Rolling Kpop 2021

the whole mini is really good

"Queendom" was a bit disappointing I thought, but will check out the mini.

I ended up listening to the AKMU collabs EP, and it's pretty decent if a little bit all over the place, stylistically. They always have such lovely melodies. And amazed that YG allowed them to shoot videos for every song lol.

Like this one: Hey Kid, Close Your Eyes (feat. Lee Sun Hee)

found 'queendom' the track to be meh, but enjoyed the mini.

stray kids' new one is a tad disappointing in that it's basically a retread of "God's Menu", but it's still pretty good. they definitely have settled into a signature sound: maximalist horns (helpfully telegraphed here by the lyric "horns get louder and grander, honk honk"), nonsense punctuating sounds, shifting tempos, intensity dialed up to 11.

also, their new album is titled "NOEASY" in case anyone suggests they aren't self-aware.

STRAY KIDS - Thunderous

new brave girls is nice and catchy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIZECe-55HY

yeah it's fun

I really like the Red Velvet mini! Pushing and Pulling is maybe their most openly spicy track:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYNU9D3mV68

Personally I like Knock Knock the best, Red Velvet are so good at RnB, that track really plays to their strengths as vocalists I think:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1VghRUV508

I do like how even in Queendom, which is like mostly straightforward pop, they throw a couple jazzy chords in a short chromatic run on the chorus (on that "Bling Bling" part). This is just what kpop is like now.

I really like the Brave Girls track! Finally a worthy follow up to the viral hit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3FVZNbm31w

i love it...

the guitar hook sounds vaguely familiar, it's probably from a popular song right?

but they just did such a good job with this!

also don't think anyone posted this, but it's probably the got the hook that's been stuck in my head the most this summer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzOjwL7IP_o

And just catching up, but that AKMU track is incredible!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMwJtMJLXE0

lol the CL album is apparently finally coming out in october after what, 6 years? this actually plays to her strengths for once

that's better than her previous tracks but still don't love it. lol @ her roping in John Malkovich for this though

Yeah i'm not too into this. She sounds good but the lyrics are like... already at the level of BTS Butter reaching for the most casual listener when she hasn't really broken into the market yet outside out the kpop and industry circles. If that makes sense.

Like way too obviously aware of the mainstream listener.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLlnf3dVzWU

thank you youtube recommendation engine

4 member vers of BTOB

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-rD_vr_2xQ

the instrumental bridge at about 3min is really cool!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja0MZQOWl1w

stayc - "stereotype"

one of the stronger girl group singles this year

a change of pace, v beach house/snow patrol to my ears

NELL - BEAUTIFUL JEOPARDY

ballad of the year imo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbIJV4aJRIA

The most divisive of kpop groups back with another jam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPdWvnAAurg

rolling up for the final 5 seconds of your music vid

JESSI - COLD BLOODED(with SWF)

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=lisa+lalisa&view=detail&mid=4B2D07A38DF623B1A5B54B2D07A38DF623B1A5B5&FORM=VRRTAP&PC=EMMX04

i still don't really know what to make of "savage", there's some nice sound design i guess but the song just isn't there. it's fragmented in a bad way

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-kl89T3Tnw

this (ichillin' - "fresh") would be great rather than just good if they made it a little hookier but there's still a lot to like here

love this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9jhxOwcaw0

billlie - "ring x ring" is pretty decent

^ A Kim Eana / Lee Minsoo joint

CHUNG HA - KILLING ME

also some christmas music

STRAY KIDS - CHRISTMAS EVE

found the new everglow song 'pirate' quite dizzying,to my ears there are at least 5 or 6 different bits of songs incorporated and unfortunately i only liked a couple of them. styling immaculate tho.

EVERGLOW - PIRATE

think i screwed up that everglow link think this one should work
EVERGLOW - PIRATE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnpUv1Vj5MA

loona - "hula hoop"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y40Ma6HXbw

onf - "goosebumps"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--FmExEAsM8

ive - "eleven"

"killing me" and "pirate" are fun and lmao "christmas evel" is ridiculous in a good way

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUdnTGnm6Yk

It's really funny what lessons kpop producers take from current trends... "that Justin Bieber song is doing pretty well, why don't we do a song about Peaches?" XD

"Feels good to be the bad guy" and the outfits are my favorite part of this.

Eleven has a bit of a bland chorus but the verses really cool! The way they recorded the voices is so good.

Coming in late but I'm also really into that Shin Ji Hoon ballad.

just this on loop all day

FELIZ NAVIDAD FELIZ NAVIDAD I CAN FEEL THE EVIL COMING BUT FELIX NEVER BAD pic.twitter.com/jcvXu6TOyK

— bangchan loops🎄 (@bchanloop) December 5, 2021

hello thread… I’ve been burned out since July or so and have found it really hard to absorb most new music, kpop or otherwise.

will catch up at some point (I hope), else see you all in 2022 <3

you're missed. stay well roz.

My feelings on ILM's year end kpop-wise so far is voting for aespa savage and weeekly - after school (this one is just pure delight)

although xxp maybe I should nominated shin ji hoon if others like it now.

and I'll probably thrown in iu's upcoming album/EP. first taste:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nDzKulmSpg

The IU album/EP is now out on Spotify. It's very good, at least if you care about lyrics and k-singer-songwritin' stuff. Her 'Speak Now' era, no co-writers.

Is there a 2022 thread?

Can't believe BigBang is on the Coachella 2022 lineup... honestly came here just to express my disbelief. XD

lol they were on the 2020 line-up before it was canceled by COVID. Are any of them even interested in being "Big Bang" anymore?

GD seems to be doing fashion/branding stuff full-time, Taeyang settling into dadhood, TOP is still buying expensive art and trolling kids on IG, and last I checked, Dae was apparently running an anonymous drumming youtube account lmao (the less said abt Seungri the better...)

i don't think the 2022 lineup has been announced yet beyond ratm, who knows if it will even go ahead

very possible bigbang are still on it but who knows. there were reports they were planning a comeback single (without seungri) in early 2020 that was delayed/cancelled due to the pandemic

rolling kpop 2022

anyway here's a 2022 thread because the got the beat track is really bizarre!