Hello, My First Love
So, I’m not usually into K-pop, but I decided to give this group a shot, and I have to say—I was pleasantly surprised. I came in with no expectations, and their latest album really caught me off guard. Even though I’m not familiar with the genre, I can appreciate the blend of something nostalgic with fresh, new elements. It had this pop sound that felt familiar, but they added their own twist to it.
The title track? Honestly, I really liked it. It’s different from what I thought K-pop would be like. I always assumed a lot of K-pop songs sounded the same, but this one has a unique vibe. They did something called a ritardando (apparently that’s not common in K-pop), and it works really well. The chorus has this weirdly nostalgic, almost emotional feel that I didn’t expect, and the whole song has a more melancholy mood than I thought I’d hear. Then there’s "Whoo," which is just straight-up fun. It’s super catchy, and I found myself nodding along, even though I don’t usually listen to stuff like this.
The real standout for me was "I Don’t Thing." I didn’t know what to expect from the B-sides, but this one blew me away. It’s got this electronic vibe that feels huge, and the way it builds into this epic drop is so cool. There are these spacey sounds throughout the track that give it this futuristic edge, and the outro? Pure magic. I wasn’t expecting to love it as much as I did, but it’s honestly one of the best songs I’ve heard in a while—even outside of K-pop. The other B-sides didn’t hit as hard for me. "Good Morning" was fine, but it felt more like background music compared to the rest. And "Way to Home" starts off promising, but the transition to the whole group singing felt a little jarring to me. The guitars at the end were pretty though, I’ll give them that.
Overall, even though I don’t usually listen to K-pop, this album made me rethink that a bit. They’ve got a unique sound that’s both nostalgic and experimental, and I can see why people are into them. If you’re like me and usually stick to other genres, I’d still recommend giving this a listen—it’s got enough variety and freshness that even non-K-pop fans can find something to enjoy!
THE WIND - HELLO, MY FIRST LOVE
RATING - 7.9/10
FAVORITE TRACK - I Don’t Thing
GENRE - K-Pop, Electronic