Just A Little Fangirl Love

Release date: 2026 January 27 Album track list: Mono (feat. ska water) Album runtime: 3 mi nutes  So, they got a music show win (actually several, but there only needs to be one), which means that I have to kick my butt into gear and get this review written. It's not that I didn't want to write this, nor that I didn't think this would get at least a win, but I also tend to follow my soul's whimsy to give songs the attention they deserve. It does mean that sometimes songs slip through the cracks (which is why I have that spot for the regular reviews in The Form, which you can always submit a song to do a regular review for, even if the song hasn't come out yet). This is a club song without being one of the whipped into a frenzy kind, which means that the beat is very solid and present, but there's also very little variation to it. It's got one spot where it goes more mystical, but it doesn't last long before the best returns. The meaningful variation is v...

Release date: 2026 February 12 Album track list:  Forever Mine,  Too late , Film, If you leave me, Still with you Album runtime: 18 mi nutes  Well, last year we had the very stunning solo debut for Junhee, and now we're coming up on the solo debut for Donghun, now going by Lee Jiham. His voice is incredible. While I am as well watching Build Up, I was rooting for him so hard because he's got an amazing voice. I of course couldn't recall his name because I'm terrible with them, but every time I saw him or his name pop up, I was like "Oh! A.C.E boy!" I think my dream team for that would have been him, Jay, Grim Reaper Boy (Je Up), and Bitsaeon. Alas. Still, I'm happy to be able to celebrate his solo debut with him next week. May it be successful. We're starting off with a piano to set the mood and soften the ear before his vocals step in. It's also a classic example of building line upon line and precept upon precept, because while that piano is a co...

 First one of the year, everyone! I was so stressed about certain things that I kind of completely missed that we'd tipped into February. Good news, January feels like it took only 34 years to get through instead of the 37 years January 2025 took. Progress. Make sure that you're getting your sunshine and supplements for vitamin D. Seasonal depression is no joke. I have a new planner (this one from the BTOB season's greetings) that I'm using to keep track of specifically when artists are having releases and what groups are debuting each month, as well as some blog specific stuff, (like stuff for the 2026 music show wins recap post, how many posts I cover for each month, etc). I figure that they'd appreciate it being used instead of me just going "Look how pretty!!!!!" and never using it.  January debuts! The full groups that I covered are LATENCY , Alpha Drive One , LNGSHOT , dodree , and ChRocktikal . The subunits I covered yesweare (idntt) and DxS (Seven...

Release date: 2026 January 28 Album tracklist: My Heart, Like Ice, Hardened Album runtime: 3 minutes  This makes two of the first gen queens to drop singles this month, and not just any first gen queens. At the beginning of January, Bada, leader of S.E.S, dropped a single and now here at the end of the month, Lee Hyori, leader of Fin.K.L, drops hers. Like, I know I wasn't around for the legendary S.E.S/Fin.K.L rivalry (although I was alive for it, so there's that), but I cannot stress enough how momentous January 2026 was for opening with one and closing with the other. That's huge. It's also a little bit amusing for those of us who are me, because S.E.S debuted before Fin.K.L.  Do you hear that violin? Be still, my soul. This is an incredibly French sounding song, which I haven’t heard in a while, but the majority of the song is violin and piano and while I have feelings about these kinds of songs, the sheer melancholy of the song is incredible. Even if I didn’t know w...

Release date: 2026 January 29 Album tracklist: My Spring, My Light, My Breath Album runtime: 4 minutes  Okay, so this group is kind of hit and miss for me with their music, at least with their title tracks. I've found a few of their b-sides that I do actually really like, so I'm curious with this song, especially since apparently this is a pre-release for an upcoming mini album I didn't know about. Or maybe I did. I haven't checked my planner for the upcoming releases in February in a while and I was a little focused on surviving January. But this is also a gloriously lengthed song and I couldn't be happier. This instrumental is just so gorgeous from the start because it’s relatively simple while simultaneously being incredibly grounded. It’s a love song, plain and simple. No extra bells and whistles, a softness that opens its arms to let the vocals and the ears listening to rest, distract from the song. Even in the moments where it becomes more energetic, rather th...

Release date: 2026 January 15 Album track list: Intro : CRTK, PEACE , Victor, KALish, RIDE, Myself, All in on me, Shame, Iris, Masterpiece, Free! Album runtime: 37 mi nutes  Band debut! So this one is a little bit interesting. The band is at Dreamcatcher Company, home to the girl group Dreamcatcher, whom I love because they're kind of spooky witch girls with some big rock vocals. This bodes well for this band. Also, good news, they debuted with the maknae over twenty-one. It's important bringing up Dreamcatcher because Siyeon is the lead singer for the band as well as one of the producers. Whoo! And there are enough minutes to this album that you could have twelve songs over three minutes, or if you remove the intro track, which is only a minute long, that puts the rest of them averaging over three-and-a-half minutes. That's even more impressive because the title track is very close to three minutes, but it's still under. This is a very satisfying instrumental. The guit...

Release date: 2026 January 28 Album track list: BRUISE Album runtime: 3 mi nutes  I really like it when the smaller groups actually take a visit to my city because then I get to advocate on personal, live experience rather than just "they're good on video and in the recording booth." They worked well with the crowd, they feel like they're comfortable on stage, and they're not afraid to say (paraphrased) "You guys kind of have a reputation and I'm happy to be wrong." The vibe is good with them, in other words. If you get the chance, go see them. They put on a really good concert. I'm going to start off with saying that the instrumental is weirdly muted. Not in volume, because it's actually pretty well balanced there, but more in the voice of the song. I keep hearing instruments and notes that aren't there. There's a very fierce song somewhere in this song. Now, that being said, what is present in the song is fascinating. There's a ...

Release date: 2026 January 29 Album track list: WHO'S THE NEXT, ROCK THE NATION , DDANG, ELEVATE, NO SHINE Album runtime: 13 mi nutes  I was almost really excited about the run time, and then I did the math correctly and was saddened. There's only one song on here that's over three minutes, half of the remaining four are under two and a half. I was so hopeful only a few hours ago. Oh, well. I have found songs by them that I like from their discography, and the title of this song is giving me hope that this is also a rock song. There have been a lot of them lately across the groups. That is not what I was expecting. I know you can't see my expression, but I had to pause the song and I'm sitting here with my eyes wide and eyebrows raised. Okay. I think I've reset my expectations. There is a lot going on. This is the most street music song I've heard in a very long time. I'm not sure I know what to do with this song. I keep having to pause it. It does, brie...

Release date: 2026 January 27 Album track list: A Minute, A Second ; A Minute, A Second - Instrumental Album runtime: 6 mi nutes  I have covered two of their songs so far, one in 2024 (coinciding with re-watching PD 101 S2) and one last year (coinciding with watching B:MY BOYS and two of the former Wanna One members from AB6IX being judges). I'm not watching a survival show right now, which makes it a hilarious departure from the pattern I'd accidentally made. Their seventh anniversary is also this year, so I'm happy, although stressed, about this because they've got about four months before that. The album artwork is gorgeous too. It looks like an oil painting. Seriously, not that I'm complaining, but why are so many of the releases this month in rock or rock adjacent genres? What was going on last year that prompted so many? We're also seeing movement back towards the three minute song rather than the two minute song, which, again, isn't something that I...

Release date: 2026 January 27 Album track list: Delulu, 404 (New Era) , UNDERDOGS, MUNGNYANG, Dizzy, To Me From Me Album runtime: 17 mi nutes  We have a Tablo produced song in this one! I can't listen to it because the group is on Underage Protocol for a bit because the maknae was fourteen at debut, but that's exciting for Future Fangirl. Unless that one gets a music video. Then I can listen to it early if I review it. It's a good motivation. Also, I'm always delighted by their album and song titles. They're a lot of fun, and I like that for them. They're young and rookies. They don't need the serious songs yet. Let them have their fun. And while the album runtime is a bit too short, the title track hits three minutes, so the disappointment is definitely less. Wait. Wait. Did I review the Tablo song? Hold up. I did not. I'm really hoping I'm not having deja vu again. Only partially. I had it on my list to do and then never did it. I was not expecting...

Release date: 2026 January 27 Album track list:  cloud palace , cloud palace - Before moonset mix, cloud palace - Before moonrise mix Album runtime: 11 mi nutes  There are a couple of things I like about this group and that also amuse me. First, there are three (3) L's in their group name. Second, they often have a massive lack of capital letters in a lot of their song and album titles. Plus, even though I haven't heard a lot of their songs, the ones I have heard, I like. I'm just hesitant to get too into them because girl groups I really like...don't last too long. Still, I can peripherally listen to them when their songs pop up into my general playlists and I can't know too much about them. But I would like more of their songs to listen to. And look at that runtime! This is an instrumental that feels a bit jazzy mixed with trap. It could have been incredibly easy to put this song into something of more of an easy-listening genre, and they didn't. It starts off...

Release date: 2026 February 02 Album track list:  Running to Future , Roses,  LOVEPOCALYPSE Album runtime: 8 mi nutes  Two minute song, everyone. You'd think that if there was a possibility that the group might not survive through negotiations that the company would give them songs of a reasonable length, which two minutes is not. Still, this is the second of the pre-releases for this album. The first was quite emotional, so I'm curious about what this one will be like. There have been so many rock songs lately. This one is on the funkier side of things, but I'd still put it in that category. I'm not going to lie, I am struggling with this song for some reason, and I'm not sure if it's me rebelling against the fact that they're in contract negotiations and it's looking like four of them may not continue with the group if the others do, or if the song just isn't holding my attention for some other reason. I suspect it may be the former because there a...

Release date: 2026 January 21 Album track list: Just Like a Dream , Born Album runtime: 5 mi nutes  So, this is a duo technically under JYPE and I've heard some very interesting things about their debut song, although nothing that I specifically remember. I try not to focus on spoilers before I've heard a song so that I can do the review without too much. Someone did say that one majored in Korean music and the other in Korean dance, though, so my interest is piqued. I'm a little bit disappointed by the song lengths, but at the same time, I am unfamiliar enough with what I think the genre is that the disappointment is more of a leftover, because I don't know if this runtime is typical or atypical in this case. This taps into my love of American country music and Irish music in the best way, though one more than the other at different parts of the song. Instrumentally, that guitar at the beginning is a very strong choice and catapults me back to my youth, which is absolu...

Release date: 2026 January 22 Album track list:  CALL ME BACK , Love letter Album runtime: 6 mi nutes  I like these guys. They're funny. I really wish that ASC was still going (still holding out hope...) because they're delightful. These guys are Psy's kids who have a new younger sister group now (Baby DONT Cry) and their general chill vibe is a delight. Hmmm. Maybe I'll do one of their episodes this week for the re-run. Why are so many groups giving us rock songs lately? Removing AxMxP's new album because they actually are a rock band, I think this is like the fifth or sixth one this month. I'm not complaining about it at all because I love rock and there's an automatic bloom of saturated color that you get from rock songs. Call Me Back doesn't just give us a burst of color at the same level though, because there is a much needed rest spot for the ears and for the performers to get a little bit softer and catch their breath before they get back to what ...

Release date: 2026 January 21 Album tracklist: PASS,  Too Much, Punch-Drunk, I Melody You, Thereafter, Bittersweet, Be yours Album runtime: 19 minutes  So, I watched a video yesterday morning of DK and Seungkwan from Seventeen on ODG with a kid that they'd done the video with five years ago when he was twelve, who has now debuted in AxMxP. They treated Juhwan, whose name and face I now know, like he's their younger brother. It was adorably sweet. I still can't listen to them for a bit because the maknae debuted at fifteen, but I've got at least one down by name. And this is their first mini album, so I hope they do well! I'm very disappointed by the run time though. There's only one song that's over three minutes. Ah, that's just a good rock song. Too short. It needs a little bit of extra time to really strut and fan out those tail feathers in a dramatic display, let the instruments do their thing, but it's got some really nice peaks and valleys to i...

Release date: 2026 January 21 Album tracklist:  WABIF (Wide Awake before I Fall) Album runtime: 3 minutes  I am still fully intending to hit the debut and pre-debut tracks because a small group like this at a small company needs all the help and coverage they can get. For the uninitiated, they're a five member group (pronounced like "universe") with two North Koreans in the group, two Americans (including I think K-Pop's first idol from Arkansas), and a Japanese member. They're also hilarious. Their content is great and you usually get subtitles in two or three languages, and they do their own color-coded lyrics. But you know what's the coolest? Kenny and Nathan (the two Americans) were lyricists for this song! Hyuk is still on hiatus, and I hope he's happy and healthy and recovering. Yeah, I really do need to cover those other songs. This reminds me of a very specific song from the mid- to late- 00s, something that I heard on the bus maybe or from one of ...

Release date: 2026 January 21 Album tracklist:  History , History - Instrumental Album runtime: 6 minutes  I was sort of peripherally fond of M.O.N.T because of Peak Time and how much I love Noir (which I found and loved before watching Peak Time because that's how I roll), until they dropped IDGAF (links go to music video, not the review because they came out before I started doing this and if someone wanted to use The Form to submit IDGAF for me to do a regular review, that would be great, please and thank you). I fell in love with that mini album. So I was enthusiastically supporting Bitsaeon while he was on Build Up, and if you haven't seen his performance of Drowning or Dangerously , y'all I highly  recommend them. Every time Dangerously in particular comes up, I stop what I'm doing and immediately go into break-up-at-three-am mode. Bitsaeon's high note is a piece of beauty. And Roda is an incredible songwriter as well. I know I'm spending a lot of set-...

Release date: 2026 January 20 Album tracklist: Grenade , STOP & MOVE, When you're close to me Album runtime: 9 minutes  I have no idea how to pronounce the album title. Apparently it translates to "original" in Japanese, though I still have no idea how to pronounce it, but at least I've got another point of orientation for understanding and comprehension. I'm also really curious with their situation because apparently they've left RBW, but they're also working with RBW still? I'm not sure how that's going to work, but hey, if it works, that can only be good news for other groups.  This song has a strong street vibe to the instrumental. I'm not sure exactly what the word for the siren whistle that is fairly prevalent but not omnipresent is, but I'm grateful that it's not there as much as it isn't because otherwise it would easily overpower the song. And, when it comes back in after the beginning, it's been buried underneath t...

Release date: 2026 January 19 Album tracklist: Evolution : Prelude; Amplify ;  Stay In The Dream;  Sail;  Better Days;  28 Days;  From Now On; I'm Already In Love With You; Addicted; Hurricane; Alive; Reperio; To You, Standing Before Me; The Young Wave (2026 Remix) Album runtime: 51 minutes  Look at that runtime, everyone! Look at it! This was apparently supposed to be released last year, but getting all the songs together took longer than expected. Not that I'm complaining, especially because of that runtime. If they're going to put the effort in to having this many songs of this length, many if not all of them written by the members, then I'm going to be patiently happy. Also, generally, I just really love their songs, so I've been looking forward to this. They turned two in November, and you can already tell they've settled. I'm hoping that I love most of the songs in this album. I always leave room for ones I don't quite like as well in my expectatio...

Release date: 2026 January 16 Album tracklist: 사건의 발단, No Way Back (Fear. So!oON!), 도망자들, Knife , Stealer, 우리가 찾던 목소리, 목격자, Big Girls Don't Cry, Lost Island, Sleep Tight, 사건의 너머 Album runtime: 24 minutes  It was kind of funny when they announced their comeback because I was suddenly very excited and also exhausted. However, I also know that this group has had a problem in recent comebacks, through very little fault of their own, with having songs longer than three minutes. So, I took a look at the runtime and was horrified. But I wanted to see what was the cause of this. So I took notes. Of that tracklist, six of them are actual songs with singing by the members, not the speaking that's going on by I don't know who. Of those, only one of the six is over three minutes. But you know the most sickening thing? There's a song that's shorter that two minutes. That is so far from even pretending to be okay that I want to shake whoever decided that this was going to be how ...