Though they’re not exactly the same, I like to think of Mrs. GREEN APPLE and Official HIGE DANdism as parallel artists. Both have seen an incredible rise in popularity over the past five years with a rock sound that embraces hearty melodies and cathartic energy. Both have powerful vocalists at their helm. And, both have … Continue reading
Like many groups from smaller agencies, DKB has diversified their audience by touring extensively overseas. Their smooth, hip-hop inspired sound holds big international appeal, but new single I Need Love takes them in a direction more suited to the dancefloor. There’s a great song packed in here, but the structure and production seem intent on … Continue reading
It seems I’m writing about a HYBE act or a HYBE-adjacent act every other day on this blog. The monolithic company has taken over K-pop and has its sights set on J-pop as well. The resulting music is of mixed quality, but HYBE’s ever-expanding roster of artists have all found success so far. Love them … Continue reading
Ren’s penchant for colorful, over-the-top pop music makes him the Nu’est member I was most excited about going solo. With any luck, he’d use 2021’s Rocket Rocket as a template and craft an entire album of big club bops. There’s a hole in the market for a male idol like that. Ready To Move targets … Continue reading
I’m doing mental somersaults to determine the connection between Suzy and HYBE’s upcoming series R U Next. I thought maybe she was the host or a mentor, but a quick Google search reveals nothing. I guess IU performed I-LAND‘s theme track without being part of the actual series, so there’s a precedent for super popular … Continue reading
Good old VAV! I haven’t written about them in nearly three years. It’s good to see the group back. Their discography has varied so much in sound, from the early funk-pop days to their latter experiments with darker moods. New single Designer brings the guys back to the Latin-inspired style they’d adopted in 2018-19. They … Continue reading
In a summer stuffed with second-gen comebacks, it seemed EXO might be left out of the rush. There’s been a ton of legal drama behind the scenes, potentially sidelining their planned return. But according to reports, we’ll be getting a new studio album after almost four years. Before its title track drops in a few … Continue reading
Before SHINee make their long-awaited return at the end of the month, they have a gift for fans in the form of pre-release single The Feeling. This song was previously revealed as part of the group’s recent fanmeet and marks the first time we’re hearing all four members on a new Korean track since the … 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 get why fromis_9 would want … Continue reading
Sexy Zone’s The Highlight was one of my favorite albums of 2022… in any genre. And, the group knows exactly what they’re doing with its follow-up — aptly titled “Chapter II.” They’ve revisited many of the successful sounds from last year to great success. After just one listen, I’ve already got multiple standouts. This approach … Continue reading
I’ve got lots of love for a big, dumb EDM chorus. Bonus points if the lyrics instruct you to jump or throw your hands in the air like you just don’t care. When attached to an excellent song, these hooks can transform from cliché to transcendent. I wish P1Harmony’s Jump was such a song. There … Continue reading
I so appreciate J-pop’s ability (and desire) to surprise. The market is vast and varied, and that means you’ll never really know what you’ll encounter from day to day. Yes, there are plenty of songs that conform to predictable trends, but there are also moments like Red:birthmark, where critical cynicism melts away and you’re left … Continue reading
I’ve listened to ENHYPEN’s newest album exactly one time — a far cry from playing Manifesto: Day 1 into the ground last summer. Apart from a few sparks of energy, the album is mostly composed of languid mid-tempos. Sacrifice (Eat Me Up) falls squarely into that category. It’s nearly a minute longer than title track Bite … Continue reading
The New Six (formerly TNX)’s era-spanning teasers for new single Kick It 4 Now have been very entertaining. Nostalgia is all the rave right now, and the guys did a great job recreating various pop music aesthetics from the 80’s and 90’s. The song follows suit, delivering a retro taste of new jack swing. I’ll … Continue reading
I wasn’t sure whether Die For Love should be categorized as a “song review” or a “buried treasure.” It has no music video, but it’s listed as one of the title tracks from B.I’s newest album. Whatever you want to call it, this is one of the strongest K-pop songs I’ve heard in awhile. I … Continue reading
Look, K-pop producers… all I want is a great song that stays great all the way through. Is that too much to ask? The teasers for Xodiac’s Special Love seemed to promise bubbly, synth-kissed energy. Its exuberant chorus definitely delivers, but if the entire track had followed suit we might have a Sweetune-esque pop banger … Continue reading
NCT’s Taeyong has released solo work before, but today marks the debut of his first solo album. I’m surprised more NCT members haven’t promoted as soloists. After all, there are so many guys to choose from! To be honest, I didn’t have high hopes for Shalala (샤랄라). Taeyong’s moments in NCT’s tracks tend to drive … Continue reading
fromis_9’s comebacks tend to hang around the mid 8’s on this blog, which isn’t a bad place to be. Their music rarely knocks my socks off, but they’ve developed a stable sound that can be counted on to deliver sleek, streamlined pop. New single #menow adds to this list, neither better nor worse than most … Continue reading
Sakurazaka46 has their “aggrieved protagonist vents frustration through combative dance routines” format down pat, and its sense of empowerment feels more genuine than much of what passes as empowering in pop music. If you’re looking for catharsis in the form of a song, this is the group for you. Start Over is an absolute beast, … Continue reading
Last time MCND made a comeback, they pre-released a track that turned out to be even stronger than the actual single. I’m not sure if Pop Star portends an eventual comeback, but it’s always nice to hear from the group. If you liked BOYNEXTDOOR’s recent trio of tracks, Pop Star should work for you too. … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 