Song Review:: xikers: ICONIC

-

  • Release date: 2025 August 1

  • Album tracklist: ICONIC

  • Album runtime: 3 minutes

 Is this their first single? Ooh, this is exciting. And I know I'm super late with them, but I've also been avoiding listening to it until now because I wanted it to be fresh for when I did the review, and I was in LA when this dropped and didn't have a lot of time or energy to review much at the time. But, here we are with my first rookie group! (Not my first group I was there for their debut, that was RIIZE.) One day, we'll get a win for them. One day. Hopefully soon. Also, this has a perfect runtime. 

The beginning part of this hilariously sounds like the very beginning of Your Idol, just after the chanting. I doubt there's any way the two are connected, but I just think that's kind of funny considering ATEEZ are basically the Saja Boys in real life. The song has a good, strong beat to it, and there are fun little quirks that pop in for emphasis occasionally. But do you hear that electric guitar? Do you hear it? That is fantastic. I'm in love with how the electric guitar is being used, almost like it's a punctuation. And we've got a section that sounds like it's meant to have audience participation clapping, which I'm completely delighted by. It's been a hot minute since I've gotten a song with that.

So this makes two of their title tracks that I'm in love with without needing a live stage to make me catch my breath in awe. Well, two that are in Korean. I loved Tsuki (Lunatic). I mean this in the highest level of compliment I possibly could give, and I think it's at least partially because I've been listening to a lot more iKON than I normally do, but I'm hearing quite a bit of iKON heritage built in alongside the ATEEZ legacy. In fact, there's one of the rappers (I suspect it's Sumin) that sounds so much like Bobby that I'm a little bit tickled pink over it and then the other one (who I suspect to be Minjae) sounds a lot like Hongjoong. Yechan, as always, is completely distinct. Yes, there's quite a bit of rapping, and also quite a bit of auto-tune, which historically is not my favorite thing. But I really, really love how the vocals are used this time. And we get some vocalizations. ICONIC would probably make for a really good survival show because it has moments where it goes hard, and it has moments where it's less aggressive, but no less intense. The build up for the song is perfect for a survival show.

What do you mean this is an all-English track???? Okay, so it's a visualizer instead of a proper music video. Super sick, all the same. It's got some strong Spider-Man vibes as well, but because it's just a visualizer, I'm going to include the dance practice video


Dance Practice! Look at this! I'm going to expand my assessment from survival show to survival show and concert. One of the most satisfying things that can happen in either ATEEZ or xikers dance practice videos is when the lights shake. Which we get. As well as shoe squeaks. That ending choreo? Phenomenal.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Battle of the B-Sides: Jin (BTS): Heart on the Window

-
Image
 My first BBS request! I just saw some of the memes being made about their performance and the amount of space between Wendy and Jin, and I just have to say that they're hilarious and the amount of trolling I'm seeing from the fans gives me life. The timing is actually really helpful for me to get into fan mindset. This request comes from a user on Reddit, who simply said there was too much, they were obsessed, and then linked me to an appreciation post they'd done. This is what I like to see, and it gave me a very good place to start: Jin and Wendy's voices. As a side note, Jin really does have the perfect trot voice. This isn't even in that genre or anywhere approaching it, but that honestly doesn't change this fact about him. If he's willing to give us more trot or trot-adjacent, I'd be a happy camper and eat it up. Heart on the Window comes from Jin's debut album and is the fifth track between a soft rock ballad and a full fat ballad. With the t...
Read more

Battle of the B-Sides:: IN2IT: Young & Dumb

-
Image
 So this lovely group left their company after a little over two years, founded their own company, and are now going by the name Skye as of 2023. So, yes, technically IN2IT is disbanded, but it's more of a B2ST/Highlight situation. I also found out that they did a cover of SHINee's An Encore  a few months ago, which delights me to no end because that's my favorite SHINee song, and they did a great job. This one was also recommended to me, and because I've never heard of this group before, I'm genuinely delighted by the idea that I get to cover a group I haven't heard of. And the only group I've covered in one of these posts, going by some of the numbers, that's smaller is the ill-fated Chocolate, which I also hadn't heard of before I started looking into them.  Some brief background on them. They debuted in 2017 as an 8-member project group from the survival show BOYS24 under what is now WAKEONE and left at the end of their contracts in 2020, which m...
Read more

Battle of the B-Sides: LABOUM: 빛이 되어쥐 (Be the Light)

-
Image
 Unless I do The Roulette Wheel, I obviously can pick which of the suggestions I've gotten that I'll write posts for. I also have a spreadsheet where I have my posts organized by generation and boy group, girl group, and co-ed. The co-ed groups definitely need more attention, but I'm taking these last few Specialty posts to focus on the girl groups because they're not my natural inclination, and while the Roulette Wheel is weighted equally, I don't like that it's uneven. So, I ignored my normal addition of the B/G/Co-Ed Wheel spin and just did it for a girl group, and I ended up with LABOUM. I'm not sure I've heard of them, so this will be exciting.  LABOUM is a third gen girl group that are younger sisters to U-KISS and Brown Eyed Girls, which is wildly hilarious considering the last GH post I did was in fact for BEG's song Abracadabra . So, that was unintended. 빛이 되어쥐 , or Be the Light  as I will be calling it through this because while it would be...
Read more

Song Review:: Taemin (SHINee): Eternal- Sexy in the Air

-
Image
Release date: 2024 August 19 Album tracklist: G.O.A.T, Sexy in the Air , Horizon , The Unknown Sea, Crush, Deja Vu, Say Less Album runtime: 21 minutes      As the inaugural review for this new blog, I had to go with Taemin. I know this is a few weeks late, but better late than never and it's at least still in August. Hello, and welcome!      As his first album under the new company, I'm sure most fans approached it with mild or moderate hesitation.       Luckily, I don't necessarily think we need have worried too much.       The song opens with some grindy electric guitar, an element I have to admit I'm a fan of in general. It reminds me of a science fiction dystopia film at night in the rain during a chase, which is a specific image for me that isn't at odds with the music video.      The verses lose that guitar, turning into more of a generic trap sound that unfortunately loses my attention, but turns...
Read more

Music Show Wins: Week of 11/27 - 12/03

-
Image
Aespa got the triple crown on Inkigayo this week! ATEEZ and WayV got their first wins with their new songs. There were no performances on either Show Champion, nor MCountdown, nor were there any wins for either program. Jay spent a lot of time singing on ASC, and there wasn't an MC Challenge, which I'd be upset about, but he sang so much that I can't be upset. Also, he did a quick cover of Mariah Carey's Christmas song, and his vocal runs and the quality of his tone just makes me melt a little inside.  Just as a reminder, the links in the chart go to my reviews, and the link down on ASC is for the full hour program. And I include the stage for the music shows, unless the winner didn't perform it on that day, in which case, I pull usually another live performance. Show Champion: N/A MCountdown: N/A Music Bank: ATEEZ "Ice on my Teeth"  (note: I don't think they're still promoting, so have the performance from 20241115) Show! Music Core: aespa "W...
Read more

Music Show Wins: Week of 10/16 - 10/22

-
Image
This week is apparently dominated by the soloists, as we have both a member of BLACKPINK as well as a member of aespa taking home wins. Karina's required to me do a review on the song, which is fine. I'm happy to do it.  Show Champion, Inkigayo, and The Show  did not have shows and no winner was announced. Also, Billie was the guest on After School Club this week. The links in the table, by the way, are links to my reviews for each win. I don't know if I ever said that. Show Champion: N/A MCountdown: Jennie "Mantra" Music Bank: The Wind "Hello, My First Love" Show! Music Core: aespa (Karina solo) "Up" (note: I couldn't find a performance for it from this music show, but here is another performance of it.) Inkigayo: N/A ASC Performance: Billie The Show: N/A
Read more

Song Review:: ODD YOUTH: Best Friendz- Best Friendz {Debut}

-
Image
Release date: 2024 November 01 Album tracklist: Best Friendz , THAT'S ME Album runtime: 5 minutes  So, last night, I was looking up what the members of Shinhwa have been doing lately, because I would love to see them release a new album, but I'll likely have to wait for another anniversary album. Which is fine. Anyway, as I was looking in to them, I found out that the maknae, Andy, has been busy with groups! (Also, it wouldn't surprise me if he named the company after their first financial success, which is a fabulous song and I love it). He had both TEEN TOP and UP10TION, which is super exciting for me to discover because I like both of those groups. Why do I bring them up? Because ODD YOUTH is the latest group to debut from one of the OGs of K-Pop and join their older brothers, MCND, as one of the active groups under TOP MEDIA. I do have to decide on if I can listen to this group, if I end up liking them though, because yes, the maknae is 16 and yes, they don't have m...
Read more

Music Show Wins: Week of 01/08 - 01/14

-
Image
  It looks like we may be getting more music shows back up and running if this week is any indication, but the most exciting news of all is that this week was a group's first first place on a music show! Congrats to n.SSign! Took about a year and a half, but I'm so happy for them. G-Dragon also got the Triple Crown on Inkigayo this week, which opens the trophy back up to someone else for next week, and that's without promotions. On After School Club, Allen and Taeyoung were absent, so Jayn Lee, former leader of TO1, joined Aron as co-host for n.SSign to come out and play a little. And in a both funny and adorable moment, Aron complimented them on smelling good. So if you're a fan, at least one of them smells really nice. Both of the hosts struggled a little with the MC Challenge, which remains my favorite segment, and the members had some interesting insights for the Question Corner. Show Champion: N/A MCountdown: Stray Kids "Walkin on Water" (note: I think I ...
Read more

Song Reviews:: BE BOYS: BE:1- I'M SO SORRY, BUT I LOVE YOU {Debut}

-
Image
Release date: 2025 June 18 Album tracklist: I'M SO SORRY, BUT I LOVE YOU ; if i ain't got you; CLOVER; BE There Album runtime: 13 minutes  This group has the first North Korean to debut as an idol! His name is Hakseong, he was a finalist on MakeMate1 (which I watched and was sad he didn't debut in NouerA , but couldn't be happier that he gets to debut now), and he has a gorgeous voice, you guys. And, best part, is that the whole lot are full adults except for the maknae, who turned seventeen less than a week ago, so the group passes both of my criteria. I actually would have been really sad if one of the two didn't pass because I fell so far head over heels for one of the b-sides. I'll talk about them later. Because I'm giving this group a little special attention. I'm rooting so hard for this group.  That guitar is loud and in front, very much a seventies sound. Actually I'm reminded of one of the songs from Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed soundtr...
Read more

Greatest Hits:: MBLAQ: Stay

-
Image
 Summoned for you directly from The Form, it's ironically a song from the same album that I've already done a BBS post from. I chose to do Darling  because of the roulette wheel and shuffle, so that one's on me. But apparently someone out there in the world really likes this album to slide the title track my way as well.  So, I was technically focusing on the repackage album of this for Darling , so you get sort of new information. Released in 2011, this was their first full album. Containing a grand total of thirteen tracks and a runtime of 43 minutes, which averages out to a little more than three minutes a song, it's at a good length, even with the first track dropping the average. It did pretty well on the charts, peaking at second on the Gaon weekly chart and third on the Gaon monthly chart. No music show wins with it, but that doesn't matter because music show wins are not the final dictator of love for a song.  Flashing Lights warning for the music video. Gro...
Read more