Hui showcased his funk flair with January’s Hmm Bop and has now extended that energy to summertime with new single Easy Dance. The song pairs him with fellow soloist Kwon Eunbi and was unveiled via a steamy performance at Daejeon’s Waterbomb festival. Even more than an idol, Hui has become known as an in-demand songwriter/producer, … Continue reading
As one of the earliest purveyors of K-pop’s tropical trend in 2017, KARD quickly developed a signature sound. That’s since shifted as they’ve explored a variety of approaches over the past five years. Hip-hop has been a notable touchstone and their results with the genre have been mixed. New single Tell My Momma takes a … Continue reading
Well, this is unique. Prior to his official solo debut album later this month, NCT’s Jaehyun has pre-released two tracks and filmed a music video that teases each of them. I’m not sure how to review what’s essentially a medley, so I’ll take each song one at a time. Dandelion This is billed as the … Continue reading
I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, but Hyolyn has one of those K-pop voices that stops me in my tracks. It’s instantly recognizable and carries so much nostalgia and sentiment. Because of this, I tend to hold her music to an almost impossible standard. I mean, the songs must live up to that perfect voice, … Continue reading
Acts within the extended HYBE universe don’t often lack promotion, but fromis_9 are an exception. Perhaps it’s their late move to Pledis Entertainment or that agency’s history of struggles with girl groups, but fromis_9 have fallen into the dreaded “one comeback a year” pattern. Whenever an artist’s discography starts to dwindle, it becomes vital that … Continue reading
Many readers have been asking for it, and I’m finally ready to unveil this year’s Bias List Legendary Songs Inauguration Ceremony! A total of forty-nine songs have already been inaugurated as part of this feature, including a few J-pop highlights. As a rule, this ceremony only covers material released since The Bias List‘s inception (Jan … Continue reading
I don’t often review trot music, but new unit Atlantis Kitsune may be of interest to more casual K-pop fans. One of its members is Kim Sohee of disbanded girl group Nature. Nature’s most exciting material had a silly, trot-like energy at times, so the move makes sense. Atlantis Kitsune pairs her with Japanese singer … Continue reading
Just a few songs into their career, Catch The Young have displayed a sonic versatility. Their music has a ton of potential, but often feels undercut by limited ambition and hesitant execution. Watching the teasers for Dream It, I hoped the group would return to the 80’s cheese of their debut. Unfortunately, that decade turns … Continue reading
GOT7’s members have gone on to enjoy a variety of solo careers, exploring various fields and markets. Among them, BamBam has had an interesting — if unbalanced — discography. New single Last Parade throws that sense of inconsistency into a single song. It’s at once thrilling and frustrating. Opening with the fanfare of a choir, … Continue reading
“Bang & Jung & Yoo & Moon” is a mouthful of a unit name and balks at K-pop’s love for catchy acronyms, but older fans will likely recognize the (shortened) names as members of boy group B.A.P. They debuted in 2012 and went on to have a rocky relationship with their agency. After defying the … Continue reading
It’s been a busy summer for K-pop acts releasing Japanese music. Xikers is the latest group to venture into this market with the release of their first original J-pop single Tsuki (Lunatic). The song is composed by the usual KQ Entertainment suspects, ensuring continuity with their Korean discography. In fact, it feels like a natural … Continue reading
On top of their hit-filled Korean discography, IVE are quickly establishing a solid string of Japanese singles. Crush is their follow-up to last year’s Wave, a song I enjoyed and one that already seems to be a fan favorite. Now, the group has returned to the grand pop sound of highlights I Am and Love … Continue reading
When this LIGHTSUM comeback was first announced, my immediate thought was: “didn’t they disband?” Obviously, I was getting them confused with another group (probably Cherry Bullet), but it says something when a K-pop obsessive like me can’t even remember the status of LIGHTSUM. The group just hasn’t released much material and their long hiatuses make … Continue reading
Someone needs to do a case study on why so many idol soloists debut with the most subdued (ie: dull) material you could possibly imagine. Have they been so beaten down by the maximalist needs of K-pop’s idol group system? Are they under the impression that — above all else — they must show some … Continue reading
Formed on SBS’s reality show Universe Ticket, UNIS made their debut this past March with a solid — but unspectacular — track. With their first official comeback, they’ve upped the energy and ambition, opting for a strutting glam rock beat and an in-you-face performance style. It’s a good move for them, even if the song … Continue reading
After their group reunion, the members of Infinite continue to pursue solo careers. Most of these releases have been well within their comfort zones, and for L that means gentle acoustic pop. His new album actually features a tropical dance track, but I would have been shocked if he had promoted something with that kind … Continue reading
K-pop is littered with acts who – for one reason or another – didn’t get the full spotlight they deserved. I’ve spent plenty of time ranking and reviewed the industry’s biggest artists, but these underrated acts should never be forgotten. This feature will take a look at disbanded groups and rank/rate their entire singles run, … 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. Many specific K-pop sounds get repurposed … Continue reading
I had the pleasure of attending Jeon Somi’s meet and greet at KCON LA this past weekend and was quite taken with her abundant charisma. This seed of interest was sown with last year’s stellar dance single Fast Forward — a song that still gets me pumped to this day. But with that said, love … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade. July 2024 Overall Thoughts After a stellar June, July was always going to have a hard … Continue reading
