November Favorites
Favorite Song: “Trauma” - SF9
I’ll be honest: the last SF9 comeback didn’t catch me like their previous releases had. I was somewhat disappointed with “Tear Drop,” and while it wasn’t a bad song per se, it wasn’t exciting and was pretty underwhelming. Thankfully, “Trauma” reignited the hype. From the opening of the song, the deep house influences in the melody are infectious and perfectly match SF9’s vocals. While that beat is repetitive, the song feels like it has more color and complexity than the last comeback. “Trauma” feels like a more sophisticated track that matches the concept the group has been going for as of late, and gives both the vocalists and rappers the opportunity to shine in their own way. In addition, the line distribution feels more even than usual, which is a nice addition as well.
Favorite Album: Formula of Love: O+T=<3 - TWICE
As someone who tends to only vibe with title tracks from TWICE, I’m totally blown away by how good this album is as a whole. There have been very few times in their career where an album has been a favorite of mine, but there’s no denying the quality throughout Formula of Love: O+T=<3. There’s a little bit of something for everyone’s taste, which is not surprising given that this album has 16 tracks total. What is really interesting is that we even get some more hip-hop influenced tracks, which are few and far between in TWICE’s discography. There is such musical variety and each song has its own charm that it’s impossible not to fall in love with the album as a whole. If you haven’t taken the time to listen through this album, make time now and you won’t regret it.
Favorite Music Video: “월하미인 (月下美人 : LUNA)” - ONEUS
Who doesn’t love a good historical concept? This isn’t the first time ONEUS has delved into that realm, but it is a more sophisticated version of that type of concept. The song itself is very good, but nothing can beat the visuals of this comeback. The choreography features dancers with traditional outfits and props, and the boys accompanying them dressed in modern hanbok makes for a beautiful cross of new and old. The CGI puts our sets back into ancient Korea, with heavy imagery of the moon, sakura trees, and traditional buildings. Many of the choreography scenes are also mixed with the boys dressed in suits, which paints a more sophisticated picture as well. Plus, this is the title that finally got the group their first music show win, which makes it even more special!
Favorite Performance: “Rush Hour” - MONSTA X
We all know that MONSTA X puts on a good performance. The concept for “Rush Hour” is unique, with the performance being even more powerful. As the dance opens up with I.M declaring, “Eat this,” you’ll certainly get a shiver down your spine. It’s true that Shownu is noticeably missing, but the remainder of the group does a great job in their eye-catching performance. It’s good to see after all this time that they are still just as powerful in their performance.