1. Minisode1: Blue Hour by TOMORROW X TOGETHER
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| Screenshot from Blue Hour Official Music Video |
I hope it's safe to say that BTS actually paved the way for me to listen to TOMORROW X TOGETHER or TXT, even before they released this new mini album, as they are both under the same entertainment agency. As a casual music listener of this boy group, I'd be lying if I say I know a lot about them and how they come about Minisode1: Blue Hour. But as for my knowledge, this five-track mini album is their third release under their discography, following their second mini-album, The Dream Chapter: Eternity, which was released last May 2020.
Listening for more than 8 hours to Minisode1: Blue Hour on loop after it was released last October 26 is an undeniable proof of how good this record is for a mini-album of a group which just debuted last year. In my opinion, the tracks in this mini-album fall under distinct flavors of pop excellency which make each of them stand out from the typical K-pop boyband sound that I usually hear. It's not that I've already heard all music that exist from all K-pop boy groups. These are mere opinions coming from my own K-pop encounter and observation.
Moreover, while most of the songs give off a dance-inducing serotonin boost, I get this kind of teenage nostalgic vibes from two of the songs in this mini-album — Ghosting and Wishlist to be specific. These two songs remind me of the usual pop-rock band songs that I used to listen to when I was younger. I'm not gonna name what song from which bands. You have to listen to these two songs first to figure it out for yourself. Perhaps, this could be one of the factors why I feel like there's a magnetic force pulling me towards listening to this mini-album all over again. It sounds so fresh and brand new yet so intimately familiar. Guilty as I may sound but this mini-album is really growing on me. I have to commend the team behind the music production of BigHit Entertainment as they have been so consistent in releasing songs for their artists that are both sonically and lyrically good.
2. Playing Pretend in the Interim by Reese Lansangan
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| Reese Lansangan's Youtube Channel |
True enough, Reese admitted in her vlog how the release of folklore inspired her to get up and accomplish something in the middle of a chaos. Hence, Playing Pretend in the Interim; a thematic EP that didn't spin around her personal experiences alone. I actually love the concept of writing something from a different perspective. I also often go through a phase where my feelings and thoughts linger on a plateau; moments when I can't write anything at all because I can't squeeze out anything from my idle life. Thus, I stay idle with writing as well. I'm the type of person who writes based on personal experiences and encounters. Perhaps, I can explore writing from a borrowed lens as well?
Moreover, the EP sounds as mystical and calming as its digital artwork suggest it will be. My personal favorite is Ghosting, a song about a ghost who is searching for a new home to live. Its groovy rhythm and playful verses really complement each other very well. I love reading the lyrics of it from the perspective of a ghost. It reminds me of the book Rooms by Lauren Oliver.
Also known for her songs that would make you feel at home, the entirety of this EP suggests the same kind of vibe. This is why I love Reese Lansangan. Her music always makes me feel at home. In addition, I also love the digital artwork for this EP! I love that each house represents each track from the EP.
Recommended songs: ALL. The EP consists of only 5 tracks so why not listen to the entirety it? My personal fav is also Ghosting and Mall Rats.
3. positions by Ariana Grande
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| Screenshot from positions Official Music Video |
Going to mainstream pop from a household name, pop royalty Ariana Grande released her sixth full-length album under Republic Records last October 30. In the span of three years, Ariana has released three full-length studio album; and judging by the previous ones and the recent release of positions, I have to say that Ariana has been so consistent and prolific when it comes to her musicality and artistry. Unlike her pop peers Miley and Demi, who have been exploring and experimenting different genres whenever they get the chance to do so, Ariana stays true to her steamy pop and R&B persona that complements her delicate powerhouse vocals.
It's good that she's found her musical branding and footing which her audience admires her for, but consistently clinging to it stunts her growth as a versatile artist. Like most of her megawatt pop hits, the entirety of positions though is easy to listen to and bop with. The album is a collection of beautifully-mastered bops that anyone can vibe with excluding its clear-cut content. However, the sleek and sultry rhythm embedded on each track of this new album is selfsame with her previous ones. Thus, casual listeners like me would be extremely confused which era a track from this album really belongs to.
Overall, I love that I can listen to it when I just feel like it, but this album is not as impactful and impressing as one may have expected it to be. It's the usual Ariana Grande bop. Nothing new that screams "POP HIT" but there are songs I like that I can get used to.
4. Only Child by Sasha Sloan
Sasha Sloan has been one of my go-to indie/alternative artists to listen to since 2018. While I can relate with the poetry pressed in the verses of her songs, there are some thoughts on most of her songs that I completely disagree with. I guess when the artist's and my stand clash, it's important to understand where the artist is going and filter out their thoughts and ideas that you think are not good for you.
Despite of the collision of most of our thoughts and ideas, I will not set aside her artistry sonically and lyrically speaking — especially in her debut album Only Child. Her EP Self-portrait which was released last year still elicits a certain kind of emotion in me until today. Unexpectedly, here comes Only Child rushing in and pushing itself into the pile of emotions that I haven't fully gotten over yet.
As a songwriter who has worked with household names like Katy Perry, John Legend and Camila Cabello, it's not surprising to know how lyrically good the entirety of Only Child is. Most of the songs on the album are clearly written from a personal experience which makes everything much more open and vulnerable than it already is. It's actually hard to pick a favorite out of it but Matter to You, Only Child, Until It Happens to You and Someone You Hate stood out to me the most. On the other hand, Is It Just Me is a well-written song about collections of unpopular opinions that would immediately spark conversations from its listeners. It's not my cup of tea because there are unpopular opinions that I oppose to but I like the idea of it.
Recommended songs: Matter to You, Only Child, Until It Happens to You and Someone You Hate
5. Commander In Chief by Demi Lovato
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| Screenshot from her BBMAs performance |
I've never seen any artist from her peers that went as bold as she is with Commander in Chief. I'm fully aware that she's already been writing and releasing timely and relevant songs even before, but this is one of the most bravest moves she's ever done in her entire career. It could put her in a political danger; in a complex situation. However, she still chose to use her platform AGAIN to educate and inform people about the reality of the administration, not just in the United States but also in every nation. All she wanted was to raise awareness and encourage people to vote wisely. The thought alone gives me goosebumps.
It's sad though that even after 2 weeks, the official music video of the song has only more than 5 million views. It seems that most people today really don't care about content anymore. People can keep on snubbing her all they want but no one can change her excellency with her craft.
collene is 24-year-old self-proclaimed creative old soul who is deeply fascinated by the beauty of music, arts, books and poetry. Catch her wearing her bluetooth earphones on with either a phone or book on hand.
