Every time I read the word “Xikers,” my mind immediately imagines an exaggerated Scooby Doo-esque character making colorful exclamations like “Zowwwee!” and “Gee willikers!”. That probably says more about me than the group in question. Xikers!! Xikers are the newest act from KQ Entertainment – home to the tremendously popular ATEEZ. With that pedigree, they’ve … Continue reading
Mamamoo+’s pre-release Chico Malo felt like a lateral move for the girls – a song that sits squarely within the group’s recent repertoire. In contrast, title track GGBB brings us back to early-Mamamoo, when the girls vamped over old-school sounds with an almost vaudevillian flair. But while this nostalgia is appreciated, I wish the song … Continue reading
Thus far, IVE have been three-for-three for me, with most recent single After Like standing as one of my favorite songs of 2022. With a full album on the horizon, the group has an opportunity to expand the scope of their music. A pre-release track is the perfect excuse for a new sound, and Kitsch … Continue reading
The laser beams shooting from the ICHILLIN members’ eyes in this new music video made me chuckle. This is probably the kindest thing I can say about their new comeback, but we should never discount an effective visual gag. Honestly, I had to go back to past reviews of ICHILLIN to remember what any of … Continue reading
Sunmi releases new music so infrequently that even an under-the-radar duet like Lights Out (불이꺼지고) fills me with excitement. The song pairs her with popular rapper BE’O, whose performance here is halfway between a rap and croon. That fits the vibe of the track, which is smooth and unbothered by any need to deliver more … Continue reading
Though I’ve found their Japanese work hit or miss, I appreciate that ATEEZ have stuck with their core production team regardless of which music market they’re targeting. Whatever I may think of their discography on a song-by-song level, it’s very consistent. Limitless switches things up by changing composers, though members Hongjoong and Mingi retain writing … Continue reading
To me, sub-unit projects are the perfect opportunity to make a big swerve and tackle a sound we can’t get in the main group. I feel like Chico Malo (나쁜놈) could’ve easily been a Mamamoo track, which is fine except I haven’t enjoyed most recent Mamamoo tracks. Melding traditional Korean elements with trap beats is … Continue reading
I remember being pleasantly surprised when Kim Jaehwan made his solo debut – not because of the by-the-numbers ballad he promoted but because of the breadth of styles he attempted on the b-sides. Since then, I’ve found him to be a compelling voice performing material that feels too middle-of-the-road and safe. That trend continues with … Continue reading
It’s been a week and I’m still recovering from the nursery rhyme assault that was NMIXX’s Young, Dumb, Stupid. Thankfully, it was only a pre-release and new single Love Me Like This will be receiving the bulk of their promotion. At this point, I’m not sure NMIXX’s music will ever be for me, but this … Continue reading
The era of BTS solos continues with Jimin taking the baton as the next member to make his debut. He’s got a pretty good track record of his own, with 2016’s Lie a particular standout. His first mini album is scheduled for release later this month, but he’s dropped pre-release track Set Me Free Pt.2 to … Continue reading
It’s no secret what a huge fan of Golden Child I am. Their music regularly features in my top ten picks of the year and I’ve been championing their excellent discography since its debut. So, I’m not sure what it means when I say that Y’s If I Were The Wind (바람이라면) does little for … Continue reading
Prior to his solo debut in 2020, I had imagined this huge Michael Jackson style career for Kai. Big songs, showstopping performances and tons of theatricality. Reality hasn’t played out like that, as he seems more intent on pursuing vibey tracks that lean further into R&B. This is absolutely fine (who am I to tell … Continue reading
Pixy have undergone quite a transformation in my eyes, moving from noisy drop-style music to funky experimentations that offer a fresh voice in K-pop’s girl group landscape. New single Karma feels like a distillation of all these sounds… for better or worse. It has its standout moments, but they’re undercut by a jarring drop that … Continue reading
Thus far, Yuju’s solo career has played out exactly as I feared it might. Her voice was the anchor to many a great GFriend song, providing a powerful sense of drama worth looking forward to. There’s nothing I love more than a dynamite vocalist tackling a big dance track. But, her ambitions seem to lie … Continue reading
Cherry Bullet have made a habit of returning exactly once a year with a song that gains many admirers but never quite breaks them into a new level of success. This is FNC Entertainment’s fault more than anything. Unless you’re BLACKPINK, you can’t expect much from once-a-year comebacks. The group has been around for four … Continue reading
Though Hwang Minhyun has released solo music while with Nu’est, Hidden Side acts as his official solo debut. He’s also busy as the host (erm… I mean, “star master”) of the currently-airing Boys Planet. His history with Nu’est and Wanna One gives him plenty of industry cache, but I can’t say I immediately picture him … Continue reading
Fifty Fifty’s debut album was a pleasant surprise, offering a variety of styles with consistent songwriting and execution. Title track Higher wasn’t the most instantly engaging choice for promotion, but it endured nicely over time. Its languid energy frames new single Cupid, though the girls have subdued their sound even further this time around. Their … Continue reading
Newly debuted group HAWW’s name stands for “Heal All The World Wide,” and I love them for that. Earnestness is a severely underrated charm, and I’m 100% ready for an idol group to usher in world peace, reverse climate change and ensure economic equality via a cute little pop bop. Of course, I’m being sarcastic … Continue reading
When I first delved into J-pop nearly a decade ago, the easiest entry points were K-pop acts performing in Japanese. They had built-in familiarity, and the acts tended to take a safe approach that complimented their Korean discography. Now that I’m steeped in Japanese music from Japanese creators and performers, I find most J-pop releases … Continue reading
Though they’ve delivered a standout b-side or one-off colab here and there, I haven’t enjoyed a title track from The Boyz since 2020’s The Stealer. I love the guys and think they’re incredibly talented (especially when it comes to performance), but at a certain point that isn’t enough. If an act consistently lacks the kind … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 