MUSIC MONTH IN REVIEW (DISCUSSION POST): APRIL 2022: omonatheydidnt

adenar in omonatheydidnt

MUSIC MONTH IN REVIEW (DISCUSSION POST): APRIL 2022

May 28, 2022 17:42

Hi omona! I squeaked this one in, huh - it's nearly June! Anyway, now that we've had plenty of time to think about these releases, let's review April.

January Review | February Review | March Review

[new music top ten]

IVE - LOVE DIVE MV by juhli with 49 comments
PSY "THAT THAT" (PROD. & FEAT. SUGA OF BTS) MV & [PSY 9TH] ALBUM LISTENING POST by rose_potion with 38 comments
BIGBANG COMEBACK WITH "STILL LIFE" by waves_of_light with 37 comments
DREAMCATCHER: “MAISON” MV + “APOCALYPSE: SAVE US” ALBUM LISTENING POST by dior_chic with 34 comments
MONSTA X COMES BACK WITH ✨SHAPE OF LOVE✨ + MORE by em_cavey with 34 comments
KWON EUN BI: “GLITCH” MV + “COLOR” ALBUM LISTENING POST by dior_chic with 22 comments
(G)I-DLE MIYEON "DRIVE" MV by babyjenkski with 14 comments
NCT'S TAEYONG X 원슈타인 (WONSTEIN) 'LOVE THEORY' MV by rose_potion with 14 comments
SUHO MAKES HIS SOLO COMEBACK WITH "GREY SUIT" by waves_of_light with 13 comments
ILY:1 DEBUTS WITH LOVE IN BLOOM by myungung with 11 comments
SOYOU: “BUSINESS (FT BE’O)” MV by dior_chic with 11 comments

This month had a weirdly stacked beginning, a couple of bangs at the end and not very much in the middle? Nice to see a lesser-known debut get some interest like ILY:1. Post-IZ*ONE acts like IVE and Kwon Eunbi are definitely maintaining the interest in them! As for BIGBANG well, someone has to prove that lots of comments doesn't mean you're well liked. The sentiment stands:

[monthly music news overview]

link to spreadsheet

Less posts this month: I know there's a few I missed, it's you all's fault for making weird titles! Since this post is so late I managed to pick up a few late-posted stragglers in May. Lots of really nice music though - check some of them out in the next segment!

[second chance songs]

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As a girl group stan, it's hard to say who GHOST9 remind me of - in this music video, aesthetically I feel like I'm reminded of EXO's Overdose/Growl eras. There's definitely something early third gen about this music video, while the song is modern enough without being aggressively noise-based. There's some real sophistication in the instrumental, clever use of percussive beats, with some very smooth vocals on top and sparing use of rap. GHOST9 are under Maroo Entertainment and debuted in September 2020, and have been consistently releasing since, with this being their sixth release.

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Seori is a gently rising name, having debuted in May 2020 and consistently releasing singles and collaborations ever since. Her voice can be a little, as omona user 996677 put it, 'avocadies and bananies', but it settles into something less grating throughout this English-dominated chillmix track. Mostly consisting of layered vocal harmonies and pared back percussion samples, this track is perfect for a lazy summer afternoon playlist.

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Isn't it the worst when internet commenters lament the underuse of an idol, and then don't turn up for their solo activities? In unrelated news, Baby Soul has returned to her birth name Lee Sujeong and released her first solo track under Woollim Entertainment since debuting in Lovelyz. It fits strikingly well with Lovelyz' discography, leading some to think it's an unused track from their scrapped final album, but it sounds fantastic under Sujeong's incredible vocals - and it turns out she's a passable rapper too (so why did she always have so few lines, Woollim?). This is an energetic, uplifting song that doesn't let up power.

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Look, I wouldn't trust Jellyfish either after Vixx dissolved into a whisper and gugudan were completely failed by them (good luck to Kep1er's Kim Dayeon), so I get the lack of response. Nonetheless this is an interesting track, with well-utilised samples and excellent harmonic vocal layering. The producers behind this track clearly know how to build and release energy. The choruses are smooth but momentous, the verses build steadily and consistently. The extended outro is a really interesting choice, something of a marmite choice among internet commenters. This is also the band's first full length album, so it's worth checking out!

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Minseo is another steadily rising name, with the backing of Mystic Story from their subsidiary, APOP Entertainment. She debuted in 2018 but took something of a break around 2019-2020 and started releasing things again in 2020. She's become something of an OST stalwart, but her own songs are fun indie songs. She has a very mellow voice, without the aegyo or cursive stylings of many kpop indie female acts. This is track has some gentle hints of EDM in the post-chorus and the chorus itself is punchy and fairly upbeat. It's a great song about celebrating yourself and enjoying your own company.

[songs omona missed]

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Yoari is a singer you might not have heard of, but she's been around the industry for a long time; she was almost the fifth member of Brown Eyed Girls, until Nega Network decided she had more of a rocker image and put her into a rock band called Sprinkler. She's been consistently working in the industry, both behind the scenes as a guide vocalist for bands like Brown Eyed Girls, and also releasing her own works as well as OSTs. She has a very youthful, cutesy tone in this rock-influenced, gentle ballad. The video is a sweet but simple video about a young child thinking about their future.

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I've got absolutely no idea who ccola is. She's pretty charismatic and sweet despite the lack of budget in the video. This is a very very gentle, r&b influenced track, and her slightly raspy but still sweet voice suits it well. This also belongs on your lazy summer afternoon playlist.

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You may have noticed Be'O on Soyou's release at the end of April. He's a recently signed labelmate of hers under BPM, after a pretty successful run on SMTM10. This track is very similar to STAYC's Young Luv, harking back to indie rock bands of the late 00's-early 10's with a guitar-led, fast-paced sound. This is a very nice track and 22-year-old Be'O definitely has one of the most pleasing/least irritating tones I've heard on any male rappers from SK recently.

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I'm slipping, everyone. AZER are a girl group formed by Howon University, and they debuted last March. I totally missed that they had a comeback. The majority of the members were born in 2000, with one in 98 and one in 01. Trouble has a light latin inspiration, with a couple of trap leanings. The video is as low-budget as you'd expect but the girls have good voices and the song itself is enjoyable, with a strong bass and light anti-drop in the chorus paired with a nice post-chorus. Their rapper compliments the song rather than detracts from it.

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homezone is a singer-songwriter under Garden on Mars, and he debuted in 2019. His songs are guitar-led, and he has a very talented tenor voice with a well developed falsetto and a wonderful vulnerability. This is a sweet semi-ballad, self-composed like all his other songs.

So, omona, let's discuss!
What are you still listening to?
What grew on you?
What fell out of favour quickly?
Did you miss any releases that you would have been looking forward to?
Who surprised you and who let you down?
Is there anything omona missed that you'd recommend?
Did you find that the reaction to releases in other kpop communities was different to omona's?

source: me & googe sheets, GHOST9 Official, Seori, VERIVERY, woolliment, 1theK (2, 3), rhybeat 리빗, Stone Music Entertainment, GENIE MUSIC

rock music, jellyfish entertainment, lovelyz, indie, bpm entertainment, mystic story, round-up, ex-group members, nugu, verivery, hip hop