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Repeats of the Week - March 30, 2018

  • Writer: waekpop
    waekpop
  • Mar 31, 2018
  • 3 min read

TVXQ - The Chance of Love

After a three year hiatus due to their military enlistment, U-Know and Max are back as TVXQ. Their album, New Chapter #1: The Chance of Love, features title track, “The Chance of Love.” The song is a catchy bop, with a bouncy swing beat and a perfect earworm of a chorus.

The album is interesting as well due to its diverse production roster. Almost every single song has a different team of producers and songwriters who contributed. Yet, New Chapter #1 is somehow cohesive with its overall light and airy delivery of each song. Although it's been three years since they’ve released an album, TVXQ stays on top of the trends and deliver as if they never left the business.

Another MV for “Love Line,” a more laid back track off New Chapter #1, will be released on April 3rd, so keep your eye out for that!

- Kerry

 

Loona/Olivia Hye - Egoist (feat. Jinsoul)

This is it, everyone. LOONA has been unveiling members each month for over a year, and the journey finally culminates with the 12th and final member’s moonlight anthem, "Egoist." The new solo casts all inhibitions aside and promises ‘from now on I’ll love myself, instead of you… I’ll love myself today.' The song blends calm pop melodies with bass-heavy EDM beats, while Olivia Hye’s vocal color is a nice contrast to the dark, droning synth. Her lower vocal range isn’t something we’ve really seen from the other girls, and I think her addition will really help balance out the final sub-unit’s sound.

The MV is easily one of the most complex videos in both production quality and cinematic content. The graphics, colors, symbolic scenes, and cameos from other members gave serious sensory overload during my first-time watch!

New to LOONA? Check out our quick introduction to LOONA!

- Julie

 

Monsta X - Jealousy

Almost five months since the release of their last album, The Code, which landed them in the second place spot on the Billboard US World, topped the Korean Gaon Album Chart, and gave them their emotional first ever win on a music show, it’s clear that Monsta X might feel a bit of pressure to keep their momentum going. Their previous title track “Dramarama” shifted away from their signature high-intensity sound, and their new track “Jealousy” continues in the same direction, giving us what might be their most poppy song to date.

From their latest album The Connect: Dejavu released March 27 (KST), “Jealousy” is a sexy pop song seemingly inspired by the boy-band melodies of the '90s and early '00s with a modern Monsta X crossover. While the overall song is driven by the bouncy melody and silky smooth chorus thanks to Kihyun's shining vocals, it's Jooheon and I.M.'s original rap verses that inject a familiar energy, making it a true Monsta X original.

- Julie

 

Hoya - All Eyes On Me

Hoya, formerly of Infinite, made his solo debut on March 28th with mini album, Shower. The MV for “All Eyes on Me” was also released on the 28th (coincidentally, Hoya’s birthday). I’m going to be honest, I didn’t really know all that much about Infinite or Hoya until I started watching Reply 1997. Hoya made his acting debut in this drama back in 2012 and I completely fell in love with his character. When I saw he had made his solo debut recently, I was overjoyed. And let me tell you, Hoya didn’t disappoint. While “All Eyes On Me” is a pretty solid debut song - honestly nothing particularly revolutionary but still pretty good - it was the release of the choreography video two days after the MV that really grabbed me. This man can dance and it is so pleasing to watch. A powerful dancer, Hoya really eeks the most out of each move in his performance.

Have a look for yourself and let me know what you think! Check out the official MV while you're at it.

- Kerry

 

Stray Kids - District 9

Stray Kids (or is it Stray 4ids) have officially debuted! Though their overall polish and music output would suggest that they’ve been around for awhile, these JYP youngsters have all the potential to make it big.

Sticking to their wheelhouse, their new track “District 9” combines the sweeping high-pitched vocals and guitar riffs of arena rock anthems, with low base notes and rapid percussive chopper-style rapping (think Busta Rhymes-ish), much like their revelation of a soft debut, “Hellevator." The heavy rap line is the obvious MVP, but special shout-out to Felix, with the noticeably deep voice, who is used sparingly but always to great effect. He’s the equivalent of that character actor who steals every scene he’s in.

- Alan

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