The annual Bias List Legendary Songs Inauguration Ceremony has returned! Yes, I’m a few months late on this, but it’s been a busy year of new releases and I was waiting for an empty day to compose this feature. It’s exceedingly rare for me to award any song a 10-out-of-10 rating on release day. Instead, … Continue reading
More than anything, NewJeans’ music has become an interesting excuse to analyze pop music expectations and preferences. It’s increasingly clear that their songs are designed to be streamed over and over again in a loop. They don’t exhaust listeners with big, glitzy pop peaks. Their melodies are simple and sleek, often delivered in an aloof … Continue reading
Dear K-pop gods, I beseech you. Please, please rekindle your ability to craft an upbeat summer track that isn’t 85% exuberant chanting and melodies in nursery rhyme style. These elements can be fun in moderation, but too much of this fizzy sugar rush results in fatigue and stomach pain. I dig Kick-Start‘s punky guitars, and … Continue reading
I’ll be forever side-eying DSP Media for abandoning Mirae’s promising futuristic concept to turn them into just-another-boy-group. Since then, their music then has seen highs and lows but lacks continuity and vision. Jump is another sonic swerve, borrowing elements from early-90’s hip hop and fusing them to a rather pedestrian song. I like this group … Continue reading
Though Hui didn’t score enough votes to join project group ZEROBASEONE, he’s able to leverage his stint on Boys Planet for increased attention on his group and solo work. This is the guy who co-wrote the mighty Energetic, so I have faith he’s still got incredible things up his sleeve. Whale is not one of those … Continue reading
Hours before his military enlistment, iKON’s Jay has dropped his first EP. As the group’s main vocalist, his solo sound offers a sensual atmosphere and plenty of space to show off his voice. Blue Moon is pleasing in a purely aesthetic way, but barely registers as a song. Blue Moon is brittle and slight, driven … Continue reading
Sub-unit Mamamoo+ are making a relatively quick comeback after releasing their single album this March. Like last time, they’ve kicked things off with a pre-release. Save Me (지구에 혼자 남게 된다면) lowers the tempo for a vocal showcase in keeping with Mamamoo’s strengths. As beautifully as this may be performed, Save Me feels like musical … Continue reading
The MBTI personality test is one of those popular trends that’s totally passed me by, but NCT Dream’s pre-release Broken Melodies has only grown stronger with time. So even though I have no idea what an “ISTJ” is (Google says an ‘Introverted, Observant, Thinking, and Judging’ personality), I’m eager to check it out. This song … 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. It’s been a packed week for … Continue reading
Naniwa Danshi released their second album Popmall this week, and it’s being promoted by two contrasting songs. These tracks represent the duality of the group’s music, and can be best described by this well-known meme: The ebullient Poppin’ Hoppin’ Lovin’ is fun but kind of exhausting. I’m much more drawn to LAI-LA-LA, which feels like … Continue reading
Somehow, early-00’s Craig David has emerged as the biggest influence on this week’s K-pop (and K-pop adjacent) releases. We’re hearing a ton of garage-inspired tracks, but none have managed to pair those addictive beats with songs compelling enough to transcend the homage. To call Seven a much-anticipated release would be putting it lightly. Many of … Continue reading
(G)I-DLE are the latest in a long line of K-pop acts recording English-language material with with the aim of further global expansion. Given the… interesting… nature of this group’s English-language lyrics so far, a full song may not seem like the most exciting prospect. However, paired with influential music company 88rising, (G)I-DLE have leaned into … Continue reading
EXO are one of my “K-pop A-Z” artists, and that means I’ve committed to write about anything they release in perpetuity. So, here are my thoughts about every track from their new Exist album! 1. Cream Soda // 2. Regret It // 3. Hear Me Out // 4. Private Party // 5. Cinderella // 6. … Continue reading
Debuting in 2019, Exile Tribe’s Battle Of Tokyo is one of the coolest projects developed by any entertainment company. It brings together the agency’s Jr.Exile groups under fictional guises in a futuristic battle royale. It’s a multimedia project, including videos, books and — of course — music. This week, the third chapter in the series … Continue reading
For years now, many fans have been asking for a more “mature” concept from Twice. The use of that word “mature” always gives me pause. Who decided that slower, darker songs are automatically “mature”? I’d venture to say I’m older (maybe not more mature, though!) than the majority of K-pop fans. However, I still prefer … Continue reading
EXO are one of my “K-pop A-Z” artists, and that means I’ve committed to write about anything they release in perpetuity. So, here are my thoughts about every track from their new Exist album! 1. Cream Soda // 2. Regret It // 3. Hear Me Out // 4. Private Party // 5. Cinderella // 6. … Continue reading
Look, it’s been a rough year for K-pop tunes. I’ll take a banger wherever I can find one, and if that means approaching some glorified Pepsi jingle with great anticipation, so be it. Of course, I Want is no ordinary Pepsi jingle. We have IVE onboard for this one, and their upbeat, melodic music has … Continue reading
EXO are one of my “K-pop A-Z” artists, and that means I’ve committed to write about anything they release in perpetuity. So, here are my thoughts about every track from their new Exist album! 1. Cream Soda // 2. Regret It // 3. Hear Me Out // 4. Private Party // 5. Cinderella // 6. … Continue reading
EXO are one of my “K-pop A-Z” artists, and that means I’ve committed to write about anything they release in perpetuity. So, here are my thoughts about every track from their new Exist album! 1. Cream Soda // 2. Regret It // 3. Hear Me Out // 4. Private Party // 5. Cinderella // 6. … Continue reading
