What to do with a solo Lucas single in 2024? I’ll let others rant about the moral implications of debuting him as a soloist. I’m very good about separating the artist from the art. As a rabid Michael Jackson fan, that’s become a necessity! As always on this blog, I’d like to focus on Renegade … Continue reading
Bang Yongguk’s solo music can be hard to pin down. I often classify him as an artist who mixes rock and rap in evocative, moody ways. But then a song like Movimiento comes along. Bucking expectations, this track brings Yongguk to the dancefloor. A club beat runs under nearly every moment of Movimiento, tying his … Continue reading
The extended “LOONAverse” continues to fracture and expand since the initial group’s dissolution last year. Some members have become a new act called Loossemble, Chuu’s gone solo and five more (JinSoul, HaSeul, Kim Lip, HeeJin, and Choerry) have signed with creative director Jaden Jeong to form ARTMS. This new group doesn’t officially debut until the … Continue reading
Of all the new girl groups debuting this week, I was most looking forward to Candy Shop. This is more to do with the song production of K-pop legend Brave Brothers than anything else. Candy Shop is his agency’s first new girl group after Brave Girls (now BB Girls) departed last year. The only thing … Continue reading
“New K-Pop Girl Group Week” rolls on with the debut of UNIS. They were formed through SBS reality show Universe Ticket and include members of Cignature and PRIKIL (a J-pop group). They’re a “project group,” which presumably means they’ll only promote for a limited time. That makes the quality of their music all the more … Continue reading
SM Entertainment is in full swing this week, releasing a new NCT Dream mini album yesterday and a new single from K-pop legend BoA today. New BoA music is always something to celebrate, even if her promotions are usually more subdued these days. The sound of new single Emptiness (정말, 없니?) echoes this approach, harnessing … Continue reading
I don’t know why the name “ME:I” makes me giggle, but it does. It sounds like something you’d come up with from a random K-pop name generator. In fact, ME:I are a J-pop act, formed through the latest season of Produce 101 Japan. But like their predecessors JO1 and INI, they’re essentially a Japanese act … Continue reading
n.SSign have promised three title tracks from their newest album, and they seem to be spreading them out. Funk Jam arrives over a month after they started promoting Happy & (a song that grew on me a lot, by the way). When I first saw the album’s track list, the combination of the words “funk” … Continue reading
Last time we heard from The New Six, they were kicking it old school with the upbeat Kick It 4 Now. That track leveraged nostalgia to its advantage, melding new jack swing beats to catchy hooks. But this being K-pop, we can’t simply build on a good thing. New single Fuego offers a completely different … Continue reading
Super Junior-D&E haven’t even made their comeback yet, but it’s already embroiled in controversy. Title track GGB will not be performed on music shows after its title was deemed derogatory toward women. Honestly. I had to look up what “GGB” means before I realized that the real issue likely stems from the Korean version of … Continue reading
Purple Kiss have had a somewhat disjointed singles run so far, swerving from one sound to another in shifts that can often feel drastic. My most played song (Autopilot) isn’t a title track at all. I’d love to hear that kind of synth-powered melodic showcase promoted with videos and performances. Instead, we have the trendy, … Continue reading
Apink’s Kim Nam Joo made her solo debut in 2020 but hasn’t released new material since then. Sticking with the monosyllabic b-word pattern of past track Bird, she’s returned with new single Bad. It’s a mix of blazing potential and crushing frustration. When it comes to girl group material this year, there’s been a persistent … Continue reading
Boy group Xodiac are coming up on their first year anniversary this April, and what better way to celebrate than a pleasant pop track with the airy ease of a fan song? Longtime readers will know I usually equate “pleasant” with “boring,” and this really comes down to time management. If I only had five … Continue reading
Way back in 2001 when reality TV was still in its infancy, the American iteration of manufacture-a-pop-group series Popstars resulted in the formation of girl group Eden’s Crush. Over two decades later, they’re most notable for introducing Nicole Scherzinger (of Pussycat Dolls fame) to the world. But a select few of us millennials still remember … Continue reading
It’s taken awhile, but artists and agencies have figured out how to keep momentum going as idols make their mandatory military enlistment. It used to be unheard of to deliver “new” content during these extended hiatuses, but now it’s become commonplace to record music and even videos for future release during enlistment. ONF managed to … Continue reading
YooA’s 2020 solo debut was a slam dunk, unveiling a unique musical scope and vision that complimented her work with Oh My Girl while pushing into new territory. Since then, she’s switched things up in increasingly generic ways and I’ve struggled to connect with her title tracks. Rooftop is another sonic shift, with one foot … Continue reading
Though seemingly benign in its silliness, the phrase “doo doom chit” has big shoes to fill. It recalls memories of the colorful Crayon Pop — a goofy pop act with the songs to back up their gimmickry. K-pop’s girl group trends don’t exactly favor this style at the moment, and could do with a bit … Continue reading
Fantagio Entertainment’s new boy group LUN8 has had an oddly fractured debut roll-out. They emerged late last spring and then followed their title track with a sub-unit release in the fall. New single Super Power marks their first official comeback as a full group, and sounds very little like any of the tracks they’ve released … Continue reading
Red Velvet’s Wendy has already established a successful solo career, but it’s existed mostly through ballads that suit her strong vocal power and expression. For new single Wish You Hell, she’s embraced an edgier sound that feels more in line with her group material. As suggested by its title, Wish You Hell slots firmly within … Continue reading
It’s been a long musical hiatus for dance diva Chungha, during which her contract with MNH Entertainment expired and she moved to Jay Park’s label More Vision. Eenie Meenie is the first taste of this new era, and she’s brought along a familiar face to kick things off. Eenie Meenie features ATEEZ’s Hongjoong, instantly raising … Continue reading
