TXT’s Yeonjun made his solo debut last year with the quirky (and ultimately addictive) GGUM. Now, it’s time for him to try his hand at an album. No Labels arrives with plenty of hype in both Korean and international markets and promises to offer a fuller picture of his artistry (and body, if judging by … Continue reading
Given their status as a Japanese idol group, NCT Wish have been more active in Korea so far. This seems to be the trend for J-pop groups formed by K-pop agencies. However, they have new Japanese material on the horizon and they’re teasing that now with surprise pre-release Dreamcatcher. NCT Wish’s material has been extremely … Continue reading
Boy group NTX surprised me in the best way possible with their title track Over N Over earlier this year. That song adopted a second/third gen K-pop sound with anthemic gusto and instantly became a standout in their discography. Now, the guys have returned with more creative control and a sonic switch-up that sees them … Continue reading
After an exciting flash of energy with 2024’s Love Attack, girl group RESCENE retreated back to current girl group tropes for their work this year. Still, they’ve developed a small but passionate fan base and are set to expand those numbers with an upcoming album. Up first is pre-release Heart Drop. Honestly, all of these … Continue reading
Newbeat debuted earlier this year with a sound that was decidedly not for me. Their “new beat” included a surplus of irritating sing-talk and recycled samples we’ve heard a thousand times before from boy groups. But with a first comeback comes the chance to course correct. The version of Newbeat heard on Look So Good … Continue reading
I recently finished watching the JYP edition of The Game Caterers — a field day suite of games involving members of every active JYP group. The series was a lot of fun and I admired how agency COO J.Y. Park participated as well. It was like watching the principal of a school hang out with … Continue reading
XLOV’s genderless concept is so welcome in K-pop and makes me want to support the group wholeheartedly, but I’ve struggled with the disconnect between their image and their music. This summer’s 1&Only became a sleeper hit for me, but even then the song felt much too straightforward for XLOV’s ambitions. Sadly, new single Rizz is … Continue reading
After twenty-two years in the industry, TVXQ’s U-Know has finally unveiled his first full-length solo album. This project was preceded by Body Language, a track I found disappointing in almost every regard. Thankfully, title track Stretch feels much more aligned with U-Know’s incredible legacy. It’ll never not be weird to hear a TVXQ release minus … Continue reading
It’s hard to believe Sunmi has never released a full-length album until now. If we count her time with Wonder Girls, she’s been an active idol for eighteen years and a soloist for twelve. It’s a shame this album couldn’t have emerged when she was knocking out back-to-back classics like Heroine and Siren, but it’s … Continue reading
Two years since their debut, Kiss Of Life are pushing into the Japanese market with their first J-pop single. It’s hard not to wonder if this move comes as a pivot away from the western markets they had been pursuing up until their controversy earlier this year. Whatever the case, Lucky is a so-so debut … Continue reading
I’ll be honest: a shiver runs down my spine when I see a song title like “Eenie Meeny Miny Moe.” Nursery rhymes have been a part of pop music for decades, but K-pop likes to go overboard with the approach, utilizing their sing-song melodies for the basis of an entire song. Fifty Fifty’s quirky Pookie … Continue reading
There’s a large contingent of us (relatively) old K-pop fans who constantly reminisce about the industry’s “good old days.” I’m sure this is very annoying to younger fans who are immersed in K-pop’s present, and it’s natural for any music market to evolve as time goes on. But whatever era you determine to be your … Continue reading
In addition to actual debuts, “pre-debuts” have become a thing for K-pop idols. I’m not entirely sure what the point is apart from building hype without taking a huge financial risk, but the more music we get the better so I can’t complain. I.MET.U is an upcoming girl group from (checks notes) TikTok survival series … Continue reading
Despite emerging from a K-pop agency I have a lot of respect for, I’ve struggled to get into any of ARrC’s material so far. Their overall sound hasn’t been for me as most of the songs have relied on chanted or rapped hooks. Still, I try to approach each new comeback with a blank slate … Continue reading
There’s a certain type of song that’s hard to rate on this blog. It’s a piece of music that sounds objectively good but would never come close to being part of my own playlists. Such was the case with Miyeon’s pre-release Reno. I appreciated the direction she went with the track even if the music … Continue reading
Even as a fan who’s watched &TEAM gradually rise to “million sellers” in Japan, I was shocked by how well their Korean debut sold. It’s a solid album, and title track Back To Life has grown on me more with each day. The guys are wasting no time keeping the hype train going with a … Continue reading
It’s been over three years since we last heard new music from Winner’s Kang Seung Yoon. During that hiatus, he’s fulfilled his military service and taken time crafting a new full-length album. The fruits of his labor have finally arrived today in the form of new title track Me (美). Though I haven’t fallen for … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I compile my top three K-pop title tracks and list a ton of honorable mentions. In 2025, I thought I’d try something new and add a weekly feature to supplement my monthly round-up. Each Sunday, I’ll offer a compendium of the week’s new releases featured on the blog. And … 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
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. October 2025 Overall Thoughts October started slow as Chuseok celebrations caused a week or so of … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 