[delayed post] Midweek New Music Roundup :: April 15th - 22nd

[hitokage]

When I say April has been the worst month for migraine I've had in years (maybe even over the last decade plus).... I honestly wasn't sure if I was going to manage this week at all. I've been extra sensitive lately, so my warning threshold on flashing is extra low and I quit a lot more easily, even on artists I love. The warnings still have value, even the quit notices, just means you may have to read my notes for my reasonings. It does mean there's fewer elevated if only because I quit before I could fairly judge if an elevated flashing warning was appropriate (though in some cases, the flashing was SO bad, they got it anyway). And while I've gotten ruthless (and entirely too good at clocking) wholly genslop'd MVs, there's still one flag where I'm less certain and one flag for a different "other" warning.

We've got a good mix of genres again this week - rock, pop, R&B, even trot and one country-western. So whether you're looking for the freshest hiphop (we've got solo comebacks for both Taeyong (NCT) and Donghae (Super Junior) this week), something soft and fluffy (Woody is always a win there, but we've also got a slew of OSTs), or some alt rock to vent some feelings (Wheein is all of us this week), you're likely to find something new to enjoy. Browse the list in whichever way makes you happy!

Banner slots this week went to NCT Wish and Han of Stray Kids, because I am old and predictable. Additional picks can be found with 💚

Releases for the week of April 15th - 22nd:
ALL'N - We Up (debut) * 🚩 ❌
Woody - Two Of Us 🔤
BE BOYS - SLAM DUNK *
HITGS - Cherry Blossom *
SF9 - Hurt & Hollow
yurisa - #Hashtag * ❌
SUMMER CAKE - Weakness 🔤 * ❌
Tophyun - Black Glasses
DOKO - It Was You Who Let Go
Nogun - Spring is Coming
Wheein (MAMAMOO) - The Symphony of Fxxkboys 🔤 * ⚠️ 💚
SONHAEUN - Live Through Today +
TAEYONG (NCT) - Rock Solid (feat. Anderson .Paak) 🔤 * ⚠️ 💚
BUMJIN - I'm Spring, You Are Flower + *
The Vignettes - Comet (Wooju Bakery OST) * ❌
BOYNEXTDOOR - No Doubt (Perfect Crown OST) * ❌
bluebluebird - GOODBYEMYLOVE
RIIZE - Behind The Shine (Perfect Crown OST) *
Shim Sojeong - Like a dream *
Seiren - 522 (SEE) (feat. Aiowell) 🚩
ZHOUMI (Super Junior) - 6570 * 💚
Haiyatt - Save my World
ARON - The Wave (Doctor Shin OST) (audio only)
Stray Kids - 宿命 (FATE) (Japanese ver) * 💚
AKMU - Spring Colors
VIOLA - Real Fantasy (Absolute Value of Romance OST) * ❌
Aoi Yoake - I Think I Found the One (結婚相手を見つけたんだよ) (Japanese release) *
Kim Minseok (MeloMance) - Be with U (We Are All Trying Here OST) *
Apink - 15th Season *
CORTIS - REDRED 🔤 * ❌
NCT WISH - Ode to Love 🔤 * 💚
EVNNE - Backtalk 🔤 * ⚠️ ❌
P1Harmony - Wednesday Girl * 💚
DONGHAE (Super Junior) - HAErise * ⚠️ ❌
neu - Typical *
KISS OF LIFE - Don't mind me
Frankly - Paper Chase
CLOSE YOUR EYES - POSE 🔤 * 💚
An Taegyu (Dragon Pony) - Orbit of Fragments (Pokemon Rising Again OST) *
B1A4 - Rock Paper Scissors *
HYO (SNSD) - MOVEURBODY 🔤 * ⚠️ ❌
UNCHILD - UNCHILD (debut) 🔤 * ⚠️ ❌
HAN (Stray Kids) - Let it Show (Yumi's Cells 3 OST) * 💚
U-Rim - Curiosity
toyou. - Our Dreams (audio only)



key:
* content warning
+ includes “disappearing” hard subs
🔤 includes CC in English
⚠️ elevated content warning
🔞 age-restricted by YouTube
🚩 other warning
❌ did not complete
🌟 special note
💚 picks of the week



ALL'N - We Up (debut) 🚩 ❌ https://youtu.be/2GOl_ku6-Hs
genre: pop fusion
cw: lens flares, flashing, shirtless male
note: I'm going to be super mad if a couple of those backgrounds are genslop, but the sharp flashing meant I had to give up, so a flag of warning that could mean nothing. Also, CWs may be incomplete, so proceed with care.


Woody - Two Of Us 🔤 https://youtu.be/ESAu5358CGg
genre: R&B
note: CC in English. Woody continues to be a soft teddy bear in a fuzzy sweater. Potential hanky warning for a sad(ish) song, but such fluffy soft vibes....


BE BOYS - SLAM DUNK https://youtu.be/iKUlx443lI8
genre: dance pop
cw: lens flares, water glare, camera motion
note: beware the nostalgia vibes - I had to do a quick dive to make sure this was in fact a new song cuz this has such an early hallyu wave vibe while being obviously a recent MV shoot


HITGS - Cherry Blossom https://youtu.be/vtTxuzeQHHU
genre: dance pop
cw: unsteady cam, camera flashes
note: may trigger cuteness aggression ... which I guess could've gone in the CW line, but whatever.
Young Miss, that's not a cherry, that's a goddamn magnolia - you can tell because the flowers are almost as big as your hands. 🙄 Ok, slight exaggeration, but still.


SF9 - Hurt & Hollow https://youtu.be/FIJWBz2C7-0
genre: R&B
note: am I showing my Fantasy bias yet again this week? Yes, yes I am, and you can't stop me. Potential hanky warning or are you normal?


yurisa - #Hashtag ❌ https://youtu.be/PBgcrStoeT8
genre: dance pop
cw: animated flickering/flashing
note: the flickering wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't CONSTANT, so I noped out


SUMMER CAKE - Weakness 🔤 ❌ https://youtu.be/XkrrjA75zzU
genre: folk rock
cw: stop motion animation, lens flares
note: I don't think I made it more than 30 seconds, which feels bad, but the camera angle puts the sun RIGHT in the face of the viewer and I can't deal with that this week, so.... Just long enough to think I'm probably right on genre and to get those two warnings, but obviously CWs could well be incomplete


Tophyun - Black Glasses https://youtu.be/1wVGXckGDek
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
note: do you need a potential hanky warning or are you normal? 😅


DOKO - It Was You Who Let Go https://youtu.be/4T7ETuSvCvk
genre: R&B
note: ... look, I appreciate the attempt with the hard subs, but it was a bad attempt, and not just because I'm extra week in the visual department this week. The timing is terrible, the drop shadow is A Choice and putting English in that shade of yellow was even More of A Choice. But, you know, you tried...


Nogun - Spring is Coming https://youtu.be/DGu4uQJbkns
genre: trot (ballad)
note: another potential hanky warning


Wheein (MAMAMOO) - The Symphony of Fxxkboys 🔤 ⚠️ 💚 https://youtu.be/SEfaaN6Io5Y
genre: alt rock
cw: lens flares, blood/injury, domestic violence, bullying
note: CC in English and Korean. Well tell us how you really feel. 😜 Elevated warning for the violence, even if it's mostly brief/contained. Also, song is entirely in English and not censored (though the CC is, le sigh)


SONHAEUN - Live Through Today https://youtu.be/rLR7tGiEhXI
genre: R&B
note: could I get away with calling this city pop? Hmm... Hard coded subs aren't set apart from the underlying video, so tend to vanish into her dress/the concrete behind her.


TAEYONG (NCT) - Rock Solid (feat. Anderson .Paak) https://youtu.be/FX5YsDRRwiw
genre: hiphop
cw: surrealism, flashing, glitching, implied violence
note: The way Mom gets away with shit no one else could do.... This was a wild ride all right, but hey, as long as he's happy, then that's all that matters.


BUMJIN - I'm Spring, You Are Flower https://youtu.be/guz6lzCXJFY
genre: R&B
cw: lens flares, background mirrorball effect
note: the set is so pretty. The mirrorball not coming on until the last half is perhaps the only reason it didn't end my ability to view the video :p Migraines suck


The Vignettes - Comet (Wooju Bakery OST) ❌ https://youtu.be/zyhcrLMmpB0
genre: R&B
cw: flash/flare transition
note: I feel bad because from what I could tell there isn't anything to this video except the transitions between promo stills, but the transitions are bright enough that I can't, so... Proceed with caution?


BOYNEXTDOOR - No Doubt (Perfect Crown OST) ❌ https://youtu.be/tcpw8bS4bJY
genre: dance pop
cw: camera flashes
note: video is ... probably entirely clips from the drama, so beware spoilers, but the opening clip with the camera flashes tried to kill me, so...


bluebluebird - GOODBYEMYLOVE https://youtu.be/uAPr84kbEQg
genre: R&B
note: beware the Engrish? White text on a cloudy sky was A Choice, sigh. It mostly works just because of the size, but still.


RIIZE - Behind The Shine (Perfect Crown OST) https://youtu.be/pKEAqz-050I
genre: R&B
cw: lens flares, blood/injury
note: video is entirely clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers.


Shim Sojeong - Like a dream https://youtu.be/88cSSF0faj4
genre: R&B
cw: unsteady self-cam, supernatural elements (spirit entity), lens flares
note: is it weird to feel nostalgic about an old alarm clock? Also now I want pancakes.


Seiren - 522 (SEE) (feat. Aiowell) 🚩https://youtu.be/Kq8VT9609ak
genre: R&B
note: so this is apparently a "vibes" visualizer which... the vibes are feeling very, er, porno, so that's... a red flag for that.


ZHOUMI (Super Junior) - 6570 💚 https://youtu.be/RlJUF1O8ZVY
genre: hiphop
cw: animated flashing, supernatural elements (magic, creatures)
note: whole video is animated in fairly flat colors, but it's still gorgeous.


Haiyatt - Save my World https://youtu.be/3nRhc2sk9-o
genre: alt rock
note: the video is a short seamlessly looping clip that ... doesn't really seem to have anything to do with the song, but whatever. World needs more women in rock, regardless. 😉


ARON - The Wave (Doctor Shin OST) (audio only) https://youtu.be/yBW4f99iqUs
genre: R&B
note: another low voiced crooner


Stray Kids - 宿命 (FATE) (Japanese ver) 💚 https://youtu.be/MyqE3V_n0CM
genre: alt rock
cw: lens flares, Felix Effect, Han in glasses
note: just stand at the mics and sing? They could never... 🤣


AKMU - Spring Colors 🔤 https://youtu.be/EiHLut1GrvM
genre: country-western
cw: surrealism, animated violence (sorta)
note: CC in English and Korean. I ... I think the band is supposed to be robots, but I keep thinking of them as unquiet ghosts, especially the one with the long hair and bongos. Blame decades of yokai stories.


VIOLA - Real Fantasy (Absolute Value of Romance OST) ❌ https://youtu.be/VBht__HlzFM
genre: alt rock
cw: lens flares, camera motion
note: a performance video with hardcoded subs instead of a clip video for whatever reason. Unfortunately, that also means the rock video conventions pushed me to quit


Aoi Yoake - I Think I Found the One (結婚相手を見つけたんだよ) (Japanese release) https://youtu.be/AkKTdc_HUaQ
genre: pop rock
cw: camera flashes
note: unexpected little bit of something sweet


Kim Minseok (MeloMance) - Be with U (We Are All Trying Here OST) https://youtu.be/fDiGKBjGT1c
genre: R&B
cw: flashing, blood/injury
note: video is entirely clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers. Song is pretty but the video feels rather unsettling. Since I'm not at all familiar with the drama, I can't say if it's just me or if that's the drama's vibe


Apink - 15th Season https://youtu.be/FrprWfWYcDw
genre: pop rock
cw: flashing graphics/effects, camera flashes
note: behind-the-scenes clips from their last few promos + touring, so lots of laughter and a few tears


CORTIS - REDRED 🔤 ❌ https://youtu.be/U6BDbXIah-Y
genre: EDM
cw: camera motion
note: CC in 8 tracks, including English. The camera knocked me out so I don't know how bad the Dumb Teen Boy Antics get, if they're worth warning for or not. One presumes the DTBA are done in love, at least? But the nope means CWs may be incomplete


NCT WISH - Ode to Love https://youtu.be/1o5O2YvV3HU
genre: dance pop
cw: flashing, surrealism, supernatural elements (angel lore??), fur suits (sheep)
note: CC in 8 tracks, including English. As noted elsewebs, I did not have "NCT WISH samples The Cranberries" on my 2026 card, but here we are. With some of their cutest but also surreal-ist lore yet. They ... they do know The Silence of the Lambs isn't about sheep, right? 😅
[yes, I did see a note about member commentary on the MV, but I haven't gone back to try reading it/seeing if there's a proper translation]


EVNNE - Backtalk 🔤 ⚠️ ❌ https://youtu.be/sadl9Ujgnms
genre: dance pop
cw: aggressive flashing
note: CC in 5 tracks. including English. Elevated warning for the flashing that knocked me out more or less immediately, yeah, sigh, so again, CWs may be incomplete


P1Harmony - Wednesday Girl https://youtu.be/tbN9LQ-rb4g
genre: dance pop
cw: Keeho's stupidly pretty face, unsteady self-cam, background twinkling
note: they are professional dancers, really. The worst flashing is at the very end, so there's that?


DONGHAE (Super Junior) - HAErise ⚠️ ❌ https://youtu.be/P-v1Eyuo2Vo
genre: hiphop
cw: aggressive flashing, lens flares, false color
note: elevated warning for the aggressive flashing that knocked me out before the minute mark, so supplemental warning that CWs could be incomplete


neu - Typical ❌ https://youtu.be/ZtLB7VTm1IM
genre: pop rock
cw: lens flares, flashing
note: the flares and flashes aren't even that bad, I'm just having that bad of a week. orz


KISS OF LIFE - Don't mind me https://youtu.be/r1D2gVcYbRM
genre: dance pop
note: I know style is in the eye of the beholder, but I'm lesbian and I still find these outfits entirely unflattering, jfc, who did the styling for this? The video being a hot mess distracts from a song that's pretty mid.


Frankly - Paper Chase https://youtu.be/Me10Oe1JPWo
genre: pop rock
cw: unsteady cam, stop motion/ultra-low frame rate
note: the longer I watch, the more I think those are sections of dropped frames, but either way, it's a bit distracting.


CLOSE YOUR EYES - POSE 🔤 💚 https://youtu.be/O8dR2eWKq8A
genre: dance pop
cw: lens flares, blood/injury, lore implications
note: CC in 6 tracks, including English. What exactly those lore implications are, I'm in no way well enough to investigate or even just speculate, so....


An Taegyu (Dragon Pony) - Orbit of Fragments (Pokemon Rising Again OST) https://youtu.be/5LL_0r35SSY
genre: pop rock
cw: animated flashing/flares
note: TV-size and this looks like the opening animation sequence, so very short


B1A4 - Rock Paper Scissors https://youtu.be/5qGHUPfF3tM
genre: dance pop
cw: lens flares, flashing, surrealism
note: well, that ... was a video all right. 🤣 I don't even know what else to say that wouldn't be a spoiler, so just ... watch it. Or don't. 😜


HYO (SNSD) - MOVEURBODY 🔤 ⚠️ ❌ https://youtu.be/BPbgRY0JYUE
genre: EDM
cw: aggressive flashing, vaporwave
note: CC in 8 tracks, including English. Hyo's really been into these kinds of MVs that suit these kinds of tracks, but OW, SM, a seizure warning absolutely should've been put at the head of this MV. CWs may be inaccurate, considering how quickly I had to drop out.


UNCHILD - UNCHILD (debut) 🔤 ⚠️ ❌ https://youtu.be/JzL1GpN044c
genre: dance pop
cw: aggressive flashing, camera motion
note: CC in English. Oh look, didn't even make it to the first chorus before the aggressive flashing kicked in and I nope'd out


HAN (Stray Kids) - Let it Show (Yumi's Cells 3 OST) https://youtu.be/Dj5SOqo92OU
genre: R&B
cw: lens flares
note: video is about half clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers. And of course the other half is shots of Han in the recording studio, being entirely too cute, ugh, I hate him (lies).


U-Rim - Curiosity https://youtu.be/g6_sWT9zgzI
genre: R&B
note: performance with hardcoded subs, I bounced around on genre a bit - this is a bit fast for usual R&B but too dancey for adult contemporary but then not quite dance pop exactly, so back to R&B it was.


toyou. - Our Dreams (audio only) https://youtu.be/_nIOsG9M0ZY
genre: R&B (instrumental)
note: the way I had to immediately turn this down to counter the crackle...


And that's it for the week. What were your favorites? Any surprises? Let's chat about it!


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