 100% with y'all and say I thought/think Infinite is a poor man's SHINee...whom I am not fond of either. This song right here did not persuade me any further out of that thought. While the music does not match SHINee at all, their overall group just screamed a performance group meant to rival SHINee. Once again, I don't find SHINee all that appealing, and I don't find Infinite appealing. The song is a little too animated for my taste, the video was doing all kinds of too much. I have seen a performance of it, and I think they look good so...eh...it isn't a complete L.

Vixx: Eternity

Another one where I think everything was just a bit too much. The song sounds like a remix. I had the same issue with the video, that I did with Infinite: it was a lot. I will say that there was definitely more focus in the video than Infinite. Obviously there is a focus on the theme of time (song is called eternity, the video takes place in a clocktower). Also they are a good performance group.

BTL

No.

Eric Nam: Ooh Ooh

This is old, but Eric Nam was a delight. The song is that type of pop they want to say swag with but not really. It's Bruno Mars pop. And I think that works for Eric. 

Boyfriend: Obsession

Boyfriend is an oddity of a group. They are the very...very...very...rare case of a boygroup who are not as known, publicized, pushed than the female group of their company. The female group in question...Sistar. Eh...the song's beat is nice I will give it that. The song is...well...the video actually disturbs me becuase they blew a chick up for no damn reason...also...why the fuck is she reading Peter Pan? What that got to do with anything? Nevermind...I like the beat, but they as a group sound dull.

There are more but these were the ones I noticed and said nothing much about. Of course 4men, Fly To The Sky, and a small group named Sweet Sorrow all made their ways up to the front.

So tell me: what comebacks happened that got you interested, that I did not speak about?

U-Kiss returns with Quit Playing (Don't Flirt), I am firmly on the side of them keeping this to themselves.

So forever never gonna get theree U-Kiss has returned...and...

This is my first time listening to them as a group, and I have to admit, they are doing nothing for me. 

Quit Playing (Don't Flirt) is very...

Bland/obnoxious/skip worthy.

But I like the beat.

The video doesn't help. The group has come under fire for it being too raunchy...even though it got the 19+ seal. 

I'm not bothered by a possible three way, even though two guys on one girl can end up with dick in ass moments (always here for that as a gay man)...I'm bothered that the video basically made it okay to be pushy.

This chick was obviously not here for these two dudes. She pushes them away several times, and slaps one of them.

Like...when is taking a hint a lost art?

The video really could have done better with that. Why not make it where she was scoping them out as well?

Why was she a reluctant participant?

These are simple ass things that could have been dealt with better.

Also the choreo is bland and the video just looks...

I doubt I am going to listen to their album, because this really just bored the fuck out of me.

But here is the video.

Taeyang releases a new video...and giving you light-skinned emotions.

Now I have a special relationship with Taeyang. He is...special. Musically I will concede that he is one of the few artist to actually do R&B in the realm of K Pop. We throw that term around a lot...and we shouldn't. K Pop's interpretation of R&B is limited. Very outdated, very contrite. The most modern we will get is more so in line with a mature version of R&B that you see with older acts. Taeyang I could see as one of the few who geniunely has an interest in the genre, and tries to keep up with it. 

So my expectations for Taeyang were...special. I won't get into the album...that's for another post, but I will talk about this video.

Taeyang: Eyes, Nose Lips

The video is very...bland. It is essentially him walking and singing shirtless in a parking lot...

I mean there is not really much to give. The end with the billboard of his ex burning up was kind of extra giving the lack of anything in the video. 

And his dancing was very extra...once again do to the lack of anything in the video.

He should have just gave a straight up attempt at De'Angelo's iconic video Untitled (How Does It Feel). I mean I was pretty sure the video was going that way, but who wants to really go for that comparison.

The song is nice though,

KuzzReviews: Jiyeon's solo debut with 1min 1sec (video)

Everytime I hear anything about T-Ara, I immediately say bless their hearts. They are one of the legit K Pop scandals, and because of what went down, they are basically trying to get somewhere. They are doing as well as they are going to do, now...which is well...bless their hearts.
So when one of them goes solo, hm...
Jiyeon debuted as a solosit not too long ago, and has been on the efforts for her spotlight. With that she has given us a rather solid video.

T-Ara's Jiyeon: Never Ever (1min 1sec)

I have to say this is one of the more creative videos so far. 

First off there is a story line. With story lines in music videos, you have to fit a shitload of narrative in a three to four minute space. Couple that with the standard vanity scenes of the artist, as well as dance scenes, you really have maybe 2 minutes to make a case with a story. With Never Ever, I am positive that this video did well with what they wanted to accomplish. With Never Ever, they decided to give focus on the story more so than the actual performance aspect (which CCM compensated with a dance practice for anyone feening for that). I appreciate this as it allows for the story to develop and move on, and come to an end. Jiyeon is esentially dreaming her day to day life. She is not aware of the fact that this is not reality at first. She continues to do the same thing over and over again. The space in which she was inhabiting inside of her own mind gave off a very fake feel. Not fake in that it looked cheap. But it had no basis in reality. Come to find out that this may have possibly been induced, and she is involuntarily being drugged into this hallucination.

This is supported by Jiyeon's world going white suddenly, only for a figure of a man in a white jacket (like a doctor's) appearing. She then goes back to her own little world, however it does not last as she is now more aware. Things are dead in the house (the flowers, and the fish), she notices the time has flown way to quickly, and does not move in the same way everything else does. By the end it is snowing in the house, and a man in black with an umbrella is standing near the door. 

We end the story with her in an asylum, the only thing from her world is the red scarf she was knitting.

I just gave you a semi-play-by-play of this story.

I liked it, however I do think there were some vague things. Of course the man in white is supported by the final scene. However I am confused as to why she is there? I believe that she is drugged into a hallucination, and she is slowly but surely becoming immune to its affects. Which is why by the end, we see her more aware and at the window. 

Also who is the man in black?

The video started off fine, only to get a little wonky near the end. It was as if they realized they only had so much time and kind of skipped over things to make it end on time. I do think the video was good. The dance scenes were nice...I mean...the mirror one was sickening to be completely honest, but overall they were not the main focus of the video, and really didn't even take up much space. They were just peppered in...some places a little heavy on said pepper.

Things I liked in K Pop: Bestie and Ladies' Code

While I work on a massive post for 15&, and gather the strength to write reviews for Hyosung and Jiyeon (As well as venture into more male idols because)...I just want to remind people that these two female acts happened earlier in the year and I was thoroughly here for what they delivered.

Ladies Code: So Wonderful

I loved everything about So Wonderful. The song was dark and fun at the same time, and worked well with the slightly dimmer feel of winter. The video had a story line to it (and was almost fully understandable), and they looked amazing. The only issue I had was that the song was an obvious attempt to recreate what had happened in Pretty Pretty, their last single. I mean...the little part near middle where Sojung became relevant to the song (she was only used on the chorus at first), was...really...eh. Still a nice song, but next time don't try to do the same thing again that closely. Sadly the song did not give them the push forward, but it did keep them on their good streak of releases.

Bestie: Thank U Very Much

I like Bestie. Bestie is a fun group. Bestie has nothing dynamic to them. Unfortunately the only place they could take up is well occupied by Sistar. The issue with Bestie is that they blend in way too well, and their music is very light. Nothing that could make you go wow, but it will get you going. Their single prior to this was Love Options, and while it was a signature Brave Sound moment, it didn't get them anywhere. They then follow up with the light breezy break up song Thank U Very Much *ow!*...however it was released in the time. This song isn't by any means a big single that could have pushed them into the big leagues, however it could have been a summer single. The visual, the very relaxed ass beat...why release this now? Does not make sense. It's a nice track, just bad timing in my opinion.

And there is that. 

15& starts the train up again with Sugar.

Last month, 15& returned with their pre-release single Can't Hide It. The spring time love song did well all things considered, and the duo did do a little promo for the song.
However they have decided to take the kiddie gloves off and are on their way to releasing their first album...Sugar.
Now JYPE has actually been trying with 15&. They have been on the radio show circuit, and a few variety shows.
However they now have a full album coming out soon.
So to catch you guys up...
15& made their comeback with Sugar.

I really want to hear the studio version (got to wait until tonight for that), however this gives us a good idea of what we are dealing with. I think the staging is a good idea, but it needs to be tightened up. First off there are a lot of people on one stage. Thankfully 15& are the focal point. The staging looks a little busy, which can get distracting. Also the girls look a lil flat performance wise, and while they sounded nice (and energetic), it seemed a little all over the place (trying to show off their vocals).
I like the concept of the performance, and it seems like they will do it justice. This may just be first performance jitters, and they will get better.

It's finally happening: 15& to release an actual album and another single

I know I said they would, as it was reported in April...however things have happened.
With the unfortunate Sewol Ferry incident, the Korean entertainment industry basically stopped out of respect. This hiatus, so to speak, lasted for about two weeks, and maybe a week or so ago, K Pop has been getting back into motion.
 15& had just released their single, and I don't think even a day later, shit went down. As of now they have been promoting as much as possible, and in their last two rounds it was revealed an album was coming.
Once again, it had been reported earlier that they were indeed releasing an album in May, but things happened, and plans were more than likely changed. 2PM, a certified moneymaker of JYPE were pushed back to September for their return to K pop (however most of this is due to the fact that individual activities are taking up most of their time).
And with some sort of report having come out saying that 15& and Got7 were going to be active in June...I just assumed early June comeback. No one would blame them for pushing it back.
However come to find out...the album is coming in a week....actually like four days.
While the album title has not been dropped, the teaser for their comeback single Sugar has dropped.

The teaser does its job: it gives just enough to get an idea of what we are getting. The sound is obviously retro (however it is not a JYP production), and the video is going to play up on that. Also the song was created by the same person who did their previous singles I Dream and Somebody. These songs were not as received as they could have been, but overall positive reviews did come up.
They will be peforming Sugar on Inkygayo (May 25), and the video will drop the next day (May 26).

G.Na's returned, and should have kept it.

G.Na has returned, after how much time away...I don't know how much, but yeah she back.
My problem is that I am not very familiar with her, nor do I want to really get into her. So I am looking at this as someone just getting into her. Like this would be my gateway into G.Na...and uhmmmm....

Pretty Lingerie (G.Na's Secret)

Now where does this song go wrong? 

Well the song is called Pretty Lingerie, but we are basically getting something that Apink would do (change the lyrical content just a little). Why are you talking about your panties when you singing to your oppa? 

Grow up.

It just feels like a massive disconnect for me. The beat is something I could bop to, and the song is not terrible. It's just knowing what it is about just makes me say no. The lyrics are about a girl who wants to look cute in some sickening Victoria's Secret for her man (aka this will lead to sex). She thinks she is in love, and she is now thinking about him.

I think the song is lowkey about sex in some form. Why are you buying new linens, girl? Why would your man see it?

Why? Because she is going to give him her body. 

*Turns on Partition by Beyonce*

This song does not directly say it, but I just came to that conclusion...

Despite the possible sexual theme, the song is just so...dull. Like how do you take such a possible scandalous topic and just...bleh.

Then the video happened and I...

The video is standard in K pop, that ashy pastel colors which gives you spring time, cute dancing, people in outfits you wouldn't see on a normal day by the mass public (like a small section yes, not everyone on every corner looking this nice on any given day). 

What really just stopped me was the lingerie store scenes. When she was in the dressing room, and...

Look a guy creeping on a girl changing into panties. Not just some pants, which is still bad, but she trying on bras, and panties and shit).

I was bored by the video up until then, after that I was just uncomfortable. What's worse is that the guy did not even get punished. It was played for laughs, which is terrible because it wasn't even funny. Like people always want to take very serious topics and try to make black comedy...but fucks most of it ain't funny. 

This is one of them.

A meh song on top of a no video...

That is G.Na's comeback.

Girl...bless you.

KuzzReviews: 15& and Can't Hide It

15& has returned with their latest digital single Can't Hide It. Released around 12 p.m. in Korean Standard Time, the single has done a good job, and has hit number one on quite a few charts (apparently they are close to an All-Kill). They have also taken to K Pop star 3, to perform their new single during the season finale. Also posted in the last post about them, a music video is on the way, with a large amount of teasers having been released (2 each for the duo, and then one combining all four).
And it is officially confirmed that they will be promoting the track on radio shows (schedule for them has been updated on their official site), and music shows (Inkigayo released their preview for next week as well).
All of this before they release their first album in a month's time.
Needless to say, 15& are about to be busy.

And to keep them busy they need a song to promote...and that is Can't Hide It.

                                                            15&'s new single Can't Hide It

Can't Hide It is essentially the song I could only imagine 15& and the like pulling off. It is very JYP (the producer). It is a positive, yet mellow love song with heavy R&B leanings. JYP usually does two types of R&B songs now, some that obviously have late to mid 80's to the 90's influence. But that I mean that some of his songs would work in the past, but translates decently enough to modern times. There are cases of songs where he (or the other in house producers) are able to make more modern music...or modern enough to have been relevant in the last decade or so.
Can't Hide It falls in the former category. The beat is very 90's and does not fit in with todays music (unless looking at older R&B singers).
This is not bad, insteads gives the song a lofty, mature feel. This is countered by the lyrics, which don't go all "first love...ooh innocent", but instead doesn't feel out of place for two teenage girls to say. Thank you JYP for actually being able to write something that doesn't feel too much. What really sales it though...
Jimin and Yerin.
I will admit I am a fan of them. They are a vocal based group, I live for singers. Jimin is a more competent voclaist on a technical level, however Yerin can handle a song with more wit than her group-mate. That does not mean I have not been wowed by Jimin. The girl has the voice, and the ability to express lovely, but she lacks in how to do it sometimes. She is not as confident as a singer as Yerin, who knows what and who she is right now. However I love Jimin in this song just as much.
15& individually approach this song differently. Jimin while the stronger voice, comes off more timid and almost whimsical. Yerin takes this on like a your average teen girl singing R&B. She sings wise beyond her years. Yerin's voice is less girly, with a more mature feel, and she has been listening to R&B since whenever she says, so her style is going to be more grown folk.
Despite the difference between the two (and the fact that Yerin appeals more to this song), both hold their own, and come together when needed.
The only thing I can actually say I was mad about...is the fact that the song ended too damn early. The song has two verses (with pre-choruses attached) and two verses, and at the end the girls are riffing and running until Jimin confesses she thinks she is in love. After she said that some harmonizing should have happened, and some big vocals on one last chorus. It's typical for a JYP promo single to lack in some area, but this is the first that focuses on vocals and it doesn't finish off. In most songs you get to the end and feel like there is no climax...here the set up for a climax was made...and it doesn't happen.
And that is really the only thing that just bothers me. Like such a good song, but a stronger ending would have made this song.
15& spent their first two years kind of waiting for this moment. Jimin was basically inserted into JYPE, and probably needed some sort of training, which makes sense as to why the group has not progressed (but Baek Ah Yeon has two minis under her belt).  Now two years later, the group is on their way to trying to solidify themselves as a legit threat in the idol world. With a JYP produced track, they may just get that with this good song.
Song: 4/5
Inkigayo preview:

15& is coming back....with a JYP track

2 year old, girl group 15& are returning after a year since their last comeback. This time they are legit doing their thing.
It all started a few days ago when JYPNation posted a teaser pic, with a date. JYPNation of course went wild. The obvious three that came up were: 2PM, the new girlgroup 6MIX, and 15&.
2PM had steadily been prepping for their return, with members talking about it (Wooyoung in an interview, and Nichkhun on twitter as examples), there are even pics of them on location for their video. So they had a lot going for them as the group this teaser was for.
Then there is 6Mix, the soon to debut girl group. With Wonder Girls temporarily out of commission, and it had been reported a showcase was happening for the group in April, it was assumed that JYPE would be moving along with the new girl group.
15& had the least going for them other than some things saying they would return within the first Quarter...which is over. There was also the fact that Yerin was in the practice room for JYP a lot, but she usually is there. However Jimin started posting in there as well, and Yerin even took a pic with some sound engineer dude...this meant something was happening, but when, and with the fact 2PM and 6Mix had more going for them...eh.
It was not until the next day that it was stated 15& would return April 13 around noon (for me...like three hours) with another digital single, titled I Can't Hide. It will debut at noon, video and all , and then they will perform it at K Pop Star.
Okay...so what makes this comeback special?
Well it was also said that the group would release their first album in May. Meaning that I Can't Hide is a pre-release.
Admittedly it is great that this is happening, and it feels like I should be yelling finally (I really like this lil group), but I thought about it...usually groups put out their first album a year or two after debut (this is assuming that 15& are not about to release a mini album instead), so they are on the right path, it's just that 2012 and 2013 were dry music wise. Usually you get a mini album not too far off from their debut...and we didn't.
But anyway, yay they are back...and I won't talk about a certain something.
Here is the teaser for their video (full teaser there are like four, two for each girl):

Apink did a thing, and I lowkey am feeling it.

So rising girl group Apink have been trying to get on that about shit status, and have been adamant in keeping their cute (but maturing) look.
So today they came back with Pink Blossom (their mini), and the single is called Mr. Chu.

Mr. Chu is...cute. I say cute because it doesn't have the overall same hype as No No No did. I am not saying they need to just outright try to replicate that song (that would be bad), but Mr. Chu feels like it is missing just a small something, yet that something is incredibly important. I blame the beat of the song. It is very lowkey chill, and this song does not sound like it wants to be chill. Despite that, I don't hate it. I actually kind of like it, but I can tell this song won't have any immediate effects.
The video itself is cute...and I enjoyed it. I wonder how old some of these girls are? I know Nauen is a 94 girl, and I think Eunji is too, or at least '93. I know Namjoo is the baby of the group, but she looking grown right now. I think this is the last time they can get away with this. If they want to keep it wholesome their company may need to start thinking about doing something like Mariah Carey pre-Butterfly.