Two weeks ago, ZEROBASEONE released the fan song ballad Running To Future as the first pre-release from their upcoming “special” (ie: final) album. Today, they’re back with its second pre-release Roses. This one adds rock guitar for texture and a bit more bounce to its percussion but ultimately serves the same purpose as its predecessor. … Continue reading
EXO have been inaugurated into my “K-Pop A-Z” feature, which means anything they release automatically gets a full review. To be honest, I’ve regretted that rule over the past few years since I haven’t vibed with the group’s albums since 2018. Is there new work REVERXE any different? Read on to find out! 1. Crown … Continue reading
It’s funny. For years after 2021’s LOUD series ended, I complained about JYP not debuting his winning team while PSY’s TNX were already promoting their music. Yet after only a year of activities, KickFlip has already released more songs than TNX have in their entire life as a group. I guess that’s the benefit of … Continue reading
EXO have been inaugurated into my “K-Pop A-Z” feature, which means anything they release automatically gets a full review. To be honest, I’ve regretted that rule over the past few years since I haven’t vibed with the group’s albums since 2018. Is there new work REVERXE any different? Read on to find out! 1. Crown … Continue reading
dodree are a female duo debuting under INNIT Entertainment, which probably means very little until you realize that INNIT is a JYP subsidiary. This means their music video for Just Like A Dream (꿈만 같았다) benefits from JYP’s strong distribution and gets a lot of eyes and ears on the track. And for a unique … Continue reading
It’s 1VERSE’s first comeback and they’re already down a member, as Hyuk remains on hiatus during the release of digital single WABIF (Wide Awake Before I Fall). We’re also in visualizer territory rather than a music video, which is probably a smart idea for a group with limited financial resources. I’m always of the mind … Continue reading
I feel like I’ve been writing about a lot of bands recently. Band music is certainly popular at this moment in Korea, with many active groups both junior and senior. FNC Entertainment has always been a hub for these acts, and AxMxP made their debut under the agency last year with a full album. Now, … Continue reading
EXO have been inaugurated into my “K-Pop A-Z” feature, which means anything they release automatically gets a full review. To be honest, I’ve regretted that rule over the past few years since I haven’t vibed with the group’s albums since 2018. Is there new work REVERXE any different? Read on to find out! 1. Crown … Continue reading
There’s a class of mid-range 4th generation groups who have either disbanded or found themselves in a diminished place thanks to K-pop’s fast-moving system. As new generations come up, this is often an inevitable fate for all but the biggest of acts, but ONEUS also must contend with an agency that is having their own … Continue reading
EXO have been inaugurated into my “K-Pop A-Z” feature, which means anything they release automatically gets a full review. To be honest, I’ve regretted that rule over the past few years since I haven’t vibed with the group’s albums since 2018. Is there new work REVERXE any different? Read on to find out! 1. Crown … Continue reading
idntt’s Pretty Boy Swag has grown on me a bit, yet still feels like a missed opportunity to do something more melodically ambitious. The rest of the album is quite strong as well. I already featured b-side Rage Problem as a buried treasure and now the guys are promoting Yes We Are with a music … Continue reading
While Catch The Young haven’t exactly caught the charts on fire, they’ve slowly and steadily built a solid discography. Today marks the release of their first full album — a huge achievement for any band. This project is led by title track Amplify, which takes their rock sound in a more energetic direction. I prefer … Continue reading
EXO haven’t had a proper comeback since 2023, but to be honest I haven’t really liked one of their title tracks since 2018’s Tempo — and even that song had some issues for me. These diminishing returns are a far cry from the group’s first seven years, when they reliably churned out some of the … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I compile my top three K-pop title tracks and list a ton of honorable mentions. But each Sunday, I’ll offer a compendium of the week’s new releases featured on the blog. And even more than that, I’ll attempt to rank them from my least-to-most-liked. I invite you to share … 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. During the late-00s/early-10s, there was a … Continue reading
Musical trends come and go in K-pop and usually mirror sounds popularized elsewhere on the globe. Most of these trends start out well enough before the industry eventually drives them into the ground, but a certain trend of the moment has my hackles up already. An increasing amount of boy groups are latching onto a … Continue reading
Misamo is Twice’s first sub-unit, active for almost three years now. I last wrote about them in November of 2024 and now they’re kicking off 2026 with new single Confetti and upcoming album PLAY. As their music has developed, it’s taken on more of an old-school approach. Confetti pull us all the way back to … Continue reading
Somebody’s gotta work on these K-pop names. When I scan ChRocktikal’s band name, my mind wants to see “crocodile” or “cockatiel” and then gets confused and angry when the letters don’t line up the way they should. Regardless, this band has been highly anticipated by fans of Dreamcatcher, whose Siyeon fronts them as vocalist. Post-Dreamcatcher … Continue reading
Male idol solo tracks tend to fit within a few distinct realms these days. Either they opt for a slinky funk track (usually served with a huge side of Justin Timberlake’s Like I Love You), stark piano ballad or light rocker. These archetypes have become so hardened that it’s difficult to pull much enjoyment from … Continue reading
ONEWE are getting into the pre-release game with Ferris Wheel (관람차), which is a taste of their upcoming demo album. The word “demo” feels more like branding than reality here, as I’m not sure songs can still be considered demos after they’ve been promoted with music videos and performed on shows. But regardless of vernacular, … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 