Happy new year!
From high-quality title tracks to surprisingly addicting b-side tracks, we saw a number of top artists return this month with new EPs (mini-albums), and I couldn’t be more excited. Notable comebacks include GOT the Beat, MONSTA X, SF9, MOONBIN&SANHA, NCT127, ONEWE, VIVIZ, and the official debuts of PRIMROSE, 8TURN, BXB, THE7, and MAVE, to name a few.
Here are my top 10 favorite new releases of the month for January 2023! If you don’t have time to read it all, scroll to the end to see what my top 3 recommendations are.
SF9 - PUZZLE
K-Pop group SF9 released their twelfth mini album, THE PIECE OF9, with the title track 'Puzzle' on January 9. The album is nothing less than amazing, and we’ve regularly had the title track on since its release.
MONSTA X - Beautiful Liar
MONSTA X effortlessly proved they are worth the wait (nearly nine months to be exact), with their sultry and alluring twelfth mini album, REASON, with the title track “Beautiful Liar,” released on January 9.
NEWJEANS - OMG
Popular rookie girl group, NewJeans, released their first regular album, OMG, with the title track of the same name on January 2.
TXT - Sugar Rush Ride
Talented quintuplet TXT ushered in a new chapter depicting the transition from youth to adulthood with their fifth mini album, The Name Chapter: TEMPTATION, with the title track “Sugar Rush Ride,” released on January 27.
8TURN - TIC TAC
MNH Entertainment’s newest boy group, 8TURN, debuted on January 30 with the mini album 8TURNRISE and the title track “TIC TAC.”
HENRY - MOONLIGHT
Soloist Henry returned with new music for the first time since 2020, with the release of his much anticipated single “MOONLIGHT” on January 11.
Nine (OnlyOneOf) - beyOnd
OnlyOneOf’s Nine wrapped up the group’s project undergrOund idOl, with the release of his solo single “beyOnd” on January 4. The music video tells the story of a same-sex couple meeting and eventually accepting their feelings for each other to begin a romance.
MOONBIN&SANHA - MADNESS
ASTRO’s talented subunit, MOONBIN&SANHA, dropped their mysterious and alluring third mini album, INCENSE, with the title track “MADNESS” on January 4.
cignature - AURORA
The adorably charming septuplet girl group cignature, returned on January 17 with their third mini album, My Little Aurora, with the colorful title track, “AURORA.”
Yesung - Small Things
SUPER JUNIOR’s Yesung released his first regular album, Sensory Flows, with the eloquent and beautifully emotional title track “Small Things” on January 25. *Note he has previously released four EPs.
Be sure you listen to: SF9’s “PUZZLE,” MONSTA X’s “Beautiful Liar,” and Nine’s “beyOnd.” I hope to “see” you next month for my February roundup of favorites.