Over the past few years, from20 has released a series of synth bangers that firmly established him as one of my favorite artists working in K-pop. With new single Demon, he makes a slight shift into funk pop, retaining his slick sound and catchy hooks. This sound isn’t quite as thrilling to me, mainly because … Continue reading
2024 is still young, but we’ve already seen many new debuts. So far, most of these have been boy groups, and Nomad are here to stake their claim within that arena. Their music takes a more hip-hop/R&B route, backed by notable producers within the genre. Their album boasts songs from big names like Tha Aristocratz … Continue reading
iKON’s Bobby has returned with his third album and a dramatic new hairstyle. He’s also paired with Japanese artist Chanmina, trading blows over the banging Harmless. The song brings him back toward cathartic, confrontational hip-hop. Bobby has always pulled off this style well, and Harmless‘s electronic edge has plenty of potential. Its rugged bass immediately … Continue reading
Before NCT’s “infinite” expansion comes to an end, the project has one more debut to unveil. NCT Wish is their first Japanese unit, though their track Wish has been released simultaneously in Korean. The immediate success of RIIZE has proven a hunger for SM Entertainment boy groups unencumbered from the NCT umbrella, but the brand … 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. Twice have entered an interesting stage … Continue reading
ATEEZ’s growing J-pop discography has had its share of original tracks, and most of them fit comfortably within their established Korean sound. Not Okay is the latest to join the party, and leverages familiar sounds — for better or worse. I haven’t been shy about expressing my distaste for much of ATEEZ’s recent output. What … Continue reading
I’ve been asked several times to cover PLAVE songs on the blog. I try not to write about “virtual” groups since it feels like opening a can of worms I’m not yet ready for, but PLAVE have become surprising popular. I can’t say I totally get it, but there are lots of things in this … Continue reading
NCT’s Taeyong has been positioned as the breakout solo star of the group, quickly crafting a quirky hip-hop sound that pulls in elements of many different genres. It’s an uphill battle for me, as I find his hyper-affected performance style a little tricky to get into. New single Tap follows suit, upping the eccentricities at … Continue reading
Someone needs to study how CRAVITY went from the likes of My Turn and Flame to one of the most consistent runs of any current boy group. It’s a big turnaround and a testament to what can happen when an agency invests in great songs. New single Love Or Die continues and expands upon this … Continue reading
X:IN have not had it easy on this blog, consistently scoring some of the worst ratings. I considered not even writing about new single No Doubt because, why dogpile on a group who is fighting against the tides to be successful? But in the interest of completion, it feels like I need to touch on … Continue reading
Tempest have a new comeback on the horizon, and I’m confident it’ll be good. This confidence comes from math. For whatever reason, the group seems to alternate between songs I love and songs I loath. I’ve cracked the pattern, and after last September’s awful Vroom Vroom we’re in for a Can’t Stop Shining style hit! … Continue reading
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
Astro haven’t released a single or album since the passing of member Moonbin last April. Any new music would surely be laced with an undertone of sadness, and that’s completely natural. But for a group who built their name on upbeat bubblegum pop, it’s almost hard to imagine their music taking on a mournful tone. … Continue reading
Twice continued their winning streak with the feel-good, synth-fueled I Got You earlier this month. That song acted as a pre-release for both One Spark and the accompanying album With YOU-th. The two songs share a sense of uplift, anchored by glossy pop melodies and a confident performance. For whatever reason, K-pop’s pre-release tracks often … Continue reading
With so many music videos tied to her new project, IU’s The Winning is turning into a veritable visual album. She certainly has the cachet to support such aggressive promotion, and so far her output has run the musical gamut. The bluesy Shh.. continues expanding the variety. Featuring a trio of guest artists from three … Continue reading
Though they’ve delivered a few pre-release songs, we haven’t had a title track from A.C.E since 2021. The group still isn’t quite whole for new single My Girl, but with Kang Yuchan (Chan) recently coming back from military service, the days of five-member promotions seem just around the corner. As far as long-awaited comebacks go, … Continue reading
The line between “idol” and “artist” can be pretty thin, especially when artists start enlisting idols to feature in their music videos. I’ve never written about a solo BiBi song before, but given her ascent to the top of the digital charts it’s probably time I started paying more attention. New single Sugar Rush will … Continue reading
The JYP family has joined forces for a song advertising Coca-Cola because… why not? Patriarch J.Y. Park has written a real Frankenstein of a track that somehow fails to utilize any of the artists’ skills while digital artists work overtime to jarringly place them within expensive, virtual reality landscapes. None of this makes me thirsty … Continue reading
Moonbyul’s pre-release Think About was a very nice surprise, reinventing her as a funky pop diva with the frothy melodies to make it stick. With Touchin&Movin — the title track of her first full album — she’s further deepened this sound and crafted a real gem. I’ve never been a huge fan of Mamamoo’s solo … Continue reading
The pre-releases for IU’s newest album have run the musical gamut, from theatrical balladry to quirky, hip-hop inflected dance. She’s saved the best for last, unveiling the uplifting pop surge of Shopper. It ticks many of the boxes we’ve come to expect from her music but does so with such gusto that it’s hard to … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 