In connection with my desire to fully keep up with the J-pop industry, I’m planning to do a weekly round-up of any new releases that have caught my ear. Some of these may have been covered on the blog already, but my hope is that this will become a one-stop shop for anyone interested in … Continue reading
K-pop’s title tracks might gain most of listeners’ attention, but many album tracks are worth equal spotlight. I call these “buried treasures.” Beyond this, K-pop’s albums deliver thousands of additional tracks that settle for a more limited audience. It’s these songs that will become a part of my “battle of the b-sides” feature. In this … Continue reading
It’s that time of year again! Now that there’s been enough time for songs to settle, I’m ready for another Bias List Legendary Songs Inauguration Ceremony. I inaugurated a ton of songs last year (maybe too many?), so this year’s ceremony is far smaller and only covers songs released in 2024. As usual, only material released … Continue reading
PREVIOUS RECAPS: Episode One // Episode Two // Episode Three // Episode Four The Fated Meeting At the beginning of the episode, the Planet K and Planet C survivors were revealed to each other via a dramatic falling curtain flourish. I have no idea how they got everyone situated behind each side of the curtain … Continue reading
It’s been a pretty lousy year for J-pop, but my favorite acts have actually remained pretty reliable. We’ve seen highlights from Ryugujo, Genic and Kis-My-Ft2, and co-ed group One Love One Heart has recently been churning out solid material as well. Best of all, they finally seem eager to draw upon their biggest strength: the … Continue reading
I last wrote about Queenz Eye all the way back in 2023 and can’t remember anything about their music. Such is the fate of too many nugu groups, under-promoted and given infrequent comebacks to the point where everyone but their most dedicated fans forget they exist. With new track Feel The Vibe, they’re back to … Continue reading
In a move that no one asked for, SM Entertainment is back with the second single from their virtual idol nævis. The agency seems intent on throwing money at this strange project, and I assume that’s part of a bigger goal of establishing virtual artists as a norm within the industry. After all, virtual performers … Continue reading
Hyperpop has become a driving force in electronic music, and whenever a trend takes hold you know that K-pop is lurking right around the corner, ready to pounce on it. Yves has gone full bore into the genre with her new album, crafting the kind of quirky soundscapes the internet seems to love even as … Continue reading
I’ve been attending KCON LA since 2015, so with pandemic-closures in 2020 and 2021 that makes this year my eighth time at the event. Over the years, I’ve watched it change and grow in both good and bad ways, and those changes were certainly on display this year. It was going to be difficult (impossible?) … Continue reading
Starship Entertainment’s new girl group KiiiKiii debuted earlier this year, grabbing attention with a diverse set of promoted tracks. Their memey Debut Song didn’t work for me and I found follow-ups BTG and Groundwork a little too fitful to last on my playlist, but the generic pop of I Do Me enjoyed surprising longevity. Now, … 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. Judging from internet rumblings, the overriding … Continue reading
The Boyz hold the distinct honor of releasing one of the best songs of the year and one of the worst. For fans of film award celebrations, that’s like being nominated for an Oscar and a Razzie in the same year. I don’t know if the group themselves realize this, but they’ve dropped a follow-up … Continue reading
Across their past few comebacks, EVNNE have carved out an upbeat pop/rock sound. This genre may not be unique among boy groups, but they pull it off well. However, it does make me wonder how fans of their debut era feel, as this is quite a change in style from club bangers like Trouble. New … Continue reading
Throughout her historic career, BoA has tried her hand at just about any K-pop sub-genre you could imagine. Having started in the industry so young, she still feels like a contemporary to many of this era’s groups despite being one of K-pop’s most respected elder stateswomen. New title track Crazier is her first in over … 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
In connection with my desire to fully keep up with the J-pop industry, I’m planning to do a weekly round-up of any new releases that have caught my ear. Some of these may have been covered on the blog already, but my hope is that this will become a one-stop shop for anyone interested in … Continue reading
TXT’s new (full) album weighs in at eight tracks and a paltry twenty-one minutes. This brevity isn’t unique to TXT and I don’t mean to call them out specifically, but it’s representative of choices the K-pop industry is currently making. So much effort seems to go into everything surrounding the music, even as the actual … Continue reading
TXT’s new (full) album weighs in at eight tracks and a paltry twenty-one minutes. This brevity isn’t unique to TXT and I don’t mean to call them out specifically, but it’s representative of choices the K-pop industry is currently making. So much effort seems to go into everything surrounding the music, even as the actual … Continue reading
Say My Name debuted last year as the first idol group on Kim Jaejoong’s agency iNKODE. That debut didn’t do anything for me, but their follow-up ShaLala showed promise. Now, it’s time for them to take on a summer concept with new single iLy, which ambitiously interpolates Frankie Valli’s iconic 1967 classic Can’t Take My … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade. July 2025 Overall Thoughts In the context of this year, the past two months have been … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 