K-Pop Risers & Fallers: October 2026

Rather than contain my “Risers and Fallers” feature to a single post in June, I’m going to share a bite-sized version at the end of each month. This will let me account for more songs and make a nice lead-in to the monthly round-up post. I anticipate most of these ratings adjustments will be negligible: a 0.5 shift here, a 0.25 shift there. But, it’s a fun way to keep track of how my feelings on songs have changed over time – as well as which tracks currently have momentum on my playlist. And remember, just because a song is marked as a “faller” doesn’t mean I hate it! Falling from a “9” to an “8.75” is no shame. 9+ rated songs occupy a totally different playlist in my music library, so I’m pretty particular about what qualifies. It’s a high bar. This month’s feature covers the period from September 22nd to October 19th. ALLDAY PROJECT – Crash Rating: 7.5 → 8 A2O Lite – Neon Rating: 8.75 → 9 A2O Soul – Superstar Rating: 8.75 → 9 BOYNEXTDOOR – Animal Rating: 7.5 → 8.25 *Biggest Riser* CRAVITY – Louder Rating: 9 → 9.25 Flare U – Bloom Rating: 7.75 → 8 KickFlip – Kick Off The Wall (ft. iann dior) Rating: 8.75 → 9 KickFlip – Puzzle Piece Rating: 8.25 → 8.5 MODYSSEY – Ridin’ (Can You He...