''Regular-Irregular'' is the first

studio album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...

by South Korean boy band NCT 127, the second sub-unit of the South Korean boy band NCT. Described as a multi-genre concept album with a total of eleven tracks, the album was released by

SM Entertainment SM Entertainment Co., Ltd. () is a South Korean multinational entertainment agency established in 1995 by Lee Soo-man. It is one of South Korea's largest entertainment companies and has been responsible for fostering and popularizing the car ...

on October 12, 2018, and distributed by IRIVER. This marks NCT 127's first Korean major release after a year and four months since their previous EP, '' Cherry Bomb'', released in June 2017. It is also their first release as a ten-member group after Jungwoo was added in September 2018. It is also the group's last release to date featuring member Winwin, as he would focus his promotions on

WayV WayV ( zh, s=威神V, hp=WēiShén V; ; an acronym for We are your Vision) is a Chinese boy band and the fourth overall sub-unit of the South Korean boy band NCT (group), NCT, managed by SM Entertainment, SM's Chinese sub-label, Label V. The gr ...

following the album's release. Upon the album release, ''Regular-Irregular'' attained commercial success in both South Korea and other countries. The album debuted atop the

Gaon Album Chart The Circle Album Chart, previously known as the Gaon Album Chart, is a record chart ranking the 100 most popular albums, extended plays and single albums in South Koreabased on their Record sales, physical sales. It is a part of the Circle Chart, ...

and became one of the few releases to stay No. 1, longer than a single week in 2018. Additionally, it debuted at No. 86 on the US ''Billboard'' 200 in the week of October 27, 2018, thus becoming NCT 127's first entry on the chart. It is also the group's highest charting release on the UK and France's download albums charts and became their first entry on the Australian Digital Albums chart. The album's repackage, ''Regulate'', was released on November 23, 2018, along with its lead single, "Simon Says".

Background and release

''Regular-Irregular''

On September 17, a teaser video was released on the group's

Twitter Twitter, officially known as X since 2023, is an American microblogging and social networking service. It is one of the world's largest social media platforms and one of the most-visited websites. Users can share short text messages, image ...

account, showcasing flashes of the words "regular", "irregular", and the new NCT 127 logo. Later that day, SM Entertainment announced the addition of Jungwoo to the group and that NCT 127 would release its first full-length album ''Regular-Irregular'' on October 12. Following the announcement, NCT 127 entered the Billboard's Social 50 at number five for the week of September 29. Photo and video teasers were released from September 18 up to October 11. On October 8, NCT 127 released the music video of their new single "Regular" in English version, which marks the group's first English-language song. The music video for the Korean version of "Regular" was released on October 11, 2018. The album was released on October 12, 2018.

''Regulate''

On November 13, 2018, NCT 127 announced the release of the album's repackage, ''Regulate'' with teasers of the members. The album and its lead single, "Simon Says", was released on November 23, 2018.

Composition

The album's theme revolves around the exploration of reality and dreams. The album incorporates several genres; such as pop,

dance Dance is an The arts, art form, consisting of sequences of body movements with aesthetic and often Symbol, symbolic value, either improvised or purposefully selected. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...

, R&B,

ballad A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and song of Great Britain and Ireland from the Late Middle Ages until the 19th century. They were widely used across Eur ...

and

hip-hop Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hi ...

. "Regular" is described as a high-energy

hip hop Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip- ...

track with sensual Latin vibes that incorporates Spanish lyrics. ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' noted that unlike many Korean songs re-released by K-pop bands in other languages, the English version of "Regular" differentiates itself from the Korean version through the content of their lyrics. The Korean one addresses their current state as a group trying to make its way in the world, in contrast to the hopeful, goal-oriented swagger expressed in the English alternative. While both versions focus on money, the Korean addresses the reality of their world versus the luxurious lifestyle expressed in the English. The sixth track, "Interlude: Regular to Irregular" contains the music used in the video " NCT 2018 Yearbook #1" as well as a rearranged version of a future bass composition (titled "The 7th Sense – Reverse") by Korean

electronica Electronica is both a broad group of electronic-based music styles intended for listening rather than strictly for dancing and a music scene that came to prominence in the early 1990s in the United Kingdom. In the United States, the term is mos ...

musician Hitchhiker that was performed by the sub-unit in the 2017 Mnet Asian Music Awards. The track also contains narrations done in Korean (by new member Jungwoo), Japanese (by Yuta) and Mandarin (by Winwin), as well as a verse from the American author

Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe (; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic who is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales involving mystery and the macabre. He is widely re ...

's 1849 poem, " A Dream Within a Dream" narrated by member Johnny. The eighth track, "Come Back", is a Korean version of the originally released Japanese track off their debut Japanese EP

Chain A chain is a serial assembly of connected pieces, called links, typically made of metal, with an overall character similar to that of a rope in that it is flexible and curved in compression but linear, rigid, and load-bearing in tension. A ...

. The bonus track, "Run Back 2 U", is the full version of the demo song originally titled "Bassbot" previously performed by NCT members Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Ten and Jaehyun and then-SM trainee Hansol in a pre-debut video under the company's pre-debut group SM Rookies in 2015.

Promotion

''Regular-Irregular''

NCT 127 kick-started promotions for the album in the U.S. with television promotions and a partnership with

Apple Music Apple Music is an audio and video streaming service developed by Apple Inc. Users can select music to stream to their device on-demand, or listen to existing playlists. The service also includes the sister internet radio stations Apple Musi ...

. They performed their new single "Regular" as well as "Cherry Bomb" on the ''

Jimmy Kimmel Live! ''Jimmy Kimmel Live!'', sometimes shortened to ''JKL'', is an American late-night talk show, created and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, and broadcast on ABC. The nightly hour-long show tapes and is based out of the Hollywood Masonic Temple in Hollywo ...

'' outdoor concert series stage on October 8, marking their U.S. television debut; the group also appeared at the 2018

American Music Awards The American Music Awards (AMAs) is an annual American music awards show produced by Dick Clark Productions since 1974. Nominees are selected on commercial performance such as sales and airplay. Winners are determined by a poll of the public and ...

. They performed at ABC's Mickey's 90th Spectacular TV special on November 4. NCT 127 was also announced as Apple Music's 'Up Next' Artist; the group was featured on Apple-based platforms, including a short film exploring the band and their music, an Apple Music–only choreography video, and a

Beats 1 Apple Music 1, previously branded as Beats 1, is a 24/7 music radio station owned and operated by Apple Inc. It is accessible through iTunes or the Apple Music app on a computer, smartphone or tablet, smart speaker (such as the Apple HomePod), ...

interview.

''Regulate''

On November 22, it was announced that member Winwin would not participate in promotions for ''Regulate'' as he was preparing for the group's Chinese activities. NCT 127 performed "Simon Says" on Music Bank, Inkigayo, and Show! Music Core, as well as the Korean version of "Chain" on The Show and Show Champion.

Reception

''Regular-Irregular''

In a positive review, ''Billboard'' praised the album for showcasing both the group's artistry and skill through its diversity of sounds and experimental approach towards an album concept, helping to solidify their style. The magazine ranked it as the 15th best K-pop album of 2018.

MTV MTV (an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on ...

also named "Come Back" among the best K-pop B-sides of the year.

''Regulate''

On December 10, it was announced that "Simon Says" had become the group's first song to chart at number one on the US Digital Song Sales chart.

Track listing

Credits adapted from

Naver Naver (; stylized as NAVER) is a South Korean online platform operated by the Naver Corporation. The company's products include a search engine, email hosting, blogs, maps, and mobile payment. History Naver was the first Korean web provide ...

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Xiami. * Seo Mi-rae (Butterfly)vocal directing , background vocals , digital editing * GDLO (MonoTree)vocal directing , digital editing * Chu Dae-kwan (MonoTree)vocal directing * DEEZvocal directing * Andrew Choivocal directing , background vocals * Double Dragon (Hot Sauce Music Group)vocal directing , digital editing * Kim Dong-hyunrap directing * 250rap directing , digital editing * NCT 127vocals, background vocals ** Taeilvocals, background vocals ** Johnnyvocals, background vocals ** Taeyongvocals, background vocals ** Yutavocals, background vocals **

Doyoung Kim Dong-young (; born February 1, 1996), known professionally as Doyoung (), is a South Korean singer, actor, and host. He is a member of the South Korean boy band NCT (group), NCT through the sub-units NCT 127 and NCT DoJaeJung. Doyoung wa ...

vocals, background vocals ** Jaehyunvocals, background vocals ** Winwinvocals, background vocals ** Jungwoovocals, background vocals **

Mark Mark may refer to: In the Bible * Mark the Evangelist (5–68), traditionally ascribed author of the Gospel of Mark * Gospel of Mark, one of the four canonical gospels and one of the three synoptic gospels Currencies * Mark (currency), a currenc ...

vocals, background vocals ** Haechanvocals, background vocals * Micah Powellbackground vocals * DAWNbackground vocals * Wilbart "Vedo" McCoy IIIbackground vocals * Varren Wadebackground vocals * Ra.Dbackground vocals * BrotherSubackground vocals * J. Rostonbackground vocals * OneStar (MonoTree)background vocals * Bobii Lewisbackground vocals , all instruments *

Yoo Young-jin Yoo Young-jin is a South Korean singer-songwriter, record producer and vocal trainer formerly under SM Entertainment. He has produced and written songs for H.O.T., S.E.S, BoA, Shinhwa, TVXQ, CSJH The Grace, Super Junior, Girls' Generatio ...

background vocals , mixing engineer * Hwang Seong-je (Butterfly)background vocals * Megan Bowenbackground vocals * Kim Gyeong-minpiano * Hitchhickerguitar , digital editing * ON the stringstring * Choi Jin-seokall instruments * Jeong Ho-jinrecording * Choi Jin-yeongassistant recording * Kang Jae-gurecording * Hong Su-yeonassistant recording * Kwak Jeong-sinrecording * Jeong Mo-yeonrecording * Kwon Yoo-jinrecording * Hong Seong-junrecording , digital editing * Chu Dae-kwanrecording * Sin Dae-seoprecording * Jeong Gi-hongrecording * Choi Da-inrecording * Lee Chan-miassistant recording * On Seong-yoonrecording * Lee Ji-hongrecording , digital editing , mixing engineer * An Chang-gyurecording * Lee Min-gyurecording , mixing engineer , mixing * Juan "Jay P" Mendezdigital editing * Min Seong-soodigital editing * Jang Woo-yeongdigital editing * Jung Eui-seokdigital editing , mixing * Kim Cheol-sunmixing * Nam Gung-jinmixing * Kim Han-gumixing * Goo Jong-pil (BeatBurger)mixing

Locations

Recording * sound POOL studios * GaeNaRi Sound * The Vibe Studio * doobdoob Studio * MonoTree Studio * YIREH STUDIO * Seoul Studio * SM Big Shot Studio Editing * doobdoob Studio * GaeNaRi Sound * SM LVYIN Studio Mixing * SM Big Shot Studio * SM LVYIN Studio * SM Blue Cup Studio * SM Blue Ocean Studio * SM Concert Hall Studio * SM BOOMINSYSTEM * SM Yellow Tail Studio * sound POOL studios

Charts

Album

Single

Sales

Certifications

Accolades

Release history

References

{{Authority control NCT 127 albums SM Entertainment albums 2018 albums 2010s Korean-language albums IRiver albums