Whenever an artist scores a top spot in my year-end countdowns, my ears are wide open for their follow-up. More often than not, I’m underwhelmed. That’s just the way these things go. Alice’s Dance On is a difficult track to improve upon, and Show Down doesn’t come close. But, it still retains the group’s upbeat … Continue reading
DRIPPIN unveiled a fruitful era last year with their multi-part Villainz project, scoring two spots in my top ten K-pop songs of 2022. Much of that was due to the involvement of production team Newtype, who continue to work with the group on new single Seven Sins. Unsurprisingly, the song is solid. But, its sound … Continue reading
It’s weird being a massive fan of a group while simultaneously wiping a segment of their discography from your mind. You’d be hard-pressed to find a bigger Golden Child supporter in the K-pop review community, yet I have no place in my music collection for the Japanese material they’ve been saddled with. Listening to a … Continue reading
Even though they’ve been around since 2019, I’ve never written about MUSTB before. On busy K-pop days, I don’t often get to the industry’s more underrated groups, but that doesn’t mean they’re incapable of releasing good music. With no expectations going in, I’m actually quite charmed by Royalty. Its piano loop and full-throated vocal performance … Continue reading
It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Highlight’s Gikwang. For me, his solo career has been a mixed bag with strong title tracks and so-so albums. 2019’s Don’t Close Your Eyes (D.C.Y.E) is a personal favorite, but new single Predator gives it a run for its money. Gikwang has found his sweet spot in … Continue reading
With Can’t Stop Shining, Tempest were well on their way toward becoming my favorite boy group of this new K-pop generation. Then, Dragon happened. I came around to that song eventually, but the lack of continuity between the group’s releases gave me pause. I tend to prefer acts with a clear vision and sound rather … Continue reading
This subunit name is a mouthful, isn’t it? Rather than opt for something more streamlined (“NCT V” was right there, SM!), the powers-that-be have smashed together the names of this trio, “Brangelina” style. DOJAEJUNG unites NCT vocalists Doyoung, Jaehyun and Jungwoo. Too often, vocal-based sub-units are relegated to ballads or coffeeshop fare. But, there’s nothing … Continue reading
I wasn’t going to recap Boys Planet (and technically, I’m still not doing it), but I’m watching the series and thought others might appreciate a spot to discuss it. So, each week I plan on dumping a few of my random thoughts about the show. Again, this will not be a full, detailed recap. But, … 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. As I anticipated, the hook of … 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. IVE’s I Am is by far … 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. Earlier this year, Kep1er released Japanese … Continue reading
Well, we finally have another soft drink anthem to compete with NewJeans’ Zero. Between these two tracks, Coca Cola has to be pretty stoked — especially since both revolve around a chorus that’s essentially a repeated incantation of their product. Even though it feels like one, I don’t think Yeeun’s Cherry Coke is an actual CF. … Continue reading
Camellia (얼어있는 길거리에 잠시라도 따듯한 햇빛이 내리길) acts as a pre-release for Just B’s upcoming comeback and a taste of what the members can do when self-composing. In K-pop, self-composed tracks are usually slower and more contemplative in nature. I’m not sure why this is beyond the fact that many idols seem to prefer coffeehouse-style … Continue reading
First off, the phrase “blank effect” pretty much describes my reaction to the majority of K-pop this year! Secondly, I really like Park Jihoon as an idol but often struggle to embrace the music he makes. When he hits it out of the park, the result is super impressive — like this or this. But … Continue reading
DreamNote’s Blue was a refreshing palette cleanser — a pre-release that showcased their vocals and brought a shot of emotion to their underrated discography. As its title might suggest, Lemonade is much brighter and bubblier. As far as this specific K-pop style goes, Lemonade is a solid example. There’s not much critique I can offer … Continue reading
Lee Chaeyeon’s debut album was a quirky introduction that stood out. It seemed to promise an interesting musical future for the soloist, and if WM Entertainment’s track record is anything to go by, we’re in for a wild ride. New single Knock is another step in the right direction, though it falls short of becoming … Continue reading
Sometimes a song’s first few seconds tell you all you need to know. X:IN’s Keeping The Fire opens with a limp brass loop — a style popularized by songs like BLACKPINK’s Kill This Love. Of K-pop’s many tropes, this is one of my least favorites and almost guarantees a track will be anchored by some … Continue reading
It’s been almost a year since we heard from KARD, and to be honest I can’t remember much about their last title track. But, they’ve made a subtle sonic shift for new single Without You – opting for a club-ready sound that retains many of the elements that made them popular in the first place. … Continue reading
In my mind, IVE are the most exciting girl group working in K-pop right now. This bore out across 2022, as they blitzed the market with a succession of addicting (and highly successful) singles. While incorporating popular trends, their music aims for the pop jugular in a way few others do. They’re not afraid of … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 