The Week in Review: August 12, 2023

My song recommendations of the week, a sneak peek at next week's content, and more!

Note: This post typically just goes out to paying subscribers, but this week’s edition is free, so feel free to share it!

Trivia Question of the Week: At what timestamp is HeeJin’s cameo in ODD EYE CIRCLE’s “Air Force One” music video? The answer is at the bottom of this page and in the “girl group special” episode of 17 Carat K-Pop that is linked to below!

Top Ten Song Recs of the Week

1. Should I make “Best New Cover” a regular segment? If so, week one’s winner is Xdinary Heroes for their take on “Welcome To The Black Parade” by My Chemical Romance!
2. Speaking of cool covers, OMJamie is back! Covering “Seven” by Jung Kook (ft. Latto)
3. The honey-voiced Eric Nam takes “Don’t Leave Yet” from good to superb…
4. … as does V’s voice in “Rainy Days”!
5. After more re-listens, I’ve changed my mind: The Rose’s “Alive” is much better than my previous recommendation, “Back To Me”!
6. JEON SOMI has FINALLY returned, with a fantastic pop bop called “Fast Forward”!
7. Route 1’s prettiest song yet, “Butterfly”
8. DAWON from SF9 showing his solo star power with “Shooting Star”
9. The catchiest song on XIIX’s new album, “Citrus”
10. SOYOU and Bora bringing the SISTAR nostalgia with “ALOHA”

What’s New From Me
This week’s episodes focused on the best new music of July! I covered most of the Top Twenty in the first episode:
Stream this episode on Spotify here! 
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here! 
Stream this episode on Anchor or another streaming service here! 

But I saved some for a girl group special episode!
Stream this episode on Spotify here! 
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here! 
Stream this episode on Anchor or another streaming service here! 

And I covered the best new album, NCT DREAM’s ISTJ, on its own episode!
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here! 
Stream this episode on Anchor or another streaming service here!

I summarized ten main topics in BTS’s official book!

I tried decoding NewJeans’s intriguing new music videos!

For paying subscribers only, I revealed the current state of my “Best Songs of 2023 So Far” list and offered the chance to give feedback on it!

Lastly, I published my interview with n.SSign!

Coming Up 

• My MANY thoughts on Barbie!
• The “Best of July” corresponding write-up
• The official rankings and reviews for the best songs and music videos of 2023 so far!
• Your nominees for Song of the Summer!
• Coverage of two separate major headlines: a new report on a J-pop industry scandal and a breakdown of what went wrong at the South Korea-hosted World Scout Jamboree
• SO much more in the works!

Get ready for new music from: ADYA, aespa, EVERGLOW, Hwiyoung of SF9, JIHYO, Leo, Loco, PRIMROSE, STAYC, tripleS LOVElution, and more!

Throwback of the Week: “Boyfriend” by BOYFRIEND

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Trivia answer: About 2:44

View the Substack version of this piece here!