2018 Fall Favorites
As fall comes to a close and with winter just around the corner, I’ve decided to take a look back at some of my favorite releases that have managed to stand out from the endless sea of comebacks this season.
“아이돌” - Zion.T
Nothing is more perfect for the fall season than the sweet and soft R&B melodies of Zion.T. In the recent past I’ve found myself more of a fan of his title tracks, but I was truthfully underwhelmed by his previous release, “The Song.” I was actually fairly surprised how much I enjoyed the album ZZZ with an appreciation for each track, but I am particularly fond of “아이돌,” the opener of the album. “아이돌” begins like a classic slow Zion.T track, but throws in a little bit of flair in a hip-hop melody and encompasses all the realms the singer can master.
“Call My Name” - Kim Donghan
It’s been an exciting season for me as a JBJ stan. Donghan’s first comeback and second mini-album D-NIGHT features a new round of musical depth to Donghan’s repertoire. “Call My Name” really stuck out to me as it was almost like a continuation of JBJ’s final title track, “Call Your Name.” It’s kind of like the flip side of a coin, as if Donghan is reassuring fans that he’s here and didn’t leave despite the group dispersing. That struck a chord in me and had me grow fond of the song.
“Stay” - JBJ95
JBJ95’s debut was guaranteed to be my favorite thing of the year the moment it was announced (Kenta and Sanggyun were my top two biases in JBJ … it was a dream come true), so it’s not a surprise that I absolutely loved their debut album. “Stay” is my favorite track, and I love the lower octave the song is in and how well Kenta’s vocals are showcased perfectly on top of a warm and fuzzy message, as well as the catchy hip-hop beat that’s exclusive to this song.
“Fire” - Sik-K
Sliding under the radar of other releases was Sik-K’s uncharacteristic single, “Fire.” At first listen, it appears just like any other K-Hip-Hop track the rapper usually puts out, but get to the chorus and you’re in for a surprise. The song incorporates alternative rock elements in a way that we never hear from the soloist, throwing the listener for a loop, and I absolutely love it. To me, “Fire” represents a mix of my current tastes in Sik-K’s traditional rapping and a long history of listening to alternative rock from a young age, mixing together to form a perfect blend of the different genres.
“Spotlight” - MONSTA X
MONSTA X does intense best. Latest album Are You There? concluded with the Korean version of the highly popular Japanese exclusive track “Spotlight,” ending the album with a bang that is so quintessentially MONSTA X. While the group’s B-sides can sometimes be particularly underwhelming, it was a nice treat to have a Korean version of this song rounding out their album and standing out along with the title, “Shoot Out.”