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Reviews (2026)
DEAD AND | Xdinary Heroes
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20/04/2026
Rating: 4 ★
DEAD AND finally released!!! I love comeback season. It's always such a fun and good time, especially getting to watch all the live clips and band practice videos. Anyway, overall album thoughts. Kind of crazy but I wasn't super on board when I first heard the whole album. I was actually kinda disappointed even, especially cos the instrumental was so good. Sue me, but I think after the insane runs of Beautiful Mind and LXVE to DEATH, and even X Room I just expected something as good? The excitement I felt first listening to DEAD AND wasn't as intense or on the same wavelength as the previous 2 albums, and I had to listen to the album a few times to really get into it. Nonetheless, the album is still pretty good and you can tell they have defintely expanded their sound. I love how much emphasis geonbanz got this album with so many keybaord/synth focused songs, including the title track. I feel like lyrically (?) the album wasn't as strong as the previous 2, but the instrumentals were INSANE. The instrumentals are really beautiful this album and pulled me in a lot more than the previous 2 albums. If Stuj let them release an instrumental album, I would love for it to be Dead And.
1. Helium Balloon
On my first listen, I didn't love the flow. I was honestly confused by the arrangement of the chorus, pre-chorus and verses, and the distorted vocals were kinda weird for me. I think usually the first track of their albums are really good but Helium Balloon might be the weakest one for me. HOWEVER, I love Jooyeon's vocals though, his voice is so perfect for the emotions of the song, the idea you are drifting away permanently once you let go like the balloon. The instrumental really enhances the feeling, and then the ending chorus where all of them are singing together...it feels like a perfect ending. If I could rearrange the album order, I might actually put this at the end, especially since there is the imagery of the balloon drifting away, like the album coming to a close.
2. Voyager
Oh god, this is a beautiful song. Like it's just beautiful. Hearing the instrumental and highlight samplers were already life changing, and I remember getting goosebumps when listening to it. The opening intro makes me just world pause and like soak it all in. This is Pluto's previously depressed but now more hopeful sister. O.de's synth is just perfect and so so good and meaningful for the overall emotions the song is trying to convey, the idea of a star exploding and dying, but then being able to form new stars and planets. It just sounds so uplifting and rising, like running up a hill and seeing the sunset as it sets over the city or something and everything feels like it's going to be ok, even though there is the idea of farewell and grief.
This title track is definitely on the softer side, even softer than Little Things but it has really grown on me. I think I just had that preconception that the title track would be hard hitting because of the last few runs but this is a solid song that really showcases their band equally, with the vocals, the guitar, the drums, and the keyboards. The second half of the song where it just runs non-stop from the pre-chous to chorus to the bridge and then the post-chorus (?) of them chorusing in the oh-oh-oh is just pure bliss and beauty. The bridge is honestly so good and when you watch it in the MV with the animation...oh my god they really knew what they were doing. It really perfectly encapsulated the dreamy, space vibe they were trying to convey.
Jungsu said he wrote this song during Troubleshooting era (oh my god 2 years ago...) when his friend passed away. And wow, that really spoke to me a lot and I hate to admit it but I cried while listening to this and watching the MV. Xdiz really weren't lying when they said they wanted to make songs for the ordinary people to relate to. My friend asked me if this would go in top 3 title tracks on the day it was released and back then I was unsure. But I think now after listening to it so many times, I might bump it into my top 3 title tracks from them...it's a perfect mix of slow and fast.
3. No Cool Kids Zone
This song was interesting...as someone on Album of the Year put it, I don't think I can find myself standing in the no cool kids zone. First, I do love the instrumental. It's really PTV coded and when I was first listening to the instrumental sampler it really felt like early PTV. But the lyrics are so questionable or cringe, and even after listening to it a few times it still feels awkward to me. Like even the weird distorted screaming or the talking line before the guitar solo is like ehhhh. I generally excuse their English releases even though I wish they would remain K-Rock but this is the first English release where I'm like ok no, let's go back to Korean. But it's such a shame cos the instrumental is so good and even the ending chorus with the key change is so fun T.T It's such a shame cos this song had really good potential (Side note: I keep hearing the lyric "You smell like cool kids I don't like" as "You smell like cookies I don't like" and I was genuinely confused at first but it just sends me everytime now.
4. Hurt So Good
This is FIGHT ME's sister who was obsessed with Muse because wow. The guitar on this is scrumptious and the flow is really good. The overall instrumental really does sound very inspired by Muse, especially the instrumental with the synth and how it builds up to the first verse. I really like the second verse as well, with the more isolated vocals and the lazy flow. The whole song really sounds like an intro opening, and Junhan's guitar solo is so, so good. It really highlights and goes back to their heavy rock roots and showcases the versality of the band, especially given the emphasis on the synth and keyboard in the other songs.
Actually if I had my way of organising the album, I would put Hurt So Good as the opening track and then Helium Balloon as the ending. I think this would be such a good opening track to establish the vibe of the album.
5. Rise High Rise
This is a really good classic hard-hitting rock song. It's in that same realm as MONEYBALL and Ashes to Ashes with the heavier guitar and even the synth. I can imagine how fun this would be chant, sing and jump around at a concert, this would be soooo fun. I think on a regular day I can't listen to this too much because it might give me a headache but I do appreciate how fun this song is. The lyrics are a little mmmhmmm but I will excuse it. This song was an immediate yes for me on my first listen.
6. KTM
Ahhh I was a little disappointed by this song cos I thought the snippet they showed of Ode's part in the song teaser was the chorus, and it sounded soooo good. O.de's voice this album is sooo good, especially in the second verse it really sounds like honey. But then it ended up only being the second verse, and the chorus of KTM ended up being a little more anti-climatic and weaker than I expected. But, this is a nice, solid, slower sounding song. Again, more emphasis on the synth and the keyboard in the verses and pre-chorus, before the heavier guitar comes through in the chorus. I loveee the ending part with the guitar and synth, it sounds so refreshing. You can really see their melting pot of genre thing come through. I lowkey would park this in the same genre of songs as like Man In the Box or even Crack in the Mirror, it feels very pre-heavy rock era Xdiz which is kinda nice!
7. X Room
Already reviewed this below but I think in comparison to the other songs, I actually still really like X Room a lot more, and this is rare given how I don't normally reach for the ballads. Still a solid song and again, the instrumental is just gorgeous.
I think that's all I have for my thoughts? Still a very hard-hitting album as compared to their pop punk or even pop era (re: pre-livelock era) and I love how they are really expanding their music. One thing I do miss though is the rapping. I think even though that's still a very k-pop coded thing, I feel like it really made them stand out. None of the songs in this album had raps which was such a shame. HOWEVER, would I put this up there? I don't think so...I still think Beaumi, LtD and Deadlock or even LaF have a better overall cohesive vibe, hence the rare 4 star rating. I am excited for my physical albums to come though, their graphic designers ate down.
Final Ranking!!
1. Voyager
2. Rise High Rise/X Room
3. KTM/Hurt So Good
4. Helium Balloon
5. No Cool Kids Zone
Staring at the Sun (Deluxe Edition) | Hotel Fiction
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15/04/2026
Rating: 3 ★
Strawberry | Caroline Loveglow
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11/04/2026
Rating: 3.8 ★
Re-discovery of Caroline Loveglow. I've always loved and listened to Blue Arcade but I recently clicked on her profile and realised that she released a whole album which included it. So here's my small review! (Also I know this was done in April but I re-discovered this in March, I just wanted some time to properly marinate and listen to it)
Overall it's a pretty cohesive album, I love the instrumentals and how the songs are very synth-based. The whole album feels very dreamy and calm. In a good way, it feels like when you're in a house party, maybe alone or with someone you're really close to, and you're kinda just mesmerised and watching the crowd swirl around you while you soak in the atmosphere. It's not a lonely, heartbroken watch but more of a "wow I love observing humans" while the world keeps spinning and moving around you moment. Idk if that makes sense, but if I had to pin a vision or scene to the overall vibe of this album, this would be it.
The opening song Patience Etc... is such a good first song to start the album, I love the guitar and the soft vocals and the synth. Everything blends together so nicely and I think it sets up the tone of the album really well. It has such a dreamy yet hopeful vibe, and I feel like I'm just swaying in a foggy blue room. Happy Happy might be my second favourite song after Blue Arcade. The instrumental and overall vibe of the song feels clearer than Patience Etc..., and I love the flow of the chorus.
I think the overall production of the album is really nice but some of the songs didn't really stand out to me, hence the less than 4 star rating. But if I do need something calmer and synth-based to listen to (because I do love a good synth moment in my songs), I would reach for this album.
Favourite song: Blue Arcade DUH
X Room | Xdinary Heroes
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25/03/2026
Rating: 5 ★
Oh god. This song hurt and made me cry so much. Like so, so much. It's the way I thought X Room was going to be metal/rock heavy, like iNSTEAD! or FiRE. I guess I was the clown. I've also never had such a visceral reaction to a song before, and I am really not a lyrics gurlie but ohhhh this song hurt and hit me so hard. I even started spontaneously crying the next day when I was listening to the song again. Who have I become?
I was already really hooked by the opening instrumental in the teaser with the synth and the nostalgic lyrics.
Summer haze, polo shirt/Cobalt shade, scarlet blush/Every sheen of ours was flawless/Memories in fading light/If you're gone, then why do I/Hold them like it's something holy
Like wow, we should all just cry, explode and die. Also, can we talk about O.de's voice!!! His vocals are sooo good??? I love how they let him and Gaon sing so much more in this song and their voices fit the vibe so well, that slightly broken, nostalgic, rougher vocals. I interpreted the song on my first listen on it being about a relationship (platonic or romantic) you lost, and look back on, kind of grieving vibes. And I guess that's why I cried because it hurt me and made me think of my best friend's death and how I've now mourned them longer than I was friends with them. Xdiz really meant it when they said they wanted to comfort people and reach out to the ordinary people with their music :(
Gunil said X Room was a song on not denying heartbreaking farewells and accepting them calmly, and I think that's genuinely so meaningful. The message is really driven home by the more hopeful and uprising instrumental, especially of the synth and the guitar. Other than my initial first take, watching the MV and Gunil's message made me also interpret the song as a love letter to your younger self — getting closure in that past era of your life or self, and then accepting all the mistakes you made before moving forward with the lessons learnt. I guess that's why it hit me too because I think that's something I struggle with, and I've only recently begun accpeting parts of my past self or experiences.
This song is defintely on the softer side of Dead And when it comes out, and it is objectively wayyyy less rock. Even the softest or most ballad-like songs of LXVE to DEATH weren't this soft. X Room is defintely more Good Enough coded and it's honestly lovely. I do love their ballads, especially because Jungsu and Jooeyon's voices complement each other so well.
The song's cover and the MV are so so pretty as well, and they really conveyed all the emotions the song was meant to express. Maybe I'm just super biased because I love Xdiz, and there could be a gazillion other songs out there that may have the same meaning. But idk man, they really do hit different, and I think it's because the instrumentals are also composed by them, and it feels so much more personal.
ANYWAY, I am soooo sat and ready for Dead And to be released. Like we are so back!!! I can't wait to do my review and thoughts when the album comes out
Never Let Go | LNGSHOT
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16/03/2026
Rating: 4.5 ★
I forgot I don't have to just review albums on this site! So here's my individual review for Never Let Go by LNGSHOT, a song part of their debut EP SHOT CALLERS.
Wow. Where do I even begin. This song is 3 Gen goodness. The dreamy synth instrumentals and hazy vocals just give nostalgia and it really drives home that whole desperation and yearning the song conveys. Jay Park really knew what he was doing with these 4 boys and the production of this song. The flow, the lyrics, the melody, the rap with the softer beats and synth at the back...this song truly has it all. The pre-chorus really hooks you in (the iconic "It's 2AM, you and I" part) and honestly that's how I found the song because of some funny text post on IG that had the song as it's music.
All their voices are so distinct as well and the rap was so so good as well. It reminded me so much of early 2010s Eminem/MGK, especially MGK's rap in Bad Things This song really doesn't really feel like the typical softer/slower songs in K-pop EPs/Albums so maybe that's why it stands out so much.
I understand why so many people suddenly stanned this group, their other songs I quickly browsed through are not bad too. However, I didn't listen to everything fully to justify a review and I don't know if I will any time soon so this review for Never Let Go will just have to suffice. Also, for some reason, I always thought their group name was pronounced Lingshot. Idk why I was so stupid and never thought about the fact the group name would be pronounced something more normal like Longshot.
UNIQUE | P1Harmony
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15/03/2026
Rating: 2.7 ★
This EP was definitely...unique! I'm honestly disappointed, especially after the runs of SAD SONG, Killin' It, DUH! and even EX. We got the P1harmony personal IG accounts but at what cost...Everyone online says this is the best album ever and it's so good so am I the problem?? But idk...I hated the whole EP on the first listen and it definitely took a lot of getting used to, but even then I only really like 2 songs. Most songs have some edm, funk phonk thing going on and they don't resonate with me. Maybe I'm being too harsh and this genre of music just isn't for me, or I'm just too picky. Also, every song being less than 3min after being fed so much in their last comebacks...I am sad
UNIQUE is the most listenable track in this whole EP (along with Wednesday Girl). In the best way possible (like this is a GOOD thing), the song gives 2020-2021 boy group loud music, like Ateez, Skz, NCT vibes. I quite like the lalalalala parts in the chorus, especially the flow. Jiung and Intak eat so hard with that. I honestly was't as sold as I was when I first listened to it but it has kinda grown on me since listening to it a few more times. I do like how Soul has more lines and as usual, Jongseob's rap is so good. Also, Theo's voice?? It's so nice oh my goshhh. The dance looked kinda messy to me at first but after watching the dance practice and the Mnet live performances I am quite sold. Like ok p1harmony...i see you...you proved me wrong.
But other than the title track, I'm not gonna bother dedicating the usual individual song reviews cos I just don't really fw with most of the EP. So quick run down thoughs:
- The start of Pandemonium felt very P1Harmony but then it just goes downhill from there. I HATE the random distorted vocals of the word "pandemonium" in the post chorus. This song is literally pandemonium.
- ICE (VVS) literally sounds like Knife by Enhypen (also oh my god?? the Heeseung news is crazy, hope all the Engenes out there are ok...)
- Wednesday Girl is nice, more RnB and softer tones. It's a good classic slower song but that's it. I don't really have significant thoughts on it other than maybe it being the top song of this album.
- The rest of the songs don't stand out, I can't be bothered and idk why they just don't click with me
Am I being too harsh? Maybe. If this review ever gets found by their crazy loyal fans then it's over for me. But in all honesty I am disappointed by this EP and comeback. It defintely took me a few days to get used to it and tone down by haterism a little but I think I just can't resonate with this genre of Brazillian funk and more electronic beats. BUT every gurl has her own preference, and my life, my rules. I am quite enthralled by the EP cover though, the long exposure and colours are really pretty. Graphic design team ate down.
Favourite song: N/A...
RUN RUN RUN | Dragon Pony
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11/03/2026
Rating: 2.7 ★
Ahh I'm lowkey disappointed...which SUCKS because I was looking forward to this release, and I'm always trying to support (?) the rock scene or look toward smaller artists who produce and create their own music. Overall, this new EP was very plain. I'm not sure how to say it but none of the songs or the EP as a whole struck me deeply and gave me like a woah, world pause moment. It's a little over 15 min with 5 songs and till now after marinating in it for a whole day, only the title track stands out to me. To me, Deupo's music falls into that Day6 band music genre, where melodically their music sometimes sounds as though it was produced for the mainstream K-pop/Korean music taste. Xdiz fell into that trap at the beginning of their career but now they have a more defined harder rock sound that is definitely more Western influenced which is why I think I like their music and overall stage presence more. NOT to say Deupo's is bad, but I somehow don't find myself drawn as much to their more indie rock, softer, "mainstream" sound (which is also why I could unfortunately never fully get into Day6).
Anyway, I digress as usual but yea, overall the EP was a lot on the softer side. Taegyu's vocals are so insanely good though and the instrumentals were really, really good. I just thought it would be more upbeat and grittier, especially given the more electifying and youthful sound from Oh Perfect!. But somehow the rest of the songs are ballads (giving ChRocktikal flashbacks lowkey...) or on the slower side which kinda sucked cos I really love the title track. I was also hoping for maybe 1 or 2 songs that were a Radio Silence type of vibe but unfortunately there were none.
1. Palm Lines
Rare 4 min long song in this economy. For the first song of the album, it's a little too slow for my liking but it does feel very classic Deupo. I do like the synth between the first verse and the chorus, it feels very haunting. I also really love the build up with the electric guitar before the chorus again, it feels very youthful like running up a hill or chasing for something desperately. Honestly, my biggest issue with the song are actually these parts also because they sound so good but then they fall flat right after and give me no satisfaction.
2. Oh Perfect! [title]
This is so fun??? This is what I expected more of from the album. First of all, the bass is so yummy? I love how you can hear it so so clearly and this is the first time I feel that you can hear how bass really adds an additional layer to the song. The general instrumental is so fun and dancey. The lazy, laid back vocals in the verses, as well as the mini raps also adds on to the laid back, exciting vibe and ughhh it's just so fun!! I also love the build up where he changes key and then the GUITAR SOLO??? Sehyuk looked so cool in the MV and when he switched halfway to the keyboard...crazy dawg. But yea!! Overall, I really like this song, it was so fun and refreshing and different from what I imagined based on the highlight sampler. I wished more songs in the EP had this energy and vibe.
3. Zombie
This was mid or eh for me, but again, I do like the bass. I really appreciate how Deupo's sound engineering whether in the studio or live always has very clear sounds for their bass, it really enhances and makes their music so much cooler.
4. Rehearsal
Ahhh I really liked the starting of this song, it's so desperate and soft. Taegyu's vocals here really add on to that vibe, and that isolation of the vocals at the end...oh that's so good...BUT THEN, idk maybe I'm the problem but I swear the song also goes off after that. Like it was leading up to something so much more but then it becomes very anticlimatic. The chorus feels very early Deupo, so maybe that's just their sound? I do prefer this song over Zombie or Palm Lines though, it feels more hopeful and fun.
5. Hidden
Last songgg. This was the ballad of the EP. My first thought when listening to this was that it sounded a bit like an OST. IDK I can't do ballads, I think this one is defintely a me problem because I generally never had an affinity for these softer ballads with the piano and acoustic guitar. For me, if an album/EP has a ballad, it can't be too slow.
Overall thoughts
Deupo is really talented, I LOVE LOVE LOVE their instrumentals and they are all so cool (Sehyuk is mad...I think I just really like guitarists and keyboardists). My only gripe is that their songs are slow and less "rock" than I what imagine or hope for, or maybe my definition of rock is different, and I'm just too used to that heavier, pop-punk rock Western artists or Xdiz put out. I will continue to support their releases but I don't think I'll be able to fully get into them (UNLESS more Radio Silence-esque songs come out...maybe...)
Final Ranking:
- Oh Perfect!
- Rehearsal
- Zombie/Palm Lines
- Hidden
Favourite song: Oh Perfect! DUH
milk & honey | Ella Boh
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08/03/2026
Rating: 4 ★
Been a minute since I listened to a new, full album. I've been in a sort of music drought and I am now starting off March with this banger of an album. If I had to sum up the album in 3 words it would be dark, dreamy, WLW (I'll get more into that later). Ella Boh, Isabel Larosa and Ari Abdul all have the same genre and production of music — that very dreamy, cinematic, sultry vibe, where everything feels like a blue-ish, lavender dreamy haze with lots of glitter and silhouettes, almost like those cinematic shots from S1 Euphoria. The self-production of this album is honestly so so good and I'm excited to discover more Ella Boh music (new or old).
The entire album feels very cohesive, which is something I generally look out for in an album. But it's not soooo cohesive and similar until the songs blend together and get mushed up. Most songs still have a distinct vibe to them, whether it's the beat drops, more isolated sounds or the melody/flow of the lyrics. The overall atmosphere of the album just feels very beautiful and dream-like which is why I gave this album 4 stars. I also haven't reached for pop in general since 2020 (with the exception of K-pop) so this album just feels very refreshing and fun. I enjoy how the album feels for the lack of a better word, more generic (?) or just very plainly put out electronic pop. bleeding out or babydoll are some examples with that synth-based pop song goodness that I like. ur gf also embodies this with the very classic pop vibes. I honestly could imagine this being released in 2015/2016/2017 with a music video on youtube with the vevo logo slapped on. The song makes me feel like I would be in my bedroom spinning around and just singing it late at night while it's raining. I love the isolation in the vocals at the end, it makes the whole theme of desiring for the other woman so much more poignant and yearning.
The whole album's theme on being desired or desire, lust, and just the very dreamy, WLW messages are so so strong. But I don't dislike it or find it cringe. I actually really like it.
Also side note: I JUST found out Ella is dating Ari and I'm like gagged. I always thought they were friends, and I shipped them so hard but all this time I'm the clown because they've been dating since 2025? Love when women.
Anyway, for milk & honey for example, the whole imagery with space, stars, and ethereality in the lyrics, and the way the song is produced makes the whole idea of love being magical and fleeting so clear. The heavier guitar and bass in the background makes me feel like I'm just hovering in the air when listening to it. The whole album generally makes me feel like I'm just lying on the floor of my bedroom and surrounded in a haze of blue, dreamy fog.
Honestly, I was debating a lot on the rating for this album. On one hand, I felt like 4 stars was a little high but then 3/3.5 stars was too low too. But I settled for 4 stars in the end becuase I feel like the cohesiveness and overall vibe of the album speaks to me. It also does have some good songs where it has a bit of that Better than I know Myself-Radio Silence desperation vibe. Surprisingly, my least favourite song is out of order. I do like it, and I love a good Ari Abdul collaborator song but somehow it pales in comparison to the rest of the album.
Favourite song: ur gf
Back to U (Theme From "sicknote") | sicknote
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13/02/2026
Rating: 5 ★
This song served 2010s nostalgia goodness and lived up to my expectations greatly. It really does sound like a theme song, one of a cartoon I would watch in the mornings on the weekend or after school. I was so so so hyped for this release, especially with the band's concept (like animated series 2000s band??? hello??) and it literally checked every box I could hope for. The slower guitar and the soulful vocals, and the ending with the additional turntablism-esque scratching and beat juggling...sicknote truly gave us everything. I cannot wait for the animated series coming out in summer and anymore music they put out.
WHERE DID ALL THE BUTTERFLIES GO? | BEAUTY SCHOOL DROPOUT
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25/01/2026
Rating: 3 ★
Another Beauty School Dropout album. I've actually been trying to listen to this since last year since it first got released in September but for some reason I was never able to make it through. But I am glad to say that I've finally been able to lock in and listen to it and it's not bad! I mean, like all Beauty School Dropout albums, it is pretty generic, like your usual pop punk, with the slightly heavier rock influences. It's objectively fine but again, the saddest thing about the album is that nothing really stands out.
One thing I do like is that there are some slower songs. But the slower songs don't feel like sad ballads, they're still kind of gritty. ADELINE or HOW COULD I FORGET are pretty good I would say. I do especially like the softer guitar strums in HOW COULD I FORGET blended with the rougher main voals and softer backing vocals. It feels kind of nostalgic almost.
Another thing I kind of noted about this album is that it feels more experimental. I'm not sure if that's the right word but I guess since I listened to WE MADE PLANS AND GOD LAUGHED first, the songs on this album sound like they've tried wider genres or vibes. For example, the dragging of the word "belong" in the chorus in ON YOUR LIPS feels psychedelic (?) almost? And it feels like they've tried to experiment more with EDM in this song. The synth in DADDY DON'T CRY feels like there are influences of eurodisco, but it's mellowed out with the more pop punk rougher electric guitar, especially in the chorus.
I think everyone online generally has the consensus that FEVER is the best track on the album and I agree!! It's such a banger song to start the album, with the upbeat vibes. I can imagine how fun this would be to sing in a concert, especially as an opening. Also, the slight screams they do in the chorus adds a nice layer of uniqueness to the song. FEVER was the first song I listened to and looking back, I think the reason why I couldn't listen to this album fully at first is because the rest of the album didn't grab my attention as much as FEVER did.
Favourite song: MADONNA and FEVER
We break, you awake | ChRocktikal
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22/01/2026
Rating: 1.5 ★
Ahh I was so excited for this release and debut. Siyeon's voice in Dreamcatcher always stood out to me and I'm always on the hunt for new music, especially rock. Their debut also seemed to fit nicely into my re-newed love or interest for k-rock so I was looking forward to this. Unfortunately, it could not really click for me. I couldn't make it through the whole album as well which is such a shame. My biggest issue is that the whole album does not feel cohesive, it feels like the company was trying to show their ability to explore a wide range of sub-genres within rock/punk/funk or anything else which ends up messing up the flow of the album. The intro and title track PEACE was good at first, and seemed to set them up for an actual rock or hard rock album and I was quite sold! But then halfway through it just went downhill and started feeling like the company did not actually know how to do rock.
My least favourite is KALish. I know I literally just said I had hoped for the album to be more hard rock but Siyeon's attempts to do a hard rock metal scream kind of fell flat for me and seemed more "screechy" rather than metal if that makes sense. All in on me somehow sounds like Dua Lipa's Dance the Night Away from the Barbie movie which was so random and jarring given the previous run of songs and the rock genre of the album.
I have a big gripe with the ballads as well. This was where I feel like the album began to feel uncohesive because you have this hard-ish and more heavy rock at the beginning with some really yummy drums and guitar riffs but then it suddenly turns to just a slew of K-pop-esque OST/ballads. Don't get me wrong, the instrumentals are really pretty and as always, Siyeon's voice is so so good but this run of ballads and slow songs just made the album become so uncohsive. Additionally, the ballads don't feel like rock ballads. Shame was good at first because it felt like what I think of ballads in rock albums are supposed to be like (Think Xdiz's Supernatural or Waterpark's 21 Questions). But then we hit Iris and I was like oh. ok. And then it just kept going on until the end of the album with Free!. This is like the typical manufactured K-pop-esque ballad in all the albums that say it's rock because of the random guitar in the background.
All in all, I am pretty disappointed with their debut which SUCKS because I genuinely feel like they had so much potential. I'll probably check back in on their subsequent releases if they have any just to see if anything changes but I can't say I am very excited.
Favourite Song: N/A...
WE MADE PLANS & GOD LAUGHED | BEAUTY SCHOOL DROPOUT
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13/01/2026
Rating: 3 ★
I've been in a music DROUGHT. I then stumbled across this album (LP?)(EP?) and then life was ok because I had something new to listen to while cleaning my room. This album is very pop punk, it's like the epitome of what you might want to tell someone to listen to when they ask you "What does pop punk sound like?" Additionally, given that the band is signed under Pete Wentz's new label and receiving A&R from Blink-182's frontman, the pop-punk Blink-182 FOB influences are very clear. The album also reminds me a lot of HOT MILK as well.
Some of the songs do feel very generic, especially ALMOST FAMOUS and A$$A$$IN. There's nothing inherently bad about it. It's just that none of the songs really stand out to me and make me have a "levitating while listening to music" moment. However, that said, I do always appreciate a good sort of "classic" pop punk song and the album has been feeding into my re-emerged rock phase.
I do like that there is an interlude even though the album itself is rather short. It's rare nowardays to find albums with interludes and it was quite nice. I think it's also really cute that the album was actually about the band, their mental health and their own experiences.
It's been really funny listening to this sometimes because I've also been listening to a lot of shoegaze recently. It's an irrational fear but I'm slightly worried that the abrupt or constant switching between the 2 genres of shoegaze and rock/pop punk/alternative rock might be doing something to my brainwaves or neurons or something. Who knows???
Favourite Song: YEAHYEAHYEAHYEAH...
FISSION | Dead Poet Society
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04/01/2026
Rating: 4 ★
First full album I've listened to for 2026!! I'm really glad this was the first album I got to listen to this year. This return of my rock-and-bands phase doesn't seem to be dying down anytime soon and in fact, I think it's getting stronger. I digress, anyway Dead Poet Society always has gems and I haven't kept up with them in while, so discovering and listening to this album felt like a nice treat.
Overall, the album felt really cohesive. All the songs feel like they belong on the same album while also sounding unique. I feel like there are some albums where the songs kind of all sound the same and mash together sometimes but this one felt cohesive yet distinct at the same time. Like there are the good heavy tracks at the start like HURT or Running In Circles, but then it slows down with more "rock ballads" like Tipping Point and then the vibe rises up again with Hard To Be God. The songs in the whole album just generally feels like it is building up and swelling if that makes sense. Also in this trying economy of less than 2 minute songs being constantly produced, I am eternally grateful that 99% of the songs of this album are longer than 3min with some 4min songs and most of them have bridges. #Bless up
I also love the range of rock genres in the album, like they kind of explored a range of genres I feel? I'm NOT an expert but I want to say there's punk rock, industrial rock, pop punk (My Condition) even and maybe even a little influence of nu metal??? Like the guitar goes so hard in some of the songs, it's crunchy in a good way. Also, I usually hate "rap" in White Boy band music because I am a firm believer of White Boy garage bands but some of the songs having "rap" bits like KOET is kinda nice. I think Xdiz opened the gates for me to love rock songs with rap (granted they are still in the K-music industry where raps are kinda "mandatory") but I'm still very unused to hearing White Boy band music have raps. Take for example, Parx's new songs which have been a bit...odd, BUT I think this album does it good for me. Like it sounds cohesive, not cringe and something I can get behind if that makes sense.
My favs on the first listen were HURT, Hard To Be God and Running In Circles. I love how HURT starts so slow with the slower drums but then it builds up and the added more intense guitar riffs come in and it gives the vibe of just screaming, crying. Also the bridge sent me like how it just keeps building up. Maybe I'm crazy but I want to say it feels like there's a bit of MUSE influence in this song? I think HURT is still my fav song in the whole album because I'm listening to it again while doing this review.
Moving on, I LOVE the breakdown in Hard To Be God, like this is where I feel like the slight tinge of nu metal comes in because what I assume is the rhythmn guitar sounds so good in that part, like they ate so bad with it. I love the riffs, it makes it sound so heavy and really feeds into my love for rock and bands. I also really love Tipping Point. The "Oh, Oh, Oh" parts get me so bad, it sounds so desperate and yearning and doomed at the same time. The bridge is so hauntingly sad also, like:
I don't need to know if you're doing okay/You said that you would change (Change)/But your words don't match your actions/Thеy're falling through the cracks/And I'm done playing games
Maybe I also just like this song cos the themes resonate with me and reflect the shit that happened last year...but that's a topic for another day! Anyway, I took away 1 star because as much as I am deeply appreciative of the fact we are blessed with 13 songs which is quite a lot in today's music landscape, I think I got a bit lost listening to it the first few times. Even though I did say the songs were cohesive yet unique, I found myself getting a bit lost towards the end of the album as some of the songs sounded a little similar. Only a select few songs really stood out and felt distinct hence the 4 stars overall.
Favourite Song(s): HURT and Tipping Point
Monthly Wrap Ups
March 2026 Music Wrap Up
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03/04/2026
A little late but here's my March Music Wrap Up!
Listened to a lot of music this month, my March playlist was significantly longer than February. I started off the month listening to Cocteau Twins' album Heaven or Las Vegas which was really good. It reminded me of my shoegaze phase from January and the overall vision and aesthetic of the album just felt so hazy and soft. In honour of this, my March playlist was titled in a cherry-coloured funk after one of the songs in the album.
in a cherry-coloured funk
Other than Heaven or Las Vegas, I listened to a few other old & new albums within a range of genres, including Strawberry by Caroline Loveglow, milk & honey by Ella Boh, RUN RUN RUN by Dragon Pony, UNIQUE by P1Harmony and Sling by Clairo. I think my favourite album listen would either be Strawberry or milk & honey. I have yet to do my review for Strawberry but hopefully I'll get around to doing it soon.
I also discovered this amazing self-produced co-ed K-rock band called Re:hearts and even though they only have 2 songs, they are both so good??? The main vocalist Myu has such an amazing voice with an insane range and I love the instrumentals on their songs and the overall aesthetic of the band. I'm so excited to see what else they'll put out.
My March playlist had good mix of self-sourced songs or recommendations from my friends. Notable mentions include Run Your Mouth and Echo by The Marias, as well as Slow Dance by Clairo. I have some funny, oddly specific emotions and nice Thoughts attached to these songs, and I always think about them when I listen to them. Other than that, my March playlist consisted of songs from a range of genres from rock to RnB. I don't think there was a specific vibe I was going for, it was more of a anything goes or whatever I've been vibing with type of month.
March playlist
I did start get to a bit sick of my March playlist in the last week of March, I think it's because I made it quite early on so I had listened to a lot of the songs already. Xdiz released X Room at the tail-end of March (which was an INSANE song by the way, I cried like 4 times listening to it) so I took it as a sign to start my April playlist early. I've also been falling back into Del Water Gap a lot, especially Better Than I Know Myself. It's such a good, comforting song whenever I need some stability or normalcy in my life, and I'm forever grateful I discovered it.
Overall, it was a pretty good month of music. Other notable mentions include listening to a lot of Clairo for some reason, getting back into playing Bossa Nova at night to make me less stressed, and sending lots of song recommendations back and forth with a close friend. I don't know much about April release schedules, but I'm so ready for Xdiz's April Comeback. I cannot WAIT for Dead And.
Favourite find(s): Happy Happy by Caroline Loveglow, Reborn by Re:Hearts.
February 2026 Music Wrap Up
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28/02/2026
Last day of Feb! So I'm back with my wrap up for this month's music consumption. In all honesty, I should not be doing this right now given the 1 million and 1 things that are more important than this I have to do urgently but I've been kinda looking forward to doing this for a while and I'm so exhausted from this week so whatever, my life my rules and I'll suffer even more later. I digress as usual so let's get into it!
No new albums this month but this month's music was a lot of regression back to old favourites and some new music. For new music, this virtual/illustrated band called Sicknote which I chanced upon finally released their debut theme song Back To U and it's so so good. It's so classic 2010s pop-band music and it really feels like the opening of an old cartoon I would enjoy watching as a kid. The art of the members is gorgeous and I also found out the main singers who conceptualised the whole thing is Indo so #SEAsia represent. In honour of this absolute banger that lived up to my hype and expectations, my February playlist was titled Back to U < 3
Back To U < 3
One of my close friends also made me a playlist with song recommendations and I discovered some great gems from there. I was surprised at how much I liked Zombie by YUNGBLUD because I never liked his music or the genre of music he made but it was unexpectedly good. Another favourite find from this playlist included Magnolia by Meadowglade — the slow build up and then drop is absolutely Gorgeous, and this really enhances the bittersweet message of the song as well.
In terms of regressing back to old stuff, I listened to A LOT of Dominic Fike this month. Like, A LOT. I reorganised all my local files containing my favourite unreleased songs from him, and I really forget how good some of these are, like Maniac, Epilogue (V5) and California Mansion. Coloured Food is still a great classic and I will never ever get sick of it. I don't know why nobody ever mentions it because it's such a good rap song and Terry Presume and Dom's voices just complement each other so well. I also locked in and tried re-listening to White Keys and I'm honestly surprised why I didn't like it last time. This is sooo classic Dominic Fike?? I'm honestly confused why past me didn't like it because I couldn't stop listening to it this month together with Images of Love. Speaking of Images of Love, I really love Dom's verse. His lazy rap coupled with the laid back beat and the bass feels so chill and relaxing. I also really love the ending with the saxophone jazz-like melody and beat at the end of the song, it's just so yummy and the perfect way to end of this love song.
I also re-listened to Connell by Conan Gray and again, why did I not like this before?? Was I too locked out last time or was my attention span/mind so fogged up that I couldn't just appreciate and focus on the song? I already knew this song was developing connotations and affliations with YJ98, specifically timkon so I thought I would love it on first listen. But for some reason back then, I couldn't like it even though I tried so hard. However, now I'm just confused because I really love this song and it truly is so timkon coded. Conan literally made this song for them, go argue with a wall.
Beyond all these, my Februrary playlist consisted of other bits and bobs, as well as that one Kanye West song that blew up on TikTok/reels (it is pretty good I can't lie...)
February playlist
Big arc also includes going back and listening to a LOT of Itzy. I think this is due to the fact they are on tour now, and the development of my slight obsession of checking their account everyday in hopes they will drop the Tunnel Vision 2026 world tour dates for my country so I can heal my 14yo self. But beyond that, I've just been really getting back into them and honestly I don't care what people say, Tunnel Vision wasn't that bad. Also, watching this cunty fancam of Itzy dancing to Walk converted me because I really hated this song at first when it was released but seeing them perform it made me realise this is a performance song and it grew on me a lot. Also, can we talk about THAT'S A NO NO blowing up?? IT'z ME getting recognition in the great 2026 is crazy and this song was sooo fun. I'm so happy it's getting the reocgnition it deserves. But anyway, yea I've been listening to a lot of Itzy and being very girly k-pop core again and it feels so fun. Also, I know a lot of people said they fell off after Sneakers but honestly their whole discography even after it is still so fun and pop. I'm truly manifesting I get to see them this year, PLUS I know the whole set list so I'm basically certified to be there.
Overall, it was another good month of music. I remember being a bit worried at first because I couldn't find any good songs at the beginning of the month but things started picking up around the 2-2.5 week and the songs I found for my Feb playlist were pretty good and I enjoyed listening to it a lot. Special shout out to rediscovering Bags by Clairo. I'm not sure why but I somehow feel very strong toward this song and I've been listening to it on repeat the last few days. Besides all these, upcoming March releases I'm looking forward to include Dragon Pony and P1Harmony, as well as potentially an announcement for Xdiz's April comeback.
Favourite (re)find: Connell by Conan Gray (Especially when listened to with 400 Lux by Lorde)
January 2026 Music Wrap Up
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02/02/2026
Music is a pretty big part of my life so I thought to finally document each month's music rotations since I usually create playlists for each month! Also, I'll probably migrate these monthly wrap ups into a separate page one day when college and my 10000 readings aren't getting to me but I digress. Let's get into it ~
I listened to 4 new albums this month (as seen below). Best find is still FISSION by Dead Poet Society and I think I can potentially see myself continously reaching for this album in the future if I need a good alternative rock moment. In honour of discovering this album, my January playlist was titled fission.
18 by Megan Murayama
I've been listening to a lot of shoegaze this month too, in particular Meg Murayama's 18 playlist. If I'm being honest, shoegaze is a genre I didn't really resonate with in the past. I did enjoy the occasional Chinese shoegaze during my high school days (think Schoolgirl Byebye or Bad Sweetheart) but I never really found it as alluring as I did with rock or indie. But somehow this past month, shoegaze as a genre and the playlist itself has provided me a lot of comfort, as well as serving as the base for a lot of my background music so it's been great! Favourite finds include Crane Kiss by Tamaryn and Breather by Chapterhouse.
Beyond shoegaze, my January playlist featured random mixes of older, familiar songs to newer releases and even a Doja Cat song which is EXTREMELY out of my usual realm of music. I've also been really enjoying Pierce The Veil's cover of Karma Police. The grittier, heavier sounds were really interesting.
January Playlist (sorry for small image...)
Overall, it was a pretty good month of music! Even though I've been in a severe drought of new releases from my favourite artists, this month's music finds were pretty yummy. Special shout out to Something In The Way by Rome Evers which sounds really, really good right after The Promise by When In Rome. I love a good complementary song moment.
Favourite finds: It Was Love by LATENCY (girl k-band find!!!) and Jealous Type by Doja Cat...
Reviews (2025)
PLAY! | South Arcade
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30/11/2025
Rating: 2.5 ★
This was so so disappointing T.T I'm honestly really sad. Drive Myself Home singlehandedly takes the 2 stars because I love love LOVE this song so much. The rest of the EP was rather weak and it didn't hit like their usual songs or what I expect from South Arcade. I think it also suffered from a case of too many pre-releases before the actual release. Bleed Out is really messy and docked a lot of points for me. I'm not sure how else to describe it but honestly after trying to listen to it multiple times since the release and giving it a chance, it still does not resonate with me. I know Supermodels is a pre-release but I am rather neutral toward it. I like their attempt at a ballad with Bleed Out because again, since Xdiz, ballads in rock EPs/Albums have become a bigger thing for me now. I'm also rather neutral toward FEAR OF HEIGHTS though I do appreciate the fact that they reference the name of the EP in the lyrics.
Favourite song: Drive Myself Home DUH
Chasing the Chimera | Del Water Gap
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07/11/2025
Rating: 2.5 ★
This is unfortunately my least favourite album from him T.T None of the songs really hit though I do love the instrumentals of the songs. It is a very cohesive album but like I said, not many of the songs stand out. I'm honestly disappointed :(
Favourite Song: How To Live
LXVE TO DEATH | Xdinary Heroes
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24/10/2025
Rating: 5 ★
Note: this review consists of an amalgation of thoughts from the instrumental and highlight sampler, as well as when the album was first released. It also consists of some additional input thoughts >1-2 month after this album was released as I'm editing and importing this over.
I’m not gonna lie, I had to listen to the album like 1-2 times fully first because for some reason it was not clicking but maybe it’s a me thing. ANYWAYYY yes this IS their heaviest album EVERRR because even the “softer” songs are still quite heavy and loud. It’s got a nice mix of heavy heavy songs and lighter more-than-i-like esque songs. I love how heavy and loud this album is in a classic rock way like I’ve been wanting more PTV, BMTH, FOB-esque songs recently since I’ve been getting back a lot into rock and I think this album has satisfied that craving. Also side note, a lot of the songs sound like J-rock influenced like 2010-2014 anime endings or maybe I’m crazy. Also jooyeon’s screams are INSANE this album holy shit
1. Lost and Found
The instrumental of Lost and Found feels kind of haunting like you’re in a video game. I'm not sure how to say it exactly but it has perfect spooky vibes and the guitar riffs are so so good. It’s definitely on the softer side for this album, and the beat drop before the chorus with the synth is kinda giving Dancing Queen, or even Enemy, like 2010z rock. It’s also giving 6pm sunset nostalgic vibes if that makes sense and it feels really nice.
The first listen was not it for some reason and the song also reminded me a bit of Day6 but then the song grew on me, by a lot and I think I just wasn’t locked in enough to listen to it. I know I initially ranked it pretty low, like 4/7 but listening to the album non stop throughout this last quarter of 2025, it ended up rising up my ranks like crazy. Dare I say it's my favourite or even second favourite song in this album now and maybe even top 10 or even top 5 xdiz songs of all time. I love the beginning instrumental so much and don't even get me started on listening to this 1. live during the beautiful minds finale when they were all crying and 2. the music video. Additionally, the way the song can be interpeted as looking and wishing for a past version of youself to come back but it can never be found is so hauntingly beautiful and speaks to me on a spiritual level because I feel like that's just how I've been feeling these last few years, especially since starting college.
2. ICU [title]
Just from the instrumental film alone I love the guitar in this song. Again, maybe I’m crazy but this could be video game music too? I love the isolation of the drums before the pre chorus and the whole vibe feels like you're climbing up higher and higher. Also, the ending reverb with the guitar SOUNDS SO COOL TOO??? LIKE THE WAY IT ECHOES. Anyway, the shalalalala screams???? It's so insane. I love the isolated drums with the "oh oh oh" part and it’s so american rock vibe if that makes sense. Vocally, ICU sounds like their most experimental song (E.g. Seungmin singing that super cool part where his voice is more raspy) I can’t place my finger on it but it sounds so familiar at the same time.
Anyway, ICU was one of my favourite songs during my first listen to the album and I was shocked that people on twitter were hating???????? I was levitating on my first listen while unfortunately walking back to my room but ughhhh where do I start? Jooyeon’s bass at the start, GAON AND ODE’S RAP??? AND THE MV MADE THE SONG 10X BETTER??? BUT ALSO as an O.de bias, I am so happy this is super his song and the story of the mv is so cute and fun and I love how fun and colourful this song is and the "nanananana" part after the chorus is so fun and catchy. I prefer this title track over Break the Brake honestly. IT'S SO FUN AND COLOURFUL!
3. FiRE (My Sweet Misery)
I can’t really review this because this already released back in July but she’s a good, solid classic and I love this song a lot. Also shout out to Gunil's double pedals.
4. Ashes to Ashes
Ashes to Ashes is so Partners in Crime coded and it sounds a little like Money on my mind. The beat drop right before the chorus feels very heavy and again very guitar focused. I know they amped up the bass sound in the instrumnetal for Jooyeon’s part but I love how crispy it is. I also get why Xdiz says this song is very heavy and full force, and that they will non stop go through with this song. The guitar riffs are so heavyyy I really love it. I love the breakdown & bridge as well, O.de's semi-growl is soooo cool and you can see how much his vocals are improving.
5. Spoiler!!!
This song is SO FUN and IT'S VIDEO GAME MUSIC CODED. I love how the synth sounds in here, it’s like George the Lobster’s cousin if that makes sense. It’s very fun, light hearted and I can imagine this playing in a game where you are battling someone. Anyway, Spoiler!!! being actually synth heavy and not like clickbait synth boosted George the Lobster instrumental...I USED TO PRAY FOR TIMES LIKE THIS. I can imagine how much fun Seungmin is gonna have singing and playing this, as well as how fun this would be to scream and chant during concerts, especially the "your such a spoiler!!" part. Even though this is an English song, I give it grace because I think this is a rare time where I can't really imagine this song being in Korean? The Enligh lyrics make so much sense and it enhances the petty and full levels of haterism as well, like:
Out on the bleachers, you bicker/Your very being is nothin' but a preacher/Over and over, endlessly/You glorify your words, but they are empty
I aspire to be this level of petty one day.
6. Love Tug of War
Oh god, the opening's guitar is so pretty, it’s like yearning vibes. Jungsu’s piano parts are SO PRETTYYYY in this song too. The piano plays such an intergral part of this song, I literally cannot imagine it without it. It almost feels like the ending theme or an OST for an anime. Based on the title it’s a love song and I would definitely plant this in the same category as again? again!. It’s so fun and light hearted and this is definitely the “ballad” or slower song of their album this time around.
My favourite part of the song is the interlude where their voices become more distant and faded out. I also really love the bridge where Jooyeon goes one key higher and the lyrics change up a little because it makes it sound even more uplifting. I know I didn't really love this song at first but like Lost and Found it grew on me greatly. However, if I had to hard rank the songs I would unfortunately place it maybe 6th or 7th place. It's NOT BAD it's just that it doesn't resonate with me as much as the other songs.
7. LOVE ME 2 DEATH
First of all, the opening guitar riffs are soooo PTV coded, and the buildup before the chorus is extremely more than i like coded. In my first listen to just the instrumental, I felt like it was by the same producer (Selah). Later I found a transcription of Gaon’s interview responses about the album and he said LOVE ME 2 DEATH is almost similar to more than i like but stronger and heavier. So am I musical genius or WHAT holy shit!! Also, the fact that it was written with more than i like is so so cool. Anyway, I digress but I love how heavy Gaon’s rhythm guitar is here and the song has a bit of love and fear vibes as well.
Moving on, the grows are INSANE and it sounds a little like south arcade? I love love LOVEhow heavy the guitar is AND I FW IT SO MUCH. Overall the song so classic rock, and yet it feels like their earlier music for some reason? Also, one thing i love about this album is how many of them have interludes in the songs which is really cool. The chorus is so fun to sing as well and like it has that arghhh clenches hands moment especially the the first 2 english sentences of the chorus (I.e. Can't you see my pain). If it's not obvious already, the breakdown of this song is my favourite part and this became my favourite song in the album really quickly and I would kill to see this live one day.
Misc Overall Album Thoughts
I’ve actually been fed very good new music so I think I’ve been on a lucky streak for that. I was quite excited for this album and it ended up living up to expectations. I do love Troubleshooting and LaF and she has some good classics, and some of the best songs ever like boy comics, instead! and NOTF but I like and appreciate how much Beautiful Minds and LXVE to DEATH are sounding so much heavier and Rock if that makes sense. I was having this thought last night but as much as the Hello, World to Troubleshooting album run was really good and they have amazing songs, you can tell it still felt like JYP was trying to package them into a kpop concept with the lore of b-form, computer terminology themes and softer, pop-esque songs. I think a part of them still follows the lore with them now breaking out into the real world but I feel like their music and style and choices have gotten more rock, less pop and more creative freedom. Because even songs like Test Me me is very youthful and pop and not so much their vibe right now. I know artists mature with time but seeing how fast the developments have progressed with Instead! and then FiRE and then LOVE ME 2 DEATH, I guess StuJ and JYP gave them more freedom. Also, I know I say this with every new album but I truly truly believe this might be their best album. Genuinely no skips and I love it so much.
Final Ranking [As of Dec'25]
1. LOVE ME 2 DEATH//Lost and Found
2. ICU//Spoiler!!!
3. Love Tug of War
4. Ashes to Ashes
EX | P1Harmony
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23/10/2025
Rating: 2.5 ★
Sorry...all 2.5 stars got to Dancing Queen and Stupid Brain because they hard carried. EX was lowkey cringe and Night Of My Life did not hit. Anyway, Dancing Queen single-handedly kept me alive in September and October and I could genuinely talk about this song for hours. Also, Stupid Brain being 4 minutes long in this economy was amazing.
Favourite song: Dancing Queen DUH!
That's Showbiz Baby! | JADE
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12/09/2025
Rating: 3.5 ★
Gurlie's first solo debut album!! I remember crying watching her receive her BRIT Award and her speech, and this album and the release in general really healed the inner child and the 9 year old Little Mix fan in me :( I was not the biggest fan of her pre-releases unfortunately (though Angel of My Dreams did eventually grow on me). Some of the songs still felt too Charli XCX beat vibe if that makes sense and I didn't really like it. Anyway, discovering Self Saboteur fading into Lip Service was honestly beautiful. I loved her vocals in some of the songs but I've always really loved her voice since LM days. Overall, the album grew slightly more on me as I continued listening to it but I wouldn't say I 100% enjoyed it sorry queen :(
Favourite song(s): Self Saboteur, Silent Disco
Orenjii | Emotional Oranges
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27/06/2025
Rating: 4 ★
Ooo gurl I haven't had a good English album in a while so this was really good, chill and enjoyable. This also brought me back to my 2020 Emotional Oranges phase and I'll always love their voices. Overall a really chill and vibey album and I specifically associate listening to this album a lot in a taxi on the way to work during that one morning I was late.
Favourite song: That Girl
Rocket | Dominic Fike
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25/08/2025
Rating: 3 ★
Not a lot of the songs stood out to me as much as compared to Sunburn & pre-Sunburn era. One Glass and Great Pretender are really good though, and some parts of the album actually have Don't Forget About Me, Demos vibes which felt really nostalgic and nice. This was much better compared to 14 Minutes.
Favourite Song: Great Pretender
Girls Will Be Girls | Itzy
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25/06/2025
Rating: 2 ★
I still love Itzy, I really do but I genuinely could not resonate with this EP. I'm sorry queens, idk what JYP is doing. This felt like it was trying to ride on the train of the Charli XCX vibes and beats, and sue me maybe I'm wrong, but this EP felt less Itzy than normal Itzy. 1 point got to Kiss and Tell (although it took a while for it to grow on me) and Promise.
Favourite Song: Kiss and Tell which is honestly surprising but I think it's because of the dance and the styling for it is soooo cunty.
DUH! | P1Harmony
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08/06/2025
Rating: 4 ★
This is officially my favourite P1H album, though I minus 1 star because I don't really like Over And Over. I have slight association with this album because it got me through finals season, first half of May and the first half of summer break. Pretty Boy grew on me A LOT, especially with the dance practice, and the afro beats are soooo yummy in the song. Also, everyone was so cunty in this era.
Favourite song: Pretty Boy
Beautiful Minds | Xdinary Heroes
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24/03/2025
Rating: 4.5 ★
Where do I even start. This was a masterpiece. I haven't had such a visceral reaction to an album before. This was life changing and idk if it’s because I’m fully back deep into kpop/rock again but I swear Troubleshooting and LaF didn’t hit this much. Maybe for LaF it’s because I already listened to the closed betas but dude I SWEARRRR there’s like crack in this album that felt more life changing listening to it. I wish I could relieve the moment I heard every song again, especially Diamond and more than i like. I HATED the fact that I had to watch the MV halfway but it was so worth the wait. Arguably, this is their best mv since Freakin Bad. Little Things and NBTE was nice but there was no plot :(
This album is so rock and just so *them*. It’s arguably the most western influenced album I think, like I can definitely see hints of Queen, MCR, Green Day and personally Parx, PTV and maybe even FOB? Essentially, this album just feels very 2010s and 2000s rock and pop punk which I love and I CANT BELIEVE THE LOCALS AND AMERICNS ARE GONNA SEE THIS AT LOLLA BEFORE ME.
The MV
I’ll start with the MV even though it's not really a part of the album. I got literal CHILLS watching it and I think it deserves a review because it enhances listening to Beautiful Life. The bad guys beating them up being Xdiz all along was shocking but this also means were the bad guys the bform them or the real them?? Like I NEED those talented twitter Villains to break it down and add on to the bform lore but also the fact that their faces glitched too so is there no real xdiz??? Were they fake???? Does this tie into the “what’s real in your reality” line at the end of the MV? I need someone to break down the lore. That aside they all look so freaking good. The colours and lighting and the set was so *chefs kiss* and like ughhh, I've missed these plot-based MVs and rock title tracks so so much. Don't get me wrong, I loveeee Little Things and Night before the End but they don’t hit the same. At my core, I’m a rock girlie and I love it when they do title tracks and MVs like this.
1. FIGHT ME
I can imagine this playing as an intro at their concert with the heavy drums. It will be insane like a curtain rising and then it goes all out and reveals them. I truly love the drums in this, it’s so heavy. I love the pre chorus too AND Seungmin’s rap is soooo Love and Fear coded with the distorted audio. Don't even get me started on the crumbs of Gunil's lines and when he sings it while playing the drums...Anyway this song is just classic clean and such a banger way to open the album.
2. Beautiful Life
Where do I even start. I thought I was gonna not vibe with the random switch up in genres but they did it soooo good. The opera rock really works here. I also love the pre chorus WITH George Orwell's 1984 AND the chorus is non repetitive. Moreover, the electric guitar riffs are so good in the chorus. The way the song starts with "no one’s left to find you" and ends with "no one’s left to love you" is so smart and chilling.
I LOVE VERSE 2 SO MUCH as well and Gaon and O.de ate so bad. I especially love the "HELL NO!" part and Gaon’s part in verse 2 sounds so much like the boy comics rap which I love. Additionally, Junhan’s guitar is so freaking good like it’s literally what he mentioned in the interview with the powerful riffs but it’s so good. I also really love the brdige with Gaon's high note, like the build up into the chorus and then it leads up into the soft piano and it makes me just want to spin around the room. I'm not sure how else to express what a banger this title track was. It exceeded my expectations PLUS COUPLED WITH THE MV? I WAS SOLD!
3. more than i like
First, excuse the all caps but I COLLAPSED AND DIED LISTENING TO THIS. SHE WAS EVERYTHING I IMAGINED AND WANTED AND EVEN MORE. TTHIS SONG IS SO GOOD OH MY GOD. I NEED TO MARRY THIS SONG OR INJECT INTO MY VEINS. It was amazing listening to the song. It’s SOOOOOO 2000 teenage music or Parx vibes like Double Dare which is my FAV album. This is especially for second verse with the audio distortions — it is so early 2000s teen music and just classic. THIS IS THE ULTIMATE YEARNING SONG. I would scream this song with the same yearning and passion as Better Than I know Myself with the hands grabbing and deep feelings. It's honestly criminal this song is barely 3min long but she’s so good and if this song were to ever happen to me, I would listen to it non stop and just giggle.
4. Diamond
Literally not what i was expecting and again CRIMINAL length. WHY is it only 2:38. This song is another BANGER english song. They truly never miss with their english releases and I cannot WAIT to sing this one day at a concert. AGAIN GAON’s second verse hits different, like the melody reminds me a bit of how he slowed down in Feeling Nice where it was so catchy. I love the pre chorus as well.
Additionally, the bridge. The build up with the drums and the melody is so beautiful and just hooks you in. I'm not a music major so idk how to explain it better but it's just so amazing. Plus, the Jooyeon and Gunil scream... can you imagine how hard the concert floor or lollapalooza is going to shake from this. this is defo Gunil’s song and it's so good and the fact that it’s in English means i can actually sing it fully.
5. Supernatural
Classic ballad and I lowkey prefer it over NBTE. I don’t have a lot to say but I can imagine the crowd just slowly waving their light sticks listening to this. I think dear h. is still my fav ballad though. The start does remind me a lot of Christina Argureilla, I'm not sure why. Maybe it's the soft piano which makes it feel different from their other ballads like until the end of time. I do think the guitar really plays a part in the imagery of the song because the way it comes in at the pre chorus sounds like shining or shooting stars and it ties into the sticker design of the song with the star like it’s so pretty and it feels like waving goodbye or going stargazing and sharing all these thoughts with someone. It’s actually so sad, it’s like night of the fireworks depressed sister.I take back what I said last time. Also I love Jungsu’s second verse with the way they change up the melodies for a lot of the second verses, it's so creative and good.
6. George the Lobster
JUNHAN SINGS! And his line were so catchy!! I can't wait to see him sing this live.I love the pre chorus and how the vocals become more isolated with just the drum beats and simple guitar melody alongside Jungsu’s voice which is so sweet and clear there. This is also the O.de song because I swear he has never gotten a chance to emphasise his synth skills before. Plus, his rap with Gaon in the second verse is so good. Rap line ate up every rap in this album but this one was so unexpected and amazing. I also love the bridge where Jungsu goes one key higher and then it builds up into Junhan's guitar solo with Gunil's drums.
7. BBB
The bass, drums and heavier guitar!!! This song sounds very western if that makes sense. It’s like Undefined’s western cousin? It’s so catchy and good. I swear Gaon gets so many good parts in this album like the second verse again hits so good and O.DE'S PART I LOVE THE FLOW AND HIS LAZY RAP!! I can literally imagine him performing this and holding the mic. I know I already said this but rap line truly demolished everything this album and ate so bad I fear. I also love the bridge with the isolated drums and the build up to another Junhan guitar solo.
Overall Ranking
1. more than i like
2. Beautiful Life//Diamond
3. FIGHT ME
4. George the Lobster
5. BBB//Supernatural
Moral Panic | Nothing But Thieves
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30/02/2025
Rating: 3.5 ★
I've been listening to this a lot on the way to my narratives class. Sometimes I tune out a bit because I get lost in walking and the songs serve as really nice background music. Overall a very cohesive album and Impossible will always have a special place in my heart.
Favourite song: Impossible duh!