Midweek New Music Roundup :: April 16-23

[hitokage]

Yeah, it may just barely be Wednesday still by the time I finally get this posted, but still! A post going up on actual Wednesday! It's a goddamn miracle! 😆

So this week saw a lot of releases by the men of Kpop, which is great if they're your preference, but less so if you're more interested in the ladies of Kpop. Which isn't to say the ladies didn't bring it - they absolutely did, between new trot from Lee Rakyung, jazz from Luca minor, hiphop from JA!L, an OST from aespa's Winter, and then comebacks from APINK, SUNNYKEY, and CHUU - just that there were far fewer releases from the ladies this week. On the other hand, we've got some big names in male Kpop making comebacks this week with yet another MV from EXO's Kai, new music from PENOMECO, a new OST from Jeong Sewoon, and a new solo release from Lee Daehwi (AB6IX), among others.

The week starts off a bit sleepy, so if you're someone who likes to just go straight down the list, be aware of that and watch the hanky warnings. That said, I've had to flag a couple releases with elevated warnings (⚠️) this week, so please take care. And remember, you are so, so loved, especially all my fellow potatoes out there, you know who you are.

Banner artists slots this week were almost a nightmare to pick, but in the end I went with Leedo (ONEUS) and Chanyeon (BIG OCEAN), with additional highlights for me being SuperJunior-L.S.S., Kai (EXO), AXN, Han Seungwoo, SUNNYKEY, and PENOMECO (sorta).


Releases for the week of April 16th - 23rd:
Shin Yongjae - Snow of April (feat. Huh Gak)
Lee Daehwi (AB6IX) - Lovestruck +
Park Won - Day + *
Jin Minho - Good bye
Jangkijun - all I could say *
mellow button - From One Heart to Another (audio only)
paulkyte - cry for you
Jean Pablo - RUNWAY (audio only)
Yerua - Traces of You
SORAN - Love Crash! *
Kim Taerae (ZEROBASE1) - If you (Way Back Love OST) *
PENOMECO - KK * ⚠️
TIOT - FLEX LINE *
Super Junior-L.S.S. - Pon Pon (Japanese release) *
IJAE - Run away *
AXN - ON MY WAY *
Gae Ddong - I practiced (Practice Love OST)
Lee Rakyung Chill Lady *
Atta - When You Fall in Love
DPR ARTIC - Mirror ball (feat. Moon Sujin) * ⚠️
Jeong Sewoon - As One In Your Painting (Crushology 101 OST) *
DINDIN - Daydrinking *
bluebluebird - coffee
donburi - Run through you (audio only)
KIRARA - Pride (audio only)
Eric Kim - RAIN (Rainy Day) (audio only)
bluebluebird - It's you (feat. oong) *
J'Kyun - 59Freestyle *
ASTRO - Moon : Memory of the Moon ❌⚠️
Apink - Tap Clap *
Winter (aespa) - On Such a Day (Resident Playbook OST) *
RAVN - Comedy + *
SUNNYKEY - Starlight
Tonari - Web Drama
Symptomer - Every day (audio only)
Kim Juyoung - You're all I need (audio only)
Kyung Won - I don't know where to go (The Reincarnation Girls OST) + *
ZIA - Heartbreaking love *
For The More - Drive or Die (Weekend in Taipei OST) *
Han Seungwoo - Positive Vibes *
Big Ocean - ATTENTION *
EB - Best I Ever Had (feat.Vincent Blue) *
Honssi - Dead Letter *
GaGyeong - Split (audio only)
TWS - 마음 따라 뛰는 건 멋지지 않아? | Countdown! *
CHUU - Only cry in the rain *
BEN - Counting Our Kisses (audio only)
Ruud - GIDONG (feat. Money Rex) *
KyoungSeo - Now it begins (Screwballs OST)
Kai (EXO) - Wait On Me *
Inseo Shin - MUNN (feat. HVVI)
&TEAM - Go in Blind (Japanese release) *
JA!L - MONCCUBUS (feat. Rosy Barbie) (audio only)
LeSon - Touch me with ur heart
ZZZ - Hyper Drive (audio only)
Jeon Youl - Close your eyes and think (audio only)
Choi Ingyeong - at the time *
mellow button - The Ordinary Days We Forgot to Live (audio only)
Luca minor - The moon is mooning (The Divorce Insurance OST)
Kong Jeonghwan - Time goes by
LET ME KNOW - 偽愛とハイボール(가짜 사랑과 하이볼) (Fake Love and Highball) (Japanese release) + * ❌
LET ME KNOW - LAD浪漫's(LAD낭만's) (LAD Romance's) (Japanese release) (audio only)
NIEL - SHE *
LEEDO (ONEUS) - Sun goes down (feat. YongYong) *
Hebi - Onward (debut) *
WILLA, Yp - TThing (audio only)
Kyungho Bang - Won't You See The Light? (audio only)
Bohyun - Underwater (audio only)
LET ME KNOW - 1800 (Japanese release) *
LET ME KNOW - 100 yen kiss [100円キッス(100엔 키스)] (Japanese release)


The Mea Culpa Section:
Only missing a couple tracks and I even know how I missed each of them and it may or may not happen again.

Yuri Park - Prayer
Xdinary Heroes - BBB (Bitter But Better)


key:
* 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)
⚠️ elevated warning - see item below for details

note: despite the listing order above (which is chronological), releases from the same artist have been pulled together under the first instance of that artist for the sake of making them easier to find.

Yuri Park - Prayer https://youtu.be/U4xXdtFFNck
genre: hiphop
note: there's something about man on horseback that just really hits different....


Xdinary Heroes - BBB (Bitter But Better) https://youtu.be/7sJaTw1ZyMI
genre: rock
note: the camera motion didn't quite feel enough to trigger a tagging, but...



Shin Yongjae - Snow of April (feat. Huh Gak) https://youtu.be/FEbYu-vF024
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
note: "featuring" is doing a lot of work for someone who doesn't appear until the very end of the song, but hey....


Lee Daehwi (AB6IX) - Lovestruck https://youtu.be/7Ftq4vszznI
genre: R&B
note: you'd think, given the dark seating, that keeping lyrics visible would be easy AND YET


Park Won - Day https://youtu.be/JIAZAbvmcy4
genre: adult contemporary
cw: drinking (social), potential hanky warning


Jin Minho - Good bye https://youtu.be/fecl8C_-i58
genre: adult contemporary
note: potential hanky warning?


Jangkijun - all i could say https://youtu.be/2MxLwDM3miI
genre: folk rock
cw: first-person perspective, drinking
note: the video slips in and out of 1st person


mellow button - From One Heart to Another (audio only) https://youtu.be/5OBAY0uG9Ro
genre: neoclassical instrumental
note: an early interlude that's probably best saved for later, given how slowly this week's listing is starting

mellow button - The Ordinary Days We Forgot to Live (audio only) https://youtu.be/devRU1keRME
genre: neoclassical instrumental
note: almost a piano lullaby for those who might need a bit of a break


paulkyte - cry for you https://youtu.be/GDm1bv8hKc0
genre: soft rock
note: guess someone explained what CC is actually for since the last video :p


Jean Pablo - RUNWAY (audio only) https://youtu.be/xsXFq8drQHs
genre: hiphop
note: just when I was afraid this week was going to put me to sleep... 😅


Yerua - Traces of You https://youtu.be/1C35q9-swIc
genre: adult contemporary
note: and right back to the sleepy with a side of FEELINGS 😭


SORAN - Love Crash! https://youtu.be/3cewFNAz6yg
genre: pop rock
cw: surrealism, lens flares
note: yes, good, something upbeat and stupid! Ok, I shouldn't call it stupid when I don't really know what's going on, but at the same time...it's a compliment anyway?


Kim Taerae (ZEROBASE1) - If you (Way Back Love OST) https://youtu.be/1XMAYwxlXpg
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
cw: lens flares, funeral procession/implied major character death, fireworks
note: video is about half clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers.


PENOMECO - KK https://youtu.be/r1tdMcs-eZ0 ⚠️
genre: hiphop
cw: very aggressive flashing, visual glitching effects
note: sir, comparing yourself to Elon was a low self-own; you can do better. Anyway, the visual effects in this are pretty disruptive, I wouldn't recommend this if you're prone to ... any visual triggers of any sort, really. I stubborned my way through it, but I wouldn't recommend it for anyone else who might trigger a migraine or worse from it. Which is a shame, because despite that stupid Elon lyric, this is an early favorite on the week (which is why it gets the "sorta" highlight).


TIOT - FLEX LINE https://youtu.be/L7V2RhDf_SY
genre: hiphop
cw: aggressive flashing, camera motion
note: the camera motion would've been less of an issue if not for all that flashing (maybe)


Super Junior-L.S.S. - Pon Pon (Japanese release) https://youtu.be/9DhGdqrD3zo
genre: hiphop
cw: flashing/strobing lights, toilet humor
note: the day L.S.S do anything seriously will be the day I die of massive shock 😜So if you're looking for ridiculous antics, this is the place to be


IJAE - Run away https://youtu.be/BGrSLAUt7zk
genre: R&B
cw: flashing, drinking, unsteady cam
note: the vibe is actually kind of happy, even with that title? Or maybe it's just hopefulness I'm picking up


AXN - ON MY WAY https://youtu.be/NaNswPWwKxg
genre: pop rock
cw: flashing, lens flares, water glare
note: the chaotic mess of art supplies all over feels so real. 😆 And aww, what a cute pupper!


Gae Ddong - I practiced (Practice Love OST) https://youtu.be/QtbqB718PIM
genre: adult contemporary
note: video is entirely clips from the program, so may contain spoilers? Still have no idea, though at this stage, I'm leaning towards it being a drama rather than a reality program.


Lee Rakyung Chill Lady https://youtu.be/qQV3j17dkC8
genre: trot/hiphop fusion
cw: aggressive flashing, surrealism
note: this video has absolutely NO chill 😆 NOT recommended for those with photosensitivity

Atta - When You Fall in Love https://youtu.be/qSqY9CoHos8
genre: folk rock
note: sucker punching me with acoustic guitar is just rude 😭


DPR ARTIC - Mirror ball (feat. Moon Sujin) ⚠️ https://youtu.be/nSfvlJcb-3g
genre: EDM
cw: very aggressive flashing, psychedelic effects
note: In a bit of a twist, Moon Sujin is Dame Not Appearing In This MV. This really ought to have had a seizure warning at the head with the rapid flash rate, ooph.


Jeong Sewoon - As One In Your Painting (Crushology 101 OST) https://youtu.be/pUOA5L4R-es
genre: adult contemporary
cw: lens flares
note: video is entirely clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers


DINDIN - Daydrinking https://youtu.be/yfttcNXwhIU
genre: adult contemporary
cw: flashing, drinking, unsteady cam
note: aww, what a cute pupper!


bluebluebird - coffee https://youtu.be/E0pisMs8WOU
genre: pop rock
cw: unsteady cam, strobing

bluebluebird - It's you (feat. oong) https://youtu.be/pokDsFDJq40
genre: pop rock
cw: flashing/visual jitter
note: it's not that the Engrish is super egregious, but seeing the lyrics on the screen makes it more obvious when there's "flubs" in them


donburi - Run through you (audio only) https://youtu.be/ImejYVG5lpc
genre: folk rock
note: I really don't get how one gets "R&B" out of a track that's nearly country-western in it's folk rock-ness. 😝 This is why I don't just take the uploader's word for *anything*


KIRARA - Pride (audio only) https://youtu.be/noJAUtSf6L4
genre: techno (instrumental)
note: this could easily be used as a phone alarm wake you up in the morning 😅


Eric Kim - RAIN (Rainy Day) (audio only) https://youtu.be/qSjxeYZqOJ4
genre: adult contemporary


J'Kyun - 59Freestyle https://youtu.be/-FQrQnkgcn4
genre: hiphop
cw: aggressive flashing, glitch effects, false color, f-bomb
note: wasn't sure I was going to make it through the visual effects on this one. View with care.


ASTRO - Moon : Memory of the Moon ❌⚠️ https://youtu.be/UUFJlUy5aA4
genre: R&B
note: I tried, I really did, but by 1:30 I was a wreck. I'm just not ready, so aside from being heartbreaking, I don't know what if any warnings this might have. Probably none - it looks like it's all studio recording video - but you proceed at your own risk.


Apink - Tap Clap https://youtu.be/BqmegY1S4Wk
genre: dance pop
cw: flashing effects, unsteady (self)-cam, lens flares
note: If you're going straight down the list, this could be some serious genre whiplash ... and the first dance pop of the week? Which, uh, is maybe also well placed if you need something happy after the Moonbin tribute.


Winter (aespa) - On Such a Day (Resident Playbook OST) https://youtu.be/faPzDGLwD6M
genre: adult contemporary
cw: medical/hospital, lens flares
note: that first warning feels a bit silly, but in case one didn't know Resident Playbook is a hospital drama.... So yes, video is mostly clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers.


RAVN - Comedy https://youtu.be/uAU-uRy0VmM
genre: dance pop
cw: flashing effects
note: the hard subs could've been made more distinct, especially since this is a trilingual release and marked as a lyric video 😜


SUNNYKEY - Starlight https://youtu.be/SITxLrzrCm0
genre: dance rock
cw: flashing effects, video "artifacts," unsteady (self-)cam
note: started the video telling me who all the girls were and I've already forgotten again, sigh


Tonari - Web Drama https://youtu.be/Xam-W9D-KwM
genre: pop rock


Symptomer - Every day (audio only) https://youtu.be/hnYhsbWxBGw
genre: folk rock


Kim Juyoung - You're all I need (audio only) https://youtu.be/jMBdISodlJ4
genre: adult contemporary
note: pretty sure I only made it thru this song by completely zoning out in the middle, oops. In my defense, it was a shit weekend and his *is* an audio-only track


Kyung Won - I don't know where to go (The Reincarnation Girls OST) https://youtu.be/nsO71yY-3Uc
genre: adult contemporary
cw: flashing/strobing stage lights, lens flares,
note: video is about half clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers. The hard subs are terrible - bad font choice, crappy timing, disappear into the background


ZIA - Heartbreaking love https://youtu.be/4JbM65p3ino
genre: adult contemporary
cw: lens flares, drinking (social)
note: oh look, hard subs done right (yes, this is my forever bugbear 😅)


For The More - Drive or Die (Weekend in Taipei OST) https://youtu.be/BC0nGM3jbHg
genre: rock
cw: guns/gun violence, police, blood/injury, flashing
note: video is clips from the movie, so may contain spoilers. Definitely contains a whole lot of unsafe driving stunts.


Han Seungwoo - Positive Vibes https://youtu.be/SURoiKxZBfE
genre: R&B
cw: lens flares
note: well that was almost too sweet to be survived.... Why must he be like this? Sir, you're already on the bias list, you don't have to get even cuter, I promise.


Big Ocean - ATTENTION https://youtu.be/q6F3YntdDX4
genre: dance pop
cw: background flashing light. dripping wet Jiseok (clothed), water glare
note: EXCUSE ME SIRS WHAT IS THIS GROWNNESS??? I know they're pearls, but I've been reading fantasy/supernatural fiction again, so all I can think about is the yeowoo guseul and fox spirits.


EB - Best I Ever Had (feat. Vincent Blue) https://youtu.be/6tgLykXFNN0
genre: dance pop
cw: unsteady cam, lens flares


Honssi - Dead Letter https://youtu.be/HBrtQqi44po
genre: adult contemporary
cw: smoking, unsteady cam, water glare


GaGyeong - Split (audio only) https://youtu.be/jF_40gDH5Jg
genre: dance pop


TWS - 마음 따라 뛰는 건 멋지지 않아? | Countdown! https://youtu.be/Csaj3X6PKxY
genre: dance pop
cw: lens flares, fireworks/pyrotechnics
note: yes, the Korean and English titles are two completely different things, hence my using both with a pipe in-between. Like yeah, it's not uncommon for the English and Korean titles to be a little different, but not usually THIS different. 😜


CHUU - Only cry in the rain https://youtu.be/NhoZ_BYqp0I
genre: dance pop
cw: lens flares, fireworks, love triangle tensions
note: I mean obviously I'm going to say that the best way to deal with a love "triangle" is to just go full polycule, but, you know, polyam is not for everyone


BEN - Counting Our Kisses (audio only) https://youtu.be/5ixPUMG1vck
genre: R&B (ballad)


Ruud - GIDONG (feat. Money Rex) https://youtu.be/CTWhZzTxQvE
genre: hiphop
cw: explicit language
note: the only movement in this video is the bar EQ


KyoungSeo - Now it begins (Screwballs OST) https://youtu.be/6zmb_w4s9tE
genre: dance pop
note: video is almost half clips from the program, but, uh, reality/comedy show, so...yeah


Kai (EXO) - Wait On Me https://youtu.be/JLqXeMabsEQ
genre: dance pop
cw: lens flares, Kai's everything, flashing, blood/injury
note: such a shame he still can't reliably afford enough clothes... 😅 Just when I think SM 3.0 has meant an abandonment of all lore, here comes Kai with something that could very easily have EXO-lore connections. Sir, I didn't ask for this! Gods, I miss seeing Kai and Lay dancing together....


Inseo Shin - MUNN (feat. HVVI) https://youtu.be/riCA1XggvgU
genre: R&B
note: the only movement is the EQ under the cover art, which is pretty minimal


&TEAM - Go in Blind (Japanese release) https://youtu.be/RjJTiajpyrA
genre: dance pop
cw: supernatural elements (werewolves, magic), blood/injury, flashing
note: look, if I'd known they were going to do a full on MV, I wouldn't've bothered with the performance MV last week. Or at least I wouldn't've put it in the main feed. 😅


JA!L - MONCCUBUS (feat. Rosy Barbie) (audio only) https://youtu.be/ax8Vqe0khp4
genre: hiphop


LeSon - Touch me with ur heart https://youtu.be/8F06kwbZHpA
genre: R&B
note: can't decide if it's all in my head or if there's a genuine retro vibe going on in this video ... and boy do I hate it that "retro" covers late 90s and early 00s now! 😅


ZZZ - Hyper Drive (audio only) https://youtu.be/UQYuaHTShTk
genre: EDM


Jeon Youl - Close your eyes and think (audio only) https://youtu.be/VunJ7DCpd4M
genre: R&B


Choi Ingyeong - at the time https://youtu.be/bcuptCjKqzI
genre: adult contemporary
cw: intermittent dark "artifacts"
note: watching the ink falls in the background is completely mesmerizing and completely distracting from the rather tiny hard subs



Luca minor - The moon is mooning (The Divorce Insurance OST) https://youtu.be/tHLYLnpakAY
genre: jazz
note: video is clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers


Kong Jeonghwan Time goes by https://youtu.be/wh4vr1aMp18
genre: folk rock
note: potential hanky warning but that could just be because I'm wired weird and the drone footage gave me some serious homesickness, so I'm noting it here instead of as a CW


LET ME KNOW - 偽愛とハイボール(가짜 사랑과 하이볼) (Fake Love and Highball) (Japanese release) ❌ https://youtu.be/EUBhj0p5bQs
genre: pop rock
cw: aggressive flashing, drinking
note: the level of flashing and contrast was such that I couldn't finish watching the video, the flashes hurt too much

LET ME KNOW - LAD浪漫's(LAD낭만's) (LAD Romance's) (Japanese release) (audio only) https://youtu.be/K0LMk1o7huA
genre: rock

LET ME KNOW - 1800 (Japanese release) https://youtu.be/7cyMckvzoz0
genre: rock
cw: camera motion, camera flashes
note: flamboyant lead singer is flamboyant...with pretty eyes

LET ME KNOW - 100 yen kiss [100円キッス(100엔 키스)] https://youtu.be/HgTaeZm9aUk
genre: rock
cw: flashing
note: that's a cheap kiss all right 😜the way the lead singer sings "百" (the Japanese for 100) keeps throwing me off


NIEL - SHE https://youtu.be/3Br6rALmvCI
genre: R&B
cw: lens flares, flashing, surrealism, blood/injury


LEEDO (ONEUS) - Sun goes down (feat. YongYong) https://youtu.be/8UGiYqISEzw
genre: hiphop
cw: lens flares, flashing, full face masks
note: SIR! (insert incoherent fangirling here) oh and YongYong is also Dame Not Appearing in This MV, which is too bad but also probably better for our safety. 😜


Hebi - Onward (debut) https://youtu.be/JlZVyNtSnvw
genre: pop rock
cw: animated flashing, supernatural elements (magical girl)
note: the whole video is animated like a magical girl adventure


WILLA, Yp - TThing (audio only) https://youtu.be/BfnLHn_yqjc
genre: hiphop


Kyungho Bang - Won't You See The Light? (audio only) https://youtu.be/7643GGGXdP8
genre: heavy metal


Bohyun - Underwater (audio only) https://youtu.be/J_Sw7Ore6iE
genre: R&B


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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