Unfortunately, it’s still been a busy time in the news arena, so maybe some stuff is getting thrown in here that would’ve gotten a separate look under other circumstances. Didn’t skip anything I felt was truly like elite, though.
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MCND – “X10”
At times during the chorus, it reminded me of a poor man’s EXO‘s “Growl“, which isn’t a bad place to be, honestly. The rest isn’t nearly as engaging, but it shows flashes.
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JUST B – “Daddy’s Girl”
It definitely sounds like a K-pop English-language single, if that makes sense, but it’s also harmless sing-a-long fun.
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ONEUS – “Now”
I thought it was a good cover, even though it very much does feel like mostly just a straight cover of Fin.KL‘s original. Regardless, I’m all for this stuff and people rediscovering sounds like this. If that’s what it takes, then that’s what it takes.
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JD1 – “ERROR 405”
Instrumentally solid and appropriately funky and fun. Wish the chorus brought more to the table and the hook actually hooked me.
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Soojin – “MONA LISA”
That is a grating fucking chorus.
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Chen (EXO) – “Empty”
Glad when idols get to do what they want musically, but man I wouldn’t even know a lot of them if they started their careers doing what they prefer.
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TREASURE – “KING KONG”
Bombastic and in your face, there’s definitely potential here. However, the breakdown really kills momentum and there’s a lack of impact to it. Had to relisten before posting it to remember how it went, for example.
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Yves (LOONA) (Feat. Lil Cherry) – “Loop”
This probably deserved to get its own post under normal circumstances, as there’s strong foundations here with the DJ-bait house beat and the strangely alluring “ooh ooh ooh” hook. Hell, even Lil Cherry in the pre-chorus didn’t ruin the song, but man her rap verse does ruin the flow and momentum. For many, the standard for this particular featuring felt like “don’t completely ruin things”, and because she didn’t do that they played it off as being “good”, which is not the same. Might grow on me with time, we’ll see.
Lil Cherry as your debut featuring is certainly one of the choices of all time.
— Asian Junkie (@asianjunkiecom) May 29, 2024
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ATEEZ – “Work”
Such a talented group with great ideas, but they haven’t hooked me recently, as this ode to getting paid seems designed solely to go viral on social media. By far the most interesting part is the flute, which is like the one from NCT 127‘s “Sticker” but actually good. Plus the music video is a spectacle I appreciate.
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ARTMS – “Virtual Angel”
Enjoyed the driving beat, which carries the song to relevance, but the melodies don’t hit paydirt for me and it seems surprisingly lacking dynamism. Also, I couldn’t watch the music video. I don’t have epilepsy, but it’s headache inducing.
Welcome back T-ara's video editor! https://t.co/qjnpfgp77E
— Asian Junkie (@asianjunkiecom) June 1, 2024
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Might have stuff on BTS‘s RM separate cause the music videos are good.