[Album Review] Band Aid (9th Mini Album) – DAY6

21 hours ago 7

DAY6 made a comeback in September last year with their 9th mini-album, Band Aid, and the title track Melt Down. I am finally getting around to reviewing the 8-track mini-album, which is definitely on the lengthier side of the average mini-album. Band Aid is definitely a strong album release, with a few songs earning a 10/10 rating from me. The mini-album does fizzle out towards the end, but it is still a recommended release nonetheless. Check out which songs got that rating, as well as my thoughts on all 8 tracks.

Before Band Aid, DAY6 released FOUREVER in March last year, which was led by the single Welcome To The Show. More recently, DAY6 released the digital single Maybe Tomorrow in May this year.

1. Monster (괴물) – Band Aid starts off with a song that gives me what I am always craving for – a powerful rock number from DAY6. Monster speaks to how loneliness and isolation can make someone feel like a monster. I love the grungy chorus and the textural processing within the centrepiece. I liked how the drumming and guitar work is prolific throughout the track, while the members bring emotion to Monster to give it a life of its own. A clear standout from the get-go. (10/10)

2. Melt Down (녹아내려요) (Title Track) – Click here for Melt Down’s full review. (8/10)

3. She Smiled (그녀가 웃었다) – Next up is a bright pop-rock track. She Smiled sees DAY6 capture the excitement of a confession to their lover and the feeling when they see the subsequent smile on their lover’s face. I like the upbeatness of the track, which I attribute to the constant guitar work in the background. Even from afar, you can tell the members have big, gleaming smiles as they deliver the song. (8/10)

4. Shxtty Game (망겜) – Another favourite of mine on the album. I love DOWOON’s drumming in this one, driving Shxtty Game’s fast-paced energy. Every time I listen to the song, I can feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins, which pairs extremely well with the song’s lyrics that liken life to the tribulations of a video game. All of DAY6’s vocals have this uplifting tone, which makes the track extremely likeable. In particular, I really liked the raspiness and texture that SUNGJIN’s vocals bring to the song. (10/10)

5. Help Me Rock&Roll (도와줘요 Rock&Roll) – Continuing on with the fun vibes is Help Me Rock&Roll, which again, is full of energy. Help Me Rock&Roll draws on influences from the ’60s that are just so lively. I really liked how prolific and intense the rock sound gets during the chorus, keeping the track super enticing and exciting. On the flip side, I also liked the soft ‘shoobidoobaa’ in the bridge as well as the heavily processed ‘I really really wanna’ that was embedded in the instrumental. The latter is also another fun little element in this amazing song. (10/10)

6. COUNTER – Personally, I feel like there is a mismatch when it comes to COUNTER. It is a fine song, but I’m not sure if the execution is right. The song’s lyrics liken life’s ups and downs to a boxing match. But interestingly, I don’t get an impression of something intense like a boxing match from most of the song. COUNTER felt quite soft to me. The most intense COUNTER gets is during a brief part of the chorus, where most of the instrumental is stripped away, leaving behind the successive and pronounced drumming. But again, it is short, and so COUNTER returns quickly to its softer vibes. (6.5/10)

7. I’m Fine – DAY6 reassures us that they are fine in I’m Fine. While the song sounds nice and solid in all aspects, no matter how many times I have listened to I’m Fine, I just cannot get as excited for it as some of the earlier tracks. It is unfortunate, as the guitar work and keyboard are quite decent. (7/10)

8. Still There (아직 거기 살아) – Emotions are poured into and out of Still There. The final track on the album is a ballad, and it vividly tells us of the heartbreak of a failing relationship. You can definitely feel the heartbreak and pain through the members’ vocals. I have to give a shout-out to how YOUNG K ends Still There – he remembers the past but realises what is happening in the present. Musically, I liked how this ballad builds up as it progresses, developing into a stunning number. Altogether, it is an unforgettable number. (10/10)