Blueming topped the weekly Gaon Album Chart and received favorable reviews from music critics.
CNBLUE began promoting the record on music chart programs across various television networks by performing the single.
With the addition of crafting their own music, CNBLUE faced mounting pressure which "daunted the band members for years".
[2] Although not intended coincide with the spring season, vocalist Jung Yong-hwa sought to release "refreshing, breezy music" as soon as possible.
"[1] After examining their past in retrospect, Jung took the opportunity to write "Young Forever" in midst of a bout of insomnia.
[6] In midst of promoting "Cinderella" on KBS2's You Hee-yeol's Sketchbook in 2015, guitarist Lee Jong-hyun performed a song entitled "Shaving" (Korean: 면도; RR: Myeondo) during the program; he rewrote the lyrics to what would become "The Seasons".
[13] A pop rock record, Blueming compromises "soft" music meant to "maximize the romantic air of spring".
[17] Centered around a snare drum, "Young Forever" is a pop ballad; the track incorporates instrument recordings played backwards.
Set in a coffee shop, the photography of version A depicts the band members dressed in business casual clothing, anticipating the arrival of their respective girlfriends.
[38][39] CNBLUE were guests on KBS2's talk show You Hee-yeol's Sketchbook, where they performed "You're So Fine", as well as "Radio" and "Love Light".
[40] The band also performed the lead single on SBS Power FM's Cultwo Show for the 10th Anniversary Legend Concert .
[41] Writing for Fuse, columnist Jeff Benjamin expressed that CNBLUE "continues to expand its musical palette" on what he considers an "ambitious" mini-album.
He felt that the band was capable to making "You're So Fine" sound "fresh", and noted the similarities between the lead single and "Hold My Hand" from 2gether.
He cited "The Seasons" as being a "standout" track and described CNBLUE's "growing crossover potential" with the all-English "Stay Sober".
[16] Three critics opined on the record for TV Daily: Kim Ji-ha dubbed the lead single "sweet" and noted "Young Forever" for its "memorable lyrics"; Kim Han-gil referred to Blueming as a "charming album"; and Lee Yun-min complimented CNBLUE for "making band music", which he deemed "a rarity" in the current musical climate.
[42] Rating Blueming three stars out of five, Gwendolyn Ng of The Straits Times compared the record to "enjoying the cool spring breeze".
Also writing for Idology as 'Mimyo', musician Moon Yong-min felt it could be argued that CNBLUE took Japanese influences in mixing the theme of spring with the ikemen ideal, as the band had done in combining the "rocker duo–summer dance tunes" in "Cinderella".
He felt "impressed" by the band's ability to integrate music styles of spring and the Hongdae, Seoul area, in which they "borrowed each of their elements, yet still managed to hit that narrow balance without spilling into one side".