Today has delivered several new summer tracks and GOT7’s main vocal Youngjae is here to offer something a little more subdued and groovy. Rather than the soundtrack to a beach party, T.P.O feels like the song you’d play on the way home as the sun is setting. With this as a mission statement, T.P.O is … Continue reading
Weeekly went through some growing pains, but have largely stuck to a bright, upbeat concept. Now in their fourth year, the group tackles a K-pop right of passage: the summer-themed comeback. Lights On bounds forward with plenty of energy, even as it struggles to distinguish itself within a sea of similar summer efforts. The song … Continue reading
Xdinary Heroes are having a busy year. Fresh off the release of their first full album, they’ve embarked on a series of digital singles. Last month, we heard the rollicking Boy Comics. July’s treat comes in the form of LOVE and FEAR — a more aggressive blast of cathartic rock. LOVE and FEAR plays like … Continue reading
Taeyeon’s To. X became a long-lasting hit on Korean charts, proving her continued dominance even sixteen years into her career. To tide fans over between albums, she’s dropped digital single Heaven. Its frothy disco pop sound is worlds away from To. X‘s downbeat confessional. I’ll admit this right away: I’m tired of this chill, vanilla, … Continue reading
While there have been plenty of great title tracks so far this summer, we haven’t heard many that are explicitly themed to the season. (G)I-DLE are here to fix that with new single Klaxon (클락션). Following 2020’s DUMDi DUMDi, the girls are back with another summer track that hearkens back to K-pop’s distant past. The … 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. I’ve softened a bit on Rocky’s … Continue reading
With so many K-pop acts releasing Japanese material this week, CSR’s Higher almost got lost in the shuffle. But a day late, it’s time to feature the song. This quickly follows their latest Korean comeback, released only a few weeks ago. If ever there was a group primed for the Japanese market, it has to … Continue reading
To round out my mid-year countdowns, I’ve got a spotlight on some of my favorite songs and albums from music markets that aren’t Korea or Japan. To simplify things, I just call this category “pop.” What were your favorite singles and albums during the first half of 2024? TOP SINGLES Bentley Robles – IAM IAM … Continue reading
While K-pop has been consistently above average this year, my J-pop fortunes haven’t been so bright. It’s a real turnaround from this time last year, when I was able to feature fifteen beloved tracks. The choices were more limited this time, but it’s still worth pointing out some stellar work from a few favorites. What … Continue reading
TRENDZ’s music may be more inconsistent than I’d like, but January’s brilliant Go Up instantly landed them in my own K-pop hall of fame. The recently released Glow painted them in a smooth disco funk light and Japanese single Season Of You continues that approach. This is fluffy, inoffensive summertime pop at its most basic. … Continue reading
The guys of iKON have slowly been establishing solo careers now that they’re free from YG Entertainment’s shackles. JU-NE has previously recorded a few OSTs, but Feel Lost (나 홀로) and accompanying mini album Bruise mark his official debut. The song sees him adopt a rock approach, melding guitar with funky rhythms. As a guitar … Continue reading
Despite over a decade of music to his name, this may be the first mention of Lee Seungyoon on this blog. I mainly focus on idol releases, but every once and awhile it’s nice to have a palette cleanser, and Seungyoon’s Brit-rock sound is just what the doctor ordered. Waterfall (폭포) is the first title … Continue reading
Rookie group VVUP have a mixed batting average so for, often let down by the production fueling their songs. They’re back with a summer single today, and that instantly perks up my attention. Sadly, Ain’t Nobody (에인트 노바디) hinges on many overused musical and conceptual tropes of the moment. The song is built upon a … Continue reading
It’s pretty ballsy to name your single “Hot Mess,” essentially teeing up critics and naysayers if the song is anything less than amazing. But if we’re speaking of “amazing,” aespa already have a super solid track record. And with Supernova‘s incredible chart dominance this spring, the girls seem to have entered an imperial phase. Can … Continue reading
Soloist Lee Chaeyeon has developed a quirky discography, taking advantage of her skills as a dancer to find upbeat rhythms that lodge themselves in your brain. Though most of her material has been solid, I wouldn’t say it’s had a consistent sound or energy. New single Don’t flips things once again, offering her take on … Continue reading
While 2024 has delivered quite a few standout singles so far, I haven’t been as blown over by the albums. Still, I was surprised how many I was able to cobble together. Unlike in the past, I’m not distinguishing between mini and full albums, though albums must have at least four full songs to be … Continue reading
It appears there will be no full group comeback for SHINee this year, but that doesn’t mean the individual members won’t be busy. In between his many appearances on variety, Key has returned with a new Japanese single. Tongue Tied was made available last week, but today marks its music video debut. I haven’t been … Continue reading
Somebody needs to explain why TXT are hanging around in the snow for the promo images of their Japanese single album Chikai, which is set for release in the month of… July. If nothing else, I guess it’s interesting counter-programming? The same could be said for We’ll Never Change, which adopts a more subdued sound … Continue reading
I wasn’t bowled over by ALL(H)OURS’ debut earlier this year, but I sensed musical ambition that might lead to exciting things in the future. With their second mini album, the guys are moving in the right direction. Title track Shock (도깨비) takes many familiar boy group tropes but adds a crackling instrumental that feels new … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 