HYBE’s empire continues to grow with the debut of new girl group ILLIT. They’re under subsidiary Belift Lab and formed through the series R U Next?. They’re the first of a few new girl groups emerging this week, and their debut single Magnetic feels perfectly in line with current trends. HYBE (and specifically, NewJeans) have … Continue reading
We’ve long since crossed the threshold of having definable NCT units with their own sound and purpose. Instead, the past five or six years have seen the rise of a standard SM Entertainment style, and when the agency does release a song that embraces a different sound it feels almost revelatory. Unfortunately, the only revelatory … 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. DAY6’s new album may not reinvent … 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
If you read my monthly “Global Pop Round-Up” feature, you’ll know how much I like dance music. It’s rare to find a straight-up club track in K-pop these days, as idol group configurations usually require an arrangement that mixes genres and tempos. The last all-out dance track I can remember was Somi’s Fast Forward — … Continue reading
n.SSign have promised three title tracks from their newest album, and they seem to be spreading them out. Funk Jam arrives over a month after they started promoting Happy & (a song that grew on me a lot, by the way). When I first saw the album’s track list, the combination of the words “funk” … Continue reading
During Lucy’s first two years after debut, they felt like one of the freshest acts in K-pop. Their music overflowed with ideas and hooky melodies that kept me coming back for more. Since then, they’ve settled into a reliable niceness. I’m not sure if it’s them or me, but I haven’t been able to muster … Continue reading
Last time we heard from The New Six, they were kicking it old school with the upbeat Kick It 4 Now. That track leveraged nostalgia to its advantage, melding new jack swing beats to catchy hooks. But this being K-pop, we can’t simply build on a good thing. New single Fuego offers a completely different … Continue reading
Despite their cringeworthy group name and equally cringey debut single, I respect how Young Posse are trying to do something a little different from their peers. When it comes to building credibility in the hip-hop world, last month’s Young Posse Up was a good start. But ultimately, the song was too hookless to appeal to … Continue reading
Super Junior-D&E haven’t even made their comeback yet, but it’s already embroiled in controversy. Title track GGB will not be performed on music shows after its title was deemed derogatory toward women. Honestly. I had to look up what “GGB” means before I realized that the real issue likely stems from the Korean version of … Continue reading
Purple Kiss have had a somewhat disjointed singles run so far, swerving from one sound to another in shifts that can often feel drastic. My most played song (Autopilot) isn’t a title track at all. I’d love to hear that kind of synth-powered melodic showcase promoted with videos and performances. Instead, we have the trendy, … Continue reading
Apink’s Kim Nam Joo made her solo debut in 2020 but hasn’t released new material since then. Sticking with the monosyllabic b-word pattern of past track Bird, she’s returned with new single Bad. It’s a mix of blazing potential and crushing frustration. When it comes to girl group material this year, there’s been a persistent … Continue reading
The Boyz’ Phantasy series has seen them in top form, rattling through a variety of styles with confidence and flair. The trilogy comes to a conclusion with Love Letter, which feels a bit like an afterthought. Minimal promotion and a truncated track list give it the air of a going-through-the-motions repackage, but thankfully Nectar continues … Continue reading
It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly three years since DAY6 released a new album. The aptly-titled Fourever is their first as a quartet and a welcome return for one of the most dominant idol bands of the last decade. Title track Welcome To The Show offers a suitably dramatic sound to usher in their … Continue reading
Anyone remember short-lived boy group MASC? They had a couple of bangers, but unfortunately disbanded before they could establish much of a discography. Members Heejae and Ireah appeared on last year’s Peak Time series and have re-debuted as duo SEVENUS. The idea of a duo is highly underrated in K-pop. They all exist in the … Continue reading
Boy group Xodiac are coming up on their first year anniversary this April, and what better way to celebrate than a pleasant pop track with the airy ease of a fan song? Longtime readers will know I usually equate “pleasant” with “boring,” and this really comes down to time management. If I only had five … 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. You spend over a decade waiting … Continue reading
It’s taken awhile, but artists and agencies have figured out how to keep momentum going as idols make their mandatory military enlistment. It used to be unheard of to deliver “new” content during these extended hiatuses, but now it’s become commonplace to record music and even videos for future release during enlistment. ONF managed to … Continue reading
YooA’s 2020 solo debut was a slam dunk, unveiling a unique musical scope and vision that complimented her work with Oh My Girl while pushing into new territory. Since then, she’s switched things up in increasingly generic ways and I’ve struggled to connect with her title tracks. Rooftop is another sonic shift, with one foot … Continue reading
Though seemingly benign in its silliness, the phrase “doo doom chit” has big shoes to fill. It recalls memories of the colorful Crayon Pop — a goofy pop act with the songs to back up their gimmickry. K-pop’s girl group trends don’t exactly favor this style at the moment, and could do with a bit … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 