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
Twice’s Nayeon made her solo debut in June of 2022 with the splashy, addictive Pop. Now, almost two years later to the day, she’s picked up where she left off with the even splashier ABCD. There may still be room to grow, but in this era of flattened, fluttery earworms it’s refreshing to hear something … Continue reading
Just a few weeks after the release of their first full album, Xdinary Heroes are already back with a special digital single. Their recent output left a good impression on me, so the unexpected drop of Boy Comics (소년만화) is certainly welcome. Some of my favorite moments on the group’s album were when the music … Continue reading
I don’t watch many audition series anymore, but I did catch the latest season of JYP’s Nizi Project last year. I chose to watch it because I find J.Y. Park a fascinating and highly entertaining TV personality, but of course I grew to like the guys of NEXZ as well. Following in NiziU’s footsteps, they’re … 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
JYP groups have always achieved great success in Japan and that has expanded to the agency’s very own J-pop acts NiziU and NEXZ. ITZY haven’t had quite as many promotional opportunities in this market as their agency peers, but new single Algorhythm continues their push. For me, the most notable aspect about Algorhythm is its … Continue reading
Somehow, Charlie Puth has become a go-to K-pop collaborator. He romped around with BTS’s Jungkook in 2022 and now he’s coaxed Stray Kids out of their typical hard-hitting style to craft something slinkier and understated. I enjoyed most of Charlie Puth’s 2018 album Voicenotes, but he’s also written a fair amount of songs that are … Continue reading
A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. Until now, I don’t think I’d … 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 2024 Overall Thoughts K-pop years aren’t always frontloaded, but January was so strong that its … Continue reading
On their first few releases after debut, idol band XDinary Heroes felt a little too gimmicky for me. Songs like Happy Death Day and Hair Cut seemed overly enthused by their own cleverness, so it was refreshing to see the group unleash a straight-ahead rocker with last year’s Break The Brake. For the release 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
K-pop’s title tracks might gain most of listeners’ attention, but many album tracks are worth equal spotlight. I call these “buried treasures.” Beyond this, K-pop’s albums deliver thousands of additional tracks that settle for a more limited audience. It’s these songs that will become a part of my “battle of the b-sides” feature. In this … 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 2024 Overall Thoughts Okay, this year’s already a little weird. We kicked off with an … Continue reading
A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. DAY6’s new album may not reinvent … Continue reading
It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly three years since DAY6 released a new album. The aptly-titled Fourever is their first as a quartet and a welcome return for one of the most dominant idol bands of the last decade. Title track Welcome To The Show offers a suitably dramatic sound to usher in their … 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
Way back in 2001 when reality TV was still in its infancy, the American iteration of manufacture-a-pop-group series Popstars resulted in the formation of girl group Eden’s Crush. Over two decades later, they’re most notable for introducing Nicole Scherzinger (of Pussycat Dolls fame) to the world. But a select few of us millennials still remember … Continue reading
JYP Entertainment has found great success straddling the K-pop and J-pop markets with acts who can easily swerve between the two. New boy group NEXZ will continue this tradition with their upcoming debut, but first it’s time for a fresh single from NiziU. Though they’re first and foremost a J-pop act, the girls made a … 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 2024 Overall Thoughts Due to its positioning in the dead of winter and the cancelling … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 