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[&] bracket substitution [&] EP Loona Loona&.jpg Digital and Version A coverFour different physical copies with alternate covers were sold titled Version A, B, C and D. 2021 6 28 * Power pop dance-pop indie R&B jazz Korean English 20:16 * Blockberry Creative Universal Music Japan * Ryan S. Jhun Sabzevari Kordnejad Alawn Alysa Karlstrom Schulz Lee Gwan-hyoung Han Yeon-ji Jang Ju-na Park Shin-ae Choi Young-ah [12:00] 2020 Flip That 2022 [&] EP PTT (Paint the Town) June 28, 2021 [&] (read as "and") is the fourth extended play by South Korean girl group Loona. It was released on June 28, 2021, by Blockberry Creative and distributed by Kakao Entertainment. The comeback marked the return of member HaSeul, who had been on hiatus due to health issues since early 2020. Upon release, [&] became the group's fastest and best selling project. All of its tracks appeared on the Gaon Download Chart becoming their first album to do so and also earned the group their first ever entry on the Gaon Digital Chart with the lead single, "PTT (Paint the Town)".http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=S1020&targetTime=27&hitYear=2021&termGbn=week ko:2021년 27주차 Download Chart Gaon Music Chart Gaon Download Chart - Week 27, 2021 July 8, 2021 July 21, 2021http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=27&hitYear=2021&termGbn=week ko:2021년 27주차 Digital Chart Gaon Music Chart Gaon Digital Chart - Week 27, 2021 July 8, 2021 July 21, 2021 The project was met with generally positive reviews with critics praising its genre diversity and the group's experimentation with different sounds on the project. Background On June 1, 2021, at midnight Korean Standard Time, Loona announced through social media that they will be releasing a new extended play titled [&] on June 28.https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/bands/article/3135573/new-k-pop-releases-june-2021-twice-seventeen-exo-nct-127 New K-pop releases in June 2021: Twice, Seventeen, Exo, NCT 127, Monsta X, Loona and more to unveil albums, EPs and singles Herman Tamar June 1, 2021 South China Morning Post June 1, 2021https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2021/06/03/loona-everglow-nct-dream-itzy-and-ab6ix-this-weeks-10-bestselling-albums-in-korea/ Loona, Twice And Mamamoo: The Most-Anticipated K-Pop Girl Group Releases Coming In June McIntyre Hugh June 7, 2021 Forbes June 24, 2021 They also shared a cryptic teaser image containing the Latin words "citius, altius, fortius. Acta est fabula, plaudite" which translates to "faster, higher, stronger. The play is over, applaud".https://www.nme.com/news/music/loona-announce-june-comeback-cryptic-new-teaser-2952654 LOONA announce June comeback, unveil cryptic new teaser Yeo Gladys June 1, 2021 NME June 1, 2021Mendez Michael https://www.elitedaily.com/entertainment/loona-and-release-date-tracklist/amp LOONA Is Coming Back With A New Album This Summer, So Get Ready For Bops May 31, 2021 Elite Daily June 26, 2021 The following day a teaser image titled "XII" was released featuring twelve eyes, confirming the return of member HaSeul, who did not take part in the group's last two promotional cycles to focus on her mental health.Jeon Hyo-jin https://sports.donga.com/article/all/20210602/107224984/1 ko:하슬 활동복귀...이달의 소녀, 28일 완전체 컴백 [공식] HaSeul's return to activity. LOONA will make a comeback as a whole on the 28th. (Official) June 2, 2021 Sports Donga ko June 2, 2021 HaSeul also opened up about doing group activities again saying:WATCH: LOONA returns as 12-member group with 'PTT (Paint the Town)' https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/music/loona-ptt-paint-the-town-music-video/ 2021-07-02 Rappler 29 June 2021 enhttps://www.nme.com/news/music/loona-announce-june-comeback-cryptic-new-teaser-2952654 LOONA make their much-anticipated return with 'PTT (Paint the Town)' & Yeo Gladys June 28, 2021 NME June 28, 2021 "Because it has been two years since I participated in a comeback, I prepared a lot for this one. I was really nervous preparing for this comeback, but my members helped me fill in where I was lacking. So I think that people will really be able to see our synergy as a group of 12." Individual member teaser pictures were released from June 3 to June 21 and a highlight medley video for the extended play was released on the group's YouTube channel on June 25. The track list for the album was revealed on June 10 and "PTT (Paint the Town)" was announced as the title track. Four different concept photos were also released for the extended play.Jeon Hyo-jin https://news.kstyle.com/m/article_amp.ksn?articleNo=2171337 今月の少女（LOONA）、ニューミニアルバム「＆」ハイライトメドレーを公開 June 26, 2021 Kstyle News ja June 26, 2021 The first trailer video titled "&" for the extended play was released on June 23 and it features member Kim Lip walking into a huge temple, overlapping with the scene for the video for her solo song "Eclipse". Then, a drum plays in the intense red lighting, heralding that the beginning of a huge worldview has risen, and Kim Lip, wearing a red school uniform connected to her solo and unit worldviews, stands on the altar located in the center of the temple.https://m.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=202106230953300410 '완전체 컴백' 이달의 소녀, 하나된 세계관 서막 열린다 Hwang Hye-jin June 23, 2021 ko Newsen June 27, 2021 Two other trailer videos titled "&2" and "&3" were also released.Loona shares fiery trailer for '[&]' EP https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Music/2021/06/24/korea-Loona-trailer/8531624556769/ Annie Martin 2021-07-02 UPI en Composition [&] features different sound that navigate from Bollywood-esque details, Korean ballad fairytale-like chimes and strings, quirky jazz, radio friendly power pop and dance-pop songs and ballads, and even the minimalistic traits of Korean indie R&B trends and rough lo-fi sounds. A. Bastardo Veronica July 15, 2021 K-pop twelve-piece Loona with an album of high contrasts and big emotions, finds Verónica A. Bastardo https://thequietus.com/articles/30211-loona-review 2021-07-16 The Quietus enko: 이달의 소녀, 6월 28일 컴백 확정 [공식] https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/018/0004944184 June 1, 2021 Naver News ko June 1, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210601013607/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/018/0004944184 live The extended play has been described as genre-diverse. Songs The intro song "&" gets the EP off to a dark, mysterious start, with its strong, thumping drum beats and hypnotic flute music leading into "PTT (Paint the Town)" which is a dance-pop and hip hop song that contains the most intense and "explosive" production among the songs that the group has released thus far. The song incorporates elements of Bollywood music, with Indian percussion and tabla combined with dubstep and 808 bass sounds, and an Indian flute playing the signature melody of the song. "PTT (Paint the Town)" depicts the group members' new worldview, as they reestablish themselves independently without being trapped in taboos or being wary of others to "paint the town" in the group's colors.Sangwoo Park 2021-06-28 ko:[알쓸신곡] 이달의 소녀, 신전에서 의식 치르는 듯 'PTT (Paint The Town)' https://news.joins.com/article/24093087 2021-07-04 중앙일보 ko "Wow" is a groovy jazz styled and broadway inspired song with bouncing tempo, a refreshing up-tempo melody and an upbeat chorus. "Be Honest" is an electropop song with fresh cord variations and sound effects and has an old school throwback sound. Member HyeJu (formerly Olivia Hye) compared the song to their 2018 single "Hi High" saying the song has a bright and fresh concept and a really refreshing vibe, which makes it a good song to listen to in the summer. "Dance On My Own" is the group's second full song in English following their 2020 single "Star", which was featured on the group's third extended play [12:00] in 2020. It is a chill midtempo power pop song about dancing alone and feeling yourself.Claire Dodson P. July 2, 2021 Taylor Swift & Big Red Machine, Rico Nasty, and LOONA: Best New Music https://www.teenvogue.com/story/taylor-swift-big-red-machine-rico-nasty-loona-best-new-music/amp July 4, 2021 Teen Vogue en "A Different Night" is a deep ballad featuring a dreamy and faint sound. The last track "U R" is an indie R&B and lo-fi song with an emotional piano and electric guitar.Lee Hana June 26, 2021 ko:이달의 소녀, 새 앨범 '&' 하이라이트 메들리 공개‥12인 12색 매력 https://m.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=202106261459532510 June 27, 2021 Newsen koYeo Gladys June 28, 2021 LOONA talk new mini-album '[&]', their favourite new tracks and the return of leader HaSeul https://www.nme.com/en_au/features/music-interviews/loona-ptt-paint-the-world-mini-album-and-interview-2979856?amp 2021-06-30 NME en Promotion To celebrate the release of the new extended play, the group hosted two online events, "Premier Greeting [D&D]", a fanmeet held on June 27, and an online concert, "ON WAVE [LOONATHEWORLD: &]", which took place on June 28.https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/loona-announce-4th-mini-album-and-release-june-2021 LOONA confirm 12-member comeback with announcement of 4th mini album, '[&]' May 31, 2021 Bandwagon Asia June 26, 2021June 2026 InternetArchiveBot The group performed at different music programs such as Mnet's M Countdown, KBS' Music Bank and MBC's Show! Music Core to promote the album. On July 9 one of the group's staff member tested positive for COVID-19. The group was tested for the virus through PCR testing and although all of the members results come out negative Blockberry announced that all promotional activities for the album were temporarily suspended and that the members will all go into self-quarantine starting from July 10 in order to prevent the spread of the virus and for the health and safety of the members.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/k-pop/music/news/loona-tests-negative-after-staff-member-contracts-covid-19-goes-into-self-quarantine/articleshow/84311590.cms LOONA tests negative after staff member contracts COVID-19, goes into self-quarantine July 11, 2021 Times of India July 17, 2021 On July 20, Loona and all their staff members were all retested for COVID-19 through PCR testing and everyone tested negative. The group resumed their promotional activities on July 22.Marian Belmis Victoria July 22, 2021 Self-Quarantine Over: BlockBerry Creative Announces LOONA Will Continue With Comeback Promotions! http://en.koreaportal.com/articles/50024/20210722/self-quarantine-over-blockberry-creative-announces-loona-will-continue-comeback.htm July 24, 2021 Korea PortalSee reliable sources list on WP:KO/RS June 2025 Singles "PTT (Paint the Town)" was released as the lead single from the extended play and the accompanying music video for the song was released the same day. Blockberry Creative partnered with Universal Music Japan for the first time to promote the album and the group's activities in Japan; an official Japanese page for the group was also created. A Japanese version of the title track was also released alongside the original Korean version, making it the group's first ever Japanese language song.https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/loona-release-4th-mini-album-comeback-%26-and-ptt-announce-japanese-debut-date-on-wave-concert-livestream-june-2021 LOONA return with 4th mini-album '[&]', announce Japanese debut in September 2021-06-28 2021-07-02 Bandwagon Asia Lau Elly 2021-06-28 https://web.archive.org/web/20210628100158/https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/loona-release-4th-mini-album-comeback-%26-and-ptt-announce-japanese-debut-date-on-wave-concert-livestream-june-2021 dead Critical reception IZM 3 5http://www.izm.co.kr/contentRead.asp?idx=30760&bigcateidx=1&subcateidx=3&view_tp=1 Album Review Loona – '[&]' IZM Korea Kim Seong-yeop July 5, 2021 July 5, 2021 November 2, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221102200426/http://www.izm.co.kr/contentRead.asp?idx=30760&bigcateidx=1&subcateidx=3&view_tp=1 dead NME 3 5https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/loona-ptt-paint-the-world-and-mini-album-review-2985501 LOONA – '[&]' review: weaving a diverse tapestry of sound, one unique colour at a time C Ruby July 5, 2021 July 5, 2021 NME Verónica A. Bastardo of The Quietus gave the extended play a very positive review calling all tracks on the album enjoyable. She called the group's sound an unexpected trip in each new music project and called their journey through sound just the beginning. She ended her review by saying: "Loona came back with an album that hits just right when you want to cement yourself as a pop reference in a worldwide music audience". Ruby C from NME gave extended play three out of five stars, saying that the overall direction Loona take on the extended play points out that the group is unafraid to experiment with music, even if it doesn't always work out. She remarked that this inclination to look beyond the routine will, undoubtedly, continue to set the girl group apart in the years to come. Awards and nominations The EP was nominated for Album Bonsang at the 36th Golden Disc Awards becoming the group's first ever album to be nominated in the category. + Awards and nominations for [&] Ceremony Year Award Result Ref. Golden Disc Awards 2022 Album Bonsang Golden Disc Awards – Nominees https://www.goldendisc.co.kr/en/nominees/digitalSound Golden Disc Awards December 9, 2021 December 8, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211208100911/https://www.goldendisc.co.kr/en/nominees/digitalSound live Commercial performance The EP debuted at number 4 on the South Korean Gaon Album Chart becoming the group's fifth consecutive top five album. The album sold 97,300 copies in its first two days of availability debuting at number 11 on the Gaon Monthly Albums Chart with only two days of tracking and becoming their fastest selling project.http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=06&hitYear=2021&termGbn=month ko:2021년 06월 Album Chart June 2021 Album Chart Gaon Chart July 8, 2021 December 10, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201210022043/http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=06&hitYear=2021&termGbn=month live The album sold 24,600 more copies in July placing at number 16 on the Gaon Monthly Albums Chart for July and becoming the group's best selling album. The EP debuted at number 48 on the Billboard Japan Download Albums chart becoming the group's first ever entry on an official Japanese chart. The following week the album debuted at number 46 on the main Japanese Oricon Albums Chart becoming the group's first ever entry. In the UK, the EP debuted at number 21 on the Official Album Downloads Chart for the week ending July 8, 2021 becoming the group's third consecutive top thirty entry on the chart. In the US, the EP debuted at number 14 on the US Billboard World Album, number 24 on the US Billboard Heatseekers Albums and number 59 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart. On the week ending July 22 the album debuted at number 49 on the Polish Albums Chart becoming the group's first ever charting album in the territory. Track listing [&] track listing Arrangement & Ryan S. Jhun Hanif Hitmanic Sabzevari Dennis DeKo Kordnejad Jhun Sabzevari Kordnejad 1:19 PTT (Paint the Town) Jhun Sabzevari Kordnejad YOUHA Jhun Sabzevari Kordnejad YOUHA Jhun Sabzevari Kordnejad 3:21 WOW YOUHA ALYSA Anna Timgren Harold Phillippon Jhun Alawn ALYSA Jhun 2:58 Be Honest Jo Yoon-kyung Christian Karlstrom Cazzi Opeia Ellen Berg Karlstrom Jhun Kordenejad 3:16 Dance On My Own Gino Barletta Melanie Joy Fontana Michel Schutz Nolan W. Sipe Schulz Schulz 2:37 A Different Night Yoon Hee-won (Chansline) Han Yeon-ji (Chansline) Yoon Hee-won (Chansline) Lee Gwan-hyoung (Chansline) Han Yeon-ji (Chansline) Hwang Chan-hee (Chansline) Lee Gwan-hyoung (Chansline) Han Yeon-ji (Chansline) 3:38 U R Jang Ju-na (Chansline) Park Shin-ae (Chansline) Choi Young-ah (Chansline) Jang Ju-na (Chansline) Park Shin-ae (Chansline) Choi Young-ah (Chansline) Hwang Chan-hee (Chansline) Jang Ju-na (Chansline) Park Shin-ae (Chansline) Choi Young-ah (Chansline) 3:04 20:16 Charts Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for [&] Chart (2021) PeakpositionOricon 46 2021-07-19 true July 14, 2021 Japan Download Albums (Billboard Japan)Japan Download Albums https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=dlalbums&year=2021&month=07&day=12 Billboard Japan ja July 7, 2021 48Poland 49 1378 true July 22, 2021 South Korean Albums (Gaon)http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=27&hitYear=2021&termGbn=week Gaon Album Chart – Week 27, 2021 Gaon Chart ko July 8, 2021 4 UK Digital Albums (OCC)Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100 (2 July 2021 – 8 July 2021) July 8, 2021 Official Charts Company https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-downloads-chart/20210702/7003/ 21 US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) 24BillboardIndependent 59 Loona true July 14, 2020BillboardWorld 14 Loona true July 14, 2020 Monthly charts + Monthly chart performance for [&] Chart (2021) Peakposition South Korean Albums (Gaon) 11 Year-end charts +Year-end chart performance for [&] Chart (2021) Position South Korean Albums (Gaon)http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=2021&hitYear=2021&termGbn=year&year_time=3 ko:2021년 Album Chart Gaon Chart ko https://web.archive.org/web/20220107022522/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=2021&hitYear=2021&termGbn=year&year_time=3 January 7, 2022 live January 7, 2022 82 Sales + Sales for [&] Region Sales Japan (Oricon) 648https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2021-07-19/p/5/ ja:週間 アルバムランキング 2021年07月19日付 Oricon Weekly Album Ranking dated July 19, 2021 Oricon News ja https://web.archive.org/web/20210714034032/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2021-07-19/p/5/ July 14, 2021 dead July 14, 2021 South Korea (Gaon) 132,193http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&termGbn=month ko:2021년 08월 Album Chart August 2021 Album Chart Gaon Music Chart September 10, 2021 Release history + Release history for [&] Region Date Format Label South Korea June 28, 2021 Digital download streaming CD Blockberry Creative Kakao Entertainment Japan Blockberry Creative Universal Music Japan Various Digital download streaming Blockberry Creative Warner Music Group Notes References Category:2021 EPs Category:Loona (group) EPs Category:Kakao M EPs Category:Universal Music Japan EPs