Happy June!! This post was supposed to be up days ago but I’ve been busy planning our upcoming trip to ALA! I’ve been to BEA many times but ALA is a first so I’m really excited and nervous. I’ve also never been to New Orleans but it’s been on my list of “places where I must eat my weight in food”, FOREVER! Any way! KPop releases for May were definitely fewer than April but that doesn’t mean I didn’t find a few new loves.
G(I)-DLE
Album: I Am
Title Track: Latata | Music Video
Label: CUBE Entertainment
Release Date: May 2nd, 2018
Shelly: Even with an annoying name to type like (G)I-Dle, I am still a fan of this group. Their debut EP definitely surprised me and it’s one of few albums I ordered for my physical collection. Girl groups and I don’t usually reach stan levels but this group may change that for me. Latata is a great title track but $$$ and Maze are my favourites of the album. While it’s a short album, it’s definitely a must-listen.
Octavia: This one took me by surprise in the best way! It’s not often that idol group grab me and make me want to keep up with them, ESPECIALLY a girl group. But G(I)-DLE (do you understand how much effort it takes to type that name!?) came for me with their edgy girl crush concept and I’m here for it. Latata comes on and all I want to do is stop and dance for a second! Even though the word is just nonsense noise it’s nonsense noise that I gladly sing along too. For a mini album 4 out of 6 songs get an easy thumbs up from me.
Crush
Album: BIttersweet – Single
Title Track: Bittersweet | Music Video
Label: STONE Entertainment
Release Date: May 3rd, 2018
Shelly:I just listened to the song because it was in this post and IT’S SO GOOD?! It’s very chill but I am into it.
Octavia: CRUSH IS MY NEW BOO END OF STORY. I didn’t even know K R&B was a thing but now that I do I’m heads over heels in love. Bittersweet came up on my “recommended for you” videos on YouTube. Being the bored mess that I am, I clicked it without any real intention on paying attention, only for his voice to legit knock me on my ass. I have a whole playlist that just Crush songs, and I can see myself adding to it whenever he comes out with more. AND YES SHELLY IT IS SO CHILL! And the video is so eclectic?! I can’t describe it but yes. Love.
EXO-CBX
Album: Magic – Japanese Release
Title Track: Horololo | Music Video
Label: SM Entertainment
Release Date: May 9th, 2018
Shelly:I liked EXO-CBX’s Blooming Day so I had high hopes for their first Japanese album and I am… meh about it? I love the title track, though it took me a while to get into it, but the rest of the album doesn’t vibe with me. I like a few of the songs but they haven’t made their way to my playlists yet.
Octavia: : I think my biggest mistake was I listened to Blooming Day, right before I listened to Magic. As such I honestly didn’t like it that much. Horololo is a jam, but other than that the rest of the album was meh? I even wanted to skip a few songs on my first listen which I never do.
Junhyung
Album: Goodbye 20’s
Title Track: Go Away | Music Video
Label: Around Us
Release Date: May 9th 2018
Shelly:This album is really good. I liked Sudden Shower (a song that I’ve heard as a single) but Go Away is starting to replace it as my favourite. The title track and music video are so fun and I just adore it.
Octavia: Like I said last month (??) Sudden Showers was such an amazing and chill song, and I’m so happy it gave me an introduction to Junhyung as a solo artist. Goodbye 20’s is an album I literally loved from beginning to end. I’m not sure if it’s because it has an older sound? Like age appropriate for me? Does that make sense? Similar to TVXQ’s album. I just feel like it’s made with an older (late 20’s early 30’s) crowd in mind and I just appreciate it.
BTS
Album: Love Yourself Tear
Title Track: Fake Love | Music VideoLabel: Big Hit Entertainment
Release Date: May 18th, 2018
Shelly:: I don’t think I even can express how much I love this album. As everyone can plainly tell from past posts and my instagram, I am a hardcore BTS stan. This comeback made me question my bias list, my feelings and spend way too much money. I have no regrets though. My attempt at coherent thoughts: this entire album is gold. I love that even though this is supposed to be BTS’ angsty album, there’s still the signature catchy pop undertone that makes BTS iconic. I am also hardcore excited that Jin (my boo) finally has center stage in the choreography for Fake Love. To all the people who say he’s the worst dancer, LOOK AT HIM NOW.
Octavia: I’m going to try and not ramble here….try. LY Tear opens with V’s solo song Singularity. This man’s vocals starting off an album!? Rudeness. I understand V can hit high notes (Stigma!!) but it’s something about that deep husky tone he does that just does it for me. From her the album goes into Fake Love…sweet baby Jesus this song is life. I get that it’s the title track so it’s going to get a lot of attention right now anyway but seriously it’s such a great song and deserves every bit of recognition possible. In fact, the whole ass album deserves it. From the body roll inducing Paradise, to the smack in the feels The Truth Untold, to the “how in the hell are you on par with the original!?” Airplane pt 2. Literally every single track is gold and if they weren’t my number one group before they most certainly would be now. It’s lowkey weird for me to love these 7 adorable men as much as I do and I can only compare it to how people must have felt when they went through that whole New Kids on The Block/New Edition/N*SYNC/Backstreet Boys phase. Seeing them in concert this year is probably going to be one of the highlights of my 29 years and I feel zero shame in that.
NCT127
Album: Chain – Japanese Album
Title Track: Chain | Music VideoLabel: SM Entertainment
Release Date: May 23rd, 2018
Shelly: NCT is one of my favourite groups and I really like this mini album. It’s a bit short but the title track Chain is addictive to listen to. It’s not something I usually like, NCT is the only group that can get me excited about music that borders on electronica, but this album definitely has NCT 127’s flair and I adore it.
Octavia: Eh… I love Chain but the rest I’m kind of meh on? Chain though? Chain as a whole could get it. It’s dance worthy, the vocals SLAAAAAAY ( go Taeil!!!), and the choreo is bomb (I see you Haechan).
Bolbbalgan4
Album: Red Diary Page 2.
Title Track: Travel | Music Video
Label: LEON Entertainment
Release Date: May 24th, 2018
Shelly:Too cutesy for me.
Octavia: “Some” was legit my favor girl group song of 2017. I think it’s because these two are dorks and I loved that. There was no let’s be sexy or cute concept. It was just them. Being dorks. And I loved every bit of it. Red Diary Page 2 was something I was so pumped to get on my phone and “Travel” is such a good title track and just like “Some” I see the dorks I fell in love with.
Moonbyul
Album:Selfish
Title Track:Selfish ft Seulgi of Red Velvet | Music Video
Label:RBW
Release Date: May 28th, 2018
Shelly: I really loved this. The entire album is so good and while it isn’t something I can dance to, it’s definitely an album I love listening to.
Octavia: I admit I slept on Moonbyul when it came to her role in Mamamoo. But Selfish? That is my jam! I saw the video before hearing the song and It was the level of dork I strive for everyday and I loved that it felt true to Moonbyul. In My Room I love too but for different reasons. Where Selfish, is fun and chill, In My Room had this close your eyes and vibe feel to it. Showing just how talented and multifaceted Moonbyul is.
SHINee
Album: The Story of Light
Title Track: Good Evening | Music Video
Label: SM Entertainment
Release Date: May 28th, 2018
Shelly: I wasn’t a huge fan of Good Evening when I first heard it (I was definitely still in my BTS bubble) but after listening to the full album, I’m sold. Good Evening is definitely my favourite of all the songs and it’s made my way to every single one of my playlists.
Octavia: Easily one of my favorite albums so far this year. Like, top 5 no contest favorite. I stayed away from SHINee initially because I knew the loss of Jonghyun would be something I felt, even as a new to SHINee stan. Obviously, I got over that way of thinking and I’m so happy I did. The Story of Light is just music that makes you feel GOOD. Want to dance? Done. Want to just sit there and vibe out? Done. The album, while short, just fills you with good vibes from 1st to last and I love and appreciate that so much.
Pristin V
Album: Like A V
Title Track: Get It | Music Video
Label: Pledis Entertainment
Release Date: May 28th, 2018
Shelly:
Octavia:This album (?) only has 2 songs so technically the odds were in its favor that it would be good. Get It makes a perfect edgy title track but Spotlight makes me want to dance and that’s really all I ask of music now a days.
