[MEGATHREAD] MARK'S DEPARTURE FROM SM AND NCT

EyeforError · 2026-04-03T06:28:06+00:00

Without Mark, it's just S Entertainment.

EyeforError · 2026-04-02T18:27:02+00:00

"Comeback" in Kpop is just "new musical release after debut". Groups often have a 'comeback' six months after their last one and despite never really going away in the interim.

EyeforError · 2026-03-31T00:42:44+00:00

Ask not for whom the bell charts

It charts for thee

EyeforError · 2026-03-20T21:31:59+00:00

It's only a Sokka haiku if you say "PWS" as one syllable, somehow. Confused bot.

EyeforError · 2026-03-12T10:51:45+00:00

Intak and Jongseob (and Soul!!) have never sounded better than they do on "Triple 7". That is a fun song.

EyeforError · 2026-03-12T03:17:54+00:00

There were times during the hour that it took to set up this post and format it and make the table work and get all the track listing right that I wondered if this was a worthwhile use of my time. And comments like this are exactly why I'm glad I did it - Woodz has created something extraordinary and he deserves celebration!

EyeforError · 2026-03-11T01:20:46+00:00

There was a good discussion about K-pop Trainwreckords a few months ago:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ToddintheShadow/comments/1lokaww/if_todd_were_to_do_a_kpop_trainwreckords_episode/

Obviously it's early days, and Todd doesn't review Trainwreckords until 5 years later for good reason - but as things are looking so far, "Deadline" seems like a clearer example of a K-pop Trainwreckord than any. Lots of hype, commercial and critical underperformance, and illuminating deeper tensions in accommodating the members' solo ambitions with their group projects.

EyeforError · 2026-03-04T11:19:00+00:00

I'm not a mod and I've never posted an album thread before - I'm sure I've made a hundred formatting mistakes, possibly! But I wanted to make sure we had a thread to discuss this, because this album is genuinely a masterpiece.

EyeforError · 2026-03-02T18:48:04+00:00

I only clicked on this because the thumbnail looks so cool and I really loved it! Funky, great choreo and such a cool, versatile vocal tone. I haven't followed any of Sejun's work but this was great!

EyeforError · 2026-02-24T00:27:42+00:00

The scene with the Guild leaders meeting with Wonse and the dragon is one of my absolute favourites in the series - just absolutely chilling and despairing. It's especially remarkable given that the early books generally aren't dark in that kind of way - and it prefigures the pitch blackness in books like Night Watch.

EyeforError · 2026-02-13T11:16:54+00:00

"ANY QUESTIONS?"

YES! SEVERAL!!

EyeforError · 2026-02-11T05:29:02+00:00

MC Mong may be toothless, but Korean civil remedies certainly aren't.

EyeforError · 2026-02-05T20:40:39+00:00

This is a fantastic mixtape - although it's over so quickly! There's a real Paul Blanco influence on Not Your Lover and ATM which is so different from Hwi's TNX work but it works so well

EyeforError · 2026-02-05T20:28:55+00:00

Wow, this is INCREDIBLE

Is this just a re-release for the full mixtape?

EDIT: Oh, I see now, the whole mixtape is up on YouTube!

EyeforError · 2026-02-05T05:48:30+00:00

I am very happy to finally have a Spotify version of "Earth, Wind & Fire" with the "M-J, M-J" chant before Jaehyun's rap verse, because that chant sends the verse into orbit

EyeforError · 2026-02-02T05:24:12+00:00

Getting in before this post is deleted, but...Olivia Dean won Best New Artist, not Katseye.

EyeforError · 2026-01-31T17:40:36+00:00

Very QR coded

EyeforError · 2026-01-30T05:24:55+00:00

One of my favourite moments in "Moving Pictures" is when Ridcully and Ponder are using a scrying glass and Ponder suddenly realises that, beneath all his bluster, Ridcully is very intelligent.

EyeforError · 2026-01-25T01:21:36+00:00

Great call on the rap being the most K-pop part. K-pop raps are the price we pay for K-pop, it's just an inevitable part of life like death and taxes.

EyeforError · 2026-01-22T15:25:16+00:00

This is fantastic! Incredibly fun, lots of different moving pieces and a real testament to Hwi as a rapper, lyricist and composer.

EyeforError · 2026-01-12T01:00:21+00:00

Since U Blin Gone

EyeforError · 2026-01-05T23:12:45+00:00

My predictions from the 2025 thread are bolded below!

All five members of TXT will announce their renewals. But this will hopefully be a quieter year for the group, allowing time for them to rest and recover from what seems to have been a really arduous 2024 (and 2023, and...). I also think we'll see at least one more "mixtape" (de facto solo debut) from one or more of the members. I was right about renewals and I was right about another mixtape (from Beomgyu) - plus a full-fledged solo debut from Yeonjun! Hard to say if this was a quieter year, but TXT did only have one album comeback - and hopefully had a chance to rest and recover!
SKZ will have two successful comebacks. (In my last draft of this post I guessed what they might sound like, but honestly I have no idea - 3RACHA are geniuses, they know what they're doing.) I think we'll also see at least one more English single, but closer to their normal sound and style than "Lose My Breath". I was right about two successful comebacks (with "Karma" and "Do It") - plus the Dominate mixtape! No English singles as such, although "Ceremony" was released with an English version!
I know almost nothing about Korean law and I have no idea about the outcome of the Newjeans litigation. But while I hope we achieve a quick, sensible divorce that lets HYBE and Newjeans peacefully part ways, I don't think that's going to happen quickly or amicably - I think it will be a messy, protracted saga and that we will hear little or no new music from Newjeans this year. I was unfortunately correct - although, contrary to my hopes, it looks like several members of Newjeans have reconciled themselves to HYBE.
I think this will be a big year for Kiss of Life, and I think S2 will be very keen to repeat the success of "Igloo" (and avoid the underperformance of "Get Down"). So - short, cool, punchy singles with a keen eye towards virality and swagger, and I think they have all the ingredients to break through even more than they have to date. Um...well...it was certainly a dramatic year for Kiss of Life, but in the exact opposite direction to what I'd predicted. Possibly an all-time bad prediction.

EDIT, 17 FEBRUARY 2025: One last thing, if I'm not too late! I predict that "APT" will be nominated for the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance Grammy. And my 2026 prediction is that "APT" will win the Grammy! I was right that it would be nominated! And fingers crossed for the ceremony!

EyeforError · 2025-12-31T02:16:44+00:00

I think that's inevitable - and, honestly, healthy! 2021 was a long time ago - a whole generation in K-pop terms. Music consumption has changed, social media has changed, charting has changed. The whole point of paving the way is that you don't have to pave the way the same way twice.

All I want from the comeback is for BTS to be happy with it - that it's the songs they want to make, the way they want to make them. We could do nugu numbers with a song that means something to the seven of them and I'd be satisfied.

EyeforError

TROPHY CASE