Much like Omega X’s Stand Up from earlier this summer, WEi’s new single Maldives reinvents the group as summertime beach boys. I’m not sure why it takes a Japanese release to dabble in this fun, upbeat sound, but I’m glad to hear the guys let down their guard and deliver something fresh and bubbly. Maldives … Continue reading
Maybe these Universe reviews are getting a little cliché. Maybe I’ve run out of ideas to make them fun and interactive. Maybe Maybe is just too unassuming to inspire a dynamic game or spoof. Maybe if the app gave us access to the full music video, I’d feel different? Maybe Jo Yuri is actually suited … Continue reading
It’s ‘Golden Child comeback’ time again, which means a track-by-track review of their new mini album, Aura! Check back each day of the week as I make my way through the five new songs. 1. Aura (Intro) // 2. Replay // 3. Knocking On My Door // 4. 3! 6! 5! // 5. Purpose // … Continue reading
Late last week, Johnny’s groups SixTONES and Snow Man both surprise-released new music videos on YouTube, fueling rumors they may reunite for another duel-group single. It turns out that Snow Man’s Juicy heralds the release of a new studio album. We’ll need to wait to see where SixTONES’ Party People ends up. Both of these … Continue reading
It’s ‘Golden Child comeback’ time again, which means a track-by-track review of their new mini album, Aura! Check back each day of the week as I make my way through the five new songs. 1. Aura (Intro) // 2. Replay // 3. Knocking On My Door // 4. 3! 6! 5! // 5. Purpose // … Continue reading
It’s ‘Golden Child comeback’ time again, which means a track-by-track review of their new mini album, Aura! Check back each day of the week as I make my way through the five new songs. 1. Aura (Intro) // 2. Replay // 3. Knocking On My Door // 4. 3! 6! 5! // 5. Purpose // … Continue reading
With many writing credits to his name, Pentagon’s Kino has always been a prime candidate for solo work. He finally takes the reigns on special single Pose, though the shadow of K-pop’s established soloists looms large. As with many before him, Kino seems to have gotten his degree from the School of Taemin, unveiling a … Continue reading
It’s been a longer-than-usual hiatus for TRI.BE, with Kiss arriving as their newest single since last October’s Would You Run. But, the lengthy break hasn’t changed their sound too much, nor has it affected their collaborators. Kiss sees them working again with the legendary Shinsadong Tiger, alongside EXID’s L.E. and production team The Hub. That’s … Continue reading
INI are occupying a very strange place in my own personal fandom. I love the members. I love watching their variety. But apart from this year’s fantastic We Are, their actual music has been pretty disposable so far. I’m not sure if this is a sustainable path, though judging by their out-of-the-gate success in Japan … Continue reading
With retro synth emerging as a dominating trend of the past few years, it’s been interesting to see which groups fit it naturally and which feel shoe-horned in. Exile Tribe’s Fantastics have totally suited the sound – so much that I hardly want them to stray from it! 2020’s High Fever ended up becoming a … Continue reading
August 2022 is turning into a repeat of August 2021, with many of the same acts making comebacks. The Boyz are one of these groups, set to release their newest mini album in about a week’s time. Before that, they’ve delivered pre-release track Timeless. It’s a pleasant, fan-servicey mid-tempo that suits the season. I think … Continue reading
One of the most frustrating things about this era of K-pop is that — with all its sonic and producer shifts — there aren’t many groups I can count on to consistently release music I’ll love. It can feel like a total grab bag, and after Golden Child’s regrettable Japanese discography earlier this year I … 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’m still processing the fact that, … Continue reading
It’s been fascinating to watch Johnny’s & Associates navigate the digital world and decide how they want to engage with it. Older fans can remember a not-too-distant time when official YouTube uploads were the stuff of wild dreams. We still get plenty of (frustrating) short music video edits, but more and more the agency is … Continue reading
Kick around this K-pop blogospere for long enough and you’ll eventually get to write about the return of a true legend. Forever 1 celebrates Girls’ Generation’s fifteenth anniversary – a huge milestone for any idol act. I know I’m not alone in counting the group among the most foundational forces that cemented my love for … Continue reading
Yena got her solo career off to a rousing start with the peppy pop-rock of January’s Smiley. That song proved impossible to resist, buoyed by an optimistic energy and sugary chorus. For follow-up album Smartphone, she wisely maintains the formula, carving a satisfying niche that sets her apart from other post-Produce soloists. Smartphone tweaks the … Continue reading
MNET has their multi-national K-pop formula down to a science. Bring together members from various countries and you have natural inroads for promotion in lucrative markets like Japan. Funnel your acts into agency-sponsored events like KCON and you’ve got a built-in venue with thousands of eager listeners. All K-pop is business, but it’s hard not … Continue reading
For over a year now, ex-Bigstar member Kim Rae Hwan has been making quality, synth-flavored pop music on the periphery of the K-pop industry under the moniker from20. You’d be forgiven for not knowing who he is. Idol activity tends to swallow up all of K-pop’s media attention – especially for international listeners. In fact, … Continue reading
To anyone not keeping up with their every move, Stray Kids’ mixtape releases seem to arrive out of nowhere. Time Out certainly caught me off guard – so much so that I wasn’t able to cover it on the day of release. The song arrives as a “gift to fans” on the anniversary of their … Continue reading
Just two weeks ago, no one knew who or what a “NewJeans” was, but thanks to a smart pre-debut blitz of music videos and the inarguable power of the HYBE empire, the group debuts with a massive number of album pre-orders and a million YouTube views. So much for slowly and steadily working your way … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 