Oops

I really am terrible at this blogging lark.

Sorry, I meant to post at Easter and even found a nice little gif that would allow me to do a Suho dad joke, but somehow it never happened. 

Then I meant to post at the beginning of April, even if just to put in the new monthly playlist and update the stats, but nah - that wasn't happening either.

I even missed EXO's 12th anniversary (I'm such a bad fan) because I was busy with work and watching EXO content - here, have a picture of them from their celebration livestream to make up for it.

B: Suho, Chanyeol, Baekhyun
F: Chen, D.O., Xiumin
Missing: Lay, Kai, Sehun 😢

But I'm here now, and I don't even know where to start.

First, I guess is the April playlist ➡️, which is relatively quiet so far, with only 328 tracks, although there is still a couple of weeks to go and there are a LOT of new releases on the way.

Staying with EXO for a minute, D.O. announced his new EP, called Blossom, which will be released on 7 May (which, coincidentally, is the date of the first Eurovision Song Contest semi-final). I have, of course, already ordered both versions of the album (Mars & Popcorn). Lay has also announced his new album, Psychic, which will apparently be released in both Korean and English versions, although I'm having a devil of a time finding out a release date or where to buy it (I think it might be 19 April as that's when the next MV drops). 

With Baekhyun currently touring Asia (please come to London 🙏🏻) and Suho about to go and do the same (please come to London too 🙏🏻) there's a lot of EXO-related content dropping, which is very exciting (I am a very happy girl). I also know Xiumin is preparing for his new album and Chen has hinted at one too. We just need Chanyeol to drop his and then they can all come to the UK and do EXOFest - they can do separate solo sets and then finish with a few EXO tracks at the end (I think you can tell I've been thinking about this far too much - so much, in fact, that I'm beginning to turn delulu😂).

Almost as exciting was the announcement that Kingdom (my babies) are finally having their comeback after the longest wait ever (not really, but they did release a whole set of new concept trailers (The beginning of new story: Challenge) on New Year's Eve and there's been nothing since).

The first surprise was that they have changed their name, rebranding as The KingDom, and the photo that accompanied the announcement looked nothing like the sharp-suited videos posted previously.

Kingdom - Still from the Challenge video

The KingDom

Their album, Realize, which will have 3 versions (Energy, Freedom & Rebellion) is released on 30 April. It isn't yet available to pre-order, which is driving me mad, but I did at least see the notice for the lightstick sale this time (they only do it for 2 days). For Jahan's album, I missed out and I still haven't forgiven them because he's my bias and I want his lightstick 😭.

We're not sure what's going on with this rebrand and look, especially as a couple of days ago they posted another video of them in the suits, all taking turns to toss a coin, which they said was very important. I've heard all sorts of theories, most of which are to do with parallel worlds.

No doubt we shall find out in time . . . .

Also releasing music this month (that I know about), are DKZ, BoyNextDoor, Onewe, Peppertones, Doyoung (from NCT), Kim Woojin (ex-Stray Kids), Lee Jinhyuk (UP10TION), BE'O, 82MAJOR (one of my rookie bands), Seventeen and Tiot, who are finally making their official debut on 22 April.

May releases so far announced, are E'last (with whom I am deeply in love, so I am very happy about this and have ordered Everlasting already) and Kino (Pentagon), which was only announced today but I will be getting it. I am, however, extremely desperate for a full band comeback (with my beloved Yanan), preferably with a full-length album and a world tour (that comes to the UK) to support it - I'm not asking for much 😂. 

I'm going to do another post catching up with listening stats and stuff as this one is already getting long and I really need to make some dinner before I pass out from starvation (not really likely, but I am really hungry and it's almost getting too late to eat if I don't do it now), so I'm going to end here.

There have been some excellent releases this month, including Epex's first full-length album, Youth Chapter 1: YOUTH DAYS, I.M's (Monsta X) Off The Beat, and the return of Lucas (ex-WayV, ex-NCT, SuperM) with the excellent Renegade, all of which can be found on the April playlist. 

Also released this week was ONF's latest album, Beautiful Shadow, containing what may well be one of my songs of the year and most certainly will be one of my top MVs, the excellent Bye, My Monster, which I'm going to leave you with.