Nam Woohyun has always been generous to fans, frequently releasing special one-off singles to mark occasions or simply show gratitude to those who follow him. He’s also a composer, with some of his best solo work being co-written by him. And then, of course, there’s that voice. I could listen to that voice sing anything. … 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. Hwasa’s new mini album is a … Continue reading
You know… P1harmony’s music really frustrates me sometimes. They’ve developed this habit of hiding excellent material as b-sides while promoting their most gimmicky tracks. February’s Killin’ It album was quite strong, but the title track didn’t feel representative or fresh. Judging by the highlight medley for their newest comeback, I fear this pattern continues. Sad … Continue reading
“SOS” feels like a strange but fitting title for this Fifty Fifty comeback (re-debut?). With controversy and calls for boycotts swirling around this new configuration, everyone involved — from past members to current members to agency underlings — likely have “SOS” swirling around their heads. I’m sure some will be upset that I’m writing about … Continue reading
It’s been about a year since we heard from Hwasa with the gimmicky (but somehow enduring?) I Love My Body. On new single NA, she’s traded that song’s retro trappings for a more modern house beat. It’s a welcome jolt of energy within her discography, even if the track spends too much time talking when … Continue reading
The Chuseok-related K-pop drought ends today with the first solo debut from popular group TXT. Over the years, Yeonjun has become a sort of ‘it boy’ within his generation, so it’s no surprise that he’s given the chance to showcase his skills as a soloist. As always, I’m most interested to see what his music … Continue reading
To me, new Korean/Japanese boy group KJRGL are most memorable because their name looks like someone smashed their head on a keyboard and wrote down the resulting nonsense. In reality, “KJRGL” is an acronym for “Kind (of) Just Right Good Luck”, which is somehow even more endearing. They’re under Sony Music Entertainment Korea, but debut … Continue reading
As a spin-off to my Battle of the B-sides feature, I’m pleased to announce the arrive of “Battle of the Title Tracks!” In this feature, I’ll be pitting three K-pop title tracks/singles against each other and choosing a winner. These songs will mostly be from pre-2016 since I’ll try to focus on music I haven’t … Continue reading
During this lull in new K-pop releases, I decided to go back and watch 2012’s MBC Gayo Daejun – the end-of-year extravaganza that ushered in 2013. Not only was it a euphoric time capsule of excellent music and stunning performances, but it brought to mind many thoughts after twelve years of K-pop fandom. Here were … Continue reading
In the lead-up to their first Korean mini album, NCT Wish have already delivered the SHINee-esque pre-release Dunk Shot. Now, they’ve given us another taste of what’s to come with the lighter pop of 3 Minutes (3분까진 필요 없어). I’m assuming this isn’t the title track since the album doesn’t arrive until next week, but … Continue reading
So… on the day of their anniversary, News finally dropped all thirty-two of their singles on streaming services. This is something to celebrate! The albums are coming up next, and some of my favorite tracks are on those albums, but for now I thought I’d give an overview of their huge singles’ discography for those … 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
I chose NINE.i’s Vahn as my second favorite K-pop producer of 2023. Not only was he responsible for his group’s excellent mini album, but he also had a hand in Golden Child’s Feel Me. That second song feels like a roadmap to the similarly-titled Feeling — the title track for his first EP. In a … Continue reading
With over 4,000 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
EDIT: This was previously published as a “buried treasure” review, but now that we’ve got an official video I’m switching it over to a normal Song Review! When writing about xikers’ Witch, I mentioned that there are often enjoyable b-sides on the group’s albums even if their title track doesn’t appeal to me. That’s especially … Continue reading
We rarely hear K-pop groups promote ballads anymore, usually making them a pre-release (if they’re released at all). A.C.E have a history of this approach with their excellent 2020 track Stand By You. They definitely have the vocal firepower to pull it off, and special single Anymore takes advantage of this skill. Rather than Stand … Continue reading
It’s been teased since aespa’s debut in 2020, and now SM Entertainment has finally debuted their virtual creation nævis. For those not in the know, nævis is (according to Fandom.com) “an AI system that helps the aes of aespa appear in the real world, allowing them to be seen by the real aespa members.” Okay, … Continue reading
Xdinary Heroes continue their blitz of 2024 digital singles with a real coup. They’ve managed to get Yoon Do Hyun from venerated rock group YB as a duet partner for iNSTEAD!. I was delighted to see this, as I love Do Hyun’s voice and A Flying Butterfly is one of my all-time favorite K-rock songs. … Continue reading
NCT Wish have pinballed promotions between Japan and Korea, releasing previous single Songbird first in Japanese before unveiling its Korean version. Their new album seems to be taking the opposite approach, starting with pre-release Dunk Shot. No, this is not a cover of the 90’s track that NCT Dream already recorded. This is another Dunk … Continue reading
When it comes to music I love, there tends to be two categories of songs. There are instant hits that capture my attention on first listen. Then, there are ‘stealth bombers’ that reveal their charms more gradually. Every single BOYNEXTDOOR song has fallen into the second category. In the long run, it doesn’t mean they’re … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 