Girl group RESCENE enjoyed a bit of momentum with last year’s single Love Attack, but their agency has been unable to capitalize on this so far. Title track Glow Up came and went with little fanfare earlier this year, and the buzz around new single Deja Vu also seems to be muted. The public clearly … Continue reading
This is a strange era for K-pop… at least when it comes to my own experience. On one hand, there are a handful of acts I feel more invested in than ever, which is the feeling everyone wants as a fan. In some ways, I’m more interested in K-pop than I have been in awhile, … Continue reading
2025 has seen a number of boy group debuts spawned from survival series, and so far they’ve been killing it. NouerA and Close Your Eyes led charge and now it’s AHOF’s turn. This global group was formed on SBS series Universe League and their awkward acronym stands for “All-Time Hall Of Famer.” Time will tell … Continue reading
As 2025 kicked off, BABYMONSTER were still promoting their first album with a series of follow-up tracks. A second album has been promised for this fall (though take that with a grain of salt given YG Entertainment’s track record) and the summer-themed Hot Sauce acts as its opening salvo, released digitally to kick off the … 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. June 2025 Overall Thoughts We’re now at the midpoint of 2025, which means I’ll be publishing … Continue reading
I keep putting “(Victon)” after Han Seungwoo’s name whenever writing about his music, but it may be time to let that tag go. Given the state of the group’s contract renewals, it seems unlikely that they’d be coming back any time soon. Instead, it’s time to focus on solo projects and Seungwoo already has a … Continue reading
Debuting in early 2019, ONEUS are inching toward that all-important seven year mark when contracts will be up for renewal. Their presence in the industry has felt more muted these past few comebacks, churning out solid but inessential material that hasn’t quite lived up to their most enduring work. Now, after a series of solo … Continue reading
Earlier this year, NouerA released my favorite debut of 2025 so far. Their N.I.N (New Is Now) was the rare track that fully referenced an old-school K-pop sound — modern global trends be damned! In an era where so many new K-pop songs simply sound like western pop tracks performed in Korean, it was refreshing … Continue reading
Thus far, TWS have stuck with a signature sound for their title tracks and utilized follow-up promotions to showcase a wider spectrum of styles. I like this approach, especially since we all know their particular brand of “boyhood pop” won’t remain the same forever. Their debut Japanese single further teases on the Plot Twist template, … 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
Rather than contain my “Risers and Fallers” feature to a single post in June, I’m going to share a bite-sized version at the end of each month. This will let me account for more songs and make a nice lead-in to the monthly round-up post. I anticipate most of these ratings adjustments will be negligible: … 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. CRAVITY deserve praise for releasing a … Continue reading
Jessi’s career has evolved in stages. There are times when her music is as hot as can be, but also many instances where her celebrity feels on the backburner. I have a huge soft spot for her place in Korean music, as she boasts a fiery charisma that’s different than most idols. It’s always lovely … Continue reading
There have been a number of think pieces about how Billboard’s Hot 100 chart has become whiter, more male and more Christian this year. It’s a troubling development for anyone who fears baby steps toward theocracy as I do, and the chokehold Alex Warren’s Ordinary has had on the charts is one of this movement’s … Continue reading
Leading up to the release of their second EP, Katseye have delivered contrasting charms. Gnarly and Gabriela led us from the bold to the boring, which makes me wonder if there’s a happy medium somewhere in the middle. New track Gameboy doesn’t aim to answer that wonder, choosing instead to echo popular trends for a … Continue reading
One of 2024’s biggest success stories was SM Entertainment’s reigning girl group aespa. Going into the year they were already very popular, but the trio of Supernova, Armageddon and Whiplash jolted them to a new level, becoming ubiquitous hits that still have a hold on the charts months later. Rather than return with a brand … Continue reading
While they initially (pre) debuted with a promising pop/rock sound, rookie group POW’s music has become more subdued and forgettable since. They seem to have tons of promise, but the music just isn’t doing it for me. This regrettable trend continues with Being Tender (다정해지는 법) — a plonky mid-tempo that feels almost designed to … Continue reading
Since returning from the military, Wonho’s music seems targeted toward an international market with English-language lyrics and an overall trendy sound. For about two years from 2020 to 2022 he stood as one of the industry’s most reliable artists, releasing a string of bangers. I wish he’d return to that pattern. There’s something deflating about … Continue reading
Sometimes summer highlights emerge from the most unexpected places. Over the past few days, we’ve had a flurry of strong seasonal offerings from some of K-pop’s girl groups, but with My Summer Manual (나의 여름 설명서), the variety show spawned co-ed group JAESSBEE confidently throw their hat in the ring. They’ve got some major firepower … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 