Every once and awhile, we get a song so ridiculous and so misguided that I wonder if we’ve gone past ‘traditional K-pop release’ and moved right into parody. If you told me Macaroni Cheese was part of some SNL skit lampooning the K-pop industry, the track would make much more sense. But no, this is … Continue reading
YOUNITE have struggled to match the pure funk of their pre-debut single, pinballing between genres to no avail. They’ve settled on this light, airy pop sound that’s quite innocuous, and new track Love It (정했어) perfectly illustrates the limitations of this style. In short, writing about Love It is like reviewing air. Every time I … Continue reading
A new Sunmi single is something to be excited about, even if last year’s Heartburn didn’t do much for me. After a brief foray with different producers, she’s reunited with longtime collaborator Frants for Stranger. The song mashes together many of her musical hallmarks to create an odd, ungainly product. There’s half of a good … Continue reading
Jay Chang is making an event of his debut, releasing two title tracks in one day. If you haven’t already, make sure to check out my thoughts on his New Jack Swing-indebted Rockstar. The second track I’ll Be There dials things back but retains focus on his clear, confident vocals. First off, I can’t get … Continue reading
E’Last delivered a great chorus with February’s Thrill, but struggled to form an equally engaging song around it. However, the highlight medley for their new album sounds as if it’s ripped straight from K-pop’s second generation — a hallowed era in my eyes. And, new single Kiss Me Baby takes them in a decidedly funkier … Continue reading
Jay Chang made a name for himself on this year’s Boys Planet. Though he didn’t become a member of ZEROBASEONE, he captured attention with his strong vocals and natural presence. Rockstar is one of two title tracks from his debut album, the second of which will be revealed later today. It’s a little funny calling … Continue reading
I couldn’t tell you how either of rookie group Queenz Eye’s singles sound, though I covered one on the blog earlier this summer. However, they’ve caught my ear with new track This Is Love by taking a more melodic approach that puts their vocals at the forefront. To be fair, This Is Love is only … 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
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. TXT’s new album has exactly two … Continue reading
With so many of this year’s Bias List reviews touching upon similar themes, it seems like a good time to pause and take stock of where we’re at in K-pop’s continued evolution. Though there are always outliers, it’s possible to chart the industry’s growth through a number of musical trends – some transposed from outside … Continue reading
IVE’s singles run has been pretty bulletproof so far, but the lead-up to their first EP has underwhelmed at every step. Starship Entertainment opted to promote three new tracks with music videos, which would be awesome if each one was on the level of an After Like or I Am. Instead, pre-releases Either Way and … Continue reading
TXT continue to push into global markets, building upon their winter smash Sugar Rush Ride with English and Spanish language collaborations featuring Jonas Brothers and Anitta. Both tracks are present on their new album (minus Anitta), offering a taste of different genres. Meanwhile, new single Chasing The Feeling is the latest in a long line … Continue reading
It’s interesting to consider where IMP. would be if they had stuck with the agency-that-will-soon-not-be-called-Johnny’s. They’d likely have years to go before debut, spending their weeks performing on The Shounen Club as juniors instead. But just months after joining the newly-formed TOBE, they’re on their third single with a physical release scheduled for November. This … Continue reading
The other day, I took a retrospective look at Mamamoo’s debut track Mr. Ambiguous. It was a fun trip down memory lane, but it also reminded me that it’s been years since I’ve really connected to one of their songs. That includes solo work. The ladies are so talented and charismatic, but their recent music … Continue reading
Soloist Jini was briefly a member of JYP girl group NMIXX before leaving at the end of last year. Free from the “mixxpop” concept and backed by a new agency, she’s returned with her first EP. More and more, K-pop soloists have been leading the charge for new sounds, unburdened by structural constraints that often … Continue reading
Though we only had a pre-release to go by, I couldn’t find much in last week’s Sure Thing to convince me of 82MAJOR’s potential. It was a nice song, for sure. But these days, K-pop is overstuffed with “nice songs.” Now that they’ve made their official debut, it’s time to see what this group can … Continue reading
After two pre-releases with contrasting energies, boy group POW have finally made their official debut. Judging from their album’s highlight medley, last month’s Favorite (a grower!) sounded like the best they had to offer, leaving title track Dazzling as a curiously subdued pop track. Of course, “subdued” is in vogue this year so I guess … Continue reading
Though past reviews might not suggest so, I’m very eager to board the Xdinary Heroes train. I’ve got my ticket on standby, waiting for the right song to coax me into the train car. After all, I love idol rock music and — judging by DAY6’s output — JYP Entertainment actually has a decent track … Continue reading
Despite only releasing music for about a year, the tripleS universe has already spawned a sizable catalog. These releases have mostly been split into units, though the overall aesthetic is pretty similar across the different groups. Fans of this cohesive vibe will be delighted to see another new unit make their debut. For me, many … Continue reading
Cube Entertainment’s girl group that’s not (G)I-DLE continues their ‘one comeback a year’ streak. I don’t mean this as a diss to LIGHTSUM — more as frustration with agency’s ability to promote them properly. How are you supposed to develop a fanbase with such infrequent releases? Making matters worse, their ranks are down to six … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 