(TW: mentions of death, mental illness, and suicide)

This is a special review, so I’m starting with a personal note. I admit I didn’t know much about ASTRO before last year, until Moonbin, one of their members, passed away, but as a ShaWol (SHINee fan) and a huge fan of Jonghyun, who left us in the same way, I decided I wanted to discover who he was outside of one more sad story on my news feed. If you’d like to read the full post about Moonbin: click here.

Intro: Moonbin & Mental Health

I discovered a few things. I discovered that he was a compelling actor. I discovered that he had a lovely voice. I discovered that he had a beautiful smile and a great sense of humor. I discovered that he had a sweet relationship with his sister Sua, and…I discovered that I could inadvertently find myself becoming a fan of someone I wish I could’ve known and appreciated when he was alive.

But I still feel like I don’t know enough. So, then I decided I wanted to do this review, and post it today, 4/19/2024, which is the one year anniversary of when he took his own life, as a way to learn more about him and some of the people who loved him the most, and I hope you’ll come along with me. (this part about Moonbin is continued at the very end, but the middle is mainly an ASTRO review).

ASTRO is a part of the third generation of k-pop, debuting in 2016 under Fantagio Entertainment with six members: JinJin, Cha Eunwoo, Sanha, MJ, Moonbin, and Rocky, the last of which left the group in 2023, and the second to last of which passed away exactly a year ago today, as mentioned. So, take a deep breath, and let’s get into this.

EP #1: Spring Up

Hide & Seek was their debut, and, like a lot of boy group music from the mid-2010’s, is very much in the realm of cutesy, fall-in-love bubblegum pop, though takes a spacier sound than that usually does. Think Got7’s Just Right or Golden Child’s DamDaDi, except without the cereal or the horns. I’m not the biggest fan of this sound, to be honest, but I did like the bridge and last chorus and I had a lot of fun watching the members goof around in the music video. It definitely establishes their identity right out of the gate.

From the EP, Spring Up, I enjoyed how the soft piano backed up their voices in First Love, the bright feeling of Morning Call, and the jazzier sound in Cat’s Eye.

EP #2: Summer Vibe

Breathless is next up, and opts for a breezier, brighter sound than Hide & Seek’s more electronic based one. It’s that kind of classic k-pop summer track that’s slightly off its rocker but is so much fun that you don’t really care. Why are the members pretending to be bottles of orange soda in a fridge? Why is there a random duck walking around? Why is this random girl mixing drinks she discovered on a beach in a homemade chemistry lab? Literally who knows, but I’m certainly amused.

From the EP, Summer Vibe, I enjoyed the lightness of Growing Pains and the reggae inspired My Style, but my hidden gem was Fireworks. Something about it just manages to capture that feeling of sitting around a campfire singing songs, with its chanty verses and inner warmth. Also, I preferred the acoustic version of Breathless.

EP #3: Autumn Story

Confession marks a return to school with a slightly rockier sound and some schoolboy outfits that must be breaking some kind of regulation, but oh well. I prefer the song style to both Hide & Seek and Breathless, since I’m more of a rock person than a cutesy pop person, and I think it’s a good fit for ASTRO’s sense of humor, which is slowly winning me over. I also really like the sketches at the beginning and end of the MV that transform into actual photos; I’m very curious how they got that effect.

I have to say, I’m laughing a lot more than I thought I would in a review that I started for such a sad reason, but I’m honestly happy about that. Sometimes it’s good to laugh, and I’m grateful that so many people (myself included) can still find joy in watching these songs.

From the EP, Autumn Story, I enjoyed the driving dancefloor synths of Lonely (which was my favorite of this release), but also the funkier, fritzier, more confident sound of Colored. From the Winter Dream single (which didn’t have an MV?), I enjoyed the fast-paced, energetic Cotton Candy.

Album #1: Dream, Part One

Baby is the first part of a maturation in ASTRO’s sound, still staying firmly in the realm of pop, but instead of bubblegum like before, it’s synthier, sleeker, and more disco-inspired, which I’m always in favor of. Also, I’m a complete sucker for both color-coding and rainbow organization, and this MV is such a perfect example of both; god, I love it.

From the album, Dream Part 1, I enjoyed the snappy percussion and easygoing synths of You Smile, the bouncy call-and-response of Dream Night, and the great roller skating energy of Every Minute. But, my hidden gem was Lie, which is really my own bias showing. It’s the first song I’d ever heard of ASTRO’s, even before any titles, because it was recommended to me, and I’ve always liked it. It’s about grief, which feels incredibly appropriate right now, and hearing Moonbin’s voice on it saying “it’s a lie, it has to be a lie” is actually making me a bit emotional.

EP #4: Dream, Part Two

Crazy Sexy Cool, like Baby, is a sleeker and more mature version of ASTRO’s sound, and pushes the synths even further, turning into a lighthearted and summery track that feels like a stronger version of Breathless. That second of the music video where Jin Jin leans out to kiss the shadow and almost kisses Moonbin got a genuine laugh out of me. Also, I’m not a choreo blog, but I want to appreciate the smoothness of their dancing in those tight pants, because I couldn’t dance like that in a sports bra and shorts.

From the EP, Dream Part 2, I enjoyed the very catchy hook of With You, the gently rising vocals of Butterfly, and the more down-to-earth guitar of Run To You.

EP #5: Rise Up

Always You, while it is on the electronic side, is actually far more of a ballad than the dance track I was expecting, and its lyrics about friendship and the fear of losing the people you love…well, it hit me hard, that’s the best way to put it. I don’t know if this is just me looking back with the benefit of hindsight, but somehow I feel like their delivery of this one is much more powerful than their other titles. The ballet inspiration in the dance is a great touch, and I also like how it mixes with the choppiness of the beat.

From the EP, Rise Up, I enjoyed the light but still driving beat and rising high notes of Call Out (my hidden gem).

Part Two of this Special Review will be published in a few days. Please stay tuned. Take care of yourselves out there, folks. Drink some water, take your meds, and remember to breathe. Tschüss!