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Jhené Aiko Embarks on the Magic Hour Tour: A Celebration of Resilience and Artistic Collaboration

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SZA's "Saturn": Chart-Topping Success and Insight into Her Songwriting Process

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In the ever-evolving world of R&B music SZA stands as a beacon of innovation. Her latest single, "Saturn," marks a significant milestone in her illustrious career. Debuted during the 2024 Grammy...

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The Rap Challenge of Drill Beats: Why Cardi B Didn't Release Ice Spice 'Munch' Remix

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Drill beats, with their gritty textures and relentless rhythms, represent one of these challenging frontiers. Cardi B's recent experience with recording a verse for a remix of Ice Spice's "Munch"...

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Ariana Grande's Lyrical Odyssey: Love and Loss in 'Eternal Sunshine'

Ariana Grande has once again captured the spotlight with her latest album, "Eternal Echoes." This time, Grande embarks on a deeply personal journey, weaving her narrative through the thematic...

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Ludwig Göransson’s Oscar Triumph: Crafting Oppenheimer's “Unplayable” Score

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In the grand auditorium of dreams, Ludwig Göransson clutched the Oscar statuette for Best Score, a testament to his monumental contribution to Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. This win adds another...

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The TikTok-UMG Standoff: A Battle Over Music Rights and Its Ripple Effects

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Universal Music Group (UMG), the world’s largest music company, has withdrawn its catalog from TikTok, the leading platform for music promotion...

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Jimin's Historic Billboard Hot 100 Triumph: Elevating K-Pop to New Heights on the Global Stage

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lmost one year ago, BTS's Jimin etched his name in the hall of music history by becoming the first South Korean soloist to clinch the number one spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart with his hit single..

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The Mick Gordon Controversy: A Symptom of Deeper Issues in the Video Game Industry

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"Laufey: Bridging Generations with Jazz's New Groove"

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The K-Pop Wave Continues: March 2024's Exciting Comebacks and Anticipated Debuts

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Beyoncé Embarks on a New Journey with "Renaissance" Act II

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This time, the buzz is all about her latest musical venture—a dive into country music with her new album "Renaissance" Act II. Announced during a Super Bowl for Verizon, the album marks a ....

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The Weight Behind the Power of Aretha Franklin's "Respect"

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Stray Kids Make 2022 Comeback With Mini Album – ODDINARY

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Photo: @Stray_Kids on Twitter

Dare I say its, EXTRAODDINARY?

Stray Kids have returned with the release of their new mini-album, ODDINARY – a collection of seven songs that proclaim the message of embracing all of the things that make us unique, despite how odd we may think they are.

Co-produced and co-written by Stray Kids’ 3RACHA (Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han), the album definitely feels more mature than their previous hits and you can hear how their level of technique has enhanced over the years. Changbin explains, “If we focused on Stray Kids' explosive energy in our music so far, this time we have this controlled beauty and relaxation on top of that energy.” While a lot of their music in the past has centred around high energy beats and electric vocals, the group take on a different approach working on their vocal control and finding the beauty in simplicity, making this album truly groundbreaking.

Photo: JYP Entertainment, Stray Kids <ODDINARY> UNVEIL : TRACK 1 "거미줄"

“VENOM” is a definite standout from the album. It’s simple, catchy, and the build-up toward the anti-drop of Felix’s hook is fire. What truly makes this song special however is Hyunjin and Han’s rapping, which we can tell has only gotten better over the years.

“MANIAC” is a strong title track, and we can see why it was chosen as such. It has a simple yet catchy hook that’s perfect for huge crowds – just in time for their upcoming world tour.

“Charmer” makes us feel like we’re in those movies where the main character walks into a club and everyone’s hot and having a good time. It radiates confidence and is perfect for when you want to feel like the hottest in the room. Stray Kids solidifies their place in the industry and they’re only going up from here.

Another standout from the album is “FREEZE”. Changbin starts the track off strong with his verse that talks about living life by your own rules without caring about what others may think. The breakdown of the song has a hyperpop feel to it that’s been on the rise for the past few years, especially on the social media platform, TikTok.

The final three songs differ from the previous as they each have their own unique sound. “Lonely St.” is an alternative pop and hip-hop ballad about going through life on your own path and not following the crowd.

“Waiting For Us” and “Muddy Water” are the songs that truly let each of the boys shine and show off the talents they’ve been working on for years. “Waiting For Us” features Bang Chan, Lee Know, Seungmin, and I.N., each of them showcasing just how much they’ve worked on and developed their voices over the years. “Muddy Water” is reminiscent of 90s to early 2000s hip-hop, while also using a retro piano sample that carries along through the song.

ODDINARY features pretty different sounding songs than we’re used to from Stray Kids, but I think that the entire point of this album. They’ve truly shown just how adaptable their sound is and it’s refreshing to see a group moving away from the norm.