Ever since XG debuted in 2023, they never really set out to define the rigid parameters of music by which they fit in. That’s why their name stood for Xtraordinary Girls — at least, until recently when member Cocona came out and defied the borderlines of gender. THE CORE – 核 is their first release since changing their name to Xtraordinary Genes, and as the record’s title (and album art, the kanji character for “nucleus”) suggests, shines light on the group’s ethos as a musical act that is anything but ordinary.
As the septet’s debut full-length album, THE CORE – 核 continues expanding their repertoire of genres while establishing their own unique sound. It’s a worthy showcase of the qualities each member lends, moving from upbeat, funky pop to glossy R&B without ever feeling jarring. Instead, they straddle the fine line between the current predilections shaping the K-pop soundscape and J-pop musical realm. They are, after all, an X-pop group; not just Japanese, not entirely Korean (just based there), simply XG.
Sinking Into the Hypnotic Allure
Those who are not sold on XG’s concept quite yet should brace themself, because this era will “HYPNOTIZE” unbelievers. This song may not be the record’s first single, but it does lead the project, especially with its visuals — arguably one of the group’s most integral elements. Though their aesthetics have fallen anywhere between the vivacious Harajuku to gothic schoolgirls, XG are settling into this territory of avant-garde, futuristic punk. It makes them appear to have stepped right out of a sci-fi IP as aliens that are probing, dissecting, and experimenting. Their abductees? The K-pop industry, Japan’s robust cultural scene, and American music of the early aughts. It all comes together in “HYPNOTIZE,” where a tightly synchronized choreography steps in tune with the rhythmic piano lines of ‘90s house, as if Sonique’s “It Feels So Good” is thrown into the den of HYBE or YG Entertainment.
XG aren’t a stranger to this type of soundscape, having found footing in it through the likes of “IYKYK” off their sophomore EP AWE, and “GALA,” the actual initial single released from THE CORE. The staccato-accented intro of “HYPNOTIZE” is even reminiscent of an earlier outing, “GRL GVNG,” proving that this record isn’t merely another attempt at an aesthetic renewal or a musical reboot. It’s a coalescence of their longtime efforts, an empire built off of a wealth of different genres accumulated over time.
Peeling Back the Layers
THE CORE previews XG’s highest form, so they let listeners ease into it with the ambient “XIGNAL (The Intro)” instead of diving off the deep end. But once “GALA” comes on, the high energy refuses to wean. The rest of the record is like a Russian roulette on the dance floor where the seven members — leader Jurin, Chisa, Hinata, Harvey, Juria, Maya, and Cocona — are the DJ, ready to switch up the mood at the drop of a hat.
“ROCK THE BOAT” deploys missile-like trap beats that could easily make it into A$AP Ferg’s repertoire, while “NO GOOD” lives in a territory between Ariana Grande’s Sweetener and Positions. The laidback R&B groove continues into “UP NOW,” which feels like the edgy older sister to the bubblegum little sister of NewJeans’s “How Sweet.” Still, there’s Harvey’s favorite, “O.R.B (Obviously Reads Bro),” which has Green Day’s fingerprints written all over it. These tracks don’t just say they command the attention of any room they walk into; it emotes and embodies this girlboss aura as they strut in with confidence and mascara on fleek.
The acoustic guitar strums of “4 SEASONS” marks the end of the party. While it’s a sonic dip that feels like an out-of-place addition to the album, it isn’t a mere afterthought. It peels back the layers of heavy productions, loopy beats, and perfectly executed dance moves for a chance to pour their deepest hearts out into song. It’s XG pared back like never before, a lowkey pining ache that reveals the group at its rawest. That same weight is given a more introspective lens as the record closes with “PS118.” It’s the lo-fi prologue after the rave, the plaintive walk home at 4AM as the memories and image from the night before is being mentally recapped and archived.
THE CORE isn’t XG trying to prove something. Unbothered by expectations, they’re simply revealing their deep-down ethos that rejects premade molds and refuses to stay within borderlines. They don’t find a space to occupy; they designate one for themselves, whether it’s within existing areas of music or the outskirts that are often left uncharted.
Explore the core of XG’s ethos by listening to their latest album on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube Music, and follow the group’s journey on Instagram, X, TikTok, and their official website!
Looking to get to know more girl groups from around the world? Check out our breakdown of BINI’s latest album FLAMES here and learn seven things you may not know about A2O MAY here!
