Twice - Yes or Yes/The Year of "Yes"

Release Date: November 5th, 2018/December 12th, 2018
Genre: kpop

"What is Love" was my kpop awakening, but at the end of the year, while trying to make my yearly playlist, I was looking at what else Twice had done and I actually disliked everything they released in 2018, with "Yes or Yes," I felt it was too dated of a concept to not give the other person a choice, but I was thinking too hard, it's a pop song, who gives a shit.

Review: After forgiving the lyrics for being one dimensional, I've grown to love the melodies, the build up, the vocals, and of course, the catchiness of it all. I also liked that the rap isn't forced, just part of the 2nd chorus. After, "Say You Love Me" feels like the same song, and that's what I love about it, just unapologetic high fructose corn syrup pop. On first listen, I thought they were saying "you got something I want, Money" so that made me laugh. The next song continues being ridiculous catchy, and it has horns so it feels grand. And the plus, it has no force rap. With "Young & Wild" its a bouncy song and funny enough, I was into Kim Petras at this song, so it does have her touch when she was still making bops.

"Sunset" and "After Moon" don't sound the same, but I always get them confused in my head, until I start to play it, then I remember. both are fine and they work on their own, but I never have the urge to go to them. I like the bop bop bop parts on "sunset," and it has a nice crunch, and I like the you and i you and i parts on "after moon."

With the repackage, they have a very very "okay" song in "The Best Thing I Ever Did," it sounds very okay. When I watched the trailer for their YouTube docuseries, they played "Be as One" and I never heard it before, so I always assoiate that song with the docuseries, and because it has such a emotional high. Finally, theres the korean version of BDZ, which is a bouncy track. I don't like it, but because it's twice, I don't mind it, but I hate those opening notes, and i don't like the phase "like a bulldozer."

Tracklist/Scorecard:
1. The Best Thing I Ever Did 8/10
2. Be as ONE (Korean version) 9/10
3. Yes or Yes 10/10
4. Say You Love Me 10/10
5. LaLaLa 10/10
6. Young & Wild 8/10
7. Sunset 8/10
8. After Moon 7/10
9. BDZ (Korean version) 5/10

Summary: Focusing on the original release, yeah, it's bliss. three of them are pure pop magic. the repackage songs are fine

Key Tracks: Yes or Yes, Say You Love Me, LaLaLa
Rating: 8/10

Twice - What is Love/Summer Nights

Release Date: April 9th, 2018/July 9th, 2018
Genre: kpop

Well, the Taste of Love era came and went, and it caused me to have major writer's block. This is their 5th mini album, which got repackaged with 3 more songs.  I listen to these songs during various times so my initial impressions are way different today because I hated most of them originally, but I watched so many of their extra content on their YouTube page, a lot of the instrumentals to these songs stuck by me.

Review: The MV for "What is Love" was how I discovered Twice and my memories of trying to get into this album were met with "oh, this is generic." Prior, my favorite kpop song was "loving u" from Sistar and when I tried listening to their albums, it just sounded like the crappy stuff you'll find on American radio in the late 00s.

"What is Love" is awesome and the music video is iconic. Hearing them shout "I wanna know" in a call and respond way is so cute. I always felt the rap was unnecessary, but nowadays, it's fine. The beginning sounds on "Sweet Talker" sounded awful. My initial thoughts were that it was a laser-infused dance track with lots of cute sound bites. I can tolerate it now, and I understand why there was a barrier to entry here, but it's also the sound that turn me off from Twice.

Later in the year, they released "Dance the Night Away" and it's a summery dance song and I originally hated it because there was no lyrical depth to it, but of course, over time, that's kind of the point. The song has no meaning. It's suppose to be a boost of happiness. I had the same problems getting into "Chillax" and "Shot thru the heart" like with "sweet talker" because, I guess I was expecting something on the level of "What is love" and we got something low key. Since I watch their youtube content, I hear the instrumentals to "Chillax," and "Ho" and "Say Yes" that they all just grow on me.

I also watched concert footage and "Stuck" was the song that closed the show for Twicelights. Because of backing tracks, it's hard to tell if they are singing or not, but for Stuck, the mics were live, and because I first discovered this song from a live fancam, it's hard to separate the emotions felt when they said goodbye to the audience, so this song is special to me, like a "happy" sad song.

Tracklist/Scorecard:
1. Dance The Night Away 9/10
2. CHILLAX 8/10
3. Shot Thru The Heart 7/10
4. What is Love 10/10
5. SWEET TALKER 6/10
6. HO! 7/10
7. DEJAVU 8/10
8. SAY YES 7/10
9. STUCK 10/10

Summary: I guess this is my first Twice album, but I listen to the songs at various stages of my kpop discovery. "What is Love" is iconic, and "Dance the Night Away" seems to be a easy going summer anthem. I can listen to everything else in one go, but it's a big range of love it to it's okay.

Key Tracks: Dance the Night Away, What is Love, Stuck
Rating: 8/10

Iz*One - Color*Iz

Release Date: October 29, 2018
Genre: kpop

Although this is their debut EP, my first exposure to the group was through Bloom*Iz, and then I went backwards to Heart*Iz.  Then further back to Color*Iz. I didn't like much of it, but after watching all of Produce 48, learning all the members' names, positions, and distinct colors, this EP grew on me.

Review: Opening with "Colors," it's a gentle song that isn't catchy nor offensive, while the second track, "O' My" is a bit quirky with a lot of cute bouncy vocals. It's like it belongs on a children's show.  I've learned to enjoy them and it's fun to see them perform these songs whenever I'm YouTube surfing. But the title track, what a hard hitting statement. While watching Produce 48, even thought I already knew who were the final members, it was great to see each members have their memorable moments and I felt that "La Vie en Rose" utilized all the girls to their best abilities.  Like showcasing Wonyoung as their center, slotting Eunbi as their leader.  I love Yena's raspy rap voice. I love Hyewon's short bursts. To me, this title track feels so thunderous. Then, with "Memory," it's a ballad song that is kind of standard, but whenever I see clips of them performing it, it's so emotional.

I consider the rest of the album to be padded on as extras. On their own, they are fine, but they are more part of Produce 48's than Iz*One's. So to me, those songs feel like anyone can be plugged in and out. However, track 7, aka "as we dream," that song still hurts me whenever I hear it. Whether its OT20 or OT12, it's so messed up that these girls have to sing a song that foreshadows that "this" is temporary and they hope to still see each other after their "final" farewell. That can apply to anything and so, it's become one of their signature songs.

Tracklist/Scorecard:
1. Colors 7/10
2. O' My! 6/10
3. La Vie en Rose 10/10
4. Memory 9/10
5. We Together (IZ*ONE version) 6/10
6. Suki ni Nacchau Darō? (Iz*One version) 6/10
7. Yume wo Miteiru Aida (Iz*One version) 10/10
8. Pick Me (Iz*One version) 6/10

Summary: I gave this a listen after becoming a fan of the group after hearing Bloom*Iz and Heart*Iz. The title track is a must listen, but the rest could be considered to be your standard kpop offering. I like it, but only because I watched the reality show from which they formed and I know how hard they all worked to get here.

Key Tracks: La Vie en Rose, Yume wo Miteiru Aida
Rating: 7/10