Exile Tribe's 2019 Battle of Tokyo was one of the coolest, most ambitious J-pop projects in recent years. The collective's four "junior" groups battled it out over a series of song collaborations, released subsequently throughout a single week in June. These were tied to big budget music videos that combined to create a (sometimes incoherent) mini movie. Now, Jr.Exile have returned for a spin-off, this time paired with videos that are a mix of anime and live action. As a genre, Anison is more popular than ever, so this couldn't have come at a better time.
I've always found it weird that Generations are classified as part of Jr.Exile, given the fact they debuted over five years earlier than the next youngest Exile group. As such, they carry the air of elder statesman, and it makes sense that they'd be the ones to kick off this project with Liberation. In my mind, this is the coolest Generations have sounded since the lastBattle of Tokyo. Given their recent singles, I feared they were moving in a more saccharine, soft pop direction. But, Liberation's blazing techno EDM beat instantly changed that perception.
Coupled with slick animation, Liberation conjures images of neon cities and high-octane action. Its electronic instrumental is densely packed and never lets up. In fact, the song's highlight is a vocal-free dance break during the bridge. This energy will quicken your pulse, regardless of your opinion on the actual song. But while Liberation may be a bit dull melodically, its propulsive structure matches the production perfectly. Its two-pronged chorus will sneak up on you, and recalls the best of Generation's 2013-era work. You only really get this kind of track from J-pop, and I can't wait to hear what the rest of the project delivers.
Though they might not make full-fledged comebacks as frequently as they used to, Apink can always be counted on for an anniversary track. Every April, they release a new song in honor of their debut milestone, and most of these have been upbeat affairs rather than schlocky fan service ballads. Thank You (고마워) keeps this streak going. It’s a frothy pop song that easily accomplishes its goal.
I say this because I don't think Thank You was designed to be anything other than a celebration. Not all songs have to be epic throwdowns, and although I may not listen to this much after today, I can appreciate it for the good clean fun that it is. Across their ten-year career, Apink have managed to deepen and develop their sound without losing the fresh innocence of their debut-era work. Thank You could have easily been recorded during any year of their existence, and that timelessness is an asset.
This is the second song this month co-composing by Duble Sidekick. I'm hoping this producer duo will regain popularity in 2021, as their sound is refreshingly trend-free and especially well-suited to summertime bops. Thank You is not one of their stronger melodies, but they bring a sense of classic, feel good pop effervescence. For Apink's part, the girls manage to deliver a cutesy track without coming across as inauthentic or overexaggerated, making Thank You feel like a suitable compliment to their legacy.
You Make Me isn't only DAY6's first comeback in almost a year. It's JYP Entertainment's first release since November 2020. That's a surprisingly long hiatus for one of K-pop's biggest agencies. And, the album feels weightier than normal. With leader/main vocal Sungjin enlisted in the military, any upcoming DAY6 releases will likely sound quite different. You Make Me is the closing of a chapter, and the song leaves us on a wistful note.
This feels like an odd choice to promote as title track. The song is not particularly catchy in the way we expect of singles. I appreciate its variety of textures, from the glitchy keyboards in the pre-chorus to the hip-hop touches in the verses. But, I think You Make Me is easier to admire than fully embrace. I love the choral moments that pop up here and there, and the bridge harnesses an unexpected melodic flourish to great effect. Technically, it's all very impressive.
However, the track is missing a strong chorus. You Make Me's centerpiece is a series of power notes, each impressive and emotive on their own. Taken together, they don't create much of a melody – at least not compared to DAY6's best work. The percussive post-chorus chant is more memorable, and given some of its instrumental choices, I wonder if the song should have leaned heavier toward this rhythmic approach. All in all, it's an indulgent track, recalling many of the group's strongest elements but struggling to forge them into a work that’s mightier than the sum of its parts.
It's been nearly seven years since the release of Nu'est's first full album. That's the length of the typical idol group contract, and it's stunning to consider the journey the guys have been on during that time. For the record, I think 2014's Re:Birth is one of their strongest works, but listening to it now is like diving into a different group entirely. Since 2016, the guys have taken greater control of their sound, teaming with in-house producer Bumzu to craft a consistent style befitting their new stature in the idol industry.
Consistency can be positive and negative. You all know how much I love a “signature sound,” but it's also gratifying to hear a group stretch themselves. There's a fine line between cohesion and monotony. For me, new single Inside Out falls closer to the latter. I feel like I've heard this exact song from Nu'est before, from its slinky melody to the muted synths underpinning it. Despite bringing in talent from the Monotree production team, Inside Out never finds its own sonic identity.
At this stage in their career, Nu'est are incredibly polished. Their performance is as smooth as butter, and maybe that's the problem. Inside Out lacks peaks and valleys, instead pulsing along a muzzled groove that never quite kicks into gear. The chorus is catchy, and the producers were smart to open with it. But even this lacks bite. My head is nodding, but I find it hard to engage with the track on any meaningful level. Nine years (!) into their career, I'd rather see Nu'est tackle something fresh and exciting. Inside Out feels like a victory lap, long after victory has already been declared.
Exile Tribe's 2019 
Though they might not make full-fledged comebacks as frequently as they used to, Apink can always be counted on for an anniversary track. Every April, they release a new song in honor of their debut milestone, and most of these have been upbeat affairs rather than schlocky fan service ballads. Thank You (고마워) keeps this streak going. It’s a frothy pop song that easily accomplishes its goal.
You Make Me isn't only DAY6's first comeback in almost a year. It's JYP Entertainment's first release since November 2020. That's a surprisingly long hiatus for one of K-pop's biggest agencies. And, the album feels weightier than normal. With leader/main vocal Sungjin enlisted in the military, any upcoming DAY6 releases will likely sound quite different. You Make Me is the closing of a chapter, and the song leaves us on a wistful note.
It's been nearly seven years since the release of Nu'est's first full album. That's the length of the typical idol group contract, and it's stunning to consider the journey the guys have been on during that time. For the record, I think 2014's Re:Birth is one of their strongest works, but listening to it now is like diving into a different group entirely. Since 2016, the guys have taken greater control of their sound, teaming with in-house producer 
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