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
BTS members’ enlistment-era comebacks have been so meticulously planned that they even incorporate pre-release singles and music videos. Jimin returned late last month with the quirky Smeraldo Garden Marching Band, a song that sounded nothing like he’d ever recorded before. In contrast, title track Who sees him take on a more conventional dance pop role. … Continue reading
Stray Kids seem poised to dominate the second half of July with the release of new album Ate alongside a track on the sure-to-be-blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine movie. That corporate synergy even extends to the music video for title track Chk Chk Boom. Of K-pop’s many global successes, Stray Kids are at the tip top … Continue reading
I never know whether or not to write about K-pop’s CF songs. You can’t really approach a commercial advertisement with the same criteria as a title track, yet as a piece of music these songs often follow the same approaches as other K-pop songs and occasionally eclipse them. TXT’s Open Always Wins is a collaboration … Continue reading
We hear more Mamamoo solo releases than group comebacks these days, which isn’t surprising given their standing as a veteran idol act. These solo tracks tend to be quite varied — both in sound and execution. Moonbyul impressed earlier this year by swerving in new directions, while Solar delivered both the expected and a sonic … Continue reading
Fresh off their pre-release Burn It, FTIsland are back with the title track of their seventh (!) album. This is a band firmly in control of their sound — an established pillar in the industry. To my mind, this confidence makes the perfect excuse to experiment with new approaches, but Serious sees them delivering a … Continue reading
When BADVILLAIN made their debut last month, that self-titled track captured me with its symphonic bombast. However, it quickly did a nose dive on my playlist, proving that exciting production can only take you so far when the song itself is mostly just shouty posturing. I’m (im)patiently waiting for the day a new group can … Continue reading
Nine years into their career, Twice continue to straddle the line between various music markets, frequently releasing work in Korea, Japan and internationally. New single Dive heralds their latest J-pop album, hinting at a more mature summer sound. Twice have released their share of bangers in Japan, often mirroring the soundscapes present in their Korean … Continue reading
Today has delivered several new summer tracks and GOT7’s main vocal Youngjae is here to offer something a little more subdued and groovy. Rather than the soundtrack to a beach party, T.P.O feels like the song you’d play on the way home as the sun is setting. With this as a mission statement, T.P.O is … Continue reading
Taeyeon’s To. X became a long-lasting hit on Korean charts, proving her continued dominance even sixteen years into her career. To tide fans over between albums, she’s dropped digital single Heaven. Its frothy disco pop sound is worlds away from To. X‘s downbeat confessional. I’ll admit this right away: I’m tired of this chill, vanilla, … Continue reading
While there have been plenty of great title tracks so far this summer, we haven’t heard many that are explicitly themed to the season. (G)I-DLE are here to fix that with new single Klaxon (클락션). Following 2020’s DUMDi DUMDi, the girls are back with another summer track that hearkens back to K-pop’s distant past. The … Continue reading
With so many K-pop acts releasing Japanese material this week, CSR’s Higher almost got lost in the shuffle. But a day late, it’s time to feature the song. This quickly follows their latest Korean comeback, released only a few weeks ago. If ever there was a group primed for the Japanese market, it has to … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 