Here are my credentials (again): Very few, this time. I know a few of the members of 9Muses (Sera and Hyuna especially), but since there are / were so many, I don’t know them all. I think I’m too casual to be a casual fan of them, but I do really like the songs I’ve heard and I’m excited to hear more.

(Part One)

EP #3: Drama

Drama starts with almost an entire verse of sing-talk, which is…not a choice I agree with, since then it goes right into a surprisingly gently-sung few lines, but then right back to sing-talk. The second sing-talk section fits the song better, but I was already a bit thrown off and felt like I didn’t have time to recover before the tempo changed again. The chorus itself is pretty good, and I think that the addition of a post-chorus is an addition that fixes the issue I had with Glue’s too-short choruses. Overall, this one isn’t for me, though, and I don’t think I’ll be relistening to it.

From Drama, the EP, I didn’t have a hidden gem, though I really liked the Pilot Episode intro, and wished it was a full song, and September 17th’s talking intro made me smile.

EP #4: 9Muses Summer Edition

Hurt Locker builds on what Why R U started, going full-force into the happy, bubblier summer idea. It uses its electronic background to support a much more pop-leaning than R & B-leaning beat, and though I’m not mad at it, I feel as though I’ve heard this song many times before. Hurt Locker still has a few 9Muses staples: the great harmonizing, the pulsing electronic beat, the sing-talk mixed in, etc, but feels like a very different group than the one we’ve seen thus far. This is probably a me thing, but I’m a big fan of groups having a signature sound and sticking to it, because there’s just so much k-pop out there and a lot of it sounds similar.

I didn’t have a hidden gem for this EP.

EP #5: Lost

Sleepless Night is a return to 9Muses’ formula, though in a less overt way than usual. It makes the choice to feature their voices, and take inspiration from a softer, smoother style of R & B than is usual for them, with a distinctive whistling hook. I think that this works pretty well, better than I would have expected, and is a great example of innovating on a formula without sacrificing what makes that formula work. This feels self-assured and confident in an understated way, with a good dash of vulnerability to round it out. Overall, I like this one!

From Lost, the EP, I really loved the b-side Secret, which, between the more ethereal quality of the voices, the combination of subtle strings and piano, and general vibe reminded me a lot of a Gfriend song, but with a more dancy twist that felt more like 9Muses. I also liked Koong Chit Dak Chit.

EP #6: Muses Diary Part 1

Lip 2 Lip is definitely the opposite of Sleepless Night, immediately taking off in its synth pop / disco inspired beat. It too takes the idea of not having a lot of time to breathe in the song, never going without some kind of noise for long. Though it has a great beat, it feels slightly more overwhelming than is probably intended, to be honest, and the constant switching back and forth between tempos left me wondering if I liked it or not. Maybe I need a few more listens before I decide.

From the EP, Muses’ Diary Part 1, I enjoyed the mix between the classical flourishes and bubbly summer vibes of Shh!.

EP #7: Muses Diary Part 2

Remember starts only with a single guitar and a single voice, before an equally sparse drumming is added in. It builds an interesting sense of tension to the song that isn’t common in their other singles, and when the chorus takes off with somewhat hauntingly high voices and a more electronic production, it feels earned. The sing-talk’s anger here feels earned, and the minimalism seems to add to the sense of desperation fueling the pre-chorus’ sudden rush forward. It’s unique, both in 9Muses’ discography and in k-pop in general, and I especially loved the harmonizing in the last chorus.

From the EP, Muses’ Diary Part 2: Identity, I enjoyed the chugging dancefloor beat mixed with the softer moments in Pastry and the mournful R & B of the closer Hate Me. I also really liked the intro. This is quite a melancholy work as a whole, I’ll say.

EP #7: Muses Diary Part 3

I had assumed that Love City would be a return to the poppy summer sound of Hurt Locker, and though I was kind of correct—at least in the bubblier parts of the verses—the chorus feels like one from one of their older songs like Wild or Figaro. However, this combination of the bubbliness, the chorus, and the oddly intense whispered intro and hook doesn’t quite work for me. It’s a bit like Love Cherry Motion by LOONA: the quick changes are the point, but they make for more of a cool statement than an enjoyable song.

9Muses last song, also called Remember, is a disbandment song written for the fans. As many songs like this do, it’s quite slow and sappy, though it chooses to be more upbeat than an average ballad. I’m happy to hear their voices given the spotlight, but I wish they could’ve had a more interesting showcase for them that would’ve stuck out amongst the dozen other songs like this one. I did really like its louder, more emotional moments, as those felt more personal.

Verdict: TL;DR

I’m glad I did this! As stated, I did know a little bit about 9Muses, but I’m happy I got the chance to learn more. I found a lot of great songs to add to my dance playlists, and I got to learn about where the vintage influences I love so much in k-pop got their start (at least partly). It was a bit difficult to find an interview, since they disbanded around four years ago, so I settled for watching compilations and behind the scenes, which got me some good laughs. I enjoyed seeing Sera and Hyuna much younger with very different songs from their material now, and overall I don’t have any huge criticisms.

My Top 5 songs were Figaro, News, Remember (#1), Wild, and Rumor, with Action as an honorable mention. 9Muses gets an 8.25 out of 10 from me, because other than a few quibbles, they’re pretty consistent. As mentioned, there weren’t really any songs I disliked. I’m giving them this rating because, despite having a lot of great songs, there weren’t many I personally connected to, or any that had very deep meanings (that I know of) beyond what’s pretty standard for k-pop. This isn’t a flaw in their music, but it does mean that my enjoyment of them is limited.

Next time, we’ll be back with a soloist! See you then, and Tschüss!

(Part One)