Weekly Recap: 12/4/22 - 12/10/22

Last week I had lots of time and a lot to write about, this week I got a little time and a decent amount to write on. Let us do this.

Shinhwa WDJ - Come To Life

While newer K-Pop fans may be as familiar with Shinhwa as they are with dial-up, the sextet's influence and status within the Korean idol world can hardly be overstated. Debuting over 24 years ago and continuing without any member losses alone is impressive for a boy band in East Asia's volatile idol world, but their continued relevance adds another star to their massive list of accomplishments. While it is unlikely that they will ever score another viral mega-hit of the Perfect Man variety, their willingness to adapt to trends, combined with a dedicated fanbase means that the group is settled for success in each of their releases.

The last few years, however, have been the most nebulous for Shinhwa since debut. 2021 saw a very public spat between group leader Eric Mun and vocalist Dongwan which ultimately led nowhere. Additionally, main vocalist Hyesung got involved in a messy DUI scandal this year, with allegations of auto theft. Combine this with a lack of any releases since 2018, and the group's stable position seems at its most vulnerable moment arguably ever.

As a result, the debut of the group's first subunit, WDJ (strangely consisting of Minwoo, Dongwan, and Junjin, and for whatever reason not named MDJ), provides a moment of stability for the group's fandom in a tumultuous time.

That said, their EP, Come To Life, feels oddly generic. None of the five songs are bad in particular, but they feel like generic, older boy band music. Single Flash is a fun little song relying fully on groove over melody, and almost succeeds if the wordy post-chorus didn't come in to ruin the flow.

The rest of the album finds itself in either groovy mid-tempo dance territory, or K-Pop ballad territory. I personally enjoy the dance songs better, probably due to their more diverse usage of sound. Shape on Body is clearly inspired by '90s House, and Rumble by 2010s electronic K-Pop. The ballads don't have much going for them, and they just kind of... exist. At the very least, Shinhwa have finally come back, and I hope they stay in some form or another.

Listen to and Purchase Shinhwa WDJ's Come To Life Right Here!

Yonezu Kenshi - Kickback

As perhaps the biggest artist in Japan, Yonezu Kenshi can do whatever he wants and still make enough to pay for a lot of dinners. This might lead to stagnation and genericness from the hands of others, but Kenshi relishes in the art form of music, and his tracks have arguably grown much more eclectic after his no longer needing to try.

 Kickback is arguably his strangest song yet, a three-in-one, opening as a heavy, parkour-ready rock track, before morphing into a gorgeous ballad, not too different from his Stray Sheep-era material, before ending as a pop-punk version of the opening rock track. I enjoy the song's segments quite a lot, though I am not sure if the song will work together as a whole, and I am sure it will be even harder for the general public to enjoy this song... oh wait, it already topped Japan's charts.

Listen to and Purchase Yonezu Kenshi's Kickback Right Here!

JUJU - Watch What You Be

Despite a '90s house revival this year via Beyonce and Drake, there have been very few true house songs in recent times. Japanese musician JUJU breaks this trend with a b-side from her new EP, Watch What You Be. The beat here is fire, pulling up with a sense of groove that is authentic to my nostalgia, and I love it.

Note: While I don't care for the single Hana nearly as much as this song, and it did come out a few weeks ago, the MV is incredible.

Listen to and Purchase JUJU's Hana EP Right Here!

Lexie Liu - Magician

I am unfamiliar with Chinese musician Lexie Liu's career, but she has a great sense of groove, which carries into her latest EDM track, Magician. The best factor of Magician is it knows that speed is more required than grace in this type of track. Not every segment works that well, but the song knows to never stop and keep on going. This does occasionally hurt, as I wish the good moments lasted for longer, but repeated listening help with that.

Listen to and Purchase Lexie Liu's Magician Right Here!

Cwondo - Baby Kasutera

Cwondo is one of a million minor musicians releasing music online of various genres. It is a wonderful world and one where one can find songs both beautiful and ugly. Baby Kasutera is both. There is something so disturbing in the mixing, it feels scattered and broken, with awkward glitching elements clashing along with high-pitch screeches, ending abruptly. But as Cesar Cruz famously said, "Art Should Comfort the Disturbed and Disturb the Comfortable." One might find solace in Baby Kasutera's fierce assault, or a cause for worry and pain. Either way, it is an experience you are unlikely to forget.

Listen to and Purchase Cwondo's Baby Kasutera Right Here!

Lana Del Rey - Did You Know There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd

Lana Del Rey song titles are the subject of many-a-meme, and for good reason, often relying on complicated references that one would require using Reddit or Genius Annotation to understand at the very least. On Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, Del Rey questions her long-term relevance, and if her music will have an impact even after her. While many artists are willing to lie to themselves that their art will last forever, Del Rey questions her expiry date, a complicated one to ask at the very least. While I do wish the song was musically sharp, its lyrical effect is notable.

Pre-Purchase Lana Del Rey's Did You Know There is a Tunnel Under Ocean Boulevard Right Here!

Image Source: Wikimedia