Hmm... I didn't care for the new Sunmi song; it sounds like a normal song of hers right up until the chorus and then it's like she looked at the calendar and said, 'Oh, we're releasing around Halloween, let's spooky this shit up a bit' and it just doesn't work. It sounds like a novelty song and not in a good way.
CHUU - Howl
Her 5 song EP is also out now.
Happy Throwback Thursday everyone, and a special happy birthday to Loona's Heejin (formerly, I suppose) who is celebrating a birthday today. First off though, an unusual new release; I saw this in my feed today and I don't know that it's that great a song but the video gets points for it's quirk factor:
Young Posse - Macaroni Cheese
Now, on to the throwback! I know I just featured IU a couple weeks ago, but I don't care! She's my favorite 
I found the video I'm featuring today to be very sad when I first watched it. I cried like a little baby, tbh. The song itself is pretty upbeat and happy, but I guess the video has a tragic ending so maybe that's why. Also, it's officially ten years old this month, so a special F.U. to time and it's constant forward momentum. Please enjoy!
IU - The Red Shoes
Billlie - DANG! (hocus pocus)
KWON EUNBI - Like Heaven (Feat. Paul Blanco)
Suddenly a new video from Eunbi. Happy to see more from her.
Also, Pixy just dropped a 4 track EP called The Voice. I'm a little worried though. No MV (yet?) and no promotions.
Pixy - Truth or Dare
happy Throwback Thursday y'all! gonna cut right to the chase, as I think we're caught up on new releases. Today we're checking out Sistar again, with one of their more popular videos (based on Youtube views) although this one's not especially summer-y so I feel okay not saving it for next year. Please enjoy!
Sistar - Alone
A bonus video from Chuu's Howl EP
CHUU - Hitchhiker
And the latest kpop/video game collaboration:
LE SSERAFIM - 'Perfect Night' with OVERWATCH 2
NiziU - Heartris
This is the first Korean language song from JYP's all-Japanese girl group as an attempt to gain more ground with the Korean audience. It's pretty good! Very high-energy and the video is fun with a cute twist at the end.
HeeJin - Algorithm
Another LOONA member gets their post-BBC debut. Very lovely video and song. Can't wait to hear the rest of her EP, < K >.
Honestly, this year is almost what I'd always hoped for LOONA. I always thought they should have had new sub-unit and solo solo throughout the year. The only thing missing is a OT12 release.
the MV for the single from Weeekly's new mini-album just dropped:
Weeekly - Vroom Vroom
I really like it, it's more...I hesitate to say mature; their last release, Ven Para, was that. I guess this is just a good song, and they're not trying to be cute anymore. I'm enjoying it, at any rate. Call it whatever you like.
Happy Throwback Thursday! Gonna keep it brief this week, as I think we're caught up on new releases. This one's from August 2013; at first it seems like kind of a generic synthy club mix, but I think there's enough melodic and rhythmic change-ups woven throughout to hold your interest. Please enjoy!
2NE1 - Do You Love Me?
Not quite caught up on new releases. Here's a new one from VIVIZ:
VIVIZ - MANIAC
Kep1er - Grand Prix
This is the single from their Japanese EP releasing on the 22nd. Not sure if I'm 100% on board with this one, tbh; the chorus is memorable but it's not catchy if that makes any sense. Maybe it is meant to be a pre-release? The text on the Youtube video makes it seem like it's the single, so the other song on the EP (aside from Japanese versions of a couple of their previous songs) would be a b-side then. I dunno, man. This stuff is hard to parse sometimes.
Uh so I'm not sure if anyone's been listening to Jungkook's debut full length solo album Golden but it is ridiculously good. I've been missing that impact BTS had but this is next level content; it's a full English album with a lot of western co-song writing with JK himself. His latest video release for Standing Next to You is a straight up homage to Michael Jackson and Bruno Mars. Incredible!
Uh so I'm not sure if anyone's been listening to Jungkook's debut full length solo album Golden ...
I think a lot of people are listening to it. Almost 40 million songs from the album streamed and a bit over 2 million copies of the album sold - on the first day. I went over to iTunes to check out the store and the Top Songs section is just ten tracks from his album and under Top Albums his is number one AND number three; not sure how that works but maybe there's two versions of the album. Here's the video of the title track for the curious:
Jungkook - Standing Next to You
Other new releases:
Kiss of Life - Bad News
It's kinda funky, but missing that real catchy melodic hook I crave from my pop music.
Soojin - Agassy
The solo debut from former G-IDLE member Soojin. Still digesting this one, but I think it might be pretty good.
Rothy - No Where, Now Here
I gotta do some catching up on Rothy, it looks like she's had like three singles released this year and I just didn't see them. There's probably at least one gem in there, I bet.
It's hard to parse success with KPOP (same thing with JPOP or CPOP) when the stans are buying tracks and multiple albums, streaming and coordinating to push their idol.
I guess I compare JK's album with solo work from his fellow artists and it feels to me Bighit pulled out all the stops to make Golden in comparison. He's incredibly talented (as all of BTS are) but yeah I don't recall anywhere near the same impact from RM, JHope or Jin's solo works. However, I think JK is their most popular member anyway since he's so damn handsome and talented.
It's possible they simply spent more time and money building and polishing the sound for JK because of his relative youth he has far more runway (more time before mandatory service) to ensure BTS remains relevant despite the hiatus caused by older members progressively entering service.
Happy Throwback Thursday y'all! We had a few new releases this week but I think we're all caught up (for now) so I'm gonna get right to it. I'm talkin' 'bout miss A today; I first did a throwback for them back in March and it's been too long, they have so many great songs. This one is from summer of 2011 but it doesn't really feel like a summer song, so I'm gonna put it here instead. Please enjoy!
miss A - Goodbye Baby
aespa - Drama
The 4th Mini Album is also out
Red Velvet is here to murder us with another killer song.
Red Velvet - Chill Kill
Wow. That's an amazing song; the chord changes and instrumentation are just awesome. If I had to ding it, I'd say the ending is not ideal. But man, it's nearly perfect. Congrats to Red Velvet!
Also, I saw Baek Ayeon in some challenge videos which means she must be promoting something and I found that she had a release that came out last week which is actually pretty good, if a bit short. I don't normally follow Ayeon to closely (she's a bit too ballad-y for me) but this one's worth checking out.
Baek A Yeon - Lime
Also, there's an English version!
Kiss of Life - Nobody Knows
More Kiss of Life, a b-side off of their most recent EP. Pretty good though!
I liked their latest title track but I must say I'm really enjoying this performance video to a b-side even more.
VIVIZ - Untie Performance Video
Also, I haven't watched it yet, but I'm about to sit down with my dinner and enjoy over 33 minutes of Red Velvet's new Killing Voice video...
First, the Red Velvet Killing Voice video was amazing... but I knew it would be before I started watching.
And here's a rare collab with a few idols from different companies.
SOYEON [(G)I-DLE] X WINTER [aespa] X LIZ [IVE] - NOBODY
Happy Throwback Thursday! Lots of new releases today; thanks Tscott for posting the G-IDLE/aespa/IVE collab video. We also have new 3YE and Rolling Quartz to check out!
3YE - Loco
This one's much more laid back than their previous songs, and I actually don't mind it, although for me 'Yessir' is still number one from them.
Rolling Quartz - Reminiscence
This one is also pretty chill, comparatively. But it's nice. Jayoung's vocals really shine.
Now, the throwback! Keepin' it brief; I featured this group a few pages back but today's song actually came out before that one. I probably should have done this one first, but whatever! The song is great and the video has a fun concept so check it out!
15& - Somebody
BIBI & Becky G - Amigos
new MV from Yoona (formerly Girls' Generation)!
Yoona - Knock
this one's just nice and soothing. Might be up your alley if you're feeling stressed.
We also got a performance video for a new song from tripleS:
tripleS - New Look
This is the first time with all of them performing together; it feels unwieldy tbh but the song is decent.
then I saw this in my Youtube feed; I guess technically it's not Kpop since (I think) everyone is from Malaysia, but it feels like they're following the Kpop playbook and the song was pretty good so check it out if you feel like it, I suppose.
Dolla - Classic
Jessica - Beep Beep
If you're a SONE from way-back-when then this comeback from Jessica (plus Yoona's last week) is really something to get excited about! Plus Taeyeon is coming back soon as well. My heart can hardly take it.
Dreamcatcher - OOTD
Very different style and sound for Dreamcatcher. I'm still trying to process this one.
I'm not sure what to make of RV's latest release. But yo, check out Wendy's solo version she cranked out on a show. She is just miles ahead of other vocalists in kpop.
Also, some sad but not unexpected news with the remaining 4 BTS members getting ready for mandatory service starting around December. In some ways I think it's better for them to just go in a big block then come back rather than slowly sending 1-2 members at a time.
The average conscripts I've worked with are treated like indentured servants by the career officers and senior NCOs. I'm sure that feels like a long two years.
I wonder how famous conscripts are treated in the ROK army. Maybe they'll perform in an army band.
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