Twice’s Nayeon made her solo debut in June of 2022 with the splashy, addictive Pop. Now, almost two years later to the day, she’s picked up where she left off with the even splashier ABCD. There may still be room to grow, but in this era of flattened, fluttery earworms it’s refreshing to hear something … Continue reading
BOL4 transitioned to a solo act four years ago, but new single Lips recalls their days as a duo by enlisting aespa’s Giselle as guest rapper. This is a smart feature, as aespa are currently red hot on the charts and BOL4 could use a burst of rekindled public attention. To be honest, there’s only … Continue reading
For a time between 2017 and 2021, Sunmi delivered at least one mega-banger a year, cementing herself as one of K-pop’s most consistent soloists. The past two years have been less compelling, with 2022’s Heart Burn and 2023’s Stranger feeling like lesser versions of superior Sunmi tracks. New single Balloon In Love marks a sonic … Continue reading
It’s been a rough couple of weeks for fans of underrated girl groups. We’ve seen the departure of members and even the disbandment of long-standing acts. The latest to suffer this fate is Fantagio Entertainment’s Weki Meki. The girls debuted in 2017 but have essentially been inactive for the last two years. Now, instead of … Continue reading
Earlier this year, Trendz’s Go Up single-handedly vaulted them to a new level in my mind. It’s one of my favorite songs of 2024 and offered a new glimpse of the musical heights this rookie group could scale. However, most of Go Up‘s success can be attributed to producer/composer Brave Brothers. Grade “A” Brave Sound … Continue reading
When CSR made their debut in the summer of 2022, I hoped they might inherit GFriend’s “powerful innocence” concept, releasing upbeat, melodic showcases that defied many current girl group trends. That first mini album is still their best. But as comebacks have become more infrequent, their sound has also started to shift. New single Pretty … Continue reading
Surprise drops don’t really exist in K-pop, but Super Junior’s Show Time is as close as we get. Teased only days ago, the digital single arrives without much build-up. It’s their first group comeback since 2022, though the individual members and sub-units have been active more recently. Show Time feels tailor-made for live performances. Its … Continue reading
So, K-pop industry… how do you expect me to take a song called “Poongdung” seriously? There’s onomatopoeia and then there’s just silly sound effects. I guess “풍덩” is more of an established sound in Korea and doesn’t translate well internationally. Fortunately, the song’s summery sound works across all markets. We’ve heard many iterations of this … Continue reading
Through no fault of their own, Everglow have had a tricky time maintaining a stable fanbase do to infrequent comebacks and wild shifts in sound. Last year’s Slay marked a welcome return, though the song itself felt weighed down by dated tropes. Now, the girls have taken a darker approach with the oddly inert Zombie. … Continue reading
About a month ago, we got word of an Infinite comeback. It was vague, but that combination of words will always get my heart racing. As the weeks went on, it became clear that this release would be a “song for the fans” anniversary single and not a full, promoted title track. I can’t say … 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
XY were one of 2023’s most exciting new prospects. Formed through Yoshiki Superstar Project X, they’re a hybrid rock band/dance-vocal troupe that can perform as one big group but also split into specialized units. Living legend Yoshiki provides an idiosyncratic touch as mentor and producer, but releasing new music in a timely matter isn’t one … 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. CRAVITY released a new Japanese single … Continue reading
I thought about waiting to write a review for One Pact’s FXX OFF (꺼져) until the music video was released, but the situation surrounding it is just too ironic not to explore. The group’s comeback is today and — like many K-pop acts — they’ve gone for a daring, badass sound with a faux-controversial title … Continue reading
Brave Entertainment’s in-house groups continue to baffle me. Brave Brothers is one of the best producers in the business, capable of churning out epic dancefloor fillers and supercharged pop classics. Yet, he rarely gives his strongest material to his own groups and promotion continues to be a struggle. I doubt many people even realize rookie … Continue reading
I was concerned when GHOST9’s new digital single didn’t include any music video teasers, making it feel more like one of those throwaway “for the fans” releases than a full comeback. Now, Awesome Day (째깍째깍) arrives with a low budget “lyric video” — never the most encouraging sign for a group’s future. The song itself … Continue reading
When the members of Kara embarked on solo careers, Nicole most reliably stuck with producers Sweetune. This instantly gave me a soft spot for her music. If you’re a fan of that production team, she’s got a few Sweetune bangers on her 2016 Japanese album Bliss. But times change and new management has brought new … Continue reading
Han Seungwoo has been active as a soloist for years now, but I have a hard time recalling any of his music. He’s a polished performer with a great voice. He just needs songs that cater to those skills while leaving behind a hook or melody that resonates beyond the comeback’s short promotional period. Unfortunately, … Continue reading
NCT Dream’s new Japanese single Moonlight has been kicking around for a few weeks now. In fact, I first wrote about it as part of my weekly J-pop series. At that point, we were unsure whether it would receive a music video or not, but I’m glad the track has gotten the promotion it deserves. … Continue reading
Leading up to the release of their second mini album later this month, TWS are the latest group to drop a promoted pre-release single. Generally, these have been stronger than the actual title track, with TWS’s own Plot Twist being the obvious exception. That song has gone on to become a mammoth hit on both … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 