1. Heat It Up // 2. Dangerous // 3. Way You Are // 4. Umbrella // 5. Sad Loop // 6. Where U R WAY YOU ARE As part of my “K-Pop A-Z” feature, Infinite receive a write-up for any new material released in perpetuity, so of course that includes their fifteenth anniversary album Like … Continue reading
New SM Entertainment girl group Hearts2Hearts debuted late last month to mixed reviews. Title track The Chase is a fine slice of moody pop, but it’s an odd and underwhelming choice when couched within the agency’s storied history of debut bangers. That continues with promoted b-side Butterflies, which slows the mood even further. It’s probably … Continue reading
Treasure pre-released their single Last Night in December. It was a sturdy rock-influenced anthem that fit them well. That song re-emerges as part of their new album Pleasure, which sees the guys tackling a variety of light pop sounds. Title track Yellow takes a more laidback approach in the vein of past YG Entertainment highlights … Continue reading
We’re slowly moving out of BTS’s enlistment era and into their post-enlistment work as members return from the military with solo projects. First up was Jin late last year and now J-Hope is here with Sweet Dreams, a collaboration with soulful crooner Miguel. This follows a guest stint on Don Toliver’s LV Bag last month … Continue reading
It’s a big day for new pop releases, with BLACKPINK’s Jennie dropping her first full album at the same time as Lady Gaga unleashes her long-awaited Mayhem. Ruby has been preceded by four tracks, starting with last year’s Mantra. So far, Jennie has harnessed a diverse sound. That grab bag approach continues with the just-released … Continue reading
Comebacks from beloved, established artists are difficult. I wish I could fully embrace them, unencumbered from the legacy of incredible music that forms their foundation. But more often than not, this history gets in the way and I end up wishing for material that matches the potency of their peak artistic era. This situation happened … Continue reading
It’s hard to believe it’s already been nearly eight years since Beat Interactive’s A.C.E made their hotpants-wearing debut. As with every established idol group, there are juniors waiting in the wings and the agency’s long-gestating Newbeat is set for their debut later this month. Before that, they’ve pre-released JeLLo as a taster. “Taster” is an … Continue reading
When last we heard from BTOB, they were peddling the kind of emotive ballad they’ve become known for. This is a group that’s comfortable with its own sound and image and doesn’t often feel the need to switch things up drastically — even when they’re embarking on a new journey under their own agency. As … Continue reading
Debuting in 2019, ONEWE has amassed a large catalog of music in their just-over-five-years. Today’s album is already their third full-length and is heralded by title track The Starry Night (별 헤는 밤). Rather than tackle the moodier ballads they’ve become known for, the song is a sprightly blast of indie-rock intensity. Bright synths kick … Continue reading
8TURN’s Like A Friend had the unfortunate fate of being released in mid-December just as most music shows were going on hiatus. The guys finally promoted it (briefly) a month later, but I can’t help but think that if the song had arrived in summer it would have found a more enthusiastic audience. For me, … Continue reading
K-pop’s title tracks might gain most of listeners’ attention, but many album tracks are worth equal spotlight. I call these “buried treasures.” Beyond this, K-pop’s albums deliver thousands of additional tracks that settle for a more limited audience. It’s these songs that will become a part of my “battle of the b-sides” feature. In this … Continue reading
While it was easy to pigeonhole Young Posse as a joke when they first emerged, last year’s g-funk nodding Ate That found the perfect balance between funny and awesome. There’s a huge gap in the market for colorful hip-hop that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and Young Posse feel uniquely equipped to fill it. Because … 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. February 2025 Overall Thoughts K-pop continued to limp along this month, though the second half of … 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. Defying expectations for a rookie group … Continue reading
The month of BLACKPINK solos comes to a conclusion as Lisa caps off February with the release of her first full album. This project has been preceded by a number of singles dating all the way back to last June. Like bandmate Jennie, the album’s tracklist unveils a host of big-name collaborators including popular rapper … 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. Having listened to the new G-Dragon … Continue reading
Rookies 3WAY Project have rebranded to 3WAY, which somehow seems even more provocative as a group name. Confusingly, the group is actually comprised of nine members, but I guess 9WAY doesn’t have quite the same ring to it. In any case, nine is divisible by three so I’m sure there’s some meaning there. I worry … Continue reading
I watched last summer’s survival series Makemate (and even featured one of their songs on the blog), but it left such little impression that I struggle to recall many details about it. Its debuting group NouerA is here to fix that, arriving with a whopper of an electro-funk track that definitely leaves its mark. K-pop’s … 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. For the second time in a … Continue reading
The King of K-pop has graced us with two new music videos on the day he returns with his first solo album since 2017. We’ve already heard the funky Power and nostalgic Home Sweet Home, and today’s stark Drama offered another nuance in his artistic palette. For the Anderson .Paak-featuring Too Bad, it seems all … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 