ITZY have been releasing Japanese material for some time now, leading up to the release of their first J-pop album next month. Prior to this, they’ve dropped the music video for the album’s promotional single. Ringo (or “Apple,” if you want an English translation) feels like their K-pop sound transcoded onto Japan, which should please … Continue reading
When looking back at their discography, I released it’s been a couple of years since a ONEUS title track really grabbed me. Their music is always solid and they come back frequently, but their sound has been stuck in this nebulous zone since 2021, borrowing from various trends rather than developing their own perspective. Baila … Continue reading
More often than not, Kep1er’s b-sides tend to eclipse their title tracks. Check out Back To The City, Together Forever and MVSK to see what I mean. They’ve yet to promote a song that connects with me in the same way, but with a possible contract extension in the works they may have more time. … Continue reading
Last time IVE pre-released a song, I initially dismissed it as too noisy and repetitive. Kitsch has gone on to become one of my biggest growers of the year, proving the power of this ascendant group. This time around, Either Way is the first of two pre-release tracks leading up to IVE’s first EP next … Continue reading
Fantasy Boys come from the MBC survival series of the same name — another 2023 debut spawning from a TV show. I didn’t watch Fantasy Boys when it aired, but appreciated the fact that it cast B1A4’s Jinyoung as a mentor. If only he could have been in charge of the group’s debut single! New … Continue reading
Despite having all the potential in the world, Yuju’s solo career thus far has steered closer to calming coffee shops than the big power notes fueling GFriend’s best material. New single Dalala ups the energy a bit, but succumbs to a subdued groove that threatens to fade into the background. There have been many songs … Continue reading
I got nervous the moment I saw the name of Tempest’s new title track. After all, when there’s a “vroom” in K-pop, a “skrrt” can’t be far behind! And with Yuehua Entertainment’s mixed track record of choosing songs, I never feel like I can count on their artists to release good music. Tempest has flipped … Continue reading
As expected, the popular Boys Planet series is set to spin off more than just its winning group ZEROBASEONE. EVNNE is the first out of the gate, comprised of members who didn’t quite make the final cut. They’ve immediately distinguished themselves from ZB1’s bright pop sound, debuting with their take on the brash Baltimore Club … Continue reading
Years ago, I used to refer to the impending autumn as K-pop’s “ballad season.” That’s changed recently, with many ballads replaced by more upbeat idol tracks on the charts. But with BTS’s V and EXO’s D.O. releasing solo music this month, we’re seeing a resurgence of slower material. Somebody is not a ballad, but its … Continue reading
We’re now at the point where I’m writing about these V solo songs out of sheer stubbornness. It’s like Pokémon — you gotta catch them all! Never mind the fact that I have nothing new to add to my existing thoughts. For Us is the fifth (!) music video to spawn from his debut solo … Continue reading
There are better people than me to recount the long, sordid saga of LOONA’s relationship with former agency Blockberry Creative. Suffice it to say, there are five members remaining and they’ve re-formed as “Loossemble” — one of the most unfortunate group names I’ve heard in some time. Fresh starts like this have worked for other … Continue reading
As global K-pop collaborations become more frequent, the pairing of talents matters more and more. Which artists can compliment each other and tease out new dynamics? When it comes to TXT, I found their pairing with Jonas Brothers quite cloying. In that case, the song highlighted a milquetoast, kid’s movie soundtrack vibe that some of … Continue reading
Given Johnny’s & Associates’ recent implosion, I’m paying close attention to Hideaki Takizawa’s newly-established TOBE label, which is becoming a home to more and more ex-Johnny’s talents. I have my own take on the J&A controversy (mostly, I’m irritated that the agency’s talents seem to be the ones paying for their late founder’s crimes), but … Continue reading
It’s getting harder to distinguish between a proper comeback mv and a “special mv” in K-pop, but BBGirls’ Lemonade deserves at least a brief write-up. Despite its repetitive structure, comeback One More Time ended up growing on me. It makes for a great singalong while driving! Lemonade is funkier and groovier, taking a more laid-back … Continue reading
It’s been a year since Mimiirose made their debut with the promising Rose. That’s a long hiatus for a rookie group, making follow-up single Flirting quite important. Listening to their first album, Mimiirose’s potential was obvious. Now’s the time to capitalize on that and remind fans why they’re a vital part of the K-pop landscape. … Continue reading
Project group EL7Z UP hails from this year’s Queendom Puzzle competition show, which aired its finale on August 15th. In only a month’s time, they’ve made their debut with Cheeky. That’s some quick movement! The group consists of members from Lovelyz, CLC, Rocket Punch, WJSN, Purple Kiss, H1-Key and woo!ah!. There’s clearly a ton 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. One of the composers I miss … 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. I’m sure readers are as tired … Continue reading
HYBE’s love for releasing multiple music videos from each project really messes with my review system! Do I write about every one of them? For a release as high-profile as V’s solo album, it seems silly not to. Yet, I find myself essentially copying and pasting my thoughts from song to song. I’m not sure … Continue reading
POW may not be debuting for another month, but they’re following a recent K-pop trend by pre-releasing a track to familiarize audiences with their style. This tactic may muddy the waters a bit, but it feels like a good way to announce yourself with relatively low risk and start building a fan base before that … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 