Monsta X’s Kihyun first promoted as a soloist back in 2022 but hasn’t made a comeback since. Much of that, I’m sure, is due to a lengthy military hiatus, but new single So Good picks up right where he left off. As expected, it’s a big, rock-fueled ballad. Kihyun has an excellent voice for this … Continue reading
VAYONN are the second new boy group to emerge from Kin Jaejoong’s iNKODE label, adopting a brighter sound palette than their hip-hop peers KEYVITUP. They teased their debut with the so-so Watta Day last month, and I suspect that song will play better in the context of an album. The bouyant MUAH! is their big … Continue reading
i-dle have a history of releasing summer songs, bending the season to their will for material that fits within their sonic wheelhouse. They’re no doubt hoping another summer release will reverse their chart fortunes and see them sitting comfortably in the top ten again. For that to happen, they’ll need something much more striking than … Continue reading
One thing about YG Entertainment is that they’ll always milk a mini album for all it’s worth. More often than not, YG artists film music videos for multiple tracks, extending their promo period. After the off detour that was Sugar Honey Ice Tea, BABYMONSTER are back again with a video for the summery I Like … Continue reading
I have questions about Howling Entertainment. They keep debuting new boy groups but rarely promote them. Waker have a couple mini albums to their name over a stretch of two-and-a-half years, but the newer Chaser hasn’t made a peep since their early-2026 debut. Now, we have Ascender, the agency’s third group in less than three … Continue reading
Those hoping Dreamcatcher offshoot UAU would pick up the rock torch and act as a continuation of Dreamcatcher Proper seem to be out of luck. Instead, UAU has adopted a more dance-friendly sound. This is in keeping with many Dreamcatcher’s b-sides, which just so happen to be my favorite songs from their discography. However, UAU … Continue reading
It’s difficult to know whether to write about a performance video, but the pre-debut of a new group from a major agency feels worth a few words. AEN is Starship Entertainment’s latest boy group, debuting less than a year after IDID. They’re co-managed by a Japanese agency with the idea of actively promoting in both … Continue reading
ONEUS have been operating as a four-piece for awhile now and it definitely feels like something substantial is missing without Seoho’s voice. Still, they’re keeping things chugging along with new Japanese release Under — a perfectly pleasant and almost immediately forgettable light funk pop track. This kind of a song is a dime a dozen … Continue reading
AOMG’s hip-hop girl group Keyveatz made their pre-debut back in April, setting the stage for today’s full debut. I couldn’t tell you much about that earlier track beyond that fact that I didn’t enjoy it, and OXY‘s title brings to mind the slang term for the well-known opioid that’s caused a wave of addiction over … Continue reading
Fresh off the massive chart success of I.O.I’s reunion, former member Choi Yoojung is back with her first new single since 2022. This time, she’s taking influence from another 2026 chart behemoth. Perfect Target (비장의 무기) feels like a natural successor to the second-gen nostalgia of Yena’s Catch Catch. I’m all for second-gen nostalgia, though … Continue reading
One benefit of a huge group configuration is that you can break into an almost unlimited number of solos and sub-units to promote while other members are on hiatus. Such is the case with Seventeen. They haven’t released a full-group track in a year but have debuted several pairs of members with varying sounds and … Continue reading
It’s a quick review today since I don’t usually write new reviews on Saturdays and it’s been ages since I wrote about boy group M.O.N.T. However, I figured some readers would appreciate hearing this song because it has a more classic K-pop sound that’s far from the trends of today. There are certain song titles … Continue reading
Girl group HITGS (that’s “Hip, Innocent, Teenager, Girls, Story” for those in the know!) debuted with a kitschy sound that matched their very young ages but have slowly blossomed into a more mature style. Even if this hasn’t yet resulted in memorable music, it points toward potential that could be exciting in the future. Little … Continue reading
After a string of knockout synth pop singles, from20 has reinvented himself as a hyper-sexualized cartoon character. Last year’s Eye Candy and Social established this persona and new single Big Boy takes it even further. These songs remind me of a certain style of early-2000s pop/hip-hop — deliberately silly but also attempting a sort of … Continue reading
It’s been one step forward, two steps back with ATEEZ lately. After a promising 2025, a pair of early-2026 tracks succumbed to some of the group’s most frustrating instincts. That slump continues with new title track Bad, which lives up to its name. I mean, this review almost writes itself, right? Replace the “she’s” in … Continue reading
AtHeart debuted last summer and have been steadily promoting since. Every song they’ve released so far has been rated in the 7s on this blog, which pretty much sums up my feelings about their music. It’s inoffensive but unmemorable, slotting them within a swath of fifth-gen girl groups without much sonic identity of their own. … Continue reading
FNC Entertainment has this way of tossing out a bunch of acts and waiting for them to stumble into some kind of hit. The promotion rarely feels all that intentional, especially with their bands. AxMxP made a strong debut with a full album, but follow-ups have been less thought out. New single 24 Hours (편의점 … Continue reading
Since debuting early this year, the JYP-adjacent dodree has gained interest due to their blend of historical and modern sounds. This leveraging of traditional elements isn’t new to K-pop, but it’s been awhile since we’ve seen a group push so hard into this realm. New single HAWWAH (夏渦) is about what you’d expect from dodree’s … Continue reading
Girl group Primrose haven’t made many waves since debuting, but they’ve got a few solid songs under their belt. Last summer’s Cinema became a staple on my playlist, offering the kind of bright, uplifting pop sound that’s well-suited to the season. New single Cosmic takes the opposite approach, opting for a muted 90s R&B sound. … Continue reading
Initially, I was pretty nonplussed about NEXZ’s output. But after the double volley of Beat-Boxer and Mmchk, they’ve rocketed up the ranks to become one of my most anticipated acts. They’ve promoted consistently in both Korea and Japan over the past two years and now they’re back with a new Japanese single. Hellmate‘s oddly dark … Continue reading
