Brave Entertainment’s in-house groups continue to baffle me. Brave Brothers is one of the best producers in the business, capable of churning out epic dancefloor fillers and supercharged pop classics. Yet, he rarely gives his strongest material to his own groups and promotion continues to be a struggle. I doubt many people even realize rookie … Continue reading
I was concerned when GHOST9’s new digital single didn’t include any music video teasers, making it feel more like one of those throwaway “for the fans” releases than a full comeback. Now, Awesome Day (째깍째깍) arrives with a low budget “lyric video” — never the most encouraging sign for a group’s future. The song itself … Continue reading
When the members of Kara embarked on solo careers, Nicole most reliably stuck with producers Sweetune. This instantly gave me a soft spot for her music. If you’re a fan of that production team, she’s got a few Sweetune bangers on her 2016 Japanese album Bliss. But times change and new management has brought new … Continue reading
Han Seungwoo has been active as a soloist for years now, but I have a hard time recalling any of his music. He’s a polished performer with a great voice. He just needs songs that cater to those skills while leaving behind a hook or melody that resonates beyond the comeback’s short promotional period. Unfortunately, … Continue reading
Sometimes I can be remarkably bad at predicting which songs are going to grow into huge viral hits. When AKMU’s Love Lee was released last year, I found it both dull and cloying — a hard balance to pull off! But thanks to numerous TikTok dances, the song quickly became ubiquitous. I still find it … Continue reading
In between comebacks, A.C.E have often released special singles of various genres. Most of these songs feel more like appetizers than full courses, allowing the group to dabble in different music markets with English-language performances. Supernatural arrives in an English and Korean version. I’ll be linking the Korean version because whenever given the chance that’s … Continue reading
There are a number of K-pop groups from the class of 2018-19 that I’ve fallen out with musically. ATEEZ and Stray kids immediately come to mind, with ITZY and TXT also losing some luster from their peak. Taking a look at my year-end countdown from 2019 depicts an alternate universe where these groups’ music ruled … Continue reading
Though I should know better by now, I’m still surprised at how well BABYMONSTER’s Sheesh has done on the charts — especially given its lukewarm-to-awful reception in many critical circles. This is a good reminder of the sway YG Entertainment still holds over fans, along with the broader fact that disgruntled internet chatter is rarely … Continue reading
As a casual observer, it can be difficult to remember where all the LOONA members ended up after the group’s dissolution. Some became Loossemble while others formed ARTMS. Yves joined neither, though she did have a hand in song composition for Loossemble. Instead, she’s embarked on her own with a new label and new sound. … Continue reading
I don’t always cover Jay Park’s releases on the blog since he’s long since shed the guise of “idol performer,” but it’s worth noting new single Taxi Blurr simply because of its feature. Girl group Kiss Of Life are rapidly gaining popularity, and member Natty has already proven herself a compelling soloist. Taxi Blurr rides … Continue reading
EXO’s soloists each have their own distinct sound, and Chen has become the group’s reliable balladeer. He has the voice to match, and his music scratches a certain sentimental itch that has made it a fan favorite. However, it takes a whole lot for a ballad to stand out on my playlist. When I love … Continue reading
Three and a half years since their debut, aespa have finally released their first full length album. Armageddon is led by two title tracks, the first of which has already become a major hit. Supernova embraced the K-pop maximalism of years past, making many wonder if Armageddon would follow suit. Instead, this track pulls back … Continue reading
It’s been a fraught month for HYBE, with NewJeans unwittingly stuck at the center of their controversies. Very little of this drama has anything to do with the group themselves and everything to do with the chaos swirling around them, but with a seeming cold war brewing between the NewJeans and ILLIT camps regarding plagiarism … Continue reading
Alongside their full-group comeback Maestro, Seventeen’s specialized units are also releasing music videos for their new songs. We’ve already heard from the Hip-Hop and Performance Teams, and now it’s time for the Vocal Team to bring this series to a finale. Sub-unit Seventeen BSS found tremendous success with a cheering song last year, and Cheers … Continue reading
Ex-(G)I-DLE member Soojin made her solo debut late last year with AGASSY — a song high on atmosphere and low on substance. That description could match many K-pop tracks of the last two years or so, and new single Mona Lisa also fits within this realm. Everything about this song feels like a means to … Continue reading
Debuting in 2020, MCND have developed a consistently playful sound. But without a breakout hit, the group has struggled to sell as well as many of their peers. It’s important to forge a signature style, but I wonder if it’s time to try something different. New single X10 echoes many of the same elements of … Continue reading
The J-pop industry is slowly beginning to reach out to international markets, most often with the assistance of K-pop agencies and corporations. XG are one of the most notable avatars of this approach. Yes, they’re an Avex-managed group, but they’re based in South Korea and have been part of global events like KCON. Like many … Continue reading
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
