Though HYBE has made the BTS brand synonymous with K-pop around the world (at least to casual listeners), I still think SM Entertainment is the agency others are most seeking to emulate. Even during times their industry cachet has lulled, SM has remained an inexorable through-line when thinking about K-pop on a macro scale. Aespa … Continue reading
When talking about K-pop’s summer music, KARD’s name doesn’t come up nearly enough. Their early tropical sound still feels welcome today. Much of that is due to the songs themselves being strong, regardless of genre or trends. After 2018’s Ride On The Wind, the group moved on to heavier styles and the music became less … Continue reading
I’ve always been a proponent of keeping K-pop weird, but sometimes these agencies come up with ideas that are better left on the cutting room floor. Perhaps inspired by the legendary (for all the wrong reasons) A.I. group Eternity, new debut Superkind has a “virtual idol” among their ranks. Maybe it’s my age showing, but … Continue reading
“Sweet,” you say? Universe app, you say?? I think it’s time for a recipe: Hooks 7 Production 7 Longevity 8 Bias 7 RATING 7.25 Continue reading
Dawn’s verses in old Pentagon songs were always interesting and quirky. So far, his solo career has felt like an expanded version of those verses, zigging this way and that but always anchored by his colorful personality. He has a way of making the most ridiculous ideas work because you get the sense that he … Continue reading
Japanese tracks by Korean idol groups have been pretty lousy lately, but Stray Kids have the benefit of self-composition. The guys’ production unit 3RACHA has already dabbled in the J-pop market, including the production of a standout track for J-idol group JO1. New single Circus takes a high-concept approach, putting as much focus on its … Continue reading
As BTS’s popularity has skyrocketed, the frequency of their output has dwindled – a surprising approach for an act as in-demand as they are. The past nineteen months have seen occasional solos and collaborations, but only a trio of full-group tracks. Now, we can add several more to their catalog. Their multi-disc compilation album Proof … Continue reading
Boy group Trendz debuted earlier this year with TNT (Truth&Trust), a song I can barely recall. Their first mini album didn’t instill much confidence, largely forgoing memorable melodies for blustering attitude. On follow-up Who (吼), the guys have bolstered the intensity but still struggle to find a song that lives up to that energy. Who … Continue reading
I have a fear that many of K-pop’s 2022 summer offerings will opt for a subdued city pop sound. It probably won’t be proven true, but the industry does love a gentle coffeehouse vibe. Highlight’s Son Dongwoon has returned with his own summer track, and it falls closely along these lines. Today’s Weather (우리 날씨 … Continue reading
Rookie group CLASS:y aren’t wasting any time. They’ve divided their debut mini album in two parts, releasing both within weeks of each other. Shut Down was unveiled only a month ago and it’s already time for their first comeback. I know the K-pop industry moves fast, but this feels like a new record! Shut Down … Continue reading
May 31st, 2022 We arrived on the planet CRAVITY late last night and celebrated our successful voyage with an early sleep. No champagne for this team. Even if we had wanted a grand celebration, this planet’s quirky physics wouldn’t allow it. Gravity is constantly changing here. Our Mission Specialist dubbed it “crazy gravity,” or “cravity” … Continue reading
Back in January, Victon impressed with the brisk, powerful Chronograph. It still stands as one of the more memorable boy group comebacks of the year, forgoing many of 2022’s musical trends for a classic, propulsive K-pop sound. Four months later, the guys are back with (the stupidly-titled) Stupid O’Clock. With a title like that, you’d … Continue reading
We have another 2022 debut on our hands, as BLANK2Y give a thumbs up to the K-pop industry. They’re the first idol group to hail from the recently established Keystone Entertainment. (Side note: it always surprises me when newish agencies debut groups with so many members. Isn’t that super expensive??). Some of the guys come … Continue reading
With (G)I-DLE riding high on the charts, Cube Entertainment has devoted much of their attention to them. But, the agency has another group waiting in the wings. LIGHTSUM debuted last year with the fun Vanilla before shifting toward slightly more generic sounds with follow-up Vivace last October. Since then, we haven’t heard much from the … Continue reading
After nearly three years as a soloist, Kang Daniel has finally released his first full album. That’s a huge accomplishment for anyone — let alone a guy who started his own agency and essentially manages his own career. Though I’ve not always connected with his music, I admire how often he infuses it with his … Continue reading
It’s always gratifying to watch a group defy the odds. After exiting JYP Entertainment and embarking on solo projects, it would have been easy for GOT7 to dangle an unfulfilled promise of reunion before slowly fading into fans’ memories. Instead, the guys have joined forces for a new comeback just a year and a half … Continue reading
ONEUS and ONEWE in the same week?? It almost feels like we’re getting closer to a reunion of both groups, where ONEWE supply a killer track as ONEUS bust out striking choreography. It’s happened before, but I need it to happen for a promoted comeback. Until then, ONEWE are back with special single Roommate (룸메이트). … Continue reading
Though GFriend may be no more, its members have kept busy in 2022. VIVIZ are wading their way through season two of Queendom and Yuju debuted as a soloist. Next up is Yerin, who has signed with Sublime Artist Agency and is out with her first mini album. Debut solo single Aria isn’t worlds away … Continue reading
AB6IX’s recent comebacks have been all over the place, swerving from noisy beat drops to light funk to stately synth-pop. It’s a far cry from their debut year, which presented a sleek, stylish dance sound that seemed to be their calling card. Savior switches things up again, bringing in new producers and a new, darker … Continue reading
As an enthusiastic watcher of PSY and JYP’s build-a-boyband series LOUD, I’ve been waiting for its two groups to debut. I’m more excited for what JYP’s group will bring, but PSY’s rearrangements and concepts were incredibly creative. Some of my favorite LOUD contestants ended up becoming part of his team. As P Nation’s first idol … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 