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Battle of the B-Sides:: NU'EST: Thank You (Evening by Evening)

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 Whichever LOVE sent this in and specifically requested I time this release to come out when Minhyun gets out, I love you. GUESS WHAT EVERYONE! MINHYUN HAS BEEN DISCHARGED. I try to avoid the caps lock, but I'm honestly so happy I could cry.  Thank You (Evening by Evening) is the fourth track from their fifth mini album, Canvas, which sold a grand total of 10 first day units and was released in 2016. I'll let that sink in for a second. The things you learn, and honestly, I couldn't be prouder of their survival with that little factoid. Writing credits include Bumzu, who recently won Legendary Producer at the 2025 AAAs and is most well-known for being Seventeen's producer alongside Woozi but also has done songs for Jin (BTS), Block B, TWS, 2PM, fromis_9, NCT Dream, Pristin, EXO, and Rain among others. Also with the writing credits is Jo Jayoung, who along with Seventeen and NU'EST songs as well, also has songs for UP10TION. And then the most surprising credit and I...
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Christmas Caroling: 2025 Edition

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 Hello, everyone! This is the Christmas and/or winter and/or holiday songs for the 2025 season. We're going to get this one started early because, well, I think we've already had a release for the season. I'm counting it because it's talking about snow. Also, as with 2024's, I'm going to be updating this as regularly as I find songs for it.  Minimal commentary from me! Just music! 2024 Edition The Old 10CM Winter Breath Moonbyul (MAMAMOO) A miracle 3days ago Monsta X Lonely Christmas NCT Dream JOY billlie snowy night Lee Haein Santa Lullaby (We Used To Sing) K.Will, SISTAR, BOYFRIEND Snow Candy TVXQ! Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town JUSTB I luv you Merry Christmas LUNCH Mr. Santa And here's the annual, 11th addition because it's funny if you think I'm not going to include this when MINHYUN GETS DISCHARGED AROUND CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR!!! First one to come home! Even if he technically got to stay at home most of the time because of the nature of his mil...
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MAMA Awards 2025: Day 2

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 Okie dokie, everyone! My thoughts on things will be down at the bottom, instead of giving a long and verbose introduction, because we all know that what you're here for is actually the performances and the winners. Anything I have to say is a bonus, you know? The artists are the focus here. performances aespa ( Dirty Work + Rich Man ) ALLDAY PROJECT ( FAMOUS ) CORTIS ( GO! + FaSHioN ) G-Dragon (DRAMA + Heartbreaker + Untitled, 2025) IDID X KickFlip (PUSH BACK + My First Love Song + Boy In Luv) izna ( Mamma Mia ) JO1 (BE CLASSIC + Handz In My Pocket) Kim Hye Soo X Felix X Kyoka X Sung Hangbin X ALLDAY PROJECT (HEAR MY ROAR + BAD BOY + FAMOUS) RIIZE (Bag Bad Back + Fame ) Stray Kids (CREED + Chk Chk Boom + DIVINE + CEREMONY ) TOMORROW X TOGETHER (Upside Down Kiss + Beautiful Strangers ) ZEROBASEONE ( Doctor! Doctor! + ICONIK ) covers Ahn Hyo Seop BABYMONSTER (What It Sounds Like + Golden) KickFlip X IDID (Boy In Luv) winners Visa Artist of the Year (Daesang) : G-Dragon Visa Albu...
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Song Review:: Kyuhyun (Super Junior): The Classic- Like Our First Snow

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Release date: 2025 November 20 Album tracklist: Daydream; Like Our First Snow ; Goodbye, My Friend; Still in Memory; Compass Album runtime: 19 minutes  Do I get to start on my Christmas post already? I assume so based on the fact that we have a song called "Like Our First Snow" but it's also not even the first one of the season. Such is life. You think you're prepared for something and then the unexpected happens. But here we are. And as a side note, I'm thoroughly delighted that I understand the Korean of this title! But also, there's only one song that's shorter than three-and-a-half minutes. Bless him. Are you ready for me to squeal delightedly over this instrumental? Because you should. This is absolutely gorgeous. It's soft and slow, with the occasional weighty drum to hold the song down and give it depth. The piano almost makes me want to cry a little bit from how lovely it is. The plaintive guitar. And my favorite instrument for just about anyth...
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MAMA Awards 2025: Day 1

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Given my relative verboseness and frequent rambling, it would be understandable if you're expecting me to ramble about now as well. But I'm not going to! Yet. That'll come at the end. Instead, just enjoy the performances and the winners.  My little comments will show up at the end.  In the meantime, enjoy! performances Alpha Dive One (Intro + FORMULA) BABYMONSTER ( WE GO UP + DRIP ) BOYNEXTDOOR ( Hollywood Action ) Bumsup/Park Bo-gum (Ink Becoming Flesh) Enhypen ( No Doubt + Bad Desire (With or Without You) ) Hearts2Hearts ( FOCUS ) i-dle ( Good Thing ) IVE ( XOXZ + REBEL HEART ) MEOWW ( TURN IT UP ) NCT Wish ( COLOR ) Super Junior ( Express Mode + Mr. Simple + BONAMANA + Sorry, Sorry) Treasure (2025 Free + PARADISE + I WANT YOUR LOVE) TWS ( OVERDRIVE ) Yeonjun (Coma + Talk To You) match-ups Hearts2Hearts X NCT Wish TWS X MEOVV winners Fan's Choice of the Year (Daesang): Enhypen Song of the Year (Daesang): Rosé X Bruno Mars - APT. Fan's Choice Male Top 10 (B...
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Asia Artist Awards 2025

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 So, as with the other award show posts, my comments will be found down below, after the performances and the winners. I know. It's me, and I like to ramble, but for these, I'm giving you the stuff you're more likely to be interested in first, and then if you want my rambles, they're at the bottom.  Anyway, enjoy the performances and congrats to the winners! I'm only listing the music related winners, with two exceptions. performances AHOF ( Rendezvous ) ALLDAY PROJECT ( FAMOUS + ONE MORE TIME ) ASH ISLAND (Don't go + OST) ATEEZ (Man on Fire + Dance Break + In Your Fantasy ) Cortis ( GO! + What You Want ) Cravity (Intro + Lemonade Fever ) IVE ( XOXZ + ATTTUDE + 삐빅 (♥beats) + REBEL HEART ) JJ Lin (Bedroom + 修煉愛情+背對背擁抱 (with WOODZ)) KickFlip (Intro (특이점) + My First Love Song ) KiiiKiii (Intro + I DO ME ) Kiss of Life (Maestro of My Heart + Lucky ) Leejunyoung (BOUNCE + BACK) LE SSERAFIM (Born Fire + Ash + HOT ) MEOVV ( BURNING UP + HANDS UP ) Monsta X (Tress...
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Song Review:: ALLDAY PROJECT: ALLDAY PROJECT- ONE MORE TIME {Pre-Release}

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Release date: 2025 November 17 Album tracklist: ONE MORE TIME Album runtime: 3 minutes  We've got about a month before the mini album drops, but in the meantime, we've got this pre-release and  it's over three minutes long. Unfortunately, because of certain, hmm, choices that have been made, I'm putting this on Underage Protocol. Although I wanted to check the music video briefly, and there seems to be a different choice being made with regards to certain things. I'm not going to pull them off U.P. yet, but I hope that this trajectory continues so that I can. This is a very Teddy song full of synthy goodness and a skittering beat that isn't overpowering through the entire song. The variation is good. The flow of the song as a whole is good. There's also a song that this reminds me of, but I don't have enough pieces of it to figure out even what group it, but if I figure it out, I will let you know. But otherwise, I really enjoy this song. It feels famili...
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April 2025 Wrap-Up: April Showers...

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 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 guarante...
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Song Review:: Irene & Seulgi (Red Velvet): TILT- TILT

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Release date: 2025 May 26 Album tracklist:  TILT , What's Your Problem?, Irresistible, Girl Next Door, Trampoline, Heaven Album runtime: 17 minutes  I've already seen some of the photoshoots/concept art/performance shots because it turns out that one of the blogs I follow over on Tumblr is a huge RV fan. And wow. I've avoided the actual song so far, but it is time. Hopefully Red Velvet as a whole group can have a proper comeback soon, but in the meantime, I'm very excited for the Reveluvs and this subunit. The runtime does make me squint at SM a little. I do not like that. But at least the title track is over three minutes. That intro feels very 1940s/1950s. Anyway. That is an incredibly strong beat through a lot of the song, but the piano solo sections are wandering into the magical realm of possibilities. We don't get the piano as much as I'd like, but recognizing that it does seem designated soothes that a little. Also, the song has a lot of different texture...
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Song Review:: TWS: TRY WITH US- 마음 따라 뛰는 건 멋지지 않아? (Countdown!)

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Release date: 2025 April 20 Album tracklist: Lucky to be loved , Countdown! , Random Play, Freestyle, Now Playing, GO BACK Album runtime: 15 minutes  This is a really minor thing, and I don't know if it's just me, but I actually prefer when the English titles follow the literal translation more closely than matching the vibe. The members are stepping into their next era after their school-hood debut era now that they're a whole year old, and with the maknae turning eighteen this year, the English title does make sense in that regard. But I like the flow and lyricism of the original Korean. Which I understand mostly. Yay me. Progress. But if you've been following these reviews for any amount of time, you'll know that I have a soft spot a football stadium wide for all Pledis groups, and TWS feels like the softer side of my beloved NU'EST. I desperately want TWS to be on ASC with Aron. It would feel so full circle. However, because I generally like songs released ...
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