Japanese girl group XG are gearing up for their first full-length album next January, and given J-pop’s extended promotional period its main single has dropped a few months early. Thus far, XG’s output can usually be slotted into three distinct categories: hip-hop, dance and r&b. GALA finds a way to combine these genres into something … Continue reading
Japanese tripleS sub-unit “∞!” debuted last year with the moody, hypnotic Untitled. It was one of the better tripleS title tracks, though I can’t say it stayed on my playlist for long. Now, they’re back with a jauntier pop song in new single Password. There’s a joke going around about tripleS’s strong reliance on “la … Continue reading
ATEEZ are out with their second full-length Japanese album today, compiling earlier J-pop singles alongside new material. After several years struggling to connect with their new material, the group’s two summer singles subverted expectations and caught my ear. New track Ash does the same, opting for a sleek dance sound I don’t always associate with … 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
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
ILLIT made a sneaky Japanese debut with a soundtrack song, though their 2024 mega-hit Magnetic was also omnipresent in Japan. Like fellow HYBE artists TWS and BOYNEXTDOOR, their sound feels tailor-made for J-pop so it’s nice to hear them leaning into that on new single Toki Yo Tomare. After being somewhat hesitant about ILLIT last … 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 2025 Overall Thoughts In the immortal words of BABYMONSTER: “Sheesh!” Based on recent history, I’ve … 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
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
BOYNEXTDOOR made their official Japanese debut last summer, but it was with a re-recorded version of a single they’d already released in Korea. Count To Love is their first original J-pop single, and thus feels more like a proper step forward for them. It’s also the first BOYNEXTDOOR single to directly echo the sound of … 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
As if BoA wasn’t busy enough with her album released last week, she’s back with a new Japanese single as well. We have groundbreakers like BoA and Tohoshinki to thank for K-pop’s popularity in Japan, and it’s always nice to see them take another well-deserved victory lap. Good For U may not be a revelatory … 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
It’s that time of year again! Now that there’s been enough time for songs to settle, I’m ready for another Bias List Legendary Songs Inauguration Ceremony. I inaugurated a ton of songs last year (maybe too many?), so this year’s ceremony is far smaller and only covers songs released in 2024. As usual, only material released … Continue reading
It’s been a pretty lousy year for J-pop, but my favorite acts have actually remained pretty reliable. We’ve seen highlights from Ryugujo, Genic and Kis-My-Ft2, and co-ed group One Love One Heart has recently been churning out solid material as well. Best of all, they finally seem eager to draw upon their biggest strength: the … 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. July 2025 Overall Thoughts In the context of this year, the past two months have been … Continue reading
Ryugujo are a young group at a crossroads. They’ve been a favorite of mine since forming on the excellent Year 0, Class 0 series and went on to develop a unique and compelling discography. Through it all, mentor and producer Avu-chan oversaw everything. But after the shock announcement that Avu-chan would be stepping down as … Continue reading
Less than a month since the release of their new Korean album, Twice have already returned with the lead track of their upcoming Japanese album. They’re certainly busy, and Enemy represents a new sonic challenge for them. The group has long been known for their glossy pop sound but this track injects a grittier rock … Continue reading
As is often the case with J-pop singles, ENHYPEN’s Shine On Me has been available for a few weeks now, but today it’s finally paired with its half-animated, half-live action music video. As a straight-down-the-middle ballad, the song offers a different texture for the group. This style of lovelorn summer ballad rears its head every … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 