The phrase “summer special single” always catches my attention. Summer’s my favorite season for music and “special” implies that the song will be distinctly tied to the season. Today, we’ve got a “special single” from rookie boy group AmbiO, who debuted earlier this year. The song’s heart is in the right place, but its execution … Continue reading
Monsta X’s Kihyun first promoted as a soloist back in 2022 but hasn’t made a comeback since. Much of that, I’m sure, is due to a lengthy military hiatus, but new single So Good picks up right where he left off. As expected, it’s a big, rock-fueled ballad. Kihyun has an excellent voice for this … Continue reading
i-dle have a history of releasing summer songs, bending the season to their will for material that fits within their sonic wheelhouse. They’re no doubt hoping another summer release will reverse their chart fortunes and see them sitting comfortably in the top ten again. For that to happen, they’ll need something much more striking than … Continue reading
Those hoping Dreamcatcher offshoot UAU would pick up the rock torch and act as a continuation of Dreamcatcher Proper seem to be out of luck. Instead, UAU has adopted a more dance-friendly sound. This is in keeping with many Dreamcatcher’s b-sides, which just so happen to be my favorite songs from their discography. However, UAU … Continue reading
ONEUS have been operating as a four-piece for awhile now and it definitely feels like something substantial is missing without Seoho’s voice. Still, they’re keeping things chugging along with new Japanese release Under — a perfectly pleasant and almost immediately forgettable light funk pop track. This kind of a song is a dime a dozen … Continue reading
Fresh off the massive chart success of I.O.I’s reunion, former member Choi Yoojung is back with her first new single since 2022. This time, she’s taking influence from another 2026 chart behemoth. Perfect Target (비장의 무기) feels like a natural successor to the second-gen nostalgia of Yena’s Catch Catch. I’m all for second-gen nostalgia, though … Continue reading
One benefit of a huge group configuration is that you can break into an almost unlimited number of solos and sub-units to promote while other members are on hiatus. Such is the case with Seventeen. They haven’t released a full-group track in a year but have debuted several pairs of members with varying sounds and … Continue reading
Girl group HITGS (that’s “Hip, Innocent, Teenager, Girls, Story” for those in the know!) debuted with a kitschy sound that matched their very young ages but have slowly blossomed into a more mature style. Even if this hasn’t yet resulted in memorable music, it points toward potential that could be exciting in the future. Little … Continue reading
After a string of knockout synth pop singles, from20 has reinvented himself as a hyper-sexualized cartoon character. Last year’s Eye Candy and Social established this persona and new single Big Boy takes it even further. These songs remind me of a certain style of early-2000s pop/hip-hop — deliberately silly but also attempting a sort of … Continue reading
AtHeart debuted last summer and have been steadily promoting since. Every song they’ve released so far has been rated in the 7s on this blog, which pretty much sums up my feelings about their music. It’s inoffensive but unmemorable, slotting them within a swath of fifth-gen girl groups without much sonic identity of their own. … Continue reading
FNC Entertainment has this way of tossing out a bunch of acts and waiting for them to stumble into some kind of hit. The promotion rarely feels all that intentional, especially with their bands. AxMxP made a strong debut with a full album, but follow-ups have been less thought out. New single 24 Hours (편의점 … Continue reading
Since debuting early this year, the JYP-adjacent dodree has gained interest due to their blend of historical and modern sounds. This leveraging of traditional elements isn’t new to K-pop, but it’s been awhile since we’ve seen a group push so hard into this realm. New single HAWWAH (夏渦) is about what you’d expect from dodree’s … Continue reading
Girl group Primrose haven’t made many waves since debuting, but they’ve got a few solid songs under their belt. Last summer’s Cinema became a staple on my playlist, offering the kind of bright, uplifting pop sound that’s well-suited to the season. New single Cosmic takes the opposite approach, opting for a muted 90s R&B sound. … Continue reading
Kim Jaejoong’s iNKODE label has set itself the ambitious task of debuting two boy groups this year. The already-promoting KEYVITUP are meant to be the hip-hop group while VAYONN are tackling pop. My taste tends to lean in a very pop direction, so I’m curious to see what VAYONN have to offer. Their album is … Continue reading
It’s a day of long-awaited reunions in K-pop. Omega X may not have quite the legacy of Secret, but they’ve been out of the picture long enough to make Uncapped feel like a true comeback. This track brings together only seven of the group’s ten original members but successfully replicates their core sound. Uncapped is … Continue reading
Secret are one of those second-gen groups whose output completely pre-dates this blog. Over the years, I’ve reviewed exactly one of their songs through a retrospective feature, and to be honest their discography has never done much for me. Today, two of the group’s members (Hyosung and Jung Hana) have reunited alongside new member Yebin … Continue reading
USPEER debuted seventy-eight years ago and remained one of K-pop’s most confounding one-hit wonders. Okay… that might be a slight exaggeration. They actually debuted one year ago before dropping off the face of the earth as WM Entertainment underwent a major re-shuffling. The group now finds themselves under MW Entertainment (ran by former WM CEO … Continue reading
Dropping one letter (and parentheses) from your group name shouldn’t be too big of a deal, but since rebranding as i-dle, the former (G)I-DLE has seen their chart powers diminish. It’s too early to tell if last year’s results were a fluke or not, but it makes their upcoming album feel like an important fork … Continue reading
Girl group Navillera debuted early this year with the rough-around-the-edges No Limit that built itself upon way too many current K-pop tropes. With follow-up Friday Night, they’ve returned with a bad song dressed up in an upbeat, summery style I tend to enjoy. This results in a very weird listen. First off, it’s been awhile … Continue reading
I last wrote about GOT7’s Jay B in late 2024. He was fresh off military service and releasing his first full album. Since then, he’s been touring and signed with new agency 528Hz. Today’s Layback offers a new sound for his title tracks, though this style of R&B has found a place on his and … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 