Kiss Of Life returned earlier this month with the latest in a long line of bare-bones summer tracks, capturing the sweltering nature of the season but refusing to do much as an actual song. However, this group often releases special videos for their b-sides and are already back with a video for the more abrasive, … Continue reading
When in doubt as a nugu group, it’s never a bad idea to release a song K-pop fans already know. AtHeart’s 3!4! is a cover of the 1996 hit by co-ed group Roo’ra. Come to think of it, AtHeart’s (presumably young) fan base may not have heard this song at all, giving them a chance … Continue reading
ONEWE are so prolific that, for me, their title tracks tend to blend into one another and can be difficult to write about in any meaningful way. But listening to the highlight medley for their new, mammoth 17-track album, it seems like they’re pushing into a more uptempo, rocking sound. This is what I’ve often … Continue reading
Thus far, MJ’s solo career has verged on trot music without fully pushing over the line. On new single 1~10 (Ghosting) (1분 전 (9에서 멈췄어)) he takes a more straightforward approach, delivering a burst of upbeat, rock-tinged pop. It’s a great match for his voice and personality, even if the song feels a bit generic. … Continue reading
If you would have told me I’d be salivating over the prospect of a new Odd Youth comeback, I would have looked at you like you were crazy, but this one comes with a major caveat. Can’t Go Back is the first new Sweetune-produced work in ages and follows an interview in which the production … Continue reading
OURBIRTHDAY make their official debut today under JYP subsidiary INNIT Entertainment. This follows a truly diabolical pre-release that dampened my hopes for their eventual sound. Thankfully, Squeezy is a small step up. The song largely jettisons the annoying sing-chant approach of Hungry for a funkier, old-school approach. This doesn’t mean that Squeezy is any huge … Continue reading
If you don’t count G-Dragon’s 2024 collaboration with bandmates Taeyang and Daesung, I haven’t written about a new Bigbang track since 2022. This makes BiiiG a pretty big deal, but also a bittersweet one. The band has now been cleaved down to three members, making this feel more like a sub-unit than a long-sought reunion. … Continue reading
While it goes without saying that we all miss the full 9-member ZEROBASEONE, I actually think they work insanely well as a five piece. Much of this is down to intention. It feels like — to a certain extent — they’ve gone from a (very good) MNET survival group to a longterm K-pop act with … Continue reading
Red Velvet’s Surfin’ Boy seemed to polarize opinion, but in a strange twist of fate we’ve got a song that actually sounds more like a classic Red Velvet “velvet” track in the form of Jun. K’s new single featuring Wendy. This digital single doesn’t reinvent any wheels, but its smooth, groovy R&B sound is very … Continue reading
BOYNEXTDOOR have several distinct modes to their songwriting, and they’ve found the most success with a hyperactive indie-pop sound best characterized by last year’s blockbuster If I Say, I Love You. A few months ago, they were ddok ddok ddoking in their homeland and now they’re Boom Boom Booming in Japan. However, this single might … Continue reading
I write this review en route from KCON LA, where TXT headlined day three of the festival (more on that later). In a fun twist of fate, it was also the day their most recent Japanese single was released. Setsuna Hanabi (セツナハナビ) follows a very strong Japanese album last year and largely carries the pace … 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. Sometimes it amazes me which song … Continue reading
Sometimes I debate whether I should be covering Katseye at all on this blog. Despite emerging from HYBE, they’re not really “K-pop” in any sense and I haven’t enjoyed their music enough to ever feature it on a “global round-up” post. Yet, you can’t deny the influence they’ve had on a certain type of K-pop, … Continue reading
In the midst of a series of high-profile American promotions, TXT’s Yeonjun has released a follow-up music video for the track Fxxking Star from his newest album. It always cracks me up when artists use an “x” to self-censor a cuss word because it pretty much confirms they’re using the language as aesthetic branding with … Continue reading
Do you ever wonder how a song would sound if it was half asleep? Are you hoping for something so boring that it will actually put you to sleep? Well, idntt has just the song for you with their new “track video” Deep Dream. The hints are right there in the title. You will be … Continue reading
FNC band AxMxP debuted last year with a rock-meets-hip-hop sound. While this isn’t a new approach in K-pop, it gave the guys a bit of distinction within an agency stuffed with similar bands. Since then, their sound has softened a great deal and that continues on new single 10 Reasons To Date Me (나를 만나야 … Continue reading
Rookie SM girl group Hearts2Hearts are throwing their hat in the J-pop ring with their first original Japanese single. Iconic Heart arrives on the heels of a very successful 2026 in Korea. The group’s bright pop sound seems tailor-made for Japanese tastes, but Iconic Heart lacks the effusive hooks of their best work. Right off … Continue reading
The members of Astro have churned out solo material pretty regularly despite the group being inactive. Rocky’s work has been a mixed bag so far and I often find myself appreciating b-sides more than the title tracks. Judging by the highlight medley of his newest album, I predict this disparity will continue. Fake It opts … Continue reading
I haven’t written a review for a Jeung Eunji song in six years, which is kind of crazy when you think about all that’s happened since then. She hasn’t released much music in the 2020s, but the summer theme of her new mini album caught my eye. I’m hanging on to the last remnants of … Continue reading
Every so often, SM Entertainment releases “track” videos for songs that aren’t the main focus of a promotional campaign but serve to build hype. Often, these videos spotlight only a portion of a song, but sometimes they encompass the entire thing. NCT 127 are gearing up for their tenth anniversary comeback. They’re down to five … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 