Rather than contain my “Risers and Fallers” feature to a single post in June, I’m going to share a bite-sized version at the end of each month. This will let me account for more songs and make a nice lead-in to the monthly round-up post.
I anticipate most of these ratings adjustments will be negligible: a 0.5 shift here, a 0.25 shift there. But, it’s a fun way to keep track of how my feelings on songs have changed over time – as well as which tracks currently have momentum on my playlist.
And remember, just because a song is marked as a “faller” doesn’t mean I hate it! Falling from a “9” to an “8.75” is no shame. 9+ rated songs occupy a totally different playlist in my music library, so I’m pretty particular about what qualifies. It’s a high bar.
This month’s feature covers the period from July 25th to August 21st.
RISERS
BBGirls – One More Time
Rating: 8.25 → 8.5
The Boyz – Lip Gloss
Rating: 9 → 9.25
Lucy – Haze
Rating: 8.25 → 8.5
NINE.i – Turn It Off
Rating: 9.25 → 9.5
Riize – Memories
Rating: 8.5 → 8.75
STAYC – Bubble
Rating: 8.5 → 8.75
TAN – Heartbeat
Rating: 9 → 9.25
Treasure – Bona Bona *Biggest Riser*
Rating: 7 → 8.25
Vanner – Performer
Rating: 8.5 → 8.75
The Wind – Summer Vacation
Rating: 8.75 → 9
FALLERS
Artbeat v – Dubi Dubi
Rating: 8.5 → 8.25
Jo Yuri – Taxi
Rating: 8.5 → 8.25
Shownu x Hyungwon – Love Me A Little
Rating: 7.5 → 7.25
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
The only thing that knocked my socks off this month is NINE.i’s Turn It Off. I guess that’ll be your song of the month too? Yeah Sweetune! 🙂
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Re-listening to everything, I think TAN’s Heartbeat would be my #2 of the month. I can’t really come up with a #3, nothing really excites me… 😦
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Bona Bona will never get anything higher than 4 from me, the album however is a solid 9 (-1 for the outdated sound but it’s not that big of an issue)
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Really loving ‘Heartbeat’. As for ‘Bona Bona’ not so much, but that album is pretty damn good !
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Memories RIIZEing! really hope Get A Guitar will be even better, not to mention the fact that it allegedly interpolates Another One Bites the Dust.
I mostly listened to the same 3 Boys Planet songs this month, as I finally got to watch it around the end of last month. Over Me in particular has become my 2nd most played song of the year already, and I love both Say My Name and Jelly Pop.
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My Risers
Do Or Die – xikers (7 – 8)
Lip Gloss – The Boyz (8 – 8.5)
Fast Foward – Jeon Somi (8.25 – 8.5)
Heartbeat – TAN (9 – 8.25)
Slay – EVERGLOW (8.5 – 8.75)
Golden Age – NCT 2023 (8.5 – 9)
Also I’m surprised Bona Bona went from a 7 to an 8.25)
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And I’m just here, mind-blowingly glancing at how tf Bona Bona has managed to grow on Nick THAT much…like, that beat drop bs placed instead of a normal chorus, it’s a hate crime against the group and its fans, as well😭😭…
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P.s. though I’ve missed most August releases, some such as Killin’ Me Good, Lip Gloss and Picture still managed to do shit for my ears, and now those keep growin’ on me.
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Haha this rock remix had a lot to do with it. It’s my preferred version, but it led me to appreciating the original more. Performances have been good, too.
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My Risers:
Do Or Die – 7 to 8 – xikers
Lip Gloss – 8 – 8.5 – The Boyz
Fast Foward – 8.25 – 8.5 – Jeon Somi
Heartbeat – 9 – 9.25 – TAN
Killing Me Good – 8 – 8.25 – Jihyo (TWICE)
Slay – 8.5 – 8.75 – EVERGLOW
Golden Age – 8.5 – 9 – NCT 2023
Also I am genuinely surprised that Bona Bona went from a 7 to an 8.25
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Bona Bona will never get anything higher than 4 from me, the album however is a solid 9 (-1 for the outdated sound but it’s not that big of an issue)
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Risers:
DKB – Told You
Infinite – New Emotions
Treasure(T5) – Move
Vanner – Performer
VAV – Reason
XEED – Blue
BxB – Planet
n.SSing – Higher ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Turn It Off, Lip Gloss and Heartbeat are August’s highlights…the albums were just WOW😍
PS: Treasure’s album is pretty good too
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Nice to see the Bona Bona rise. I haven’t been keeping up much with the releases this month – but this one is very solid in my mind. I really need to listen to the othersw a bit more including some stage performances to get a better idea.
Also unrelated, but did you see the news about Bang Yedam joining GF entertainment, Nick?
Also yes, even though a majority of people are criticising the decision I’m kind happy he picked a smaller company where his experience may give him a bigger control on music… and that too the company which is housing one of my current favorite 4th gen groups lol. Anyways I’m happy it seems he’s heading onto a soloist + producer route which he probably has been interested in for a while.
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This month for me was a great month filled with THE BOYZ, Eunbi, Shonwu & Hyungwon, and Enhypen.
Risers:
THE BOYZ’s whole album has been on repeat for me ever since its release. Every song is up to standard.
Every song on that album for me is above an 8.5 / 10
‘Lip Gloss’ is 8.75 → 9 / 10
After seeing the live staged for their unit song ‘Passion Fruit’, it has become my favourite song on the album, surpassing ‘Fantasize’ which was my favourite from the initial listen.
Stats.fm says I’ve listened to ‘Lip Gloss’ 87 times on Spotify.
Eunbi’s ‘Flash’ is one hell of a song. Easily my favourite of this month. I liked it from the first listen and even after repeats, it’s still amazing.
9 → 9.5 / 10
Stats.fm says I’ve listened to ‘The Flash’ 61 times on Spotify.
Shonwu & Hyungwon’s ‘Love Me A Little’ is so smooth and pleasing to my ears.
“Only gripe is that if they had amped the chorus and kept adding on layers to the song it would have been better” – my comment from the original review post. Although I wonder how much better it could have been, it’s simple and bare instrumental works so well that I don’t wish it was different anymore.
8 → 9 / 10
Stats.fm says I’ve listened to ‘Love Me A Little’ 54 times on Spotify.
Enhypen’s ‘Criminal Love’ is another smooth song that I’ve had on repeat. It’s just a satisfying song to me. I’d listen to it over ‘Bite Me’ anyday. It is kind of repetitive but I don’t mind.
8.75 / 10
Stats.fm says I’ve listened to ‘Criminal Love’ 49 times on Spotify.
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All things nSsign are risers for me, for the year.
Except their most recent release “Wormhole” which is not the droid I was looking for.
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