Every time I think OnlyOneOf are going to zig, they zag. I’m not sure how I feel about their unusual promotions, but at this point I’m just happy they’re still making music. Rather than opt for a traditional comeback this summer, each of the members will be releasing solo tracks – one each month until … Continue reading
Across their past few singles, fromis_9 have refined a light, groove-driven pop sound. The songs don’t have the personality that defined their earlier work, but they’re sturdy and insistently pleasant. From We Go to Talk & Talk to DM, the group feels established in both style and confidence. You know you’re gonna get a solid … Continue reading
Though HYBE has made the BTS brand synonymous with K-pop around the world (at least to casual listeners), I still think SM Entertainment is the agency others are most seeking to emulate. Even during times their industry cachet has lulled, SM has remained an inexorable through-line when thinking about K-pop on a macro scale. Aespa … Continue reading
Seven years into Twice’s career and the usual solo/sub-unit promotions are almost nowhere to be found. JYP Entertainment tends to be more group-focused with its idol acts, but even Twice’s albums didn’t bear unit tracks until very recently. Because of this, Nayeon’s solo debut almost feels belated. With any luck, it’ll be the first of … 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. Back in 2020, I was super … Continue reading
When talking about K-pop’s summer music, KARD’s name doesn’t come up nearly enough. Their early tropical sound still feels welcome today. Much of that is due to the songs themselves being strong, regardless of genre or trends. After 2018’s Ride On The Wind, the group moved on to heavier styles and the music became less … Continue reading
When K-pop groups announce a disbandment or hiatus, that usually means a quick end to activities and – more often than not – diminishing returns when it comes to solo work. However, GOT7 have remained quite active after leaving JYP Entertainment in 2021. Its members have all been busy with music and other projects, and … Continue reading
TAN debuted earlier this year with the groovy Du Du Du. That track went on to be a big grower, refreshingly old-school in its approach with a focus on slick vocals. Better yet, its intro Fix You pointed toward a group capable of making excellent dance music. The guys have pushed further in that direction … Continue reading
I’ve always been a proponent of keeping K-pop weird, but sometimes these agencies come up with ideas that are better left on the cutting room floor. Perhaps inspired by the legendary (for all the wrong reasons) A.I. group Eternity, new debut Superkind has a “virtual idol” among their ranks. Maybe it’s my age showing, but … Continue reading
Over the past few years, Starship Entertainment’s Pepsi (or in this case, Gatorade) CFs have become a reliable summer tradition, bringing together a diverse array of artists. Apparently, they don’t have to be part of Starship’s roster to participate. And in the case of Move Like This, they don’t even have to be professional singers! … Continue reading
Most years, K-pop debuts are a huge source of inspiration, offering new energy and new ideas. 2022 has seen some notable debuts, but most have been cut from the same musical cloth. With the arrival of MLD Entertainment’s Lapillus, I’m more convinced than ever that the industry is simply devoid of musical innovation. Hit Ya … Continue reading
It’s post-Queendom comeback day, as LOONA join fellow competitors Kep1er with new music. Both groups have returned with summer themes, though they’ve taken different routes to get there. While Kep1er’s Up bounded forward with explosive energy, LOONA’s Flip That offers a more subdued house beat. “Subdued” hasn’t been an element of LOONA’s title tracks for … Continue reading
After debuting at the start of 2022, the MNET-spawned rookie group Kep1er took a detour via the company’s own Queendom competition, further building their fanbase as they competed with senior acts. Now, it’s time to get back to the music with the summer-themed Up. I’m more than ready for a great 2022 summer track, and … Continue reading
Last time I wrote about News, the year was 2018 and the group had four members. I’ve been an avid listener since then, especially fond of their incredible 2020 album Story. Since then, News has navigated a tricky transition into a trio, releasing several great songs within the past two years. But, I think new … Continue reading
“Sweet,” you say? Universe app, you say?? I think it’s time for a recipe: Hooks 7 Production 7 Longevity 8 Bias 7 RATING 7.25 Continue reading
Dawn’s verses in old Pentagon songs were always interesting and quirky. So far, his solo career has felt like an expanded version of those verses, zigging this way and that but always anchored by his colorful personality. He has a way of making the most ridiculous ideas work because you get the sense that he … Continue reading
BDC continue to be a mystery. They’re not listed as a temporary project group, but their treatment thus far has suggested a quickly approaching expiration date. Despite releasing the super-solid Intersection trilogy of mini albums, Brand New Music has never attempted to push them as a big, ongoing group in the same way as AB6IX … Continue reading
Sometimes I forget ex-Snuper member Sebin is part of Omega X. Revisiting 2016’s K-pop releases yesterday, I realized yet again how desperate I am for some Snuper-esque Sweetune pop in 2022. Quick! Get Sebin on the phone with his old collaborators and work out a deal. After all, Omega X’s agency has opted to switch … Continue reading
Like most new K-pop groups, DRIPPIN debuted without a signature sound or concept. Their career has been a revolving door of styles as Woollim searches for the one that will stick. The group is now lodged in a multi-part series of albums under the title Villain. Like 99% of their peers, this has painted them … Continue reading
While I haven’t been sold on Pixy’s title tracks thus far, last year’s b-side turned English-language single Bewitched hinted at a more beguiling sound. By dabbling in dynamic electronic textures, Pixy found a niche worth exploring further. So, when teasers suggested new single Villain might build on this momentum, my interested was piqued. Opening with … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 