[Bonus] The Late Report: January 2019

January in music is typically an extension of December, so there aren't many activities yet. But some of our favorite singers got 2019 started on the right foot. In this edition of The Late Report we'll visit three of them.

Cosmic Girls - La La Love

Cosmic Girls have been lost in the shuffle as far as the rising stars go, but they are embarking with "La La Love" on a journey of promise. This song is a continuation of their trademark sound - though admittedly with way more English and quips which make the overall audio worse. They also committed the sin where someone other than their only talented rapper had rap lines. But for this group I am willing to forgive because otherwise, there'd be a handful of girls with zero parts. "La La Love" isn't their best work, but it's not their worst either.

iKON - I'm OK

You know me, I keep it real. Props where props are due: iKON has been killing it lately. Every title song from 2018 was fantastic and "I'm OK" is a blend of some of the previous year's magic. This track has the melancholy despair of songs like "Goodbye Road" and Big Bang's "Loser" while maintaining a strong instrumental that is common to YG music. I don't pay as much attention to the chains of successful consecutive releases for boy groups, but iKON is definitely on their A-game right now and look to continue doing so in 2019.

Chungha - Gotta Go

Awkward title aside (there goes the English vs. Korean debate again), this is such a gorgeous song. Chungha's voice is so pleasant when she's in her lower range (and when not straining but hey that's pretty much anyone), it's why I prefer songs like this and "Roller Coaster" from her. That sequence of instrumental notes during the chorus is so damn hypnotizing, doubly so when combined with Chungha's elegant voice. And speaking of, that high note during the bridge? Perfection. In the post-Produce world, Chungha is clearly the leader of that pack.