Since 2017, Girls’ Generation’s Hyoyeon has established a successful career as a dance artist, exploring various avenues of EDM across a series of singles. For me, her output has been hit-or-miss, with highlights like Punk Right Now and Badster far eclipsing the likes of Second and Dessert. But even if I don’t connect with all … Continue reading
Astro were one of my first musical obsessions after creating this blog. Their debut year delivered pop classic after pop classic, only to culminate in the brilliantly bright, brilliantly melodic Dream Part One album in 2017. Can you believe there was a time when both they and GFriend were reliably releasing Iggy/Youngbae-produced bangers? I miss … 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
Warning: This recap is not spoiler-free. Proceed at your own risk! EPISODE ONE RECAP // EPISODE TWO RECAP // EPISODE THREE RECAP // EPISODE FOUR RECAP // EPISODE FIVE RECAP// EPISODE SIX RECAP We’re at the point in any Queendom/Kingdom series where I check the episode running length before watching and audibly cheer if it’s … Continue reading
Sometimes a song arrangement can make all the difference. Back in January, Darari was released on Treasure’s newest mini album. It was a fine – but forgettable – mid-tempo, casting a subdued groove that spotlighted the guys’ vocals. Now, a remixed rock version has been released as follow-up promotion. Suddenly, the song has my complete … Continue reading
I’ve listed my “top tens” for many artists, but it’s time to rummage through entire discographies and rank every single from worst to best. This feature will primarily tackle groups who have disbanded or gone on indefinite hiatus. It’s a way for me to re-evaluate my initial thoughts on their singles run. Don’t be surprised … Continue reading
I can’t believe it’s been over a year since Jeong Sewoon’s last comeback! He’s been a reliable purveyor of gentle – often upbeat – pop music since his 2017 debut. He’s also the latest in a long string of Starship Entertainment acts to promote this year. Seriously, that agency has their act together. In the … Continue reading
After a less-than-stellar debut, rookies Ciipher rebounded big time with last year’s excellent Blind. That song’s composition had member participation, which seems indispensable for this group. Judging from the highlight medley of their newest album, the strongest-sounding songs are the ones where the guys themselves are most involved. Self-composition isn’t a skill to be taken … Continue reading
I want to be very clear with you, Woollim Entertainment. When I mentally scream into the void about wanting another Golden Child comeback, this is not what I mean. If you’re going to give us another Rata-Tat-Tat, you might as well just keep it. I do not recognize Golcha in this song. None of their … 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. TXT have already broken sales records … Continue reading
Back when TXT debuted with the excellent Crown, it seemed they had years of bright, bubbly pop ahead of then. Instead, the group quickly veered into more combative territory. Their first comeback enhanced the rock angst and – apart from one disco-infused “minisode” in 2020 – they’ve stayed pretty faithful to that template. This paid … 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. I wouldn’t call Woodz’s new album … Continue reading
Warning: This recap is not spoiler-free. Proceed at your own risk! EPISODE ONE RECAP // EPISODE TWO RECAP // EPISODE THREE RECAP // EPISODE FOUR RECAP // EPISODE FIVE RECAP Before we get into the main content, this episode kicks off with a cute (but completely skippable) vote on popularity categories (ie: best visual, etc). … 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. I wish LE SSERAFIM’s debut mini … Continue reading
Is it just me, or has 2022 been stuffed with K-pop debuts? They just keep coming, making me wonder if there’s a breaking point in this industry. Eventually, there just can’t be enough audience to support all these acts, right? Like many 2022 debuts, CLASS:y emerge with built-in recognition. They formed as a result of … Continue reading
With each new album, Woodz has leaned harder into rock music. It seems to be a burgeoning trend in K-pop, and he’s uniquely positioned to seize upon it. His gritty, expressive vocal practically begs for equally-passionate guitar riffs, and his natural swagger sells the rock attitude – a vital component to make this genre feel … Continue reading
I’m writing more about the new PSY album than I expected to, but he often releases multiple title tracks to promote his comebacks. Celeb is an interesting story. The song and video have been in the can since 2019, originally meant for release that year alongside his album. Who knew we’d be waiting almost three … Continue reading
Though they participated in last year’s Kingdom: Legendary War, iKON haven’t made a comeback since just before that competition started. Blame YG Entertainment’s always-slow promotional approach, I guess. Since losing leader B.I in 2019, the band has undergone big changes and But You’s switch to moody synth-pop has to be their most drastic sonic switch-up … 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. PSY’s ninth album proves his continued … Continue reading
2022 has seen a mixed bag of debuts, with plenty of new acts emerging but few leaving an identifiable mark. No group has received as much pre-debut hype as HYBE/Source Music’s LE SSERAFIM. In a way only K-pop can manage, they were a huge success even before any music had been released! With name recognition … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 