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NewJeans EP Album Vol. 1 - New Jeans (Bluebook Version) (Random Version)
NewJeans
HYBE and ADOR's long-awaited first girl group has finally arrived! NewJeans, produced by the proficient Min Hee Jin, has been grabbing attention since day one with their musical and fashion aesthetics that are pleasing to both the ear and the eye. On August 1, the group officially made their debut with the self-titled EP New Jeans. "A-T-T-E-N-T-I-ON, attention is what I want. A-T-T-E-N-T-I-ON, you got me looking for attention." The groovy intro and title track Attention (Track 1) introduces audiences to the beautiful vocal timbres and harmonies of these rookies. As the group's first-ever release, Attention sets up a fresh and dynamic style for them with its dreamy and subtly laid-back... [read more]
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KARD Mini Album Vol. 5 - Re:
KARD
Following two years of wait, KARD finally returns with a new music release! The co-ed group revives their presence in the K-pop scene with their fifth mini-album Re:. J.seph, BM, So Min and Ji Woo all took part in writing lyrics for the intro Break Down (Track 1), a song that shows their edgy and powerful side: "You say I gotta look good, I gotta look bad. Then you go and look for things that I lack… You love when I break down." Co-composed by RBW's Kim Do Hoon and Lee Hyun Seung, lead single Ring The Alarm (Track 2) gives off joyous summer vibes with its refreshing Moombahton tune accompanied with subtly sexy lyrics: "Ring the alarm, get on it, get on it all. What you want, what you need,... [read more]
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MeloMance Mini Album Vol. 7 - Invitation
MeloMance
From their 2017 sleeper hit Gift to the recent Business Proposal soundtrack Love, Maybe, MeloMance specializes in heart-touching and melodious tunes that give us all the feels. Two and a half years after Festival, the duo returns with five self-penned love songs in Invitation to accompany us during the romantic blossoming season. Kim Min Seok and Jeong Dong Hwan invite us to a festival of love in their five-track record. Showing off his powerful and refreshing vocal, Kim Min Seok conveys the growing feeling of excitement as he's on his way to meet his crush in the rhythmic title track Invitation (Track 1) – "I thought of you and froze. I'm getting ready to meet up with you who reached out... [read more]
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Bolbbalgan4 Mini Album - Seoul
Bolbbalgan4
We all enjoy Bolbbalgan4's spring jams – like Bom, Some, Travel, Hug – so it's sad that we didn't hear any spring-themed releases from her in the past two years. This year, Ji Young finally brings some sweet and lighthearted songs that put us in a lovey-dovey mood during the blossoming season. Our dreamy journey to Seoul sets off with first track Love Story, a modern rock number with high-teen spirit. Love Story cutely conveys the dreamlike feelings of a person in love: "It feels like the stars in the night sky are pouring down / Oh god please this is not a dream." The singer-songwriter captures a budding romance that first started in Seoul in the title track Seoul (Track 2). Refreshing and... [read more]
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IVE Single Album Vol. 2 - LOVE DIVE (Random Version)
IVE
Starship Entertainment's latest girl group IVE shot to fame in late 2022 with their chart-topping debut hit ELEVEN, which swept 13 trophies on music shows. With two IZ*ONE members in the group, you already know they're going to be big, but they've gone even higher than expected with such a well-made and stylish debut single. Four months after their eye-catching debut, the girls come back stronger and sassier with the new single album LOVE DIVE! IVE shows confidence and promotes self-love in the captivating, dark modern pop title track LOVE DIVE (Track 1). While some may suggest that it's merely about romantic love, LOVE DIVE can also be interpreted as looking into the mirror and falling in... [read more]
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WEi Mini Album Vol. 4 - Love Part.1 : First Love (FALLING IN LOVE Version)
WEi
From debut single Twilight to All or Nothing and Bye Bye Bye, WEi has pulled off various concepts in their first album trilogy. Out of all the concepts they've tried, I still think that cute, bubbly music and fashion style suit them the best, like DOREMIFA from IDENTITY: First Sight. This time, the boys finally reveal their high-spirited and youthful vibe by singing stories about first love in their fourth mini-album Love Part.1: First Love. Love Part.1: First Love sets its dreamy and romantic mood with Dae Hyeon's Britpop-style BLOSSOM (Track 1) that compares first love to the blossoming season. They shyly confess to a crush in the feel-good title track Too Bad (Track 2): "This... [read more]
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Rocket Punch Mini Album Vol. 4 - YELLOW PUNCH
Rocket Punch
Rocket Punch always impresses with their live singing and stable performances, particularly during their last comeback with the newtro synthpop Ring Ring. While the funky hip-hop trap genre is back as the trend of K-pop again, Rocket Punch continues their retro revolution with CHIQUITA, the title track of their fourth mini-album YELLOW PUNCH! Embracing the theme of "YELLOW, the closest color to light," the girl group unleashes their bright energy in YELLOW PUNCH! Starting off with the glitch-hop future bass Yellow Punch (Track 1), the album gives off a dreamy, upbeat ambience. Lead single CHIQUITA (Track 2) is a dance number that combines 80s disco and Euro dance genres, in addition to the... [read more]
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BTOB Vol. 3 - Be Together (Random Version)
BTOB
2022, the year to celebrate BTOB's tenth debut anniversary, becomes even more meaningful with their promise to Be Together in their first group comeback in four years. As always, BTOB radiates warmth and positivity through their beautiful singing in their third full-length album, Be Together. Starting with the piano Intro: The Trace (Track 1), Be Together takes us to a dreamy world with sounds of nature that calm minds. Flexing both their vocal timbres and abilities, BTOB romantically confesses that they will sing for Melody until time stops in lead single "The Song" (Track 2) penned by Hyun Sik! The sentimental ballad touches hearts and evokes memories, especially with the lyrics that... [read more]
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IDOL: The Coup OST (2CD)
Korean TV Series Soundtrack
| Kim Min Kyu
| Laboum
| WJSN (Cosmic Girls)
There are many TV series and web dramas about K-pop idols, but honestly, not many of them are compelling enough for audiences to watch until the very last episode. JTBC's 2021 drama IDOL: The Coup, however, won me over. Rather than revealing the secret lives or romance of idols, IDOL: The Coup focuses on five girls from the group Cotton Candy struggling and striving to achieve their dream – to win #1 on a music show before disbanding – while fighting against different powers and learning to accept what comes their way. IDOL: The Coup's soundtrack offers a range of original songs from its fictional groups Cotton Candy and MARS. Cotton Candy's cute debut single White Day, alluring Honest,... [read more]
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I'LL EP Album - KIWI MIXTAPE
I'LL
Korean singer-songwriter I'LL made a name for himself while taking part in JTBC's audition program Superband in 2019. With his outstanding producing skills and unique vocal color, the frontman led his band Hoppipolla to finish on top of the podium, and brought listeners a series of healing music to calm minds. Now, I'LL reveals more sides of himself as a musician in his solo EP KIWI MIXTAPE. While I'LL himself has said it's hard to define what genre the album is, KIWI MIXTAPE genuinely works as a collection of self-penned compositions that he loves, as well as a way to share thoughts he's had in 2021. Opening track "Liar" (Track 1) is a catchy R&B/soul jam about getting hurt by his... [read more]
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T-ara - Re:T-ARA
T-ara
Thanks to MMTG's "Hit Songs You Hear Secretly" and "Songs That Deserve a Comeback" concert projects, we got to see some of our favorite second-generation K-pop groups reuniting on stage, and T-ara was one of them. Months after their reunion, Qri, Eun Jung, Hyo Min and Ji Yeon keep their promise with fans and make a self-funded comeback with the new single album Re:T-ARA! T-ara shows the classic "T-ara style" in All Kill (Track 1)! They dress in chic cowgirl looks for this heartbreak anthem by producer Cho Young Soo and lyricist Ahn Young Min. Giving off poignant and irresistible feelings, All Kill reminds of T-ara's megahits Day by Day and Cry Cry, which were both also created by Cho and... [read more]
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Mr. Trot Top 6 Vol. 1 - Thanks for You
Jeong Dong Won
| Young Tak
| Jang Min Ho
| Lim Young Woong
Survival audition programs Miss Trot and Mr. Trot have taken Korea by storm in the recent two years, turning nameless singers like Song Ga In (winner of Miss Trot) and Lim Young Woong (winner of Mr. Trot) into superstars. Their significance goes beyond just being "good singers" – they've brought fandom culture to middle-aged audiences and introduced the traditional Korean music genre to younger generations. Wrapping up their group activities, Mr. Trot Top 6 gather their solo digital singles into their first (and temporarily last) full-length album Thanks for You. Young Tak and Jang Min Ho deliver the most authentic and traditional style of trot music and singings in their solo tracks.... [read more]
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aespa Mini Album Vol. 1 - Savage (Hallucination Quest Version)
aespa
Even with all the controversies and rumors circulating around them since debut, SM's newest girl group aespa has proven to be a great success with their distinctive sounds and metaverse concept complete with AI avatars. Following Black Mamba and Next Level, aespa continues to dominate music charts with their first mini-album and title track Savage! The album starts off with the stylish and catchy aenergy (Track 1), which shows the group's worldview and characters in the lyrics – "Karina rocket puncher, Winter armamenter, Giselle got xenoglossy, Ningning E.D hacker." After Girls' Generation's Beautiful Girls and SHINee's The SHINee World, Yoo Young Jin again creates a tailor-made anthem for... [read more]
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STAYC Mini Album Vol. 1 - STEREOTYPE (Random Version)
STAYC
From So Bad to ASAP, Black Eyed Pilseung-produced group STAYC is undoubtedly one of the fastest-rising K-pop rookies of 2021. This time, the STAYC girls continue to unleash their fresh teen energy with their first mini-album Stereotype, which sold over 110,000 copies in its first week! Black Eyed Pilseung created yet another hit song for STAYC – "Stereotype" (Track 1)! The girls show their attitude and ask others not to judge them by their looks in the refreshing, synthpop title track: "I know my look may seem pretty or bold. It may look like I've been seducing you. I'm sorry but don't view me with stereotype." Unlike So Bad and ASAP, there isn't an addictive hook in "Stereotype," but the... [read more]
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Red Velvet Mini Album Vol. 6 - Queendom (Girls Version)
Red Velvet
Just when we thought we'll have to wait for Red Velvet's comeback till kingdom come, the girls surprise us with a new mini-album after almost two years of wait. Irene, Seul Gi, Wendy, Joy and Yeri radiate queen energy through their sixth mini-album Queendom! "'Cause we are Queens and Kings / Put your hands up higher / Even if it rains / Strong and beautiful / A rainbow completed with different colors" – Red Velvet comes back stronger with their self-empowering title track Queendom (Track 1)! Making their first group comeback in 20 months, the girls go for a safer choice with a catchy but not particularly stunning title song. Queendom forthrightly spreads the message of "we are the queens... [read more]
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Hangout With Yoo - MSG Wannabe Album Package
Yoo Jae Suk
| Lee Dong Hwi
| Lee Sang Yi
| KCM
Following last year's SSAK3 and Refund Sisters, MBC variety program Hangout With Yoo surprises with another music project – MSG Wannabe, a parody of well-known vocal group SG Wannabe! This time, Yoo Jae Suk acts as producer Yoo Ya Ho to bring quality K-ballads with aspiring singers Byeollu Ji (Ji Suk Jin), Kim Jung Su (Kim Jung Min), Kang Chang Mo (KCM), Jung Ki Suck (Simon D), Lee Dong Hwi, Lee Sang Yi, Wonstein and Parc Jae Jung. MSG Wannabe officially debuts with their first album that features songs from a strong lineup of songwriters, ranging from Park Geun Tae (composer of SG Wannabe's Timeless) to Brown Eyed Soul's Naul and Young Jun. Subunit M.O.M (Byeollu Ji, Kang Chang Mo,... [read more]
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SF9 Mini Album Vol. 9 - Turn Over (Special Version) (Random Version)
SF9
Mnet's Kingdom: Legendary War successfully wound down in early June. During Kingdom, SF9 displayed their "classy sexy" charisma to the finest with grand and deep performances. They continue to illustrate this glorious chapter of their music journey with the ninth mini-album Turn Over. Instead of dropping summer jams like many other groups, SF9 goes moody and sentimental in title track Tear Drop (Track 1). At first listen, it gives off a pretty strong Good Guy vibe with its catchy topline, UK garage beats and song arrangement – both songs are from the same writers and producer. The group once asked their loves not to miss out on them in Good Guy. They are now left with broken hearts in Tear... [read more]
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Twice Mini Album Vol. 10 - Taste of Love (Random Version)
Twice (Korea)
Let's catch the summer fever with more summer jams! Following last week's Summer Queen by Brave Girls, another girl group arrived with more bangers – it's Twice with the new EP Taste of Love. This time, Twice gives us another taste of summer with their mature, sultry charms in the mini-album. Rather than going for an energetic and passionate night like in Dance The Night Away, Twice takes their time to chill and get tipsy in the title track Alcohol-Free (Track 1). With hip-hop elements blended in a bossa nova-based melody, Alcohol Free enacts a dreamy, magical summer romance in a tiddly atmosphere: "You are my champagne, my wine that I drink with my eyes. My tequila, margarita, Mojito with... [read more]
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Brave Girls Mini Album Vol. 5 - Summer Queen (Random Version)
Brave Girls
Considering the numerous scandals that broke out earlier this year, the rise of Brave Girls with viral hit Rollin' was perhaps the most positive and hopeful thing to happen in the K-pop industry. Now, the girls are back, and they're gonna be summer queens with their fifth mini-album! Brave Girls continue to go strong with the title track Chi Mat Ba Ram (Track 1)! Again produced by their boss and producer Brave Brothers, the tropical house dance number Chi Mat Ba Ram conveys a summer love that freshly arrives like the breeze blowing through their dresses. Despite coming with an entirely different melody, the song feels very much like Rollin' – from Yu Jeong's sweet opening to the addictive... [read more]
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Red Velvet : Joy Special Album - Hello (Photo Book Version)
Joy (Red Velvet)
Last year, Red Velvet's Joy surprised us with her hit song "Introduce Me a Good Person" from the Hospital Playlist OST. This year, she accompanies our summer days with the special remake album Hello for her official solo debut! Joy says goodbye to lonely days and welcomes sunny days in life with the modern rock title track "Hello" (Track 1). Carrying the dual meanings of "hello" and "goodbye," Annyeong (the Korean title of "Hello") is a remake of Park Hye Kyoung's "Good Bye," and encourages listeners to start their days with positivity. Kenzie's arrangement, along with Joy's bright tone, adds a more dynamic energy to the heartening anthem. When listening to Joy's rendition, you can totally... [read more]
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