It seems I’m writing about a HYBE act or a HYBE-adjacent act every other day on this blog. The monolithic company has taken over K-pop and has its sights set on J-pop as well. The resulting music is of mixed quality, but HYBE’s ever-expanding roster of artists have all found success so far. Love them … Continue reading
Sexy Zone’s The Highlight was one of my favorite albums of 2022… in any genre. And, the group knows exactly what they’re doing with its follow-up — aptly titled “Chapter II.” They’ve revisited many of the successful sounds from last year to great success. After just one listen, I’ve already got multiple standouts. This approach … Continue reading
I so appreciate J-pop’s ability (and desire) to surprise. The market is vast and varied, and that means you’ll never really know what you’ll encounter from day to day. Yes, there are plenty of songs that conform to predictable trends, but there are also moments like Red:birthmark, where critical cynicism melts away and you’re left … Continue reading
Sakurazaka46 has their “aggrieved protagonist vents frustration through combative dance routines” format down pat, and its sense of empowerment feels more genuine than much of what passes as empowering in pop music. If you’re looking for catharsis in the form of a song, this is the group for you. Start Over is an absolute beast, … 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. May 2023 Overall Thoughts We’re not quite to the halfway point of the calendar year, so … Continue reading
The Boyz’ Japanese discography includes some of their best and worst material. New single Delicious leads their upcoming album and splits the difference between these extremes. It’s unlikely to inspire much excitement, but its laidback groove won’t ruffle many feathers either. When first watching this video on YouTube, the algorithm immediately played the chorus of … Continue reading
Twice’s Hare Hare has been kicking around digital spaces for a few weeks, but I’ve held off writing about it in a J-pop round-up because I knew the music video was just around the corner. Today, we have the visuals to accompany this bouncy dance track. Hare Hare is modern Twice, through and through. It … Continue reading
Last week, I called Avu-chan’s Year 0, Class 0 the best audition show I’d ever seen. That feeling has only intensified with time. And, it’s bolstered my interest in Ryugujo — the group formed through the series. They’re a self-proclaimed “alternative” act, which essentially means their music has a unique perspective and sound. Both songs … Continue reading
I’ve been a bit confused by Travis Japan’s rollout so far, but that’s coming from a longtime Johnny’s fan who’s used to physical singles and albums. Digital music is the norm most markets, but this approach means the group only has two released songs to their name — even though they debuted all the way … Continue reading
Thus far, there’s been a big disconnect between how much I like INI as a group and how much I enjoy the music they’re given. My favorite songs tend to be one-off projects or b-sides, while most of their singles have landed with a thud. But, the universe has finally aligned with Fanfare. It’s not … Continue reading
Well, where did this little treasure come from? There’s a sub-genre of J-pop I like to call “Rock Opera you can dance to.” Johnnys groups like Kis-My-Ft2, KAT-TUN and News have a ton of these songs in their discographies and they tend to be my favorites. The sound isn’t remotely trendy or even cool, but … Continue reading
Just weeks since the finale of Boys Planet, Pentagon’s Hui is back with his group. But before he (presumably) participates in a big Korean comeback, other members are here to deliver the Japanese-language dance track Shh. This group configuration is down to six people, which is a little jarring for an act that started as … Continue reading
I spent the better part of my recent Boys Planet recaps complaining about the show’s predictable and dull formula. So, I’d like to offer a counterpoint to those complaints today. It’s not often I devote an entire post to a TV show, but I want to bring attention to what may be the best audition … Continue reading
IVE’s music has reminded me just how important a good A&R team is. The ability to consistently choose great songs with a clear vision can’t be understated. But often when a K-pop act pursues the Japanese market, their material is determined by outside forces. There are many groups with lopsided discographies Korean/Japanese discographies (looking at … Continue reading
It’s been a tricky few years for us Kisumai fans, as new music trickles out in frustrating fits and starts. We became too spoiled with a full album and multiple singles each year, but the agency’s support of their music seems to have lessened as newer groups emerge. I suppose this is natural for any … 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. April 2023 Overall Thoughts I’ve been complaining about K-pop a lot this year, but April was … Continue reading
After the slam dunk success of double a-side Tapestry/W earlier this year, I’ve been less enthused with the tracks Snow Man are promoting for their upcoming album. It’s only natural they’d want to showcase different facets of their sound, but neither last week’s Aikotoba nor yesterday’s Slow are the style of songs I love from the … Continue reading
It’s weird being a massive fan of a group while simultaneously wiping a segment of their discography from your mind. You’d be hard-pressed to find a bigger Golden Child supporter in the K-pop review community, yet I have no place in my music collection for the Japanese material they’ve been saddled with. Listening to a … Continue reading
Fantastics’ Panorama Jet first emerged in February and I included it in my “New and Noteworthy J-Pop” round-up back then. But, there’s no way I’m not writing about the song in more detail now that it has an official music video! I love this group too much. Their music never fails to energize and inspire. … 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. March 2023 Overall Thoughts So… when does the good stuff start? Seriously, we had yet another … Continue reading
