Rookie boy group ALL(H)OURS has been in the news recently, as K-pop titan JYP Entertainment recently listed their agency as a subsidiary. I’m not sure what this means when it comes to company resources, but it does get their new release plum placement on JYP’s YouTube channel. Given this development, it’s the perfect time for … Continue reading
Intergenerational K-pop collaborations are usually reserved for special events like year-end festivals. But sometimes, these team-ups make their way into a recording studio so we can enjoy the music for longer. Pop legend Kim Wan Sun pre-dates the idea of “K-pop generations,” known as the Korean Madonna even before Seo Taiji & Boys came around … Continue reading
For their first full-length Drip, BABYMONSTER have benefitted from an old-fashioned album campaign. These promotions include a pre-release, a title track and multiple follow-ups. We don’t see this approach very often in K-pop anymore, and the finale of this new music video promises even more to come. Today, we have the mid-tempo Really Like You, … Continue reading
Angsty rock influences seem to be a major driving force in recent boy group material, following in the footsteps of TXT’s successful rock makeover in 2021. The latest group to mope around with guitars is WEi — an act who has changed styles more than once throughout their idol career. Unfortunately, new single Not Enough … Continue reading
It’s been a long seventeen month wait for us Sweetune aficionados. The production duo helmed NINE.i’s excellent Turn It Off in August 2023 and swiftly disappeared, briefly reappearing for forgettable H1-Key and DKZ b-sides last year. Now, they’re back in title track territory with BBGirls’ new single (and first under their new agency) Love 2. … Continue reading
I feel like I should open this review the exact same way I did the one for ZEROBASEONE’s new Japanese single moments ago. Like ZB1, &TEAM have worked their way into my core five new-gen boy groups, just below the trinity of TWS, RIIZE and BOYNEXTDOOR. Their music has become increasingly strong, harnessing a melodic … Continue reading
I’ve developed this little cadre of fifth-gen boy groups who are making K-pop really fun for me these days. At the top are my big three: TWS, RIIZE and BOYNEXTDOOR. Then, there are ZEROBASEONE and &TEAM, playing the role of the cool cousins who come visit every once and awhile. For me, their music has … Continue reading
“Special” albums can mean a few things in K-pop. For GFriend, it meant two new songs. Today, for ONEUS it means a handful of new material and a ton of re-recorded hits with their current five-member configuration. Last month’s Rupert’s Drop is also included in the tracklist, while IKUK acts as the title track. Buoyed … Continue reading
EDIT: Clearly, the original review below misunderstood this song as a b-side rather than the title track. One week later, Season Of Memories has been performed on music shows and has a music video (added below). My initial thoughts haven’t changed much. I think the song is perfectly fine but doesn’t give me the sense … Continue reading
From their late-2021 debut to 2023’s I Am, IVE unveiled one of the most bulletproof singles runs we’ve seen in the past few years in K-pop. Song quality became more hit-or-miss as we moved into 2024 and the group expanded their sound. I firmly believe they’re at their best when delivering mini pop epics. Pre-release … Continue reading
2Z debuted in 2020 but still remain relatively unknown to most K-pop fans. However, I always check out their latest comebacks because the music tends to be consistently good. For me, the band peaked with 2021’s Stupid, which married a great melody to upbeat, synth-kissed production. Now, 2Z is back with two title tracks for … Continue reading
Seventeen sub-unit BSS conquered 2023 with their megahit Fighting. Across that year, its catchy chorus and memorable choreo became the kind of popular touchstone you see everywhere — from dance challenges to variety shows. That level of success can be difficult to follow, and it was probably smart of BSS to wait nearly two years … Continue reading
Seven days into the year and we have our first notable debut of 2025 (KickFlip’s song earlier this week was a pre-release). Three of the four XLOV members were contestants on 2023’s Boys Planet, ensuring a certain level of notoriety even before the release of I’mma Be. The group also has a “genderless” concept, which … Continue reading
(G)I-DLE members haven’t often committed to solo efforts with full music show promotions, choosing instead to dabble in digital releases and special singles — often unveiled with little fanfare. This is a smart way to slowly develop each members’ personal sound without the pressure of huge comeback budgets and expectations. Minnie’s understated English-language Blind Eyes … Continue reading
Onew pre-released a track last month, previewing his new solo album that drops today. Yay left me a bit unsure, though I appreciate the creative freedom he now has to release the songs and styles he wants. Title track Winner certainly fits within his wheelhouse, merging cathartic balladry with rock elements to forge a track … Continue reading
Releasing a digital single to kick off the new year has been a successful gambit for many idol acts, and it also makes sense given BOYNEXTDOOR’s busy touring schedule during the first few months of 2025. The group has steadily climbed to the upper echelons of my own bias list, but compared to other favorite … Continue reading
The year in K-pop officially kicks off with an old promise finally fulfilled. For those of us who enjoyed JYP and PSY’s 2021 survival series Loud, it’s been a long wait for the debut of KickFlip. Four of the five guys remain in the group, with three additional members added since the series ended. Their … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Wave (from Wave – 2016) Previous Thoughts: “Wave hits us immediately with its sunny hook, and even if you’ve never heard it before, it feels universally recognizable. It’s the sound of summer in a bottle — celebratory and more than a little … Continue reading
K-pop idols thrive on building a steady, dedicated fan base. This is most often accomplished by a constant stream of releases and deluge of content. But within the vast K-pop industry, there are more than a few “one hit wonders” – acts who release one single or album and are scarcely heard from again. It’s … Continue reading
Just like last year, I wanted to share my top twenty most-viewed posts for 2024. I find this list an interesting gauge of who is popular (at least among netizens who read reviews). The most obvious takeaway from this list is the utter dominance of girl groups. Seriously, there’s only one boy group in the … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 