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
Mystic Story has become known as a creative, slightly left-of-center agency, home to quirky girl group Billlie, the violin-powered idol band Lucy and K-pop’s original sonic rulebreakers Brown Eyed Girls. Now, it’s time for a more traditional boy group with the soon-to-debut ARrC. Before their official unveiling next month, they’ve teased us with pre-release Dummy. … Continue reading
HYBE and Geffen’s American (K-pop adjacent) girl group KATSEYE made a pre-debut last month with the solid but underdeveloped Debut. Less than a month later, they’re back with follow-up Touch, which succumbs to the same issues as its predecessor without developing its own strengths. Like Debut, Touch is a wisp of pop track. At just … Continue reading
K-pop idols thrive on building a steady, dedicated fan base. This is most often accomplished by a constant stream of releases and deluge of content. But within the vast K-pop industry, there are more than a few “one hit wonders” – acts who release one single or album and are scarcely heard from again. It’s … Continue reading
After uniting on a band version of Gaho’s Start Over in 2020, KAVE have transformed into an actual group with a proper debut. Fronted by Gaho, the band boasts an eclectic mix of producers that add a unique touch to Korea’s K-rock scene. Legend acts as their first title track and delivers a mix of … Continue reading
When debuting a new K-pop group, I’m convinced that agencies either pull a random handful of letters/numbers from a bag or crack open a dictionary, close their eyes and choose the first word their finger lands on. “Dignity” is a perfectly nice word. It’s beautiful, even. However, it doesn’t immediately conjure the image of a … Continue reading
Kara are one a few second-gen groups to make a long-awaited return these past few years. If I’ve learned anything from these comebacks, it’s that nostalgia can lead to unrealistic expectations. The chances of a group returning to their musical peak (or launching a new peak era) are usually pretty slim. For most fans, it’s … 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
K-pop idols thrive on building a steady, dedicated fan base. This is most often accomplished by a constant stream of releases and deluge of content. But within the vast K-pop industry, there are more than a few “one hit wonders” – acts who release one single or album and are scarcely heard from again. It’s … 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. Since it was so easily available … Continue reading
from20 and Hello Gloom have become unlikely conduits for fantastic, EDM-influenced pop. Both have released their fair share of highlights, with March’s explosive Mamacita standing as one of this year’s most addictive singles. The two work closely together under their self-established WAYBETTER label and now they’ve finally come together on a single. Your Love acts … Continue reading
Sometimes songwriters do my job for me. If you’re going to call a song “Gibberish,” it had better buck expectations by not being the latest in the long line of ‘K-pop boys mumble and growl random things for two and a half minutes.’ Going into this track, I didn’t exactly have my hopes up. The … Continue reading
BTS members’ enlistment-era comebacks have been so meticulously planned that they even incorporate pre-release singles and music videos. Jimin returned late last month with the quirky Smeraldo Garden Marching Band, a song that sounded nothing like he’d ever recorded before. In contrast, title track Who sees him take on a more conventional dance pop role. … Continue reading
Stray Kids seem poised to dominate the second half of July with the release of new album Ate alongside a track on the sure-to-be-blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine movie. That corporate synergy even extends to the music video for title track Chk Chk Boom. Of K-pop’s many global successes, Stray Kids are at the tip top … Continue reading
n.SSign milked everything they could from their recent album, releasing no less than three title tracks. Months later, they’re back again with repackage Tiger. Repackages aren’t as common as they used to be in K-pop, but they can still be an enhancement to an already successful work. Tiger (New Flavour) pulls a 180 degree switch … Continue reading
I never know whether or not to write about K-pop’s CF songs. You can’t really approach a commercial advertisement with the same criteria as a title track, yet as a piece of music these songs often follow the same approaches as other K-pop songs and occasionally eclipse them. TXT’s Open Always Wins is a collaboration … Continue reading
Since moving on from Wanna One, the quality of Ha Sungwoon’s solo career has been mixed. For me, his music peaked in 2021 with the one-two punch of Sneakers and Strawberry Gum. New single Blessed takes him down a more aggressive sonic route, but falls apart once it reaches its chorus. By now, anyone with … Continue reading
A Brave Brothers produced boy group should be guaranteed catnip for my personal taste, but I’ve had a hard time maintaining interest in DKB’s music. They’ve released some decent singles, but for every highlight there’s another head-scratcher. New track Flirting X offers a sonic makeover, painting them as angsty rock stars. This is a welcome … Continue reading
Earlier this year, Waker’s debut slipped between the cracks for many listeners. A complete lack of music show promotion probably didn’t help, but I want to go to bat for the song because I still think Atlantis is a 2024 highlight. The guys have now returned with a summer comeback, serving a Vanilla Choco Shake … Continue reading
With member enlistments and debuts of younger artists in the agency, NCT 127 are now in an interesting place as respected seniors at SM Entertainment. This transition offers plenty of possibility for shifts in sound and approach. New single Walk (삐그덕) feels quintessentially NCT yet softens the tone for a more straightforward, digestible package. Walk … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 