My only introduction to Korean before Aug.26, 2024 was the beautiful script of Hangul (come on — 정윤오 — that’s the most beautiful script any language has ever seen, one that is deserving of its own article), but I’ve been catching wind of something called K-pop lately — and what better introduction than Jaehyun’s debut album, “J – The 1st Album” (it may sound like heresy to some, but yes, this is my first time listening to K-pop).
Before getting into the album itself, it’s important to have some background on the artist. Jaehyun, born Feb. 14, 1997 (Valentine’s Day!?), is a member of the K-pop group NCT. In recent history, he’s been hitting hard with some sick singles, but had never curated his own album. That is, until now when history was made with the release of “J – The 1st Album.” And — get this — he spent the ages of five to 10 (possibly the first five years of his consciousness) living in Connecticut. He hasn’t come back since, but when asked if he wanted to in an interview with Young Hollywood in 2019 during NCT 127’s tour, he said, “I hope to go there again.” UConnic anyone?
“Smoke” is a series of expertly curated beat drops over a nonchalant track. I was NOT ready for the beat drop at 2:21. It was divine.
It’s hard to describe his next song, “Roses.” It’s a slow, soulful track punctuated by bassy instrumentals and heavenly, drawn-out background vocals.
Following it up is “Flamin’ Hot Lemon,” which maintains a constant, low-key vibe that’s perfect for studying. Just cruising through the sound cosmos to help me cruise through some calculations.
“Dandelion” is upbeat with hard-hitting lyrics and a seamless blend of English and Korean throughout (so seamless I almost didn’t notice the language transitions). The smooth flowing rhythm of Korean really shines here.
His next track is perfect for the album’s middle. “Completely” is more tender; Jaehyun’s vocals stand out as he’s backed with a gentle yet impactful piano riff.
“Easy” is a beautiful track that returns to the vibe of “Dandelion” while turning down the optimism from overflowing to a more laid-back tone.
As a former trumpet player, I’m a huge fan of his penultimate song, “Can’t Get You.” Listeners are sure to enjoy the added brass instrumentals spicing up the album while still maintaining Jaehyun’s soulful style, reminiscent of R&B.
Jaehyun’s debut album strikes the listener as chill and low-key, with more upbeat bits contrasting with tender vocals and killer instrumentals on each song. A masterpiece that can be listened to on repeat (trust me, I listened to it many, many times while writing this review), it’s nirvana for K-pop fans and highly agreeable at worst for those who haven’t been bitten by the K-pop bug.
To Jaehyun, my first and forever favorite K-pop idol.
5/5
Amazing article. 10/10.
Terrific writing! Intrigued my interest in K-pop tbh