3piece are one of those very under-the-radar acts hampered only by their lack of notoriety and resources. Their debut single borrowed sonic touchstones from K-pop’s past (namely, tropical pop), which definitely appeals to me. However, the music missed the extra spark that a bigger budget could likely add. New single Light Up (피어올라) follows a … 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. When it comes to the brighter … Continue reading
ASC2NT debuted earlier this year with the groovy Love Me Do, displaying an impressive set of vocals and a relatively old-school approach. New single Sweet Devil gives them a bad boy makeover, mixing rock and hip-hop elements into the brew. While this showcases their versatility, the song tends to blend with many similar boy group … Continue reading
Kiss Of Life have quickly become one of K-pop’s buzziest acts and their ascent seems to have come about naturally. They’re not from a major agency, but their producers seem to have their finger on the pulse of popular sounds. In a K-pop summer devoid of big hits, their Sticky became an emblem of the … Continue reading
It’s always interesting to measure the lag between a very popular western pop song and the inevitable K-pop progeny. I’m not sure Lisa’s solo material can be considered “K-pop” given its language and her nationality, but you can definitely hear how new single Moonlit Floor echoes the approach of Sabrina Carpenter’s breezy global smash Espresso. … Continue reading
NCT’s many members are slowly starting to embark upon solo careers, each with their own musical focus. Yuta has been with the group since the very beginning, debuting in 2016 as part of NCT 127. Since then, he’s felt like one of the more underutilized talents. Regardless of my thoughts on the song itself, I’m … Continue reading
Thus far, rookies TIOT have opted for a bad boy rocker sound with their debut track. The song itself didn’t work for me at all, though its band elements showed promise. New single The Long Season (그 계절 긴 터널을 지나) takes a softer approach, bolstering its guitar and drums instrumental with plenty of melody. … Continue reading
ATEEZ have kept a relatively consistent style between their Korean and Japanese work, even when collaborating with J-pop act BE:FIRST for a couple of songs. New single Birthday doesn’t upend this pattern, keeping their core production team and riffing off elements similar to their past few albums. The problem, of course, is that I didn’t … 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. September 2024 Overall Thoughts While the first half of 2024 was quite strong, these past few … Continue reading
So far, I haven’t had much to say about WHIB apart from commenting on their strange group name, but who am I to deny a song titled “Rush Of Joy“? We can all use more joy in our lives, and WHIB are here to dole it out with funk pop precision. For those keeping track, … Continue reading
Ever since Peak Time game them a second wind, Vanner have been releasing the kind of classic, second-gen inspired K-pop sound many of us oldies hold close to our heart. Both mini albums have been super solid, led by dynamic title tracks that took advantage of the group’s experience. Automatic is another triumph to add … Continue reading
Choi Yena has straddled the line between rock chick and quirky popstress, often combining the two for a bubbly sound that capitalizes on her colorful personality. New single NEMONEMO (네모네모) dives full-on into the quirk, delivering the kind of a hyperactive dance track more commonly heard in J-pop. It won’t be for everyone, but the … 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
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. When writing about P1Harmony’s new comeback … Continue reading
With 2024’s resurgence in popularity for idol band DAY6, I wonder if Korea is at the forefront of rediscovering their love for band music. Rock was a major force during the 90’s and early 2000’s, but like most music markets (apart from Japan!), the genre has ceded power to more modern sounds like hip-hop and … Continue reading
Pop music has been stuck in a retro romance for this entire decade, seemingly obsessed with referencing past eras rather than pushing forward to new sounds. This has caused genres like synthwave and synthpop to feel quite oversaturated, even if they’re styles I personally love. So, when it was announced that HYO would be drawing … Continue reading
Xodiac’s past few releases have been buoyant and bright, tackling today’s trends with an ease that made them polished but rather generic. New title track Our Days harnesses this effervescent energy and tethers it to a pumping pop rock anthem, taking its cues from popular contemporaries like TWS. This is a sound that greatly appeals … Continue reading
Yesterday, WayV told us to “go higher” and now Super Junior-D&E are back with a similar message. The timing is pure coincidence, but it always amuses me when these things happen. Since establishing their own label, the duo have taken even greater control of their music. Judging by Go High‘s approach, that may not be … Continue reading
WayV released their first Japanese mini album all the way back at the beginning of August, but weeks later they’ve unveiled a music video for its promoted track Go Higher. I’m not sure what the plan was behind this delay, apart from the fact that J-pop often takes long breaks between various promotions. Either way, … Continue reading
I’ve written about NCT Wish nearly every week in September. Their first mini album has been preceded by two pre-releases and now we’re finally hearing the official title track. Steady is co-written by longtime SM Entertainment talent Kenzie and sees the group tackling their trendiest material yet. Both UK garage and Jersey Club have become … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 