[delayed post] Midweek New Music Roundup :: February 19th - 26th

[hitokage]

I know, all posting abruptly halted halfway through last Wednesday without warning. It's been a pretty shit back half of the week, I'd rather not talk about it, mostly because I'm trying not to descend back into another bout of blinding rage, thanks (it's a struggle that's not going particularly well).

SO! This week we hit the magical 69 releases (NICE) across a whole range of genres. Want to dance? We've got comebacks from LUN8 and ZEROBASE1, plus the debut of new girl group Hearts2Hearts to help with that. Looking for some fresh hiphop? There's new BLOO, CLOCK, and VAITEI, plus a hiphop pre-release from KiiKii. R&B more your jam? Woody is adorable with a stray kitty and ATEEZ's Wooyoung has a love note for ATINY (our feature selection this week). Looking for rock? There's new music from TOXIC, a new LUCY OST and this time Gyubin's trying her hand at rock music, too. Need a theraputic cry? Search for the hanky warnings and see what happens. Add in some trot from Moon Jungsun and some instrumentals from DarkSoul VIRUS and mellow button and call it a well-rounded line up. 😉

Banner slot this week goes to Wooyoung because Abuela's a simp for her best boys. Additional picks go to G-Dragon (even when he hurts me), Astro (also an ouch), Gyubin, and LiSA with Felix of Stray Kids.


Releases for the week of February 19th - 26th:
LUN8 - Butterfly *
Jeon Sangkeun - My Room, My Heart (Hidden Masterpiece Reborn OST) *
JUNO - Your Room, Your Heart (Hidden Masterpiece Reborn OST)
Chase - Voyage to Mars *
BXB - I WISH (Japanese release) *
Eazy - Unconditional Love
gonjang - Let My Heart *
jazzer, Ellie - Love Letter (feat. Suru) (audio only)
kenessi - Like rain (feat. Soyoung Lee) (audio only)
Park Seo-Ol - Daydream (feat. Homeboy) (audio only)
BIBI - Bluebird *
Gaeko, Lee Suhyun (AKMU) - Journey *
NIve - bath mumble
LiSA - ReawakeR (feat. Felix (Stray Kids)) *
VAITEI - look at me *
BLUE JEAN - Youthtopia (audio only)
Repeat - WORLD WAR between You and Me *
HeeJin (ARTMS), Chan - love me too (Kick Kick Kick Kick OST)
Gogiminn - Strangely Enough (audio only)
ONEB - Review : farewell
Jennie (BLACKPINK), Doechii - ExtraL *
Woody - Stray Cat
DEONTE - Solace *
An Shinae - Confusion (Buried Hearts OST) (audio only)
Wooyoung (ATEEZ) - Sagittarius *
Wish, Gia - I've just learned to love *
KIRARA, Swervy - Fragments (audio only)
The Wind - Hello, My Space *
Youngseo - Apricot flower (audio only)
JinE - Farewell *
Kyunghee Kim - Ask the Stars (When the Stars Gossip OST) *
Kyunghee Kim - Maybe I Love You More (When the Stars Gossip OST) *
ARrC - loop.dll * ❌
Kim Juwan - Mistaken *
DarkSoul VIRUS - Toccata & Fugue in d minor, BMV 565 (Rock Virtuoso ver)
NOIS Project - CRUSOE (feat. Irvin Suave)
ASTRO - Twilight *
KiiKii - Debut Song (pre-debut) *
Moon Jungsun - The One Who Left With No Words (audio only)
CLOCK - Came A Long Way (feat. Boi B) *
EASTSHINE - 다음 너의 말 *
WE:IN - Not Yet (feat. Chin Chilla) (audio only)
TOXIC - No Way Out (feat. Leenzy) *
SOYER - Neverever (audio only)
ZEROBASEONE - BLUE *
swallow baby - My heart is pounding every day *
Suzy - Come back (Story ver) *
Hearts2Hearts - The Chase (debut) *
Kenta, Sanggyun - Hello from the other side
kimjinwon - Birth+day
DEONTE - Like You *
Paper ℃up - menthol (feat. riddle) (audio only)
mellow button - If I can reach where you are (audio only)
Lee Junhyung - Cosmos * +
Kim Sihun - Fly +
G-Dragon - Drama *
G-Dragon - Too Bad (feat. Anderson .Paak) *
OSSH - Because
Jae yeon - A Late Autumn Letter
LUCY - Shine A Light (My Dearest Nemesis OST) *
BLOO - GO MAX *
Jimmy Brown - PADO
Lucia - Petal of Lethe * +
HunDongLee Bye Bye (audio only)
Gyubin - Like U 100 *
Big Baby Driver - Spring Whistle (audio only)
Frankly - Duck Season *
NEED - No Fadeaway (audio only)
ACOUSTIC RECIPE - Butler Wannabe (audio only)


The Mea Culpa Section:
Fortunately it's not too much, despite being a couple of weeks worth of missing tracks now. I'm getting better at not missing things! 😉

Choi Suhwan - Stars take me
Lue Younghoon - Untold Story
ONE PACT - Never Stop +


* content warning - see item below for specific warnings
+ comes with "disappearing" hardcoded subs
❌ I was unable to finish watching this video (see item below for more information)


Choi Suhwan - Stars take me https://youtu.be/UQV8kDIKnUY
genre: R&B
note: a sweet song from a sweet voice and a sweeter smile


Lue Younghoon - Untold Story https://youtu.be/nhkUPX42wuk
genre: R&B
note: again with the sweetness! how dare I have missed this! 😆


ONE PACT - Never Stop https://youtu.be/0CiprvB5q8w
genre: R&B
note: the yellow-orange would have probably actually worked to make the lyrics stand out better if the font size wasn't so small, sigh. Shiny sticker making the effort, I guess?




LUN8 - Butterfly https://youtu.be/phTLVfMhwEI
genre: dance pop
cw: lens flares, flashing
note: so happy to see these guys back again. Has it really been that long? I have no idea, time has lost all meaning and there's so many groups I lose track of them, but it feels like it's been awhile...


Jeon Sangkeun - My Room, My Heart (Hidden Masterpiece Reborn OST) https://youtu.be/6FagX6JcvGM
genre: adult contemporary
cw: drinking
note: video is clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers


JUNO - Your Room, Your Heart (Hidden Masterpiece Reborn OST) https://youtu.be/HLNSGr2J0_c
genre: adult contemporary
note: video is clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers


Chase - Voyage to Mars https://youtu.be/kTkOiB7PrdU
genre: R&B
cw: unsteady cam, flashing


BXB - I WISH (Japanese release) https://youtu.be/paEEpiy816Y
genre: R&B
cw: lens flares
note: Oh I guess we're going to hit the homesick button early this week XD Another comeback from a boy group that I feel has been quiet for awhile, good for them.


Eazy - Unconditional Love https://youtu.be/Nj_OaMw_PBk
genre: adult contemporary


gonjang - Let My Heart https://youtu.be/NjVBw1eVm4A
genre: dance pop
cw: unsteady cam, lens flares, flashing city lights
note: idk, there's something charming in the low quality or maybe that's just me


jazzer, Ellie - Love Letter (feat. Suru) (audio only) https://youtu.be/koeOfh_xrpQ
genre: R&B
note: from the jazzier end of the genre


kenessi - Like rain (feat. Soyoung Lee) (audio only) https://youtu.be/lUs3ACHgeK0
genre: R&B
note: borderline soft rock


Park Seo-Ol - Daydream (feat. Homeboy) (audio only) https://youtu.be/mV1szjiWd8k
genre: hiphop
note: from the more lyrical/R&B section of the genre


BIBI - Bluebird https://youtu.be/EdbiVcksUAI
genre: soft rock
cw: unsteady cam, flashing effects
note: I want to be able to bundle up in a fluffy blanket next to a fire, please and thank you. But, uh, maybe with less snow. 😆 I'm a delicate flower, not made for such things! Even if it does look lovely....


Gaeko, Lee Suhyun (AKMU) - Journey https://youtu.be/kXG-oD12g0U
genre: R&B
cw: lens flares (soft), background flashing
note: There's a softening filter over most of the video, to the point that I almost didn't warn for the lighting effects, but ... better safe than sorry? But two snowy vids in a row have made me cold. 😭


NIve - bath mumble https://youtu.be/GdM-McZPGuc
genre: soft rock
note: video has been formatted/optimized for mobile screens.


LiSA - ReawakeR (feat. Felix (Stray Kids)) (Japanese release) https://youtu.be/oe4XJ851oOk
genre: EDM
cw: Felix effect, violence, lens flares, flashing (lightning)
note: I almost didn't make the market release note because of course a LiSA track would be Japanese, but then I saw some comments like people didn't know who LiSA is, so yeah, another Jpop feature in the Kpop list because we give pass through to all collabs featuring Kpop artists. LiSA slays like the Jpop queen she is and then Felix with the knock out, I don't know how I survived this. Definitely going into playlists going forward. 😆


VAITEI - look at me https://youtu.be/1MCWrQQ9QZM
genre: hiphop
cw: unsteady cam, flashing, f-bomb, face mask
note: honestly, I was expecting the hard subs to censor the f-bomb, to the point that I had to actually click back to confirm that it was actually there


BLUE JEAN - Youthtopia (audio only) https://youtu.be/2IUNQqVa5RY
genre: dance rock


Repeat - WORLD WAR between You and Me https://youtu.be/VlUqNUrubJ0
genre: dance rock
cw: aggressive flashing, lens flares, implied drinking
note: between the glitch effects and the flashing lights, this one hurts a bit 😑 I made it through, but be careful, YMMV and all that.


HeeJin (ARTMS), Chan - love me too (Kick Kick Kick Kick OST) https://youtu.be/YmW3WKy0PZ8
genre: soft rock
note: video is entirely clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers.


Gogiminn - Strangely Enough (audio only) https://youtu.be/WUjZzmOfoRU
genre: rock


ONEB - Review : farewell https://youtu.be/obpklZTHl_8
genre: adult contemporary


Jennie (BLACKPINK), Doechii - ExtraL https://youtu.be/eWAdpUyzCkI
genre: dance pop
cw: flashing, surrealism
note: I have nothing but snarky comments here, so let's just...move along (clearly, I'm not the target audience)


Woody - Stray Cat https://youtu.be/qR0keeMT2To
genre: R&B
note: aww, who's a good kitty? When the Cat Distribution System speaks, there's no sense in fighting it. Remember, kids, only you can control the unwanted pet population, so get your babies spayed/neutered and keep them inside for their health and yours.


DEONTE - Solace https://youtu.be/GxiSjOTzErg
genre: hiphop
cw: creepy doll
note: it's not actually a horror movie, but the framing sure leans that way 😅


An Shinae - Confusion (Buried Hearts OST) (audio only) https://youtu.be/sxttqk6DXRY
genre: adult contemporary


Wooyoung (ATEEZ) - Sagittarius https://youtu.be/HdJYRz0AL4c
genre: R&B
cw: flashing
note: so proud of our gem Wooyoungie with his co-lyricist credit. Also more than a little in love with the set design, like hot damn, I want to live in a space like that please and thank you. Not so much the high ceilings, of course, but the lush and layered effect? Yes please. Extra yes if it comes with a Wooyoung. 😆


Wish, Gia - I've just learned to love https://youtu.be/8C3PkY6hkj0
genre: rock
cw: flashing "artifacts"


KIRARA, Swervy - Fragments (audio only) https://youtu.be/SD4Hz8SvpW8
genre: hiphop
note: yeah, it's a techno vibe backing track, but considering the ease with which women are erased from hiphop and the vocals are indeed rap....


The Wind - Hello, My Space https://youtu.be/fLsWm-JbBsg
genre: dance pop
cw: animated surrealism
note: I am trying very hard not to have impure thoughts about that one character but it's just ... a mess. I'm afraid to even ask what it's supposed to be. I think I'm going to just... try to forget I ever saw this after this....


Youngseo - Apricot flower (audio only) https://youtu.be/kZssGI1BFy8
genre: adult contemporary


JinE - Farewell https://youtu.be/5vaXnYX4VEY
genre: soft rock
cw: flashing


Kyunghee Kim - Ask the Stars (When the Stars Gossip OST) https://youtu.be/BzHmz5i7Tig
genre: R&B
cw: implied nudity, blood/injury, hospital
note: video is entirely clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers

Kyunghee Kim - Maybe I Love You More (When the Stars Gossip OST) https://youtu.be/ugzQhemF33I
genre: R&B
cw: lens flares, flashing graphics, hospital/medical, implied nudity
note: video is entirely clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers


ARrC - loop.dll ❌ https://youtu.be/YmnQ0CUQWf4
genre: dance pop
cw: aggressive flashing
note: the flashing is aggressive both in rate of flash and level of contrast, such that I had to nope out, sigh. YMMV, of course, but approach with caution.


Kim Juwan - Mistaken https://youtu.be/Enf3ijOhPxw
genre: R&B
cw: lens flares
note: potential hanky warning!


DarkSoul VIRUS - Toccata & Fugue in d minor, BMV 565 (Rock Virtuoso ver) https://youtu.be/F2FefEq9fxk
genre: hard rock
note: you probably recognize this, it's more commonly played on pipe organ 😉


NOIS Project - CRUSOE (feat. Irvin Suave) https://youtu.be/b8PpuZ1X7F0
genre: R&B
note: the bar EQ being the only movement is refreshingly old school 😆


ASTRO - Twilight https://youtu.be/S7ehuBG-OP4
genre: dance pop
cw: flashing effects, animated jitter, potential hanky warning
note: oh I don't think I was ready for this. 😭😭😭 Seriously, every time I start to think yes, I'm ready to be normal about ASTRO again, they prove my heart is still broken. I'll get there eventually (I did with f(x) and SHINee, after all), I'm just... not there yet.


KiiKii - Debut Song (pre-debut) https://youtu.be/UAdxlj4Cgjw
genre: hiphop
cw: aggressive flashing
note: so unserious, we love to see it


Moon Jungsun - The One Who Left With No Words (audio only) https://youtu.be/8mTJjy78qnM
genre: trot (ballad)
note: I feel like it's been awhile since we've had a trot release. As a certified Old Fart, the throwback cover art makes me even happier, like something right out of my childhood and the era of vinyl records as king.


CLOCK - Came A Long Way (feat. Boi B) https://youtu.be/8MC_nKruNdw
genre: hiphop
cw: aggressive flashing
note: the video kind of a whole fucking mess, but since that feels like it's entirely intentional....


EASTSHINE - 다음 너의 말 https://youtu.be/XVXjLpTNfIc
genre: dance pop
cw: lens flare
note: ah yes, the jitters of young love.... Adorable, but so glad that's not me anymore. 😆


WE:IN - Not Yet (feat. Chin Chilla) (audio only) https://youtu.be/OFO8DKBLhTQ
genre: hiphop


TOXIC - No Way Out (feat. Leenzy) https://youtu.be/bb97Oi1EoQg
genre: rock
cw: aggressive flashing
note: I'm glad they're having fun with the lyrics put on screen, but definitely an artist choice rather than any sort of accessibility nod


SOYER - Neverever (audio only) https://youtu.be/fuYSphMObWc
genre: R&B


ZEROBASEONE - BLUE https://youtu.be/2hwiRN8t8Ok
genre: dance pop
cw: flashing lights, police, surrealism (Matrix glitches), lens flares
note: oh hey, I recognize that abandoned mall 😆 beware the earworm!


swallow baby - My heart is pounding every day https://youtu.be/F0nZp1rpyBA
genre: dance pop
cw: lens flares
note: oh I do not miss high school crushes 😆 [insert snarky comment about crushing on teacher here]


Suzy - Come back (Story ver) https://youtu.be/cEz0qLjaMg4
genre: R&B
cw: flashing, drinking
note: like with the non-story version, the flashes here are in/around the "archive" footage. IDK if it's just me or if this cut really does feel more melancholy than last week's version.


Hearts2Hearts - The Chase (debut) https://youtu.be/kxUA2wwYiME
genre: dance pop
cw: lens flares, flashing
note: a strong girlcore start, good for them


Kenta, Sanggyun - Hello from the other side https://youtu.be/g4ok-Ev4LBg
genre: dance pop
note: oh look, a lyric video that's focused on making sure the lyrics stand out. I'm not a fan of the font, but at least some of that is just that my hangul reading speed is still Very Very Slow. 😆


kimjinwon - Birth+day https://youtu.be/GhkitiHHXAc
genre: soft rock
note: lyrics are a bit morbid


DEONTE - Like You https://youtu.be/Bgzr5O_mTXk
genre: hiphop
cw: creepy doll, guns (nerf, bubble)
note: idk, maybe I'm the only one who finds that doll creepy, but...


Paper ℃up - menthol (feat. riddle) (audio only) https://youtu.be/M-hEJw5QwPg
genre: soft rock


mellow button - If I can reach where you are (audio only) https://youtu.be/Z_nDsvZYMmc
genre: neoclassical instrumental
note: need a break in the flow? Take a moment to breathe and reset before you go on~


Lee Junhyung - Cosmos https://youtu.be/nQx0CHCJmlM
genre: rock
cw: lens flares
note: Kitty!! Yeah, I'm always going to call out a cat cameo, even if it's just once for a couple seconds. 😆 The overexposure of the video in places does make the hard subs hard to read sometimes even with that faint drop shadow under them. So yes, drop shadows can help, but they don't magically fix everything.


Kim Sihun - Fly https://youtu.be/w_d7Komf0-0
genre: R&B
note: worse hard subs right out the gate - small white text on daylight footage is nearly always a bad idea, but without the drop shadow it's even worse


G-Dragon - Drama https://youtu.be/I8I51kSq448
genre: R&B
cw: flashing
note: multilingual king but ouch, right in the feels

G-Dragon - Too Bad (feat. Anderson .Paak) https://youtu.be/o9DhvbqYzns
genre: dance pop
cw: flashing effects
note: the psychic whiplash and oh Karina, you lucky girl. A little surprised she doesn't have a feature credit when I'm almost positive that's her voice in the background, but hey, it's whatever. A lot of cameos to be had in the video for sure.


OSSH - Because https://youtu.be/OOikxQe5dmM
genre: hiphop
note: not sure why this is called a "visualizer" when there's not any visualizer in effect. At least the hard subs stand out against the parquet flooring?


Jae yeon - A Late Autumn Letter https://youtu.be/aMBGvC7MI6g
genre: R&B


LUCY - Shine A Light (My Dearest Nemesis OST) https://youtu.be/1fVnnr3Nfno
genre: rock
cw: flashing city lights, lens flares
note: video is entirely clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers


BLOO - GO MAX https://youtu.be/gSW5-ZKXYcQ
genre: hiphop
cw: potty humor, eye shine, drinking, car fire
note: at least Max is adorable? But those lyrics... Why are hiphop artists like this????? 😆


Jimmy Brown - PADO https://youtu.be/NGgtimg2BTE
genre: R&B
note: dammit, another one that makes me feel homesick (this time for the ocean, imagine that 😆)


Lucia - Petal of Lethe https://youtu.be/GJXNXo1xgWA
genre: adult contemporary
cw: lens flares
note: yet another case of hard subs turning useless depending on the location


HunDongLee - Bye Bye (audio only) https://youtu.be/-h5JTR5n4Aw
genre: folk rock


Gyubin - Like U 100 https://youtu.be/07g_tnrD-sY
genre: pop rock
cw: lens flares, flashing effects
note: world traveler Gyubin is too adorable, must protect


Big Baby Driver - Spring Whistle (audio only) https://youtu.be/Fyyn2PQY8io
genre: folk rock


Frankly - Duck Season https://youtu.be/L9o6b4cFxbg
genre: rock
cw: video game violence (pixelated)
note: all references classic 80s/90s video games!


NEED - No Fadeaway (audio only) https://youtu.be/eITeRHhAWRM
genre: dance pop


ACOUSTIC RECIPE - Butler Wannabe (audio only) https://youtu.be/dc8MV3pQ4b8
genre: R&B
note: cover art features a cat, what more could you want? 😆

Hey look at that, you made it to the end? What were your favorites this week? Any surprises? Let's chat!



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