[Album Review] ALIVIO (5th Mini Album) – CHUNG HA

19 hours ago 6

CHUNG HA’s February 2025 mini-album release, ALIVIO, is up next for an album review. ALIVIO is the soloist’s 5th mini-album since her debut and follows the digital single Algorithm released last year. The mini-album features 8 songs, including the title track STRESS and a collaboration single with SUNMI. The latter in itself is something enticing and to look forward to, but there is a lot more to the mini-album, particularly in the latter half of the mini-album, where CHUNG HA featured strong track after track. You can read more about my thoughts on ALIVIO down below.

1. Creepin’ – The mini-album starts off with Creepin’, an R&B number with a slightly warp effect to its instrumentation. This is more of an observation and not a negative. As for CHUNG HA, she sounds amazing in the song. But overall, I found Creepin’ to be a little underwhelming and lacked something to make it memorable. (7/10)

2. Salty (with SUNMI) – CHUNG HA join forces with SUNMI to bring us Salty. With these two big names at the helm, there are high expectations for this single. In my personal opinion, they definitely delivered. I really enjoyed the retro/house combination that makes up the instrumentation, though I wished there was a little more bite to the background. The opening chorus lines “My diamonds are cold, but I’m not made of ice” and “All of my emotions they get exercise” also have a memorable ring to them. (9/10)

3. Loyal – I enjoyed the atmospheric instrumental behind Loyal, though I feel like Loyal was lacking a drop somewhere in its instrumentation. It wasn’t until the 2:05 minute mark (in a 2:42 minute long song) that Loyal’s instrumental changed gears slightly. Alongside the atmosphere are CHUNG HA’s vocals, which were stunning throughout the song. The repetition of the song’s title also helped key it in my mind. (8.5/10)

4. STRESS (Title Track) – Click here for STRESS’ full review. (8/10)

5. Beat of My Heart – The chorus for Beat of My Heart is what wins me over. More specifically, it is CHUNG HA’s breathtaking delivery of the central piece of the song that grabs my attention. The way her vocals soar in the choruses and throughout the song is really something. As for the instrumentation, it falls into drum and bass territory, and I love how much bite this influence gives Beat of My Heart. (10/10)

6. Even Steven (Happy Ending) – Even Steven is a song about getting back at the people who have wronged you. While the lyrics for Even Steven hint at a terrible past, they also give the song an empowering feeling. And as a result of this empowerment, CHUNG HA’s powerful vocals, as well as the presence of the electric guitars, add a lot more oomph to Even Steven. I also appreciate the song’s straight-to-the-point vibe. (9/10)

7. Thanks for the Memories – CHUNG HA takes us down rock territory in Thanks for the Memories, my pick for the most highly recommended track of the mini-album. I love the energy this gives the song, particularly in the choruses, and the added textures from the synths give it a fun edge. CHUNG HA’s vocals are superb, with her ad-libs feeling like the perfect icing to a cake. She nailed this song!! (10/10)

8. Still a Rose – Bringing the long mini-album to a close is Still a Rose. It begins with a powerful sample of Vivaldi’s classic Four Seasons. I liked how the sample leads into the rest of the song, which speaks to the idea that one can always emerge as a rose following struggles and lows in life. The rest of the song falls into place, with the melodies having a clean feel. The line “A rose is still a rose” is quite catchy, as well. (9/10)