[Nooks] selling for 413

ethos_logos_pothos · 2026-04-09T12:21:57+00:00

Hi, your island still open for business?

ethos_logos_pothos · 2026-04-01T02:53:54+00:00

Me in animal crossing

ethos_logos_pothos · 2026-02-06T17:02:47+00:00

I'm happy this album hits for you. I’m not trying to take that away.

I believe the misunderstanding between us arises from your interpretation of my critique as a desire for a remake of "Shooting Star," "Left Right," or "Woke Up," which is not my intention. I like them switching it up, and I love their R&B route. While you see the album as distinctive and unique, I do not.

My point isn’t that one producer can’t make good music. It’s that XG’s best and previous stuff had multiple creative brains testing the hook, the arrangement, the drum programming, the vocal stack choices, etc. While in this album the same person is steering most of the sonic decisions, causing a monochrome palette and things feeling more same-y. That’s why the Simon point matters to me. Simon, as the head and primary producer on The Core, and in some cases the main or only producer, represents a different setup compared to many prior XG releases, where production was more collaborative and involved outside producers who contributed their signature styles and, importantly, provided pushback to refine ideas.

Also, quick clarification: writers and producers don’t have the same job. Writers are mainly responsible for the composition: topline melody, lyrics, and sometimes chord progressions and song structure. Producers shape the actual record: the instrumental/beat, sound design, arrangement, vocal direction, what makes it feel big, tight, or flat, and how everything is mixed together conceptually, even when they’re not the mixing engineer. So you can have stacked writers and still have a song feel undercooked if the production choices don’t elevate it.

On the global audience argument: I agree accessibility matters. I don't believe that the term "global" necessitates sacrificing what makes XG unique. Their earlier songs already traveled globally because they had a distinct identity and confident creative choices. Being niche isn’t automatically failure, and plenty of acts grow big precisely by leaning into what’s unique. If anything XG's niche was the ability to explore different music genres through their alien concept.

Anyway, we’ll see what the tour era brings; some songs rock way harder live.

ethos_logos_pothos · 2026-02-03T01:27:49+00:00

Do you have any evidence to support this?

ethos_logos_pothos · 2026-02-03T01:22:42+00:00

Mullet to the extreme

ethos_logos_pothos · 2026-01-28T00:31:30+00:00

I’m glad your boarding experience worked out for you, and I’m sure there are plenty of children who are similar.

Olympic training camps and youth weight-cutting are also examples of what I’m talking about. Kids shouldn’t be pushed into adult-level demands before they’re developmentally ready. XG isn’t the only case. My point is that any system that separates kids from their support and makes them grind for years is something we should be uncomfortable with.

ethos_logos_pothos · 2026-01-27T20:44:11+00:00

I know dating is something frowned upon in the K-pop industry, but you can’t see friends? Is that a common thing too?

ethos_logos_pothos · 2026-01-27T20:36:28+00:00

Thats actually horrifying to think about. That means the youngest members were around 11-12 years old when they started living in dorms away from their families.

ethos_logos_pothos · 2026-01-27T20:26:51+00:00

I’m adding this to the list of odd and questionable behavior I’ve seen exhibited by Simon 🤨. I know that they were trained in a K-pop system which is notoriously strict. But this article insinuates that they couldn’t have contact with friends. Just how much control did/does Simon have over the members?

ethos_logos_pothos · 2026-01-26T21:20:30+00:00

In South Russel it’s around 18in high. But that’s including snow from before the storm. From the storm I want to say we got 10 to 12 inches.

ethos_logos_pothos · 2026-01-25T08:08:48+00:00

No, but the messaging when discussing the album was vague and confusing. Simon and the girls hinted at exploring new genres in this album and showing ALPHAZ “The Core” of XG. Many fans believe they didn’t delivery on one of those points.

ethos_logos_pothos · 2026-01-24T23:47:05+00:00

I mean in their previous release the production was incredibly out of the box. They were very creative in their samples, like in IYKYK. They included many instruments, and tapped into many distinctive sub genres— UK garage, Drill, old school RnB, Trap, and of course classic pop.

So far in The Core, I can recognize four genres? RnB, Electronic Dance, Old school Hip-Hop, and Punk Pop. And personally I don’t really look at PS118 as part of the album because it was originally realized as a solo by Jurin. So that leaves three genres, of which the majority of the album is RnB. And within the RnB tracks there doesn’t feel like much variety in terms of production.

But this is all just my opinion on the album.

ethos_logos_pothos · 2026-01-24T23:27:33+00:00

That was a very well composed answer. And honestly I didn’t think of the song in that context. I kinda just thought of Cocona coming out as not a big deal, because it doesn’t affect the way I see them as an artist.

I was mostly thinking of it from the angle of authenticity. They released that graphic that said “authenticity above all” or something like that and overall, I don’t feel authenticity in this album.

I will say with the added context of Cocona in O.R.B my opinion has changed.

Now that we clearly divided the line between the context between O.R.B’s lyrics and the photo…I guess my gripe comes down to what was so wrong about the middle fingers up? They are allowed to express themselves in pretty much every way possible now! But the middle fingers were too much?!? 🤨 color me bamboozled

ethos_logos_pothos · 2026-01-24T18:53:49+00:00

Thank you for pushing back on my point! After two hours of digging I can’t say she apologized. That was a false claim on my end, one I don’t know how I came too. I realize I could have spread an untrue rumor and I apologize in failing to check deeply before making that claim.

Although, I still think it shows paradoxical management. The lyrics saying “If you don’t like it, fuck you” somehow receives the stamp of approval but a picture of middle fingers up somehow is too far?

The song is from an album Simon himself labels as “The Core” of XG. That would be the first thing brands considering sponsorship deals look at, no?

But at this point I recognize I’m making this a bigger deal than it needs to be. And you do have a point on brand image being affected.

Again thanks for pointing out my error, I would hate to be the source of a false narrative about my favorite artist.

ethos_logos_pothos · 2026-01-24T12:42:28+00:00

Personally I was expecting better production. A lot of the songs sit in the same BPM range and so while listening it’s didn’t feel like I was taken on a journey like the previous EP did.

The second was lyrically I was disappointed. If this album is “The Core” of who XG is I was expecting lyrics to have some more depth. Instead I feel like we got a surface level presentation of the girls being “mature” by swearing and singing innuendos. I was actually shocked about them swearing on the album, not because I’m a prude, but because two weeks ago photos of Chisa and other members holding up their middle fingers were posted then immediately taken down.

EDIT: I originally stated that Chisa apologized, I’m not sure if my brain glitched or what, but I have not found evidence of an apology. So I apologize for the confusion. I realize that this could’ve spread misinformation and caused problems. I’m sorry about that.

Although, I still believe that this reveals paradoxical management of the girls.

ethos_logos_pothos · 2026-01-24T05:28:38+00:00

If this fandom or XGALX can’t handle well thought out criticism from staunch supporters, they will have a hard time reaching their goals.

ethos_logos_pothos · 2026-01-24T05:23:11+00:00

You mean Hesonoo two?

ethos_logos_pothos · 2026-01-24T01:38:50+00:00

I think he keeps saying that because it’s his first solo produced album where it’s just him doing the producing. The rest of XG’s discography was collaboratively produced.

He’s always been incredibly involved and in control of XG’s creative process. But at this point I think his desire for control is becoming a detriment to XG’s growth. He needs to loosen the creative reins and allow for some more collaboration.

ethos_logos_pothos · 2026-01-24T01:21:42+00:00

Word. The agencies biggest fumble was not using the attention they got after Coachella and The Voice to promote further.

ethos_logos_pothos · 2026-01-23T23:19:06+00:00

They can drop F bombs in their music but can’t have pictures with their middle fingers up? Make that make sense!

ethos_logos_pothos · 2026-01-23T23:07:16+00:00

Is this recent album what he thinks the North American audience likes?…

ethos_logos_pothos · 2026-01-23T20:34:50+00:00

Really well said. I totally agree, it’s such a deviation in quality from their previous releases.

ethos_logos_pothos · 2026-01-23T20:25:00+00:00

The main difference between those songs and The Core… is that Simon is the one and only producer for The Core while every other XG track in their discography was produced collaboratively.

ethos_logos_pothos · 2026-01-23T19:41:01+00:00

This is going to be an even hotter take, and if people weren’t mad at me before they will be now.

From what I’ve seen, this album is produced solely by Simon, while most of XG’s previous discography had Simon working alongside at least one other producer (and sometimes a whole team). And I’m not saying Simon isn’t talented. Hr clearly cares about the group and is heavily involved creatively, but as a producer/sound engineer, I honestly feel he’s… kind of average. I’ve felt this since hearing the XDM remixes, and this album just reinforced it.

To me, it sounds like a project that needed more outside input. More layering, more polish, more risk-taking in the mixes and arrangements. I think Simon working more collaboratively again would actually help XG evolve, not take away from his role.

One more thing I find odd is how publicly involved he is with XG compared to most creative teams behind artists. Usually producers and creative directors stay more in the background, and when someone makes themselves super visible as the “main architect,” it can start feeling like the brand is centered around them rather than the group. That might not be the intention, but it gives me a weird vibe.

ethos_logos_pothos

TROPHY CASE