Between their Korean and Japanese promotions, IZ*ONE are set to accrue the largest discography of any Produce 101 group yet. Their cross-country releases are a shrewd business move, but I’m curious whether the girls will be able to maintain a high quality once they’ve moved beyond first few singles. That has always been an issue … Continue reading
It’s been a long road leading up to Jeon Somi’s solo debut. As the center for I.O.I, she enjoyed instant fame and shouldered endless speculation over where her career would go after the project group split up. After signing with YG’s Black Label (an unfortunate move, given recent YG-related scandals), she’s been paired with producer … Continue reading
Up to this point, fromis_9 have established an upbeat sound for themselves, pin-balling between hyper-cute quirkiness and more refined dance pop. Last year’s Love Bomb melded these two styles to great success, but new single Fun squanders much of that potential. While I can appreciate its bonkers approach to pop music, it’s the rare K-pop … Continue reading
The dissolution of B1A4 didn’t seem to send shockwaves through the K-pop industry last year, but it was a personal blow. At their peak, B1A4 were one of my top three bias groups, and offered a specific pop sound that no current act is tackling. Though they may still exist as a trio, the B1A4 … Continue reading
How to review a song like Summer Night (여름밤)? I deliberately steer away from this kind of subdued acoustic-pop because there’s just not much to write about it. Yes, this is a song. Yes, it has some vocals and a melody and even some instruments. And yet, I come away from Yoona’s new single feeling … Continue reading
This January, CLC out-(G)IDLE’d (G)-IDLE with the Soyeon-composed No. That quirky, attitude-driven track seemed to spark a sonic revolution in the group, drawing upon their charisma for an ear-catching performance. New single Me (美) harnesses that same vibe, but comes across as diminished returns. The first time through, it’s easy to compare Me to 4minute’s … Continue reading
Berry Good have just passed their fifth anniversary since debut, and they’ve been hanging on for all five of those years. Their 2016 work, in particular, deserved a much wider audience than it received. But no matter what they release, the girls have never been able to break through the competitive world of K-pop girl … Continue reading
K-pop tends to cannibalize itself, which can muddle the meaning of “debut” when it comes to new groups. 3YE (pronounced “Third Eye” — because, of course it is) have debuted with their first digital single DMT (Do Ma Thing), but the members have already been active in the industry. All three were part of disbanded … Continue reading
When all is said and done, it’s starting to feel like 2019 will be known as the year of debuts and military enlistments. The number of high-profile enlistments that have occurred over the past few months has been staggering, as K-pop’s much-loved second generation of male groups take various forms of hiatus. There’s a new … Continue reading
Momoland have been in an odd state of flux lately. They made their last comeback with only seven of nine members, and that configuration seems to be sticking for new digital single Love Is Only You (사랑은 너 하나). Instead of returning as a full group, the girls have paired with Vietnamese singer Erik for … Continue reading
After the disbandment of Wanna One, we’ve seen many of the group’s members make solo debuts, but we’ve yet to see what happens when several of them come together under a new moniker. Apart from Nu’est (which is its own special case), AB6IX will likely be the first time we learn how popular this post-Wanna … Continue reading
Yoon Jisung has made a quick turnaround with his second release after the disbandment of Wanna One. Because of his age, Jisung must begin serving his mandatory military conscription next month, which doesn’t leave much time to develop a solo career. It was definitely smart to strike while the iron is hot. I just wish … Continue reading
BVNDIT’s debut album is titled “BVNDIT, Be Ambitious,” yet it’s anchored by a title track so generic and workmanlike that it becomes difficult to recall once it’s over. There’s a special level of irony in that. 2019 has already been a year flush with rookies, making it difficult for yet-to-debut groups to stand out. BVNDIT … Continue reading
1TEAM are yet another 2019 debut group, hailing this time from Liveworks Entertainment. Some of its members will already be familiar to fans, as they participated in both BOYS24 and MIXNINE. Neither of those programs spawned the kind of sensation that Produce 101 does, so it’s gratifying to see an official debut for the guys. … Continue reading
KARD debuted just at the right time. In late 2016, K-pop’s appetite for tropical pop was still high, and the group rode that trend to great international success throughout their first year. Things stalled a bit last summer, just as their sound began to feel more generic. No matter how successful a group may be, … Continue reading
So, let me get this straight, 100%. You’re going to tackle a retro concept and not give Sweetune a call? I mean, talk about a missed opportunity! For a few brief months in 2016-17, the guys met their perfect producer match in the form of Sweetune. After parting ways, their music has become the definition … Continue reading
The year of debuts rolls on, but not every rookie will hail from a huge agency with tons of pre-debut hype. For every ITZY or TXT, there will be dozens of new acts struggling for recognition. These groups often do not have the budget necessary for elaborate teasers or expensive music videos, but it doesn’t … Continue reading
SHINee’s Key is slated for his mandatory military enlistment soon, but before going on hiatus he’s teased a repackage of his excellent debut album. Cold is a prelude to that, digitally released as part of SM Entertainment’s Station project. But unlike the retro-pop and EDM found on his album, the song is downbeat and emotional. … Continue reading
I don’t think I’ve ever reviewed a Greyish track on this site, but their name has always made me chuckle. Of all the possible colors, they just had to pick the blandest of them all (technically, it’s not even a color). The word conjures equally bland music, but that hasn’t been the case so far. … Continue reading
As the wait for a full f(x) comeback enters its fourth calendar year, each and every move by its members attracts interest from fans. However, most of the f(x)-related solo material has felt pretty un-f(x) in sound, which only seems to exacerbate listeners’ impatience. Luna offered a spark of similar energy with 2016’s Free Somebody, … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 