“Pre-debut” releases are quite confusing, but I guess it’s a nice way to introduce your group without the pressure of official debut promotions. The members of TIOT will be familiar to viewers of Boys Planet, and their song Unbeatable (백전무패) will be familiar to much older K-pop fans. It’s a cover of the 2001 track … Continue reading
For her second mini album, ex-GFriend member Yerin has gone down a trendy synthpop route. Despite being leveraged by every idol act imaginable, this sound still holds appeal to me. Its nostalgic vibe works especially well for soloists, letting classic melodies and chugging beats take center stage. Unfortunately, Bambambam (밤밤밤) feels like an amateur version … Continue reading
Freed from YG Entertainment’s clutches, iKON are now releasing music with greater frequency. Panorama arrives just months after the group’s latest album and sees the guys working with new collaborators. However, the track retains iKON’s classic sound. At its best, Panorama works as a pleasant, sing-song mid-tempo that showcases a lighter side of iKON’s musical … Continue reading
The slow-burn success of H1-KEY’s Rose Blossom was one of the year’s most surprising (and deserved) stories, and the group has taken their time to deliver a follow-up. Time To Shine (불빛을 꺼뜨리지 마) arrives courtesy of the same composer (Hong Ji Sang) and offers a sprightlier sound than its predecessor. This track forges an … Continue reading
NCT’s annual bring-everyone-together project promises two title tracks, with Golden Age up first. And when you think about it, this may just be the most NCT song yet. By attempting to smash together every aspect of their sound into a single three-and-a-half minute track, it certainly doesn’t lack ambition. But does the mash-up work? I … Continue reading
“Best Of” albums are far more common in the Japanese market than any other country I’m aware of, and that extends to K-pop acts. Ima (Even If The World Ends Tomorrow) (今 -明日 世界が終わっても-) is taken from Seventeen’s first “best of,” marking another stage in their successful career. And though the track was composed by … Continue reading
When it comes to her solo work, Girls’ Generation’s Hyoyeon has offered a sampler platter of dance genres. With new single Picture, she’s moved into dancehall sounds. This is a good match for her charismatic performance style, and she imbues an otherwise simple track with plenty of character. Picture has a dark, mysterious magnetism. Its … Continue reading
This year’s KCON will live in infamy for a number of reasons: outrunning the remnants of a rare hurricane on my way home, testing positive for covid a day after, etc etc. However, this craziness doesn’t mean I don’t have highlights and commentary to share! For the first time, KCON LA’s concerts extended to three … Continue reading
Back in 2014, I played AKMU’s debut album relentlessly. Their music felt so fresh and different, maintaining a pop edge while tackling quirky sounds and ideas that appealed equally to idol fans and indie aficionados. Since then, the duo has moved through an impressive breadth of styles, most recently on 2021’s Next Episode album. After … Continue reading
When it comes to upbeat boy group tracks, August has been very generous so far. Now, Peak Time winners Vanner join the fray — re-emerging with the funky Performer. Both sonically and thematically, it feels like a suitable statement of intent, even if the song loses some potency when it strays from its taut, propulsive … Continue reading
Riize is SM Entertainment’s first new, non-NCT boy group since 2016. That’s a pretty big deal. They share connective tissue with the NCT universe, as members Shotaro and Sungchan were previously included in NCT projects. But overall, this feels like an important step forward for the agency. In my mind, this important step will be … Continue reading
Primrose debuted as a duo this January, became a solo act in March and are now a four-member group. That’s a ton of change for a rookie act! Eagle-eyed viewers may notice Hot Issue’s Nahyun and bugAboo’s Rainie among the new members. Somehow, Primrose has become a super group — collecting performers from fallen idol … Continue reading
Fans of Everglow have endured one of K-pop’s longer hiatuses. We last heard from the group way back in December 2021 with the bonkers Pirate. That’s more than enough time for K-pop trends to change completely and a whole new generation of talent to blossom. Within this re-envisioned landscape, Everglow are back to their old … Continue reading
It’s full steam ahead on the ‘aespa-conquers-international-markets’ ship with the release of another English-language single following last year’s Life’s Too Short. Earlier this year, they also dropped the Tetris-interpolating Hold On Tight — their best non-Korean track to date. I definitely underrated it back in March. Better Things isn’t as creative, but it’s a charming … Continue reading
Following Nayeon last summer, Twice’s leader Jihyo has become the second member of the group to embark upon a solo career. For me, her voice has always been emblematic of Twice’s sound, making solo music an interesting prospect. Would she paint within the lines of Twice’s established style or push herself in new directions? It … Continue reading
For me, Lucy is at their best when they wear their heart on their sleeve and bolster than sentiment with a copious amount of violin. Early standouts like Snooze and (especially) Flare played this approach to the hilt, delicately weaving their empathic storytelling as the songs crested to dramatic peaks. New single Haze (아지랑이) doesn’t … Continue reading
I’m gonna need a doctorate to keep all these tripleS sub-units straight, but one thing they all share is a dynamic sense of style. Even when the songs don’t quite hit me, I’m impressed by the vision behind this enterprise. It’s quite reminiscent of LOONA’s multi-year rollout — another Jaden Jeong project. LOVElution is the … Continue reading
I went on such a strange ride with STAYC’s winter hit Teddy Bear. I liked the song right off the bat, and that quickly grew into love as it became one of my most played songs of the year. But after a month or so, I’ve barely returned to the track and don’t have much … 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. The second half of summer has … Continue reading
For their latest comeback, DKB have utilized two of K-pop’s long-successful promotional tactics — releasing a repackage with double title tracks. Rather than write about both songs (All Yours isn’t very good, tbh), I’m going to focus on the one whose video appears to be edited with more care. Furthering the nostalgia factor, DKB emerge … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 