It may not be Christmas or December anymore but this mini from EXO will have you listening to it all year. There’s no denying that 2013 was such an amazing year for them and releasing this mini album around Christmas time was a perfect way to end it.

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I was preparing for sounds of happiness and christmas bells all around, but I was surprised to hear that this song was actually a ballad. Who would have thought that a song called “Miracles in December” could sound so sad. I will admit it did take me a while to get used to listening to this song. At first, I just found it a little too sad for my taste but the more I listened to it, the more I fell in love with it. D.O., Baekhyun, Chen and Luhan‘s voices just sound so great together. I love hearing the harmonies in the song. They sound so smooth and pretty, and I’m always a sucker for great harmonies. Honestly, this song can be listened to all times of the year, since it really doesn’t have that christmas-y sound. Both the Korean version and Mandarin version are so beautiful to listen to. The album even have a ‘Classical Orchestra Version’ or basically the instrumental version, but if you need music to study to, the ‘Classical Orchestra Version’ will definitely fit the bill.

As for my personal favorites, “첫 눈/初雪 (The First Snow)” and “Christmas Day/圣诞节 (Christmas Day)” were it. “Christmas Day/圣诞节 (Christmas Day)” is a song that is just mellow to listen to and it reminds me of hanging out at my favorite cafe watching the snow fall down, kind of like a scene out of a K-Drama! Both versions, Korean and Mandarin, sound amazing and I honestly can’t pick a favorite. As for my other favorite song, “첫 눈/初雪 (The First Snow),” it’s more upbeat and has a bit more of that christmas sound that was expected of the album, but nonetheless you can totally listen this song all year. I always find myself humming, and listening to this song in the car, and it makes me reminisce about Christmas time and the feeling it brings (Btw, Christmas is my favorite holiday!). Even though the lyrics are little sadder than how the sound of the song suggests, I still manage to get happy feelings. I think I could listen to this song all day if I could. That’s seriously how much I love this song! It just speaks to me.

Overall I really applaud EXO for releasing such a cohesive and put together album. All the songs were very easy to listen to and even though most of them were kind of slow, it really did bore me. Also it was surprising to hear a christmas album that really didn’t have that “christmas sound” but still had that christmas element. As I said before, even though this is a christmas mini album, you can listen to it anytime of the year! After the success that EXO has had in 2013, I very much look forward to what they will bring in 2014. Hopefully they can continue to release some amazing music.

월의 기적 (Miracles In December)/十二月的奇迹 (Miracles In December): 1/1

Christmas Day/圣诞节 (Christmas Day): 1/1

The Star/星 (The Star): .75/1

My Turn To Cry/My Turn To Cry (爱离开): .75/1

첫 눈/初雪 (The First Snow): 1/1

12월의 기적 (Classical Orchestra Version)/十二月的奇迹 (Classical Orchestra Version): .5/1