January Multi-Song Review Pt. 1 (Yena, Nature, Mitski, Kimura Takuya, OnlyOneOf, Jinjin & Rocky)

January had a lot of highlights, but I spent much of the second half of the month unable to blog. As a result, I have a lot of catching up to do. Hence, this multi-song review is going to have to be split into two.

Yena - Smiley Ft. Bibi

The most essential quality for a song is a strong melody, led by powerful hooks and refrains. Yena's Smiley relishes in its addictive and powerful chorus, in which all the elements come together for one joyous, K-Pop refrain. In her solo debut, Yena stands out much better than she did in her IZ*ONE days, with the well-produced, popping synths, assisting strongly. The song is a little too caffeinated at times, but Bibi's depressed and acidic second verse proves a nice assist, even if slightly over-extended.

The album is pretty strong too, with Lxxk 2 U and Pretty Boys being particular highlights.

Rating: 8.5/10

Nature - Rica Rica

Nature reinvented themselves in 2020 with the fantastic, dark, and horror-tinged Girls, one of the best songs of the year. However, with them clearly suffering budget cuts for Rica Rica, it is understandable, though disappointing, to see them opt for a new style. Nonetheless, Rica Rica's 'everything but the kitchen sink' philosophy usually works, with the strangely addictive chorus gaining its 15-minutes-of-fame with its bizarrely fascinating choreography. Hopefully, they can finally gain the success they deserve.

Rating: 7.75/10

Mitski - Love Me More

I cannot wait to hear Mitski's new album, every release so far has been fantastic. Love Me More may not be the best, but it greatly relishes in its fantastic '80s-inspired chorus. The synthline is utterly gorgeous, with it perfectly assisting Mitski's indie-esque timbre. However, it is the piano segment in the middle of the song that truly showcases what Mitski can do, gluing together the song.

Rating: 8.25/10

Kimura Takuya - I'll Be There

Written and composed by members of Man with a Mission, former SMAP member Kimura Takuya's latest release thrives on its over-blown theatricality. Strings and guitars dot the landscape, giving the song a theatrical, ambitious feel, not unlike BTOB's 2021 gem Show and Prove. Unfortunately, I'll Be There's melody is slightly less engaging, and Takuya's rougher vocals fail to capture the tenderness required for a song of this ambition. Nonetheless, he manages to show the tenderness needed for such a massive piece.

Rating: 8/10

OnlyOneOf - Skinz

By this point, OnlyOneOf's music has abandoned all commercial sensibilities. Skinz is weird like few other releases from the past few releases, jagged, broken, with the melody refusing to go where you expect it to. Atmospheric, Skinz is messy, with there hardly being a moment of calm within the rough and friction-heavy crunching electronic beats. Thankfully, OnlyOneOf's charismatic performance keeps the song from collapsing over its own weight. A set amount of atmospheric synths and dreamy consistency makes sure the song does not collapse like NCT 127's Sticker from last year. It remains to be seen how Skinz ages, but it is much easier to appreciate than enjoy at the moment.

Rating: 8/10

Astro Jinjin & Rocky - Just Breath

In many ways, this Astro sub-unit track is the perfect track for the extended quarantine. While acknowledging the hardships and loneliness we all felt in the lockdown, Just Breath is relentlessly upbeat and hopeful. Few songs can be as satirical, fun, and over-the-top, but feel at the same time, genuine and joyful. Jinjin and Rocky both turn into the perfect conduit for the brassy funk of the track. From the airy pre-chorus to the surprisingly effective chorus, Just Breath is a joy. The free and loose post-chorus occasionally collapses due to the lack of genuine brass (replaced with obvious brass samples), but this a minor gripe over one of the year's most fun songs so far.

Rating: 8.5/10

Image Source: The Bias List