After their reemergence with April’s excellent Ask Yourself, KAT-TUN have released their first full-length album in four years. Its diverse set of songs does a good job encapsulating the group’s twelve-year career — but though they’ve tackled many different genres throughout the years, KAT-TUN have always returned to their distinct blend of anthemic pop rock. … Continue reading
One of the nice things for fans of Johnny’s Entertainment groups is the frequency of their comebacks. The agency’s stable of acts each average two to four releases a year, usually including a stuffed-to-the-brims album. It’s only been about three months since Kis-My-Ft2’s last full-length, but they’re back with L.O.V.E, which sees them donning their … Continue reading
Though their Korean comebacks have become more sparse and under promoted as time has gone on, Boyfriend regularly release Japanese music. Rather than stick with a clearly defined sound, their J-pop output has varied in both style and quality. Unfortunately, new single Call Me falls somewhere towards the bottom of the pack. Its unassuming nature … Continue reading
Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of k-pop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. For awhile now, it’s felt like GFriend has been hiding their … Continue reading
The past two months have seen a veritable army of girl groups vying for the “queens of summer” title previously held by the now-disbanded Sistar. But the season wouldn’t be complete without one of Sistar’s former members throwing her hat into the ring. And who better than Hyolyn, whose airy vocals are perfectly suited to summertime … Continue reading
It’s hard to believe, but it’s been five long years since Bigbang’s Seungri last released solo music. In the meantime, his fellow members have had their chance in the spotlight, cementing their individual styles as Seungri threw much of his attention into lucrative business ventures. As time passed, the thought of a 2018 solo project … Continue reading
Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of k-pop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. Listening to Seventeen’s new album for the first time, I wondered … Continue reading
In the heated battle to release 2018’s K-pop song of the summer, GFriend have pulled out the big guns and enlisted producer Duble Sidekick for their new title track. Duble Sidekick have become forever entwined with this season after crafting many of Sistar’s iconic summer hits (Loving U, I Swear, Shake It), and they bring … Continue reading
The rise of Kim Chungha has been astonishing to watch. While she finished in the top four of Produce 101‘s first season, she always seemed to be overshadowed by some of the bigger personalities of her I.O.I group members. Yet, while many Produce-related girl groups struggle to find their place in K-pop’s crowded marketplace, Chungha … Continue reading
Triple H made their unit debut in May of 2017, bringing together soloist HyunA and Pentagon members Hui and E’Dawn to form a trouble-making trio. 365 Fresh was a wonderfully retro funk track that got a bit overshadowed by its controversial music video. One might think that this muted commercial response would cause Triple H … Continue reading
Back in 2016, it felt like Ladies’ Code were on the cusp of a resurgence, rising from tragedy with a newly matured sound. But then 2017 passed with no new music from the girls. And in the ever-fickle world of K-pop, a year might as well be a lifetime. It’s refreshing, then, to hear the … Continue reading
After kicking off the year with the colorful music video for power ballad Paint Me, Mamamoo have embarked on a release schedule centered around colors and seasons. March gave us Yellow Flower and the folksy EDM of Starry Night, and now the girls have moved onto “red” summer with the Latin-pop of Egotistic (너나 해). … Continue reading
Since their debut in 2015, Seventeen has established themselves as an idol group that never disappoints. There’s a sense of comfort whenever they return because you know the song won’t fall below a certain level of quality. It helps that, along with in-house producer Bumzu, they compose their own material. But this consistency can also … Continue reading
In just a few short years, Taeyeon has gone from being the leader of Girls’ Generation to one of SM Entertainment’s most bankable solo stars. And with the recent arrival of her Japanese debut, she’s released just enough singles for a top ten list. Now, my favorite Taeyeon song of all time happens to be an … Continue reading
If there’s anything I’ve learned from covering pop music for over a decade, it’s that songwriters and collaborators are just as important as the artists themselves. Though they often work behind the scenes, this feature is a chance to shine the light on some of k-pop’s most innovative and accomplished producers and composers. Ferdy Years … Continue reading
With the likes of Zion.T and DEAN relatively quiet this year, it feels like 2018 has been lacking in solo male K-r&b. This leaves a gap in the market for Crush, who’s enjoyed a steady level of success ever since his big breakthrough in 2014. I’ve been pretty hot and cold with his music over … Continue reading
In one of the year’s most unexpected collaborations, pop group The Boyz has returned with a song written and produced by Block B’s Park Kyung. Kyung has already composed a lot of material for his own group and for himself, but this is the first time he’s created a song for an outside act. I … Continue reading
It’s pretty ballsy to title your new pop single “Jesus,” but then again Bullet Train have never been lacking in nerve. They’ve built their sound on a fusion of straightforward dance pop and experimental (sometimes abrasive) production flourishes. Jesus represents a mid-point between the two, surrounding its catchy chorus with a boisterous blend of influences. … Continue reading
Boy group MYTEEN made their debut one year ago before quickly disappearing from the K-pop landscape. A few of the guys took place in YG’s failed survival show MIXNINE, but the group remains in a perilous place. Rookies are a dime a dozen these days, and without constant promotion it’s difficult to break into the … Continue reading
Before there was Gugudan, there were Sejeong, Mina and Nayoung, who made a splash during the first evaluation of Produce 101 season one. Their performance unleashed vocal firepower, but their work in Gugudan has mostly failed to show this off. However, that’s what sub-units are for. On one hand, the fact that Gugudan has spawned … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 