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.

“Save Me, Save You” - WJSN

Having been around since their debut, I’ve always had somewhat of a soft spot for WJSN. Part of me does believe the group doesn’t get the type of recognition they deserve, which I witnessed first hand during their 2017 KCON LA performance. While I’m not always a huge fan of their releases, “Save Me, Save You” comes off as about their strongest release to date. The track has their signature feel in releases, such as “Secret,” while adding a certain flair that makes it unforgettable. Even two months later, I can’t help but have this track on repeat!

“Not That Type” - gugudan

Speaking of underrated girl groups, gugudan has just recently come back with a brand new girl crush concept that’s not normal for the group to showcase. It’s no secret that I tend to be more biased toward the girl crush concepts, but I especially like seeing girl groups branch out to try genres they aren’t known for, which is probably why I grew so fond of this release. The hip-hop influenced track is almost impossible to get out of your head and is sure to have girls chanting “I’m at the top” along with the chorus. We love queens of self-confidence!

“I Am You” - Stray Kids

One thing that I didn't see coming at all this year was my intense investment in rookie boy group Stray Kids, who has successfully skyrocketed toward the top of my group bias list without even trying. I know I’m not the only person totally caught off guard by these killer rookies, especially looking at the regular numbers they rack up on their title releases, even in pre-debut days. “I Am You” has a very intense and warm sentiment, a message to fans about how the boys feel connected to them, seeing similarities of themselves in fans and promising to stay close by. While it may not be apparent on the surface, this group always presents a wonderful message in their music that can quickly win over your heart.

“Pirate King” - ATEEZ

No matter how many times I tell myself to stop collecting new groups, I get totally sucked in by the new kids on the block, especially when those kids go for a hip-hop concept with their debut. When I found ATEEZ, I wasn’t looking for any more groups to get emotionally invested in. “Pirate King” really struck me even from the first listen for its unique take on the hip-hop genre and how each verse doesn’t follow the normal formula that we see musically, especially in K-Pop. The uniqueness was enough to catch my eye and keep me hooked!