One of 2024’s biggest success stories was SM Entertainment’s reigning girl group aespa. Going into the year they were already very popular, but the trio of Supernova, Armageddon and Whiplash jolted them to a new level, becoming ubiquitous hits that still have a hold on the charts months later. Rather than return with a brand … Continue reading
Since returning from the military, Wonho’s music seems targeted toward an international market with English-language lyrics and an overall trendy sound. For about two years from 2020 to 2022 he stood as one of the industry’s most reliable artists, releasing a string of bangers. I wish he’d return to that pattern. There’s something deflating about … Continue reading
XODIAC are one of those under-the-radar groups who make far more comebacks than their limited notoriety might suggest. I’m always amazed that an agency like JACSO Entertainment has the funds to promote so often, but then again they’re based in China and financial endeavors in that part of the world are a mystery to me. … Continue reading
Since going their separate ways for solo promotions, no SHINee member has been as musically prolific as Onew. This isn’t what I would have expected based on past history, but he’s been churning out material with great consistency. Next up is summer single Confidence, pre-released ahead of this third full album next month. As you … Continue reading
The guys of 2PM have remained quite active as soloists even if they don’t often release group material these days. Some of their best work has emerged from solo albums, though it’s been awhile since a song has really connected with me. Jang Wooyoung’s Sexy Lady and R.O.S.E still hold great nostalgic memories, and even … Continue reading
P Nation’s first girl group Baby DONT Cry made their pre-debut last week with the predictable but pleasant Bet You’ll Regret It. Now, it’s time for them to unleash their title track. As with much of the promotion surrounding them so far, F Girl‘s provocative title is bound to raise eyebrows. The agency’s goal is … Continue reading
It’s been about a year since I last wrote about girl group VVUP, though I realize I mixed them up with the newly debuted VVS in my mind, assuming they were one and the same. That’s what your insistent acronyms do to us, K-pop! That’s also what forgettable music does, as I can’t remember a … Continue reading
Here’s a little secret about the ratings on this blog, and it may seem counterintuitive. I rarely venture below a “6” on my overall scale, but any song that hits below this mark has a special place in my heart. In fact, I tend to “like” them more than many of the songs rated in … Continue reading
K-pop can often be a microcosm of confusion. The newly debuted BE BOYS have nothing to do with the soon-to-premiere survival series B:MY BOYZ, but you’d be forgiven for making the easy mistake. Up until about a week ago, I assumed the two were one and the same. Instead, this rookie group is the first … Continue reading
It’s been awhile since I last wrote about a solo GOT7 song. Many have passed me by without much fanfare and I simply let them fall by the wayside. However, Yugyeom has some decent solo work to his name and any song whose title beckons me to dance is sure to get my attention (at … Continue reading
It’s a day of pre-releases, as Mamamoo’s Moonbyul joins the fray with a teaser of her new album. She had a very strong slate of 2024 releases, including several standouts in a variety of genres. With this as a comparison, ICY BBY is a definite step down and feels much more indebted to current K-pop … Continue reading
Cube Entertainment’s rookie boy group Nowadays has struggled to gain traction in the market, but it seems the agency is finally ready to give them a push. They’ve been rebranded under the moniker “NOWZ” and given a pre-release track composed by and featuring i-dle’s Yuqi leading up to their appearance at this year’s KCON LA. … Continue reading
Dignity debuted last summer with a fun new jack swing track and an even better b-side that recalled the best of late-second-gen group Block B, landing them on two of my year-end countdowns. But like many rookie groups from small agencies, they swiftly disappeared after that. Almost a year later, they’ve finally returned with new … Continue reading
Of all the former Wanna One members, Kang Daniel continues to be the most musically prolific. Free to do his own thing, he reliably releases new albums every year. Unfortunately, most of this music hasn’t hit me with much force, tending to slide in one ear and out the other. New single Episode boasts a … Continue reading
Mixed gender groups are notoriously difficult for K-pop. Though many have thrived overseas (especially in Japan), the formula often results in quick disbandment in Korea — at least post-90’s. Here to buck that trend are ALLDAY PROJECT, a new five-member group from Teddy’s Black Label. Digital single Famous introduces them to the world with plenty … Continue reading
The first girl group from PSY’s P Nation is set to make their debut in about a week, but as with so many other K-pop rookies they’ve released a pre-debut taster. Bet You’ll Regret It (지금을 놓치면 분명 너 후회할 거야) showcases a possible sound for the group that takes cues from the poppier side … Continue reading
With two members of BAE173 currently participating in other survival series spawned groups, the rest of the members have joined forces with Fantasy Boys (another survival series act) to form project group Double 0ne. In a perfect world, this would “maximize their joint slay,” but despite each group releasing a few tracks I really enjoy, … Continue reading
K-pop has been mired in early-2000s nostalgia for the past few years. In my opinion, the industry has often adopted the most boring musical trends of that era, but occasionally we’ll see a group hijack the iconic production style of Y2K superstar producers Timbaland and The Neptunes. For Seventeen’s newest album, they skipped the middleman … Continue reading
Last month, China partially lifted its nine-year ban on Korean content, including K-pop concerts and releases. This news didn’t receive nearly as much attention as it should have, especially considering the massive effect it may have on the industry. Given this year’s global affairs, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if K-pop agencies pulled resources … Continue reading
Since their Japanese debut in 2020, Stray Kids have amassed a rather large J-pop discography. JYP Entertainment has always been good at keeping multiple markets fed, and Stray Kids’ self-producing status ensures a certain level of continuity between their multi-language catalogs. New single Hollow hails from their upcoming third Japanese mini album and sees them … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 