Zerobaseone: Never Say Never (WakeOne, CD, 31:52). This is the first full album, after five Korean and one Japanese mini-albums, by the group that was formed through the Korean survival show “Boys Planet” in 2023. The nine members are Kim Jiwoong, Zhang Hao, Sung Hanbin, Seok Matthew, Kim Taerae, Ricky, Kim Gyuvin, Park Gunwook and Han Yujin. All their Korean albums have sold more than 1 million copies, with five of the six reaching 1 million sold on the first day. “Never Say Never” sold more than 1.51 million copies in its first week and the single “Iconik,” also released Sept. 1, had more than 50 million views in the first 10 days of release of the music video.

“Iconik” features a steady beat and strong vocals throughout, with each member shining. As with most of their releases that have videos, it begins with a sweet Zhang Hao vocal, first as a sound and then a vocal to a beat. There are touching vocal moments by Gyuvin, Jiwoong and Matthew, before a nice verse by Taerae gives way to a short bit by Gunwook – in the video he passes sunglasses to Hanbin – before the disco-influenced chorus takes over. It is definitely a chorus that invites the listener to dance along, as they sing about being “on top of the moon” with “no gravity stopping us” and “this iconic, electronic.”

There is a pretty soft rap by Gyuvin, followed by a harder rap by Gunwook. The pre-chorus, heard thrice, includes the line: “They say ordinary, no legendary, extraordinary.” There is a wonderful bridge by Matthew, then Taerae, followed by an aggressive beat three times, before launching into the final chorus.

The video for “Iconik: features many references to the group’s past, including knocking over a standee of the group’s Boys Planet image, as well as mentions of the five Korean mini-albums over different clocks, and items from previous music videos dropped on the moon (I think) near the end. There is a fun bit with Taerae seemingly vacuuming up Gunwook, who is on the other side on the floor. Many bits done in space or a space station deal with the lack of gravity and Hanbin’s final leap is into a crowd holding light sticks. It is their best music video to date, with the video and song having Michael Jackson elements as well.

The next song is the pre-release “Slam Dunk,” which sticks to its basketball theme in both the lyrics and its music video, including the inclusion of ball sounds and sneaker squeaks, plus a brief portion of audio from an actual NBA game near the beginning. There is use of the line “Keep your head in the game,” which was used in the Disney film “High School Musical.” The song has impressive vocals and rap by Jiwoong, two vocal sections by Ricky, a fine rap by Gunwook, as well as his “I will never miss a shot” vocal – in the video, though, Jiwoong actually misses a shot. During the closing segment, Hanbin does an amazing sustained ad lib. The song also features a break with metallic sounds, plus a basketball bounce. Its chorus is very hip hop, something very different for Zerobaseone.

The third song is “Lovesick Game,” which has softer vocals to start, with beautiful vocals throughout, slow and sexy. The live video uses chair choreography.

“Goosebumps,” which also has a live video, is more a fun song, with a bouncy approach and the often-repeated line, “You give me goosebumps.”

Next is “Dumb,” which also goes for fun, with some weird sounds. Gunwook starts off, singing “Yeah, ayy. We go dumb, but the beat go dumber.” The song repeats “We go dumb, ditty-ditty-dumb, dumb,” which is captivating.

The Korean version of the still excellent “Now or Never,” originally a Japanese release, comes next, followed by the unit song “Extra,” a rocker performed by Yujin, Matthew, Gyuvin, Hanbin and Gunwook. A fun line is “Just the way we roll,” but the song is the only one that does not feel special to me.

The better unit song, wonderfully sung by Jiwoong, Ricky, Hao and Taerae, is “Long Way Back,” a song about trying to reconnect to a loved one. The ballad uses piano and the sweetest line is “Tell me, baby, it’s driving me crazy.” Both this song and the closing “I Know U Know” reach my heart and make me teary-eyed. However, I refuse to dwell on their contract situation, as this album’s title offers hope of a renewal.

Another very upbeat song follows. In fact, “Star Eyes” easily could be used as the signal song for a trainee survival show, with all its “heys, heys” and even a rap break and a possible dance break. An outstanding line is “Because you and I are us.”

The closing “I Know U Know” is aimed at the fans and seeks “no end to love.” Jiwoong is among the standouts again.

The Icon version of the release comes with another outstanding photo book, with lots of close-up shots. There also are four individual picture cards, two stickers, two posters (one group and one individual), a linked group of individual photos (with lots of Korean printed on the backs) and a small plastic clip (wanting its other half). Grade: A+

The Smashing Pumpkins: Machina/The Machines of God (Virgin/Capitol/UMe, CD, 73:23). This is a newly remastered 25th anniversary edition of the fifth studio album by the American alternative rock band. It was first released on Feb. 29, 2000 by Virgin Records. It is a concept album and marked the return of drummer Jimmy Chamerlin to the Billy Corgan-led group and was intended to be the band's final official album release prior to their initial breakup in 2000. A sequel album, “Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music,” was later released independently via the Internet, and in highly limited quantities for the physical version.

Following the electronic and industrial rock elements used in its predecessor, “Adore,”” Machina” again proved controversial to the band's fan base and failed to reconnect them with chart-topping success. However, after the relatively brief “Adore” tour, the new lineup with Chamberlin and the former Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur mounted longer international tours that returned the live incarnation of the band to a guitar-driven hard rock style. Founding bassist D’arcy Wretzky left during the recording of “Machina.”

The concept Corgan envisioned was a story revolving around a rock star named Zero (based on the public persona of Corgan) hearing the voice of God, renaming himself Glass, and renaming his band The Machines of God. Fans of the band were referred to as the "Ghost Children" Corgan originally had wanted the band to have a musical theater approach to its upcoming tour, based around the idea of the band playing exaggerated versions of themselves, as the press and public seemed to view them.

The full extent of the original concept went unrealized, however.

The album opens with the rocker “The Everlasting Gaze,” which has a thick goo of sound, except for one a cappella verse. Next is the good “Raindrops & Sunshowers,” which has a lengthy drum solo. “Stand Inside Your Love” has grand production (by Flood and Corgan) and a rising keyboard.

The guitar lifts “I of the Mourning,” a paean to radio with a bass line that recalls New Order. The vocals can be barely heard in “The Sacred and the Profane,” while “Heavy Metal Machine” is indeed heavy with a drenching sound. “This Time” is appealing, while “With Every Light” is a ballad. The album ends with the dirge-like “Blue Skies Bring Tears” and “Age of Innocence.”

Miniscule lyrics are included in the 28-page booklet, which has 15 full-page art illustrations. Grade: B

Additionally, Billy Corgan's Madame Zuzu’s tea shop in Highland Park, IL is exclusively offering an expansive 80-song vinyl box set featuring a 48-track “Machina” and an additional 32 bonus tracks of demos, outtakes and live performances, marking the first time the two “Machina” records officially will be united. This vinyl box set is the only format available to listen to all 80 songs in their entirety.