New & Noteworthy J-pop of the Week (June 4, 2023)
Feature

New & Noteworthy J-pop of the Week (June 4, 2023)

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: Stray Kids – S-Class
Review

Song Review: Stray Kids – S-Class

There are times when you admire something even if you don’t necessarily like it. Stray Kids’ new single S-Class (특) has those qualities. I admire its chutzpah, and I admire the group’s willingness to experiment with sound and structure. This seems to be their answer to JYP Entertainment’s “mixx-pop” endeavor — basically cramming an entire … Continue reading

Song Review: Twice – Set Me Free
Review

Song Review: Twice – Set Me Free

Twice’s graceful metamorphosis into their current pop sound marks one of K-pop’s most satisfying evolutions. The group has always created great music, but they’ve managed to mature in a way that feels fresh, fun and natural. When it comes to pop groups, the goal is really quite simple: consistently release strong music and promote it … Continue reading

Battle of the Title Tracks: BEAST’s ‘Breath’ vs. YOUNIQUE UNIT’s ‘Maxstep’ vs. 2PM’s ‘Beautiful’
Feature

Battle of the Title Tracks: BEAST’s ‘Breath’ vs. YOUNIQUE UNIT’s ‘Maxstep’ vs. 2PM’s ‘Beautiful’

As a spin-off to my Battle of the B-sides feature, I’m pleased to announce the arrive of “Battle of the Title Tracks!” In this feature, I’ll be pitting three K-pop title tracks/singles against each other and choosing a winner. These songs will mostly be from pre-2016 since I’ll try to focus on music I haven’t … Continue reading