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
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. March 2023 Overall Thoughts So… when does the good stuff start? Seriously, we had yet another … 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
Ah, the days of Born To Be Wild feel soooo far away. Like label-mates INI, JO1 occasionally hit things out of the park but more often succumb to the limitations of their material. They remain immensely popular, so this is obviously a matter of taste. But, new single Tiger feels like reheated K-pop with no … Continue reading
Lately, I’ve been delving further into the music of the “46” groups within Japan’s Sakamichi Series. I’ve casually kept up with a few singles here and there, but at the moment I’m finding their sound to be a refreshing contrast to the trends dominating K-pop’s girl group landscape. You all know I’m a sucker for … Continue reading
Though I’ve found their Japanese work hit or miss, I appreciate that ATEEZ have stuck with their core production team regardless of which music market they’re targeting. Whatever I may think of their discography on a song-by-song level, it’s very consistent. Limitless switches things up by changing composers, though members Hongjoong and Mingi retain writing … 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
I will always respect an artist who refuses to go quietly into the night. With twenty years of music under their belt and many line-up changes over that time, it would be easy for News to settle into a dull, adult contemporary rut of ballads and coffeehouse fare. But in many ways, they feel more … Continue reading
A good portion of my 2023 has been spent listening to and learning about co-ed J-pop group One Love One Heart. They scored two spots in my top ten J-pop songs of 2022 and have released my favorite album of the year so far, which I wrote about in detail here. If you haven’t yet … Continue reading
I’m a Woollim mega-fan, but I’ve been deliberately silent about the agency’s upcoming activity because I’m quite annoyed with the current state of affairs. Whether driven by budget, scheduling or staffing, it feels like Woollim has left us supporters in a lurch. Its artists have essentially gone M.I.A since mid-November and the upcoming enlistment 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
Though it may not deliver a song as instantly classic as Ubu Love or The Answer, Naniwa Danshi’s new single is probably their most consistent since their 2021 debut. It’s spearheaded by two promoted tracks, with Special Kiss getting most of the attention. I enjoy that song for what it is, but it’s a bit … 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
Two weeks ago, Snow Man released the first half of their upcoming double a-side on YouTube. The excellent Tapestry was made available in full, allowing listeners to indulge in the song’s satisfying builds without unnecessary edits. The rock-fueled W follows suit, unfurling the full track alongside a striking video. As far as I’m concerned, the … 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. February 2023 Overall Thoughts I hate to say it, but my interest in K-pop is kind … 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
King & Prince’s last single Tsukiyomi released just after it was revealed that three of the five members would be leaving the group this spring. Now, the group is running on momentum until that fateful moment. Double a-side Life Goes On / We Are Young serves double duty as a dual OST offering and a … Continue reading
Post-Johnny’s success can be elusive for idols who leave the agency, whether they were part of an established group or never debuted at all. One OK Rock’s Taka is the biggest counterexample, but more often than not these performers struggle against an entertainment industry largely beholden to Johnnys’ legacy. 7ORDER first emerged as Johnny’s Jr. … Continue reading
When I first delved into J-pop nearly a decade ago, the easiest entry points were K-pop acts performing in Japanese. They had built-in familiarity, and the acts tended to take a safe approach that complimented their Korean discography. Now that I’m steeped in Japanese music from Japanese creators and performers, I find most J-pop releases … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 