ONF continue to find ways to remain relevant even when on military hiatus. After releasing a mini album last summer, co-leader and main vocal Hyojin has delivered a winter ballad. Though I’m not generally one for ballads, it’s nice to be reminded that ONF are indeed coming back – sooner than later. The state of … Continue reading
It’s a day of comebacks from ‘girl groups backed by legendary producers.’ While STAYC have Black Eyed Pilseung on their side, TRI.BE’s discography is driven by K-pop legend Shinsadong Tiger. But, this pairing has not been as fruitful as I’d hoped. I haven’t fallen in love with any of their music so far. It feels … Continue reading
Upon reviewing XG’s Shooting Star, multiple readers commented on the merits of its coupling track Left Right. Not being a huge fan of the group’s music thus far, I didn’t check out the b-side. But, now that Left Right has its own music video it’s time to see what all the fuss is about. I … Continue reading
When it comes to Korea and Japan, the difference between release scheduling presents an interesting dilemma for reviewers like myself. With K-pop, I’m usually writing about a song mere hours after it debuted, but J-pop’s extended cycle often allows more time for a track to settle in. There can be weeks — even months — … Continue reading
8TURN are one of two K-pop debuts today. After a relatively sparse 2022, I expect 2023 to be a busy year for boy group debuts. These guys hail from MNH Entertainment, an agency that hasn’t had a great track record. Successful soloist Chungha just announced her departure from MNH while their girl group Bvndit disbanded … Continue reading
Whether I like it or not, context plays a huge role in how I review any new K-pop track. In a perfect world, we could imagine songs being released at different times and under different circumstances, but if you follow the industry as closely as I do it’s impossible to separate trends from a song’s … Continue reading
As we get closer to my monthly round-up for January, I’m desperate for singles to choose as part of my “top three.” For the second month in a row, I’ve got nothing but placeholders so far. The brief music video teaser for Korean-Thai group THE7’s debut seemed promising. A bright, synth-packed funk instrumental? Yes, please! … Continue reading
Aimers debuted late last year with Fight Inside – a song that seemed to win them many fans. I came around to some of its charms (especially the SHINee-esque ones) through multiple listens, but the group hasn’t yet convinced me of their unique place in K-pop. Their all-important first comeback is still ahead of us, … Continue reading
If I were to chart my listening habits over the past month or so, it would look something like: 80% J-pop, 10% Finnish pop (!), 5% American pop and 5% K-pop. Pretty strange for a K-pop blogger, right? That’s a testament to just how stalled the industry has become since November. It’s no surprise, then, … Continue reading
K-pop teasers can be deceptive if you’re not paying close attention. Take a look at the visual teasers for Yesung’s new comeback and you might expect a gritty punk rock track. I’d love to hear him tackle something like this – a song that gives his strong vocals more bite. But beyond the visuals, it … Continue reading
Twice made a convincing English-language debut with 2021’s The Feels. While the language of their lyrics may have changed, the song retained the core elements of the group’s appeal. If an idol group plans to localize for foreign markets, this seems like the way to do it. Sixteen months later and Twice have returned with … Continue reading
One of my favorite GOT7-related projects was sub-unit JJ Project, which consisted of members Jinyoung and Jay B. 2017’s Tomorrow, Today grew into a big standout that convinced me of Jinyoung’s skill with a melody. Six years later and he’s returned as a soloist with his own mini album. Title track Cotton Candy retains elements … Continue reading
We last heard from Cignature in late 2021 when their title track Boyfriend opted for familiar “Top 40” pop tropes that could have been pulled from any global music market. New single Aurora (오로라) returns to a more quintessentially K-pop sound, offering a straightforward take on the bubbly energy that fueled past comebacks like Arisong … Continue reading
Yuehua Entertainment has become known for drastic concept shifts. Both Everglow and Tempest have made major sonic u-turns between comebacks, and now it’s time for soloist Yena to tackle something new. Obviously, it’s beneficial for artists to stretch the limits of their sound and evolve as their career goes on. But during a debut year, … Continue reading
SM Entertainment’s all-star GOT The Beat unit was one of 2022’s most baffling projects. The agency assembled many of its strongest female performers only to debut a single track at the beginning of the year with limited promotions and no real follow-through. Clearly, this unit was never intended to carry SuperM-esque ambitions. I assumed the … Continue reading
As the lines between industries continue to blur, it can be difficult to decide which songs to feature on this blog. Is Henry’s English-language Moonlight *technically* K-pop? Probably not. But, it’s a very slow week for new releases so the song is sneaking onto my review schedule. After all, this is the same Henry that … Continue reading
After a very strong debut year, SixTONES’ musical direction has become quite hit or miss for me. I loved the big rock sound of tracks like New Era and ST and consider them the best overall template for the group’s sound. But, those songs seem to have been left in the past. Since then, I … Continue reading
After months of interconnected releases, OnlyOneOf’s Underground Idol series concludes with Nine’s Beyond. This series vaulted the group onto many of my year-end countdowns, tackling a variety of genres and moods while letting the members showcase their individual charms. For me, Rie’s Because and KB’s Be Free stood as highlights within the series. But, all … Continue reading
Over the past few years, Astro members have been more active in solos and sub-units than full-group comebacks. The most prolific has been the duo of Moonbin and Sanha. It’s hard to believe they’re already on their third mini album! They made a strong debut with 2020’s Bad Idea before embracing more atmospheric material with … Continue reading
After pre-releasing Ditto last month, NewJeans have returned with their first single album. With 800,000 pre-orders, it’s astonishing how quickly this group has gone from complete unknowns to K-pop megastars. I guess it’s the power of several viral hits and HYBE’s intense market force. But as usual, all the popularity in the world doesn’t mean … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 