KARD (카드) - Red Moon (4th Mini Album) [COMEBACK REVIEW]
By K-Pop Rambles - May 19, 2020
In the time I've been running this blog, there haven't been very many groups that I've reviewed consistently - however, KARD is one of them. Even though I wasn't a fan of their music when I first heard them, I eventually got on board and have loved them ever since. They fill what is, in my opinion, a much needed gap when it comes to co-ed groups in K-Pop, and I feel like they always have something unique to bring to the table.
Their last comeback was a bit divisive, though - from what I can gather, Ride on the Wind wasn't necessarily as popular as their other releases. Maybe it was because of You & Me being such a dark concept right beforehand? I have no idea, since I previously reviewed Ride on the Wind on this blog and thought it was a flawed, yet pretty solid album regardless. Then they had their comeback with "Bomb Bomb", and yeah, sure, the song is fine, but it's really dulled on me over time. I don't know, something about it comes off as very... stale, for lack of a better word. Maybe it was an indication that their concept needed to change a bit. So, when their next big comeback was announced to be a digital single, with no music show promotions due to an ongoing tour... Yeah, nobody was happy. Not even me.
And y'know what? I'm still pissed there were no promotions outside of a special stage or two, because "Dumb Litty" was one of the best songs KARD have put out - if not the best.
I had hoped they could carry the concept of "Dumb Litty" through into a full-fledged comeback, and when Red Moon was announced, that certainly seemed to be the case. The teaser images gave off the darker vibe that a lot of people dearly missed, and I was admittedly one of them. Sure, Ride on the Wind was an album I really liked, but You & Me has been my KARD era since it was first released. The darker concept, the slightly different style pivot, the b-sides being some of KARD's most potent... It was a phenomenal era for them, stylistically and sonically.
And now, that leaves the question - does Red Moon manage to live up to that standard of quality?
Well, I think I've rambled enough in this intro as it is, so let's have a look at KARD's Red Moon and see if it lives up to their other releases!
1. GO BABY
First impressions mean a lot when it comes to reviewing music: you're at the very beginning of an album or song, and you're probably the most intrigued to hear what the artist has to offer. That's why I feel like first impressions are so important, since if I'm not really pulled in by the first impression an album gives off, chances are I won't be interested in listening to the rest of the tracklist.
KARD, being as bombastic as they are, are normally quite good with first impressions. Their music lends itself to being quite in-your-face and impactful, so they're pretty damn good at that by this point. And yeah, I'd argue "Go Baby" is no different here - it's KARD in their comfort done, and it's mostly done very well. I really like the lighter touches of guitar in the background of the verses that gives the rhythm a nice lilt - you get the feeling you're getting the backstory of where this apparently messy relationship went wrong. The pre-choruses though, manage to blend that quite nicely with KARD's more recent style, which is bass-heavy, full of power and not afraid to make a statement. "Go Baby" switches between these two styles very well, and some great melodic choices in the instrumental make it that much stronger.
Sure, the choruses are catchy, but the lyrics aren't anything to write home about. I can guarantee the melody will get stuck in your head, though - if you're not walking around singing "go baby girl go baby girl go" at least once, then... I don't know if we listened to the same some. It's memorable because of its simplicity, and I like that quite a bit! It lets the members have a lot of fun with their vocals, whilst giving the song itself some real venom - J.seph is growly and incredibly precise, Somin is honestly really sultry, Matthew is the charismatic powerhouse he always is and Jiwoo straight up says "fuck you" right to your face.
I don't care if it's censored, hearing Jiwoo swear at me was a moment of vindication if I've ever had one.
There is one massive, lingering problem I have with this song, though - the production. Who at DSP mixed this and thought it sounded good?! The entire song sounds like it was recorded and mixed in a tin can, which we know is not the case - hell, the production on "Dumb Litty" was part of what made that song so great, so what went wrong here? Production in songs is not something I often feel comfortable talking about in reviews, because I often don't know what to look for; I feel like I'm in over my head. But here, it's instantly noticeable, even for me. That's not a good thing. (Also, it's more of a nitpicky thing, but why the school outfits? It doesn't fit the vibe of the song at all...)
KARD's energy doesn't lend itself well to this kind of production at all, and it's a really, really bad blemish on what is otherwise a pretty good song. Like I said earlier, KARD are definitely in their comfort zone here, but they're having fun with it, and that makes "Go Baby" a hell of a lot better in the end. If only that production had been better... Oh well. It's a pretty good start to the album nonetheless.
2. RED MOON [TITLE]
With "Go Baby" out of the way, we... pretty much have covered everything I don't like about this album.
Yeah, I'm not kidding.
From here on out, I firmly believe this is KARD's best project since You & Me - and I can start explaining my reasoning by looking at the title track, "Red Moon".
For the longest time, I got the impression that a lot of people were very sick of KARD doing tropical house, and all I saw in every KARD-centered comment thread I went to was reply after reply saying how they needed to change their concept.
All I'll say is that those same people better be singing the praises of Red Moon, because GODDAMN.
The moombahton beat in the beginning is honestly a false veneer for what's to come, in hindsight - the simple melody in the first verse is a lovely introduction to the sort of sound KARD are going for here. There's an instrument in the background - presumably a synth - that sounds like a weird mixture of a wood instrument and a sitar, and I absolutely love it, even if I don't know how to describe it. The pre-chorus is synth-heavy and atmospheric, which provides an amazing buildup and punchline when the chorus does eventually hit. It's big, it's loud, it's got one hell of a presence, and it's insanely catchy to boot. KARD have always been great at making songs that are just... so fucking good at hyping you up, and "Red Moon" is no exception. It's an explosion of colour, but not in the same way "Bomb Bomb" was. It's a sultry, almost exotic song in those beginning stages...
But we haven't even gotten to the rest of the chorus yet. If you liked the slightly sexy vibe KARD have going for them, then you'll love "Red Moon"'s intro - but where this song really steps into the excellent tier for me is the breakdown.
I know people like to use the metaphor of something hitting like a truck, or a ten-ton weight, or something along those lines - but "Red Moon"'s breakdown defies every single goddamn one of those metaphors.
It is fucking HUGE. I honestly don't know what other word I can use to describe it. It's got these blaring synths that DO. NOT. STOP. It's honestly reminiscent of a siren for me, with how bouncy and spacious the instrumental is. And yet, as soon as that amazing, climactic moment started, we're back to the moombahton beats and BM asking you to call him daddy.
Yep, three months later and I'm STILL not over that.
And if you weren't dead by this point, you will be soon, because Somin is rapping! RAPPING!
Let me tell you, when I first listened to this song, and I heard the second verse... The breakdown had already sold me as a Hidden KARD, but THAT VERSE. That right there was the moment this ascended to "You In Me" levels of greatness. "Red Moon" is, in every way, the conceptual evolution a lot of people seemed to be looking for in KARD's music, and it's quickly become one of my absolute favourite eras of theirs. I'm still in love with this song like I was when it first came out, and we're nearly three months in! The impact is just as big every time I listen to it.
If you, for some reason, haven't heard "Red Moon" yet, please go listen to it - especially if you liked KARD in the beginning, but then fell off later on. You won't regret it, because it's one of their most explosive title tracks yet, and in my opinion, one of their best.
3. ENEMY (SOMIN & JIWOO UNIT)
But why stop there? Just listen to the whole album when you're at it! It's worth it, I promise.
Seriously, if "Red Moon" didn't sell you, "Enemy" sure as hell will. I had no idea there were going to be unit tracks on this album, so when I only heard Somin and Jiwoo singing, it was a nice suprise.
NOBODY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE THIS AMAZING, THOUGH.
"Enemy" is one of KARD's best b-sides, period. I mean that. It carries over some of the same sonic theming as "Red Moon", with the fizzy buildup and the bouncy synth line and rhythm. (And also, Somin rapping. Fuck yes.) But the pre-choruses are where I realized just how special "Enemy" is. Most of the instrumental cuts out, and you're left with the girls' vocals, a surprisnigly emotional guitar line and one of the most gorgeous bits of production on this whole album. It comes out of left field in the best way possible, and it honestly made me gasp when I first heard it.
It also makes the choruses hit that much harder, in my opinion - "Enemy" has one of KARD's typical big, bombastic EDM-influenced choruses, but the buildup and execution is just... different. I don't quite know how to describe it. Maybe it's the shattering glass, or the pitchshifted vocals adding a different layer of intricacy, or the vocals, or the adlibs and more intense tempo in the final bridge, or the rhythm and bass line being so detailed and well put together... You honestly just have to listen to it to understand it. "Enemy" excels at just about everything it does - it's just too damn short! I would have KILLED for a bridge and final chorus to end this song properly. It's far too good of a song to fall just under three minutes in length, and I so desperately wished it was longer.
Regardless, what is here is absolutely fantastic, and I can guarantee you will see this on my b-sides list at the end of the year. It's just that fucking good. I don't know what it is about KARD and unit songs being some of their best, but I'm delighted to say "Enemy" really continues that trend whilst bringing it to new heights. It's hard-hitting, emotional in places, and it continues to get better with every listen.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to continue blasting this from every speaker in my house. It's what it deserves.
4. INFERNO (BM & J.SEPH UNIT)
Well, the girls had their turn at the whole unit thing - what about the guys? They need to have their fun too.
I'll start by saying "Inferno" is definitely an interesting song compared to everything else here. It was actually released before Red Moon came out, and was produced by BM.
You know what else Matthew produced? "Dumb Litty". And we all know how that turned out.
But I had no clue about any of that going into this song for the first time - and let me tell you, if you don't know what's coming, it's overwhelming. Almost too overwhelming. If you want something that could play while you're riding into war carrying a flamethrower, "Inferno" should do the job and then some. This has a volume level of very few other K-Pop songs, but that feels very much intentional. If BM and J.seph want you to remember who they are as performers, they're going to be loud and proud about it - and y'know what, they make it work! Both of them are excellent in their own areas, with J.seph being a really skilled rapper, and Matthew being... Well, Matthew. The minute his verse started, I was sold on this song. He's that good.
If you're not into hip-hop, though, chances are you won't like "Inferno". It's not the sort of song that will appeal to everybody. But trust me, if you get the chance to yell this at the top of your lungs, THAT'S when it clicks. "Inferno" is the musical equivalent of a victory lap - the trap snares are heavy, the instrumental is swamped in bass and brass samples, and BM and J.seph are excellent performers as always. It's brag rap, sure, but it's one that spits in your face in the process, and I like that kind of attitude. Hey, if you're going to do this kind of concept, you may as well live and breathe it.
Unfortunately, like "Enemy", it's also way too damn short! I would've loved one final, quieter bridge before the two of them belted out the last chorus, but alas, it wasn't to be. I can still appreciate "Inferno" for what it is, though, and what it is is a pretty solid example of KARD's in your face attitude taken to the extreme. It's got a legitimate edge, and while it can be a LOT to deal with at first, if you let it click, it clicks hard.
And then it sets your house on fire. Y'know, just because.
5. DUMB LITTY
I already reviewed "Dumb Litty" on this blog when it came out, and to save this from being overly long, I'm going to restrain myself from gushing over it again by limiting myself to one sentence:
"Dumb Litty" is one of my favourite K-Pop songs out there, and it deserves every ounce of hype and love that it got, if not more.
That's all. 😊
And that's all for the album, too! Honestly, it's a shame it's so short, because I absolutely loved it from start to finish. I had a certain level of expectations for this comeback, but I can safely say that Red Moon obliterated every one of them and lived up to all of my hopes. It's an album I still listen to thoroughly, which is very rare for me! Not many albums have a lot of staying power as a full entity - it's normally just one or two songs that I cherry pick and listen to on repeat. But no, Red Moon is that good of an album for me, and I'm so goddamn happy that KARD are back doing a concept like this. Long may it last!
And long may Somin's rapping continue, as well. (Seriously, Somin, drop a mixtape, I'll pay good money for it.)
•••••
COVER IMAGE CREDITS:
