I.O.I Mini Album Vol. 1 Chrysalis - Album Review (Special Edition)

Recently I was cleaning my bookcase and came across this album which was super popular back when it came out. We are talking about the OG Produce 101 group I.O.I and this is their first physical release. I remember being so excited to order this as I watched all the episodes of the first season. It is rather large and takes up a fair amount of space on the shelf. I used to have it facing outwards so you could see the cover however now it's just stacked with other albums.

Chrysalis is the debut mini album from korean girl group I.O.I and it was released on May 4th 2016. Which it's insane to think that it is one year off being 10 years since being released. Wow that's crazy and even more crazy if you think about what an amazing group I.O.I could've been if it wasn't temporary. The mini album was released in two editions: Normal and Special. The normal edition came with a 68 paged photobook and a random photo card. It is housed in your typical hardcover style k-pop album and the photobooks are glued in place. I brought the special edition from YesAsia as I thought that would the harder one to get if I didn't buy it and I would regret it. The Special Edition comes with the following: 

• Outer box packaging
• CD - 7 track mini album
  
• 100 paged photobook (68-pages same as regular edition + additional 30 pages)
• Making photobook 
• Four postcards - Group and member units
• Folded Poster (Random 1 of 11 members)
• Group poster
  

Kep1er 2nd Mini Album Review DOUBLAST - Album Review (B1ue Blast Jewel Case Version)

The inspiration for today's blog post is that I haven't posted a music review in ages so that is what we are going for. I randomly picked an album in my blog backlog and it is the 2nd Mini Album from K-Pop group Kep1er!

DOUBLAST is the 2nd Mini Album from Korean girl group Kep1er and it was released on June 20th 2022. The mini was released in four versions: Lemon Blast and B1ue Blast with both having a photobook and jewel case format. I ordered the jewel case format from YesAsia who sent a random version and I ended up the B1ue Blast one. I did like the concept of the Lemon Blast version more however this one is still fun and fresh. The jewel case format of DOUBLAST comes with the following:

• CD - 5 track mini album
• Jewel case
• 16 page photobook
• Photocard (Random 2 out of 18 types)
• Postcard (Random 1 out of 9 types)

Aespa 3rd Mini Album My World - Album Review (Zine WELCOME TO MY WORLD Version)

The blog has been nothing but Fashion Dreamer posts for a while now so it's time for a good old music review. I picked the first folder I had saved in my reviews folder on my computer and it was for an aespa release. Previously I have reviewed the Zine Spicy Version of this mini album and this time I will be reviewing another zine version which is the WELCOME TO MY WORLD one.

My World is the 3rd Mini Album from Korean girl group aespa and it was released on May 8th 2023. The album came in 19 versions and only two of the zine styles were available here in Australia which are the two I own. I brought both from JB Hi-Fi however I seen people in a local Facebook group looking to sell/trade zine versions that were available from overseas retailers. Must've imported them and those versions look awesome. The WELCOME TO MY WORLD Zine version comes with the following contents:

• CD - 6 track mini album
• 40 page Photobook
• Trading card set of 4 cards
• Photocard (Random 1 out of 4 types)
• Poster (Random 1 out of 2 types)
• English lyrics booklet
• SM promotional flyer

Aespa 3rd Mini Album My World - Album Review (Zine Spicy Version)

First music review for 2024 is aespa's mini album My World! Super happy that my local music store stocks aespa as they are the only current generation girl group that I collect. Plus it makes it super easy to find the albums and I always pre-order to make sure I can get a copy. It seems to fly off the shelves quick at my local store however if I visit the same stores elsewhere, you can usually find a copy.

My World is the 3rd Mini Album from Korean girl group aespa and it was released on May 8th 2023. The album came in 19 versions which is mind boggling. Who on earth would attempt to even collect all of those. I love aespa but that's a bit too much and I wish they would cut down on the number of types available. As mentioned before, I purchased my CD from JB Hi-Fi and I got the Spicy versions of the Zine type. I didn't know which version I would get as it random on what the supplier sends so I was excited when the zine one came (even though I did buy the other version later on). The Spicy Zine version comes with the following contents:

• CD - 6 track mini album
• 40 page Photobook
• Trading card set of 4 cards
• Photocard (Random 1 out of 4 types)
• Poster (Random 1 out of 2 types)
• English lyrics booklet
• SM promotional flyer

I've been loving this style of photo book that SM has been doing lately. They are smaller to store on the shelf and the magazine concept is a fun one. This concept matched the vibe of this song perfectly and you get so many great photos in the photo book. There was just too many amazing pages to choose from for photos! I did get one of their next mini albums in the same style of photo book and they look great next to each other.

T-ARA TARGET - Single Review (Regular Edition Type B)

Lately I've been on a spree of writing T-ARA reviews and I'm back again with another one! Today we shall be looking at one of their Japanese singles and it has the most adorable chibi design to the CD. Look at how cute the members look as cartoon characters! This single TARGET had an app released shortly after based off the song and it allowed the player to play as each member in various mini games. You could also unlock different costumes and songs which sounds amazing!

TARGET is the seventh Japanese single released by Korean girl group T-ARA and it was released on July 10th 2013. The single came in three editions: Limited Edition CD+DVD, Regular Edition Type A CD Only and Regular Edition Type B CD Only. Both Regular Editions are the same and just have different covers. The song was also released as a Recochoku Digital Single as most T-ARA singles were. I have the Regular Edition Type B that I brought second-hand and it came with the following contents:

• CD - 2 track single
• Jewel case
• Lyrics booklet
• OBI
• Sticker Sheet

T-ARA Sexy Love [Japanese Ver.] - Single Review (CD Only)

I have quite a few Japanese singles from T-ARA in my collection so I wanted to work through posting a few of them. The ones in the jewel cases are quite easy to take photos of and I cannot even recall whereabouts I put the cardboard sleeve ones. Will have to dig them out of the cupboard one day to take photos. Today we shall be looking at the Japanese version of Sexy Love!

Sexy Love is the fifth Japanese single released by Korean girl group T-ARA and it was released on November 12th 2012. The single came in three editions: CD+DVD Type A, CD+DVD Type B and CD Only. It was also released as a Recochoku Digital Single along with iTunes. I've got all three editions of the single and the CD Only edition comes with a member plate! I got Eunjung who has a gorgeous look going on the CD and if I had to pick a member who I would've like to have gotten, it would be Boram as her outfit is super cute and she is my bias. The CD Only edition of Sexy Love that I have came with the following:

• CD - 4 track single
• Jewel case
• Lyrics Booklet
• OBI

QBS 風のように Kaze no You ni - Single Review (Regular Edition)

The other day I came across this single in my music collection and had totally forgotten about T-ARA's sub-units! There was two groups and this particular one always gets lost in my collection. The reason for that is that the group name is QBS so it doesn't show near all my Korean music which is listed under the hangul spelling. So I always go straight past it however this single is a beautiful one to listen to and we shall be reviewing it today.

風のように Kaze no You ni is the debut and only single from QBS which is the second sub-unit from Korean girl group T-ARA. The first unit was T-ARA N4 who debuted in March 2013 followed by QBS in April 2013. QBS was slated to only promote in Japan with members Qri, Boram and So Yeon and released one single. 風のように Kaze no You ni was released on 26th June 213 and came in two editions: Limited CD+DVD and Regular Edition CD Only. I brought both editions of the single second-hand from Japan and the Regular Edition included the following:

• CD - 2 track single
• Jewel Case
• Lyrics booklet
• OBI

After School DIVA - Single Review (CD+DVD Type B)

I have the last review of After School's DIVA single here and looking back on this CD makes me adore the colours of the design. The pastel pink contrasts well perfectly with the black and I love the solid bluish grey backdrop. After School's Japanese releases always had great designs and my only negative point would be that the editions that come with the cardboard sleeve do not have an OBI so they don't match with the CD Only. However that is when the term 'limited edition' comes in and the cardboard sleeve is all about that limited-ness.

DIVA is the second Japanese single from Korean girl group After School and it was released on November 23rd 2011. The single came in three editions: CD+DVD Type A, CD+DVD Type B and CD Only. This review is for the CD+DVD Type B edition which I brought second-hand from Japan and it is pretty much like the CD+DVD Type A. Not a huge different besides how the girls are posed and the DVD content. I did get a photocard when I purchased this and the seller gave me E-Young! OMG I have so many of her cards and she has quickly progressed to bias in the group this year.

After School DIVA - Single Review (CD+DVD Type A)

I've posted too many After School CD reviews that I've run out of things to say in the introduction. Honestly I always find it hard to figure out what to write so let's just look at the next edition of the Japanese version of DIVA.

DIVA is the second Japanese single from Korean girl group After School and it was released on November 23rd 2011. The single came in three editions: CD+DVD Type A, CD+DVD Type B and CD Only. This review is for the CD+DVD Type A edition which I brought second-hand from Japan. In boring news, I got the same photocard as I got in my new CD Only edition so know I have two group photocards. I should really put the other one somewhere to display since I have an extra. The DVD editions come in lovely cardboard sleeves and there was a promotional sticker on the packaging as well. The contents I received in my copy of the CD+DVD Type A edition were:

• CD - 2 track single
• Cardboard sleeve
• Plastic sleeve
• Jewel case
• Lyrics booklet
• Promotional flyer
• Photocard (Random 1 out of 9 types)

After School DIVA - Single Review (CD Only)

Another day another set of After School singles. This time I will be posting the Japanese single DIVA which is a total bop. Honestly you need to listen to this song and it is just as good as the original Korean version. Cannot decided which one I love more! I have all three editions of the single as I am a huge After School fan and this single is a must for the collection. The first review will look at the CD Only edition.

DIVA is the second Japanese single from Korean girl group After School and it was released on November 23rd 2011. The single came in three editions: CD+DVD Type A, CD+DVD Type B and CD Only. Some sites call the CD Only edition the normal or regular edition so it's tricky to figure out what it is officially called. If you purchased the first press edition of this single, you would receive a photocard and that is how I got mine. The single was actually kind of old by the time I brought it so it was interesting to see that the first press ones were still available. I got mine from YesAsia and it came with the following contents:

• CD - 5 track single
• Jewel case
• Lyrics booklet
• OBI
• Promotional flyer
• Photocard (Random 1 out of 9 types)

Dream Ami トライ・エヴリシング Try Everything - Single Review (CD Only)

Another beautiful single release from Dream Ami for today's music review. Her singles always have the most gorgeous designs to them and the colour palette of this one is to die for. Loving all the pastels and touch of the green on the cover. The focus for this review is トライ・エヴリシング Try Everything and as usual I will be reviewing the CD Only edition as that is the edition I always collect.

トライ・エヴリシング Try Everything is the second single from Japanese solo artist Dream Ami. It was released on April 20th 2016 with the digital version being released a few days earlier on the 15th. The single came in three editions: Limited CD+DVD, CD Only and One Coin CD Only. The One Coin edition was only available through selected online shops and has a lovely close-up photo of Ami on it. トライ・エヴリシング Try Everything is the Japanese version of the song with the same name from the Zootopia movie. The original was sung by Shakira and it actually had a few translated versions around the world. Of course I got the CD Only edition and I brought it from YesAsia. It came with the following contents:

• CD - 6 track single
• Jewel case
• Outer sleeve box
• Lyrics booklet
• Promotional flyers

Red Velvet Vol 1. The Red - Album Review

I thought I had done a Red Velvet review on the blog in the past however turns out I actually haven't! Red Velvet is a group that I used to be quite into but have dropped off in interest in recent years. Like I like their music, I just prefer their old stuff and that is mostly what I have in my collection. The Red album was the first Red Velvet CD that I got in my collection and I even recall buying their debut single Happiness on iTunes when it first came out. I used to post stacks of Red Velvet images on my Tumblr back in the day before Yeri joined and I'm sure I would post more now with Yeri as she is my bias in the group.

Vol. 1 The Red is the first full album from Korean girl group Red Velvet and it was released on September 9th 2015. The album only comes in one version from what I researched even though some sites list there being a blue and red version. I looked this up and couldn't see this supposed red version which is just the booklet inside the jewel case with a red background instead of blue. A version of the album was released in Taiwan in October and everything is the same with that one. For the photocard I got Irene who is the member I tend to get besides Yeri. Funny how you always end up pulling the same members. I brought my copy of The Red from a local (now sadly closed) K-Pop store and it came with the following contents:

• CD - 10 track album
• Sleevebox
• Jewel case
• 24 page lyric booklet
• 48 page photobook
• Photocard (Random 1 out of 6 types)

Dream Ami はやく逢いたい Hayaku Aitai - Single Review (CD Only)

Onto another Dream Ami CD review today and this time it is her single はやく逢いたい Hayaku Aitai. All her singles and albums had stunning designs and I love the pastel tones. The singles look perfect next to each other especially the earlier ones that had similar colour schemes. This post will look at the CD Only edition of the はやく逢いたい Hayaku Aitai single.

はやく逢いたい Hayaku Aitai is the fourth single released by Japanese singer Dream Ami. It was released on March 22nd 2017 and came in three editions: CD+DVD, CD Only and One Coin CD. Dream Ami's physical releases always had such beautiful colour schemes and aesthetics. That was one of the main reasons I would collect them. I brought my copy from YesAsia and the plastic sleeve has a nice promotional sticker detailing the single. The back cover of the jewel case has a different photo to the cardboard sleeve which is a nice surprise. There is a repeat of the back cover image though on the lyrics booklet.