While K-pop has been consistently above average this year, my J-pop fortunes haven’t been so bright. It’s a real turnaround from this time last year, when I was able to feature fifteen beloved tracks. The choices were more limited this time, but it’s still worth pointing out some stellar work from a few favorites. What … Continue reading
TRENDZ’s music may be more inconsistent than I’d like, but January’s brilliant Go Up instantly landed them in my own K-pop hall of fame. The recently released Glow painted them in a smooth disco funk light and Japanese single Season Of You continues that approach. This is fluffy, inoffensive summertime pop at its most basic. … Continue reading
The guys of iKON have slowly been establishing solo careers now that they’re free from YG Entertainment’s shackles. JU-NE has previously recorded a few OSTs, but Feel Lost (나 홀로) and accompanying mini album Bruise mark his official debut. The song sees him adopt a rock approach, melding guitar with funky rhythms. As a guitar … Continue reading
Despite over a decade of music to his name, this may be the first mention of Lee Seungyoon on this blog. I mainly focus on idol releases, but every once and awhile it’s nice to have a palette cleanser, and Seungyoon’s Brit-rock sound is just what the doctor ordered. Waterfall (폭포) is the first title … Continue reading
Rookie group VVUP have a mixed batting average so for, often let down by the production fueling their songs. They’re back with a summer single today, and that instantly perks up my attention. Sadly, Ain’t Nobody (에인트 노바디) hinges on many overused musical and conceptual tropes of the moment. The song is built upon a … Continue reading
It’s pretty ballsy to name your single “Hot Mess,” essentially teeing up critics and naysayers if the song is anything less than amazing. But if we’re speaking of “amazing,” aespa already have a super solid track record. And with Supernova‘s incredible chart dominance this spring, the girls seem to have entered an imperial phase. Can … Continue reading
Soloist Lee Chaeyeon has developed a quirky discography, taking advantage of her skills as a dancer to find upbeat rhythms that lodge themselves in your brain. Though most of her material has been solid, I wouldn’t say it’s had a consistent sound or energy. New single Don’t flips things once again, offering her take on … Continue reading
While 2024 has delivered quite a few standout singles so far, I haven’t been as blown over by the albums. Still, I was surprised how many I was able to cobble together. Unlike in the past, I’m not distinguishing between mini and full albums, though albums must have at least four full songs to be … Continue reading
It appears there will be no full group comeback for SHINee this year, but that doesn’t mean the individual members won’t be busy. In between his many appearances on variety, Key has returned with a new Japanese single. Tongue Tied was made available last week, but today marks its music video debut. I haven’t been … Continue reading
Somebody needs to explain why TXT are hanging around in the snow for the promo images of their Japanese single album Chikai, which is set for release in the month of… July. If nothing else, I guess it’s interesting counter-programming? The same could be said for We’ll Never Change, which adopts a more subdued sound … Continue reading
I wasn’t bowled over by ALL(H)OURS’ debut earlier this year, but I sensed musical ambition that might lead to exciting things in the future. With their second mini album, the guys are moving in the right direction. Title track Shock (도깨비) takes many familiar boy group tropes but adds a crackling instrumental that feels new … Continue reading
Wow, what a change a year can make! At this point in 2023, I was only able to pick a small handful of tracks to feature in my mid-year countdown, but 2024 has me spoiled for choice. My list is unusually long this time and probably won’t be all that surprising (barring one or two … Continue reading
K-pop/J-pop collaborations are growing more common lately (Fantastics x EPEX say hello!), and I can’t think of a better match than BE:FIRST and ATEEZ. Both employ a heavy hip-hop style with dramatic instrumentals and a free-wheeling, inexhaustible energy. I can’t say I’ve been a fan of either group’s recent work, but this duet is sure … Continue reading
Though it wasn’t everyone’s preferred style for the group, I loved STAYC’s transformation into bubblegum pop last year. It provided a nice counter to many of the year’s subdued, cooler-than-cool trends. Judging by its title alone, Cheeky Icy Thang seemed poised to continue this run. I’d love nothing more than a campy summertime anthem from … Continue reading
Kiss Of Life have quickly established themselves as one of K-pop’s buzziest rookie acts. April’s Midas Touch expertly mined the current Y2K trend to craft a catchy showcase that gave the group their own sonic calling card. New summer single Sticky feels more closely attuned to the laidback, Afrobeats-inspired sound currently sweeping global charts. I’ve … Continue reading
Thus far, BABYMONSTER have embraced all the YG girl group tropes you’d expect, casting them as heirs to 2NE1 and BLACKPINK’s throne. This is not an agency known for its willingness to experiment. Instead, they’ve managed to enthrall fans with slight tweaks to successful formulas. With this in mind, it’s time for BABYMONSTER’s version of … Continue reading
GreatGuys is one of those acts that consistently releases solid material, even if they never receive the attention that material deserves. They rarely appear in my year-end countdowns or “top three of the month” rankings, but I’m always pleasantly surprised by their output. I wanted to quickly touch on new single I Love You (각이야) … 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. June 2024 Overall Thoughts It’s been awhile since I’ve said this, but K-pop is in a … Continue reading
It wouldn’t be a K-pop summer without some random Pepsi ad song. Over the past few years, Starship Entertainment has collaborated with the brand to release innocuous (sometimes decent) releases that see various idols teaming together. This time, IVE take on the challenge by themselves, delivering the “easy, fizzy” Summer Festa. “Baby, you can drink … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 