Let’s get the obvious out of the way first: ZOONIZINI is an awful sub-unit name. I’m sure it has some special meaning as all K-pop monikers do, but saying it out loud instantly makes me feel stupider. ZOONIZINI is Astro’s third sub-unit, made up of members MJ and JinJin. Previous units delivered mixed results, but … Continue reading
Given TWS’s incredible success last year, there are worst song titles to debut with than “Plot Twist“! AtHeart have used the familiar title for their first foray into the industry, though they teased us with a pre-debut earlier this year. The group hails from Titan Content — an American based company that seems to have … Continue reading
Back when she was rattling off power notes with GFriend, I considered Yuju to be one of my favorite vocalists in K-pop. However, vocals don’t matter much without great material to showcase them and her solo career thus far has been mired in a lack of musical ambition that’s quite frustrating. Like so many idols-turned-soloists, … Continue reading
Oh, AMPERS&ONE. You debuted with such a strong track, but since then it’s been dimished returns for every single comeback. The guys have quite a few great b-sides to their name (and their new album’s highlight medley suggests there will be more), but their title tracks have struggled to harness any hint of unique identity. … Continue reading
Everyone and their mother has had a pre-release this year, and NCT Wish are the latest to jump on the trend. Ahead of their new mini album, they’ve unveiled summer single Surf. Though we’re currently in the middle of a heat wave in my neck of the woods, it feels a bit late in the … Continue reading
In a year already stuffed with competitive boy group debuts, it’s time for another new act. idntt (pronounced “Identity”) is the brainchild of Jaden Jeong, the man behind LOONA, tripleS and ARTMS. The group follows the same interactive system as tripleS, with twenty-four members split into sub-units based on fan input. The agency is also … Continue reading
In a year already stuffed with competitive boy group debuts, it’s time for another new act. idntt (pronounced “Identity”) is the brainchild of Jaden Jeong, the man behind LOONA, tripleS and ARTMS. The group follows the same interactive system as tripleS, with twenty-four members split into sub-units based on fan input. The agency is also … Continue reading
In a year already stuffed with competitive boy group debuts, it’s time for another new act. idntt (pronounced “Identity”) is the brainchild of Jaden Jeong, the man behind LOONA, tripleS and ARTMS. The group follows the same interactive system as tripleS, with twenty-four members split into sub-units based on fan input. The agency is also … Continue reading
About a month ago, Jeon Somi released the underdeveloped Extra, which turned out to be a pre-release for her new mini album. This is only her second mini album in seven years, and third album overall. The pace may be glacial, but it’s nice to finally hear something more substantial from her. Closer acts as … Continue reading
SHINee’s Key has a history of becoming a K-pop savior on this blog, breaking long streaks of “7” and “8” rated songs with music that pushes bolder and further. That certainly occurred in early 2023 with his single Killer, but his follow-ups have been less adventurous. Both Good & Great and Pleasure Shop found him … Continue reading
As if BoA wasn’t busy enough with her album released last week, she’s back with a new Japanese single as well. We have groundbreakers like BoA and Tohoshinki to thank for K-pop’s popularity in Japan, and it’s always nice to see them take another well-deserved victory lap. Good For U may not be a revelatory … Continue reading
It’s always exciting when a new group debuts under a major agency, and CORTIS have a big legacy to live up to. GO! is technically a pre-release, so we can’t call it their official debut yet, but it offers a glimpse of Big Hit’s first new boy group since TXT’s debut in 2019. Information about … Continue reading
In my house, there exists a hallowed “Damdadi” that heralded the arrival of a personal favorite idol group, so there’s no way I’m not instantly imagining baseball uniforms and hip-shaking choreo when I see that title. However, producer R.Tee and i-dle’s Soyeon have also ventured into “Damdadi” territory with this new collaboration. While there’s no … Continue reading
It’s been a pretty lousy year for J-pop, but my favorite acts have actually remained pretty reliable. We’ve seen highlights from Ryugujo, Genic and Kis-My-Ft2, and co-ed group One Love One Heart has recently been churning out solid material as well. Best of all, they finally seem eager to draw upon their biggest strength: the … Continue reading
I last wrote about Queenz Eye all the way back in 2023 and can’t remember anything about their music. Such is the fate of too many nugu groups, under-promoted and given infrequent comebacks to the point where everyone but their most dedicated fans forget they exist. With new track Feel The Vibe, they’re back to … Continue reading
In a move that no one asked for, SM Entertainment is back with the second single from their virtual idol nævis. The agency seems intent on throwing money at this strange project, and I assume that’s part of a bigger goal of establishing virtual artists as a norm within the industry. After all, virtual performers … Continue reading
Hyperpop has become a driving force in electronic music, and whenever a trend takes hold you know that K-pop is lurking right around the corner, ready to pounce on it. Yves has gone full bore into the genre with her new album, crafting the kind of quirky soundscapes the internet seems to love even as … Continue reading
Starship Entertainment’s new girl group KiiiKiii debuted earlier this year, grabbing attention with a diverse set of promoted tracks. Their memey Debut Song didn’t work for me and I found follow-ups BTG and Groundwork a little too fitful to last on my playlist, but the generic pop of I Do Me enjoyed surprising longevity. Now, … 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. Judging from internet rumblings, the overriding … Continue reading
The Boyz hold the distinct honor of releasing one of the best songs of the year and one of the worst. For fans of film award celebrations, that’s like being nominated for an Oscar and a Razzie in the same year. I don’t know if the group themselves realize this, but they’ve dropped a follow-up … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 