While Astro’s Dream Pt.1 was never specifically promoted as a “summer” album, it’s one of the K-pop projects I most closely associate with the season and was released just before one of K-pop’s most epic summers in 2017. More importantly, it’s incredibly strong and represents a bubbly, ultra-melodic pop sound we just don’t hear much of anymore. It’s a boy group album with literally no shouting whatsoever. That alone is kind of miraculous, right?
1. Dreams Come True
There was a brief moment when K-pop was aping the light, strings-assisted dance sound of popular UK electronic act Clean Bandit. This resulted in a few classics – this song being the pinnacle. I think Dreams Come True is pretty much perfect and I’ve listened to it an insane amount of times. The percolating synths that kick off this track are like summer’s herald. From here, the track just grows and grows until it reaches its euphoric chorus. What a fabulous taste of the exciting energy this album has in store for us! Definitely one of my favorite ever Astro songs.
Rating: 9.5
2. Baby
At the time of release, Astro were coming off an incredibly strong run of singles, causing me to underrate Baby at first. The song has since gone on to become a personal favorite. I love the fizzy synth and laidback groove. It’s punchy without being too in-your-face and – as all of Astro’s early work – thrives on playful melody. It’s such a joyful sound while also feeling like a slight maturation from their debut year.
Rating: 9
3. You Smile
We’re bounding from strength to strength with another pop banger. What I love most about this album (besides its incredible songs) is that it holds together as one cohesive sound. This leans more toward pop/rock, anchored by a stunner of a chorus. The melody here is sharp as a tack, fully-developed and designed for instant singalongs. This was my “buried treasure” way back when and I stand by that, even though I ultimately came to prefer Dreams Come True. This is still such a head rush. Why can’t today’s K-pop acts harness this sound and energy?
Rating: 9.25
4. Because It’s You
We’re into the album’s first ballad now and… guess what? The ballads are excellent, too! This album knows how to deploy its slower material and bolster it with plenty of musical drama. Just listen to the pre-chorus of this beauty! Those vocal harmonies are absolutely gorgeous and continue into the confetti-drop bombast of the chorus. This is how you wring as much as possible from a pop ballad. It’s pure belt-it-out boy band bliss.
Rating: 8.75
5. Dream Night
This album released during the height of K-pop’s tropical trends and, looking back, I realize how much I miss those sparkly synth tones. Dream Night is one of the more generic tracks here, but the instrumental is stuffed with so many bright tones that it just shimmers. The various tempo shifts work really well, particularly because the track’s energy never lags even as we plunge into a more subdued second verse.
Rating: 8.5
6. I’ll Be There
The nostalgia is strong with this one, as the finger-snap beat and generous melodies recall early-2000’s teen pop. Within that realm, I’ll Be There is more “filler b-side” than “standout single,” but that’s fine as part of an album this strong. It’s pleasant and sweet, bolstered by some great performances that give it plenty of character. It’s certainly one of the quieter moments on the album but works as a late tracklist mood setter.
Rating: 8
7. Lie
We’re onto the second ballad now, and although this might not be as strong as the fantastic Because It’s You, it offers a more grounded, subtle sound. At least, that’s the case until we charge into Lie’s orchestral chorus. What the arrangement lacks in drive it compensates with its ornate theatricality.
Rating: 8
8. Every Minute
I love when albums close with a big ol’ banger. Every Minute recaptures the magic of Dream‘s opening tracks, offering a buoyant pinwheel of electro goodness. Chugging percussion echoes this energy, presaging the sound Astro would resume in 2022 with their single Candy Sugar Pop. The song’s two-part chorus is a total joy bomb, recalling similar efforts from earlier boy group B1A4, who Astro obviously took inspiration from. This is such a victorious way to end a no-skip album.