The co-ed ChoCo1 x ChoCo2 debuted earlier this year with a bit of online controversy that felt manufactured to spawn discussion. The actual music was quite dire, reheating sounds popularized by ALLDAY PROJECT last year. Now, they’re back promoting b-side Frenzy. This one’s more palatable than its predecessor but still struggles to justify the group’s … Continue reading
AB6IX are back today with their third full-length album. This comes during the year of their contract renewal. It will be interesting to see what they decide to do. After a strong commercial start, the group has occupied a mid-to-low tier space that sees them consistently releasing music but rarely making any waves. New single … Continue reading
Since debut, ALL(H)OURS have stuck to a bombastic sound, fusing huge beats to catchy chants. This formula has often thrown melody to the curb in favor of other aspects, and that’s been the one missing piece that has prevented me from becoming absolutely obsessed with their singles. I wish I could sit their producers down … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I compile my top three K-pop title tracks and list a ton of honorable mentions. But each Sunday, I’ll offer a compendium of the week’s new releases featured on the blog. And even more than that, I’ll attempt to rank them from my least-to-most-liked. I invite you to share … Continue reading
In connection with my desire to fully keep up with the J-pop industry, I’m planning to do a weekly round-up of any new releases that have caught my ear. Some of these may have been covered on the blog already, but my hope is that this will become a one-stop shop for anyone interested in … Continue reading
Seventeen’s Hoshi may be away from the industry serving his mandatory military enlistment, but that doesn’t stop music from being released. New single Baby, Honey (아기자기) surprise drops on a Saturday, which is quite unusual for K-pop. Maybe more plugged-in Hoshi fans than I can explain if there’s specific significance to the date March 14th. … Continue reading
A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. There are some idols that you … Continue reading
Thus far in their career, Odd Youth have favored chirpy sing-talk and zealous chants. Needless to say, this isn’t a combination that tends to appeal to me, but they’re now over a year into promotions and it’s time to move things in a slightly more streamlined direction. Babyface does just that, maintaining their youthful energy … Continue reading
Modern K-pop has dramatically switched its lyrical focus from external storytelling, centered on the “you” or “they”, to boastful screeds that fully revolve around the “I”. “I’m so badass.” “I’m cooler than anyone else.” “I’m UNIQUE.” This bleeds into the music itself, which is often more combative and hits like a structural punch instead of … Continue reading
Rookies AtHeart returned with a dull pre-release last month, making me hope they’d saved their best material for their album’s title track. Butterfly Doors offers a slightly different taste, but sadly I remain underwhelmed by the music. This song marries several youthful elements (nursery rhyme melodies in the verses — icy, music box-esque synth) with … Continue reading
Rookies Baby DONT Cry have a new mini album on the horizon, but like so many of their peers they’re kicking off promotions with a pre-release. I enjoyed their last title track I DONT CARE quite a bit and Shapeshifter continues its pop-forward sound, sadly leaving the anthemic synths behind. The energy is less bombastic … Continue reading
The K-pop industry is in dire need of some eccentricity. Sure, there’s a subdued quirkiness to many of its recent visuals, but this approach has become so cut-and-paste and rubber stamped by corporations that it feels more mainstream than it seeks to be. There is no act reliably delivering the colorful madness of previous groups … Continue reading
One thing that’s surprised me most about 2026 in K-pop is the sheer number of active bands in the idol industry. It feels like everyone’s strapping on a guitar these days — or maybe they’ve all just been making comebacks/debuts during the first few months of the year. Dragon Pony were ahead of the trend, … Continue reading
LOONA spin-off Loossemble are currently without an agency, unable to release new music since 2024. As a salve for anxious fans, their youngest member YeoJin has returned today with a solo track. Sugar Talk will likely please those in the mood for a vibey LOONAVERSE track, even if it sounds like “easy listening” to me. … Continue reading
Are you in the mood for a K-pop song that sounds like a hostage situation? Well, I’ve got just the track for you! ALLDAY PROJECT are the latest act to team up with video game franchise PUBG for a soundtrack release. I Don’t Bargain is unflinching in its aggression and represents the worst instincts of … Continue reading
It’s been more and more common for groups to film music videos for follow up tracks. It’s a great way for rookies to keep their name in public discourse and have one more chance for a legitimate hit right out of the gate. Just a couple of weeks since their debut, DAILY:DIRECTION are already back … Continue reading
When it comes to HYBE groups, aoen have had a curiously subdued rollout. You never hear much about them and they’ve pretty much stuck to their homebase of Japan rather than attempt to intermix with the K-pop industry. So far, they’ve released a few decent songs but haven’t established anything close to their own sound. … Continue reading
Onew’s prolific streak as a solo artist continues with another mini album. His solo work has largely shifted between ballads and quirky (but subdued) dance tracks. New single Tough Love splits the difference, moving between moments of vocal heft and jagged electronic breakdowns. At the very least, this music is more interesting than what most … Continue reading
The K-pop industry seems intent on messing with me this year. NouerA were one of my favorite rookies of 2025, with two mini albums full of fantastic music that drew influence from older generations of K-pop. Led by producer e.one, they forged a sound that felt unique and impressive. With new single Pop It Like, … Continue reading
KickFlip were the first group I wrote about in 2025 and my coverage became more and more positive as the year went on. As often happens in this case, I ended up going back to their older songs and enjoying them much more than I did at first. They’re now a group I actively look … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 