November for me musically was mostly the same as October. I was still (and am as of writing) deep in my &TEAM honeymoon phase, unsurprisingly showcased in my Spotify Wrapped (article coming later; also, follow me on TikTok if you want. I’ll be posting more on there soon). But the new music that dropped, I couldn’t stop listening to, like “Rizz” by XLOV. So much House music this month, omggg. Love to see it. Let’s get into it! Starting with XLOV.

XLOV – UXLXVE

I talked about “1&Only” and my complete love of it earlier in the year. Still one of my favorite songs by them. But they absolutely killed it with UXLXVE from start to finish. I listened to “Rizz” first, because I watched the music video for it the same day it dropped. I wasn’t going to be the only person on Twitter seeing clips and pics and miss out on the fun. It took me a bit longer to listen to the entire album because I purposely wanted to listen to all the November releases around the same time. But it was totally worth the wait.

It feels like XLOV knows exactly the music direction and vibes they want with their music, and the only direction they’re going from there is up. I didn’t love their debut track, “I’mma Be” on my first couple of listens, but I saw the potential of the group. And that was just January. What do you mean, for one, that it’s almost 2026, and two, that XLOV has managed to achieve so much and have their sound and fandom so locked down so quickly?!?!? That’s so crazy, especially when you remember they come from a small label.

XLOV kicks off the House/Dance for this month as the prominent sound in most of the songs on this list. My favorite b-side from UXLXVE is “Drip Drip“. Then “Scent” is my third fave song off the album. It’s sooo good. There’s a variety I’ve been craving from them. One of the main reasons why I love EPs and albums so much. Singles are never enough music from me. It’s difficult to gauge an artist’s style from one song here or there. I need at least three when they’re just getting out there, lol. I’ll be talking more in depth trackwise in my fave albums of 2025, so I’ll save the rest of my thoughts for there, but if you’re not on the XLOV train yet, now is the time to get on board.

LØREN – HONOR ROLL

LØREN continues to have the bangers. “HONOR ROLL” is my favorite song from his new album, THE WAITS. I haven’t listened to his music in a while (I need to change that), but I think this might be my favorite song of his, period. I’ve been having Drug Restaurant withdrawals, and listening to THE WAITS reminded me that LØREN is the perfect alternative to that Korean rock sound I’ve been missing. LØREN and Xdinary Heroes are running shit. No questions.

ILLIT – Secret Quest

It’s no secret that I love Pokémon. So when I was doing my November new music listen, I was excited to see ILLIT has a song tied in with Pokémon. It must be a BELIFT thing since ENHYPEN has that “One and Only” Pokémon song I still love. Such a cute music video, btw. I really love when these OSTs sound like something the group would make on their own. I kinda like it more than their actual comeback song this month, lol. “Secret Quest” is different from their usual sound so I like the change.

ILLIT – NOT CUTE ANYMORE

That’s not to say I don’t like it; it slaps. I like this slower, down tempo sound for the group. A slightly darker vibe without pushing the listener into the deep end of the pool. I saw a couple of people dancing to it on TikTok (of course), so I was exposed to it before watching the music video and listening to the b-side paired with “NOT CUTE ANYMORE”. “NOT ME” is fine. Not something I think I’ll come back to any time soon, but not something I feel rushed to turn off.

CLOSE YOUR EYES – blackout

To say CYE are with blackout is to drastically undersell this album and comeback. Now I gotta go back and listen to ETERNALT and Snowy Summer. I love an R&B/House/Dance moment and that’s so much of what blackout sounds like throughout. My favorite b-side and maybe song(?) is “2.0“. I gotta get a physical copy of this album STAT. I’m so in love. I’ll dive deeper into this one in the fave albums article. But this, along with the next album, should be on your ‘to listen to’ playlist if they aren’t on there already.

JUSTB – Snow Angel

IDK what the hell snapped with JUSTB, but I love this shift in them/their music. When I first heard snippets of “True Heart” on TikTok when they started teasing it and Snow Angel, I was immediately hooked. Then I was shocked by how good and consistent sound-wise the rest of the album is. I haven’t decided on a fave b-side yet. I need to listen to the album in full a bit more, but mannnn this is gonna be on repeat in 2026; I can already feel it.

NCT DREAM – Beat It Up

I ain’t like this album, lmao. We’re back in that Dreamie drought. This always happens to me. They release, like, three albums I’m hooked on, then there are, like, two of them I’m not crazy about. I wanted to like “Beat It Up” but idk, maybe in a few months or if there’s, like, a remix of it or something, it’ll grow on me, but it’s a no at the moment.

Cold Coffee” is good; I was scared I wasn’t going to like anything off this album. But it feels like someone looked at what your typical DREAM album has on it, and power ballad(s) is one of those things. So “Cold Coffee” filled that box. Now “Tricky” has more of that DREAMSCAPE vibe I love. It’s my favorite b-side off this album. I noticed they didn’t really do much with the visualizers this time around. What’s up with that?

no na – the one

The girls did it again 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️. I like this slower-paced, sensual, ballad. They’re really leaning into that 80s sound, and I’m here for it. I’m never not going to enjoy a snyth.

RESCENE – lip bomb

Like with no na, RESCENE continues to make bangers. lip bomb is such a fantastic album. More House music. “Hello XO” is my favorite b-side. It reminds me a bit of “Hula Hoop” by LOONA. I think it’s the “hello hello hello xo xo xo” and “you got me like ooo la la” part. As of writing, my 23rd fave album of 2025. I haven’t started ranking yet, but I’m trying to get to 25 albums.

I also have to congratulate the girls on lip bomb being their best-selling album as of writing. You love to see it 🥰🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉.

Heize – LOVE VIRUS PT.1

Queen Heize back with another phenomenal winter album. It’ll be on repeat all next month, I’m sure. I don’t know how I missed she was collabing with I.M (MONSTA X) for this song, but both of their voices work so well together on this track. Very soothing. I like “Last Taxi (feat. LEE CHANGSUB)” too because of that. Can’t wait for part 2.

VVUP – VVON

VVUP is another group that is quickly becoming a fave of mine. I’m undecided on my favorite song/b-side from VVON. But from top to bottom, this album is great. So playful and fun. The music video for “Super Model” is great. I love the inclusion of drag queens and animation. Another one for the fave albums list.

The Deep – KPOP B!TCH

Strobe warning for the music video. You can also check out this version on YouTube with the audio only. Obsessed, AGAIN with another The Deep release. I’ll have my thoughts on the full album in my December faves article. But as of writing, I haven’t listened to it yet. But if it’s anything like “KPOP B!TCH”, the remix for “Magic Clock” and “Makeup”, I’m sure I’ll love it.

ATEEZ – Choose

I wasn’t expecting this. I thought we were done with all the anniversary stuff 😭. I like it. I love the styling and film grain (graininess) for this music video. I adore a simple music video like this. Just them in the sand of the Cromer. Chefs kiss.

MONSTA X – baby blue

Gaaaaaawd it’s been ages since MX has released a title track I cared about. Are we back?? I love that they’re in their “Chasing That Feeling” bag. Maybe this was the genre shake-up I needed from them. I want more like this from them.

Baekho – RUSH MODE

Another strobe warning! Speaking of being back, Baekho’s music lately is really hitting for me. “RUSH” is soooo different from his previous releases. The audio is distorted. It’s a straight up club/rave track. I love it. Then “My Sign” sounds more like the Jazzy/cafe sound we occasionally get from him. It also slaps. I think it’ll be the song I listen to the most from this album. Then for the final song on the album we get a feature with CAMO. Love the camouflage background for the music video. So cute. Anyway, “Through the Line” also slaps. It’s a bit more R&B than “My Sign”. This is such a strange album…digital single. But I love everything about it.

ITZY – TUNNEL VISION

TUNNEL VISION sounds like an extension of Yeji’s AIR in the best way. I love this album. Minus “8-BIT HEART” they could have kept that one, lol. It’s not an ITZY album unless there’s that one song that I’m puzzled as to why it’s there. Another album I haven’t decided what my favorite song are yet. But I feel the MIDZY blood pumping back in me.

YEONJUN – NO LABELS: PART 01

NO LABELS: PART 01 is a weird inclusion on this list. I really only saved three songs from it that, at least as of writing, I know I’ll listen to just as much as “GGUM” and “Ghost Girl”. Looking at this project as a whole, I love it. I love that Yeonjun included three songs (“Coma”, “Let Me Tell You (feat. Daniela of KATSEYE), and “Talk to You”) in the music video. I love love love music videos that tell stories.

Aesthetically, this era is spectacular. Genre-wise there’s much more of an Alternative sound going on compared to “GGUM”. Which I and many MOAs suspected once we heard “Ghost Girl”. Then when we tried to get Yeonjun to squeeze out any spoilers about his solo debut this past summer, that was one of the few things we got out of him.

Similar to when Suga releases an album, there are really only three or four songs I listen to regularly, but it doesn’t make me any less excited for an AGUST D drop. Just because I don’t click with every song on the album, doesn’t mean it’s bad, it’s just not my taste. Same with Namjoon’s solo music. I don’t have one of his solo songs (not from a BTS release, like under RM) saved on Spotify, but I can respect the artistic vision and heart that goes into it.

And that’s my overall take with NO LABELS, and really whenever an idol releases a solo album. Whether I like it or think it’s good is secondary. I want to know and see if they were able to effectively showcase their creative vision and explore their musicality. That’s what separates a ‘good’ solo from a ‘bad’ solo to me.

So yeah, I like NO LABELS: PART 01, but realistically, I’ll be jamming to “GGUM” and “Ghost Girl” more. Which is why I got the keychain version of the album near release. It’s so cool. Eventually I’ll get the photobook album (the regular one).

And that’s it for November! A busy month musically. I always feel like nothing happens, then I look back and I’m like, “Damn how’d so much happen?” How was y’alls November? One month left in the year, and I have so many articles I want to post.

Me @ Me

I’ll see y’all next post! There’s plenty on the way. I have at least 6 other articles planned for this month. So wish me luck, lol. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter, Bluesky, & Instagram.

Take care!

Ash 💫

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