I spent the better part of my recent Boys Planet recaps complaining about the show’s predictable and dull formula. So, I’d like to offer a counterpoint to those complaints today. It’s not often I devote an entire post to a TV show, but I want to bring attention to what may be the best audition … Continue reading
You could say I’ve been hard on (G)I-DLE’s music so far, but everyone has their musical pet peeves and too many of their songs simply push the wrong buttons for me. However, I’m always ready to approach new music with an open mind, and pre-releases offer a great chance for acts to play a little … Continue reading
IVE’s music has reminded me just how important a good A&R team is. The ability to consistently choose great songs with a clear vision can’t be understated. But often when a K-pop act pursues the Japanese market, their material is determined by outside forces. There are many groups with lopsided discographies Korean/Japanese discographies (looking at … Continue reading
ONEUS’s pre-release Unforgettable has been a stealth attack on my playlist. It’s not one of their showier tracks, but its melodic through-line gives it high replay value. This is worth noting when writing about new title track Erase Me. The song has many strengths, but a through-line is not one of them. I don’t mean … Continue reading
The spring of 2023 will be characterized by a quartet of top-tier girl group releases. The results have been mixed so far, with IVE’s I Am throwing down the gauntlet in rousing fashion but LE SSERAFIM’s Unforgiven missing the mark. Now, aespa sweep us into the final stretch before (G)I-DLE bring things to a close … Continue reading
I’ve listened to Seventeen’s newest mini album exactly one time through. Unfortunately, their music is drifting further from what I first fell in love with back in 2015. This is natural for any artist, and it’s amazing how they continue to (mostly) self-produce so many years after debut. Title track Super has been enjoyable in … 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
Lately, I’ve been thinking about how “9+ rated songs” come to define a year for me. These are the songs that earn an “A-” or above on this blog, and they’re also the ones I go crazy over and replay throughout the year. This is not an exhaustive (or wholly accurate) way to measure the … Continue reading
+(KR)ystal Eyes is not some weirdly-structured math formula… it’s the second sub-unit from sprawling girl group tripleS! Their debut album (and delayed mv) were quietly released this week, heralded by the stylish Cherry Talk. The TripleS rollout is giving me strong LOONA vibes, not only from its multiple sub-units but from the nature of the … Continue reading
SM’s Station releases are often forgettable little trifles, but at their best they offer the chance for the agency’s artists to stretch their wings and record a song that wouldn’t fit on a typical idol album. Hybrid is a meeting of two giant voices. TVXQ’s Changmin is known for his powerful high notes, while Guckkasten’s … Continue reading
Days after hitting us with pre-release Tantara, iKON have delivered their first album under new management. And if title track U is any indication, the group is in a very happy place. This is their most upbeat single yet, offering their take on the popular disco-party sound. Given the song’s co-write from member Bobby, I … Continue reading
It’s been a tricky few years for us Kisumai fans, as new music trickles out in frustrating fits and starts. We became too spoiled with a full album and multiple singles each year, but the agency’s support of their music seems to have lessened as newer groups emerge. I suppose this is natural for any … 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. When listening to LE SSERAFIM’s new … Continue reading
Bang Yongguk has proven himself a strong solo artist and excellent producer for other acts. His music is more varied than I would have expected, blending rap, pop and rock into a mix that’s all his own. New single Ride Or Die harnesses elements of the popular synthwave trend and twists them to Yongguk’s own … Continue reading
BTOB and Apink occupy a similar space in K-pop. Both are early-2010’s debuts still going strong today. And both have accomplished this with music that tends to be pretty safe and pleasant. There’s a sense of security attached to these groups that’s become increasingly rare in the fast-paced K-pop industry. Wind And Wish (나의 바람) … Continue reading
Ahead of their album release next week, aespa have returned with the evocative Welcome to MY World (yes, the capitalization of “MY” is intentional!). Rather than hitting us over the head with intense hyperpop sounds, the track offers a more languid energy. Welcome to MY World builds gradually, moving from downbeat, rock-influenced trap-pop to symphonic … Continue reading
We’re in the middle of a girl group gauntlet, with K-pop’s most popular acts making a string of comebacks this spring. Today, it’s LE SSERAFIM’s turn. Their one-two punch of Fearless and Antifragile helped define 2022, but new single Unforgiven reverts to tropes better left on the cutting room floor. My first thought upon hearing … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade. April 2023 Overall Thoughts I’ve been complaining about K-pop a lot this year, but April was … 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
Rather than contain my “Risers and Fallers” feature to a single post in June, I’m going to share a bite-sized version at the end of each month. This will let me account for more songs and make a nice lead-in to the monthly round-up post. I anticipate most of these ratings adjustments will be negligible: … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 