Latest Entries
Song Review: 3piece – Light Up
3piece are one of those very under-the-radar acts hampered only by their lack of notoriety and resources. Their debut single borrowed sonic touchstones from K-pop’s past (namely, tropical pop), which definitely appeals to me. However, the music missed the extra spark that a bigger budget could likely add. New single Light Up (피어올라) follows a … Continue reading
New & Noteworthy J-pop of the Week (October 6, 2024)
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
Buried Treasure: WHIB – Play
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. When it comes to the brighter … Continue reading
One of J-pop’s Biggest and Best Groups Just Dropped Their Music on Streaming! A Complete Guide to the Albums’ Discography of NEWS.
A few weeks ago, I gave a brief overview of the lengthy singles run of J-pop group News — one of my favorite acts whose material is just now being released to streaming. Now, those singles have been joined by the group’s albums. Some of their best material can be found here, so of course … Continue reading
Song Review: ASC2NT – Sweet Devil
ASC2NT debuted earlier this year with the groovy Love Me Do, displaying an impressive set of vocals and a relatively old-school approach. New single Sweet Devil gives them a bad boy makeover, mixing rock and hip-hop elements into the brew. While this showcases their versatility, the song tends to blend with many similar boy group … Continue reading
Song Review: Kiss Of Life – R.E.M
Kiss Of Life have quickly become one of K-pop’s buzziest acts and their ascent seems to have come about naturally. They’re not from a major agency, but their producers seem to have their finger on the pulse of popular sounds. In a K-pop summer devoid of big hits, their Sticky became an emblem of the … Continue reading
Song Review: Lisa (BLACKPINK) – Moonlit Floor
It’s always interesting to measure the lag between a very popular western pop song and the inevitable K-pop progeny. I’m not sure Lisa’s solo material can be considered “K-pop” given its language and her nationality, but you can definitely hear how new single Moonlit Floor echoes the approach of Sabrina Carpenter’s breezy global smash Espresso. … Continue reading
Song Review: Yuta (NCT) – Off The Mask
NCT’s many members are slowly starting to embark upon solo careers, each with their own musical focus. Yuta has been with the group since the very beginning, debuting in 2016 as part of NCT 127. Since then, he’s felt like one of the more underutilized talents. Regardless of my thoughts on the song itself, I’m … Continue reading
Song Review: TIOT – The Long Season
Thus far, rookies TIOT have opted for a bad boy rocker sound with their debut track. The song itself didn’t work for me at all, though its band elements showed promise. New single The Long Season (그 계절 긴 터널을 지나) takes a softer approach, bolstering its guitar and drums instrumental with plenty of melody. … Continue reading
Song Review: ATEEZ – Birthday
ATEEZ have kept a relatively consistent style between their Korean and Japanese work, even when collaborating with J-pop act BE:FIRST for a couple of songs. New single Birthday doesn’t upend this pattern, keeping their core production team and riffing off elements similar to their past few albums. The problem, of course, is that I didn’t … Continue reading
The Top Three K-Pop Songs of September 2024
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. September 2024 Overall Thoughts While the first half of 2024 was quite strong, these past few … Continue reading
Song Review: WHIB – Rush Of Joy
So far, I haven’t had much to say about WHIB apart from commenting on their strange group name, but who am I to deny a song titled “Rush Of Joy“? We can all use more joy in our lives, and WHIB are here to dole it out with funk pop precision. For those keeping track, … Continue reading
Song Review: Vanner – Automatic
Ever since Peak Time game them a second wind, Vanner have been releasing the kind of classic, second-gen inspired K-pop sound many of us oldies hold close to our heart. Both mini albums have been super solid, led by dynamic title tracks that took advantage of the group’s experience. Automatic is another triumph to add … Continue reading
Song Review: Yena – NEMONEMO
Choi Yena has straddled the line between rock chick and quirky popstress, often combining the two for a bubbly sound that capitalizes on her colorful personality. New single NEMONEMO (네모네모) dives full-on into the quirk, delivering the kind of a hyperactive dance track more commonly heard in J-pop. It won’t be for everyone, but the … Continue reading
New & Noteworthy J-pop of the Week (September 29, 2024)
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
K-Pop Risers & Fallers: September 2024
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
Buried Treasure: P1Harmony – Last Call
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. When writing about P1Harmony’s new comeback … Continue reading
Song Review: Dragon Pony – Pop Up
With 2024’s resurgence in popularity for idol band DAY6, I wonder if Korea is at the forefront of rediscovering their love for band music. Rock was a major force during the 90’s and early 2000’s, but like most music markets (apart from Japan!), the genre has ceded power to more modern sounds like hip-hop and … Continue reading
Song Review: HYO – Retro Romance
Pop music has been stuck in a retro romance for this entire decade, seemingly obsessed with referencing past eras rather than pushing forward to new sounds. This has caused genres like synthwave and synthpop to feel quite oversaturated, even if they’re styles I personally love. So, when it was announced that HYO would be drawing … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 