April 2025 Wrap-Up: April Showers...
Howdy, folks and cowfolks!
Starting off with the debuts! I actually have one still sitting in my drafts so that will have to happen eventually, but I also only covered three of the others: CLOSE YOUR EYES, ifeye, and SWEET:CH. I'm still frustrated by certain trends regarding girl group debuts right now, but the two boy groups didn't frustrate me in the same way.
Also debuting were SKINZ (a virtual boy group), TSSJ (a virtual girl group), VVS, OSDS, HITGS, and UDTT. I mentioned it in the review I wrote for one of their later songs, but there's also a boy group called VVS and that's also the name of Vanner's fandom. So if you're into that debut, be aware that there may be some future confusion. Hopefully the company changes the name. It's been known to happen.
Songs I was looking forward to:
- Solar (MAMAMOO): I'm always going to be really excited about anything MAMAMOO as a group or as soloists do, because you know we're basically guaranteed to get fantastic vocals out of them and that's what I look forward to
- Kai (EXO): I'm still using EXO's solo releases to get a feel for them so that when they are fully back together (and I mean fully), I'll be able to pick them out fairly easily
- xikers: These. Are. My. Kids. And I really want them to get their first win, so no, I will not shut up about them because they are superlative with their live stages
- Mark (NCT): It's Mark. Mark is in all the NCT. But because this is another group that I'm not super familiar with, it's nice to be able to use solo releases to get to know the members. And! This is a debut!
- Daesung (BIGBANG): I mean, it's Daesung
- OH MY GIRL: Tenth anniversary!
- NCT Wish: They're probably my favorite subunit from NCT as far as the music is concerned, although I also probably know the members the least
- ODD YOUTH: Again, another group I refuse to stop shouting about and one of the girl groups that I've picked up since I started doing this.
- Highlight: They got their name Beast back from Cube a bit ago, but they decided to keep going by Highlight. This marks their first release under then name Beast since they left Cube
- Big Ocean: I really admire them for changing their career paths a little bit later than the average freshly debuted group, but I've also been really enjoying watching their progress
- TWS: My other set of kids and I have yet to love what they've been releasing
- Lucy: This is my band with the violin. I love violins in songs, and this is a band with a violin
- Younite: They really impressed on Road to Kingdom. Like really impressed me. And even though I'm not currently in the market for a new boy group to pick up, I've got my eye on them
- LOVEONE: My other recently debuted girl group that I absolutely adore because I can see their potential and they need lots of love
- Ilhoon: This was barely an April release, but he is another one I'm just stubborn about
And there we have it, the whole lot of them. You may notice that almost every single one of those that I was looking forward to, I ended up doing the review for.
There were a lot of soloists who got wins this month. While you can always access these in the Music Show Wins page (available either at the top of the blog or contained within The Junk Drawer), here are the ones specifically for the month of April.
And now, 'tis my favorite segment: where I get to yap about songs I liked! This one is a bit thin compared to some of the other months
Top Releases of the Month:
- Close Your Eyes "All My Poetry": Survival show groups are often ones I really like, and these guys are no different. This was a solid debut. This song, and the album really, definitely made me pay attention to them and keep an eye on this group.
- ODD YOUTH "I Like You": I still like Hot Chicken better, but this music video is stunning and I've love to see them cover something from second gen. Also, that music video is incredible and funny and so sweet.
- Daesung (BIGBANG) "Universe": I didn't even have to remind myself about this song. That's how incredible this song is. I love it. Like, it's incredible enough that I remember exactly where I was when I heard it for the first time (ironically, I was in fact sitting in church).
- TWS "Countdown!": I'm still deeply annoyed about HYBE's runtimes, but it doesn't change how much I love the song.
- Highlight "Endless Ending": I'm completely in love with this song. I love it so much. Another song that I remember where I was when I first heard it: in the car after dropping my father off at work. I actually listened to the whole album, and even though I really liked Chains, this one had me by the throat and still does.
- Big Ocean "ATTENTION": They just keep getting better and better. And that music video? Wow.
- LOVEONE "Drama Queen": I'm just super proud of myself for being able to identify another song that matches it in time signature, key signature, and BPM. The music video is delightful, and the entire time I was writing the review, I was happy wiggling in my chair.
- ASTRO "Moon": This is a beautiful song.
- from20 "Eye Candy": ...Look. I have no defense.
- SWEET:CH "Candy House": Yes, I thought it would be funny to have two songs that are similarly titled, but wildly different in literally every other way. This was a debut, they haven't done anything since, which is concerning, but honestly, I just love this song.
- UNIS "SWICY": I can't listen to the song recreationally because the maknae debuted at thirteen. However. It doesn't change how much I love the song, you know? They've got incredible voices and the music video was freaking adorable.
Full list of April reviews: here
Reviews for other months:
- NiziU "LOVE LINE" (March 2025)
- 2AM "Moment" (March 2025)
- Akmu "DADA" (March 2025)
- izna "SIGN" (March 2025)
- RE:WIND "FOREVER" {Debut} (March 2025)
- JustB "CHEST" (March 2025)
- Xdinary Heroes "Beautiful Life" (March 2025)
- Lucy "Wakey Wakey" (March 2025)
- NTX "OVER N OVER" (March 2025)
- J-Hope (BTS) "Mona Lisa" (March 2025)
- FANTASY BOYS "Undeniable" (March 2025)
- Dragon Pony "Not Out" (March 2025)
- Ten (NCT) "STUNNER" (March 2025)
- KiiiKiii "BTG" {Debut} (March 2025)
- Candy Shop "TIP TOE" (March 2025)
There were two Greatest Hits posts: EXID "Every Night" and Stray Kids "My Pace". EXID's was a very EXID song, with a funny music video and some absolutely gorgeous vocals. The vibrato alone would have been enough for me to love this (THANK YOU LEGGO WHO IS ON REDDIT WHO LOVES THIS AND SUGGESTED THIS). Stray Kids's was just about the complete opposite, funnily enough. Intense, bombastic, big and powerful choreography. And they debuted six years later, when the musical landscape was entirely different, so personally I'm really happy with the range in this.
There were three Battle of the B-Sides posts: Beauty Box "PLZ PLZ PLZ", ATEEZ "Dune", and KOYOTE "웃자 (Let's Laugh)". Beauty Box was a small group that lasted just over three years, so getting to celebrate one of their songs for a fan feels like an honor. This is such a lovely and fun song that, listening to it again for this section, I started smiling. I don't know if I said this in the post, but the song reminds me of the line "You change your mind like a girl changes clothes" from Hot N Cold by Katy Perry sometimes. Dune hasn't had a live performance so this was mostly my ramblings, guided by the The Form submission I got. But y'all. It's a stunning song and it's got some incredible vocal range that we don't hear on those members as often as I'd like, and I'm sure there are many ATINYs who would agree with that. For KOYOTE, in an entirely different shift, this is a first gen co-ed group and this is a pretty old song in the context of K-Pop's history too. The age of the song makes it a little difficult to find anything about it, but the song makes me want to dance and also work out (which was a problem considering I had just started physical therapy).
If you'd like me to take a look at a song for either one (or a regular review of a song no matter when it was released), feel free to drop a comment or submit it with The Form.
Honorable Mentions:
- ATEEZ "Ice On My Teeth": I had to warm up to this song, but once I did? Heck yeah.
- NU'EST "FACE": Technically, I think I listened to this one the most, but I didn't think y'all wanted to be looking at that music video as the thumbnail again. What can I say? I listen to this one a lot.
- GHOST9 "Think of Dawn": I don't understand how this group hasn't gotten more attention, you know? I know Prince has been bringing in a lot of people, but their songs are just incredible. This one is big and dramatic and I have on my pre-work playlist so I can pretend I want to be there.
- DreamNote "Wish": This is a really cheerful song and stands out in this list because of how bright and cheerful it is. I'm glad I found this group.
- BTOB "Star": Not me realizing every group in this section debuted in either 2018 or 2012. Anyway, this song is from their zombie concept album back in the day, but it's one of their earlier hug songs. Plus, it opens and closes with the tune to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
- BTOB "Be Together": However, you want to talk about a hug song? This. This right here. This was part of their tenth anniversary, and it's post military, and it's almost everything I could ask for. This wasn't even their title track but I just love it so much. But this is why I'm putting two BTOB songs on here this month, other than of course the fact that I listened to them a lot this month. Them performing this song live heals my soul and clears my skin.
- VIXX "On and On": This one has the delightfully catchy "I need therapy, la-la-la-la-la therapy" while they're werewolves on the moon in the music video. Concept KINGS. By the way, the other song on this single where this originally dropped before it was included in the VOODOO DOLL album is called "Don't Want To Be An Idol." Just a fun fact.
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