Iz*One - Bloom*Iz

Release Date: February 17, 2020
Genre: kpop

It would be so much easier to say that this album is the best album, but certain things needed to happen for me to really embrace it. By the end of 2019, I had become familiar with the title tracks of Twice, Red Velvet, and Blackpink. I didn't think I had room to learn about another kpop group, let alone, a 12-member group, but I gave this album a listen because it was February, it was new, and because I had seen this clip of Chaeyeon, who was the first contestant eliminated on "Sixteen," struggling to hold back her tears as she waited to see if she was the 12th and final member of Iz*One. 

Review: So originally, I didn't think much about "Eyes," and "Fiesta" sounded like your typical kpop single. But the streak from "Ayayaya" to "You & I" felt like pop perfection. I would keep coming back to "So Curious" because it sounded so illegal for how cute it was. There was something magical about "Destiny" that I felt like I was flying. Both songs have these climaxes that I would play them when I had nothing else to listen to, and then let the album continue.  For "Spaceship," I liked that it continued the bubbly cute sound and on YouTube, there's a choreography video of them just messing around. Plus, Hitomi and Nako sorta rapped during the 2nd verse and it sounds cool.  Going back to "Ayayaya," I like Sakura's part where she raps and of course, every time they go "hush" and they do that arm thingy.  The melody of "You & I" reminded me of a Bol4 song because it's pretty and sad. I get that they have producers, but it's a nice change of pace to hear guitars.

So with the first 8 songs, it was very enjoyable sugary music and I didn't think much beyond it because I know my music preferences comes and goes. By the summer, I consumed a lot of the extra content from other kpop groups and people made these fun compilation videos and I watched one where Iz*One supposedly broke vlive rules and it included the clip of Wonyoung breaking their lightstick, there's another compilation of them speaking English and Yena ask a lady "do you know izone?" and the lady doesn't. But what sealed the deal for me was watching Yuri direct her members on a song that she wrote the lyrics to, "Someday." and that made me want to learn all their names. So I watched all of Produce 48. And I know, I know, the vote manipulation is messed up. I try not to think about it, but it's not the girls' fault, they each worked hard.

I basically went through this album blind, listened to it on and off, and then rediscovered it again after consuming their other albums and their extra content on youtube. Personality shouldn't be a factor when judging music, but I feel like I'm too deep that it's not possible to separate. I sorta view these songs as test and the girls ace them every time they go to record. "Daydream" was a song I was turned off by, but it grew on me because I know there's only 4 members in it. "Dreamlike" was a song that I found myself humming along to weeks after I stopped listening to this album. There's something really peaceful and calm about it, that I named it my song of the year. And even thought I felt "Fiesta" sounded like a typical kpop single, the more I watched their performance of it, I'm always amazed at how they do that backward walk at the chorus without bumping into each other.

Tracklist/Scorecard:
1. Eyes 8/10
2. Fiesta 10/10
3. Dreamlike 10/10
4. Ayayaya 10/10
5. So Curious 10/10
6. Spaceship 9/10
7. Destiny 10/10
8. You & I 10/10
9. Daydream 7/10
10. Pink Blusher 7/10
11. Someday 9/10
12. Open Your Eyes 8/10

Summary: This album isn't perfect, but it's the album I keep coming back to because of how catchy it is and the fact that it was one of my first full length kpop albums that I've grown to love. At first, the songs didn't mean anything to me, but after learning all of the members' names, recognizing their vocals, I understand the finite time this group has, which ultimately, makes every song they release a special one.

Key Tracks: Dreamlike, So Curious, Destiny
Rating: 9/10