Over the years, it’s become clear that the members of EXO have different musical taste than I do. For a group who has released so many K-pop classics, I haven’t connected to hardly any of their solo work. So often, the music takes a subdued, coffeehouse vibe — whether that be in the form of … Continue reading
I know it’s a placeholder, but “NCT New Team” is still weirdly literal for a group name. These six members form the long-teased Japanese unit of NCT — apparently the project’s final fixed unit. They’re scheduled to debut next year, but Hands Up offers a pre-release tease of what to expect. Fans of the NCT … Continue reading
You may have noticed my hesitancy to feature virtual or animated acts on the blog. In my mind, a company’s focus on this technology only steers them further from putting effort into the songs themselves. Maybe I’m self-flagellating by continuing to approach K-pop for the music. After all, the industry has transformed into a true … Continue reading
I can’t even process Kingdom’s Coup D’Etat without remembering the classic G-Dragon album of the same name. I also get a little self conscious because I can never remember where to place the apostrophe in “D’Etat”. Yes, this is the level of stumbling block I push through to deliver song reviews on the daily. Poor … Continue reading
YOUNITE have struggled to match the pure funk of their pre-debut single, pinballing between genres to no avail. They’ve settled on this light, airy pop sound that’s quite innocuous, and new track Love It (정했어) perfectly illustrates the limitations of this style. In short, writing about Love It is like reviewing air. Every time I … Continue reading
IVE’s singles run has been pretty bulletproof so far, but the lead-up to their first EP has underwhelmed at every step. Starship Entertainment opted to promote three new tracks with music videos, which would be awesome if each one was on the level of an After Like or I Am. Instead, pre-releases Either Way and … Continue reading
The other day, I took a retrospective look at Mamamoo’s debut track Mr. Ambiguous. It was a fun trip down memory lane, but it also reminded me that it’s been years since I’ve really connected to one of their songs. That includes solo work. The ladies are so talented and charismatic, but their recent music … Continue reading
Though we only had a pre-release to go by, I couldn’t find much in last week’s Sure Thing to convince me of 82MAJOR’s potential. It was a nice song, for sure. But these days, K-pop is overstuffed with “nice songs.” Now that they’ve made their official debut, it’s time to see what this group can … Continue reading
After two pre-releases with contrasting energies, boy group POW have finally made their official debut. Judging from their album’s highlight medley, last month’s Favorite (a grower!) sounded like the best they had to offer, leaving title track Dazzling as a curiously subdued pop track. Of course, “subdued” is in vogue this year so I guess … Continue reading
Cube Entertainment’s girl group that’s not (G)I-DLE continues their ‘one comeback a year’ streak. I don’t mean this as a diss to LIGHTSUM — more as frustration with agency’s ability to promote them properly. How are you supposed to develop a fanbase with such infrequent releases? Making matters worse, their ranks are down to six … Continue reading
As the LOONA universe continues to fragment, members are moving on to new things. We’ve seen the return of unit Odd Eye Circle and the debut of Loossemble. Now it’s time for a solo debut from member Chuu. She’s been a fan favorite for years and has a great chance of breaking out as a … Continue reading
Freed from the clutches of YG Entertainment, iKON and its members have a newfound freedom of expression that’s resulting in a wide variety of music. Bobby’s solo work has run the gamut, at times melodic but often combative. f is driven by rock energy, and the punchy guitar makes for an ideal setting for Bobby … Continue reading
A few months ago, (G)I-DLE previewed their first English-language EP with I Do — a synthy, atmospheric slow burn that worked well for the group. That sound didn’t turn out to be an indication of where the EP would go, as (G)I-DLE explores a multitude of genres. The dancefloor drive of I Want That is … Continue reading
Combing through my archives, I was shocked to find the last time I wrote about a Jennie song was way back in 2018 with Solo. That’s pre-pandemic, folks! You & Me marks a welcome return for the BLACKPINK member, though the song has been kicking around for a few months after being performed live. You … Continue reading
IVE’s I Am remains a triumphant 2023 highlight, raising expectations for how the group’s music will evolve. Their new EP will be out in a matter days, and we’ve now heard two of its tracks. Pre-release Either Way wasn’t designed to be a knock-your-socks-off showpiece, but even within its genre I found the song pretty … Continue reading
Boy group POW’s pre-release Favorite has been a grower for me, and judging by their album’s highlight medley it may end up being the strongest track the guys have to offer. But before they make their official debut, POW have delivered another pre-release in the form of Amazing. Like Favorite, Amazing is built upon rock … Continue reading
Looking back at EPEX’s discography, I’ve rarely clicked with their music. They pinball between ultra-bright and ultra-aggressive sounds, making it difficult to get a foothold on their concept. New single Full Metal Jacket is a complete 180 from this spring’s buoyant Sunshower, stuffed to the brim with distorted guitar and combative chants. I’m largely on … Continue reading
Given that this week is Chuseok, there have been way more K-pop (and K-pop adjacent) releases than I’d expected. Even so, today is empty until a trio of soloists return at midnight. Luckily, I missed a song from yesterday. Kwangmin is a member of Boyfriend (now known as BF) — one of K-pop’s most underrated … Continue reading
Though I still wouldn’t call myself a fan, XG’s music has appealed to me more and more as their discography has grown. Last month’s New Dance was a catchy earworm, while GRL GVNG felt like their most convincing hip-hop track yet. After months of pre-releases, their first EP has finally been released alongside the music … Continue reading
The Boys Planet spin-off groups continue to spawn — this time, Japanese style! TOZ consists of trainees Anthonny, Hart, Yuto, and Takuto. During my recaps of the series, I made no bones about my soft spot for quirky Takuto. It became a bit of a running gag but was mostly serious. He’s got his own … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 