A week after Super Junior’s Donghae pre-released his solo track California Love, Eunhyuk is back with his own song. This double shot of D&E heralds the release of their upcoming unit album. I think this promotional tactic is cool – allowing each member to offer a taste of their own style before a comeback that … Continue reading
With their return last year, CNBLUE joined the distinguished list of ‘post-enlistment’ idols. Not many K-pop groups last this long, and Korea’s military conscription laws create a natural fork in the road for any male act’s career. At this point, CNBLUE may wish to tweak their sound in search of continued chart relevancy, or simply … Continue reading
After nearly a decade of anticipation, CL’s first full album has finally arrived! If I used gifs to illustrate my point, I’d paste a standing ovation after this sentence. Seriously, give the lady some applause. The industry has not always been kind to her, but she’s persisted and released three singles in 2021. Not all … Continue reading
Infinite’s Woohyun wasted no time after military service, releasing new music just weeks after being discharged. He’s one of two Infinite members sticking with Woollim Entertainment, though it seems the guys have negotiated stipulations that allow them to remain active as a group. As I’ve mentioned before, Woohyun is one of my absolute favorite voices … Continue reading
IU has bounded from strength to strength this year, holding court on the charts with both Celebrity and Lilac. She remains a constant presence seven months after the release of her album, but it’s time to tie a bow on her 2021 work with a new digital single. Strawberry Moon aims for uplift, and its … Continue reading
October’s been a pretty lousy month for K-pop so far, and I’m finding myself in a bit of a slump when it comes to new music. This happens from time to time, and always turns around eventually. Sadly, Lee Jinhyuk will not be the idol to unleash that much-needed U-turn. He and I seem to … 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
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 may never stop complaining about … Continue reading
K-pop history is stuffed with great albums, and there’s only so many Buried Treasures and Battle of the B-sides features available to cover all these noteworthy tracks. The album format has always been special to me. Whether it’s a full-length or mini, albums have the opportunity to tell stories and develop an act’s personal style. … Continue reading
With over 3,000 songs on my iPhone’s “K-Pop Singles” playlist, I thought it would be fun to add a bit of unpredictability to my song review posts. So as a result, we have the “Random Shuffle Review” feature. The rules are simple. I fire up my playlist, press “shuffle,” and whatever song plays first gets … Continue reading
After nearly a year away, the newly-debuted/rebranded Blackswan have returned with their second single. Given the constraints of their agency, this alone is a huge accomplishment. I often wonder how these mid-to-smaller agencies are making things work during the pandemic. As far as I know, in-person appearances account for much of an idol group’s revenue, … Continue reading
Growing up, the Jackson family (specifically Janet and Michael) were my pop star archetypes. This probably explains my current taste in music, as well as my initial fascination with K-pop. So much of the industry’s sound and spectacle draws influence from the Jacksons – sometimes even more so than Western music markets. And when idols … Continue reading
In the lead-up to their first (!) full Korean album, Super Junior’s Donghae and Eunhyuk will each be releasing solo tracks. It’s unclear whether these are part of (or separate from) the unit album, but either way it’s a nice treat for fans. Donghae’s California Love enlists the help of NCT’s Jeno. But despite this … Continue reading
LIGHTSUM’s spring debut showed promise, but it’s hard to predict the future of a group based upon a single song. First comebacks are equally important for a rookies, and often give a clearer indication which direction their sound will take. If Vivace is any indication, LIGHTSUM are aiming for the vacancy left by IZ*ONE. When … Continue reading
Jessi’s presence transforms any typical variety show into appointment TV. Her mix of fiery charisma and genuine, approachable sweetness feels so refreshing within an industry often known for its strict adherence to idol-like behavior. Watching Jessi terrorize the ultra-earnest TXT on her YouTube series is one of my personal K-pop highlights of 2021. Get her … Continue reading
The old K-pop fan in me loves to see second-gen producers forging their own agencies and groups. Shinsadong Tiger is a legendary talent within the industry, responsible for so many classic tracks. It’s surprising, then, that his work with TRI.BE has yet to result in anything as strong as his past glories. I blame it … Continue reading
ENHYPEN have been a frustrating prospect to watch. I was in on the ground floor, watching their formation through the I-LAND series. With huge agency support and a team of well-regarded songwriters, their music should be resonating. But every time I think they’re going to pull something spectacular out of the hat, the songs are … Continue reading
*Switching this post from “buried treasure” to “song review,” and including the mv for the English version below. The review corresponds to the Korean version. Listening to Pixy’s new album, I feel like I finally understand the appeal of the group. Title track Addicted might actually be the weakest of the four songs, with Bewitched … Continue reading
DJ/guitarist Raiden is one of those SM acts who doesn’t get enough attention. Since he’s not a vocalist, his work is often paired with SM idols who sing the melodies over his tracks. This has led to a few great collaborations, my favorite being last year’s Yours with EXO’s Chanyeol, Lee Hi and Changmo. For … Continue reading
Several days after announcing her online concert, Sunmi surprise-released new CF single Go Or Stop. The song is “inspired” by KIA, presumably because cars go and… stop? Whatever the motivation, it’s always great to hear new music from Sunmi. Go Or Stop pairs her with frequent collaborator Frants, and comes close to being a real … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 