girls✨️

10. SHINee - Thousand Miles Away

My boys are back! I love the way SHINee can just drop an album and dip.. Anyways, Atmos was the type of album that took me a few listens to really get into. But one of the songs that I immediatly put on my playlist was Thousand Miles Away. This song is just so beautiful! The emotions? The vibes? Perfect! This is the type of song I would show to other people to convince them kpop is also a serious music genre. Also the vocals on this track?? hello??? Absolute masterpiece. And the fact this is only number 10 on my list shows how brutal this month was!

9. Ryeowook - Runaway

Now I am not the biggest Super Junior fan, but something about Ryeowook as a soloist I just really vibe with. This comeback has been really overshadowed by the amount of big comebacks this month and that is really such a shame! This is such a good song! I love the emotions it delivers and the vocals are just fantastic. If you have not checked it out, I really suggest giving it a go!

8. Hearts2Hearts - Lemon Tang

I am fully aware this list is dominated by sm entertainment artists.. Anyways, I love the new Hearts2Hearts song! It is the type of kpop I just absolutely LOVE listening to in the summer. It is fun and a little quirky. The type of music that is hard to find outside of kpop and the type of music that is the whole reason I got into this genre. So yeah, everytime a group releases a song with these kind of vibes, I am all over it! Just a great execution of a concept I really adore..

7. MEOVV - DDI RO RI

Okay completely changing vibes here, but can we take a moment to talk about DDI RO RI? I love this song! Something about kpop group sampling classical music just works. I love the darker vibe of this song and I am suprised by how well it fits these girls. I hope we get to see them go even darker in the future! Something about MEOVV's music is just very addictive and this new track is no exception to that. I know I will be listening to this A LOT. And this is immediatly going onto my Halloween playlist for sure

6. CLASSy - Tear Drop

One thing about me is that I am a sucker for a good pop rock track and that is what CLASSy delivered with this comeback! This song has such a bittersweet vibe to it and that is one of my favorite vibes in music. When a group is able to capture that, I have no notes. It eats and these girls ate! I have never listened to this group before if I am being honest, but this track is making we want to go back and check out there backlog for real!

5. MAMAMOO - 4 Flowers

MAMAMOO is one of my all time favorite girl groups. And I have been loving their solo projects, but finally having them all back as one group just feels like something special. The song is also really great! Another one that just has a great overall vibe to it that is supported by the amazing vocals. MAMAMOO really came back to show us how to make a beautiful song. I hope we don't have to wait so long for another full group comeback again, because I need this group as a full group in my life!

4. izna - R.I.P.

At this point I am fully convinced someone is trying to sabotage izna, because what do you mean this song was on the album and was not the title track? I am convinced if this was the title track, it would've been such a massive hit! This song is just so good! I love the mix between pop and rock and I think izna is really good in that sub-genre. All the best izna songs are pop music with heavy rock influence and I wish we could see more of that in their title tracks. These girls have the potential to be the next dreamcatcher if they wanted to be!

3. dodree - HAWWAH

dodree made their debut earlier this year and immediatly became my favorite debut of 2026. And their first comeback is no let down! I love the unique concept of this duo where they combine pop music with traditional korean music. For everyone who is complaining that kpop isn't korean anymore, CHECK OUT THIS DUO NOW! This song is a bit darker than their debut, but still has that almost cinametic feeling that made me fall in love with them. And the vocals of these two are no joke! I need them to be a lot more succesful than they currently are!

2. SHINee - Anti Believer

While there are a lot of great songs on the new SHINee album, the best one has to be Anti Believer. I love this song! It is not the type of song I would normally be drawn to, but something about this specific one just works for me! The vocals are great and the song itself is very addictive. I also love the overall 2015ish feel this track has, brings me right back to my high school days. Overall a great track!

Hearts2Hearts - Secret Recipe

These are not all albums that came out in June 2026, just albums that I listened to fully for the first time in June 2026!

TRIGGER WARNING: OPINIONS!

ifeye - As if 90%

Songs added to my Spotify: Hazy (Daisy), Padam Padam, Touch & Forever Us

Songs blocked on my Spotify:

Favorite Song: Padam Padam

Would I buy this album? HELL YES!

ifeye was one of my favorite debuts of 2025.. and then I forgot to check out their 2026 comeback. My bad. I am absolutely terrible at keeping up with groups actually.. ANYWAYS, I did finally listen to this album in full this month and I should have done it way sooner! This album is SO GOOD! I love the dreamy vibes it has. The vocals sound great and the whole thing just has a strong older generation feeling to it. And as someone who fell in love with kpop when the older generations were still active.. yeah that is gonna HIT. The songs on this album are really great to listen to and I beg you to check it out if like me you have not gotten around to it yet!

SHINee - Atmos 93%

Songs added to my Spotify: Atmos, Possibility, Anti Believer, Still Raining & Thousand Miles Away

Songs blocked on my Spotify:

Favorite Song: Anti Believer

Would I buy this album? HELL YES

Am I super biased when it comes to SHINee as they were my first ever kpop group? Yes. But is their music also just that good? YES. I love the new mini album. I must admit I am not blown away by it as I am by their early releases, but it is still a solid album. The B-Sides in my opinion are a lot stronger than the main title track, but I enjoy pretty much every song on this album. Some took me a few listens to fully appreciate, but I am glad I took the time to do so. I love SHINee and I love that we got a new mini album from them in 2026!

aespa - MY WORLD 77%

Songs added to my Spotify: Welcome to MY World, Thirsty, I'm Unhappy & 'Til We Meet Again

Songs blocked on my Spotify:

Favorite song: 'Til We Meet Again

Would I buy this album? Yes!

Since I will be seeing aespa in concert next year, I felt it was about time to dive deeper into their discography. Starting with this mini album, picked by a random number generator. I am glad I started here though as this is such a good mini album! I really love aespa b-sides for some reason and this mini album has some bangers! I love aespa closing songs, their voices really fit the more acoustic vibe those songs tend to have. Overall a really solid mini album that I m glad to have listened to with some songs that will be stuck on my playlist for a while!

aespa - Drama 67%

Songs added to my Spotify: Drama, Don't Blink, Hot Air Balloon & You

Songs blocked on my Spotify:

Favorite song: Hot Air Balloon

Would I buy this album? Sure

I continued my aespa deep dive with their other 2023 release, Drama. Now I gotta be honest here, I do not understand why this one is more popular that MY WORLD. In my opinion MY WORLD is much better than this album. That being said, I still think this is a really solid album. I have come to expect title tracks to be among the weaker songs of aespa albums, but that is not the case for this release. I really enjoyed my time listening to this album even though I don't think I will reach back for this one nearly as much as I MY WORLD. Maybe that is the curse of checking out two albums back to back, you will compare the two and there will be a "loser"...

izna - Set The Tempo 70%

Songs added to my Spotify: METRONOME, R.I.P. & LEAN ON ME

Songs blocked on my Spotify:

Favorite song: R.I.P.

Would I buy this album? Sure.

One thing about izna is that their title track will not be the right pick for the title track. Whoever choses them needs to stop! They always pick the most boring song on the album as title and therefor most people are not aware that izna makes absolute bangers! This comeback is no exception to that sadly. I love the b-sides on this album. Their vocals really shine in them and they are so much fun to listen to! If you have yet to check out a full izna album, this is your sign to do so right now! Overall this is a pretty solid summer album, not the best in their discography but not bad. I just wish they would pick a more exiting song to promote this one...

Hearts2Hearts - Lemon Tang 100%

Songs added to my Spotify: Lemon Tang, 15-LOVE, Baby Steps, heart emoij, Secret Recipe & RUDE!

Songs blocked on my Spotify:

Favorite song: Secret Recipe

Would I buy this album? HELL YEAH!

2026 is the year of Hearts2Hearts I fear.. Starting off with RUDE! and now dropping this banger of a mini album! I love this album so much, it is such a perfect fun summer album! It is very Red Velvet coded and since Red Velvet are my ults.. yeah I love anything that reminds me of them. The music is so much fun to listen to and I am so happy to see the direction this group is going in! Honestly one of my favorite albums of the year so far!

MEOVV - BITE NOW 70%

Songs added to my Spotify: DDI RO RI, In my hands & Favorite song

Songs blocked on my Spotify:

Favorite song: DDI RO RI

Would I buy this album? Sure.

One thing that really confuses me is MEOVV not being more popular. They seem like exactly the type of girl group that is popular right now and yet?? Maybe they are too much what is popular right now? I don't know. But either way I really enjoy their music and that also counts for their latest comeback. The title track goes hard! I love this more darker side of the girls and I hope we get to explore that more in later comebacks. This is not a must listen to album, but definetely one that is enjoyable. I think if the b-sides matched the darker tone of the title track, the album would've been so much better. They got potential and I hope they will deliver on that more in the future. But this is still a really solid album!

BOYNEXTDOOR - HOME 25%

Songs added to my Spotify: ADIOS! & I Wonder

Songs blocked on my Spotify: ddok ddok ddok

Favorite song: ADIOS!

Would I buy this album? No.

because why not?

10. Wendy (Red Velvet)

Favorite song: Wish You Hell

Wendy is one of the best vocalists of the third generation so it makes sense that her solo music is vocally very strong. And one thing you will notice in this list is that I love a strong (female) vocalist. I also love the kind of pop rockish music Wendy makes on her own. The style fits her so well! I am always exited to see she dropped something new!

9. Moonbyul (MAMAMOO)

Favorite song: Goodbyes and Sad Eyes

I swear this list is not just going to be soloists from my favorite groups, but they will dominate this list.. Anyways, I love Moonbyuls solo music. I love how diverse her solo songs are, but she always returns to pop-rock. Which I think fits her vocal style very well and those will always be my favorite songs by her. It is wild to me that in MAMAMOO she is a rapper when these are the power vocals she has! I know that in terms of MAMAMOO solos she is not the most popular, but she deserves to get more love for her solo music because it really is that good!

8. Ailee

Favorite song: Home

I am really showing my age with this pick and I will never defeat the kpop grandpa allegations like this.. But I have to give our girl Ailee her flowers! I remember her being so popular back in the day, but now no one ever talks about her. Which is a shame because her music really stands the test of time in my opinion. She has some of the strongest vocals in kpop and we need to give her some more love!

7. YENA

Favorite song: Catch Catch

YENA has been really popping off this year and for good reason! I love her music, it is the type of music that I wish we got more of in current kpop. Basically I love it when kpop feels like Korea colonizing Japan back.. Her music is so j-pop coded and I am here for it. It is also very second gen coded and I am a sucker for second gen! Her songs are always so much fun to listen to and I am glad she is getting more popular, especially with a banger like Catch Catch!

6. Key (SHINee)

Favorite song: Killer

One thing I will never forgive the kpop fandom for is sleeping on Key's solo music! He makes banger after banger and yet he only recently got his first solo music show win? Explain yourselves! I absolutely love his solo stuff as it is very simular to my favorite type of SHINee song: the retro inspired pop music. I also just love watching his stages as he has such amazing stage presence and tends to have really cool choreography! If you have not yet checked out his solo music, what are you waiting for?!

5. Sunmi (Wonder Girls)

Favorite song: Siren

Another soloist that used to be so popular, but now people don't talk about her as much... I love Sunmi, she is always out there trying new things with her music and always comitting fully to whatever concept she is doing. I really appreciate that. Her music is always interesting and her vocals are always good! I am so glad she is still making music!

4. Seulgi (Red Velvet)

Favorite song: Baby, Not Baby

I feel like Seulgi is one of the more sucesful soloists of the third generation and for a reason! She has amazing stage presence and an amazing discography. She always shines both vocally and in dancing, making her just absolutely captivating to watch on the stage. Her music is such a strong extention of the darker side of the Red Velvet concept too. Overall just a powerhouse of a woman!

3. Taemin (SHINee)

Favorite song: Soldier

Fun fact, Taemin was my first ever kpop concert! And I have no regrets! Seeing this man do this thing on stage was truly one of the best moments of my life! His music is so good, especially when he goes into religious angsty territory which he does a lot. I love his solo music just like everyone else does. There is a reason he is one of the most succesful kpop solo artists of all time! He got the vocals, the dance skill and the stage presence to really put on a show

2. IU

Favorite song: Zezé

My runner up for favorite soloist of all time has to be the nations little sister: IU. She has been one of the most popular celebrities in Korea for almost a decade and for good reason. While I enjoy her acting, I love her even more as a singer! Her music is always so sweet and I love this magical vibe she manages to put in her music. Her vocals are sweet and calming and I can just listen to her music for hours on end. Plus she also really cares about people and is one the few idols who sometimes shows her politics and so far I have not been disappointed by her. She seems so sweet and caring and her music is this type of magical girl music we need more of in kpop. Although I don't think anyone will ever be able to do it as well as IU does it!

Taeyeon (Girls' Generation)

Favorite song: Fire

10. YUHZ - Rush Rush

After not liking the Alpha Drive One debut, I was a bit nervous about the YUHZ debut. Because like AD1 I got invested into this group by watching their survival show (I rarely watch boy group survival shows btw). But I should not have worried as their debut was so good! They came out with a really cute and fresh debut track that I immediatly needed to add to my summer playlist! I cannot believe how underrated this debut is! You all need to go give it a listen!!!

9. ITZY - Undefined

I love albums where each member gets their own solo and very often one of those solos ends up being my favorite track on the album. That is true for the latest ITZY release. While I really enjoyed the whole album, it is the song Undefined that stood out to me the most. It really reminded me of those retro-inspired girl group songs of late 2nd, early 3rd generation. I have always had such a soft spot for those type of songs and I am glad to have another great edition to that very specific playlist!

8. BABYMONSTER - MOON

I will be the first to admit that normally I do not listen to BABYMONSTERs full albums as I don't really tend to vibe with their title tracks. With their latest comeback I randomly decided to check out the full album, despite not liking the title track. And I am so glad I did! I really ended up enjoying this mini album and there were two songs that really stood out to me! The first of those being MOON. Something about this song feels so cool. It really reminds me of the "The Perfect Red Velvet" album and as that is one of my favorite albums.. any song that sounds like it would fit on there is going to be a hit in my books!

7. BABYMONSTER - I LIKE IT

My favorite song on the new BABYMONSTER album has to be I LIKE IT. This song is so much fun to listen to! It has that girl group summer vibes that I am just weak for. I don't have too much to say about this song, except that listening to it is just so much fun!

6. CrazAngel - Picasso

I am so mad people are sleeping on this song, just because it is from a lesser known (some may argue nugu) group! This song is exactly the type of music I want to listen to in the summer! It is fun and quirky, while still having an overall really relaxed feeling. I love the part where they go "pica-pica-picasso". It just scretches something in my brain! Overall I would recommand this song to people who are missing New Jeans. Trust me.

5. NMIXX - LOUD

NMIXX will always hit with their comebacks and their latest mini album in no exception to this rule! I love this b-side. It is very bittersweet and I love me some bittersweet music (as you will see from the rest of top 5 this month). This song has great vocals and a great vibe to it. Not much to say honestly...

4. aespa - 'Til We Die

While there were many great songs on the new aespa album, the one that stood out to me the most is 'Til We Die. This song feels so cinematic to listen to! I love the vocals on this track and the emotions it manages to convey! I know this song is going to go hard live and I cannot wait to hear it on stage!

3. I.O.I - IF I

I.O.I IS BAAACK! Or at least was back for one month. I love this group and I love their new music. IF I is such a beautiful song. I love this type of pop rock ballad. The song is emotional in the best way possible and I needed it to be promoted way more than it was!

2. NMIXX - Heavy Serenade

Speaking of absolutely beautiful songs. Any other month Heavy Serenade would have been my favorite! This song is just so beautiful! I love that is has this kind of magical feeling while still playing heavy into NMIXX strenght as a vocal heavy group. This song feels like the softer little sister to Blue Valentine (which just happened to be my favorite song of 2025). This comeback was absolutely PERFECT.

I.O.I - Suddenly

These are not all albums that came out in May 2026, just albums that I listened to fully for the first time in May 2026!

TRIGGER WARNING: OPINIONS!

ILLIT - MAMIHLAPINATAPAI 90%

Songs added to my Spotify: GRWM (Get Ready With Me), paw, paw!, Mamihlapinatapai & Love, older you

Songs blocked on my Spotify:

Favorite track: Love, older you

Would I buy this album? Pre-ordered it

The first album I listened to this month was the new ILLIT album that came out on the very last day of April. I love ILLIT and was super exited to see them try out something new. I won't lie, the title track isn't working for me. I love the verses but the "Who's your bias?" part just doesn't sound right for me.. But the b-sides make up for that! Like always for ILLIT the album tracks really stand out. I love their vocals and the dreamcore vibe they put into all of their music. Overall I still consider this album a huge win! I won't let one part of one song stop me from loving this album!

Fromis_9 - From Our 20's 100%

Songs added to my Spotify: LIKE YOU BETTER, REBELUTIONAL, Love=Disaster, Strawberry Mimosa, Twisted Love & Merry Go Round

Songs blocked on my Spotify:

Favorite track: Merry Go Round

Would I buy this album? YES!

I loved Fromis_9 when they debuted and I also loved their first comeback.. and then I just kind of forgot to keep up with them? Big mistake on my part as they are clearly still making great music! I love this summer album that they released last year, it has really strong third gen vibes and I will always be a sucker for that. The album is such a happy listen and the vocals of the girls really stand out! I cannot believe it took me this long to listen to a full Fromis_9 album again! I really cannot let that happen again (but knowing me and the way I try to keep up with so many groups at the same time, it probably will...)

BABYMONSTER - CHOOM 85%

Songs added to my Spotify: MOON, I LIKE IT & LOCKED IN

Songs blocked on my Spotify:

Favorite track: I LIKE IT

Would I buy this album? Yes.

I had never really listened to a full BABYMONSTER album before as I don't tend to like their title tracks. The same with this release, I don't vibe with CHOOM. But for some reason I was curious to what their side tracks sounded like and I decided to check out the mini album.. And I am so glad I did! The side tracks on this album are AMAZING! I did not know this group was making music that good. I love how every song feels very different, but they somehow still all fit together. I especially love the songs MOON and I LIKE IT. MOON because it is very cinametic and I LIKE IT because it is very cute. Overall, I am very pleasantly surprised by this mini album!

CRAVITY - Dare to Crave: Epilogue 83%

Songs added to my Spotify: Lemonade Fever, OXYGEN, Everyday, On My Way, SET NET G0?!, PARANOIA, Stadium, Marionette, Click Flash Pow, Love Me Again & Wish Upon A Star

Songs blocked on my Spotify:

Favorite track: Marionette

Would I buy this album? Hell yes!

CRAVITY was one of those groups where I really like the title tracks I have heard from them, but never really listened to a full album.. Untill this month when I randomly decided to listen to their 2025 release. And I must confess that I have been SLEEPING on this group! I knew I liked them based on the songs I knew, but I did not know they were this good?! I love this album. This is what I would consider boy group excellence. To me the vocals stood out the most, like damn, I didn't know they could sing like that! Overall I am so glad I listened to more of their music and I really need to dive into their other releases soon!

NMIXX - Heavy Serenade 77%

Songs added to my Spotify: Heavy Serenade, IDESERVEIT, Superior & LOUD

Songs blocked on my Spotify:

Favorite track: Heavy Serenade

Would I buy this album? Pre-ordered it :)

Ever since seeing NMIXX live earlier this year, they have become one of my top girl groups. So I was very excited for their comeback! As far as NMIXX albums go, this is actually a bit lower in my rankings. But NMIXX is so good that even their lower ranking albums are still absolute bangers! I love this album. THE VOCALS, HELLO?! This album is just gorgeous. The two stand out songs for me are Heavy Serenade and LOUD. Both give me lesbian vibes and no I shall not eleborate on that. Overall just another great NMIXX album, but from them I expected nothing less!

ITZY - Motto 73%

Songs added to my Spotify: Motto, Glitch, Asylum, Undefined & Tangerine

Songs blocked on my Spotify:

Favorite track: Undefined

Would I buy this album? Yessss

One thing about me is that I am weak for JYP girl groups. ITZY being one of them... Well actually ITZY is very hit or miss for me. I tend to either hate or love their comebacks for some reason. Their latest comeback Motto falls on the love side for me! I love ITZY when they go light and summer fun and that is what they did with this comeback. I also love albums where every member gets a solo, it gives us as fans a look into what type of music each members likes and gives members a chance to shine. Often when a group releases an album like that and I don't have a bias in the group yet I pick my bias based on what song I like the most.. Glad to announce Chaeryeong is my bias in ITZY now!

I.O.I - LOOP 43%

Songs added to my Spotify: Suddenly & IF I

Songs blocked on my Spotify:

Favorite track: Suddenly

Would I buy this album: Maybe?

One thing about me is that I am VERY nostalgic for I.O.I. This was one of the first survival shows I watched and the first I watched while it was airing. This group means a lot to me so I was so hyped for their comeback. In terms of the title track THEY DELIVERED. Suddenly might actually be their best song and that says a lot because this group has a killer discography. Maybe I was expecting too much as I did leave the mini album a bit dissapointed. It wasn't bad, but it didn't really stand out to me. Still I loved seeing these girls toghether on stage again and I have a feeling Suddenly will end very high on my Spotify wrapped this year!

FLARE U - YOUTH ERROR 60%

Songs added to my Spotify: WAY 2 U, Hyper & Playground

Songs blocked on my Spotify:

Favorite track: WAY 2 U

Would I buy this album? Sure.

Kinda randomly I decided to check out this newly debuted duo and I am really glad I did. While I did not love this debut mini album, I did really enjoy it. The title really matches the songs on the album as this debut has that really fun and young feeling to it. I will for sure keep my eyes out for whatever these boys decide to do in the future. There is so much potential in this duo and I cannot wait to see them grow in their career!

aespa - LEMONADE 60%

Songs added to my Spotify: LEMONADE, Can't Help Myself, Camouflage, Roll, My Plan & 'Til We Die

Songs blocked on my Spotify: WDA (Whole Different Animal)

Favorite Song: 'Til We Die

Would I buy this album? Yes.

10. NCT WISH - Ode to Love

Starting of my top 10 this month is the latest title track from NCT WISH. This song is just so cute! I also love the sample they used and the way it flows naturally into the song. The dance is super cute and the song is super cute, overall just a great song to listen to. One that is great for this time a year!

9. hrtz.wav - Outta my mind

I love me a good k-band so I was exited to see another one debut this month! hrtz.wav is so good and everyone is sleeping on them! Outta my mind specifically is just a great summer rock song. If you like DAY6, you really should be giving this group and especially this song a chance in my opinion!

8. LE SSERAFIM - CELEBRATION

CELEBRATION is one of those songs you either love or hate.. and clearly I love it! I am usually not the biggest fan of EDM, but sometimes I find an EDM song that is just insanely addictive.. CELEBRATION is one of those for me. It just scatches an itch in my brain. I don't care what anyone else says, i am simply too european to be hating on this one!

7. ILLIT - paw, paw!

Another comeback everyone is hating on... I love the new ILLIT album. The title track may not work for me, but the b-sides are absolute bangers. I love that ILLIT is not afraid to go a bit more experimental with their music while still keeping that dreamcore vibe to them. To me paw, paw! is a perfect example of their music. I think a lot more people would love this song if they gave the album a chance!

6. KickFlip - Stup!d

I have been really enjoying KickFlip's music and their latest comeback is no exception. I love this kind of pop rock thing they got going, it really fits their youthfull concept in my opinion. My favorite song on their new album has to be Stup!d. It is just such a fun song to listen to!

5. hrtz.wav - NINETEEN

And back to me ranting about this debut. Clearly it left an impression on me. NINETEEN is such a perfect debut song. The vocals are great, the music is great and this song is simply made to be enjoyed during the summer season. If you have not listened to them yet YOU REALLY SHOULD!

4. Xdinary Heroes - Voyager

Lately I have been getting invested in Xdinary Heroes' music. They are quickly becoming one of my favorite k-bands out there! While I haven't had time yet to listen to the full album, I needed to add the new title track to this list. I love their soft metal/hard rock sound and Voyager fits that perfectly. I love the vibes of this song and I am starting to understand why they got so popular!!

3. AMPERS&ONE - GOD

Coming in at number three I have another one for the underrated list! AMPERS&ONE made their comeback this month with the title track GOD and something about that song is just super addictive to me. I cannot explain why this song works for me while so many simular boy groups songs do not, but I am just rolling with it. If you are a fan of that louder side of boy group music where they repeat a word a lot.. I suggest giving this one a go! It is such a fun and addictive title track!

2. ILLIT - Love, older you

More ILLIT in my top 10? I am nothing if not predicatable. I really love ILLIT's vocals and they really shine through in this album track. It is such a sweet calm song. It is simply beautiful to listen to and I know this is a song that is going to mean a lot to young girls listening to it. And once again, I cannot stress how much I love everyone's vocals in this one!

RESCENE - Runaway

10. Kingdom Come

I know for a lot of people this is one of their top Red Velvet songs and for a reason! Kingdom Come is such a masterpiece that it is forever a shame that it is a random B-Side and not a song they ever truly promoted! The song feels so cinematic when you listen to it. It captures this feeling of dread perfectly and I love listening to it. It also stands out as one of the vocally strongest songs in their discography. The harmonies?? Hello?? Their voices just work so well together!!!

9. Huff N Puff

I have such a soft spot for the entire "The Red" album, but Huff N Puff has to be my favorite track on it! I love how fun and playful this song is. Peak Red Concept song if you ask me. I also love the choreo of this track, I really recommend watching one of the stages where they performed this. Overall this song is just a lot of fun to listen to and always brings me right back to falling in love with Red Velvet back in 2015!

8. Marionette

In general I do prefer Red Velvet's korean songs over their japanese ones.. but exceptions must be made! And my favorite Japanese song by Red Velvet has to be Marionette. To me this song is the perfect example of the creepy but cute vibe that Red Velvet is so famous for. The fact this is a b-side and not a title track is wild to me as I would imagine a music video for this track would be amazing! I love how this song has that childhood feel while also adding a layer of creepiness to it. I love it whenever music does that and Marionette is an absolute perfect example of that very specific sub-type of music!

7. Mr. E

Another B-Side? yes. What can I say except that Red Velvet just has really amazing B-Sides? Mr. E is a great example of that. This is another song that is definitely one for the red side of their discography and I love it. This song is so much fun to listen to! I love the way Mr. E sounds like Mystery. I love that this whole song just feels magical in the most fun way possible! This song is just an absolute mood lifter and one I don't think we as a fandom talk about nearly enough!

6. Knock Knock (Who's There?)

I love it when Red Velvet fully leans into their creepy/horror concept and Knock Knock (Who's There?) is one of those tracks where they fully go for it. I can easily see this being a song people make those creepy looking tiktok edits with, but this song is criminally undderated so that is not happening.. I love the entire Chill Kill album, but Knock Knock (Who's There?) has to be the biggest stand out on the album. It so perfectly captures the creepy vibes of the comeback! I need more people to give it a try!

5. Happily Ever After

Okay last B-Side on this list, I promise! Rookie in general is one of the best Red Velvet albums in my opinion. With Happily Ever After being such a highlight on the album (and a highlight in their entire discography to be honest). Again, this song has a bit of a fairytale vibe to it and I love it for that. This song never fails to put me in a good mood and therefor it has to be this high on the list for me. Even if I feel like this one is under appreciated in the fandom as a whole..

4. Russian Roulette

Red Velvet has many iconic title tracks that could easily make the list. But the first one to actually make it has to be Russian Roulette. This song is very addictive and fun to listen to! It is also the first time they truly mixed their cute and dangerous sides perfectly in my opinion. The music video is just as iconic as the song itself and one of my go to songs to play if someone wants to learn more about kpop. This is just peak girl group music for real!

3. Ice Cream Cake

The five member debut will always be iconic. Personally I consider this the Red Velvet debut and the other two songs pre-debut singles. Because Red Velvet is five! Anyways.. I love this song. It is the definition of a catchy song and perfect for summer nights. It sticks in your head and is the perfect introduction to what this group stands for. Also the different shades of (strawberry) blonde were simply iconic! I love this era so much!

2. Psycho

As my runner up I have the song that I am sure will be most people's number one. Psycho is widely considered to be Red Velvet's best song and for good reason. It is such a masterpiece of a song! From vocals, to music, to styling, to dance.. this comeback was just everything! It will go down in history as setting a golden standard for girl group music for real. I love it when Red Velvet isn't afraid to go dark and they certainly did that with this one. Overall just a perfect song that I simply have no notes on.

Cosmic

Note: These are not all albums from April 2026, just albums that I personally listened to in full for the first time in April 2026.

Trigger warning: Opinions!

SHINee - Boys Meet U 67%

Songs added to my Spotify: Dazzling Girl, 1000nen zutto soba ni ite, Run With Me, The World Where You Exist, Keeping love again, BURNING UP!, Fire & I'm with you

Songs blocked on my Spotify: Kiss Yo

Would I buy this album? Probably won't even be able to find it if I wanted to

While SHINee is one of my ult groups, I recently realised I never really listened to their japanese discography. I don't know why, I guess I just never got to it? Anyways, this obviously need to change! So I started with this album randomly. While I enjoyed it for the most part, I hold SHINee to a bit of a higher standard and in my opinion this album did not meet the bar set with their korean discography. While I liked most songs, there wasn't really a stand out song that will become a new obsession with me.. Still a really solid album though! They can't all be masterpieces after all..

NMIXX - Fe:304: BREAK 81%

Songs added to my Spotify: DASH, Soñar (Breaker), Run For Roses, BOOM & Break The Wall

Songs blocked on my Spotify:

Would I buy this album? Yes!

In March I saw NMIXX live, even though I did not know most of their discography and girl did they win me over with that concert! I left a fan! So obviously I needed to deep dive into their discography, starting with the BREAK album. I really enjoy this album, each song on it feels unique, but the whole thing still feels cohesive. It also has in my opinion one of the best b-sides of all time; Run For Roses. Overall this album is what I would consider girl group excellence. It gave me F(x) vibes, if F(x) had been under JYP. And I absolutely love that vibe! I love how experimental and fun the songs on this album are and I understand why NMIXX got so popular.

NMIXX - Fe:304: STICK OUT 83%

Songs added to my Spotify: See that?, Red light sign but we go, BEAT BEAT, Moving On & Love Is Lonely

Songs blocked on my Spotify: SICKUHH

Would I buy this album? Another yes for NMIXX

I continued my dive into NMIXX with their other 2024 release; STICK OUT. While this album had lower lows for me, overall I just slightly prefer it over BREAK. But both are masterpieces in my opinion! This album is again very cohesive and fun to listen to. My personal favorite song on this album has to be the b-side "Red light sign, but we go". I cannot explain it, but there is something very addictive to that track! Overall another really strong album from NMIXX that makes me very exited to check out the rest of their discography.

ITZY - CRAZY IN LOVE 56%

Songs added to my Spotify: LOCO, Sooo LUCKY, LOVE is, Chillin' Chillin' & Mirror

Songs blocked on my Spotify: SWIPE

Would I buy this album? Unsure.

I also continued my deep dive into ITZY's discography this month by checking out their album CRAZY IN LOVE. I ended up feeling really mixed about this album, most songs felt very meh to me. But when the song was a banger, it was a banger. There are mulitple B-Sides on this album that I know I am going to return to again and again in the future! And I love the title track as well! So yeah, as you can tell I feel mixed about this album and therefor am not sure if I will end up adding it to my collection anytime soon...

KickFlip - My First Kick 61%

Songs added to my Spotify: Eye-Poppin', Twenty, Stup!d, Scroll & My Direction

Songs blocked on my Spotify: Backward & Roar

Would I buy this album? Maybe?

This album was such a rollercoaster to listen to! There were some songs on here that hit hard, but also some songs that I couldn't even finish listening to? That being said, just based on quality this album is really up there. The songs are great and very well done, it's just that some of them are really not my cup of tea... However I love it when KickFlip does that pop-rock type of music and there are so many songs like that on this album! So overall, I still love this album and am curious to see where this group will go in the future!

AMPERS&ONE - DEFINITION 50%

Songs added to my Spotify: GOD, All Eyes On You & Tears In Your Smile

Songs blocked on my Spotify: Hit Me Up

Would I buy this album? Probably not

AMPERS&ONE is one of those groups that I don't actively follow, but I am rooting for them for some reason. I don't keep up with their music much, but most of what I know by them I do enjoy. The same can be said for their latest album. I am glad I gave it a try, even if it wasn't exactly my taste in music. That being said, I can tell these boys are so talented! I love the vocals in Tears In Your Smile and I hope we can see more of their vocal work in their future projects! If you are looking for a smaller boy group to check out, I would recommand AMPERS&ONE and this album is honestly a pretty good place to start.

hrtz.wav - The First Wave 100%

Songs added to my Spotify: Dream, NINETEEN, Highlight, I AM SO FINE, Outta my mind & Close To Me

Songs blocked on my Spotify:

Would I buy this album? YES

I love me a good k-band, so naturally I was drawn to this debut. And I was not disappointed! This debut mini album is filled with banger after banger. I cannot believe everyone is sleeping on this group as I think they got the talent and the music to make it big. So if you are looking for a k-band to get into, I highly recommand this one. Plus they only had their debut this month, so there is not too much to catch up on. Just this one mini album that is filled with great music!

N.Flying - Everlasting 93%

Songs added to my Spotify: Everlasting, Rise Again, Love You Like That, Love In Memory, Still You, Born To Be, Run Like This, Moebius, LOG & Stand By Me (Korean Ver.)

Songs blocked on my Spotify:

Would I buy this album? Yes.

10. Miss A

The fact that Miss A is so low on the list says more about how much I love second generation girl groups than about the quality of Miss A. Miss A is considered an iconic girl group for a reason! They always delivered quality bangers with every comeback! Their music feels so nostalgic to me. I do agree with the critisism that JYP was really favoring Suzy, but I do not hold that against the group. That is really a JYP issue in my opinion... Anyways, icons for a reason. We love Miss A in this house.

9. APink

The absolute queen of the cute concept in my opinion. APink is another one of those groups that is just so consistant in quality. No matter if you listen to early or late APink, they always deliver good music with amazing vocals. I love that recently they have been coming back on the scene and the recent songs are still great! I love how even though they matured a lot in their concept, they never lost the core of the APink concept. Even their most "dark" concept has that APink softness to it and I love a group that is able to stay consistant like that!

8. Stellar

Being a fan of Stellar has never been and will never be for the weak. This is the one group where I can say I am glad they disbanded.. because the members literally asked us to stop supporting them so they could disband. I am glad they got their wish and it is so messed up that their company forced a sexy concept on the members when they did not feel comfortable doing that! I really wish these girls were treated better and got a better company as they are all so talented. I love their music and the way their voices sound together. In an ideal world they got to choose their own direction in music and I am sure that would've been even better than what we got.. But alas, an amazing girl group that went through way too much trauma...

7. T-ARA

I am so glad that recently I am seeing T-ARA get a lot of love on TikTok. I remember being a big T-ARA fan in the 2010's and trust me, that was not for the weak. After the scandal, every comeback felt like it could be their last. However these girls really kept going and kept making amazing music! I still love them very much and listen to them all the time. Funny enough the songs by them that have been gaining popularity on TikTok are not the songs that I tend to listen to a lot when it comes to T-ARA. But that being said, I love these girls and I am glad they are finally getting the love they deserve. The kpop fandom owes them an apology for real!

6. Dal*Shabet

Can you tell from my list so far that I really like sexy/mature kpop girl groups with a bit of a retro vibe to them? Dal*Shabet is another group that falls into this catagory and I love their music so much! I feel like as a kpop community we are not giving these girls enough love. Their discography is amazing and y'all are just SLEEPING on it. If you ever need that retro girl group fix and you have not checked out Dal*Shabet.. what are you waiting for?!

5. After School

One thing about me is that I will never escape Pledis Entertainment groups and it all started with this one right here. After School was one of the first kpop groups I got into and I still love them to this day. Their music is insanely nostalgic to me and their songs were always original. They always did something unexpected and I love them for that. Now I do hate how Pledis Entertainment treated them (and their other groups)... But I love that I live in a world where After School has existed and with all these second generation groups coming back lately.. this is one that I would absolutely LOVE IT if they decided to make a comeback!

4. F(x)

Another group that is one of the first groups I ever got into. One of the groups that started this over a decade long love for kpop at this point. F(x) is really not like any other group out there in my opinion. Their music is very experimental and yet every comeback was a banger! I truly feel like they were ahead of their time and we are never going to get another group like them. The closest we have is NMIXX, but even they do not come close to the experimental and fun girl group F(x) was. I need them back ASAP!

3. Wonder Girls

I feel like a list of second generation girl groups simply is not complete without Wonder Girls. They were so important to kpop as a whole! Everytime I go through their discography, I am suprised by how little comeback they actually had. But even with a short discography, they had a huge impact on kpop as a genre. And on my music taste. Wonder Girls is where my love for retro kpop girl groups started and they are still my go to recommandation for anyone looking for retro vibe music. I also love that halfway through their career they switched from being a girl group to being a girl band that played their own instruments. Absolute legend behaviour!

2. 9Muses

Being a 9Muses stan is not for the weak let me tell you that. The line up changes in this group are insane (look it up if you don't believe me), but even with all that hardship they still managed to release amazing music. I am obsessed with their music and their vibe, which is why they are my second favorite second generation girl group of all time! A friend of mine recently reminded me of how much I used to talk about them and honestly.. I need to get back to doing that. Someone needs to keep the legacy of these girls alive!

Girls' Generation

10. IRENE - Love Can Make A Way

One thing about me is that I will always be a Red Velvet fan first. And this month was a great month to be a Red Velvet fan as Irene dropped her first full album! I really enjoy the album, it is a bit more laid back than what I usually listen to, but it is still great in my opinion! Love Can Make A Way is a really good pop ballad with hints of rock in there. Irene's vocals really get a chance to shine in this one and I love the overall bittersweet feeling this has. If you are a fan of the song "Blue Valentine" by NMIXX, I highly suggest checking this one out!

9. Baby DON'T Cry - Bittersweet

Next on the list I have another song that is great for Blue Valentine fans and that is Bittersweet by rookie girl group Baby DON'T Cry. I truly do not understand why these girls are not the next big thing in kpop right now as their music is just so good! The vocals in this song are amazing and it truly catches that a Bittersweet feeling. Overall this song is such a win and deserves so much more love than it is getting!

8. AB6IX - BOTTOMS UP

BOTTOMS UP by AB6IX is one of those songs that is just the perfect song for summer. It is a really fun pop song that reminds me of summer break. It has a bit of a mid-2010s vibe to it that I really appreciate. The song is just so much fun!

7. Big Ocean - One Man Army

If there is one thing I will always be a sucker for it is men with too much eyeliner and so much drama. And that is exactly what Big Ocean delivered with their lastest comeback. This song feels so cinematic! I can see this playing during a final fight scene in a movie when the heroes are about to be defeated. I am obsessed with this song for real and I need everyone else to also be obsessed with this one!

6. IRENE - SPIT IT OUT

Another Irene song made the list! This is my favorite song on the album (spoiler for the rest of this list I guess). I love how dark and dramatic this b-side is. It really suits Irene's vocals in my opinion and I hope she releases more dark concepts in the future!

5. H1-KEY - To. My First Love

I love H1-KEY. And they continue to release bangers! Their latest comeback feels like the love child of GFriend and an anime intro. If that sounds interesting to you in any way, you need to give this song a listen! Another great summer song that I just know I will be playing on long car rides in the summer evenings. It just has those vibes to it in my opinion! Once again the vocals are also great on this track, like they always are with H1-KEY. And I just think they work best when they lean a bit into the pop-rock side of kpop. This song is another example to prove my case for real!

4. Dragon Pony - Oh Perfect!

The fact that people are still sleeping on Dragon Pony pisses me off! I absolutely adore the songs that I know by them (granted, I still need to deep dive into their discography as I don't know much) and I think they really got the potential to be one of the top K-Bands in the game. Oh Perfect! is another absolute banger of a comeback. I love how it is feels angry, but not too angry. I can barely explain the vibe of this song as it is so specific, so you just have to listen to it to understand what I mean.. I guess :)

3. Baby DON'T Cry - Shapeshifter

Baby DON'T Cry released two bangers this month and the fact that they are both being slept on.. If kpop was really about the music, these girls would be ontop of the rookie game right now! Shapeshifter is such a fun summer song! I love the bright vibes it has and the way it feels fun and empowering to listen to. And once again the vocals sound amazing on this track! If you are looking for the song of the summer, this one is a strong contender in my opinion

2. ODD YOUTH - Babyface

Speaking of being slept on.. Here is another nugu group for you to give a chance this summer! Babyface is another song that is here to completely take over my summer playlist for this year. If you love cute and fun girl group songs, you need to be listening to this one! It is so addictive!

YENA - CATCH CATCH

note: these are not all albums that came out in March2026, just albums that I listened to for the first time in March 2026

TRIGGER WARNING: Opinions

SF9 - LOVE RACE 60%

Songs added to my spotify: LOVE RACE, Side by Side & No No No

Songs blocked on my spotify: 

Would I buy this album? Sure.

To me SF9 has been one of those boy groups where I am aware of their existence and I like some of their title tracks, but I never really gave a full release of them a listen. Well this month I decided to change that and listen to their latest mini album! And I really should have been listening to them this whole time, because I learned that their music is really fun to listen to! I especially enjoyed the song No No No! It is such a perfect song to discover right before summer and I am sure I will be listening to it quite a lot this year!

IVE - I’VE MINE 77%

Songs added to my spotify: Off The Record, Either Way, Holy Moly & Payback

Songs blocked on my spotify:

Would I buy this album? Yes.

I am slowly catching up to IVE’s backlog and this month I listened to their mini album I’VE MINE. Honestly this album was so good?? I loved the laid back vibes this album had throughout it. I can imagine this being a perfect album for the fall/winter season. Or for late summer nights. I regret sleeping on IVE for as long as I did, but I am very excited to continue exploring their backlog. So far I have not been disappointed!

aespa - Girls 43%

Songs added to my spotify: ICU, Life’s Too Short (English Ver.) & Black Mamba

Songs blocked on my spotify:

Would I buy this album? Probably not

Another group I have been exploring the backlog of is aespa. I remember not loving their early stuff, but since I love their 2025 stuff, I decided to take a look back and see what I missed. Now I do have to say that early aespa just isn’t for me. While I don’t think the songs are bad, it is just not the type of kpop that I listen to… I was surprised to find I like Black Mamba a lot more now as I remember listening to it upon release and not vibing with it at all. I don’t know if it’s because my taste has changed or because I went in with different expectations, but I ended up really enjoying the song this time around. Still it wasn’t enough to save this album for me…

YENA - LOVE CATCHER 100%

Songs added to my spotify: Catch Catch, Spring Fever, Sticker, April’s Cat & Question Marks

Songs blocked on my spotify:

Would I buy this album? Already did!

I LOVE SECOND GEN RETRO CONCEPTS! And YENA brought exactly that energy back to the kpop world with her newest comeback! The whole album is so much fun to listen to. Catch Catch is the perfect summer banger and I got a feeling it will stick around for a bit. This comeback already feels iconic even though it literally just came out. YENA has been making amazing music for a while now and I am glad she is finally getting the attention she deserves with this comeback. Everything about this mini album is just great, I literally have nothing else to say!

H1-KEY - LOVECHAPTER 100%

Songs added to my spotify: Be full of Romantic, To. My First Love, Stuck with You, My WIsh & Not Like a Movie

Songs blocked on my spotify:

Would I buy this album? YESS

Another perfect score album?! I don’t know what was going on with the girls this month, but they were knocking it out of the park with these comebacks! H1-KEY quickly became one of my favorite girl groups last year and I do not regret stanning them at all! Their latest comeback is another one that is just so freaking good! I especially love the vocals in this album, especially Hwiseo. The album feels like a GFriend album, but with a little bit of a japanese edge to it. So if that sounds at all interesting to you, you really need to give this album a try! Trust me on this one.

AB6IX - SEVEN: Crimson Horizon 65%

Songs added to my Spotify: BOTTOMS UP, Forever, So Sweet (0522) & Endless

Songs blocked on my spotify:

Would I buy this album: I dont think so?

AB6IX is one of those groups where I know that teenage me would’ve been obsessed with them. So I am always willing to check out their music. The title tracks I know from them are top tear and BOTTOMS UP is no exception to that! It is such a fun track to listen to and a perfect song for those long summer nights. The rest of the album was pretty good as well, although not good enough to really stand out to me. Like the songs were fine, some were added to my playlist, but for the most part I found this album to be a bit forgettable. It is truly saved by the banger that is BOTTOMS UP!

Baby DON’T Cry - AFTER CRY 50%

Songs added to my Spotify: Bittersweet & Shapeshifter

Songs blocked on my Spotify: 

Would I buy this album? Maybe.

I truly do not understand how Baby DON’T Cry is stuck in nugudom!! Their music is really good as their first mini album shows. The songs Bittersweet and Shapeshifter are both absolute bangers in my opinion! And while the b-sides did not really stand out enough to me to add to my playlist, they were not bad songs in my opinion. But especially Shapeshifter has taken over my playlist this past month and I wish that this song got more recognition as it deserves so much better! Give these girls a try if you are looking for that old school cute concept girls.

IRENE - Biggest Fan 90%

Songs added to my Spotify: Biggest Fan, Face To Face, Million Miles Away, Love Can Make A Way, SPIT IT OUT, Black Halo, MTV (My Timeless Video) & Wasteland

Songs blocked on my Spotify:

Would I buy this album? Pre-Ordered it 🙂

10. Talk Talk (I Got A Boy)

Starting off today’s list is Talk Talk, the I Got A Boy version. Don’t ask me why they got two songs with the same name, but in my opinion the one on I Got A Boy is the superior one. This album track is just so much fun to listen to! It is a perfect summer song in my opinion! If you are looking for a second gen girl group song to add to your summer playlist that isn’t one of the overplayed ones.. here you go!

9. I Got A Boy (I Got A Boy)

Speaking of I Got A Boy.. I have to talk about this title track! It is by far the most experimental title track Girls’ Generation ever released and the experiment really worked in my opinion. The song is all over the place, but it somehow works? And let’s not forget the iconic “Don’t stop, let’s bring it back to 1:40”. This song is just girl group excellence in my opinion and it is only so low on this list because the overall quality of Girls’ Generation is just that high!

8. FOREVER 1 (FOREVER 1)

Being the last comeback Girls’ Generation ever released, you would expect this song to be more popular. However, it is severely overlooked in my opinion. This song is just the perfect summer song, but y’all be sleeping on it! I truly do not understand people who don’t give OT8 Girls’ Generation a chance, because y’all are missing some absolute bangers like this one!

7. Genie (Genie)

I am aware for a lot of people Genie would be at the top of their list, but for me it isn’t quite there yet. That being said, this song is still a banger! I understand why it is considered a classic as it has everything a classic pop banger would need. However, I do think it is rather on the safe side as far as kpop goes. So while this is a great song, I just cannot rank it any higher…

6. Mr. Mr. (Mr. Mr.)

I was obsessed with this song as a teenager when this came out. I cannot explain to you why this song is so great, but it really is! It was my top Girls’ Generation song for a long time, but I fear I overplayed it a bit too much. That being said, I still really love this song! It is so second generation girl group in the best way possible!

5. FLOWER POWER (Girls & Peace)

A ranking of Girls’ Generation songs simply would not be complete without at least one Japanese release! Their Japanese songs are so good?? My favorite of them has to be Flower Power. This is such a 2000’s coded pop banger! It fits right in with the girly pop of that era and that makes me super nostalgic whenever I listen to it. Overall a really great song!

4. HOOT (Hoot)

I love it when girl groups go retro and HOOT is one of the best examples of that. The song is retro and fun in all the correct ways. Once again, this is a perfect song to put on any summer playlist. The dance is also so much fun and one I really do hope to learn sometime in the future!

3. Into The New World (Girls’ Generation)

Girls’ Generation really started their career strong when they debuted with this track. There is a reason this one stood the test of time and is still very popular everywhere. The song is just really that good. I also love how this song became a bit of a protest song in Korea! I think that really shows the power this track (and Girls’ Generation in general) has. Overall this is a classic for a reason and one that everyone should know, no matter what generation fan you are!

2. Gee (Gee)

Coming in at number two I have the other Girls’ Generation classic. Whenever someone asks me to show them kpop, this is the song I play for them. Gee in my opinion is the peak of girl group music and the first thing I think of when you ask me what is the most girl group song (if that makes sense). The song is so fun and playful. The vocals are great, the dance is great, everything about this song is just great! I seriously have no notes!

1. Lion Heart (Lion Heart)

10. ZEROBASEONE - LOVEPOCALYPSE

Starting off the list this month is the final song from ZEROBASEONE as all nine members. I love the bittersweet feeling this song has. I am a sucker for these kinds of pop-rock ballad songs and ZEROBASEONE really pulled it off. Their vocals sounded amazing in this track which makes me wish we had more of this type of music from them. I will miss the members that are leaving, but will continue to support the remaining members in the future!

9. Yang Yoseop - Shine

Next up we got another pop-rock song that is not quite a ballad but also not not a ballad? Yang Yoseop has some really great vocals which he is definitely showing off in this track. Again, this has a bittersweet feeling to it that I absolutely love. This song feels like the last day of summer. It came out a bit early for that, but oh well

8. IVE - Fireworks

Okay warning, there will be a lot of IVE on this list. Their album was just such a highlight of February for me! First up is the song Fireworks, a song that is just perfect for those late summer evenings in my opinion. I especially enjoy the harmonies on this track! This is the late night, next morning follow up to LOVE DIVE and it absolutely slaps!

7. IVE - HOT COFFEE

Like I said, there will be more IVE in this list.. Anyways, HOT COFFEE is a really fun song that has a very addictive hook in the chorus. Honestly, this track reminds me a lot of early TWICE b-sides and anyone who knows me knows that I love those types of songs. It is playful while still being easy to listen to. So if you like older TWICE songs, I highly recommend checking this one out!

6. WJSN - Bloom Hour

My girls WJSN are back! And my girls are yearning! This song fits in with the first two songs on this list by having that bittersweet yearning quality to it. It leans more to the pop, but it has some rock undertones. The girls sound amazing on this track! Their vocals were always good, but this time it just hits differently. They sing with so much emotion that you cannot help but get emotional yourself as you listen to this track. The fact that this got 0 promotion is a hate crime!

5. MADEIN - Super Obvious

Firstly, I most admit that I am not totally aware of where we stand with the boycott of this company. From my understanding it was about the CEO standing down and he did, so as far as I am concerned the boycott is over… Okay, back to the music. Another pop-rock song with really strong vocals made it on my list! Seriously, what was in the air in Korea that everyone was yearning for? Not that I’m complaining, I love this music. If you were a fan of Blue Valentine last year, I recommend giving this song a listen. Trust me.

4. IVE - Hush

More IVE? More IVE. I love Hush. This song feels very second generation girl group and I love some second generation girl group music. I especially love the way they sing “hush” in the chorus with a lot of air? Kinda breathy? I don’t know how to explain it, but if you listen to the track you will understand what I mean.. Anyways, another stand out song on the new IVE album. The girls really did so well on this one!

3. STAYC - MWUAH

I am aware this is a japanese song, but it is from a kpop group and this is my list I can do what I want. And what I want is to talk about the new STAYC song. I must admit I am not that deep into STAYC, but every song I do know by them is a banger (I really should dive into their discography at some point…). MWUAH is a really fun summer song! It is exactly the type of song that I want from a girl group during this season; fun, quirky, playful and a bit experimental! I have noticed that I tend to love STAYC’s japanese releases a bit more and this song is no exception. It goes hard!

2. Hearts2Hearts - RUDE!

Speaking of songs that are fun, quirky and playful.. Here is another one! Just like everyone else this month I have become obsessed with the new Hearts2Hearts comeback! I have been silently rooting for these girls since debut as they have been dropping banger after banger. I am so happy this song is finally getting them the love they deserve! This song is just the perfect summer song and I suspect it will be dominating the charts and my personal playlists for the next few months

1. IVE - BANG BANG

note: these are not all albums that came out in February 2026, just albums that I listened to for the first time in February 2026

TRIGGER WARNING: Opinions

MISAMO - HAUTE COUTURE 30%

Songs added to my spotify: Identity, Jealousy & Misty

Songs blocked on my spotify: Money In My Pocket

Would I buy this album? No.

As a big TWICE stan, I never really got into the MISAMO sub-unit. But this month I decided to give one of their full albums a try.. and it just wasn’t working for me. The songs weren’t bad, but they failed to stand out to me. I felt overall very “Meh” about this album and wished I loved it more. That being said, the song Jaelousy is a certified banger and I will be playing that on repeat for the foreseeable future!

Suho - Who Are You 81%

Songs added to my spotify: Who Are You, Light The Fire, Birthday, Golden Hour & Fade Out

Songs blocked on my spotify:

Would I buy this album? Yes.

Even though EXO is one of my favorite boy groups, I never truly took the time to get into their solo’s. I decided that needs to change, starting with my bias Suho. And this was such a good place to start! I really enjoyed his solo mini album, it had that kind of pop rock sound I love in kpop. Also his vocals are just so good and I cannot believe we as a fandom do not talk about how good his vocals are more often. Especially when he sings a bit higher… I love it every time! Overall I really enjoyed this mini album and need to check out more of his solo works in the future!

idle - I NEVER DIE 85%

Songs added to my spotify: TOMBOY, Never Stop Me, ALREADY, POLAROID, ESCAPE & LIAR

Songs blocked on my spotify:

Would I buy this album? Yes.

Last year I fell in love with idle, but I did not get around to checking out their full discography. One of the albums I still needed to listen to was I NEVER DIE and well, I finally listened to it this month. I loved this album! Going in I was a bit nervous, as people seem to like this one a lot less than 2. But I love both equally! I love the cool girl vibes of this album and it really does not have a single bad song. I should’ve been listening to idle for years, but I am glad I am finally getting to listen to them now!

Yang Yo Seop - Unloved Echo 40%

Songs added to my spotify: Fade Away & Shine

Songs blocked to my spotify:

Would I buy this album? Probably not.

Watching Inkigayo, I saw Yang Yo Seop perform the song Fade Away and I was intrigued by his vocals. I really like the tone of his voice, which was the highlight of this album in my opinion. His voice really fits a ballad heavy album like this, however I do tend to find ballad heavy albums a bit boring. While this was a nice one to listen to while doing some chores, I doubt this is an album I will be returning to in the future.. Except the song Shine, that one is a banger and I will absolutely return to that in the future!

IVE - REVIVE+ 67%

Songs added to my spotify: BLACKHOLE, BANG BANG, Hush, Stuck In Your Head, Fireworks, HOT COFFEE, Unreal & In Your Heart

Songs blocked on my spotify: 8

Would I buy this album? Yes.

10. CHUU - HIDE & SEEK

As you will find out quickly, this is the month I discovered that I absolutely LOVE Chuu’s solo music. Her album is just filled with banger after banger and HIDE & SEEK is one of them. I love how upbeat and happy this song is without feeling overstimulating. It is just super cute and exactly the type of music I want from a girl group (or in this case female solo) winter comeback!

9. ONEUS - STOP & MOVE

I love it when my boy groups insert some disco vibes into their music and that is exactly what this song is serving! I honestly think this should have been the title track as it is much better than Granade and it would also stand out a lot more than Granade... Anyways, this song is a real banger and I highly recommend checking it out if you like it when your boy groups get a little disco. Great songs from SHINee fans as well if you ask me.

8. ChRocktikal - Iris

A whole rock/metal debut album and what is the song that makes it into my top 10? The ballad, of course. To my friends I am nothing if not predictable. While I enjoyed most of the ChRocktikals debut album, this song just stands out to me. The vocals are so heavenly to listen to and it just puts me in this magical mood if that makes sense. I highly recommend checking out this song, even if you are not into k-bands!

7. CHUU - Canary

And we’re back at another CHUU song. Like I said, I really fell in love with her this month.. Canary is just such a beautiful song! Vocally the strongest song on the album in my opinion. And the music… it just feels so cinematic to listen to this one! If you are a fan of Taeyeon, you NEED to check it out immediately!

6. CHUU - XO, My Cyberlove

So fun fact, this is the first 2026 choreo I decided to learn because the choreo of this one is just so much fun and exactly the type of dance I enjoy doing! The song itself is just so cute~! It really stole my heart and made me check out the full album and well.. as you can see in this list that is a choice I do not regret. This song is just everything I love about girl solos and it is just a perfect warm hug for the winter season

5. WAKER - LiKE THAT

I am going to be honest here, I had never heard of this boy group before this month. And here we are with them so high up my top 10 releases! LiKE THAT is another song where the boy groups go disco and as said earlier, I love it when they do that! The song is so much fun to listen to and very addictive in my opinion. I also checked out the full album which is just filled with banger after banger. WAKER is not the most popular group, but I really suggest checking out their latest comeback and supporting them. This is exactly the type of music we need more of in 2026! Also I feel this song would do well with people who like EXO and SHINee…

4. CHUU - Teeny Tiny Heart

Okay I promise this is the last CHUU song on the list and what a banger it is! Teeny Tiny Heart is just so cute and fun to listen to! Another one that I just ended up being addicted to and cannot stop listening to.

3. MISAMO - Confetti

I know this is technically japanese, but this is my blog and I can do what I want. So I am putting Confetti on here because I have grown obsessed with this song. The theatre kid in me really woke up with this song and I love how dramatic and ready for the stage it feels. This feels very second gen to me and one of the sub-genres of kpop that I have always enjoyed is theatre kpop. And this is serving that for real! I hope this starts a trend, because I want more songs like this! Also is it just me or does this song remind you of Girls Generation-TTS in the best way possible?

2. dodree - Born

We have been asking for an original girl group for so long and dodree came onto the scene and delivered just that! I love their mix of traditional korean sounds and pop music, it works so well together. The overall feel of this song is somehow light and dark at the same time and I can see this working perfectly for some kind of fantasy movie. The vocals are great and the mood is just fantastic! You need to check out this debut if you haven’t yet!

1. dodree - Just Like a Dream

note: these are not all albums that came out in January 2026, just albums that I listened to for the first time in January 2026

TRIGGER WARNING: OPINIONS

ONF - Unbroken 50%

Songs added to my spotify: Put It Back & I Found You In Heaven

Songs blocked on spotify:

Would I buy this album? Probably not.

If I had to describe my feelings about this album in one word it's “fine”. There weren’t any low lows, but to me there also weren’t that many songs that stood out. That being said, I don’t tend to enjoy male voices, so boy groups already have a harder time winning me over. I do enjoy the title track as I have been missing this type of concept for a while now. ONF is definitely a group I will keep my eyes on, even if this album ended up being very average to me…

YENA - NEMONEMO 77%

Songs added to my spotify: NEMONEMO & It was love

Songs blocked on my spotify:

Would I buy this album? Yes.

2025 was the year I discovered the soloist YENA and she has yet to disappoint me. I love her brand of overstimulating cute kpop! The mix of kpop with jpop influences really works for me. The title track is by far the best song on this single album. I literally cannot stop listening to NEMONEMO! The b-sides are also good, but not something I have not heard before. This all being said, I cannot wait to see what YENA will bring us in the future!

KEY - Good & Great 77%

Songs added to my spotify: Good & Great, Can’t Say Goodbye, Live Without You & Mirror, Mirror

Songs blocked on my spotify:

Would I buy this album? Yes

As a big fan of SHINee, I do not understand how I completely missed this Key comeback in 2023??? You’re telling me I could’ve been listening to this album for two years already! Anyways.. I really enjoyed this album! It is filled with bangers. In my opinion Key’s solo music is really slept on and deserves so much more attention! I love the kind of retro vibe this album has without being a full retro concept, it really reminds me of 2010’s SHINee and I do miss 2010’s SHINee so much

APink - Re:Love 50%

Songs added to my spotify: Love Me More & Sunshine

Songs blocked on my spotify:

Would I buy this album? Probably not.

I think I was far too hyped when APink announced they were making a full comeback. I absolutely love APink so I went into this album with really high expectations. I think that is one of the reasons I felt a bit disappointed by this. It is still a solid album, but it wasn’t the stand out album I was hoping an APink comeback would be. I was just expecting a bit more from them. That being said, the title track is really cute. But it is outshined by the song Sunshine (no pun intended). Sunshine feels like the type of gen 2 song I was hoping this whole album would be filled with. Oh well, you can’t always get what you want.

CHUU - XO, My Cyberlove 88%

Songs added to my spotify: XO My Cyberlove, Canary, Cocktail Dress, Teeny Tiny Heart, Love Potion, Hide & Seek & Loving You!

Songs blocked on my spotify:

Would I buy this album? Yes.

CHUU has always been one of those artists to me that I have been meaning to check out forever and never got around to. But this month I did listen to her new album and I really ended up loving it. I realise now that I should have been listening to her solo stuff this whole time! I really enjoy her vocal tone and the way she delivers more playful upbeat songs. This album is full of fun songs without it feeling like a full on summer album. My favorite song is probably Teeny Tiny Heart, there is just something about that song that makes me happy. Overall this album is just a perfect light to brighten this winter!

ONEUS - Won 43%

Songs added to my spotify: STOP & MOVE

Songs blocked on my spotify:

Would I buy this album: no

I wanna start this off by saying I really love ONEUS. But that being said, this single album just wasn’t for me. The title track is the exact type of boy group music I do not enjoy and therefore it did not work out for me. The b-sides on this album are a lot stronger and I absolutely love the song STOP & MOVE. That however was not enough for me to feel anything more than “meh” for this album. I hope their next album will be more to my liking…

EXO - REVERXE 35%

Songs added to my spotify: Crown, Suffocate, Flatline & I’m Home

Songs blocked on my spotify: Back It Up & Touch & Go

Would I buy this album? No.

I’m gonna start this off by saying I am a big fan of EXO. But this album just wasn’t doing it for me. It is not because of the missing members, but because the music just wasn’t my type of music. I am not really a noice music girly and this album was very noice music heavy in my opinion. I wanted to love it so much, but it was not working for me. I do love that we got more moments for members to shine that normally get overshadowed by other members. As a Suho biased girl, I loved seeing him get his moments in the spotlight. Sadly that wasn’t enough for me to enjoy this album. I love specifically the song Suffocate a lot, but the rest of the album just was not for me….

ChRocktikal - We break, you awake 60%

Songs added to my spotify: PEACE, RIDE, Myself, Shame, Iris, Masterpiece & Free!

Songs blocked on my spotify: KALish

Would I buy this album? Maybe

I went into this album not knowing what to expect. I love DREAMCATCHER, but I had been warned this album is way more metal/rock heavy than their stuff. Still I was curious to check it out and I am so glad I did! The first few songs were a bit too heavy for my personal taste, but the second half of the album is my jam! I was always Soyeon biased, but I had no idea her vocals would work so well on harder stuff! The music felt great and refreshing. I hope they get a bit more promotion as I think this is a really solid debut album. I think fans of groups like xdinary heroes absolutely need to check out this band!!

dodree - Just Like a Dream 100%

Songs added to my spotify: Just Like a Dream & Born

Songs blocked on my spotify:

Would I buy this album? Sadly it is a digital single so I can’t

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to add this debut digital single to this list as it isn’t a full/mini album, but I just need a moment to talk about this debut! I am obsessed with dodree and their concept of mixing traditional Korean music with modern pop. It works so well and it’s not like anything being promoted in K-Pop right now. I think this duo could become insanely popular in Korea itself if they keep this up. Their vocals are just so nice to listen to and really blend together well. The two songs both sound really cinematic to me and I just cannot wait to see where this duo is going in the future!

WAKER - In Elixer: Spellbound 67%

Songs added to my spotify: LiKE THAT, Lucid Dream, 10 outta 10, Dawn Star, Feeling & Sugar Crush

Songs blocked on my spotify: Drop Out & Dreaming Talk: DAY 3

Would I buy this album? Yes.

As a stan since SIXTEEN

10. PONYTAIL (TWICECoaster: Lane 1)

I love it when kpop does that disney channel pop rock vibe type of music and PONYTAIL is the perfect example of it done right. This song just captures the vibes of a carefree summer perfectly in my opinion. I do wish TWICE would explore their pop-rock side a bit more as the songs where they do always slap!

9. Truth (The Story Begins)

Can I explain why I love this song so much? Not really. Somewhere between the catchy post chorus and the way the vocal powerhouses are showing off why they are vocal powerhouses.. this song just captured me ever since I heard it for the first time. In my opinion this was TWICE showing off who they would be as a group on their debut album and it really stands the test of time!

8. Fanfare (Perfect World)

I love the more youthful and cheery side of TWICE. This is the type of girl group music that just feels made for me specifically! I cannot help but get really happy whenever I hear this song. Plus it is also a great song to listen to when working out (seriously, try it). I love fun <3

7. My Headphones On (Page Two)

The Page Two album has such a special place in my heart. It is exactly what I want from a kpop album! Just like the previous song on this list, this one is just so much fun to listen to! I honestly don’t have much else to say about this song, except that I find it to be criminally underrated and really should get more attention!

6. Touchdown (Page Two)

Speaking of Page Two.. Here is more! I swear there will also be some newer releases on this list. But the older releases have the advantage of being very nostalgic to me okay? ANYWAYS, another fun song who would’ve guessed.. I just love it when TWICE goes fun and this is another perfect example of them doing just that.

5. JELLY JELLY (TWICECoaster: Lane 1)

Another older fun TWICE song. This one is just very addictive to me. I really do not have much to say about this except that you will catch me listening to this one all the time…

4. Like a Fool (The Story Begins)

I love a good TWICE ballad and while I do feel like their later ballads are stronger vocally. This one is just pure nostalgia to me. Which is why when it comes to TWICE, when I am in the mood for a ballad, this will often be the one I turn to. It just is such a sweet listen

3. Blame It On Me (Ready To Be)

I promised there would be some newer (ish?) releases in this list and here is one. Blame It On Me is pure pop-rock greatness. Also the vocals in this one??? Hello??? They are so amazing!!! This song is such a certified BANGER!

2. Fix a Drink (Jeongyeon Solo) (Ten: The Story Goes On)

I wasn’t gonna include any of the solo’s, but since this one is on a group album I am gonna count it. Also because I love this song very very much. Besides kpop my main music taste is country, so every time a kpop artist releases a country style song, I am there. I am sat and I am listening. And this one is just great! Also Jeongyeon solo album when? Her voice is so good I need a whole album of this right now!

1. Queen of Hearts (Formula of Love)