I’m still trying to pretend that Tempest’s Dragon doesn’t exist. Others don’t seem to agree with this tactic, as the song has rewarded the group with their highest first sales week yet. Sigh. My consolation is the fact that K-pop album sales don’t correlate with the actual quality of music. It’s all about those photo … Continue reading
Repackaged albums are still common in K-pop, but they usually arrive a month or two after the original release. We’re six months away from Kang Daniel’s The Story and he’s surprised us with an extra chapter. The Story: Retold adds a handful of songs, including new single Nirvana. I can’t say I enjoyed any of … Continue reading
I had to look back to see if I had written about NTX’s debut. I couldn’t remember them at all, but once I replayed last year’s Kiss The World I remembered how much I enjoyed that song. Without a comeback since March of 2021, the group had completely fallen off my radar. That’s a loooong … Continue reading
The addition of new members and a switch in concept has revitalized TO1. Though I wasn’t completely sold on Drummin’ the first few times through, it’s gone on to become a sleeper hit – one of my most played songs of 2022. It uses its messy boisterous for good, stuffed with hook after hook. New … Continue reading
Well… this is awkward. Just a short time after Ravn left ONEUS after allegations were made against him, we have a Japanese track that places him front and center. Obviously, these releases are planned and recorded far in advance, but it still feels weird to see ONEUS as a six-member group and know that this … Continue reading
I’ve always thought the best window to release Christmas songs is late-November to early-December. That way, you’ve got a few weeks to run them into the ground before moving into the new year. With this in mind, NMIXX’s Funky Glitter Christmas arrives at just the right time for me. The only question is: how weird … Continue reading
Queen of K-pop BoA tends to make her return around this time of year. Most recently, she came back in December 2020 with a full album and December 2019 with a mini. New release Forgive Me arrives a few months after the launch of her music show K-909, where she fully embraces her position as … Continue reading
Tempest’s Can’t Stop Shining quickly grew into one of my favorite songs of the year, and after getting to know the group better I’m convinced this fresh, poppy sound is a perfect match for their energy. But, K-pop agencies are obsessed with showcasing versatility over building a cohesive discography, and the guys have already stumbled … Continue reading
K-pop tropes continue their unrelenting push into the Japanese market with the debut of &TEAM. They’re the latest in this new iteration of the Hallyu Wave, where K-pop agencies localize their sounds with members from the target country. This way, you get the infrastructure and popularity of a label like HYBE, but the group can … 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. DRIPPIN’s first full album is very … Continue reading
Just days ago, I wrote about Fifty Fifty’s Lovin’ Me and wondering if there were other songs coming down the pike. Well, K-pop moves incredibly fast. Four days later and we have a new single and a debut mini album. Lovin’ Me’s gentle synthpop gives way to the loungy r&b of Higher and we finally … Continue reading
2022 in K-pop has left much to be desired, and one of the things I’ve been missing is a good, goofy comeback from JYP. He’s the gift that keeps on giving, fully in on the joke as he recycles musical elements from his youth in a way his juniors can’t replicate with such authenticity. Over … Continue reading
After spoiling us with two albums last year, 2022 hasn’t been quite as prolific for B.I. He released the hypnotic BTBT back in May, which previewed a new global project that has finally come to fruition in the form of Love Or Loved Part 1. New single Keep Me Up recaptures much of BTBT’s vibe … Continue reading
K-pop has seen a glut of debuts over the past few weeks, and Aimers is another name to add to the pack. You might remember a couple of these guys from the short-lived Spectrum, who released a great pre-chorus in 2018. Given their group name, I’d hope Aimers are aiming for something new and exciting. … Continue reading
CSR’s summer debut stands as one of my favorites from 2022, opting for a bright, poppy sound that hearkened back to past K-pop eras. Not only that, but the girls enlisted my beloved Sweetune for a b-side! Since that debut, CSR have been sharing various dance covers of early-GFriend songs – a style I desperately … Continue reading
Though I haven’t yet written about him on this blog, I’ve been keeping an eye on BigOne’s music over the past few months. With so many idol acts adopting a rock sound and image, it’s nice to head straight to the source and hear a straightforward rocker fueled by punk energy. BigOne’s singles Password 486 … Continue reading
After quickly securing a place at the top of the K-pop girl group pack, STAYC are following in the footsteps of their seniors by embarking on a Japanese career. J-pop output from K-pop acts has been decidedly mixed over the past few years, far from the consistent discographies crafted by artists like SNSD, After School, … Continue reading
Is it just me, or has there been an inordinate amount of girl group debuts this year? They just keep on coming, making it harder to distinguish individual styles and concepts. In the grand scheme of things, Artbeat already have a leg up with their cool group name. Adding “art” to their moniker has to … Continue reading
After cutting loose and having fun with 2020’s underrated Got That Boom and 2021’s party-starting Fire Saturday, Secret Number retreated to played-out girl group tropes with this year’s disappointing Doomchita. They can only improve with new single Tap, and upbeat teasers seemed to hint at an energy that takes better advantage of the group’s strengths. … Continue reading
Debuting last year, Just B’s music has already moved through several iterations. They’re currently in a phase where their singles incorporate “=” symbols into their titles. I’m sure there’s some complex lore supporting this decision, but I’m more concerned with the music behind those titles. Their tracks often incorporate rock sounds, exemplified by this excellent … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 