There are some groups in K-pop that I want to love even as their music keeps me at an arm’s length. Such is the case with XLOV, who have a wonderful concept and compelling imagery. However, most of their songs just haven’t matched that potential so far. Because of this, I’m happy to see them … Continue reading
The members of KARD have been consistently releasing solo work over the past few years, and now it’s J.seph’s turn to show what he can do. As one of two male members in the group, it feels like he was often in the shadow of BM, whose charisma has a much louder approach. This makes … Continue reading
Whenever I write about a Boyfriend song, I find myself begging readers to go back and check out their discography. To my mind, they have one of the most underrated catalogs in all of K-pop — especially if you enjoy the work of producers Sweetune. Unfortunately, their last six years have been a series of … Continue reading
Today may be a barren day for new K-pop releases, but IVE have slid into the empty slate with a music video for new Japanese single Lucid Dream. Their Japanese work has been a mixed bag so far and overall feels pretty inessential. This track does nothing to buck that trend. For Lucid Dream, the … Continue reading
It’s been interesting to watch LE SSERAFIM’s trajectory shift over the years. They debuted with a sleek, stylish sound and a tight team of collaborators led by the once-great production duo Score and Megatone. But as time has gone on, the group’s music leaned further toward novelty, seemingly designed for memes and short-form content. This … Continue reading
Oh My Girl’s voice is severely missed in the modern K-pop landscape. And to be clear, I’m talking about pre-2020 Oh My Girl, back when the group sang gorgeous melodies over ornate, fantastical instrumentals. That’s a strain of girl group music we just don’t hear anymore and as far as I’m concerned it’s a vital … Continue reading
Monsta X’s Shownu and Hyungwon debuted as a duo in the summer of 2023. I saw them perform that year at KCON, yet for the life of me I can’t remember the song. That tends to happen with these slinky, bass-driven tracks that K-pop churns out on the regular. There are simply too many of … Continue reading
K-pop summer songs come in all shapes and sizes, from bouyant blasts of pinwheeling energy to drowsy grooves perfect for lounging around in the sun. Unsurprisingly, Bibi has chosen the latter for her new single Bumpa. She doesn’t really have a toe in the idol world anyway, pursuing a quirkier singer-songwriter route instead. To me, … Continue reading
Astro may not release music as a group anymore, but its members still make solo comebacks from time to time. Last summer, Yoon Sanha dropped a solid album that drew upon funk and hip-hop. That approach continues with new single IDK Me. Sanha’s one of those “all rounder” idols. I can’t think of one thing … Continue reading
Since their debut, xikers have shared producers with agency seniors ATEEZ, making it difficult to truly climb out of their lengthy shadow. Oftentimes, they feel like a junior ATEEZ to me, but their team rarely gives them music as undeniable as ATEEZ’s best hits. Perhaps its not surprising that their biggest musical triumphs have stepped … Continue reading
Along with what feels like half the K-pop industry, Fifty Fifty are making their comeback on June 1st. Before that, they’ve cobbled together a special video for pre-release Starstruck. This video also functions as a teaser for their upcoming drama After-School Exorcism Club. Since debut and re-formation, Fifty Fifty’s style has run the gamut but … Continue reading
The Boys II Planet series continues to spawn new acts and today we have the debut of duo FLARE U. This team consists of Chuei Li Yu and Kang Woo Jin, both under FNC Entertainment. It’ll be interesting to see if this becomes a longtime configuration or if the agency will eventually try to fold … Continue reading
Whether he’s with the group or not, Park Jinyoung’s always going to have that “GOT7” tag next to his name so that we don’t mistake him for JYP founder Park Jinyoung. I know it’s a common name, but I still think it’s amazing that there were two of them in the same agency! This Park … Continue reading
Weeks after labelmates DXMON made a surprise return, H Music Entertainment’s “get our artists out of the dungeon” series continues with a new song from girl group WOOAH. The group rebranded in 2024 but haven’t released anything since then. The rock-tinged WXW (Wish With W) tries its best to get things back on track. I … Continue reading
Amidst the hottest artists of the moment making comebacks today, we have a K-pop veteran in the mix. Rain hasn’t released new material in awhile, but his name still carries weight within the industry. He’s even been able to rack up a viral hit every now and then, though it’s been some years since his … Continue reading
Rookie group LNGSHOT have been making a name for themselves this year, with many anticipating their first comeback. There’s a certain sliver of the K-pop landscape that seems to reject classic idol tropes in favor of acts who feel a bit more rough around the edges. This usually means adopting hip-hop posturing as a show … Continue reading
Some songs are instant hits while others take time to fully reveal their charms. Neither approach is better than the other as long as a song enjoys longevity, but the latter category is more difficult to write about on this blog. For whatever reason, almost all of NMIXX’s songs have been slow-burn successes rather than … Continue reading
There was a time when a collaboration between artists like aespa and G-Dragon would have seemed almost unthinkable. SM and YG were the biggest rivals in K-pop, after all. However, G-Dragon’s not part of YG anymore and SM is a shell of what it used to be now that so much more competition floods the … Continue reading
Girl group KIIRAS made a promising comeback last year with Bang Bang, which showcased their vocal talent. They’ve now returned with another two-syllable title in Ta Ta, but this song finds them in different musical territory. We still hear a few moments of vocal drama, but the bulk of the track is built around rhythmic, … Continue reading
After an extended group hiatus, Billlie are returning in a big way with their first full album. They teased us last week with the dancefloor-ready Work, which turned out to be a sonic marker that title track ZAP continues on from. This is a pricklier beast of a song, but still firmly targets the clubs. … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 