Days after pre-releasing Wicked Love, Yena has made her official comeback with Hate Rodrigo. The title of this song has stirred plenty of online chatter. Is she dissing Olivia Rodrigo? Is this a loving reference? Did Olivia herself have a hand in it? I have to give it to Yena’s team. They know how to … Continue reading
SHINee’s The Feeling has blossomed into an early summer highlight, buoyed by the group’s heavenly vocal blend and the song’s driving energy. I’m very thankful for its existence, and will be positioning it as the official title track in the blissful (deluded?) alternate reality I’ve constructed around SHINee’s new album. Unfortunately, the album’s actual title … Continue reading
Before making her official comeback next week, Yena has pre-released the album’s final track Wicked Love alongside a dance-heavy music video. The song is a hard swerve from the bubbly pop that’s characterized most of her solo discography so far. I’ll never complain about getting extra material, but Wicked Love doesn’t excite me about the … Continue reading
The full title of this song review looks like a mathematical equation, revealing the complicated nature of the sprawling tripleS project. Touch+ is a b-side track from sub-unit +(KR)ystal Eyes, featuring member Sohyun who will be part of upcoming sub-unit LOVElution. Make sense? All these parentheses and plus signs belie the fact that Touch+ is … Continue reading
LUN8’s debut mini album is pretty strong, but opening track Voyager sticks out like a sore thumb. Not only is it my least favorite song, but it sounds like it’s pulled from a completely different project than the rest of the material. I’m curious why Fantagio decided to promote it with a music video. Despite … Continue reading
It’s amazing what can be accomplished when the shackles of a big agency like YG Entertainment are thrown away. In just a couple of months, iKON members have released a full album and solo tracks/features. This is lovely to see, especially with so many years of infrequent comebacks. Lead vocalist Jay (also known as Jinhwan) … Continue reading
GreatGuys’ new music video opens in a roller rink, so you know my interest is already piqued! I love a bright boy group track that’s roller-rink-ready, and Luv Luv Luv fits that template to a tee. It’s driven by tropical synth squiggles and a dance beat that (mostly) stays focused and steady. However, this is … Continue reading
Twice’s first promoted sub-unit Misamo debuts not with a Korean release, but a J-pop song. This is a little surprising, especially since the mellow Marshmallow seems suited to Korean tastes. But when you realize who’s involved in this unit, the decision couldn’t be clearer. Misamo gives the group’s three Japanese members a chance to shine … Continue reading
Like many groups from smaller agencies, DKB has diversified their audience by touring extensively overseas. Their smooth, hip-hop inspired sound holds big international appeal, but new single I Need Love takes them in a direction more suited to the dancefloor. There’s a great song packed in here, but the structure and production seem intent on … Continue reading
Good old VAV! I haven’t written about them in nearly three years. It’s good to see the group back. Their discography has varied so much in sound, from the early funk-pop days to their latter experiments with darker moods. New single Designer brings the guys back to the Latin-inspired style they’d adopted in 2018-19. They … Continue reading
In a summer stuffed with second-gen comebacks, it seemed EXO might be left out of the rush. There’s been a ton of legal drama behind the scenes, potentially sidelining their planned return. But according to reports, we’ll be getting a new studio album after almost four years. Before its title track drops in a few … Continue reading
I’ve got lots of love for a big, dumb EDM chorus. Bonus points if the lyrics instruct you to jump or throw your hands in the air like you just don’t care. When attached to an excellent song, these hooks can transform from cliché to transcendent. I wish P1Harmony’s Jump was such a song. There … Continue reading
I’ve listened to ENHYPEN’s newest album exactly one time — a far cry from playing Manifesto: Day 1 into the ground last summer. Apart from a few sparks of energy, the album is mostly composed of languid mid-tempos. Sacrifice (Eat Me Up) falls squarely into that category. It’s nearly a minute longer than title track Bite … Continue reading
NCT’s Taeyong has released solo work before, but today marks the debut of his first solo album. I’m surprised more NCT members haven’t promoted as soloists. After all, there are so many guys to choose from! To be honest, I didn’t have high hopes for Shalala (샤랄라). Taeyong’s moments in NCT’s tracks tend to drive … Continue reading
Last time MCND made a comeback, they pre-released a track that turned out to be even stronger than the actual single. I’m not sure if Pop Star portends an eventual comeback, but it’s always nice to hear from the group. If you liked BOYNEXTDOOR’s recent trio of tracks, Pop Star should work for you too. … Continue reading
Wow, it’s been a loooong time since I’ve written about a new single from Zhoumi. He picked a hell of a day to make a long-awaited comeback with SM Entertainment! I can’t help but feel bad for the guy. New single Mañana pairs him with Super Junior’s Eunhyuk, a member he used to work with … Continue reading
The Boyz’ Japanese discography includes some of their best and worst material. New single Delicious leads their upcoming album and splits the difference between these extremes. It’s unlikely to inspire much excitement, but its laidback groove won’t ruffle many feathers either. When first watching this video on YouTube, the algorithm immediately played the chorus of … Continue reading
BOYNEXTDOOR have approached their debut in a similar way to NewJeans, releasing a series of songs and music videos in the lead up to their single album. It’s an exciting way to unveil new talent, though the rollout hasn’t felt nearly as buzzy this time around. After a strong opening salvo, I was less impressed … Continue reading
AB6IX offered an sleek, fashionable vision when they first debuted in 2019, but as the years have gone on I’ve struggled to maintain excitement in their music. Part of this is down to lack of consistency. They’ve struggled to maintain a definable sound and musical perspective, which makes a lot of their work feel generic. … Continue reading
The most notable aspect of CIX’s Save Me, Kill Me is its music video, which brings back the “drama storyline” approach many older K-pop mvs used to favor. It’s angsty and over-the-top and grabs attention. Unfortunately, this drama needs a better soundtrack. Save Me, Kill Me is a real slog. It’s like BTS’s I Need … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 