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THIS WEEK IN K-POP: Ranking the New Releases from January 18 – 24

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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 your own rankings as well. The comments section of these posts is also a great spot to discuss anything that has happened in K-pop during the week.

Make sure to click on the title of any release to read the full review and see its initial rating. Consider this your one stop Bias List shop each and every Sunday!

2025 Archive

2026 Index: Jan 4 – Jan 10 // Jan 11 – Jan 17

Notable B-sides:

AxMxP – Punch-Drunk // Thereafter

KickFlip – Hyper Slide

ONEUS – Stop & Move

Notable J-pop by K-pop Artists:

none

THIS WEEK: January 18 – 24

9. AxMxP – PASS

8. 1VERSE – WABIF (Wide Awake Before I Fall)

7. ONEUS – Grenade

6. Catch The Young – Amplify

5. ZEROBASEONE – Roses

4. TNX – Call Me Back

3. dodree – Just Like a Dream

2. idntt – Yes We Are

1. EXO – Crown (song of the week)

15 thoughts on “THIS WEEK IN K-POP: Ranking the New Releases from January 18 – 24”

  1. Objectively speaking, there’s no doubt EXO’s Crown is the best song this week. After that, I’d say:

    TNX – Call Me Back

    1verse – WIBIF

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  2. Without all the distractions and noise of the mv, Crown is actually incredible! It sounds like something that could’ve been in the EXODUS album.

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  3. Notable B-sides:

    AxMxP – Punch-Drunk // Thereafter

    Catch the Young – From Now On – Super nostalgic sound for me. Reminds me a little of my dad’s music he made us listen to in the car growing up 😆

    KickFlip – Hyper Slide

    ONEUS – STOP & MOVE

    THIS WEEK: January 18 – 24

    9. 1VERSE – WABIF (Wide Awake Before I Fall)

    8. AxMxP – PASS

    7. ONEUS – Grenade

    6. dodree – Just Like a Dream

    5. TNX – CALL ME BACK

    4. ZEROBASEONE – ROSES

    3. idntt – Yes We Are – Their sound is similar to TripleS, yet better so far. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s the lack of lalalas. Pretty Boy Swag has also been a highlight for me this month. I’m looking forward to what they’ll do next.

    2. EXO – Crown

    1. Catch the Young – Amplify – I have no idea why I like this so much, but it’s been stuck in my head all week.

    I’m somewhat excited for KiiiKiii tomorrow.

    Mostly I’m just waiting for January to be over and hoping IVE and TWS will save K-Pop again in February 🙏 

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    • Ah! I forgot that KickFlip song. Will add that now 🙂

      I’m hearing the IVE pre-release (?) is another Dem Jointz production so my expectations are definitely tempered. Hopefully the song he produced is just a b-side.

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      • Oh, I hadn’t heard about that. Staship seems to be obsessed with Dem Jointz at the moment. Didn’t they have a Ryan Jhun  phase before? I wonder who it will be next.

        I have enjoyed Dem Jointz’s work with IDID and KiiiKiii, but the style of music he makes isn’t really what I’m looking for from IVE.

        Still, a below average IVE single would be better than 90% of the stuff released this month imo 😂 

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    • At this point I need *anyone* to come and save us because these past two months have been BARREN.

      But yeah… I have no idea what’s taking NouerA so long. The only rumors I’ve heard is that EXO’s Lay is producing the new album, which makes me… worried.

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      • Oh no, the ghastly visions of beloved NouerA speaking “I’m lit! Brrt brrt! Lit lit lit lit” on top of lifeless, skeletal trap beats and an actual sheep sound for the extra horror just popped up in my mind and now I’m already traumatized

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    • since NouerA’s latest release: Close Your Eyes has had two comebacks, AHOF and IDID both debuted and had a comeback, NCT WISH released two minis, Stray Kids released a full album and an EP and soon ZB1 will have done the same, etc. 🤯😭😬

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  5. nick in my opinion you shouldn’t die without diving deeper into latin pop, its actually much more diverse than the mainstream makes it out to be and im having lots of fun discovering new artists and songs

    let me know your thoughts on these songs listed below!

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