There are a number of acts who have debuted in the past few decades and have dozens of song ratings on this blog. I thought it would be fun to lay these ratings out in chronological order, line-graph style, and take a macro view of their careers so far. Then, similar to my “Underrated K-pop” … Continue reading
Despite my interest in their concept, I haven’t yet become a fan of XLOV’s musical output. However, one song on their new album stood out to me, and not just because of its unique title. Tooth Gem Chiwawa (투스젬치와와) comes closer to fashioning the kind of offbeat electronic pop the group seem to be pursuing. … Continue reading
iNKODE Entertainment’s choice to debut two boy groups this year has been ambitious, but has also sacrificed their ability to actively promote both. KEYVITUP arrived first and benefited from a string of promoted tracks on their first EP, while second-in-line VAYONN have settled for one mini album in 2026. Now, KEYVITUP have returned with their … Continue reading
The ITZY members have gradually unfurled their solo debuts over the past two years. 2025 saw the release of Yeji’s first album, while Yuna made her solo debut earlier this year. Next up is Chaeryeong, who is often referred to as one of the most skilled dancers of her generation. Because of this, her own … Continue reading
After pre-releasing album opener The Sun last month, NCT Dream are embarking on their first project since founding member Mark Lee left to go solo. And with title track Boogie Woogie, they’ve returned to their bright, upbeat roots. I’d like to think there’s no age limit on fun bubblegum pop music, but it does become … Continue reading
When A2O Lite and A2O Soul released their first songs last month, each act had different chart fortunes. Lite lodged their super-hit Neon at the top of the charts almost instantly, while Soul’s Superstar never reached those heights but enjoyed a smaller, steady climb. This is pretty typical of how boy and girl groups function … 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
It’s that time of year again! While December is filled with year-end countdowns, I like to take a look back at some of K-pop’s biggest agencies during November. Before reading (especially if you’re new to the blog), it’s helpful to know that my grading focuses most heavily on music releases and how comebacks are managed … Continue reading
There are a number of acts who have debuted in the past few decades and have dozens of song ratings on this blog. I thought it would be fun to lay these ratings out in chronological order, line-graph style, and take a macro view of their careers so far. Then, similar to my “Underrated K-pop” … Continue reading
Ah, XG. They’re one of those J-pop/global groups with enough K-pop crossover that Bias List readers have come to expect a write-up each time they release new music. With the way markets are zig-zagging into one another these days, it can be hard to know what to cover on this blog. For their part, XG … Continue reading
After leaving SM Entertainment and NCT, Mark Lee has started to carve out a solo career in what seems to be easy-listening, Christian music. I’m neither a fan of easy-listening nor a religious person, so I’m not sure I totally understand what makes a song like this good, but I do know what makes music … Continue reading
It’s always telling which day and time K-pop artists release new music. Those releasing early in the week tend to target the domestic market and Korea’s nearer neighbors, while those adhering to America’s “New Music Friday” (ie: 12am, US Eastern time) tend to compete in a more global market. P1Harmony have long been favorites of … Continue reading
There are a number of acts who have debuted in the past few decades and have dozens of song ratings on this blog. I thought it would be fun to lay these ratings out in chronological order, line-graph style, and take a macro view of their careers so far. Then, similar to my “Underrated K-pop” … Continue reading
Rather than opt for one big comeback, HITGS have spent the year doling out digital singles every couple of months as part of their Things We Dream project. While blitzing the market like this can be a nice strategy, it’s difficult to gain traction this way unless you’re already an established name. New single BRB … Continue reading
Dragon Pony made a stellar debut back in 2024, right as the new wave of K-idol bands were beginning to roll out. Two years later, there’s a ton of competition in this space running the gamut of sounds and styles. For me, the two factors that have always helped Dragon Pony stand out are their … Continue reading
Heart Of Woman debuted with a refreshing take on the seemingly endless Y2K trend in K-pop, but their album was more of a mixed bag. This unpredictability continued with recent pre-release Melt, which hitched its wagon to another oft-(over)used K-pop trend: subdued “beige pop.” And if you thought the whiplash was over, be prepared to … Continue reading
Today marks the debut of a new group with a new acronym. So, of course I had to look up what “ADAP” stands for. I was hoping for something completely bonkers, but was instead met with the sweet and predictable “All Dreams Are Possible.” Sadly, all dreams are not possible in the cutthroat world of … Continue reading
After releasing one of the year’s most promising debuts, poor UNCHILD have been put through the ringer. Their first comeback TiNG TiNG was initially teased for early September, yet days before its release the project was indefinitely postponed. I’ve seen enough K-pop agencies and acts fold over the years to fear that we might never … Continue reading
There are a number of acts who have debuted in the past few decades and have dozens of song ratings on this blog. I thought it would be fun to lay these ratings out in chronological order, line-graph style, and take a macro view of their careers so far. Then, similar to my “Underrated K-pop” … Continue reading
