PREVIOUS RECAPS: Episode One // Episode Two // Episode Three // Episode Four // Episode Five // Episode Six Guys… this new episode is almost three hours long and all they’re doing is announcing rankings. I’m not watching all that. Sorry, even I have my limits. However, I figure there are readers who would still … 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. Not too long ago (2021, to … Continue reading
K-pop album promotion cycles are usually short, and as norms have changed in the Western pop market that brevity has become the case here as well. Artists often release several songs leading up to an album but rarely promote any new singles beyond that. With Dream, BLACKPINK’s Lisa has plucked a track from her February … Continue reading
Thus far in their career, Young Posse have waffled between quirky, colorful music and more subdued bids to be taken seriously in the hip-hop realm. They’re at their best somewhere in the middle, such as last year’s fun 90’s throwback Ate That. New single Freestyle borrows some of this energy but also falls victim to … Continue reading
PREVIOUS RECAPS: Episode One // Episode Two // Episode Three // Episode Four // Episode Five I’m back… a few days late again! We’re continuing with the first round battles this episode but before that I must reiterate that the best thing about this season so far is the cute little dog that comes into … Continue reading
I don’t know what’s happening over in YOUNITE world, but the promotion for Bomba is concerning. The song was released over a week ago to no fanfare and only now has a (performance) video. The group has yet to promote it on music shows. None of these developments bode well for the agency’s confidence in … Continue reading
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
At the end of each month, I compile my top three K-pop title tracks and list a ton of honorable mentions. In 2025, I thought I’d try something new and add a weekly feature to supplement my monthly round-up. Each Sunday, I’ll offer a compendium of the week’s new releases featured on the blog. And … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 