The members of EXO are busy this month, as leader Suho follows D.O. with his own solo release. As has become common lately, he’s kicking off promotions with a pre-release track. Cheese keeps things in the SM family, enlisting Red Velvet’s Wendy for guest vocals. This frothy pop-rock track feels as if it would be … Continue reading
I don’t watch many audition series anymore, but I did catch the latest season of JYP’s Nizi Project last year. I chose to watch it because I find J.Y. Park a fascinating and highly entertaining TV personality, but of course I grew to like the guys of NEXZ as well. Following in NiziU’s footsteps, they’re … Continue reading
Similar to its effect in Korea, the Japanese version of Produce 101 spreads its tentacles far and wide throughout the industry. Not only do participants end up in a variety of unaffiliated groups, but the show itself spawns multiple acts. Months after the debut of winning group ME:I, the runners up have made their debut … Continue reading
Alongside their full-group comeback Maestro, Seventeen’s specialized units are also releasing music videos for their new songs. Following the hip-hop team’s LALALI comes the performance team’s Spell. My favorite unit tracks often emerge from the performance team, but given the nature of their specialty these songs also tend to benefit from an accompanying visual. Spell … Continue reading
It’s been reported that NCT’s Mark is gearing up for a solo album release in early 2025, which has to be the earliest comeback announcement (rumor) in K-pop history. Before that, he’s dropped digital single 200. It follows the experimental bent of previous track Golden Hour and embraces a new sonic palette. No one in … Continue reading
Yesterday’s Supernova was a fantastic return for aespa and hopes are high that their upcoming title track Armageddon will be even better. Between these two behemoths, the group has unveiled a surprise music video for album b-side Long Chat (#♥). You really have to see this video to believe it. If my review focused on … Continue reading
JYP groups have always achieved great success in Japan and that has expanded to the agency’s very own J-pop acts NiziU and NEXZ. ITZY haven’t had quite as many promotional opportunities in this market as their agency peers, but new single Algorhythm continues their push. For me, the most notable aspect about Algorhythm is its … Continue reading
I write about a ton of K-pop songs — often several a day. I have a pretty good memory for music, but there is definitely a subset of tracks I can’t recall weeks (or days… or even hours…) after hearing them. That category is growing as K-pop melodies flatten and new groups become ubiquitous. WHIB … Continue reading
ENHYPEN’s Fatal Trouble is part of a “special album” tied to their Dark Moon storyline. This series comprises music videos, webtoons and web novels. It may be lost on those of us who are casual fans, but these days every K-pop group needs to have lore and ENHYPEN’s apparently includes vampires, werewolves and blood alters. … Continue reading
ZEROBASEONE’s jubilant Sweat premiered a few weeks too early to fully capitalize on the summer season, but offered a taste of the upbeat energy the group would pursue on their new album. Title track Feel The Pop retains an upbeat sense of joy, but tempers the intensity by returning to the muted palette of their … Continue reading
We are now four tracks into ARTMS’s debut album and my song ratings remain fixed in the “7’s.” I’m beginning to suspect their sound may not be for me. New track Air is unlikely to overhaul that, but we’re getting a little closer! Air is underlined by a percolating beat with touches of brass and … Continue reading
For awhile, there was some question whether BTS members would enlist in the military, given the breadth of their achievements and the valuable soft power they’d developed for South Korea. The enlistments ended up happening, but the music still flows during their hiatus as RM becomes the latest to release “new” material without being able … Continue reading
Somehow, Charlie Puth has become a go-to K-pop collaborator. He romped around with BTS’s Jungkook in 2022 and now he’s coaxed Stray Kids out of their typical hard-hitting style to craft something slinkier and understated. I enjoyed most of Charlie Puth’s 2018 album Voicenotes, but he’s also written a fair amount of songs that are … Continue reading
Alongside their full group comeback Maestro, Seventeen’s specialized units are also releasing music videos for their new songs. First up is the hip-hop team with LALALI. I’ve become increasingly weary of song titles that are little more than a series of “la las,” but this sub-unit has delivered surprises before. LALALI makes boisterous use of … Continue reading
BTOB’s Yook Sungjae has found great success as an actor and variety star, but hasn’t been as active as a solo musician. He made his solo debut in 2020, weeks before his mandatory military enlistment. Four years later, he’s back with a new single album and title track Be Somebody. Sungjae has a powerful voice … Continue reading
I considered relegating &TEAM’s Samidare to my J-pop round-up on Sunday, but the group is notable enough to K-pop fans to warrant at least a mini-review. After all, they’re the guys who gave us last year’s double whammy of Firework and Dropkick — both of which were 2023 highlights. As far as HYBE boy groups … Continue reading
Gosh, remember UP10TION? Their peak era seems much further in the past than it actually is. The group delivered a bunch of bangers and will eternally be part of my summer playlist with the classic Tonight. While promoting in the group, Lee Dongyeol went by the name Xiao. Now, it’s finally time for him to … Continue reading
“Baekho and BIGONE” sounds like the name of a really inappropriate sitcom, but it’s actually a pairing of two distinct artists. On paper, this collaboration feels very unexpected. How does the slinky idol pop of an ex-Nu’est member meet the rambunctious rock of an indie startup? They’re not even from the same agency, so I’m … Continue reading
It’s been awhile since we’ve heard from KARD’s BM. I haven’t written about his solo music since January 2022, but he’s back with a new track and a new collaborator. Nectar features Jay Park — a suitable sparring partner and likely inspiration for the future of BM’s work. Nectar feels equally indebted to both artists. … Continue reading
A week ago, EXO’s Doh Kyung Soo (D.O.) pre-released the fluffy pop track Popcorn, hinting that his new album might have a more upbeat twist to it. Title track Mars fulfills that promise, transferring the gentle, coffeehouse appeal of his music to a sprightlier sound palette. Mars is still very much within the “easy listening” … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 