I adored Lovelyz while they were active, but I don’t think I fully appreciated them until their style of lush, melodic girl group pop fell out of favor. Nowadays, there simply isn’t a K-pop group like them. The industry’s musical focus has changed so completely, leaving their discography as an enticing time capsule. Today, it’s … Continue reading
Album repackages are common in K-pop, but it’s been four months since the original release of ENHYPEN’s latest album, making this revisit feel more like a brand new comeback. No Doubt continues the laidback vibe of its predecessor XO (Only If You Say Yes), upping the tempo a bit but refusing to break free of … Continue reading
Last week, NCT Dream unveiled pre-release Flying Kiss, which was… half a good song. Its verses and chorus existed on a different plane from one another, but its best moments offered a peek at what we might hear on the group’s full album. Title track When I’m With You never hits the heights of Flying … Continue reading
I’ll rave about Ryugujo to anyone who will listen. Their Deep Wave EP earlier this year is among the most exciting pieces of music released in 2024 and I have similar hopes for their first full album later this month. Lead track Urashima is more ‘statement of intent’ than full song, making it a curious … Continue reading
Pre-releases have become incredibly common this year in K-pop — particularly from the big agencies. NCT Dream’s album isn’t out quite yet, but they’ve surprised us with new track Flying Kiss during the lead-up to promotions. The song showcases the lighter side of the group, offering a soft burst of pop buoyed by a standout … Continue reading
XG are back with their second mini album, building on the success of earlier 2024 singles Something Ain’t Right and IYKYK. Those two songs touched on the dancier side of their music, so it makes sense that Howling would move back into hip-hop. These seem to be XG’s two musical modes, with a healthy dose … Continue reading
IVE had a rough English-language debut earlier this year with an overly artificial cover of Icona Pop’s 2013 hit All Night. Mixing issues and heavy-handed vocals effects marred that effort, so it makes sense the group would team up with an established producer who could iron out some of those issues. They picked a good … Continue reading
I’ve been writing about a different GFriend song every day for the past few weeks (and will continue to do so until I’ve run through their whole discography), so it’s fun when my daily GFriend feature converges with a new single by the group’s spin-off act VIVIZ. Their title track Maniac from one year ago … 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. TVXQ just released their best song … Continue reading
NCT’s Doyoung debuted as a soloist earlier this year with a full album. Now, he’s capping off 2024 with the release of new digital single The Story (시리도록 눈부신). Rather than reinvent the wheel, the song sounds like an extension of his previous work, drawing upon his rich vocal for an uplifting ballad. The Story … Continue reading
I’ll confess this right at the top: despite enjoying Yesung quite a bit as a performer, I nearly didn’t listen to this new solo track at all. My bias (and his musical history) had me expecting a specific type of ballad that just isn’t my thing. I very rarely have much to write about these … Continue reading
I feel like I must open every new DAY6-related review by mentioning just how well the group has done this year. It’s insane to see so many of their singles running up the charts — both old and new. Korea is clearly in love with their sound, more than any other time in the past … Continue reading
Boy group EPEX have taken the unusual route of releasing two full-length albums this year. And when we add new title track Universe to the list, the guys will have promoted a total of five (!) songs with music videos in 2024. That’s quite prolific. Not all the material has been equally great, but this … Continue reading
Today, Minho becomes the final SHINee member to release a full studio album. New material from SHINee is always something to cheer about, but in the past Minho’s work hasn’t often been targeted to my taste. He tends to prefer more downbeat, vibes-driven material. New single Call Back adds a driving beat, but its tone … Continue reading
As sure as the sun sets, we can count on J.Y. Park to return each year with a fun retro banger. It’s practically a national holiday at this point. He’s long since eschewed albums for digital singles and this approach gives him a chance to funnel all his energy into one great song at a … Continue reading
Earlier this year, TXT unveiled the angsty Deja Vu, capitalizing on the rock-infused sound that made their 2021 so exemplary. However, I felt that song’s production held it back from blooming into the highlight it should have been. Now, the guys have reverted to their second mode of pop song: upbeat, disco-kissed dance music. They’ve … Continue reading
Top Media’s first ever girl group teased their debut last month with pre-release Best Friendz. From that song alone, it felt as if their music would be pitched toward a younger audience. Their proper debut track arrives today and shines more light on where the group may be headed. After Best Friendz, it’s pretty jarring … Continue reading
I loved Kep1er’s nine-member swan song Shooting Star and was upset when they never performed it at this year’s KCON LA. Now the group is down to seven, as Mashiro and Yeseo parted ways to join 143 Entertainment’s Madein. A new configuration opens potential for a new sound, and Tipi-Tap certainly switches things up. Unfortunately, … Continue reading
In the lead-up to BABYMONSTER’s first full album, they’ve teased all of its songs except title track Drip. We even heard the full album opener Clik Clak two days ago. I haven’t been impressed by much of the group’s discography so far, but YG Entertainment always seems to come up with at least one highlight … Continue reading
Around this time last year, BTOB left their longtime agency Cube Entertainment. They’ve since established their own BtoB Company to manage activities for most members, presumably giving them more creative freedom. As their first group effort since this transition, Please Stay (불씨) doesn’t reveal much change. The emotive ballad sits well within their established discography. … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 