Since their 2023 debut, WHIB have alternated between lighter and darker sounds. For me, they were at their best in 2024 when they felt a rush of joy, but that rush proved fleeting as they quickly moved into the more aggressive Bang Out. New single Rock The Nation has a delightfully earnest title that made … Continue reading
I feel like I’ve been writing about a lot of bands recently. Band music is certainly popular at this moment in Korea, with many active groups both junior and senior. FNC Entertainment has always been a hub for these acts, and AxMxP made their debut under the agency last year with a full album. Now, … Continue reading
Musical trends come and go in K-pop and usually mirror sounds popularized elsewhere on the globe. Most of these trends start out well enough before the industry eventually drives them into the ground, but a certain trend of the moment has my hackles up already. An increasing amount of boy groups are latching onto a … Continue reading
Though their music has been very uneven so far, I find ALLDAY PROJECT a pretty exciting addition to the current K-pop landscape. Certain members court controversy, which only adds to their appeal for some fans. For my part, I’m just happy to see another co-ed group becoming successful in K-pop. I wish we had more … Continue reading
Recently, idol groups spawned by survival series have subverted corporate expectations and developed signature sounds that give them a unique identity in the K-pop market. AHOF, Close Your Eyes and NouerA all come to mind as great examples. However, CJ ENM and their label WakeOne Entertainment are as corporate as it gets and watching season … Continue reading
Monsta X’s Joohoney has just released his second mini album, though he’s also put out a handful of mixtapes over the years. This follows digital pre-release Push, which failed to capture attention despite a notable team-up with IVE’s Rei. Now, he’s back with an even more notable feature — legendary boxer Muhammad Ali in the … Continue reading
ALLDAY PROJECT have been one of the year’s biggest success stories, and they’ve been pretty successful on my own playlist as well. After a rough start, Famous grew on me immensely and last month’s pre-release One More Time was an instant hit. In general, I find co-ed groups pretty exciting and it’s been nice to … Continue reading
We’ve officially reached the point where numerous Boys II Planet contestants start to release their first post-show music. Just this week, we’ve had the pre-debut of ALPHA DRIVE ONE, a long-awaited comeback for participants VERIVERY and the solo debut of Chuei Li Yu, who came in tenth place during the series’ finale. My only questions … Continue reading
To my great continual regret, I “recapped” the entirety of this year’s Boys II Planet, though these write-ups became shorter and less enthused as the series went on. If you want to read the perspective of someone losing interest in real time, I guess I’d recommend you check them out. Otherwise, you’re probably safe to … Continue reading
Sometimes it takes a few songs for a group’s sound to totally click with me. I enjoyed ILLIT’s 2024 megahit Magnetic as much as anyone, but it wasn’t until this year’s fanciful Do The Dance that I totally understood what the group could be. Lately, their music has veered closer to third-gen groups like Lovelyz … Continue reading
Given their status as a Japanese idol group, NCT Wish have been more active in Korea so far. This seems to be the trend for J-pop groups formed by K-pop agencies. However, they have new Japanese material on the horizon and they’re teasing that now with surprise pre-release Dreamcatcher. NCT Wish’s material has been extremely … Continue reading
NCT’s Yuta has taken his solo work as an opportunity to embrace a whole new persona. His Japanese discography rocks hard in a way that NCT was never designed for. This sits nicely within an industry that still wholeheartedly embraces rock music. New single Ember continues the sound, though it’s more likely to polarize than … Continue reading
Bae Jinyoung’s already been through two idol groups in his career, debuting with Wanna One and later with CIX. After choosing not to re-sign his contract with the latter, he’s stepped out as a soloist. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard a Jinyouong solo track, but this time it feels different. Round & Round … Continue reading
I hate to be cynical, but collaborations between K-pop stars and Western artists rarely work. Western pop tropes almost always take precedence, smoothing out K-pop edges until we’re left with very middle-of-the-road material. For her first solo album, BLACKPINK’s Jisoo went down a dance pop route, but all of that promise is shaved away on … Continue reading
I know I don’t speak for all K-pop fans, but I am tired — so tired of being yelled at by overly aggressive boy groups shouting alongside cacophonous instrumentals. Previously, ALL(H)OURS found a nice middle ground between noise and sleek structure, delivering the standout singles Shock and Gimme Gimme. But with new track Ready 2 … Continue reading
I don’t know what’s happening over in YOUNITE world, but the promotion for Bomba is concerning. The song was released over a week ago to no fanfare and only now has a (performance) video. The group has yet to promote it on music shows. None of these developments bode well for the agency’s confidence in … Continue reading
There have been a number of think pieces about how Billboard’s Hot 100 chart has become whiter, more male and more Christian this year. It’s a troubling development for anyone who fears baby steps toward theocracy as I do, and the chokehold Alex Warren’s Ordinary has had on the charts is one of this movement’s … Continue reading
While they initially (pre) debuted with a promising pop/rock sound, rookie group POW’s music has become more subdued and forgettable since. They seem to have tons of promise, but the music just isn’t doing it for me. This regrettable trend continues with Being Tender (다정해지는 법) — a plonky mid-tempo that feels almost designed to … Continue reading
Newly-debuted co-ed group ALLDAY PROJECT released their single Famous a week ago to mixed reviews. Some loved its rhythmic, chorus-less approach while others found its sound dated and dull. I count myself in the latter group, though I’d gladly take a dozen Famous‘s over one Wicked. At some point, a large swath of K-pop’s output … Continue reading
Girl group HITGS (the “Hip, Innocent, Teenager, Girls, Story”) debuted just over a month ago with the frothy but forgettable Sourpatch, and have made a quick return with new digital single Gross. Think of it as a much more subdued companion to Katseye’s Gnarly, in which a girl group uses a single adjective to comment … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 