The era of BTS solos continues with Jimin taking the baton as the next member to make his debut. He’s got a pretty good track record of his own, with 2016’s Lie a particular standout. His first mini album is scheduled for release later this month, but he’s dropped pre-release track Set Me Free Pt.2 to … 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. January 2023 Overall Thoughts For the second month in a row, I couldn’t really find any … Continue reading
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
Some songs arrive with fanfare even before a single preview has dropped. Vibe represents not only the long-awaited return of Bigbang’s Taeyang, but a colossal meeting of two K-pop generations. During the early 2010’s, Bigbang helped construct the international crossroads that made K-pop such a global success. Years later, BTS paved those roads in platinum, … Continue reading
It’s Christmas Day here in the States, so I’ll be taking a one-day break from the end-of-year countdowns to focus on 2020’s K-pop holiday offerings. Every year, the industry delivers a glut of seasonal material, though there haven’t been that many recent classics. I already reviewed The Boyz’ festive Christmassy earlier this month, but now … Continue reading
While AOA remains on hiatus, leader Jimin is back with her second solo single in conjunction with W Magazine. October’s Hallelujah seemed to be on the cusp of trends by incorporating a Latin touch, but Hey reverts to a bratty sound that Jimin has become known for. After all, she is the undisputed queen of … Continue reading
Three years after riding high as one of k-pop’s most successful breakout girl groups, AOA has found themselves in a bit of a slump. After member controversies and the departure of main vocal ChoA, it’s unclear where they’re headed next. We haven’t heard from the girls since January’s double title track release, and I can’t … Continue reading
The first thing that was immediately apparent when watching this year’s KBS Gayo Daechukje was that, rather than opting for the biggest stage possible like last year, the producers chose to go more intimate (like back in 2013). This resulted in a very different show than last year, filled with idol interactions and interviews (most … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But sometimes b-side tracks deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. Among BTS’s new album’s massive 15-track running order are solo songs … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I’ll look back at my three favorite title tracks by k-pop artists. Unlike my end-of-year countdowns, jpop and Japanese releases by kpop artists are ineligible, though I will give the great ones a spotlight. For my top three tracks, I’ll take my own ratings into account, but there is a … Continue reading
What’s with these AOA subunits and solos having such cringeworthy titles? I mean, I know it’s an English translation, but first we have “I’m Jelly, Baby” and now “Call You Bae.” Talk about appropriating the worst of western slang! Still, Jimin’s last solo track was called Puss (!), so I guess I should have tempered … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 