K-pop groups must stop unveiling their music videos before their album release. It seriously messes with my review schedule! To make matters worse, I had nearly finished my write-up for Kep1er’s Giddy when the song froze and contorted into a harsh sound of mangled metal. My computer locked up and I was forced to do … Continue reading
If there’s anything I’ve learned from covering pop music for over a decade, it’s that songwriters and collaborators are just as important as the artists themselves. Though they often work behind the scenes, this feature is a chance to shine the light on some of K-pop’s most innovative and accomplished producers and composers. FULL8LOOM Years … Continue reading
Rumors have been swirling that Mark’s new solo track Golden Hour is a Gordon Ramsay diss track, stemming from an infamous Twitter exchange. The idea alone is humorous. But although the famous chef is mentioned in the lyrics, the song itself is much weirder and more inscrutable. Whatever I may think about Golden Hour (honestly… … Continue reading
The BTS solos continue to arrive at an ever-increasing pace. Mere weeks after Jimin dropped his debut solo album, groupmate Suga has returned with a pre-release for his latest work under the Agust D moniker. People Pt.2 (사람 Pt.2) pairs him with IU for a sonic sequel to his 2020 track People. This song is … Continue reading
Le sigh. It’s a bunch of super-generic boy group slop this year. But, is any of the slop tasty? The answer is… vaguely so. Thoughts on BOYS PLANET Episode One Thoughts on BOYS PLANET Episode Two Thoughts on BOYS PLANET Episode Three Thoughts on BOYS PLANET Episode Four Thoughts on BOYS PLANET Episode Five Thoughts … Continue reading
This is an interesting collaboration. I didn’t expect to see Heize pair with producer R.Tee, resulting in a sound that’s far more dancefloor-oriented than most of her work. Similar to his 2019 track with Anda (still a banger btw), Vingle Vingle (빙글빙글) centers around an instrumental-drop-as-chorus. If you must employ this overused trope, you better … Continue reading
The Faker Club label is on a roll, producing some of the industry’s most addictive synthpop. It’s been a joy watching from20’s career blossom from cool indie artist to impressive pop star. Last August’s Chemical became one of my most-played songs of 2022 and new single Bad Revenge maintains its undeniable flair. The production on … Continue reading
Every Apink review should start with a recognition of the group’s longevity. The fact that they continue to release new music is admirable and it’s great to have more active sunbaenims in K-pop’s girl group sphere. Even if I haven’t connected with much of what they’ve done post-2019, Apink have consistently delivering strong, stylish material … Continue reading
In this feature, I zoom into some of K-pop’s most legendary weeks — short periods of time that delivered multiple classics. K-pop is usually a Monday through Friday affair (at least in my time zone), with some weeks stuffed to the brim with releases. But, not all include multiple 9+ rated songs. Here, I’ll through … Continue reading
Thus far, I picture DreamNote as a fizzy/fun girl group, characterized by this 2019 standout. But, 2020’s Wish and 2021’s Ghost started to reinvent their sound. And now, pre-release track Blue makes a case for the strength of their vocals. As a song, Blue isn’t anything out of the ordinary. But as a performance, it … Continue reading
Kim Wooseok hasn’t promoted with UP10TION for years, and his departure from the group was made official this February. Pour one out for this eternal classic! But unlike other members, he’s remained with TOP Media. Looking back, I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a single title track from Wooseok. Sometimes that just happens. Obviously, our tastes … Continue reading
When writing about my favorite rookies of 2022, I mentioned how excited I was to see where NewJeans’ music would go after their breakout year. Sadly, the path it’s taking is not for me. NewJeans don’t need my help, as their incredible chart success has proven. But as their brand of muted pop starts to … Continue reading
I wasn’t going to recap Boys Planet (and technically, I’m still not doing it), but I’m watching the series and thought others might appreciate a spot to discuss it. So, each week I plan on dumping a few of my random thoughts about the show. Again, this will not be a full, detailed recap. But, … 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
This isn’t a title track or a “buried treasure,” but aespa’s new Tetris OST seems noteworthy enough to receive a write-up. Yes… you read that right. “Tetris OST.” We’re living in the upside-down, here. Thankfully, this upcoming Tetris movie is billed as a biopic/thriller and not one of those awful animated cash-ins that ruin a … Continue reading
Jisoo is the final member of BLACKPINK to make her solo debut, four-and-a-half years since Jennie kicked things off with Solo. Long waiting periods are nothing new for fans of this group (or YG in general), but long hiatuses would be worth it if they resulted in classic material. Sadly, the opposite has occurred. I … Continue reading
Since making his breakthrough in early 2018, Holland has struggled to consistently release music. After a blitz of singles at the end of the last decade, Number Boy is his first new work in years. It’s a welcome return for the groundbreaking performer and reestablishes him as a purveyor of moody synthpop. With this sound … Continue reading
Every time I read the word “Xikers,” my mind immediately imagines an exaggerated Scooby Doo-esque character making colorful exclamations like “Zowwwee!” and “Gee willikers!”. That probably says more about me than the group in question. Xikers!! Xikers are the newest act from KQ Entertainment – home to the tremendously popular ATEEZ. With that pedigree, they’ve … Continue reading
In a sea of too-cool-for-school NewJeans clones and don’t-mess-with-us girl crush fare, CSR stand out as a bright, bubbly representative of K-pop’s past. Their debut album last summer was a wonderful surprise, painting them as this generation’s answer to GFriend or Lovelyz. The group have more-or-less continued along that path, yet haven’t matched the power … Continue reading
Mamamoo+’s pre-release Chico Malo felt like a lateral move for the girls – a song that sits squarely within the group’s recent repertoire. In contrast, title track GGBB brings us back to early-Mamamoo, when the girls vamped over old-school sounds with an almost vaudevillian flair. But while this nostalgia is appreciated, I wish the song … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 