CIX’s debut-era sound wasn’t for me, but they captured my attention with the bright, melodic Cinema. With the release of their first full album, the group continues to move toward a lighter style, even donning the age-old K-pop sailor suits for promo shots. While clichés like that don’t usually bode well, I appreciate the group’s … Continue reading
When TXT released 0X1=LOVESONG at the tail end of May, I wasn’t sure whether its catchy pop punk sound would fade quickly or grow into one of their strongest title tracks. Several months later, the song has exceeded all expectations, ranking among my favorite comebacks of 2021. It’s amazing how well this angsty sound fits … Continue reading
Nearly a year after covering Turbo’s 90’s hit Black Cat Nero, ATEEZ have teamed with the group’s frontman, Kim Jong Kook, for an old-school summer song. This project includes an online variety series and a fun, fan service music video. It also marks the return of ATEEZ member Mingi, who has been absent from the … Continue reading
With Queendom, Red Velvet have come off the longest hiatus of their career. It’s been over a year and a half since 2019’s Psycho. And while the girls have kept busy with solo projects, the unique Red Velvet sound has been missed. Momentous comebacks call for momentous songs, and Queendom’s dramatic title seems to promise … 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
A K-pop group’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. Unsurprisingly, The Boyz’ Thrill Ride has … Continue reading
BZ-Boys debuted over two years ago as part of Chrome Entertainment (former home of Crayon Pop). Chrome has struggled to get any of its groups off the ground since Bar Bar Bar’s surprising success in 2013, and BZ-Boys haven’t made many waves yet. In fact, I had to search back to see if I’d ever … Continue reading
Though he may not receive the same level of attention as other production teams, Ryan Jhun has been a K-pop architect for over a decade now. His touch can be found in many modern classics (View, Love Me Right, Dumb Dumb, Lucifer, My First And Last, Baby Don’t Stop etc etc etc) and his name … Continue reading
Park Jihoon is immensely charming (especially as an actor), but I’ve found his solo work pretty hit and miss. For every Wing there’s a Gotcha, making it difficult to identify the overarching sound his agency is aiming for. I hope they’ve settled on the funk synth style of new single Gallery, because this song is … Continue reading
2021 continues to be light on girl group releases, with the sheer number of boy group comebacks dominating K-pop’s schedule. I’m not sure why this is, but August feels particularly lopsided. Red Velvet, Brave Girls and Weeekly are pretty much holding things down. Throwing their hat into the ring is brand new group Hi-L. They … Continue reading
K-pop supergroups aren’t common, but the idea is very fun. GH Entertainment seems to agree, as they’ve taken their two idol groups (B.I.G and 3YE) and merged them into 777 – a co-ed project group. Today, they’ve made their debut with digital single Presente, which takes obvious influence from another notable co-ed act. What is … Continue reading
BDC’s “Moon” series continues to bear fruit, as the group puts an epilogue to the trilogy with digital single Moon Walker. I get a little annoyed when K-pop acts trot out songs with this title because: a) They never sound like Michael Jackson b) There’s rarely any actual moon walking Thankfully, BDC manage to hit … Continue reading
A full summertime Sistar reunion is on my shortlist of “things I’d most like to see in K-pop.” So when it was announced that members Hyolyn and Dasom would pair for a summer track (produced by Duble Sidekick!), I tried to keep my expectations in check. We certainly couldn’t expect something as fantastic as Loving … Continue reading
Ten is one of those fantastic SM finds with unlimited potential for solo stardom. He’s a bundle of charisma with a uniquely global appeal. Previous singles have capitalized on this, recorded in English with international trends in mind. This can be an asset and a limitation, and new single Paint Me Naked is held back … Continue reading
After years of writing about K-pop, certain age-old questions tend to pop up. I spend way too much energy thinking about them, but I guess that comes with the gig! But, the time has come to tackle some of these questions head-on in a new Bias List feature. Yes, we’re going to have a good … Continue reading
Ha Sungwoon’s solo career doesn’t get a lot of press (at least internationally), but he’s quietly cobbled together an incredible singles run. Fresh off the heels of Sneakers, he’s returned with a repackaged version of his early-summer mini album. Strawberry Gum positions him within the upbeat funk pop realm of previous title tracks Get Ready … Continue reading
Hyoyeon’s solo reinvention as “HYO” (DJ HYO, if you’re nasty) has been an uneven ride so far. She’s delivered a few stellar tracks (Punk Right Now, Badster), while others have relied more of guest collaborators. Second pairs her with buzzy soloist BIBI and opts for a percussive sound targeted at summer. While many of the … Continue reading
The Boyz have enjoyed explosive growth in popularity over the past few years, buoyed by appearances in shows like Kingdom and Road to Kingdom. Unfortunately, this seems to have slowed the progression of their once-prolific release schedule. The guys’ last comeback happened nearly a year ago, when The Stealer impressed with its dynamic arrangement. New … Continue reading
2021 has been a banner year for ONF. Not only have they released more material than ever, but the music itself is among their strongest work. Those looking for a spiritual successor to February’s excellent Beautiful Beautiful will find their match in new summer single Popping (여름 쏙). Beautiful set an impossibly high bar, making … Continue reading
A K-pop group’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’m so happy to have an … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 