#Kpop Reviews

[loonarii]

having a bit of a chaotic week (exam season still raging) but the may monthly roundup is like 90% done so expect it to be out either later today or tomorrow - sorry it's a little bit late lol

[serendipminie]

Minie's honest reviews: Riize's Talk Saxy

Song: 8/10 It's actually so good?!?! I didn't expect this. It's really really catchy (but so were Get A Guitar, Memories, etc.) The chorus isn't really my favourite part and the whole 'Talk Saxy' line is kind of cringey even with the pun aspect

Concept: 6/10 It was kind of generic? Kind of reminds me of Skz Maniac and Enhypen's Future Perfect street-smart concept. It was very visually appealing though

MV: 7/10 The setting was nice actually, the backdrops were nice, I really liked the lights and the room full of speakers. The lighting was well done

Line distribution: 8/10 The line distribution looks pretty even, although Wonbin and Shotaro are a little ahead of the rest of the members, as they were during Get a Guitar

Choreography: 7.5/10 It's energetic but not at the same time, I think they executed it pretty well. Doesn't look too hard to learn, so maybe this will be the next dance your resident Wonhyuk stan takes up :)

Outfits: 7/10 They're actually pretty cohesive, I like the red and black looks most of all. There's nothing particularly ugly, which is good! But please next comeback avoid the baseball caps please

Sohee: 8/10 I don't stan Riize yet, but lil floof Sohee has caught my eye just in case. I really like his look in this MV, almost more than in Get a Guitar. The hairstylist really did a good job

Overall enjoyment: 8/10 It's actually pretty good, I really liked the flow and it's super catchy yet chill at the same time

*Note: If there is any release, new or old, K-Pop or K-Band, that you would like me to review, please leave a comment (or DM me that works too)~

[seoulbeatscom]

ONF Begin Again in "Love Effect"

The last time we heard from ONF as a group was back in 2021 when the group’s profile was steadily rising with singles like “Beautiful Beautiful” and “Ugly Dance.” Then, in a rare — though not unprecedented move — the five Korean members enlisted in the military together, leaving U to keep up the social media accounts and fans without any releases for nearly two years. Enlisting together was certainly a gamble for the group who were finally finding their footing in an industry rife with heavier boy group concepts, and when the group returned this week with Love Effect, many fans were curious as to how the group would go about re-entering the K-pop market.

[averagekpoppermideko87]

PURPLE KISS 'Sweet Juice' | K-Pop Review

In February, Purple Kiss came out with the title track 'Sweet Juice' and Cabin Fever's 5th mini album.

[savnofilter]

TAROT SCAMMER

@adorastarot is a scammer, do not buy from her.

As some of you know, I love supporting readers and people in general. If I have enough money, I'll more than likely buy from a small business or donate if I can. It's really a shame that I have to make a post like this because I have personally felt scammed by a reader on here.

I’ll try to keep it short. I have bought 4 readings from @adorastarot and have only received 2 of them. The second batch I had ordered when I knew she was on vacation (@adorastarot had even confirmed the purchase) so I expected a bit of wait at LEAST for that month, and wasn't knocking down her door for it because they were fun readings and nothing urgent. For about 2 months I would on and off forget that I purchased it and left it alone, which is a mistake on my part.

I didn't know there was a refund period (because I have never been scammed like this) so unfortunately, I missed the time to be able to get a chargeback. She has stolen $50 from me with no remorse. Typically I don't care what a reader does with the money they earn because it is up to the buyer if they would like to support them or not. But when you juke people out of their money, have no remorse and also only use your funds to go on trips (which is a luxury) is just so crazy to me. Imagine doing this while there are so many other readers out there who actually NEED the money.

I have tried contacting Kofi about this to no avail. Here are the screenshots of our last interaction. Keep in mind I have never had a bad experience with her before this.

And before anyone says anything, it's about the principle. Not only did I not receive an order, there was no communication as @adorastarot willfully posted on both her Kofi and Tumblr while not responding to my messages. I shouldn't have to do this over what is £35 to you.

[thelailasblog]

[fandom]

K-Pop

Rise of the 4th gen girl groups. 

BTS

Stray Kids

ATEEZ

SEVENTEEN +3

TWICE +1

BLΛƆKPIИK -2

ENHYPEN +4

NCT 127 +2

Red Velvet +6

Tomorrow X Together +7

EXO -2

NCT Dream

SHINee -8

LOOΠΔ -6

ITZY +3

Monsta X -2

æspa +4

Dreamcatcher +1

The Boyz -3

GOT7 -7

Girls' Generation +12

IVE

NCT U -3

ASTRO

STAYC +11

Everglow +12

IZ*ONE +5

ONEUS

Le Sserafim

Cosmic Girls +5

Pentagon -6

(G)-IDLE +8

Mamamoo -11

SF9 -4

OnlyOneOf +2

GFriend -7

Weki Meki

SuperM -12

VICTON -8

Apink

BIGBANG

A.C.E -19

Oh My Girl

VIXX

Infinite

CIX

Rocket Punch

DAY6 -21

TVXQ

Winner

The number in italics indicates how many spots a name moved up or down from the previous year. Bolded names weren’t on the list last year.

[yoohyeon]

Hiiiiii 💜

My name is Alex ! I’m a content creator trying her best and I’m close to my next big number so I thought a promo post should be made 💕

I’m a multistan, that can’t shut up about pokemon even if I have a sideblog for it but it make good edits like my kpop idols as trainer serie that people seem to like. I’m also an rookie gif maker, that is doing the best she can with the worst program to do them with and other things 🫶

I’m just here to support and love my mutuals and have a good time talking about what I love, if that interest you check it out

[librarisxng]

should I do small perfume reviews of fragrances ateez use? cause I’ve smelt majority if not all of them but idk if anyone would read them.

edit: my first post is here! let me know if I need to fix anything. for the latest post, click here.

[eu0n1a]

Develop Dialogue (Pt 3)

Use these lines of dialogue, and the following longer conversations, to explore what the scenario might be, and who might be saying these lines. You can use them for a screenplay, play, or in prose.

1) “I had hoped that if I could convince my mother, I was a bear, she would just let me stay in bed and sleep through the winter. But no, she made me go to school.”

2) “ people like to chat when they’re happy; that’s why I like to make them mad. They are unable to find the words and, and that sweet moment of silence, I can simply walk away..”

3) “why are you listening to ___? No good ever came from listening to ___”

4) “ please don’t eat me”

5) “this is the worst thing anyone has ever given me, including the time, my brother punched me on my birthday and called it a ‘complimentary boxing lessons’”

6) “ I didn’t say that. I would never say that.”

7) “I think you might be the very worst person I’ve ever met. And considering I hate everyone, I find that very impressive.”

8) “don’t touch me. Don’t look at me. Don’t even breathe near me.”

9) “you could try being nice to me.”

10) “I’m a person before I’m your friend.”

[mysticinsightstarot]

🌸✨ Free Tarot Readings Update! ✨🌸

🌸✨ ✨🌸

Hey everyone! I'm so grateful for all the love and support, but I had to limit the free tarot readings this time to just 10 slots. Here are the lucky ones who were selected:

@ellas-stuff @generalcoldphilosopher @lacksmediatraining @galaxiesandstars @tarotlovwr @apaiyabang @tarsillpap @wtfiamdoing @anngiee888 @littleprincejy

Thank you so much for your patience! Free readings are now closed until I complete these 10. 💖 But don't worry, I'll open them again soon!

For my K-Pop reading fans, the following readings have been shortlisted:

Sana's Ideal Type

Jeonghan's Career Reading

Jihyo's General Reading

I’ll be uploading a Pick A Card today, so keep your eyes peeled 👀✨! Please show some love and support it when it’s live, and be sure to check out my pinned post for more exciting updates! 💫

I’m currently going through some tough times and am urgently in need of funds to keep things going. If you'd like to support me and book a paid reading, you can do so through my website. Your support means the world to me! 🙏💖

Website :

Lastly, I’m also looking for a Japanese person to co-author a book with me on Japanese folklore. If this sounds like you or someone you know, check out the post titled "Big Announcement" on my page for all the details!

Thank you for being such an amazing community! 🌟💫

Love and light, 🌸

[loonarii]

mini reviews #005: 'Bite Me' - ENHYPEN

So welcome back to me actually reviewing things, and in honour of the (exam season caused) drought, I thought I would mix things up and review a boy group title track.

Enhypen and me have a weird history - I love some of their major releases, such as ‘Drunk-Dazed’, ‘Fever’, and ‘Given-Taken’, but ‘Future Perfect’ just wasn’t my thing at all, so going into this release I was prepared for both outcomes. I was… surprised?

‘Bite Me’ is a bass boosted, effortlessly cool, blood sucking release, that executes Enhypen’s (somewhat underutilised thus far) vampire concept perfectly. Curiously, the track references and incorporates elements of kpop boy group music from the whole spectrum of the industry - from  Tomorrow X Together to NCT 127, even with elements of Stray Kids -esque production to top it off. You would think this would make the song sound disjointed and unoriginal, but it does the complete opposite - it makes Enhypen’s sound the centre of the kpop boy group sonic universe instead of a patchwork of other group’s rejects.

On my first listening, I found the pre chorus anti drop moment a little forced and odd, but upon reflection that section really elevates the song creatively, and it removes any sense of the ‘I’m so cool’ energy appearing forced, a curse that plagues many a fourth generation boy group release. 

Overall, ‘Bite Me’ is a lot of fun, and despite my lack of in-depth knowledge of the members, I felt as if they suited this song very well vocally, and this groovier, darker style of music really works for their group dynamic. It’s not lost on me how this song is somewhat trying to replicate ‘Fever’, but I love that song, and while I don’t think ‘Bite Me’ quite measures up in terms of memorability or atmosphere created, I still think it’s a very strong release, and an excellent addition to their discography. (Side note: I LOVED the choreography with the back up dancers - this is the kind of creativity I want to see in kpop.) I give it an 8.5/10.

[married-2-the-music]

Xikers: Stepping Out Of ATEEZ’ Shadow

Xikers are a part of the fifth generation of k-pop, having debuted just over a year ago in March 2023, and are from KQ Entertainment, the same company that ATEEZ debuted under. They have ten members: Yechan, Minjae, Sumin, Hyunwoo, Hunter, Junghoon, Junmin, Yujun, Jinsik, and Seeun, who range from 18 to 21.

Here are my credentials: None, which is in fact why I wanted to do this review. I try to balance super popular and lesser known artists on the blog, so that everyone can find someone they’re interested in. The reason I chose Xikers specifically is because I’m actually seeing ATEEZ in concert this summer, and in doing my pre-concert deep dive of them, I decided that they would be a fun breather before diving headfirst into another three-part deep dive. So let’s do this!

[cruesuffix]

Here we are again folks, back for another….ranking Crüe fits!!

I know it’s been a long while, I’ve been a bit busy posting wayyyy too much Mick, but we’re here now! Today, we���ll be reviewing the teaser pics of theatre of pain!

Vince

- I will say, the dress shirt definitely fits him well

-THE GLOVES thank you whoever forced Vince to wear those gloves they fit so well, especially with those gold bracelet things (idk what those are tbh)

- the jacket looks a bit big on him ngl…still it’s a serve I fear

- the way he’s posing in both photos, ok cuntatron lets werk!!

- sorry guys I just wanna simp over Vince real quick, let he’s so pretty I’m not sorry for this intermission…

anyways, personally I would like to see Vince in a suit more often, it works for him. he’ll get a nice 8.5/10 good job Vince!

Next up,

Tommy

- a tall man in a suit? Always going to eat

- love the flower on his suit, love that stance in that second pic

- sorry the first pic doesn’t really do him justice (wtf is that face Tom?)

- not much to say here, can’t see the dress shirt and vest, it’s just big giant with suit on

- it makes his head look a bit small (you didn’t hear it from me tho)

all in all? Solid 6/10 sorry Tommy…it’s better than nothing!

Nikki

- ok while I love this I can’t help but laugh

- he looks so silly in the second pic i can’t

- being serious, he looks great in the suit

- I have no idea why they gave Vince and Tommy jackets and not Nikki and Mick…interesting

- Nikki also has a flower and it’s cute

- THE LACE GLOVES AHHHAHHHAHAH

- love it love it love it!!

- makes him look classy (last word you’d ever use to describe this man)

- sorry I know I’m supposed to be a hater but he looks good here love it

- also his shoes in the solo pic looks really nice I love it

good job Nikki, I’ll give you a 7.9/10

Mick

- ��I’m so sorry for what I’m about to say

- that shirt does NOT fit my mans

- also he’s not wearing a flower…would it kill you to wear a flower??

- if they were a K-pop band there would have been mad theories being made about his flowerless ass

- the vest and the pants work, but that shirt looks like it’s hanging off him.

- would have also loved to see him wear more suits

- he looked the best at Tommy’s wedding

- pls someone help my mans he’s drowning in that shirt!!

I hate to do this to my guy but 5/10 pls try again sir

ok, that was all…this was pretty short, so lemme give y’all their individual teaser pics (because they look so cool).

don’t these photos make them look cooler than they actually are? need a mystery thriller movie about a gang made starring these guys.

[averagekpoppermideko87]

Young Posse 'ATE THAT' | K-Pop Review

Young Posse has returned with the mindless banger "ATE THAT" and third mini album "ATE THAT." Both the track and album were released in August.

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL - just RELAX BL, you're stressing me out

Organized, in each category, by ones I'm enjoying most at the top. However, I've put quite a few on hold for travel reasons.

Oct 2023 Wk 3

Ongoing Series - Thai

Dangerous Romance (Fri YT) ep 10 of 12 - Boyfriends are cute boyfriends. Reconciliation with daddy and then major brother drama. How exciting. Gah but that closing scene, these two are such great actors! 

Naughty Babe (Sat YT) ep 8 fin - A perfectly serviceable final episode. I did love the red Chinese-style wedding to go with the “hia.” Also, just a little Thai 'poke poke poke' at China. 

Final thoughts?

This is a nice addendum to Cutie Pie, but it’s relatively incomprehensible even if you’ve watched that previous installment. I can’t imagine it will make any sense at all if you haven’t. Frankly, the most impressive thing about this show was the makeup team. MaxNat give excellent chemistry, all the high heat is well done, and the friendships are adorable, even if the story is nonsensical. It’s fine, I’m relieved it was only 8 eps. I enjoyed it for the pair but I will probably never rewatch. A weak 8/10

My Universe (Sun iQIYI) Lucky Love ep 9 of 24 -Heartbroken (drunk) gay boy meets (fights) sister’s new chef. I love the femme bestie. Adorbs. This one seems pretty good actually. I like all the shots of Bangkok’s actual traffic. POV is a bit of a sad sack tho. 

Absolute Zero (Thai Weds iQIYI) ep 4 of 12 - There is something clever about this narrative in the way that they are each each other’s first and second loves, but also age gap kinda creepy (Thailand maybe leave this one for Japan?)

Venus in the Sky (Tues iQIYI) 8 of 10 eps - So much whiny gay drama babies. However, it also manages to be painfully slow, through the simple act of having 90% of the show be boys sitting around staring at their phones. Then it suddenly got way higher heat than I expected. Honestly, this could’ve ended at 8 sps. I don’t see how extending the show is going to improve it in any way.

Only Friends (Sat YT) ep 11 of 12 (not a BL but I'm watching it anyway) - I don’t have faith in any couple. One of my favorite things about this show is watching how many boys Mark can kiss. I know everyone is focusing on Neo, but seriously baby boy got game. Meanwhile Boston’s dick must be made of self-lubing steal pipe; I remain entirely uninterested is TopMew; Mew’s fam demonstrate why a gay boy should never take advice from straight women; and the slut-shaming agenda continues. NO SINGING. No character in this show is happy when Boeing turns up, but the rest of us trash-loving muckrakers are thrilled.

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

If It’s With You AKA Even If I Fall In Love With You AKA Kimi to nara Koi wo Shite Mite mo’ (Japan Gaga) ep 3 of 5 - Oh it is so cute and so sweet and so aching. I really did not want the confession to happen, even though I knew it had to. There is an element of torture to this one that only Japan can execute with such precise softness.

You Are Mine (Taiwan Fri Viki) eps 7 of 10 - I remain charmed. But while the me of 2018 would have thought this one of the best BLs ever, the me of now is finding it a bit dated and nostalgic.

Bon Appetit (Korea Weds iQIYI) 7-8fin - Romance between an office worker and the man from his past next door who cooks well. It was a very sweet and cute tale of food as love in the All the Liquors family of KBL. I’m not wild about it, I did enjoy it, I was happy to have it show up on my dash, but ultimately it will simply become one of the KBL crowd. 8/10 

Kiseki: Dear to Me (Taiwan Tues Viki & iQIYI) ep 10 of 13(?) - another one where they are separated for most of the show. Although the sides are giving win. 

Bump Up Business (Korea Gaga) 1-2 of 8 - from Idol Romance staring OnlyOneOf's Nine & Mill, this released as a movie in July in SK but is now being recut/reissued as a series. Love story between a trainee who is about to debut and a celebrity plagued by scandal. After that OmegaX Shoulder bullshizz business I am very wary of this show, but this pair is already better cast.

Out of the mouths of OnlyOneOf (!!!) babes...

As to the show? I don’t know. I mean I love the idea, am nervous about Korea (with that bubble) doing a meta critique of the BL industry, with K-pop idols, using an existing group. It just seems like there’s a lot of mines in this small field, and it could go horribly horribly wrong. I am enjoying it, but also anxious the whole time I’m watching it for culture/market reasons. That said, I did pretty much ask for this exact show. So I can't complain, now can I?  

Mr Cinderella 2 (Vietnam Sat YT) ep 5 of ? - I honestly don’t entirely understand what is going on. But it all seems to be the Psychotic Pretty Kitty’s fault. Oo caught in the act of drug-induced cheating - DRAMA. Dung should cut his losses and leave - cute doctor husband or not. Lovely kiss from the sides. I gotta say, this cast is hella pretty. I’m not mad that this team is kind of turning into GMMTV Vietnam.

It's Airing But...

I Feel You Linger in the Air (Fri grey) ep 8 of 12 - I will try to watch 8-12 and do a series review when I get back in November but... not sure I will be able to. Fingers crossed.

Love in Translation (Sat iQIYI) ep 8fin - completed, my final thoughts in Nov.

What Did You Eat Yesterday Season 2 AKA Kinou Nani Tabeta? Season 2 (Japan Fri Gaga) ep 1 of 10 - I find this series more fun to binge, so I'm waiting until it completes its run.

I Cannot Reach You AKA I Can't Reach You AKA Kimi ni wa Todokanai (Japan Tues Netflix-Japan & ????) - in classic JBL fashion, I Cannot Reach You could not be reached. 

Can I Buy Your Love From A Vending Machine? AKA Sono Koi, Jihanki de Kaemasu ka? (Japan cinema release in-country only) - This one is a movie from Japan so in customary fashion who tf knows when (or if) it will get international distribution. Salaryman Ayumu Koiwai just can't tear his eyes away from the strong, muscular man as he checks on the stocks of the vending machine in his office.

One Room Angel (Japan Gaga) - Yukinori, a convenience store clerk was accidentally stabbed by a thug and nearly died. He returns home to find an angel waiting for him. The drama is an adaptation based on Harada’s manga of the same name (which I did not like). With only five episodes and a good chance this won’t end happily, I am going to wait and let you tell me how it goes. Binge it when it is complete if it's safe.

In Case You Missed It

GMMTV posted their initial 2024 line up, here's my round up of the BLs. It includes 2 JBL adaptations, 2 KBL adaptations (that they aren't admitting to) and vampires. If you want to know how I did on the predictions that's here and the answer is: very badly indeed.

I am watching the Y Journey: Stay Like a Local series. But they are essentially tourist board long-form advertisements. I enjoy the promo aspect with regards to the food. And seeing some of my favorite pairs do interesting other things is kinda fun. But the whole thing feels disingenuous when gay marriage is still not legal and it’s essentially the Thai government (making these ads) who is stopping that from happening. I have a similar feeling to iQIYI as a content provider. It’s not queerbaiting in the original sense of the term, but it’s pretty gross to use gay for advertising with a nationalistic propaganda agenda, when being gay is still not legal in your country. Yes I struggle to reconcile myself with this on the regular, and it’s an ongoing hypocritical struggle for my tiny withered tired old heart.

All that said, this week's installment, He’s Not Happy, did make me want to rewatch Make a Wish. There’s no kissing in this series but JudoFluke kiss beautifully, so If you haven’t seen Make a Wish, it’s very good and I recommend tracking it down.

Next Week Looks Like This

Upcoming October BL

10/26 My Dear Gangster Oppa (Thai iQIYI) 8 eps - nerd retreats from the world into an online game and makes friends with a little group, they meat in real life, one of them is hot, they fall in love, hottie turns out to be a gangster. Trailer

10/31 SHADOW (Thai Gaga) - this is a horror BL featuring ghosts and other paranormal elements in a high school setting. I'm not wild about Thai horror (or horror at all). It features Singto (who did paranormal BL He's Coming to Me) opposite Fluke N (who's done a couple horror's before). Also Fiat. Dan suffers from sleep paralysis, and in his dreams he sees a shadow that suffocates him. It gets worse when he transfers schools.

2023 forthcoming BL master post (see comments, some are inaccurate, NOT KEPT UPDATED).

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENTS

We stan consent and talking about sex during sex. Thank you Venus in the Sky.

I guess Ray's getting his 3some? Only Friends

Dangerous Romance hitting up some old school tropes.

Naughty Babe giving us our beloved domesticity and tiny gay families. @heretherebedork you happy?

(Last week)