There’s a large contingent of us (relatively) old K-pop fans who constantly reminisce about the industry’s “good old days.” I’m sure this is very annoying to younger fans who are immersed in K-pop’s present, and it’s natural for any music market to evolve as time goes on. But whatever era you determine to be your favorite, most of us can probably agree that we miss the days of fully fleshed out, 3+ minute songs with a sense of scope and payoff. In this regard, rookies AHOF have become unlikely saviors of the form, debuting with the brilliant Rendezvous this summer and returning with another well-developed highlight.
Pinocchio (피노키오는 거짓말을 싫어해) is once again composed by El Capitxn, who’s been on quite a roll this year. The song feels like a natural extension of Rendezvous without being a complete rewrite. The guys once again adopt an epic-sounding rock texture, delivering a sense of catharsis at every turn. It took a few listens for Rendezvous to completely click with me and I imagine Pinocchio will also grow more addictive with time and familiarity. Though the songs are similar in tone and execution, Pinocchio is more generous with its sonic peaks. The track explodes after each chorus rather than bottling everything up until the climax. This leaves Pinocchio with less to do in its final moments, and that sense of storytelling isn’t quite as satisfying as Rendezvous‘s bravura finale.
With that said, Pinocchio is still an unmitigated success. AHOF have quickly developed a signature sound that draws upon the past but feels incredibly fresh today. Their music bursts with emotion and draws strength from that raw performance. It’s hard not to come away from Pinocchio feeling utterly captured by the sheer verve of their sound.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 9 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Man, you gotta give it to EL CAPITXN, that man’s on a roll this year, churning out Rendezvous, Everglow and now this in barely 4 months is insane.
With that being said, the song doesn’t has that slow-burn-like feeling Rendezvous has, but it makes it up with its satisfying melodies and my god is the key change at the end a pleasant surprise! It’s a banger and man did I miss having a 9+ rated song in months.
Rating’s the same.
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And the TT winning streak continues! The song is great, it really is reminiscent of the moodier and melodic side of Big Bang. As a Rendezvous aficionado (😭), I’m ecstatic at this release. Rendezvous for me hovers around a 9.75 – 10. For me, this song certainly deserves a 9.5! They really are expanding their sound beautifully, and are a breath of fresh air in the current k-pop landscape. Haven’t gotten a chance to listen to the album, but I hope it exceeds expectations, or that it’s at least an improvement from their debut.
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Just came to the realization that this is basically 5th gen’s Sober by Big Bang.
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RendezVous is atm my song of the year. Its just incredible, but the main attraction was its synth hook and sadly there isnt a synth hook here, instead we are graced with a goosebump giving chant as a post-chorus. Honestly I’ll take it , but it’s always gonna be a few points lower than RendezVous.
Also, a half-time ending in a kpop song is RARE these days.
El capitxn is an actual GEM.
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If songs were siblings Pinocchio and Rendezvous would be it! Both are absolutely beautiful, nostalgic, emotional. 9
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Another Big Bang nostalgia trip here. TOP would start the low verse, then GD for the pre-chorus, the other guy does the late pre-chorus, Daesung/Taeyang trade off the chorus lines, back to GD / TOP for the 2nd verse.
I looked back at my comment on “Rendezvous” and apparently I thought the same.
I agree with Nick, clearly the nostalgic sound is scratching an itch for those not around the first time around for the 2nd gen. I think its not a bad strategy. A big void in the market for melody-heavy emo-leaning mid-tempos that AHOF are walking right into. Good for them.
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After hearing the song, I knew it will be popular with us in this website full of kpop old folks taste. The song really pulls you through its story and the chorus is just pure art.
Yeah, the ending finale could use more work, but it does not diminish the spectacular journey painted by the blissful vocal & sonic landscape of AHOF team. Rating is similar
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I don’t think the chorus is as effective as Rendezvous but it’s still a solid follow-up. I love that they’re sticking to this sound that is sorely missed in today’s k-pop. the key change and half-time outro are great touches.
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currently my soty title is a battle between vvv, rendezvous, and new is now
if the trajectory continues, this song might join in the battle, what a grand chorus it has and my god the key change
a 9 as well!
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So far, I’ve got VVV on top. Followed in some order with something by NouerA, something by Riize, Stranger by ONF, NMIXX Blue Valentine.
Not any AHOF – I am more ELF than VIP, but the AHOF music makes me go back and play the old Big Bang that I have already and online playlists for the ones I don’t have.
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I suppose AHOF make sense as the ones to bring back this sound because they have been so closely partnered from the beginning with El Capitxn, a true old hag by kpop standards (one year younger than me lol). I believe he’s drawing from a sound palette that he misses, too.
I’m very happy to see them getting praised again on this blog. If it continues then people will say they are overglazed but I don’t care. Glaze them to death and back I say, particularly because they have yet to pop off in my own kpop circles, despite my promotion of them lol
My genuine opinion is that the song suffers a bit in comparison to the brilliance of Rendezvous, but like Nick, that song also took a few listens to really dig its hooks into me, so I think Pinocchio is likely to grow on me similarly. The key change was an unexpected delight.
The rest of the mini-album was a little disappointing to me at first listen, unfortunately, but then I recall that the WHO WE ARE also took a few listens to grow on me, and now I like all of those songs, with the exception of the one that samples “twinkle twinkle little star” and the one that’s just Steven talking. LOL
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I swear the first verse rap is literally Haru Haru
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I’ve been doing my own enumeration during a personal “Festival of Big Bang Nostalgia” this morning (it’s great!), and so far I ‘ve got bits of Monster for the intro – first verse, Crooked and/or Sober pre-chorus, the Love Dust turnaround (eg at 1:31 end of chorus here), and fleeting flavors of Bae Bae.
You what else is nostalgic? Watching live live music show performances where the mics are actually on, and there is just enough dance to enhance the song. (The break is fantastic here.) Styling = minimal but suits their own personalities. This one is from 2008.
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I’m gonna be honest, BIGBANG might be one of the only few groups where I have not seen any of their past performances. Thank you for providing me a fresh perspective! The energy is simply one-of-a-kind.
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Nick’s getting desperate when this is a 9.
I get that it has some semblance of the 2nd gen goodness, but there’s not nearly enough of it.
If this is a 9, then SHINee, Suju, Infinite, etc. are like 50.
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One must adjust to the times.
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That’s right. If I was comparing everything to my favorite songs from my favorite era, we’d never get a “9” again at this rate! I grade on a curve because honestly it would be depressing not to…
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Now I’m kind of depressed…:'(
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Haha don’t be! I still legitimately love songs that I give a high rating. It’s just like comparing apples and oranges sometimes.
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Yeah, I think it’s not fair or helpful to compare every song that comes out to your favorite songs ever. Or rather, if you just wanted to listen to your favorite songs on repeat you’d probably just be doing that and not running a blog that reviews new kpop releases. Also, naturally songs grow in our estimation with time and nostalgia. There are plenty of examples of that on this very blog.
Maybe for April Fool’s one day you could give every song you write about that day a 2/10 with the body of the post just saying “this sucks because it is not The Chaser by INFINITE.”
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late to this convo, but i’d just like to say as much as we love our favorite songs from those past eras, there comes a time where we have to accept the trends are changing and people are moving on from these sounds, and whatever of the best music we get from the current era, even if it doesnt compare to the best eras, is still great music to be cherished
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when some of the biggest songs of the year belong to CORTIS, ALLDAY PROJECT and KPop Demon Hunters, yes this is an easy 9.
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It’s crazy how Woongki went from one group with a good discography to another, call that the Woongki effect.
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Yessss we love Woongki ❤️
Maybe part of it is also that being in the entertainment industry for so long (since early childhood) means he has some business savvy and a good sense of what projects seem promising. (I mean obviously to1 did not pan out but as you say, the material itself was good.)
I mean, if he’d made it into zb1 he’d have been in another great group. And with Universe League, there were so many concurrent survival shows happening at the time and I think he ended up in the best one he could have. He probably put a lot of thought into it.
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Oh he defs knows what he is doing, all I can hope for is that future for him is optimistic.
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This song is truly amazing. Include the message of the song as well, the key change, its a package. Wowwww
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AHOF really making greatest of all time songs right now
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I just noticed they did an acrostic poem for the second verse, that was cuteee ❤
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It took me a few listens to pick up on that, too!
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I really love that aspect of the song! So clever. I noticed it when watching the fanchant guide because of course the fans yell that part.
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