music i like :)

Indigo - RM
Who, is, surprised. I’m not. I’ve been waiting FIVE YEARS for this, and it did not disappoint in the slightest. It was unfortunately released during my exams so I had no time to do a proper album review, but it was fortunately released during my exams so I had something to listen to on repeat and seek comfort in. I’m trying truly to be unbiased, but this album doesn’t have a single weak song. It shows the entire spectrum of RM’s sound and vision. Stacked feature lineup, top-tier production, a vibe for every mood, just Perfection. A genuine, and I rarely mean this, No Skip Album.
Long term favorites:
Still Life, All Day, Change pt.2, Lonely, Wild Flower

Renaissance - Beyonce
This literally inspired my entire thesis, that’s how powerful it is. Give me almost any song on this album and I will wax poetics about its complexity and power and DANCEABILITY. It’s a tribute and an homage and a MASTERPIECE and exactly the sort of energy and artistry I needed in these trying times.
Long term favorites:
Cozy, Church Girl, MOVE, Heated, All Up In Your Mind, Pure/Honey

Epik High Is Here Part 2 - Epik High
What can I say. An incredible follow up to Part 1, with a softer, lighter sound that felt like an amalgamation of all their previous works, though the general vibe definitely leaned most towards Shoebox. Did a review for it, loved it, still love it, and although I can say for certain now that I slightly prefer Part 1 (simply by proxy of being a Sad Man) this album is still, objectively, a masterpiece.
Long term favorites:
Here, Super Rare, BRB, I Hated Myself, Rich Kids Anthem, Face ID

Gasoline - Key
Again, WHO IS SURPRISED. His voice sounds INCREDIBLE here and really shows off his range across the tracks. He has something different for every song yet everything sounds so much like HIM and HIS style. I truly feel like Key, his image and his sound, just EMBODIES the kpop genre. Not many Top Kpop Albums lists I’ve seen mention it but JUSTICE FOR GASOLINE!!
Long term favorites:
Gasoline, Bound, Villain, Ain’t Gonna Dance

She’s The Boss - The Boyz
Had a bit of a Moment with this one, where I listened to it nonstop for a few months and that’s that. Still deserves a mention, despite the sub-par title track (mayhaps one of my least favourites from The Boyz ever??? Could it be??). Every single b-side is PHENOMENAL, so thoroughly The Boyz’ sound and aura, with softness and good production and lowkey catchyness.
Long term favorites:
Why why why, Don’t Cry, One Dance

Traumazine - Megan Thee Stallion
A standout title track and amazing supporting b-sides. This is my first full listen-through of Megan’s albums so of course I have little to compare to, but I’m still listening to it and still enjoying it immensely. I find her so incredibly talented and she always brings her passion and energy to every single song.
Long term favorites:
Not Nice, Her, Scary, Consistency, Plan B

Hello, World! - Xdinary Heroes
Although I prefer OVERLOAD’s title track, I prefer the b-sides on Hello World and find it be a VERY cohesive work for a first EP. I’m so so happy with the direction of their music, because although I understand they debuted to slowly replace the Day6 hole, their sound is SO different and SO distinct from their predecessors, and from other k-bands on the market right now.
Long term favorites:
Test Me, Strawberry Cake, Pirate

THE WORLD EP.1: MOVEMENT - ATEEZ
God bless this new artistic direction Ateez took, because I was starting to fall off the stan bus a bit after Fireworks. Guerilla was SUCH a strong and different comeback, even for them, but it suited them so well, and they pull off screamo/techno/metal elements VERY well.
Long term favorites:
Guerilla, WDIG (Where Do I Go), New World

Midnights (3am Edition) - Taylor Swift
wow. WOW. Following her magnum opus duo of folklore+evermore is a high bar, but this sound is so different from those and so true to her pop roots that there isn’t much comparison that can be made, which works out in everyone’s favour. As always, her storytelling reveals more with each listen, and the narrative throughout the album slowly unravels into something very cohesive despite all of these technically being stand-alone songs of her midnight experiences over the years. Only time will tell the exact ranking, but definitely joining the top tier of favourite TS albums.
Long term favorites:
Lavender Haze, Question…?, Karma, High Infidelity, Would’ve Could’ve Should’ve, Dear Reader

Lowlife Princess: Noir - BIBI
AT LONG LAST!! Insane production, dark and rich storyline, and addictive vocals as usual. It’s really everything I could have possibly wanted from Bibi and I think we’re all blessed to receive this long-awaited album. It’s just so DEEP and DARK and GRITTY and SMOOTH and UNHINGED. Everything I love about Bibi’s sound.
Long term favorites:
Blade, BIBI Vengeance, Witch Hunt, Lowlife Princess, JOTTO

YoungLuv.Com - StayC
I want to argue that this was TRULY StayC’s breakthrough, and it’s a little unfortunate that the second half of 2022 was CHALK-FULL of BACK-TO-BACK girl group releases that RULED the charts, and that sort of overshadowed this group’s growing success as a rookie group. Regardless, a very strong, cohesive and feel-good EP with an ADDICTIVE title track, and the most similar to their debut concept.
Long term favorites:
RUN2U, Young Luv, Butterfly

SKZ-REPLAY - Stray Kids
A STRAGGLER!!! Added last minute because how could I NOT. SKZ had so much unofficial work, unavailable on streaming, but now it IS!! It’s such a pleasure getting a taste for every member’s solo music taste and sound. Han’s solo songs could make up an entire debut EP and I think that’s wonderful. There’s so much diversity within the album (25 TRACKS!!) especially for a group that is not known for being vocally strong??? I’m just very impressed and relieved with this release.
Long term favorites:
FAM (Korean Ver.), Limbo, RUN, i hate to admit, I GOT IT, Maknae On Top, Piece of a Puzzle

Crash - CharliXCX
Listened to this on a whim (despite not loving Beg For You as a standalone), because I became re-obsessed with Vroom Vroom and very ferally slid into hyperpop this year. It was not what I expected but I found some incredible tracks, and Good Ones turned out to be way superior to my first impression of it. I do believe that Charli is a leading artist in electropop and even hyperpop right now (much of her sound was in fact shaped by that Vroom Vroom EP, which SOPHIE produced), so there was never REALLY any doubt about whether I’d like her work.
Long term favorites:
Good Ones, Baby, Yuck, Used to Know Me

Moodswings In To Order - DPR Ian
I did my first listen-through and thought “hm good, not as good as the first one” but now I’m eating my words. God Bless the DPR franchise because all of these songs grew on me like avalanches. DPR Ian is a STORYTELLER and a Depression Killer Tank decorated in messy eyeliner. No one can beat his sick beats and emo voice modulation.
Long term favorites:
1 Shot, Mood, Calico, Ballroom Extravaganza, Sometimes I’m

Sector 17: Repackage - Seventeen
I swore this wouldn’t happen but here we are?? I took a break from seriously stanning Seventeen for a few years but I’m back and more in love than ever. This has been an incredible year for them musically, and this album really has everything I love about their music, from the feel-good to the fun dance tracks to the soft and soulful yearning.
Long term favorites:
Fallin’ Flower (Korean Ver.), CHEERS, HOT, Don Quixote, ‘bout you, IF you leave me

Gasoline: I heard some people compare it to Industry Baby by Lil Nas X weeeee I LOVE INDUSTRY BABY 😇😇😇😇 can’t watch the MV now but ASDGBLIFTJIVNFFBIH THIS IS EVERYTHING I WANTEDDDDDDDDDD THIS IS IT SOTY SOTY SOTY!!!!! I LOVE YOU KIM KIBUM THIS IS SO HYPE!!!!!! ITS SO HYPE BUT STILL SO HIM!!!! HIS TALK SINGING IS EVERYTHING TO MEEEEE GOD THAT CHORUS IS SO EPIC MY KING MY LIEGE HES MY EVERYTHING SORRY FOR ALL CAPS I LOOOOOOOVE THE SWITCH UP RIGHT BEFORE THE SECOND CHORUS GOD FUCK ME UPPPPPPOOOPOOPOKHUVJHG REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE YOUR MY GASOLIIIIIIIINE!!! 10/10

Bound - the most TAEMIM sounding song I’ve ever heard from Key I didn’t think this day would come. The vocal tone and technique, the mysterious sexy concept? (also anything bdsm related that’s king Taemin’s territory no matter what anyone says sorry.) THE BASS!!! THE BOOST MY FUCKING GOD KILL ME KILL ME DEAD UNBELIEVABLE AND IT JUST GETS BETTER AND MORE COMPLEX LIKE???? Nothing static just GOODNESS. 10/10

Villain: STOP. STOP EVERYTHING. JENO AND KEY SOUND SO GOOD TOGETHER. KEY IN THE BRIDGE I LOVE HIS VOICE I LOVE HIM I ADORRE HIM. YOU CAN CALL ME VILLAIN!!!?????? The lil bloops after the first chorus???? JENO god he has been on FIRE this last year he sounds great he’s really developed his own sound?? And blends well as a featuring artist. The rASP they both employ??? THE BRIDGE FUCK IT UP KEYTYYYTYTTT THE WAY IT LEADS INTO THE LAST CHORUS THE HIGH NOTE FUVK ME FUVK ME 9/10

Burn: gorgeous voice. Breathtaking splendid perfect beautiful. The CHORUS ughhHyjgyhofjuvhgc. FUCKIKKKKKKJIIIKKKIUGFTFTHIF. ITS MELLOW TECHNO. I LOVE MELLOW TECHNO. GOD what can I say just. Pretty pretty voice hibuctxycivycyvob DRAMATIC HGGYGYHHUYHHU LOVE LOVE. THE BRIDGE STOP KILL ME THE PAUSES THE BEAT EVERYTHINGGGGGGG. 9/10

Guilty pleasure : horny song? Horny song yes sir. Ughhhh the build up is so good, this is more chill than I’d expected but GOD that CHORUS I FEEL IT the longinggggggggg “I JUST NEED IT” TELL ME ABOUT IT KEY YES!!!!! Mmmmm the bridge ALL THE BRIDGES ARE PHENOMENAL!!! The BRIDGES LEAD INTO THE STRINGY EDM OR WHATEVER UGHHHHHHG. 9/10

GOAT: sparkly? :)) this is sweet and mellow aw. This isn’t even boastful, it’s just inspiring and a Pat On The Back. Bloompity bloomp ☺️☺️ this might be the first one so far that has to grow on me more, but it’s a welcome break in the tempo. 7/10

I can’t sleep: the light tapping really does it for meeee. “IM ALREADY AWAKE” I don’t wanna call this city pop cause I don’t know my genres but it has that same nostalgia and feel so. God his VOICE it’s so STRONG it’s SO VERSATILE it’s so DISTINCTIVE!!! 8.5/10

Ain’t gonna dance: this is HAUNTING. So pretty and UGH HITSOJIFYCUV ON OGIG THE CHORUS HITTING SO GOOD O ITVJTCB FGJFXHVJV I HATE HIM I HATE THIS MAN 👹👹👹✨✨✨✨✨ it’s. SO. It’s so up my alley. The haunting into the EMOTIONAL????? God goD GPODDJGHIVIV. CJIVUCTZTXIBOBIVUVC “FOR! YOUR! LOOOOVE!!!” 20000/10

Another Life: FUCKING FINALLY YES GIVE IT TO ME AVAILABLE ON SPOTIFY!!!!! THIS IS INSANE god this is insane it’s so boosty so bassy. This IS thunder personified it’s ELECTRIC dear godddssss. “BLAZING!! TO THE OUTER SPACE!!!! LIFT OFFFFF!!!” Literally kill me dead “I will CHASE FOR LIFE. Until where you!! AAAARE!!” I’ve waited SO LOMGGGGYGYGGFHVNIFD 😭😭😭😭 10/10

Delight: this went from a slow ballad song to a BOUNCY LOVING BOOP STOP I LOVE HIMMMM THIS is!!!! The lil guitar joining in on the second verse!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m so smitten right along with him dear god KEY!!! KEYYYYY!!!! KEEEEEWY IM SHIMMYING DESPUTE BEING IN A DEPRESSIVE SLUMP I ADORE YOU 9/10

Proud: already heard it BUT GOD it’s SO GOOD “I know I’m problem” YOU’RE MY PROBLEM DEAR ❤️❤️❤️ this is an ANTHEM!!!! It’s SUCH A GOOD SONG TO END ON like it’s uplifting but also calming but also hype????? He’s!!! He’s so!!!!!!!!!!!! “Man I’m so prouddddd” !!!!!!!!!!!! “people come and gooooo” so true king. IM SO PROUD OF YOU TOO GOD THIS FUCKING ALBUM I LOVE IT HERE. 100/10

Overall: everything i wanted. Everything i hoped for. Dare I say, this is his best body of work yet. It takes everything he’s become over the years and wraps it a package that is so HIM and so loyal to HIS artistic vision. Just. The creativity oozes form this work so gloriously. It’s inspired.

Tomboy: IDLE POP-PUNK-ROCK ERA LETS GOOOOOOO!! Minnie kills that opening verse, and then “Why are you cranKy boooooooooy~?” HOT HOT HOT. The CHORUS is FUCKING FANATSTIC i’m LOSING IT like like???? That bridge is ICONIC, the MV is sO Hysterical and camp during that part like FUCK YEAH?????? I don’t really have proper words right now. The whistling undertone is super, combined with the really rough guitar for the chorus. The STYLING in the MV is GORGEOUS. Their definition for tomboy is very different from the one I grew up with but you know what? Language evolves, i’m fine with it. They could get away with anything. God bless. “Neither man nor woman” THATS!!! RIGHT!!!! 10/10

Never Stop me: the quick paced instrumental with the sort of slowness of the lyrics? Like deliberately drawling over the BPM. Love that. “you BROKE my HEART” the pre-chorus is really good. I wish the instrumental was a BIT stronger in the chorus, cause their voices come through strong ! The dirty guitar or whatever?? Good shit. The bridge is nice reprieve, and I’m disappointed to find out it’s not a bridge but and ending D: that was GENUINELY too short. This song had more potential than was developed I feel like. 6.5/10

Villain Dies: Queue me MOANING in PAIN and maybe a little “woo”. The VERSE ugggghhhhhh. “Why don’t you loove mee?” i’d love you :(( GUHSCDJBKLjsnclfkandkvancklnfljdlk THE CHORUS BEAT DROP??? OR WHATEVER YOU CALL THAT, VIBE SWICTH??? THE CHORUS VIBE SWITCH FUCK ME FUCK MEEEEE. SOYEON’S SECOND VERSE YES BITCH THIS IS EVERYTHIGN I WANTEDDDDDDDD. This is Evil and Sexy and Good God Girls you’re doing greatsdsfnkdmnf. The little pretty fairy part at th end :D done WAY better than in the previous song. 8.5/10

Already: I like the opening tune. Gorgeous gorgeous girls, sing soft and pretty about criminal acts. This is the softest song so far which isn’t saying much, with that second verse again with Soyeon hahaha. But woooow the softness of Yuqui and Minnie’s voices…. And of course Miyeon is a given but I feel like the timbre they’re singing in really suits Y and Min. ooohhhh the gritty beat?? After the second chorus?? Is this the bridge???? Ooooooooooh it’s spectacular!!! thANK you for ACTUALLY being a bridge this time and not an ending. 8.5/10

Polaroid: “in my pocketttt~” :)) sing for me ladieeees. THE slow song I assume. “Let’s make a funny face” stoooooop this is so cute and sweet and kinda nostalgic and WARm… “we’ve been too busyyyy” THESE LYRICS ARE OUT TO GET ME FR. There’s not too much going on with the instrumental which allows us to focus on the voices and lyrics more, I appreciate that, it’s a nice break in the fast tempo of the rest of the album. 7.5/10

Escape: This reminds me a bit of the vibe from their I Burn EP, Kinda like Dahlia and Moon, with the electric guitar esp and the like airplanes in the sky vibe?? If that makes sense. Soyeon’s verse really solidifies this, I’m super reminded of Eight by IU and Suga hahahaha. It has the same sort of hope and longing and I just might cry if i hear this on a particular sort of day :D 7.5/10

Liar: oooohh yessssss. God i LOVE Minnie’s voice for realllll. This muttering opening is SEXY sorry i’m sorry. ThAT CHOrUSSSSS “YOU cna cAll me fiLTHY LIAR” QUEEEEEEEN. This might be my FAVORITE Soyeon second verse so far (there’s a lot of them adadndnskngkn). Is that Shuhua?? :D This song is a QUEEN wow. “This is my world and you’re all just living in it and you’re going to burn with it when I decree thus” vibes. 8/10

My Bag: ajncdjlabflksdnglkngskngdjmdsam YYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH CRAZY SEXY HOT I LOVED THE TEASER FOR THIS AND WOWOWOWOWOWW THE BEAT THE STRUCTURE THE FAST PACE FUCK ME UPPPPPPP “”””RED FIVE DIAMONDS IN MY BAG””” it slows down in the second verseeeeeee “imma cool lady” yES MA’AM. This is SUCH a banger wow, wowowwowow. 10/10

Overall: man as pissy as i was about the fact that this is a First Full Album with only 8 songs, I do appreciate that MOST of the tracks feel finished and cohesive and not rushed for the sake of creating mOre. Biggest issue was with Never Stop Me ending the way it does, but other than that every song really hits quite hard and has it’s own sound while still making sense in this particular lineup. A G-idle special talent methinks.

Disclaimer: highly biased review ahead.

Here: the pianoooooo. The piano. The lyricssss TABLO please you’re a GENIUS i LOLVE you i HEAR YOU and you SEE ME. i love Epik High’s intros and outros, no other artist does them so fucking well. its perfect, perfect intro, perfect words TABLO’S WORDS !!!! 10/10

Prequel: shoebox?? SHOEBOX VIBES!! We all guessed it from the cover art but ughhhhh this is so reminiscent of 2014 and earlier Epik High. AAAAAAAAAA the post-chorus??? “UNSEEN OR HEARD, A KING WITH WORDS!! TABLO!!!!” that’s what it’s GIVING ME. “when you’re lost, remember epik High is here” !!!!!!!!!!!! 8/10

Super Rare: REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE when they pre-released this i went insane for a few hours, and that is the absolute truth. The BEAT!! The BLO BEAT!! “I’m giving emotions, FUCK YALL STREAMS” YES TABLO THATS RIGHT@!!!! wONSTEIN’S chorus is perfection, his voice is so smooth and groovy. ph-1’s verse is so fuuuuuun!!! “THE SOUL I BE MAPPING” YESSSSSSSSSSSSS “All these hashtags, not one says #rare”!!!! I’ve yelled about it everywhere already but i truly feel like this song was made for me, they made this and write the lyrics with me in mind. I wish I’d had this when I was in high school. It’s so bouncy and COMFORTING and perfect perfeeeeeeeect. 10/10

Gray So Gray: Younha’s VOICE truly perFECTION. And the instrumental post chorus!! Lovely. I have to watch the lyric video after this. GOD THAT CHORUS i can’t get over it, is that electric guitar????? Idk but it’s making me FEEL. And then Younha gets her own separate verse outside the chorus YES YES YES YES YRES YES YESNKDNFKSM;GLN. It’s rhythmic, it’s soothing, its !!!! The last minute is the best part of the song, it almost reminds me of Rain Again Tomorrow and the whole vibe of the Sleepless In _______ EP. 8/10

BRB: slow. Pretty. OH ITS DEEP AND PRETTY NOW. the bEAT the bEATS. Always so good. This could honestly have been just an instrumental intermission and I wouldve been happy. This is so calming, so jazz lounge relaxation, alone but not lonely, sipping on a warm drink with low lights and just,,, not worrying at all. 9/10

I Hated Myself (Tablo’s Word): finally im around for one of these nnlkdnklsdnlk. The quiet deep voice singing in the background post-chorus is such a beautiful, haunting touch. “Will anybody cry when i’m not here” ouch. “I was broken on the day that he made me. He taught me how to love, how to love everyone but me, sadly” TABLO FUCK OW. He said this album has the most vulnerability from him since Fever…… aaaaaa. “Tell me who can love me when i hate me” sbdajkbcfjlbdjndhjddjcdcjdjdj. UUUUUgh the violinnnn in the last minute! 9.5/10

Rain Song: BUDDY long time no see :D this is such a vibe, i love Colde and this is such a sweet song (sad i know, but no korean understanding for me nyehehe). Like its nostalgic and regretful but not SAD for me. I’ve already listened to this to hell and back but i must reiterate Younha’s little voice feature near the end just COMPLETES the song. And the MULTIPLE VOICES at the END mWAH! 8.5/10

Rich Kids Anthem: i love you LeeHi, love this start. This beat is VERY nice and flowy. I agree yall FUCK CAPITALISM AND HIGH STANDARD OF LIVING god i love you so much im so glad we agree. “WE GOT DREAMS WE GOT MUSIC! WE DONT NEED ALL THE BULLSHIT” yueeeeeeSSSSS. The warm lil strings in the last bittttt. 9.5/10

Face ID: IVE LISTENED TO THIS TO HELL AND BACK FOR REAL, AND ITS STILL SO HYPE. JUSTTHIS’S VERSE IS STILL MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE GOD. 10/10

Piano For Sale: aaaaah a true interlude? Yesss. Mmmmmmmmm immaculate. Pretty quiet pretty pretty pretty. The way it slows down at the end…. mmmmMMMMMM. AND THE WIND UP TOY that LEADS INTO THE NEXT SONGH JBAJSNVLKSNFLKSvn 10/10

Family Portrait: the wind up toyyyyy. Tablo did say this was about losing a family member…. It’s very soft and like,, ghostly?? Pheeeeww Kim Feel’s chorus….. gorgeous …. I reallllly like the way Mithra’s verse starts and goes, with the accompanying beat. The bridge……….. And ugh. The ending. This is so beautiful. The wind up toy really makes the whole mood so well. 8/10

Champagne: :D :D :D :D :D :D :D turn that frown upside downnnnnnn!!!!! I love that intro a lot, lots of feel good vibes. The chorussssss yes victory lap lets goooooo. It’s a very calm sort of celebration ? Like “we’ve done it boys” but in a very “I always knew we would make it this far” way. Love Mithra and Tablo bouncy off each other in the second verse. “I made some mistakes but you know i never lie” wowwwowowowowowo. Such a perfect song to end with. 9/10

Overall: The transition from mood to mood was very well done, because while I wouldn’t say this album is cohesive, i would say it’s WHOLE. The pride from Shoebox, the haunting from We’ve Done Something Beautiful Here, the comfort from Sleepless In______, this really feels like such a smooth and perfect combination of all these past works and their distinctive vibes. It really feels like coming back out into the light after EHIH1.

Is this bad b****** number? By Jeon Soyeon (ft. Lee Young Ji, BIBI)
I’m still SO puzzled over why there’s six asterisks when there should only be four haha. WHAT A VIBE. One of the absolute best collab lineups of the YEAR, literally one I would’ve only dreamt of until it became REAL!!! BIBI’S PART IS SO FUCKING GOOD I LOVE HER I LOVE BEING A FAN AND RECOGNIZING ALL THE CALLBACKS!!!! WHAT DO YOU MEAN BAD I’M SAD AND I’M MAD!!! YOU THINK I PLAY WIHT BALLS I DO EVERYTHING WITH TONGUE!!!! (I COULD KEEP GOING FOREVER I LOVE HERRRRRR.) Lee Young Ji is such an icon and I’m so happy she’s on the track, her part is fantastic, and her voice is distinctive as hell. Soyeon’s fast part!!! Soyeon’s WHOLE PART is amazing, not even mentioning the chorus which is ADDICTIVE!!! Such a banger, I love it so much, SO MUCH!!!!

Options by Doja Cat (ft. JID)
Standout for me personally from her whole album, didn’t care much for the rest of it (Ain’t Shit and You Right grew on me in the end). It’s so SEXY!!! It’s sooo oontz-oontz and bump and grind and WOO. Love JID’s part, the song wouldn’t be the same without it, but he and Doja are both on the level with this one.

House Party by SUPER JUNIOR
HOOOOO boy I Really fell down the rabbit hole this year with Suju. Thank God for this song for introducing me to an exemplary and solid discography. House Party is fun, it’s camp (as are many of Suju’s songs), it never gets boring. It’s also a whole mood, very fitting for the times we’re living in. Love.

Wish You Were by Epik High
As someone with a depressed father whom I love very much, this hits VERY close to home. Something about the whole first half of this song, the pure instrumental, the beat, the whistling “woooo” in small caps, a light breeze, a ghost of a whisper. It’s purely ambient and emotional and comforting. I’ve listened to this on some days on loop for almost an hour at a time, and then some.

In The Morning by ITZY
god where do i even start. An inCREDIble music video, the choreo adds so much to the song. But even alone, In The Morning is such a banger. It’s my favoirte title track from them since Wannabe, no question. It’s just so HYPE and sassy and like. I like it for a lot of the same reasons I like NCT’s Cherry Bomb, that’s really the best parallel I can draw. It sticks so well in the head and great on loop. Always an energy booster.

Rumors by Lizzo ft. Cardi B
MY SUN MY MOON MY STARS I LOVE YOU LIZZO i was so happy to find out she’s back, and with such. a. banger!!! It’s perfect, it’s fun, it’s sexy, it’s bold beauitful stunning so wonderful!!!! I can’t get enough of it!!!!!!!!!

HANRYANG by Min Kyunghoon, Kim Heechul, BIBI
This is not technically 2021. It’s December 2020. But I discovered it in Januray and it deserves to be put on every fucking list in existence. I will copy paste bits from the reddit post I made to celebrate how much this song fucked me in the head. My values have remained the same. “The AESTHETIC. It’s CAMP. THIS IS CAMP. this ironic and blasé combo of traditional style and then sweatshirts and sneakers, not to mention fast paced hip hop tone of the song? Like it’s not low effort by any means but it’s not taking itself too seriously and it’s SUPERB because it all manages to look so GLAMOROUS anyways. [...] BIBIIIIIIII?????? IM SORRY??? SHES SEXY SHES GORGEOUS SHES CLASSY AND SMOOTH AND IM GAY IM GAY IM SORRY LOOK AT HER 😩🌈🔥😵☀️💜💕🧡🌹❤️✨✨✨✨✨ [...] PLEASE JOIN MY EXCITEMENT THIS IS A MASTERPIECE IM SO FUCKING HAPPY I FOUND ITTTTTTTTTTYTYYT”

Hot Sauce by NCT DREAM
What. A fucking. Bop. It’s so energetic, it’s so distinctive, it’s so DREAM. It never loses momentum and it has so many catchy bits (“HOT SAUCE KEEPE-DEEP-DEEEEE” or whatever they’re saying). What an absolute pleasure.

No Blueberries by DPR IAN ft DPR LIVE, CL
What happened to me?? I thought this was a cute song, nice beat, no big deal, and then I see it’s one of my top played songs for the year????? It’s honestly super sweet, super smooth, and a lovely serotonin boost. CL’s voice really blends well with the DPR crew.

Nothing New by Taylor Swift ft. Phoebe Bridgers
This is my new “Never Grow Up” (from her Speak Now album). It’s so vulnerable, and raw, and sad yet accepting. It creates this comfortable melancholic bubble around you.

My Lips Like Warm Coffee by Colde and ChungHa
Wow i guess Nora likes slow songs now huh. This is so soft, so pretty, so romantic and happy and just GOOD VIBES ALL AROUND. Both of thier voices blend so nicely, they sound so pretty, I love them and I love this.

Muse by SUPER JUNIOR D&E
This is a great album, but no doubt this song is my favorite. It’s intimate but still catchy, mid-tempo, syrupy without being slow. I just love it a lot.

Party, Feel, Love by HyunA ft DAWN
BEDROOM BANGER. THOT BOP. SEXY NAUGHTY BITCHY. This takes up an honorary space for having similar vibes to She Said by Crush and Bibi, which couldn’t make it on this list because it’s from 2020. But this is very much a vibe, and i love HyunA’s voice and the different ways she uses it here, DAWN too of course.

Have Mercy by Chloe
Thank you Twitter for leading me here. A bouncy song with a buttery overtone, and “LORDDD HAVE MERCY!!!!” in the third pre-chorus is the pinnacle of the song. That’s her peak. Honestly such a lovely voice, I was never a Chloe x Halle listener so this was a pleasant new discovery.

Come Back Home by Seo Taiji and Boys
I’m cheating. This is from 1995. But I’ve listened it into the ground and I am not stopping anytime soon, because it really is a masterpiece. The OPENING STRINGS???? The swooshing radio static or what-the-fuck-ever?? perFECTion

Don’t Call Me by SHINee
Everytime I thought of this song, I had the feeling that I would tire of it quickly. And then it would come on, and I would love it, and I would never skip it. And it’s STILL good. All of the ad-libs and the piano bridge and the catchyness and UGH. What a great first comeback as a new SHINee fan.

THAT’S WHAT I WANT by Lil Nas X
congrats to lil nas x for his debut album and the amazing lineup of featured artists. This is my favorite solo song off the album, great amount of yearning combined with casual peppyniss and just a fun sound.

Happy Death Day by Xdinary Heroes
What the fuck is this??? I don’t know, I don’t know why it came on, but I started banging my head and I love it a lot now. It’s more rock and kinda emo and just the kind of angst instrumental I need. Fuck birthdays.

Slumber Party by Ashnikko ft. Princess Nokia
💦💦💦💦💦💦💦👀👀👀🧚🏻🧚🏽‍♀️🧚🏻🧚🏽‍♀️🍾🌹❤️✨💃🏼

Face ID by Epik High ft. GIRIBOY, Sik-K, JUSTHIS
“I GOT 2 FACE IDs CAUSE I GOT 2 PHONES! ONE FOR THE FAMILY AND THE OTHER ONE IS [ON DO NOT DISTURB]!!!!!!!!” I admit JUSTHIS elevates the song to GODLIKE, but everyone does fantastic and i love Tukutz dancing in the music video.

What Do I Call You by Taeyeon
I couldn’t get enough of this for the first three months after its release, and every time I’ve thought I was over it, it would come on randomly and I would vibe to it all over again. It’s got such a longevity and I’m still not tired of it, Taeyeon’s VOICE and the rhythm of the song, structurally it’s so pleasing and soft and tender but also catchy. Certified fairy bop.

Moodswings In This Order - DPR IAN
I discovered the DPR crew this year, and primarily with the release of this album. The lyrics are familiar, the structures of the songs are distinct, really I have nothing to complain about. It’s obviously a darker, emo album, but that mood comes around repeatedly, so I’ve come back to this album often. Something about Ian’s voice and the way he plays with it and distorts it is very pleasing to me.
Long term favorites:
No Blueberries, Scaredy Cat, No Silhouette

Life Is A Bi - BIBI
Yes there are only 5 songs. No I don’t care. Every single one hits. I love Bibi. I love her and I love her voice and I love her mind and I love her artistry. She’s done so many collabs this year and that has been such a pleasure to watch and listen to, but I’m not upset that this is her sole solo body of work from this year. It’s relatable, it’s catchy, it’s so HER and it’s so impressive that she’s managed to solidify such a clear image for herself despite having such a young career. I’m always hungering for more from her.
Long term favorites:
Um… Life, PIRI the dog, Life is a Bi

WE ARE - Jon Baptiste
I have my dad to thank for this one. He’s been a fan of Jon Baptiste for literal years, he was ecstatic about this release, was playing it nonstop. So like a good kid who wanted to relate to her father, I also started to listen to it, and it really is superb. Never something I would seek out on my own, but so many of the songs just have this enticing energy to them, combined with a nostalgia that I catch without relating to. It’s a genius body of work, with unique instrumentals and a powerful, soulful voice, and the album has something for every mood.
Long term favorites:
I NEED YOU, ADULTHOOD, FREEDOM

The Chaos Chapter: FIGHT OR ESCAPE - TXT
This is the closest I’ve ever come to stanning TXT. Lover=Loser is a great repackage runner up, but nothing comes close to Queen 1x0=LOVESONG. No one can touch her. I know this is their Emo Phase and they’re known for their versatility and they will soon go back to their bubbly and happy concepts, but god I loved this while it lasted. If they made this sort of music consistently I would be gone. An incredible stand-out and distinctive album from k-pop this year.
Long term favorites:
1x0=LOVESONG, LO$ER=LOVER, Magic, No Rules

Epik High Is Here Pt.1 - Epik High
God the things I could say about this album. About this group. What a fantastic discovery, one of my favorites since I’ve gotten into k-pop. Though obviously Epik High isn’t k-pop anymore, more hiphop and alternative. I tore through their entire discography this year, and they have just enough to keep me sated as I wait for a Part 2 to this saga. Every song on this album has grown on me, I can feel the emotion and the message despite the language barrier, even when Tablo isn’t rapping in English. DJ Tukutz is so talented, consistently producing amazing beats and instrumentals. I wish I could have discovered them sooner, been with them through their careers longer. I love their music so much I almost can’t believe it. The pleasure and therapy I get from listening to them is so intense. Waiting hopefully for Epik High Is Here Pt.2.
Long term favorites:
Lesson Zero, Leica, True Crime, End of The World, Wish You Were

SOUR - Olivia Rodrigo
With how lackluster drivers license and deja vu were (entirely subjective), my expectations for any songs from Olivia were on the FLOOR. But as it turns out, she has quite the range, and I fell in love with a lot of her songs for the same reasons I adore Taylor Swift’s music. There’s a vulnerability and charm to the lyricism that is relatable in a lot of contexts and subject matters (or whatever that means). Good stuff.
Long term favorites:
Jealousy, jealousy, 1 step forward, 3 steps back, enough for you

I burn - (G)-IDLE
So much cohesion. Such great instrumentals and good hooks and go read my album review. I’m still listening to the intro song in any situation on loop.
Long term favorites:
Hann (Alone in Winter), HWAA, MOON

4 ONLY - Lee Hi
I’m surprised too. As it happens, this album is perfect to wake up to, to do homework to, and to sit and stare at the wall to. LeeHi’s voice is just,,,,, perfect. The songs I thought were ok have REALLY grown on me, and I’ve been listening to this album very often after creating my morning coffee playlist (and throwing the whole album in there). It brings so much peace and light.
Long term favorites:
Savior, Intentions, Watterride, Bye, Safety Zone, What Is Love?, Darling.

If I can’t have love, I want power - Halsey
Woooooooooooooooo. Rediscovered Halsey’s Manic album this year and wish I could put that on this list too. This led me to razing through her newest release with a fervor that was very much justified. I remember being a teen on Tumblr and, like everyone else who shipped slightly toxic and dark characters from fictional works, referring to Halsey’s BADLANDS for every ship and character playlist I ever made, because it was so rich and so twisted and so otherwordly. It was such a pleasure revisiting that feeling while listening to IICHLIWP, another concept album which I kind of miss these days, because it was the sort of music I always loved most growing up because of how much it fueled my creativity. Halsey puts so much intensity and vulnerability in everything she does, and her lyricism is just spectacular. This album is grim in the topics it explores and I adore it so much.
Long term favorites:
Tradition, Lilith, 1211, Whispers, I am not a woman, I’m a god, The Lighthouse.

BAD LOVE - Key
Full disclosure: I wasn’t planning on this. Yes I was rabidly waiting for the release of this EP, and yes I knew I would like it. But this year has been a particular rollercoaster for me and my relationship with k-pop. And it’s with the release of this EP and listening to it nonstop these last few months that I realized, with exuberant joy, that you CAN still be an artist within this genre, you CAN create something different and sincere and personal, if you fight with every fucking bone in your body for it. I preferred the b-sides of this EP when it released, including the pre-release “Hate That…”, but fuck the title track has proven its worth and skyrocketed to being my favorite song. I can’t say I’ve heard anything like it recently in k-pop, and yes it helps that because Key is 2nd gen he has a particular “sound” that is inherently retro and part of his image and output. And it’s perfect. It’s powerful, it’s well-rounded, it’s beautiful, and this whole EP is just a blessing.
Long term favorites:
Bad Love, Hate That…, Helium, Saturday Night.

New Axis: very hip hop, individual verses over a consistent beat. I wish I knew what they were saying and if it’s any good. Reminds me of many collaborations I’ve loved between rappers (à la Roger That or Only) but it loses some charm because I can’t appreciate the word play. Still pleasant to listen and vibe to. 6.5/10

Universe (Let’s play Ball): I’ve had time to warm up to this as it was a pre-release. It’s hard hitting and quirky and though I’m surprised by the musicality of the chorus I’m not displeased, it creates a nice balance. I like the static-y boinks. The intro and Outro are VERY catchy. Also love the joke being Ball Is Life. 7.5/10

Earthquake: I was expecting more of the chorus, with the way it started and built up during the verse. I like the verses best. But overall a bit lackluster. Their voices are too soft in the chorus??? But I adore the Bridge, classic Taeil high note. Not enough to save the song unfortunately. 4/10

OK!: “my baby say she wants to dance with a ghost, she wants to leave me yah” I C O N I C. The beat is FANTASTIC, it’s smooth and trippy at once. It’s seriously so good, everyone’s tone fits the mood and doesn’t stray too much, while still adding occasional individual flavor. 9/10

Birthday Party: okaaaaaay!! Something about the way this is built really appeals to me, even with apparent discordance between verses and chorus. It’s also a really great transition from OK!, so bonus points on that. It’s nice and funky and I like it. 8/10

Know Now: bloopdiBLOOP!! honorary bouncy track, of course I like. It’s the most cheerful one so far. It’s pretty constant, so my excitement lessened as it went on. 7/10

Dreaming: twinkle twinkle. Let’s dance but like, softly, like our separation is inevitable and looming. This is intriguing and memorable, and might be my Faded In My Last Song of this album. Only time will tell. 8.5/10

Round&Round: this one also sort of plays off the last song, it has a more frenzied tone but retains the overall smoothness. I really like the rhythm of this one as well. LOVE the high note in the bridge once again, and this one ties in much smoother. Love. 9/10

Miracle: honorary thot bop from WayV, I’m not mad. I like the guitar strings, and slight whistling and twinkling. Flamenco style??? It’s a stylish song. 7.5/10

Vroom: it’s,,,, TOO tame. Nothing really stands out about it, it’s the blandest song I’ve heard from this album (maybe from NCT ever????). I think they were going for a tropical vibe?? But it’s lacking the personality needed. 2/10

Sweet Dream: ok this accomplishes the last song’s intention way better. It has a little more flavor, more sweetness. Enjoyable, but again not really a stand out. 4.5/10

Good Night: Ballad. Very OST. need to be in the mood for it. It’s very pretty. 6/10

Beautiful: oh hello Johnny. It’s a family song! A little cheesy, since they’re all singing together most of the time. Like a hallmark video. Still, sweet and pleasant. I can’t find anything wrong with it. It’s like the last song in a musical. I think I’ve made my point. 6.5/10

Overall: the middle section was the strongest, and these are the songs I’ll be returning to. There are some standouts but I won’t be listening to the whole album anytime. Some great songs came out of it though!

Savior - I really love the lyrics for this one, and the video with its symbolism is just gorgeous. It’s chill and soothing and gentle, with a very simple instrumental and composition. There are hints of piano and guitar(?) riffs here and there which are very nice. As always it takes me a moment to get used to B.I’s way of delivering his part, structurally it’s always a bit off-beat, but it’s a stand-out part of the song and I ultimately like it. 7/10

Intentions - Oh I like this one from the get-go. The strings are really catchy. There’s no beat drop or anything and I honestly like it that way: it’s the sort of song I can imagine around a campfire or onstage at a small bar as a solo live act. It’s smooth and kinda funky and quiet but not shy. 8.5/10

Waterride - :O Even FUNKier!! Kinda plays off the previous song, gaining a livelier sound. The chorus is great, and I LOVE how it ushers into the next verse. It’s SO funky like I don’t have another word for it right now. 8.5/10

Bye - haheeeeyy~ Good beat, picking up tempo and pace as we inch further into the album. Someone on a reddit thread claimed this was a perfect album to listen to chronologically, narratively, and god were they right. A little bit of fast-talking from miss LeeHi, nice nice. 8/10

Red Lipstick - Such a fun title track, jumping on the retro trend, love. The video was so cute and LeeHi looks GORGEOUS of course, and the whole AOMG joining as BG characters :-) the second VERSE is SPECTACULAR I love some rougher delivery from this song (I believe it’s Yoon Mirae?? But I was confused cause LeeHi was mouthing the lyrics in the MV haha). 8.5/10

H.S.K.T. - This one is so Distinctive from the rest. It feels like it SHOULD pick up and SHOULD go faster but it DOESn’T. Creates this great lead into Wonstein’s part, where the tempo is still slow and he plays off of it well. LOVE his part a lot and the combo of their voices in the following chorus. 9/10

Safety Zone - Oh to have Code Kunst on not one but TWO tracks of your album. I do love her voice here, how it’s highlighted and given room to breathe by the production. I did start to doze off towards the end unfortunately. 7/10

What Is Love? - I like how the beat kicks in. The chorus is nice and soothing, and although it’s not similar to the previous track it is having a bit of a similar effect on my attention span. Not much else to say unfortunately. 6.5/10

Darling - Ok this starts more interesting! I really like the range of her voice here, how the tempo switches up sometimes. It’s more active despite still being a slower song on the album and I like that. There’s something dramatic about it too which makes it stand out. 7/10

ONLY - This feels like a very traditional and trademark LeeHi song, so a good one to end with. She’s almost singing a lullaby, her voice really is like a soft pink cotton candy cloud. This is fairytale music. I wish I could say it was for me, but I think only for a certain mood. 7.5/10

Overall: A lovely album for a rainy day or a calm morning, or even a numb melancholy. There’s a MOOD for this album, it’s not just for any occasion, which is a good and bad thing depending on your lens.

Cheese: a perfect intro song!!! A campy and bold statement piece that reflects Stray Kids’ style to the T. LOVE that second verse, Felix and Han Virgo tag team. The call back to GODS MENU with du du du du. If I remember correctly from the teasers, in the bridge they go “why you laughing?” and I LIVE for that. 7/10

Thunderous (+MV): HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT CHANGBIN OPENING AGAAAAIIIIMNNNNN THIS IS SO SPECTACULAR Changbin you’re so sexy!!!!!! They all look so good!!! THEY ALL SOUND SO GOOD??? I couldn’t believe that was Lee Know!! I loved the trio of Lee Know and Hyunjin and Seungmim somewhere in the second verse, Lee Know was PERFECT there. It’s so catchy it’s so THEM. It’s so obviously stray kids but it’s not repetitive!!!!!! It’s SO GOOD. I need to listen to MORE. IDBLNOGYSTALNIFYCJVLBKVCFGH I MAY BE TIPSY BUT MY EXCITEMENT IS REAL
Ok relistening without MV. SUCH a banger. The ad libs are just superb, it has so much ATTITUDE. I love the beat, I love the horns in the lead up and in the chorus. I truly adore the bridge, fucking GET IT BOYS. 9.5/10

Domino: SHE IS THAT BITCH !!!!!!!! SHE IS THE MOMENT!!!!!!!???? ITDVLGLNLGYSRAUVLBIFUVNOGKVKVUVKBKCIFIVIVIVIVKV I CANT DESCRIBE WHAT A BALLER SONG THIS IS IN HUMAN LANGUAGE. THE CHORUS??? THE VERSES????? THE GRITTY FUCKING BEAT BIIIIIIITCH SHAHAGSGAJAHLYJLHKLK. DOMINO DOMINO DOMINO GLGUCPNPGIGLBLNIGKHO I HAVE NO WORDS. I HAVE NOTHING SMART TO SAY. THIS FUCKS SO HARD. 100000/10

SSICK: ok ok. Starting with stadium applause nice nice. More chill than preceeding tracks. God I LOVE CHANGBIN he KILLS it every FUCKING TIME. Oooooooooooooo the chorussssssss is niiiiiiiiiIIIIIICE. It’s smooth and swervy and and i like the extra hints of instrumental here and there. And the chorus EVOLVES on the next go, ugh i LOVE that. I need to look up the lyrics to this one. Haha Cheese reference. It’s got enough to variety to stay interesting throughout despite the chorus kinda being one of those EDM Sameness bits. 7/10

The View: Oh she’s pretty :’) Oh this is a sweet and fun one. A Cute SKZ track. I love Felix actually getting a WHOLE VERSE after the first chorus. This is one for the Squad to drive down the highway with at 3 am after a year of not seeing each other. Changbin Strong Vocals in the bridge!!!! I love this it makes me soft. If I still had the car this would be THE song on rotation. 8/10

Sorry, I Love You: My first time hearing this one, i think it’s been out for a while?? It’s softer but not slower. Kind of Ex vibes from their IN LIFE album, but more my speed. An upgrade indeed. This is for FEELS, the LONGING in this one is strong. It’s a vibe. 8.5/10

Silent Cry: oooh kinda spooky? But still easy listening. I do love the vocals in the first verse, always nice to hear SKZ singing. I like the build up, but I kinda wish it had stayed spooky: it kinda turns into something else. I won’t say no to Stray Kids busting their lungs singing for us, of course. I much prefer the verses over the chorus, just because the vibe is different, more distinct. I do like the “woo-woa-wohoha” in the chorus though. The bridge also doesn’t really hit the way I want it to, and the instrumental portion following is a bit disorganized and I can’t tell if it was on purpose. The tempo switches up a lot. Idk it started strong but ended meh. 5/10

Secret Secret: pretty. :( pretty voices from pretty boys. I love this, how it builds up to the chorus. It become very powerful, while staying melancholic. And Changbin in the second verse!! I adore for the same reasons as Mixtape: OH. The MELANCHOLY!!! I take it back THIS is the new Ex. pretty pretty pretty. Go vocal boys go. 8/10

Star Lost: :D i am immediately smiling as the song starts. “Yayayayay” hahahaha i love that in the background. It’s bloopy and it’s cute, and then it’s bubbly and happy. Dancing in the living room, a little tipsy, with your close friends, or a lover :)))) still very staple SKZ but it’s as bubbly and cutesy as they get, with of course the usual emotional vulnerability. I love them oh no. I love them so muchhhhhhh Dx 8.5/10

Red Lights: LETS GET IT prostitution?? Oohhhhhh the strings opening it!!! Hyunjin sounds lovely actually wow. His english is superb what’s new. Chan’s singing!!!! In the chorus! I missed his singing voice i love it so much. OHHHHHHH THE BWAB BWBA DUBSTEPPY ELEMENTS!!!!!! THIS IS INTENSE AND PERFECT!! This is what I wanted Silent Cry to be!!! Oh WOW. I really love this!!! It’s quite different from their usual sound, and then they make it theirs with the chorus, beautiful. THIS INSTRUMENTAL is INSANELY good!!!! They both sing so well! The versatility! 10/10

Surfin’: I LOVE THEM THE INTRO IS PERFECT AND CUTE AND I LOVE THEM!!! BOTH MY BIASES IN THE SAME FUCKING UNIT!!! The SUMMEREST SUMMER BOP they’ve ever released!!!!! Their voices are so sparkly and pretty!!!!!! GET IT BOYSS. And then it gets soffft in the bridge STOOOOPPP it’s perfect they’re perfect. 9/10

Gone Away: Ah THE ballad for the album i see. And this time they enlisted Han!!! To show off his phenomenal voice of course :))) pushing the Han is 4th gen Ace agenda. I approve. I did get a little bored around a third of the way through though. I think if I were in the car it would grow on me quickly, but as it is it may never grow on me. The bridge is very lovely though!!! Something different. The electric guitar twinkling at the end!!! The song gets better throughout :)) 6.5/10

Overall: RIP to all the streaming I did for Epik High and BIBI, they’re gonna be knocked out of the park by my stats from listening to this goddamn album on repeat. They’re coming for my ass. I missed hearing their voices (really realized this when Mixtape: OH came out) and that makes everything a thousand times better. I just can’t get enough of the production, and the concepts and themes, and the CREATIVITY and freedom they have. I miSSED THEM THATS ALL IM SORRY.

Don’t Call Me: Start off by saying, the only reason the MV was any good was because these are very talented men who bring their all to the table every time. It’s been said but, the fact that they didn’t use that spectacular Fake Reality thing they teased us with? what a waste of a great concept. They used a single set (bonus points for the all red, misty floating chairs that Minho had for his second verse) throughout the whole thing, but it’s SM so. Still, highlights: Kibum in that GORGEOUS red outfit (which I heard was his idea, king); in general the styling is very good, despite the scrapping of the Fake Reality looks; they’re all really into it, which I appreciate (Taemin biting his lip towards the end was,,,, a bit too much hahahahahaha sweetie please); and the song is SUPER catchy. I’ve seen some comparisons to Obsession by EXO and I think that does illustrate the strengths of the overall structure: the low-fi repetition in the background while they sing/rap, the lovely combo of melodious bits and electro/robot-y elements (idk what to call it haha). I’m biased, but I love Key’s little ad-libs. I like how the percussion speeds up before the chorus, and then really dies down and is slower again for the chorus itself. I do prefer the verses, both Key and Minho really kill their bits. I wish Onew’s voice was a little stronger in the chorus. The PIANO after the bridge, LOVELY, again reminiscent of EXO’s Tempo ending part. Very nice overall. 8/10

Heart Attack: Groovyyyyy. MUCH more SHINee, while the title track was absolutely more SM sounding. I like the tempo and percussion here, is that a bass in the verses?? I wish I knew instruments better haha. Either way I do like the hints of strings I’m hearing. I like. 7.5/10

Marry You: ooooh they performed this one. It’s Fantastic and I’m glad we all agree. The chorus gives me SEROTONIN BITCH. A slower groove. I’m pleased with the retro sound they’re embodying in the b-sides. I love the fusion of thor voices in the second verse, how they play off each other, and then All Together in the Chorus. :-) It’s sweet and funky and kinda different from what you would expect from a song titled like that haha, but it WORKS. 8.5/10

CODE: oh hi Key listen to you :D This is NICE, kinda dark? But still has that retro sound. IT SOUNDS LIKE THEIR OLDER STUFF, Sherlock + Clue in particular. This is one for the older yearning fans haha. It’s very reflective of SHINee’s iconic sound. I love the disco/synthwave vibes of the bridge instrumental. 7/10

I Really Want You: oooo? I love the instrumental start, not crazy about the way their voices start. But then Key kicks in and then the Chrous!! So fun wow, omg I loooove this chorus ohmygod. I LOVE KIBUM’S VOICE I’M SORRY HE MAKES THIS SONG FOR ME. I do love Onew’s part in the bridge too! This is just a bop, point blank. 9.5/10

Kiss Kiss: I’m so INTO this, another really cute one that combines a bit of sensuality and that retro vibe, love the consistency. Smooth, groovy, syrupy. 8.5/10

Body Rhythm: ???? A sexy club vibe?? Ok ok. I ADORE the chorus. It’s consistent, I hesitate to say static because the Chorus really ties it together for me. I’m afraid I might have to be careful with this one, I imagine I’ll get sick of it VERY QUICKLY if I play it too often. 7/10

Attention: another bop, bouncy and sparkly :))) I’m not sure I like Taemin’s lead up to the Chorus, but the chorus itself I again LOVE. They’re really great in general at harmonizing, something you don’t really ever see with more recent groups (or even in 3rd gen very often). A shoulder-shimmy song. The bridge!!! And the way it calms down right after, before picking back up for the final chorus. I like it a lot. 8.5/10

Kind: Honorary slow song haha. It’s a nice way to come down from everything before, and I love Onew’s voice here, the way he uses it in the chorus. Beautiful. I don’t know who’s harmonizing wth Key in the second verse but I LOVE that. This is just super pleasant, and even as it gains more power and builds, it doesn’t stop being relaxing and comforting. 8.5/10

Overall: I understand the title track is supposed to be the attention-grabber, but if it had only followed the tone on the rest of the album a little better, the cohesion would have been very satisfying. I do love Don’t Call Me, and honestly most of this album is quite strong. Very loyal to SHINee’s “sound”, thematically coherent mostly, and I just think it’s very good. SHINEE’S BACK.

SIDE A {NOBLE}: I ADORE that the album is spilt into thematic sections, and with titles like this! Very epic intro.

Bicycle: The beat is very oompmhy. The MV is beautiful. Lovely color schemes, hard-hitting cuts and dance moves, her LOOKS ugh. More than anything else, it’s actually the Dance Break in the MV that gave me chills and drove home the message of the song for me. There was so much power emanating off the screen haha. It’s an earworm, I wouldn’t call it an immediate favorite but I definitely like it a lot. The second verse might be my favorite. 8/10

Masquerade: OOOOOOOOhhhhh. This is so funky!! I really like the pre-chorus build-up, the rhythm of the clapping throughout which continues into the chorus. This is a hip-shaker for sure. It’s just distinctive idk, immediately stands out to me. May or may not be an immediate favorite. 9/10

Flying on Faith: the guitar string are lovely. The way the percussion builds up is VERY satisfying. And then it all disappears to an emotional piano, and then it starts all over???? Spectacular. This juxtaposition between chaotic confusion and yearning sadness. 8.5/10

Luce Sicut Stellae: Here I’m really paying attention to her voice, I don’t know if this is deliberately a song where she shows her vocal color? It’s sweet and softer, right before the upcoming side switch. I love that there are these little mini-arcs UGH. 7/10

SIDE B {SAVAGE}: Umm something darker? Idk about the title but. Ok okkkk.

Stay Tonight: This is the first time I’m hearing the single in full. I really like the build-up of her voice and the instrumental. The chorus is the strongest part of the song for me, it’s so GROOVY with that bass. I will say it sounds like a lot of mainstream kpop I hear in passing haha, I could easily see Golden Child release something like this, or The Boyz or even TWICE now, with their more mature concept. So, obviously I like it haha. 7.5/10

Dream of You (ft. R3hab): Again, first time I’m hearing this single of hers in full! This is much more up the American Pop alley, obviously driven home by being fully in English, and so openly about lust. I like the EDM elements. 7/10

Bother Me: I’ll be honest I sort of zoned out five seconds in haha. It’s static to me. I guess the only issue I have with that is that I wasn’t expecting it from Chungha? Since every single song up until now has had a lot of switching around and interesting build-up. It’s fine. I like the ending, where I can pay attention to the instrumental and I realize I like it simply as it is, I wish I could have just that on repeat for my chill playlist haha. 6/10

Chill: Speaking of chill hahahah. Another softer one, still pop-y of course. I like the percussion work throughout the second verse. Not much else to say, like Bother Me it doesn’t stand out to me much. 6/10

SIDE C {UNKNOWN}: LOVe this! Electronic and kinda trap??? IDKKKK??? ITS GOOD.

PLAY (ft. CHANGMO): ah this one’s a legend. It’s the song that was good to me the first time, and then I quickly lost interest, and that turned out to me never really being enthusiastic about CHUNG HA comebacks because this was my associations. Oop. I still love Changmo’s part, and the chorus is definitely catchy, but I’ve never been a fan of how it ends, with the note traveling up like that. But the instrumental is great. 7/10

Demente (ft. Guaynaa): oh?? Very nice? Another softer one but, the instrumental MAKES this for me. And I love Guaynaa’s feature! Chung ha speaking Spanish??? Ok work. 8/10

Lemon (ft. Colde): Ok this is much more chill, r&b vibes. It has Colde on it so of course haha. I love this one immediately, it’s a VIBE. go OFF Colde. (he has similar energy to BIBI and you know i ADORE BIBI.) 9.5/10

BYULHARANG: Softest one so far. Very lovely, very pretty.I like the harmonies and I like hearing her voice clearly. 7/10

SIDE D {PLEASURES}: OONTZ OONTZ BEEEECH. Sexy and dark i loooove.

X: There’s somehting majestic about this? As soon as it starts even. Another ballad type but I like this one more simply because of its grandiosity. I love the last portion very much, the meaning of the song really comes through. 7.5/10

All Night Long: more r&b yeeeyyyyy. The little sparkles before the chorus hits! :o Unfortunately another kinda static one,,,, but I like the bridge ending and her voice sounds great. The instrumental ending is, again, the best part for me haha. 7/10

Everybody Has: Another slow one woof. With a Side title like Pleasures, and the dark and sexy vibe I got, I definitely wasn’t expecitng this haha. Maybe I’m interpreting it wrong. It’s fine. It’s pretty. I do like the occasional guitar strings, I notice them more towards the end. 6.5/10

Come N Goes: I like the percussion! It’s sparkly and hopeful. I LOVE the chorus, it’s space-y??? I don't know how to explain. It’s very comforting, good vibes, well wishes. I really like this, especially as the ending track (meaning, the last full song). 8.5/10

Querencia (Epilogue): This is GROOVY, love, vibes, floating.

Overall: Some really strong songs, as expected I found some nice little gold ores I loved. Huge congrats to Chung Ha for putting out this huge album, and her first full one no less. I ADORE long albums, I’m a dumb American haha. It’s obvious she worked long and hard on it. I love the structure with the four chapters, though some songs felt out of place in their respective sections, but I don’t know the full story of why they were categorized in that way. Very happy and proud of her.

Intro: Devil is in the detail: uugghhhhh SPECTACULAR. so catchy and a VIBE. It’s TOO SHORT. The bass is EVERYTHING. 10/10

No diggity: the MV is very pleasing, as always Hwanwoong’s expressions are insane. But everyone does very well in capturing your attention when they’re on screen. The song is VERY different from what I’ve come to expect from ONEUS, it sounds more like a Monsta X title track honestly, or even GOT7 back in the day (and if they had a better rap line. No shade). It’s very hard-hitting and the chorus is my favorite part. DA DA DA DAA DADADA DAA. It doesn’t have the storyline or mysticism I usually associate with them, but it IS catchy, the ending reminds me of their LIT ending part, very dancy and HARD. I think it needs to grow on me more, though I already like it a lot from the start. 7.5/10

Leftover: EEK BLOOPY and BOUNCY 😍😍 the beat is just lovely. I LOVED Dizzy from their last EP and this sort of reminds me of that, aura-wise. The little flute or whatever in the chorus?? Or is that piano?? It’s super cute!!! I really like this omg. It’s chill and cute. 8.5/10

Incomplete: ok a slower starting one. There’s not much build up until the chorus hits, though I do like the electric guitar in the pre-chorus. The EDM is ok? I like it better by the second chorus, I feel like they get more into it vocally by then. I think it’s emotional. Again, that PRE-CHORUS is spectacular, especially the last one after the bridge, but I think the power kind of wavers and then in the chorus it’s never as strong as it should be. 6/10

Youth: with a title like that my expectations are high haha. Another emotional one I think. I like this better than Incomplete for sure, the verses are really great, and then the chorus is Purposefully softer and this time it fits. There’s something grandiose and majestic about the chorus despite the softness of their voices. 7/10

BBUSYEO: I LOVED this single, could not BELIEVE how little views the MV has. It’s playful and it’s HYPE and it’s just so Fun, and it never loses traction. Idk if that’s a synth in the second verse or what but it adds SO MUCH. 9.5/10

Rewind: a nice start with the ticking. I like the way the beat drops immediately, and then how it gradually speeds up both musically and vocally is very pleasing. The EDM is MUCH MORE SUCCESSFUL here. It’s grandiose in a very trademark Oneus way and honestly I could see this as a title track. It’s speedy and majestic and a tad mystical. The vocals are very good here. I’m getting chills for no reason during the chorus. 8.5/10

Lion Heart: I was very excited for this from the sample/teaser video. Oooooh the second part of the first verse is INTENSE I like that very much. The way it leads into the chorus and then the chorus itself, it’s like a flame that evolves into a raging fire. The rapping!!! continues into the second verse, and those parts just MAKE the song for me. I literally SEE them dancing in fire. Everything is burning around them. This is a very epic and consistent song, I think one of the most objectively successful b-sides on this album. 9/10

What You Doing?: groovy ✨Funky✨ The instrumental is complex and satisfying. I think the changes in tempo are pulled off very well here. OoooooOOOO the CHORUS is SEXY and so satisfying wowww. The verses, the pre-chorus, the chorus, everything is Superb. An Immediate favorite. 12/10

I.P.U: softer. Calmer (at the start at least). “I Promise U” ok, definitely feel that weight through the grandiosity of the chorus. I think this succeeds a lot more in nurturing the same vibe that Incomplete was going for. The high note in the bridge is LOVELY 💕💕 This is nice. 8/10.

Outro: Connect with Us: this is good. It’s a vibe and it’s catchy while still trademark majestic. 8/10

Overall: a lot of EDM was used in this album??? Which I as a surprise. It’s not what I was expecting, which could be spun good or bad. There are definitely some vibers and some bangers here and I’m generally pleased. I’m happy for their first full album.

HANN (Alone in Winter): I don’t even know where to start. This sets the ENTIRE TONE. It’s HAUNTING and BEAUTIFUL and TRAGIC. ITS TRAGIC. I adore the instrumental, it could be on a movie soundtrack. I find it so murky and deep if that makes sense???? It’s amazing. 8/10

HWAA: SO👏🏼YEON 👏🏼SINGING👏🏼!!!!!! And in the opening lines no less!! the percussion is addicting. Yuqi and Minnie really stand out vocally here, with the way it fuses into Yuqi from Soyeon’s second verse and then Minnie’s long note in the bridge!! Shuhua ending the song!! And it’s always her voice leading the chorus. The instrumental!!!!!!!!!! This is a stronger and better HANN to me, I love it. 9.5/10

MOON: tip-toes. Sparkly and soft dancing around. The vibes are IMMACULATE. THERES A GUITAR IN THE SECOND PRE-CHORUS BACKGROUND EXCUSE MEEEEEEEE. and I’m realizing part of the percussion is provided by bass strings idk????? Idk about instruments but this one!!! And the ending sequence ughhhhhhhh. The soft tone of the song could be boring but it ISN'T because once again gidle is back at it with the unique instrumental. 8.5/10

Where is love: continuation of the guitar nice nice. I like how subtly this builds up and picks up the pace. This is a more classic gidle song with Soyeon’s quick and hard rap verse and the way the chorus is constructed idk how to explain 😅😅 the bridge!!!!!!! And I love the ticking in the background. I only wish it had picked up a bit more grandiosely in the end, instead of ending abruptly the way it did. 8/10

LOST: the way! The percussion evolves throughout the first verse already!! And then there are these little button blings in the chorus background that I rEALLY like, like icy tears falling????? Idkkkkkk???? They’re singing so softly but the pace is not slow?? This might be my favorite of Soyeon’s verses on this EP. 9/10

DAHLIA: bloop di bloop. Love the opening. I really like the flipping use of tone here. The chorus is for some reason that I cannot explain, addicting. “DahliAwh” idkkkk the pronunciation? The tone?? Something about it. The gay vibesssssss???? “No matter what they say, I wanna love you anyway” UGHH FUCK ME UP. The vocals are very very nice. Idk about placing it last on the album because it ends in a way that’s open? Like leaving room for the next song? But it’s the last song. My only criticism. 8.5/10

Overall: a very VERY solid album. Thematically strong and still very loyal to gidle’s sound. This group has really made me appreciate the intricacies of instrumentals and all the multiple levels, there’s always something so pleasing about theirs. I didn’t expect to like the title track so much because yes, it was very reminiscent of HANN in the teasers and I wasn’t a huge fan of HANN, but I’m pleasantly blown away. This album is made for a particular mood and as much as I like it on first listen, I imagine it’s really going to grow on me over time.

God’s Menu - Stray Kids:
I mean. What’s there to say. This is The Song. This single-handedly got me into Stray Kids, it was my official top played song this year on Spotify, and that’s not even accounting for how many times I played it in the car because I absolutely bought the In Life album for the CD. The music video adds a lot to the song, but even alone the song’s Invigorating like nothing else. I’ve never heard anything else like it. It’s high-energy, it’s pace never wavers, it embodies Stray Kids and their style. Such a great hit.

WAP - Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion:
Yes I know this song is on every Top Songs of 2020 list but it’s with good reason. Megan and Cardi bounce off each other so well. “Ask for a car while you ride that dick” is a LEGENDARY line, I WISH I’d come up with that. That’s poetry. This entire song is poetry. Two of the best rappers of the moment, coming together and making THE empowering song of the year.

Music, Dance - NCT127:
While “Faded In My Last Song” was my first Favorite off this album, “Music, Dance” snuck up on me and suckerpunched me in the throat with how catchy, quirky, vibrant it is. I LIKED it when I first heard it; but holy shit the way I can listen to it literally anytime now and the way it ups my mood immediately, the way it makes you want to MOVE, the way the musicality of the instrumental merges with the hard-hitting chanting in the chorus. My GOD.

peace - Taylor Swift:
It’s amazing how this song made me sob, the first time I heard it. It’s grounding, and vulnerable, and therapeutic. The guitar strings are simple but add a neat twinkle. The lyrics are really what make this song for me. My personal favorite off this album.

WANNABE - ITZY:
Still my favorite ITZY title track. This turned my whole world upside down. “LOVE YOURSELF” ITZY screams at me, throwing flowers at my window and trying to storm my front door. They dance Ryujin’s shoulder dance and do backflips to convince me. They smile sweetly and embellish their faces and scream “LOVE YOUR DIFFERENCES”. Such a fun track.

My ex’s best friend - Machine-Gun Kelly ft. blackbear:
I don’t even know what about this song is so catchy. It just is. The instrumental is great, I love this transition MGK has done from hip-hop to rock and punk. Obviously I love blackbear and anytime he features on a song it improves tenfold in my ears. IDK it just brings me back, I’m still an emo bitch at heart.

IDEA - Taemin:
I was SHOCKED. “Criminal” was fine and good, but in no way did it speak to me the way “IDEA” does. Literally just stared at the video the first time I listened to it, and got a waterfall of chills and then stared a little longer after the song ended. Accepting that something is just an idea, that the monster you’re fighting is stuck in your head and is of your own creation, and finally saying “i’m done. I’m not feeding you anymore” hoLY SHIT. Transcendant. Taemin’s popularity and status among the general public is well-deserved; even outside of SHINee he shows time and time again how creative and passionate and TALENTED he is.

Louder than bombs - BTS:
I love MOTS:7 so much primarily because every single rap line song is superb to me. But “Louder Than Bombs”, one of their slowest songs on the album, is Perfection. The beat isn’t slow but they superpose it with vocals fit for a ballad. The chorus hits so HARD, and the emotions are so RAW. It gives me chills similarly to "Black Swan" every time I hear it. It’s painful but so hauntignly beautiful. Free Therapy.

Why not? - LOONA:
This is a jam. I can’t begin to describe the serotonin boost I get from watching this video, especially towards the end when they’re all dancing in a circle? And the cameos from Regular People? Literally I rewatched it a few days before writing this up and it made me so happy I started Crying. The rap parts are SUBLIME, it’s upbeat and it’s catchy and EDM portion just doesn’t get old for me. A masterpiece, and a well-deserved rise to popularity for LOONA.

Tantrum - Ashnikko:
Following up on my favorites “Stupid” and “Special” from her debut EP, Ashnikko has really been solidifying her sound with her releases this year. Tantrum is hard-hitting and tongue-in-cheek and just delectable. I don’t know what else to say I just love it and I love her style.

I don’t really like your boyfriend - Avenue Beat:
This is the one boys. I relate to this song on a spiritual level and it’s so SIMPLE but it’s so GOOD. Not to be too personal on main but there have definitely been times where you want to say something to your best girl but also want her to be responsible for her own actions and choices. So you stay quiet. And you have this on repeat in your mind instead.

After midnight - WayV:
Along with “Bad Alive” and “Domino”, this song boosted this album from great to SPECTACULAR. The vocals and crooning are beautiful here, and the sensuality of the chorus, the gay vibes from the longing and secret-meetups the lyrics describe. It speaks to my soul. I’m so happy to have this song.

Jesus In L.A. - Alec Benjamin:
Alec has this amazing strength for making songs that are kinda heartbreaking but always in a Comforting manner. “This is the truth, this is how it is. It’ll be ok” type vibes. I love this song and I love the message.

Can’t You See Me - TXT:
Heard it, didn’t care much for it. Saw the video, loved the video, still didn’t care much for the song. Months later, I’m in a bad place, I watch the video again, and the song is suddenly a MASTERPIECE. When you’re alone and you miss people but are too bitter and scared to reach out? This is the song for you Brenda. I think this song relies a lot on relatability, but when it hits it HITS.

Love Me or Leave Me - Day6:
I often regret that it’s hard for me to enjoy anything rock or punk-rock when I can’t understand the poetry of the lyrics, but Day6 manages to pull through strongly enough with the emotion of this song and leave me banging my head, tears streaming down my face. :D

Sit Down! - NCT:
A front-runner on the album with “Love Song” and “MAD DOG”. “Kick It” is a superb title track of course (and apparently I liked it a lot more than I realized, if the amount of times my Spotify says I’ve played it means anything); but Sit Down! has an authority and a blasé harnessing of power. Taeyong opening with “I got a Bad Habit” alongside the little bloops, Johnny’s “dont’ make me tell you aGAin”... iconic.

ASSA - cignature:
I wish. I could accurately portray. In writing. The way I reacted when I discovered this song, and this video, and this group. My personal Rookies Of The Year. It’s so PEPPY and so POWERFUL and CUTE and FUN and I love EVERYTHING about it. The dance is Great, the guitar riffs are everything and are such a strong start to the song, the CHORUS SMACKS YOU (the way they look at the camera!! they’re ROOKIES!!). The clapping!! “Feelin’ niiice~” ICONIC.

Boss Bitch - Doja Cat:
Am I allowed to claim that I knew this song before hearing that it was a TikTok trend? Super fun, super up my alley, probably the first ever song from Doja Cat that I absolutely loved. I think it’s perfect. That’s it.

Oh my God - (G)I-DLE:
Thank you Soyeon for this gift, for feeding the gays, thank you for this beautiful choreo and video and, although I may be done and tired with the “gay is sin” trope, the haunting aura was executed perfectly, and the chorus, really, truly leaves no room for interpretation (unless you are willfully ignorant). Revolutionary. I’ve been listening to this for MONTHS and I still get chills when the chorus hits, three times in a row, every single time i listen.

Suhkumvit swimming - ONF:
Very VERY unfortunate that this was not ONF’s breakthrough into mainstream: it is an absolute masterpiece, with insane instrumentals and song structure and campy music video that still obeys the group’s storyline. Really recommend watching a performance video of this song, just for the bottle flip at the very beginning, which attains varying degrees of success.

Honey - Kesha:
I absolutely loved Kesha’s first album after she returned to us, with the themes of healing and love and the seamless combination of so many genres into a sound that is just very Her. She continues this experimentation with her High Road album. Alongside the “Little Bit Of Love”, “Resentment” and “Raising Hell”, “Honey” was an immediate favorite and stuck out with it’s humor and sass, a staple part of Kesha’s image and sound. It’s bitter and disgruntled, but presented with cheer and airyness. If you’re like me and loved her older song “Backstabber”, this will also be up your alley.

Fearless - SEVENTEEN:
While “Kidult” and “My My” are the obvious sentimental tracks from HENG:GARAE, “Fearless” is therapeutic in a suckerpunching way. When they sample Joshua’s iconic start to the first verse of “FEAR” for the bridge, is when it really HITS, but even before then, the chorus clutches you by the throat with the thin explosion-like sound right after “because I’m fearLESS”. I wish I could accurately describe the effect this song has on me haha. The beat, the fusion into the chorus, the Bridge, it’s all JUST on this side of haunting, but comforting as shit.

Psycho4U - GIRLKIND:
A very lovely surprise from a group almost no one had heard of. Although the music video is low-budget and the group is relatively new, they put out a distinguishing track with a bewitching slow tempo and R&B feel. I know it’s not for everyone, but this song is what warmed me up to the R&B genre and sound and for that I’m thankful.

Crazy Over You - BLACKPINK:
This might be my favorite track off The Album (still a hilarious name), it reminds me so much of Blackpink’s earlier title tracks when I got Into Them (i.e. Boombayah, D4). It has very satisfying switch in tempo from verse to chorus, great instrumental (it may be sampled, still bangs), and I love Rose’s parts very much.

Jogging - LUCY:
I’ve become a huge LUCY fan this year. Their sound is so refreshing, they have a VIOLINIST and that’s all the reason you need to check them out. Although the violin is better showcased in their other songs like SNOOZE and Flowering, Jogging is the song that got me into them, and holds a special place for being so Happy, Peppy, Pretty, Life-giving, i’ve run out of words but it’s perfect. It makes me so happy.

Willow: love the instrumental. The softness of Taylor’s voice really brings it all together for me, like her voice is about to break. Drives home the sadness and mystery and yearning, and Sets the tone for the rest of the album. “That’s my man” on repeat towards the end is really nice. 7/10.

Champagne problems: wow 🙃 heartbreaking 🙃 Back to December vibesss hardcore. 🙃🙃🙃 how’re we feeling y’all. Ok but aside from how sad it is it doesn’t stand out much to me? Not relatable enough. The bridge though!!!!! That’s the highlight, the sudden chorus and unanimous anger with the girl who left. 6/10

Gold rush: I looovvve this it speaks to my SOUL haha. It has a pettiness that I understand. I like the way the violins pick up subtly in the background as the song goes on. 8.5/10

‘Tis the damn season: I love the instrumental at the start. The irritation mixed with longing is Top Notch, along with the nostalgia of time past. Yes I started choking up at the bridge what about it. 7.5/10

tolerate it: holy shit this is creepy and sends alarm bells ringing in my head, even with how soft it is. There are so many different types of relationships this could be describing, none of them healthy. Silent build up of rage that I LOVE. 9.5/10

No body, no crime: I LOVE THIS. It’s more upbeat than the rest of this album. It’s catchy and scheming. I love the story that’s being told I would ABSOLUTELY watch this movie. I get Carrie Underwood vibes from it all (who I used to LOVE too). It’s SO GOOD I can’t get OVER it!!! 10/10

Happiness: I like when the piano joins in on the second verse. I love the message and I love the mourning and silent rage again and the logic and understanding parallel to undeniable emotions and hurt. “No one tells you what to do when a good man hurts you. And you know you hurt him too.” A story of forgiveness. 9.5/10

Dorothea: 🥺🥺 another relatable one. Waiting for someone you love, not actively, but always having a spot for them in your heart, should they choose to remember you and come back. Subtle Sad. 8.5/10

Coney Island: the percussion!!! 🌸 wow another sad one hhahagahaaasob 🙃🙃🙃 I like when Taylor and the National sing together, it makes the song more interesting. Not particularly relatable, so the instrumental is the only thing that really Grabs me. 6/10

Ivy: a peppiness mixed with something more haunting!! The visuals in the lyrics are beautiful. Folk-y. Secrets and love and drama oh my! Like this a lot. 💞 9/10

Cowboy like me: the longer I listen to it the more I like it. Not relatable but still makes me feel an attachment for the characters. The electric guitar???? The starts up halfway through???? Excuse me yes 💕💕 kind of a softer version of Getaway Car that, thankfully, doesn’t make me cry, so more bearable hah. 7.5/10

Long story short: oooooooooooh bap di bap!!!! It’s upbeat!! I love this!! It’s happy!!!!! It’s victorious?? Like “I’m not a good person and you shouldn’t trust me but goddamn I’m crazy about you and completely devoted even if it kills me”. Superb. 10/10

Marjorie: “never be so kind you forget to be clever” WOOF WHAT A GREAT START 👌🏼👌🏼 Hopeful or haunting depending on the lense you choose to interpret it with. A lighter reminiscence of Haunted (from Speak Now)? I like this very much. 8/10

Closure: ooh???????? This hits different from the rest!! The noise elements on a ballad signal Pain and I love that. Very “I don’t need your fucking Pity”, I ADORE this. I live for the amount of songs on this album spelling out a quiet fury and bitterness, that’s the vibe for me 😌😌✨ 8.5/10

Evermore: i hate to say it but a bit of a boring ending to the album. I think I understand what she was going for but it might take more listens to completely grow on me. I Prefer bon iver here much more than exile in folklore. He actually makes the song for me, I would listen to just that part where it speeds up and we have him singing with Taylor joining in. But then it slows back down and I lose interest again 😞 5/10

Overall: I think, because it directly follows Folklore, the effect of the album is a bit diminished and so it’s understandable why people say they prefer folklore: it was fresher and new. However, this album has more upbeat and even feel-good songs which scores it more points in my opinion. Oddly enough the vibes of evermore feel more summery than folklore HAhahaa. Anyway. I’m quite happy with it, found some immediate favorites and I envision the others growing on me fast.

90s Love: this is SO GOOD. I can’t explain how pleased I am. As a Ten and Haechan stan, I am FED with this song, and with this MV. I am SO IMPRESSED with Sungchan, he’s got this ATTITUDE that is so attractive and impressive to watch in the MV??? And he sounds great obviously. But hey to the highlight of the song that BRIDGE. THAT FUCKING BRIDGE I SCREAMEDDDDD TEN!!!! TEN LEE HOW DARE YOU! DONGHYUCK HOW DAREEEEEEE AND THEN BOTH TOGETHER JUST KILL ME. THE BEAUTY OF THEIR VOICES TOGETHER ASDFJFKBFHCEHXKHOHISTDIVL HZRATCKBUDKBKCJVKCYCKBKHLGYARQYCIVICUVKCKBL 💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕.
Ok with that out of the way, it really is like SM is TRYING to show as little of Winwin as possible. What is this, he was supposed to be the leader of this lineup? He got two small lines and three seconds in the MV. I’m indignant honestly, my condolences to his fans who are CONTINUOUSLY fucked over.
Overall, great track. Great song, fun video, hype and fun and ugggghhkgndd that bridge I can’t get over it. 10/10

Misfit: I get what they were going for but this one is unfortunately not for me. What makes NCT charming for me is the MIX of rap and vocals with the Noise. An all-rap song that’s probably pretty hit or miss. EDIT: It has grown on me, but still need to be in a particular mood for it. 5/10

Raise the roof: a JAM, Yuta sounds SO GOOD and the chorus of them going “imma wake you up (THEY SLEEPIN)” is GOD TIER. I wish we had that in every chorus. Johnny goes hard here too, ugh. Only criticism is that, sooo many vocalists in the line up, makes me wish the chorus was a bit more musical. RENJUUUUUUN AND CHENLEEEEE, AND THEN TAEIL???? That bridge is everything. 7/10

Volcano: a viiibe. I’m vibing. This is a chill and I guess sexy song? If you’re into that. A nice shoulder shimmy-er for me. Doyoung always sounds superb 💕. Unfortunately it's like BOSSLight and it gets old quickly, and in no way compares to when they did it the first time. 7/10

Light Bulb: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: they give Taeyong SO MANY LINES just because he’s the ace, even when his voice and manner of rapping doesn’t suit the style of the song. That’s the case here too, and in general I’m not a fan of the rappers’ execution when combined with the ballad-style instrumental. Much prefer the vocals pre-chorus and bridge. EDIT: Apparently Taeyong penned this song or at least helped with the writing process, that's why it's predominantly him rapping, it's kinda his. My bad. 2/10

Dancing In The Rain: I really like the jazzy elements here ✨ it’s very “shoowap-doo-bap”. It’s honestly so cute and smooth at the same time, and it has refreshing peppyness that I appreciate in a lot of NCT b-sides. Reminiscent of Love Song and Pandora’s Box (from Neo Zone, if you liked those). 8/10

My Everything: mmmmmmmmMMMM SHUT UPPP RENJUN HE STARTS SO BEAUTIFUL. THEY ALL SOUND SO SMOOTH AND PRETTY AND GORGEOUS. This might be the most ballad-y ballad we’ve ever gotten from NCT???? Correct me if I’m wrong. Literally just a piano and their voices and that’s IT. I wasn’t expecting for Renjun’s parts to be my favorites (Xiaojun’s my man) but here we are. The HARMONIIIIIESSSS WOOHOO. 8/10

Interlude: WAIT I LOVE THISSSS EVERYTHING ABOUT IT, the way it transiTIONS from good to GREAT it gets me excited honestly.

Make a wish (birthday song): I do like this one! The instrumental and different parts of the song feels a little disorganized? But not in a way that bothers me. And you know I LOVE whistling in songs 😌 6.5/10

Déja Vu: this. Is. So. Dream. It’s youthful it’s fun it’s kinda weird it’s just lovely. I’m a big fan. I love the synth part of the chorus Very Much. 8.5/10

Nectar: WayV are KINGS of thot bops. Honestly am so pleased, again it SOUNDS like WayV and I love the bass and the fast smoothness. A hip-swinger, this one. 9/10

Music, Dance: a hip-SHAKER this time???? I’m so into these unit songs, I guess the chemistry is already there and the members fuse together more naturally than the newer combinations (which I’m still very happy about and I think the experimentation was necessary). I do wish there was a tad more musicality to the chorus, because I love that little bloopdiloop going on in the background but I wish it was louder. EDIT: THE WAY THIS SONG HAS GROWN ON ME!! WHAT A SPLENDID SPECIMEN! I LOVE IT!!! 20/10(updated rating)

Faded In My Last Song: I love the softer vibes, though I wish Lucas (?) had softened his rap a little more in that second verse, because the lazy rap Johnny opens with really sets the tone and the chorus reflects that very well. A smoother song with elements of longing and yearning, and it started ok but by the end it has really grown on me??? ((On the second listen: this song is A MASTERPIECE and I think it’s one of my favorites on the album wow. 100/10))

From Home: Haechan’s voice 💞 opening 💞💞 and featuring consistently throughout. This is Beautiful. All the vocalists shine and it makes me so HAPPY. This one is so Shiny and Pretty and ugh. Great song to end with. 9.5/10

Work it: it’s cute. Idk I guess I was hyping myself up too much, based on the song title haha. It’s smooth and makes the shoulders shimmy. The BRIDGE THO??? That’s the highlight of the song for me. HAhahaa the “skrrr skrrr” kills me, honestly. This is CUTE. I like the ending instrumental, it’s sparkly and bloopy. 6.5/10

All about you: this. This is a Treasure. Soooo many cute new songs??? The BEAT GOING HARD FOR THE CHORUS WHILE KEEPING THE SOFTNESS OF THE VERSES, NCT are all vocalists sorry I don’t make the rules. Chenle is really sticking out to me this comeback idk??? He’s shining. But Jaehyun definitely owns this song, tho they all sound lovely. 9.5/10

I.O.U: I didn’t think NCT vocalists going “babe/babey” on repeat would make me UWU so hard wow. 🥺🥺❤️ The beat of the chorus uggggh it’s CUTE and SWEET and SPARKLY. The rappers all soften their verses, except Taeyong and sometimes Yangyang (my small criticism), and it’s a LOVELY effect 🥰🥰 Doyoung and Chenle killed this for me wowww. 9.5/10

Bro. The feel good vibes I get from these songs. My boys are RADIANT. Special mention to Jungwoo, Chenle, and Renjun for their work in the b-sides. The bridges raise the rating for every single song. Also the new interlude and Outro are very nice too, Outro especially has me excited for a future Dream comeback I assume? Anyways. Combining all these new songs in with part 1 and you get an INCREDIBLY strong album, if I may say. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🧡🧡🧡

Life goes on: heartwarming song and heartwarming MV. I’ll admit at first I thought it was a bit simple but the chorus really grows on you, it’s one of those campfire songs, that you sing with people you’ve grown close to in a secluded area with only each other for company. Very sweet, very emotional, longing but hopeful. 7/10

Fly to my room: I love this!! 😭 it’s funky and it’s relatable holy shit, I love the slow beat with the light bloops. Jimin and V sound so good and smooth, and then when SUGA JUMPS IN!!! 🤩🥺👌🏼 the autotuned long note jimin has on the last chorus honestly really does it for me, i don’t care how much auto tune BTS uses haha I like the effect. Such a good song. 9/10

Blue & Grey: I cant tell if that’s guitar or some other string instrument in the beginning but it’s great. I can’t begin to describe how much the lyrics hit home, the chorus but also Suga’s verse especially. This is so beautiful, and I loved the combination of Jin and Jungkook’s voice in that one part. 7.5/10

Skit: j-hope’s laugh 🥺❤️ SUGA CUSSING PROBABLY HAHAHAGAGAGAAA LOVE HIM AND LOVE THIS. It’s so lovely to hear them just talking holy shit, I didn’t realize how much I missed these skits. And I’m sorry but SUGA really stole the show in this one haha, fitting, hope he’s doing ok 🌸🧡

Telepathy: THIS IS SO FUN the chorus is so upbeat and catchy!!!!!! As always rap line went off in their respective verses, excuse me for talking about Yoongi but he once again stood out to me. Jungkook opened the song really well too. This is an immediate favorite. 10/10

Dis-ease: THIS! IS!! A MASTERPIECE!!!! Hobi baby you opened WONDERFULLY, and then that first chorus is so seamless and and lyrics are RELATABLE I’m SCREAMING. RM AND SUGA KILL ITTTTTT, vocal line does SO GOOD in the bridge and chorus!!!!! With j-hope in the background going “disease” and “fear” aAAAAAAAA. PERECTIONNNNNMMN. 200/10

Stay: first off. The lineup for this song is superb, I always love how Jin and Jungkook sound together and of course I’m RM-biased. I absolutely love the way the beat sounds and then builds up, and ugh great chorus. Only criticism would be that the build kind of loses traction between the pre-chorus and the EDM beat drop part. But ugh. A great song to jam to, almost a head banger? A great lead into dynamite I think, which finishes the album. 8.5/10

Overall: SUGA!!! Really shined in this comeback, the tracks where he was featured he ATE, in general everyone did so well and had their moments to shine. This album gives me similar energy to Taylor Swift’s folklore haha, the therapeutic album with mostly slow and poetic songs that we didn’t know we wanted. But the second half of BE really picks up and I love the organization of the songs, it’s a gradual upswing, it represents hope and vitality and faith both in the future and in your own strength. Bravo. 🥰

HOME;RUN: THIS IS SO HYPE. Thank you SVT for doing a 1950s concept instead of 1970s like most other people in 2020, it really stuck out among the retro wave this year. Obviously the choreo and performance is SUPERB in the MV, but even by itself it’s such a jam and so energetic, it never once loses traction throughout the entire song. 8.5/10

Do Re Mi: BOUNCYYY. A bopity-shoowap-doopab BOP. A classic SVT song that fits in great with the tone of this album. The strings in the pre-chorus are Chef’s Kiss. Again, wish the vocals were stronger in the chorus, would’ve liked more of what we hear in the bridge. 7/10

HEY BUDDY: AN IMMEDIATE FAVORITE of this ep. IT’s PERfeCT. I DON’T KNWO WHAT ELSE TO SAY. I COULD LISTEN TO THIS ALL DAY. 10/10

Light A Flame: SENSUAL. SMOOTH. GROOVY. Anyone who has heard me rave about NCT’s Faded in My Last Song can predict how I feel about this. It’s SO GOOD. It’s “star-crossed lovers who are destined to never be together but they’ve accepted it and longingly gaze at each other from across the room while the pianoman plays them a ballad because he’s actually omniscient and the narrator of this whole scenario”. 12/10

AH! LOVE: Another perfect song. This one ties into the theme that the fans were predicting with the name of this album, mental health. Loving yourself first, and subsequently loving others well. This is so smooth, it’s soothing, the gUITAR FUCKKKK KILL ME. I don’t know what to saY. 10/10

All My Love: melancholiaaa take meeeee. The horNS even though this makes mE EMO. I feel SAFE i feEL WARM. thE COMFORT. I wISH THE VOCALS WERE STRONGERRRR in the CHORUSSS to match the INSTRUMENTAL but it’S OK. JOSHUA STAHP. Can you see me wAVING the SVT LIGhtsTICK i doN’T HAve. 8/10

Overall: their most cohesive album by FAR. An absolutely stunning lineup, not one bad song, not a single skip for me. They took this retro concept and ATE. Absolutely gorgeous work. 9/10

Intro: Ambition: that lil high pitch at the beginning haHA. And then he really goes OFF, four separate times. Like excuse me I always enjoy some tasteful hip hop and Joohoney BRINGS IT for me thank you for this FUCKING MEAL 😍😍 I like 4 the best I think.

Psyche: I LOVE COWBELLS WITH A PASSION HAHA IM SO PLEASED. the chorus is great, I’m upset I DONT UNDERSTABD WHAT HES SAYINGGGGG I NEED THE DAMN LYRICS. ALL I KNOW IS I CAN FEEL THE POWERRRR. I really like the bridge too 😭 and then the way it moves into the last chorus aaahhhh.

DIA: ah love the instrumental here. Again not much to say because I do not speak Korean and I cannot fully appreciate without the lyrics 😔😔💕💕

SMOKY: ohhhh this is GOOD PAINFUL SHIT. It starts off sad and then it goes SCREAMING and I am jamming EMOTIONALLY. This feeds the alternative-emo music lover in me. When the children start the chorus after the bridge I got the COLDEST CHILLS WTFFFF I could cry to this when I’m angry EASILY. this is ART. 💙

Dark and Cloudy: starts off really slow and kinda pretty but then goes HARD while still remains chill??? Also idk who this Boa Kim is but she sounds great. And then the INTERFERENCE and idk is that edm elements??? I LOVE THAT. There’s a bit of guitar on the second verse that’s very ✨✨. Also UGH JOOHONEY CAN SING YES MAMAA.

King: oooh this has a CYPHER feel. Gotta know what he’s saying because this just SCREAMS a diss track and/or a Feeling Myself type of song. FUCK I can FEEL the talent OOZING UGH

Wing Suit: LYRICS PLEASE NOW. Chorus is LIT but I need to know what they’re SAYINGGGG 😩😩😩💞💞💞💞. OOH WTFFFFF IDK THIS TEM BUT SHE IS 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 omggggg I like her verse better only because half of it is English and I can actually UNDERSTAND haha, also ugh the ATTITUDE. Love.

Thank you Joohoney 💥💥

DAWNDIDIDAWN: I looove the beat and his voice, it really is very distinctive. I’m getting prime time E-boy aesthetic from him in this MV :)) the way he scratches the stone dog’s chin he’s so FUCKING WEIRD I LOVE THAT 🤣🤩❤️ it took me a second but I realize the beat + whistling reminds me of Danger by BTS haha, nice nice. I LOVE THE WAY JESSI APPEARS IN THE MV SUPERPOSED ON THAT CAT STATUE THAYS READY TO STRIKE HOLY SHIT. SHE LOOKS GREAT OMG THEYRE SO CUTE TOGETHER IM SOFFFTTTT. “Slaaaaay queeen” has me DEAD 😭😭 this is such a great MV, honestly it’s pretty simple and minimalist but that’s so DAWN??? And it leaves a lot of breathing room for him to just be a ducking crackhead which is perfectly on brand. Love the energy ✨✨

Still: I like how Dawn and Crush kinda fused their styles together here, Crush really has such an angelic voice here 💞 and I love how Dawn can sing well even with his voice pitched that high (because that IS his performance voice, he speaks at a tad lower register). Cute, ballad, I get a feeling you’d like it :))

Tantara: groovy, Latin hints, the ChorUS HITS ME OUT OF NOWHERE WHAT IS THISSSSS DASHA 😭😭 it’s so unexpected and funky, you think it’s gonna be a chill lil salsa song but then BAM, it gets WEIRD. Dawn is such a GENIUS, and this SCREAMS his style. I love this.

Butterfly: I’m just waiting for lyrics to cone out for this album, I am DYING to know what this one is about. It’s kinda melancholy but mixed with a really catchy soft edm beat? I really like this one too oh no 🤩🤩 this is a light hip-shaker you know?? Groove your shoulders to it kinda feel.

Ordinary Night: I’m sorry I can’t stop raving about how pleasing his voice is to me!!! And then he ACTUALLY SINGS in something closer to his speaking voice and that TOO gets me?? Lovely. I like that he’s showcasing his vocals more here, in Still he was a little overshadowed by Crush unfortunately.

Overall: I wish there was more. Very happy with the sound Dawn is finding and presenting to us. ❤️❤️

The tortoise and the hare: This one is a fucking roller coaster. It’s creepy yet lazy and like. Sexy??? Idkkk there’s so much going ON. “I know you know we know lee know” ASDFGHKKLLGDSV SHUT UPP YOU DUMB BITCH 🤣🤣💖💖💖💖💖 oh my gooooood the NeRVE of this song. Genuinely don’t know what to make of it like, you’re cruising down a country road at night, feeling like a bad bitch, on your way to murder your next frat house. It’s so fucking weird and I love it. 6.5/10

Back Door: I mean what can I say. It’s not as strong a title track as Gods Menu but it’s still FIRE. The instrumental here is insane, just noticed the ticking during the bridge. Again with guitar riffs, the maracas or whatever during the chorus. Great stuff. Catchy as shit. 8/10

B Me: YES STRAY KIDS HAS EIGHT VOCALISTS THANK YOU 💞💞💞 The lyrics hit hard here too. the pause right after Felix’s bit in the first verse, UGH 👌🏼👌🏼 I do wish Jisung had SUNG, like we KNOW he can sing and he can BEAUTIFULLY, so that’s my only criticism of this song. It’s honestly very reminiscent of some of their previous title tracks (à la Voices, I am You, etc). 8.5/10

Any: THIS IS THE ONE. SHE IS THAT BITCH. SHE IS THE REBELLION AND THE REVOLUTION. HOW CAN A SONG BE THIS FUCKING GOOD. THIS IS MY IMMEDIATE FAVORITE JUST AS I PREDICTED THANK YOU GOOD NIGHT. 200/10

Crazy Bastard Ex: soothing calm, loNGING oof 😭💞 very very nice. The instrumental too. EDIT: The way SKZ has made me appreciate ballads wow. Have this CD on repeat in the car and NOT ONCE have i skipped this one. The power of this song wtf. 9/10

We Go: Lazy rap + auto tune is SUCH a choice, and of COURSE they pull it off. And the BEAT DROP with that second chorus PLUS the HORNS or MARCHING BAND INSTRUMENT WHATEVER THE FUCK,,,,, wow. Also not to be a simp for my bias but sOMEthing about the way Changbin’s lyrics flow,,, god, I don’t even know what he’s saying but it SOUNDS like poetry. I think he’s one of those k-rappers where the genius of the lyrics he writes get lost in translation, but you can still fEEL it when you hear it you know???? Anyways uhm. Fire 👌🏼👌🏼💖💖💖 9/10

Wow: tHe iNsTrUmeNTaL hOoK im ˢᶜʳᵉᵃᵐⁱⁿᵍᵍᵍᵍᵍᵍᵍᵍᵍ oh yayA I. Adore. Minho’s voice. With my whole heart. Also he’s imPROVED my god. And THANK YOU we FINALLY get to hear what Felix is capable of, as much as I love his iconic lines it’s so refreshing to hear him for more than just two seconds at a time. Like it’s so gratifying to hear that his voice can, in fact, do so many things, not just be a hook. Also uh, may I say,,,,, mmmmmgay vibes??? Not longing per se, tho there is a bit of that, but a flirtation that’s kinda subtle/discreet. Anyway this is my favorite of the RACHA collab tracks 😌👌🏼💕 9/10

My Universe: 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺💞💞💞💞💞💖💖💖 waaaaaAAAAAAAAHHHHGHH. Lovely, beautiful, perfection, saintly, heaven 😔😢❤️ also the way Changbin softens his voice to match the tone of the song I’m,,,, melted. Seungmin and IN have improved SO MUCH because they’ve been FORCED TO since Woojin left and I’m SO HAPPY about it. “My UniVeRSE~~” fuck it UP babies. God, go OFF Kings 😭💪🏼💪🏼💖💖💖💖💖 9/10

Anywayyyyyy a NO SKIP NEW HALF to the album 😌💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖 no thoughts head filled with In Life discography

Dear Diary: I was ready to cringe but it was actually super chilling and even relatable. Nice intro. Ties in very nicely with the narrative video they made pre-release.

FEVER: such a hopeful song to start the album with 🥰🥰 That high note!!!! Combined with Hongjoong rapping on the bridge ❤️❤️ so good, crisp. I love the sparkly light bloops in the instrumental background, don’t know how to explain. 8/10

THANKXX: I will never!!! Get tired!!! Of Hongjoong’s little laugh before he starts a verse 😩👏🏼✨ This is definitely a hype song, I actually preferred the sample they posted of this better than inception when voting was happening (still voted for inception tho) but now I’m glad Inception won cause it’s definitely a bit more distinctive. Anyway. I love the instrumental of this one, the percussion especially, and the way the bridge is basically a screaming match!!! I love!! 8.5/10

TO THE BEAT: I LOVE THIS IMMEDOATELY WTFFFFF THE WHISPERING START FUCK ME UPPPP. the way they have “to the beat” going over and over in the bg is SO SATISFYING, EXO did the same thing with Obsession and it’s part of why the song immediately hooked me, I LOVE when artists do that. You expect a beat drop but instead it’s??? Something else??? ITS SO GOOD!!! The clapping lead up to the chorus??? The general minimal musical usage for the chorus, mostly just their voices and the beat and that subtle little electric wave going off that’s also mostly for the sake of percussion??? AND THEN THE EDM BRIDGE /ENDING OMGGGGGGGG FUCK ME UPPPPPP. THIS IS SO GOOD IM DEAD. 100/10

INCEPTION: again, love the hook, it DOES something to me idk. Love how the song is clearly so epic but the whole first verse and lead-up everyone keeps their voice really soft like? The juxtaposition? And UGHH that little bloopy dance break segment right after the first chorus, I’m SO HAPPY they kept it on the official track. I think as a title track it has similar vibes to Say My Name and Answer, which I think is good because for a rookie group (they’re still rookies!!!! Wtf!!) they do need to keep things a bit consistent before they have more room to experiment with their title tracks, which I think would’ve been the vibe if THANKXX had won. Anyway epic and lovely. Wooyoung SLAYS those long notes. 7.5/10

Good lil boy: ok starts off super different than what I anticipated from the title???. I love the fast percussions during the chorus, and I love that I UNDERSTAND what the song is about without even needing to read the lyrics like??? That’s talent. The few little guitar strings right before the chorus hits?? Oooooohhhh so nice. AND AGAIN RIGHT BEFORE THE END UGGHHHH I wish we had more of that guitar honestly haha, but I guess it’s the sparsity that makes it stand out more. 8/10

One Day At A Time: I’m. Speechless. They were under absolutely no obligation to make AN ENTIRE ASS SONG IN ENGLISH for us international fans like????????? What????? For me it means SO MUCH and very fitting that a song that isn’t as catchy, that RELIES on the lyrics to make it a strong song, is one that I can immediately understand like??? Who told them to do that??? They didn’t have to but they did!!!!! WHO DOES THAT. ALSO YUNHO???? GETTING A HIGH NOTE???? IM QUAKINGGGGGGG
It’s so comforting and sweet and I’m. Emotional. What a great ending. 9/10

Overall: it is HARD to top TREASURE EP.2 for me but, with time,,,,, this one just might. Like I wasn’t even expecting to be so PLEASED and yet here we are. Great comeback.

the 1: the instrumental is SUPPERB right off the beat. Love the parallels she draws between verse 1 and 2, I LOVE when she does that (she does that in almost every sing honestly?? I’ve missed it so much?? It’s such a Taylor thing). Soft, sparkly, nostalgic. also really fucking sad and makes me choke up no big deal. 7.5/10

cardigan: another sad nostalgic one, very catchy in a soft way?? Similar vibes to P!nk’s Who Knew, just slower. And definitely more hopeful, towards the end. 7/10

the last great American dynasty: I 👏🏼LOVE 👏🏼STORY 👏🏼TELLING 👏🏼SONGS!!! THEYRE LITERALLY WHAT MADE ME FALL IN LOVE WITH TAYLOR’S MUSIC WAY BACK WHEN!! Ten out of ten lOVE this one. 8.5/10

exile: this one needs to grow on me, I don’t particularly like Bon Iver’s voice (it’s not bad!! Just not my thing), but I do like the bridge where Taylor echoes him. 5/10

my tears ricochet: sooo good, hits close to home hahaaaa 😭😭 it’s almost a direct contrast to Teardrops on my Guitar, I don’t know if that was on purpose? 8/10

mirrorball: this one also needs to grow on me, it seems more positive at least! 6/10

seven: I love this one too, another one close to home 💕💕💕😭 these are all fucking “time to cry” songs just,, different types of crying haha. 7/10

august: another set of sad memories described with contentment, and nostalgia. Lovely. 7/10

this is me trying: perfection. Stunning. Relatable gorgeous beautiful soul wrenching. 9.5/10

illicit affairs: soooooooo good, I love gentle moralistic songs, soft but grounding. Kinda like a mentor sitting you down and cautioning you haha. “You taught me a secret language I can’t speak with anyone else” UGH GO OFF. 8.5/10

invisible string: sweet ☺️✨ soft. 9/10

mad woman: THIS ONE. THIS 👏🏼IS 👏🏼THE 👏🏼ONE. 👏🏼 THANK YOU TAYLOR FOR MY RIGHTS. 100/10

epiphany: very much an angelic heaven’s gate choir song? If that makes sense. Lots of symbolic lyrics that I will need several listens to fully decipher. I love a challenge. Very pretty. 7.5/10

Betty: the INSTRUMENTAL 😭😭❤️ lovely as well, back to December vibes. Storytelling songs maaaaaann. 8/10

peace: those opening guitar strings 💕💕💕💕💕 uhhhh I love. So RAW and genuine I LOVE THIS ONE TOO UGH. Lovely use of language. This one ACTUALLY made me cry, the only one on the album holy shit. 20/10

hoax: beautiful. What a great song to close with. Really ties it all back to the general vibe of the album. 8.5/10

Overall: I love it for the same reasons I love Troye Sivan’s debut, Blue Neighborhood. It has such heavy nostalgia and reminiscence tied into it. Grounding and emotional. Good for a cry but also great to just,,, chill to. If you avoid certain songs haha.

Oh my god (+english version): one of my favorite releases of the year. Not much else to say, I’ve raved about it a thousand different times in a thousand different places haha. Perfection. 10/10

Luv U: :-) LOVE how this starts. Gidle has great hooks wow. It’s kinda dark and gritty, matches the haunting quality of the title track. I adore the chorus edm(?), this is just GOOD. SOYEON’s RAP THANK YOU. Slurp SLURP they ate this song. goodness. 9/10

Maybe: they always do something new with instrumental, and they always give you a taste at the start of every song. This one’s airy-er, and then the chORUS hits you like BAM. I love this juxtaposition very much. Echoes and static and YUMM. 9/10.

LION: I admit this had to grow on me, but now I LOVE it. It’s a creeping up sort of power. The chorus is addictive. The message is great. 9/10

Overall: by FAR their most cohesive album. They stick to a theme all the way through. I hate that it’s so short but that works in favor of it being especially coherent. All the songs fit with this goal of Chilling you, haunting and kinda creepy vibes, but powerful throughout. Very very nice.

All the add-ons from Persona are obviously lovely, HOME and Dionysus and Persona are my favorites from those, and Make It Right and Boy With Luv are still bangers so 🙌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼💕

Interlude: Shadow: holy SHIT when I tell you I’m FLOORED like. Like. The lyrics are so intense and literally not even knowing the lyrics gave me fucking CHILLS like. It hurts me so much but it’s so raw and genuine and I LOVE it it’s so perfect. I LOVE the transition between the verses from longing to INTENSITY AND TOO MUCH AND IT LITERALLY SOUNDS CLAUSTROPHOBIC LIKE?????? THE TALENT of this fucking man. The callback he makes with big house big cars big rings like I’m shook??? Thank you Yoongi for my rights. 200/10

Black Swan: this was the first and only song I heard off the album way back when it came out haha. It’s BEAUTIFUL and so ELEGANT ugh I love how the rappers adjust their styles and voices to suit the vibe like?? I can’t explain it?? It’s this lovely successful modernization of very old traditional instrumentals. Like is that a harp??? Idk about instruments but this is such a smooth hit. It would be a favorite but the sheen has already worn off after a few months haha. Still get chills though. 10/10

Filter: I know it’s supposed to be seductive haha, but to me it sounds so much more like longing. Bending over backwards to please a love interest, and all that. Obviously Jimin’s voice is otherworldly, paired with the very simple guitar chords that are sort of reminiscent of Latin music?? Lovely. And then the beat that kicks in quicker in the second chorus?? Woof. And the best during the bridge!!! Such a musically pleasing song wow. Also very nice to hear Jimin’s voice going deep occasionally ( “ok” and “yeh” sprinkled about). 8.5/10

My Time: (he’s only 24????? Wtfffff???) This is another sad banger. I love the fast pace and ugh jungkook rapping thank you. Like. JK has always been my least favorite member but GOD do I see why he’s so many people’s favorite. His voice is really lovely. And the message here is so strong too, what is it with these sad solos haha. Definitely another favorite. 9/10

Louder than bombs: the percussion and set up of the song gives the impression (and expectation) of a more fast paced track, but they sing it like a ballad, and so BEAUTIFULLY. Like the contrast between the beat and choir effect they’re creating is just 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼 not even to mention the message of the fucking song. A masterpiece. 10/10

ON: far from my favorite title track. It definitely needs to grow on me, and I think it COULD but I would need to get bored of the other tracks first, which might never happen haha. I can’t really explain it, I just don’t immediately vibe with it. MV is epic though. 4/10

UGH!: AN IMMEDIATE FAVORITE THANK YOU RAP LINE I HAVE BEEN BLESSED. NANEUN UKHAE AMIRIGHT. Like there’s really not much I can say it’s just a hype song and they’re spitting straight facts and it was an immediate favorite also. Also the last twenty seconds of just the instrumental going OFF is perfection. 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 100/10

00:00: very relatable, but the song itself needs to grow on me. It’s a little plain for me, since I can’t directly translate the lyrics in my head. I do like the little “and you gonna be happy” towards the end of each chorus, adds something mire hopeful. And the way Jimin and Jin share that high note before the last chorus 🥰🥰 6.5/10

Inner Child: a sad jam 😔🙌🏼🙌🏼 Maturity // reality // awareness // difficulty. But that won’t stop us from smiling as often as we can. Like. God I love this. Would’ve been a great alternative for the Outro, but I love Ego too much to say that too seriously haha. 8.5/10

Friends: one of my immediate favorites. I can HEAR both Jimin and V, not just their voices but their AURAS melding together so well. It’s so HAPPY and breezy and yet DEEP, like a more energetic ballad. I’m so glad they made this. “You are my soulmate” fucking GETS me everytime. 😭💕💕🙌🏼 9/10

Moon: finally Jin is getting the appreciation and content he fucking DESERVES. I’ve always been a fan of Jin’s voice and thought it was so underrated, and he’s only improved like. This is such a sweet song, I’m warm and I’m soft. I love this. I love hearing him sing. 8.5/10

Respect: THE RAP LINE GOES SO HARD THIS ENTIRE ALBUM IM FED. Seriously I LOVE them. I love the bop-y instrumental, I love the flow of their lyrics, I love the lil satoori convo they have at the end, I love the anthem feel of the chorus. MY BIAS AND BIAS WRECKER KILLING IT UGGGGGGGHHHH ❤️❤️❤️❤️ 10/10

We are bulletproof: the eternal: hahahagagagagGaaaaa excuse me while I go cry. This really is such a genuine song for any longtime BTS fan. You Never Walk Alone. Beautiful. 8/10

Outro: Ego: so iconically JHope. The chorus is EVERYTHING. I LOVE him I LOVE this. It’s so hype yet still so mature with its theme like. He’s my hope he’s my angel I’m crying this is so good. 10/10

Every. Single. Rap line song. Was custom made for me just for me. The vocal solos are so strong too, every song has such a good and deep message. I’m so floored by this album. Like it has officially joined the number one spot next to Love Yourself: Tear, they can share it :)

Señorita: I mean it’s a BOP. Love this as a title track, it’s super fun and sexy. It’s just FUN. I love the ad-libs, love the tempo, the “fu-fu” and “woo-o-o-o”. Soyeon’s rap in the second verse is of course, great as usual 🙌🏼🙌🏼. 9/10

What’s your name: huh. It’s definitely different. I think it’s a bit noisy??? For me? There’s a lot going on with the instrumental and I feel like they’re singing to a tune that doesn’t totally match up?? I guess it’s not for me. 5/10

Put it straight: I definitely prefer this type of ballad. There’s something haunting about it, and it relies on the softness and airiness of the members’ voices rather than the strength of their lungs. 7.5/10

Give me Your: it started and I IMMEDIATELY started smiling wow 😊😊 this is cute and peppy, the hopping beat and sweetness of their tones. Soyeon’s occasional ad-libs!! 🥰💖 the jazzy bridge!! Ugh love. 8.5/10

Blow your mind: now THIS. THIS is what I was expecting from an EP with Senorita as a title track. I ADORE this it’s playful and sensual and a splendid counterpart to Senorita. The chorus!!!!!!!!!!! I don’t even know what to call that but it’s SUPER. 10/10

Overall: I think I set my expectations too high because of the title track. That’s my bad. This definitely ended on a stronger song than I Am. And I still like the majority of the songs (there are a grand total of 5,,,). Blow Your Mind is THE standout from this album, without it I unfortunately would not think much of it.

Good to me: this was my SHIT for SO LONG, it starts so strong and it’s speedy and it’s groovy and it’s a lil sexy?? STILL a BOP now. 9/10

Home: this one grows on you. The chorus is so strong and sweet, and I didn’t realize how much I loved it until i watched the video, which does add a lot for me. The way the rappers soften their tone for this one and even get to SING i’m,,,,, uwuing. 8/10

Hug: This is a lot of people’s favorite vocal unit song and unfortunately I find it forgettable. Another instance of wishing I understood Korean because it’s definitely a song that hits the feels with its lyrics (the title is enough to tell you that). It’s warm and calm for sure, has its charm. Balladiest ballad I’ve ever heard from SVT. 5/10

Chilli: this one’s SO CUTE! It’s a true bop, I bounce to it anyday, the beat is mildly reminiscent of Drake’s Hotline Bling and that’s the catchiest part of the song so. 8.5/10

Shhh: This IS the same album as Getting Closer, so it makes sense they’d stick with the experimental “dark theme” for at least a few more songs. The beat is GRITTY i LIKE IT, the chorus especially, a nice surprise. I like the sprinkle of strings i hear in the second verse, and then after the bridge!!nice. The “whisper, trust me” bits just make me giggle, but not cringe. 8.5/10

Getting Closer: ah yes the treat of the era, everyone went crAZY over “Dark Concept SVT”. The choreo is spectacular (see MV), but listening to it on its own I got tired after a while. I do need to be in a particular mood for it. But when I am, it’s superb. The kinda creepy opening, the noise elements that are so RARE for SVT, the hard-hitting pre-chorus and then Chorus, the BRIDGE with the Demon voice, it all ties together quite well. 8/10

Overall: An incredibly strong album, I wish I could love Hug as much as everyone else because then the mini-album would easily top AI4. 7.8/10

Oh my!: this one’s a legend. She’s so pretty, so peppy, so sweet and cute and feel-good. She grew on me because she’s one of the top songs used for SVT compilation videos by fans haha. Such a pick-me-up. The little sparkle-steps during the first half of each verse!! The way it makes me smile and warm! feelings!!! “I REALLY LIKE YOU! I BETTER TELL! I BETTER TELL SOMEBODY!” AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA 10/10

Holiday: It’s cute. The chorus doesn’t hit as hard I was hoping. But the instrumental is lovely! And it’s cute. 6/10

Come to me: bloopy!! Bouncy! :D soft but catchy and rhythmic!! Like this a lot !! unfortunately it doesn’t really go anywhere?? Kinda static, i imagine it gets old quick. 6.5/10

What’s Good: hahahahHAHAHHahaaaaa I don’t know what I was expecting from the title. I admit I really like the chorus. What’s going on hahahahah. Aw it’s cute though. Definitely distinctive and one to come back to. 7.5/10

MOONWALKER: this is another great one. SOOO catchy, the way the beat goes fUNky right before the chorus! And then the build up to them going “mOOnwalkerwalkerwalkerMOOnwalker” is superb. I’m a big fan. It’s smooth and chill but funky and happy! FUNKY!!!! 8.5/10

Our dawn is hotter than day: You think it’s going to be a Thot Bop but it’s actually more sweet? And has a pride to it? Like “the future is bright for us” type of feel. You could interpret it romantic or platonic, perfect. It’s slow and nice and hopeful, closes the album well. 7/10

Overall: A cute and upbeat album, very Classic Seventeen. Not all the songs catch my attention enough for a second listen. 7.5/10

LATATA: definitely catchy, a great debut song. I loved it when I heard it way back when, grew tired of it quickly, but I’ve come back around to it. The beat is very nice, and the thin edm part right after each chorus is lovely. 7/10

$$$: I LOVE this. Soyeon comes in so STRONG and then the bleeps and bloops with the cutest vocals I’m???? Beautiful splendid amazing. I do wish that another girl had picked up with a rap for the second verse but. Still a very strong song. 9/10

MAZE: love the strings that start, great instrumental overall. This song is so GLOWY if that makes sense. Very 🌸✨💕🌺💋🌷💫 you know. I feel like the vocalists really get to shine here. 8/10

DON’T TEXT ME: I like this slower tempo. Kinda r&b-ish? I vibe to this for sure. I like Soyeon’s little bridge, it doesn’t feel too out of place for me. 7/10

What’s in your house?: ok THIS START sooo good, the fingerClacks with the lil guitar plucks in the background UGH 😩💖 I love this so much, the airiness, the levity. A hip shaker no question. I LOVE this wTF. Idk if psychedelic is the right word for this but it is TAKING ME PLACES. 10/10

Hear me: The Ballad. It’s nice being able to hear all the vocalists so clearly. I’d critique that their voices aren’t very strong compared to the orchestral instrumental? It picks up in the bridge though in terms of strength. It’s nice. 6.5/10

Overall: definitely a good debut EP. For me it would have been better not to end on the ballad, but I understand the point was to show the group from all angles, to set up their capabilities. It’s fun and cute and strong.

Don’t Wanna Cry: it’s ironic that I joined during this era (where SVT REALLY skyrocketed to popularity with this title track, the MV is sublime), but for the longest time I really wasn’t crazy about this song. I began following because of previous works like CLAP and TRAUMA haha. But this song has grown on me very much recently. It’s catchy, it’s got a great edm chorus, I LOVE the bridge, the violin in the background kind of reminds me of the build-up in an orchestral piece. Not to mention the iconic dance. Good stuff. 7/10

HABIT: The opening strings!!! This is absolutely lovely, I believe that’s Woozi belting in the first verse? The chorus hits hARD, majestic and glorious. The longing is strong in this one. One of the vocal unit’s more distinct ballads. 8/10

IF I: GROOVY but also EMO????? The instrumental after the chorus is sort of reminiscent of Don’t Wanna Cry but I personally prefer how it’s done here? A softer hip-hip unit song, sort of like TRAUMA which is right up my alley. I CANNOT get over the electric guitar in the background. 9/10

Swimming Fool: One of my all-time favorite b-sides, though the performance unit songs very consistently appeal to me. I love the whistling, I love the rhythm, I love Dino’s rap. The biggest crime is the line distribution: “la la la” and “throw your hands up x3” do not count as actual lyrics for China-line. They really said “we gave them a whole song, that’s enough, they get scraps the rest of the album”. Still a catchy and nostalgic song. 9/10

MY I: A MASTERPIECE. THE VIDEO, THE TIP-TOE TYPE BEAT, THE RATTLING IN THE BG EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE. I HEAR THIS AND I GET CHILLS AND SEROTNIN ALL AT ONCE EVERY! SINGLE! TIME! I WILL NEVER STOP TALKING ABOUT THIS SONG. I LOVE SOULMATE VIBES. 100/10

CRAZY IN LOVE: One of Seventeen’s most prominent Thot Bops (you really have to search for them with SVT’s discography). The rappers do great here (“zigizageu~”), it’s really just a chill song to vibe to, even if the vocals aren’t quite as strong as I personally would prefer in the chorus. 8.5/10

Overall: This is one of my favorite of their mini albums, as biased as I may be because it’s the era that I became a fan. 8.5/10

A/N: this was part of a deep-dive into Monsta X's discography, done after becoming a fan in 2020.

Ready or Not: starts great 👍🏼 great verses (second one!!! As always!!!) Pretty good chorus too.

Beautiful: NOT WHAT I EXPECTED FROM THE TITLE???? Fuck me up????? THIS is a title track WOOF. The singing pre-chorus and then actual chorus?? Very very nice. Vocals are not as powerful as the bg music again, but for some reason here it WORKS???? This song confuses me by how good it is wtf.

Incomparable: very good hook. I like the uneven delivery of their lyrics in tune with the lyrics??? Idk how to say it. It’s like this lilting beginning verse? And the lilt stays throughout the song. I LIKE it is the point haha. The formula is a bit different here as well, you don’t hear too much of the Joohoney-I.M team until the very end of the bridge. Structurally very interesting and a song to come back to.

Need U: sparkly ✨✨💕😌 I vibe with this. Is that a club beat?? Mixed with soft vocals and cute rap, love that.

Oi: the second song I’ve heard here that starts with the mark “safari —-“ can’t catch the second word. Hmhm. Anyway HYPE start, I love the laser gun noises during the verses. I’m actually super into this, the strength of the Vocals !! During the pre-chorus and chorus!!! I am Pleased.

Miss You: chiller, oooooh right before the chorus there’s a nice little synth beat that starts up in the back, love. There’s actually a lot of yearning in this one that I can easily pick up on, I like the message, vibes.

Calm Down: get itttt I.M!!!!! Great hook. The chorus needs to grow on me, but the verses as always are lit. JOOHONEY!!!!!!! 😭😭😭✨💕 Killer Bridge too.

All I Do: I love the little repetitive riff that starts this one and follows the song. A more pop-y song, honestly reminds me a bit of a seventeen track haha. Something to walk/run to, good reliable beat.

5:14 (Last Page): something very sweet and soft but still distinctively Monsta X. Another chill one, not a lot of changes in rhythm or tone and it’s pulled off well, considering that’s not what they usually do.

A/N: this was part of a deep-dive into Monsta X's discography, done after becoming a fan in 2020.

Fighter: Hype. Strong power yes. Good shit. The vocals are improving :))

Be Quiet: wAIT I DID NOT EXPECT THIS BUILD UP AT THE START AT. ALL. I.M goes HARD for no reason????? This song literally beat me up in broad daylight for everyone to see and laugh at omg. Same style of hype as Hero and Follow, holy SHIT. “omg omg oMG” ME TOO JOOHONEY.

Blind: really like the starting beat mmmmm 👌🏼 Another smoother one? Oooooh yes SMOOTH, you think it’s about to go hard but then it’s just,,,, good. Good shit. I like this very much. And that percussion keeps GOING very nice.

Queen: powerful title, this better be good. Ok it’s a similar hype to Fighter, kinda static. The verses are GOOD though, it’s the chorus I’m not super crazy about (not catchy enough??). Still GOOD, just not enough to make it onto a playlist.

White Love: another soft one, fit for an OST, not particularly memorable. Nice instrumental for sure. MX really does fluctuate between hella EDM shit to nice and lively acoustics and instruments, no one said they weren’t versatile 🙌🏼😌✨ AWWW WAIT the sweet acapella clapping and cheering before the end, that’s cute ❤️❤️

Roller Coaster: immediately kinda get Seventeen vibes 😌😊. Love how different the instrumental is depending on where you are in the song, this is low key hype wow ✨✨ what a nice closer.

A/N: this was part of a deep-dive into Monsta X's discography, done after becoming a fan in 2020.

Ex Girl: a sweet little intro song. I love Wheein’s part 🥰🥰✨ Sounds like something more mainstream, reminds me of something GOT7 or SHINee might do, sound-wise.

All In: the legendary MV. The song is pretty epic, but I wish the chorus hit harder. 😕 The verses are great. With some stronger vocals the song would be perfection. A Vibe nonetheless. The beat is SICK.

Stuck: OH THIS IS GOOD!!! Starts off super hype, doesn’t waver, then builds up nice to the chorus. What is it with Monsta X and KILLER second verses???? That formula of Joohoney followed by I.M is 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼. Love the Bridge, dance break vibes.

Sweetheart: cuuutte, teen love story vibes. I like that’s it’s technically a soft song but the instrumental still goes SO HARD haha. “I wanna love yoouuu bABEYYY” GET IT 🙌🏼

Unfair Love: OOOOHHHH?? I LOVE HOW THIS STARTS???????? Get me with that guitar!!!!! This is the STRONGEST song on this album by far, it goes HARD 💕✨✨🙌🏼

Because of U: derpy smooth, the vocals are suitable to the song here. The crooning parts are what tie it all together.

Overall: this album solidifies how much the group’s VOCALS have improved over the years, they really,,,,, aren’t that strong in these earlier albums?? The songs rely a lot on EDM and instrumental and the rappers for power and build-up, and the vocals fall short in comparison. This sometimes makes particular songs underwhelming. But again, improved IMMENSELY, one look at their English album is enough to be sure.

A/N: this was part of a deep-dive into Monsta X's discography, done after becoming a fan in 2020.

Rush: it SOUNDS like a rookie boy group song :)))) Kinda reminds me of Firetruck by NCT. It’s catchy and cute, I GOT A PHONE CALL haha. The bleeps and bloops and general techno vibes are pleasing but I feel like they could get old quick. The MV is ADORABLE.

Hero: a BANGER, to THIS DAY!!!!!! The first Monsta X song I was obsessed with, it’s so hype. I.M’s verse is ICONIC here, Jooheon too, this really is a masterpiece. Nothing else to say really.

Perfect Girl: cute, sweet, straight. Not much to say, it’s a tame song for Monsta X. I like the subtle bleeps in the background, like twinkling stars. I like the ending instrumental very much, it’s chill.

Amen: similar to Perfect girl, a little smoother, I LOVE the horns in the background during the chorus. Also like the old-timey girl speaking recording placed in at certain intervals. I’d vibe to this honestly.

Gone Bad: the rapping is so fast here! The lyrics in general are fast paced, until the chorus hits haha. It has the same cowbells as RUSH. The BRIDGE is what makes the song for me, holy shit. I just want that edm part on repeat haha.

Broken Heart: oh a REAL ballad. I really like the second verse starting with straight rapping, it juxtaposes well with the acoustic piano.

Overall: very heterosexual haha. some gems here for sure, Hero is still the best track on this one but Amen and Gone Bad could grow on me.

A/N: this was part of a deep-dive into Monsta X's discography, done after becoming a fan in 2020.

Trespass: honestly pretty hype, Joohoney back at it being iconic with his squawks and EXCUSE MY CHARISMA ugh what a guy. I like the chorus instrumental in particular. Honestly a great debut title track.

No Exit: it’s ok, they’re using a similar instrumental for the chorus as before but this one is tamer and so it’s all not as effective, idk. Not much else to say.

One Love: really like how this one starts. It’s smooth and a VIBE ugh, I love ballad rapping in general. The Chorus is SMOOTH idk how else to put it haha.

Honestly: another smooth one, I like the deep piano/keyboard notes during the chorus, the soft rapping, thank youuu.

Steal Your Heart: this one is Funky, I like the beat. Back with bleeps and bloops, they really are a staple of Monsta X’s music. I’m kinda into it but I think it’s more one of those nostalgic songs I would appreciate more if I were an older fan. But knowing that they improve so much and have many more songs that top this one, it’s a little underwhelming. I like the ending though.

Blue Moon: 😊 it starts off sweet. Lyrics indicate that it’s sad haha, but it’s soft and nice and I honestly really like it??? Idk why this one in particular. I guess I like their ballads.

Interstellar: this is hype wait haha. I love the tune in the bg playing on repeat. This is a BOP what a satisfying end to the album.

Overall: not bad but obviously a debut album. The slower songs impressed me the most haha. Trespass is still a great title track.