Every time I think I’m done with these monthly faves articles, I get pulled back in. I’m not really sure how big or frequent these articles will be in the future. But I was inspired by Nintendo’s mini directs for the title. I spent the last two days trying to put something together and finally came up with this. There are a few songs that released in October that I didn’t get a chance to put something like this together for, so I’ll talk about them briefly here.
October 2024 Best Comebacks & Debuts
tripleS released Visionary Vision <performance> and I enjoyed “Vision” and “Love Soseol” the most from it. This album sounds similar to tripleS previous releases, but not really. This had more of a Hip Hop, trendy sound to it. Not as Pop and Y2K sounding as their other releases.
Billlie dropped Of All We Have Lost, and it feels like it’s been awhile since they released an album with more than like one song on it that I like enough to save. “dream diary“, “shame“, and “Bluerose” were the highlights for me on this album. And they did that thing where each song has its own video for it. Love to see it.
GOLD by ITZY is a little confusing as a casual fan. Half of it is new, and the other half is full of songs previously released back in like January. These are the “final versions”. I thought JYPE only did that when groups rerecord songs after someone leaves? Anyway, I love the new songs on here. Another group where it felt like I was waiting for them to get the train back on course. I don’t care for “GOLD” or “Imaginary Friend”. But “Bad Girls R Us“, “Supernatural“, “FIVE” and “VAY” feat Changbin of Stray Kids is a craaazy run. They ate with this one.
ILLIT‘s I’LL LIKE YOU was good. A bit repetitive, but I liked it overall. “I’ll Like You“, “Pimple” and “Tick-Tack” were my faves.
Moon Jongup finally released new music!! I’m obsessed with “Different Night” featuring GODOK and Ken.
KISS OF LIFE‘s “Igloo” was and is still everywhere. It’s sooo good. I also love “Get Loud” from Lose Yourself. Can’t wait to see what else they’ll bring us in 2025.
Alright, on to November releases!
November 2024 Best Comebacks & Debuts
EPEX – Closer
EPEX is a group I get excited about when they release music I love, but I don’t follow nearly as closely as I do with CIX. But I’ve also accepted I’m just here for their more R&B tracks and that’s not their main sound. I listened to this entire album, Youth Chapter 2: YOUTH DEFICIENCY and almost gave up on it but then “Closer” pops up. I have renewed faith in them. So, yeah, hit me up when there’s more like this. I do like other sounds from them, I guess I just know what I like from them when I hear it, lol.
ICHILLIN’ – Official
Aw yeahhhhh. So I was cleaning out one of the drawers in my room and I had a playlist of new music I wanted to catch up on. And when “Official” came on, I was immediately hyped for it. I love stuff like this. Plus, they released an extended version of it that’s even better.
The fur look in this music video is so cute. I love these videos that incorporate computer software like macOS. And their office outfits were adorable too. They ate, stylists ate. Good times were had by all.
ICHILLIN’ is another girl group I like to keep an eye on because they have so much potential. I’m curious what they’ll release next.
IRENE – Like A Flower
I was and wasn’t excited about an Irene solo. I feel like SM hasn’t exactly known what they want to do with Irene musically, so I was interested in what she would show us on this album. I totally wasn’t expecting a house track. I love “Like A Flower” so much.
Unfortunately for me, nothing else on Like A Flower reached highs like the title track did for me. The album is fine, we see different sides of Irene musically, but nothing I was eager to listen to again in the future. The visuals for this album are absolutely stunning, and I’m incredibly happy she had the opportunity to have a solo release. But it reminded me a lot of Tzuyu’s release as well. I couldn’t escape the thought in the back of my mind of, “but do we really need or want this, tho?”
DEAN, FKJ – Ctrl
It’s always a good time when Dean drops new music. “Ctrl” was my favorite out of the 3:33 single album release. It’s more of the same with Dean, if you like his previous releases, you’ll enjoy this one as well. We love a consistent king.
Okay, on to December releases!
December 2024 Best Comebacks & Debuts
TWICE – STRATEGY
I liked “Strategy feat Megan Thee Stallion” on my first listen or so. But it really does get better with each listen. I have this thing with TWICE’s albums where there will be one I’m not obsessed with on my first listen, then suddenly it just clicks. Occasionally, it takes a few weeks or months. But this is one of those albums I know I’m going to have on repeat in 2025.
“Keeper” with its “Superlove” vibes is a fave of mine. Along with “Sweetest Obsession”, “Like It Like It”, and “Kiss My Troubles Away”. Not sure on my favorite song yet, though. It might be “Kiss My Troubles Away”, I love the 80s synth vibes going on here.
The music video for “Strategy” is flawless. The styling and choreography is perfect. I love Meg dancing on the rooftop for her verse. And the scene with her and TWICE swapping in and out. AHHHHHHH. This video reminds me heavily of “Feel Special”. Oh, and the thumbnail of the girls making a heart? 10s across the board.
Colde – YIN REMIX
I don’t really follow Colde closely, but if mans drops new “music”, Imma check it out 💁🏾♀️. WOODZ and CAMO back together? Sign me tf up. Well, not entirely. I love a CAMO feature, and she’s on “Nirvana Blues” with Kid Milli. I haven’t decided which song I like more of the two. But these were my favorite off YIN REMIX.
The original YIN album released back in August. It’s great. I like that he made a remix album for it. “Nirvana Blues” is my favorite song from YIN. It’s more of a single album, three songs. Highly recommend it.
THE BOYZ – Special Single [Last Kiss]
THE BOYZ kinda piss me off. No, they do piss me off. Not kinda. Because they’ll release songs like “Candle Light” and get my hopes up because I want more music like this from them, but they’ll wait another like year and a half to release something even remotely similar. Another group that I sporadically check in with because otherwise I miss gems like this. So I can’t completely write them off as much as I would like to, lmao.
ANYWAY, “Candle Light” has quickly become a favorite song of mine from them. I gotta put together a fave songs article for them too in 2025. “Last Kiss” is great. You get that New Jack Swing sound mixed in with Christmas. Blink and you’ll miss it. “Winter Sleep” is good too. It’s a midtempo song, but I don’t have too many of these from them that I love now that I think about it. I’m really impressed with this release.
Haseul – Fragile Eyes
Easily one of my favorite songs released this year. It has quickly grown into one of my most replayed songs. It’ll probably rank high in my 2025 Spotify Wrapped, lol. Words cannot describe the pure joy and excitement I felt on my first listen of “Fragile Eyes”.
“Let Me In” was and still is one of my favorite LOONA solo songs. I love Haseul’s voice so much. And to hear her on a City Pop like song is an unexpected but much needed gift. I’ll keep it short because I’ll be repeating myself in my fave songs of 2024 article that’ll be out in like a week.
Stray Kids – HOP
… I really. REALLY wanted to love “Walkin On Water”. But for now at least, I’m not feeling it. There is plenty of time between now and June 2025 when my concert is to Stockholm Syndrome myself into enjoying it. But idk I didn’t really care for HOP as a whole.
“U” is the only full group song I like. And TABLO is featured on it, which is great. Then, the only other song I enjoyed is Lee Know’s “Youth“. I’ll update the link when his video goes up. But the rest of this album was a dud for me. Nevertheless, it’s fine. This also happens every once in a while with SKZ. I didn’t like ROCK-STAR either.
Yugyeom – Sweet Like
It’s Yugyeom, come onnnnnn. You gon jump if Yugyeom made it. There’s this slow transition into this like Afro beat house sound that’s kind of everywhere right now. I like it. I like this trend a lot.
This video is simple, and I love the lighting used in it. Of course, the choreo is great as well. It’s a short song, but I know it’s gonna be on repeat for me.
THE 8 – STARDUST
Imma keep it real with ya chief, I haven’t been checking for The 8’s solo music. He’s released a few songs now, but STARDUST has made me change my ways. “Orbit” also has that trending Afro beat sound to it as well. It’s great. I love “Orbit”. It feels like something SVT’s Performance Team would drop. Also why I loved “Wait” by fellow Performance team member Dino so much.
“54321 (Lift Off)” featuring Vernon is my second favorite song off this EP. I love hearing The 8 lean into this Hip Hop & R&B sound. It suits him. And really any opportunity Vernon gets to rap on a feature, ya girl is there.
Okayyyy, and that’s it for this “mini” best comebacks & debuts article. I hope y’all enjoyed this. Again, I’m not sure when I’ll do another one of these, but it was fun to get back to. What are some of y’alls favorite fall 2024 Kpop (and maybe Chinese or Japanese releases if it’s a situation like The 8 😂) songs? Let me know in the comments below.
Next up is the last new article of the year, my favorite PENTAGON songs. Then we’re on to my favorite albums and songs of the year.
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See ya next article!
Ash💫