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
Author Archives: Nick
New & Noteworthy J-pop of the Week (November 15, 2026)
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
Buried Treasure: A2O Soul – Moonlight Shadow
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. A2O Soul’s debut EP is uniformly … Continue reading
Buried Treasure: NCT Dream – Pressure
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. Once I got past its cringier … Continue reading
Song Review: ENHYPEN – I Want You
ENHYPEN’s “spin-off” single I Want You isn’t scheduled for release until November 20th, but they’ve premiered the music video early. I’m not sure why this choice was made, as it seems to put their promotion on a collision course with the upcoming comeback from their HYBE peers TXT, but for better or worse we have … Continue reading
ALL(H)OURS: A Career In Song Ratings
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
Song Review: H1-KEY – Unbelievable
You know a K-pop trend has truly taken hold when it starts to morph the sound of an established artist’s discography. H1-KEY have experimented with genres before, but kept a melodic rock core to most of their work. And how awesome could that be if paired with the thumping dance beats that are currently in … Continue reading
Song Review: ATEEZ – Up
A couple of weeks ago, ATEEZ pre-released the first taste of their new album with Drip. Its relatively flat, repetitive approach seemed to build off the assumed recipe for Bad‘s overwhelming success. However, teasers for the album’s title track Up promised a return to the bombastic sound the group first developed with their debut-era Treasure … Continue reading
IZNA: A Career In Song Ratings
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
Song Review: Lucy – Again!
Lucy released an ambitious fifteen-track album earlier this year, divided between new material and re-recordings of older songs. Now, to cap off 2026 they’re back with new single Again! (다시). As has been the style for some of their music videos in the past, this one’s entirely animated. When I first got into Lucy in … Continue reading
Grading the K-Pop Agencies 2026: HYBE CORPORATION
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
WOODZ: A Career In Song Ratings
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
Song Review: EL CAPITXN – Sing This Song For Me (ft. Jagwar Twin & The Social Reject Choir)
Though we can’t really call this K-pop, I need to write about the new EL CAPITXN single anyway. For those unfamiliar with him, EL CAPITXN debuted as the main vocalist of underrated boy group History. However, he developed a condition that affected his vocals and can no longer sing the way he used to. Because … Continue reading
Song Review: Aimers – 100
It’s been over a year since we last heard from boy group Aimers. That’s long enough for the group to reinvent their sound, though to be honest I can’t quite place what their sound was in the first place. Their discography feels like a grab bag of different songs they just happen to be performing. … Continue reading
Song Review: Doh Kyung Soo (EXO’s D.O.) – Darling
D.O. released a very strong mini album in September and its title track is still charting today. Even so, he’s made a quick comeback with new digital single Darling. This song is more in line with what many would expect from him, offering sentimental balladry just at the time of year Korean charts tend to … Continue reading
ARTMS: A Career In Song Ratings
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
Song Review: LNGSHOT – Bananas
Jay Park’s LNGSHOT made their debut early in the year and have steadily released material since, but are finally embarking on their first official comeback today. Title track Bananas arrives on the heels of last month’s pre-release Masterpiece, which… didn’t exactly live up to its namesake. Bananas is more aptly-titled, yet no less frustrating. We’ve … Continue reading
RAIN: A Career In Song Ratings
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
Song Review: XLOV – Tooth Gem Chiwawa
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
Song Review: KEYVITUP – NAGARI
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