At the end of each month, I compile my top three K-pop title tracks and list a ton of honorable mentions. In 2025, I thought I’d try something new and add a weekly feature to supplement my monthly round-up. Each Sunday, I’ll offer a compendium of the week’s new releases featured on the blog. And … Continue reading
Tag Archives: ateez
Song Review: ATEEZ – Lemon Drop
I know that most (all?) fans would likely disagree with me, but my most enduring ATEEZ song remains 2019’s Wave. That track is not at all indicative of their overall sound — especially post-2020 — but has such a great build and glide that targets all my pop music pleasure centers. Because of this, a … Continue reading
The Top Three K-Pop Songs of February 2025
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. February 2025 Overall Thoughts K-pop continued to limp along this month, though the second half of … Continue reading
THIS WEEK IN K-POP: Ranking the New Releases from February 16-22
At the end of each month, I compile my top three K-pop title tracks and list a ton of honorable mentions. In 2025, I thought I’d try something new and add a weekly feature to supplement my monthly round-up. Each Sunday, I’ll offer a compendium of the week’s new releases featured on the blog. And … Continue reading
Song Review: Wooyoung (ATEEZ) – Sagittarius
In addition to frequent song covers, ATEEZ members have been stealthily delivering solo tracks through a series called “ATEEZ Present.” I haven’t written about these songs on the blog since I don’t always cover ballads, but Wooyoung’s new Sagittarius has a bit more bounce in its step as well as a glossy performance video. As … Continue reading
2024 MBC Gayo Daejejeon Night Two: Recap & My Top Performances
Because of MBC’s unprecedented decision to air their Gayo Daejejeon over two nights this year, my recap and ranking will also be divided into two parts. Make sure to check out part one for my general thoughts on the festival as well as a personal ranking of the best performances of night one. Now, it’s … Continue reading
My Top Performances of the 2024 Melon Music Awards (MMA)
A week after the MAMA Awards, it’s Melon’s turn to throw its annual celebration. Since the ceremony is centered around a digital streaming service, the criteria is more statistics-based than other shows. However, I’m always surprised how many random award categories these events can come up with to make sure everyone goes home with something. … Continue reading
Grading the K-Pop Agencies 2024: FNC / IST / KQ
After taking a look at K-pop’s biggest agencies, I’d like to turn my attention to the smaller (but still important) players in the K-pop game, three at a time. Disclaimer: As with my write-ups on K-Pop’s biggest agencies, this is written from an outsider’s perspective. I’m not privy to any business-related financial information beyond what … Continue reading
Buried Treasure: ATEEZ – Selfish Waltz
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. Though it won’t be topping any … Continue reading
Song Review: ATEEZ – Ice On My Teeth
ATEEZ’s career has been divided neatly into series: Treasure, Fever, The World, and now Golden Hour. I’m sure hardcore fans will be able to identify sounds and storylines that make each series unique, but to the casual listener the group has retained many of its musical hallmarks across all these eras, favoring sonic bombast and … 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
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
New & Noteworthy J-pop of the Week (September 8, 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
New & Noteworthy J-pop of the Week (July 7, 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
Song Review: BE:FIRST x ATEEZ – Hush-Hush
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
Song Review: ATEEZ – Work
There are a number of K-pop groups from the class of 2018-19 that I’ve fallen out with musically. ATEEZ and Stray kids immediately come to mind, with ITZY and TXT also losing some luster from their peak. Taking a look at my year-end countdown from 2019 depicts an alternate universe where these groups’ music ruled … Continue reading
Song Review: Chungha – Eenie Meenie (ft. Hongjoong of ATEEZ)
It’s been a long musical hiatus for dance diva Chungha, during which her contract with MNH Entertainment expired and she moved to Jay Park’s label More Vision. Eenie Meenie is the first taste of this new era, and she’s brought along a familiar face to kick things off. Eenie Meenie features ATEEZ’s Hongjoong, instantly raising … Continue reading
New & Noteworthy J-pop of the Week (March 3, 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
Song Review: ATEEZ – Not Okay
ATEEZ’s growing J-pop discography has had its share of original tracks, and most of them fit comfortably within their established Korean sound. Not Okay is the latest to join the party, and leverages familiar sounds — for better or worse. I haven’t been shy about expressing my distaste for much of ATEEZ’s recent output. What … Continue reading
Song Review: ATEEZ (Jongho) – Everything
We’ve reached the end of ATEEZ’s sub-unit/solo music video releases with Jongho’s Everything. Out of all the members, I’m most curious to hear what Jongho can do on his own. As the group’s main vocal, he’s in charge of the stirring power notes that help make their music so dramatic. In a perfect world, Everything … Continue reading