Initially, I dug my heels in when it came to writing about PLAVE’s music on this blog. As popular as they are, this “virtual” boy band almost feels like a different genre than K-pop. And despite their punchy rock sound, I haven’t found much of their music compelling enough to compensate for the lack of … Continue reading
Earlier this year, ILY:1 transitioned to a funkier pop sound that suited them well. IMMM wasn’t able to sustain its strengths for its entire three minutes, but acted as a runway to what could become a unique sound for the girls. New single illang (Firework) jettisons much of that promise, reverting to a standard summery … Continue reading
I vastly underrated NMIXX’s January title track Dash, which quickly grew on me and just kept growing over the course of the year. When given great material, this group has unlimited potential. However, JYP Entertainment seems intent on throwing the musical encyclopedia at them, trying every angle they can to see what sticks. Pre-release SICKUHH … Continue reading
Beyond the quality of the music, the number one thing that draws me to a newly debuted group is a unique perspective. Many of this new generation’s big names (TWS, BOYNEXTDOOR) have a specific sound and concept that carries even their weaker material. If any agency is poised to replicate this approach, it’s Mystic Story. … Continue reading
Girl group Mimiirose continue their once a year comeback schedule, with The Flowers Swayed (흔들리지 않고 피는 꽃이 어딨어) their first new single since last September’s Flirting. The song sees them towing the line between sparkly synthpop and the more reserved girl group sound that’s been dominating 2024. Choosing between these two influences, my taste … Continue reading
Comparing Fantagio Entertainment’s roll-out of Astro in 2016 and LUN8 in 2023-24 is like measuring a freight train against an old jalopy. Without frequent comebacks, robust promotion or a distinct sound, this group feels nebulous and underappreciated. And to make things worse, the music has rarely been that great. I’m sure LUN8 are very talented … Continue reading
I had the chance to catch Lucy on their recent world tour and they were everything I hoped they’d be: immensely talented, very personable and chock-full of excellent music. But even in that setting, I couldn’t help but notice that their older material hit hardest. Songs like Flare and Snooze have yet to be bettered … Continue reading
Well, this is unique. Prior to his official solo debut album later this month, NCT’s Jaehyun has pre-released two tracks and filmed a music video that teases each of them. I’m not sure how to review what’s essentially a medley, so I’ll take each song one at a time. Dandelion This is billed as the … Continue reading
I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, but Hyolyn has one of those K-pop voices that stops me in my tracks. It’s instantly recognizable and carries so much nostalgia and sentiment. Because of this, I tend to hold her music to an almost impossible standard. I mean, the songs must live up to that perfect voice, … Continue reading
Acts within the extended HYBE universe don’t often lack promotion, but fromis_9 are an exception. Perhaps it’s their late move to Pledis Entertainment or that agency’s history of struggles with girl groups, but fromis_9 have fallen into the dreaded “one comeback a year” pattern. Whenever an artist’s discography starts to dwindle, it becomes vital that … Continue reading
Just a few songs into their career, Catch The Young have displayed a sonic versatility. Their music has a ton of potential, but often feels undercut by limited ambition and hesitant execution. Watching the teasers for Dream It, I hoped the group would return to the 80’s cheese of their debut. Unfortunately, that decade turns … Continue reading
GOT7’s members have gone on to enjoy a variety of solo careers, exploring various fields and markets. Among them, BamBam has had an interesting — if unbalanced — discography. New single Last Parade throws that sense of inconsistency into a single song. It’s at once thrilling and frustrating. Opening with the fanfare of a choir, … Continue reading
“Bang & Jung & Yoo & Moon” is a mouthful of a unit name and balks at K-pop’s love for catchy acronyms, but older fans will likely recognize the (shortened) names as members of boy group B.A.P. They debuted in 2012 and went on to have a rocky relationship with their agency. After defying the … Continue reading
It’s been a busy summer for K-pop acts releasing Japanese music. Xikers is the latest group to venture into this market with the release of their first original J-pop single Tsuki (Lunatic). The song is composed by the usual KQ Entertainment suspects, ensuring continuity with their Korean discography. In fact, it feels like a natural … Continue reading
When this LIGHTSUM comeback was first announced, my immediate thought was: “didn’t they disband?” Obviously, I was getting them confused with another group (probably Cherry Bullet), but it says something when a K-pop obsessive like me can’t even remember the status of LIGHTSUM. The group just hasn’t released much material and their long hiatuses make … Continue reading
Someone needs to do a case study on why so many idol soloists debut with the most subdued (ie: dull) material you could possibly imagine. Have they been so beaten down by the maximalist needs of K-pop’s idol group system? Are they under the impression that — above all else — they must show some … Continue reading
After their group reunion, the members of Infinite continue to pursue solo careers. Most of these releases have been well within their comfort zones, and for L that means gentle acoustic pop. His new album actually features a tropical dance track, but I would have been shocked if he had promoted something with that kind … Continue reading
Mystic Story has become known as a creative, slightly left-of-center agency, home to quirky girl group Billlie, the violin-powered idol band Lucy and K-pop’s original sonic rulebreakers Brown Eyed Girls. Now, it’s time for a more traditional boy group with the soon-to-debut ARrC. Before their official unveiling next month, they’ve teased us with pre-release Dummy. … Continue reading
I first wrote about XG’s Undefeated as part of my weekly J-pop round-ups back in April and I wasn’t too impressed. A few months later, the group has added a performance video to the song’s promotion, offering imagery beyond Valorant video game animations. Like many of XG’s hip-hop tracks, Undefeated opts for a trap beat, … Continue reading
Sometimes songwriters do my job for me. If you’re going to call a song “Gibberish,” it had better buck expectations by not being the latest in the long line of ‘K-pop boys mumble and growl random things for two and a half minutes.’ Going into this track, I didn’t exactly have my hopes up. The … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 