ATEEZ: ANTAGONIZING ATINY
(I am not impartial)
- Golden Hour 3: In Your Fantasy Edition - "Lemon Drop", "In Your Fantasy", "Castle"
- Solos from Everyone! ("Sagittarius" has become a favorite of mine) and then dropping an MV for everyone!
- Delightfully restrained Japanese release - "Ash" (San is a half air, half angel in this song.)
- Seonghwa's sweet and lovely "Odoriko" Cover, and Yunho's "On My Way to You"
- Cute as Heck Wooyoung and Yeosang - "여상 & 우영 '방탄소년단 - 친구"
- Special Clips - From (2018), Choose, Sealook 2 OST, Waiting for you OST
- Saja Boys & ATEEZ (By Blanter Mashups) - "Your Halazia"
- StrayTEEZ - "Karma Form"
- In Your Fantasy: World Tour + Asia Tour
- endless Fan Service, including but not limited to; Ateez+ "dates", 8face Season 2, Ult Pepero Kiss x3, the Daesung ride x2+1, Risabae: Girls and Boys Night, Blind Date with Epik High, eating here there everywhere
- Yunho, the actor and singer, in Back! Stage, Electronic Brain Chief Jeong
- KQ Contract Renewal: 7 more years of 8 makes 1 team
90's + Y2K + early 2000's Nostalgia:
So much Timberland, Timberlake, and Neptunes inflected music this year. Pharrell himself stepped in for Seventeen and Crush, but the biters did it better.
ARrC - "nu kidz", "Dawns"
A straight but nuanced update to the sound.
Ten - "Stunner"
A detailed and exalted transformation of the stutter clock, timed for lyrical punch, shimmering vocal contrast drenched in mentasm. Elegant and beautiful.
Plus: "Bambola"
idntt - Unevermet "BOYtude", "You Never Met"
Doesn't have the streamlined Gen Z impact of Cortis - "Go!", but generates a few more ideas within the hazy slacker boy genre. Strong debut.
Doesn't have the streamlined Gen Z impact of Cortis - "Go!", but generates a few more ideas within the hazy slacker boy genre. Strong debut.
BEST OF NEW STRAWBERRY: In the absence of New Jeans
Hearts2Hearts - "The Chase", "Focus"
SM's in-house prog-leaning take on soft focus dance pop. Glistening sophistication balanced with a natural ease.
ifeye - "Nerdy"
Cozily rendered pop rendition of Jersey Club, where the beats are softened by cushions of pure sunshine.
HITGS - "Sourpatch"
Frothy declarations of love over gentle Jersey Club breakdowns, punctuated by CNC Music Factory "It takes two" adlibs.
DANCEY SHIT
82MAJOR - "Takeover", "Trophy"
Tour of Oaktown Warehouse Rave with the mood of Aphrodite's "Wishing on a Star" Jungle Remix
Meovv - "Hands Up"
Korean Folk meets frantic Jersey Club.
For vocals listen to "Lit Right Now"Korean Folk meets frantic Jersey Club.
Jennie - Ruby Album; "Like Jennie", "Seoul City"
Consistently urban cool in an effortlessly affectless way
Stray Kids - "Ceremony"
Feelgood messaging. Earwormy hype up.
Feelgood messaging. Earwormy hype up.
"Hip Hip..."
NMIXX - "High Horse"
Massive Attack meets Ninjatune vibing over singer songwriter bones
Massive Attack meets Ninjatune vibing over singer songwriter bones
Chaeyoung - Lil Fantasy Vol. 1 Album; "Shadow Puppets"
ILLICIT FEY LOVE
&Team - "Deer Hunter"
XLOV - "Rizz", "1&Only", "I'mma Be"
Enhypen - "Bad Desire"
P1Harmony - Ex "Dancing Queen", "Stupid Brain", Duh!, "Work", "Pretty Boy"
INDIE
Umzi - to the Album
HONORABLE MENTIONS + STRAY THOUGHTS
- Lots of rough rookies, a few rare gems:
- Fun = Close Your Eyes - "X", "All My Poetry"
- Quirky energy of Balming Tiger meets Gurls = KiiiKiii - "Groundwork"
- Freestyle Gwen Stefani = Twice - "This is For"
- Delightful Video = Illit - "Little Monster"
- Solid = Zerobaseone - "Doctor doctor", "Iconik"
