No K-pop group has grown on me more in 2024 than BOYNEXTDOOR. How’s that for a triple-rhyming statement? Seriously, though… when they debuted last year I wasn’t sure what to make of them, but with each comeback my interest and appreciation grew until I retroactively loved their entire discography. That’s a testament to the importance … 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
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. August 2024 Overall Thoughts Over the past few years, the month of August has trended toward … Continue reading
It’s been over a year since WEi last made a comeback with the summery Overdrive, but new single LOVE2YOU feels like it starts right from where that song left off. Summer may be coming to a close, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a few more bursts of sunshine before the seasons change. LOVE2YOU … Continue reading
Few rookie groups have endured a story as dramatic as Fifty Fifty. Initially emerging from a fledgling agency, they quickly gained international notoriety and incredible momentum, only to have this success undercut by alleged abuse, escalating lawsuits and contract terminations. The timeline is too complicated for me to recount here, but we’re left with an … Continue reading
From the moment they kicked their legs in the air to open Fearless‘s compelling choreo, LE SSERAFIM have displayed tons of potential and even more style. But too often, the group has been saddled with ultra-trendy material that feels like an echo of Western pop sounds rather than a guiding light forward. With new single … Continue reading
Since departing Treasure, Bang Yedam has released several solo singles. Most recently, he featured on a duet with aespa’s Winter. Now he’s back with his second mini album Good Vibes and title track O-HE. The song takes advantage of his natural sense of rhythm and a vocal flavor that recalls K-pop greats like Jay Park … Continue reading
Originally debuting as a main rapper in EXO, Chanyeol has gone on to release several solo singles in a variety of genres. He may not be a powerhouse vocalist within the group, but his tone has an easily identifiable charm suited to rock and indie music. Black Out comes from his first official solo album … Continue reading
I count myself among the contingent of Chungha fans who prefer when her music aims straight for the clubs, meaning this spring’s title track Eenie Meenie became eclipsed by its clubbier b-side I’m Ready. With new single Algorithm, she seems to have grasped the formula (see what I did there?) many of us have been … Continue reading
Given Cube Entertainment’s once-savvy position in the K-pop industry, I’m surprised how soft their launch of new boy group Nowadays has been. Their debut came and went without much fanfare, followed by a cover version of Beast’s Rainy Day. Neither of these tracks helped establish Nowadays as a unique group of their own, so first … Continue reading
Rescene made their debut during a busy week for new girl groups. Lumped alongside ILLIT, UNIS, Candy Shop and ME:I, their UhUh stood as the most promising track of the bunch. But without an album to develop this promise, it was difficult to put much stock into Rescene’s future. Thankfully, their first comeback Love Attack … Continue reading
NCT’s Jaehyun pre-released two tracks from his debut solo album earlier this month. I gave both average ratings but never returned to them again. Rather than “good” or “bad,” the songs didn’t have much effect on me at all. They simply existed — nice, well-performed and very predictable. Title track Smoke continues this pattern, painting … Continue reading
Oh My Girl have been through several distinct musical iterations, but many fans remember them best for the fairy-like, ethereal quality of early singles like Closer and Windy Day. It’s been awhile since they’ve revisited this style and new title track Classified seeks to recapture some of that magic. Like agency-mates ONF earlier this year, … Continue reading
As with most survival show spawned groups, ZEROBASEONE’s discography has been a mixed bag. Most songs have grown on me, but none blew me away on first listen. And despite a number of similar b-sides, no title track has yet to recapture the airy effusiveness of their debut. New single Good So Bad manages to … Continue reading
It’s a weird time to be a Kis-My-Ft2 fan. The group’s latest album (their first in four years) was easily their worst — a project I listened to once and never returned to. Yet after leaving the group, Hiromitsu Kitayama has unveiled a musical breadth and creativity only hinted at during his time with Kisumai. … 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. Overall, 2024 has had a solid … 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. With a (performance?) video still possible … Continue reading
I’m a little surprised NCT Dream haven’t released an international single until now (not counting their duet with HRVY). They’re consistently one of the best-selling NCT units and slot nicely into a radio-friendly pop template. Rains In Heaven fulfills this brief, casting an evocative synth soundscape. Regardless of the song itself, it’s so satisfying to … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 