GOT7 will return next week with their fourth Korean full-length album, but prior to that they’re sharing pre-release track Breath (넌 날 숨 쉬게 해). Like most of the album, this song is self-penned – in this case by member Youngjae. I think it’s great for idol groups to move into self-production, but that alone … Continue reading
The announcement of NCT’s 23-member Resonance project sparked a lot of excitement, and much of that stemmed from how awesome their 2018 Empathy album was. Songs like Baby Don’t Stop and Boss are still in heavy rotation, and have become pillars of NCT’s discography. In comparison, Resonance hasn’t brought the same level of focus or … Continue reading
In the expansive hall of dubious K-pop group names, Bling Bling takes a prestigious place. It’s not a great idea to fashion your identity around slang in the first place. But, it’s even more baffling to use outdated slang. Bling Bling sounds pretty silly. Yet, I’ve learned not to dwell on misguided monikers. After all, … Continue reading
Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, 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. BTS’s BE has an air of finality to it, like the … Continue reading
I must admit, I’m shocked at how long BTS’s Dynamite has endured on global charts. I mean, I shouldn’t be surprised. In many ways, the track was a slam dunk before it even materialized – a glossy, trend-friendly pop song with wide appeal. And while I still find it to be more commercial jingle than … Continue reading
BAE173 brings together X1/H&D’s Dohyun and Hangyul with seven other members for PocketDol Studio’s first boy group. It seems as if the agency has thrown a big budget and plenty of attention behind these guys, so it will be interesting to see how they fare within a stuffed K-pop market. At the very least, it’s … Continue reading
Far be it from me to tell any performer what kind of music they should be making, but I can’t help imagining how awesome it would be if Henry released a song like Lucy’s Snooze. He seems intent on following the footsteps of K-r&b soloists like Crush and Dean, but it feels like such a … Continue reading
Idol band CNBlue have made it through military enlistment and the departure of a member, emerging on the other side with their first new album in three years. Having debuted in 2009, it feels as if this group has been a K-pop staple for as long as I can remember. The hype around their music … Continue reading
Cho Seung-youn has quickly become one of K-pop’s biggest post-X1 successes. Earlier this year, he released his first mini album under the stage name Woodz, and showed great promise as an idol act with an unusual level of creative control. Though most of the songs on Equal drew from genres I don’t usually love, Woodz … Continue reading
Though Momoland treated us to Starry Night back in June, it’s been almost a year since their last full-fledged comeback. The group has struggled to rekindle the magic of their Bboom Bboom/BAAM era, stuck between recreated that sense of novelty or moving onto new sounds. But, they’ve scored a real coup with new single Ready … Continue reading
It’s been over six years since SM Entertainment last debuted a new girl group, making aespa’s arrival long overdue. I feel like there have been rumors about a new girl group for at least four years now, with many picturing a large, SNSD-like configuration. Instead, aespa is a tight, four-person act, just as Red Velvet … Continue reading
The Midnight Romance has been an under-the-radar group this year, but they’ve been releasing new music at a shockingly steady rate. Just over two weeks since their brilliant Nightmare, the guys are back with emotional piano ballad I Don’t Want To Live Without You. It’s a far cry from their usual synth-powered sound, but stands … Continue reading
Like so many boy groups before them, BTOB are currently navigating the tricky business of military enlistments. Some members are currently serving, while others have been discharged. It’s been over two years since they’ve been able to release something as a full group, but they’ve smartly created a new sub-unit to keep the BTOB brand … Continue reading
Over a year since its release, AKMU’s 2019 title track How Can I Love The Heartbreak, You’re The One I Love is still lodged in the top twenty of the Melon digital chart. That’s the very definition of an enduring megahit, and a testament to just how much Korea loves this singer-songwriter duo. Because of … Continue reading
When it comes to follow-up singles, K-pop agencies have been choosing material I never would have gone for. I mean, aren’t they reading my “buried treasures” series?? Kidding aside, I’m happy that Woollim are giving rookie group DRIPPIN a second music video to promote their album. But, they’ve somehow managed to pick my least favorite … Continue reading
Remember WARPs? They came out of nowhere last December with the brilliant Rock Tonight, which ended up being one of my favorite J-pop tracks of 2019. Then, they seemed to disappear off the face of the earth. This isn’t too surprising, as I’m sure the COVID pandemic played a part in derailing whatever plans they … Continue reading
LDH Japan has suddenly begun to blitz the internet with new music videos from its Exile Tribe acts, which is pretty exciting. Unfortunately, many of these have been in support of ballads that were digitally released months ago. But then we have Rising Soul – a new single by the agency’s popular Sandaime J Soul … Continue reading
Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, 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. GFriend have always been “albums artists,” with b-sides that are often … Continue reading
SM’s Station platform has made an unexpected return with the release of Changmin’s surprise digital single All That Love. This breakup song follows Changmin’s recent marriage, which is kind of an odd contrast of sentiments. 2020 has been a relatively quiet year for TVXQ, both in Korea and Japan, so any new music is appreciated. … Continue reading
When last we checked in with Lucy, I was bemoaning how little they were utilizing their violinist. Jogging was a perfectly serviceable track, but felt too generic for a group with a leader who also happens to play the violin. Thankfully, new single Snooze (선잠) rights this wrong and finds great use for strings within … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 