Several years after debuting as a soloist, former-LOONA member and actress/variety star Chuu has released her first full album. Full albums are meaningful for K-pop artists for a number of reasons, allowing them to craft a larger body of work and usually proving some level of longevity. Title track XO, My Cyberlove gives listeners the … Continue reading
H1-KEY quietly released one of my favorite songs and albums of last year with their summery Lovestruck EP. Now, they’re back to celebrate their anniversary with a very different sound. Not Like A Movie (세상은 영화 같지 않더라) takes advantage of their strong vocals but doesn’t do much else that feels notable. Mid-tempo tracks like … Continue reading
New boy group project idntt got a lot of attention last year, but I struggled to hear anything in their music that set them apart from their peers. Still, they have some notable producers attached to their songs and their large, ever-shifting configuration is interesting. However, I head into any song called “Pretty Boy Swag” … Continue reading
It feels like it’s been ages since I last wrote a proper song review. In reality, it’s only been a week, but when you’re used to doing this every single day a week can feel like a year. Soon it’ll be January and the K-pop industry will whir back to life, but before that we’ve … Continue reading
Even by K-pop standards, it’s been a barren December. For the first time in forever, I don’t know how I’ll do a “monthly round-up” at the end of the month because there hasn’t been a single song I’ve played much after reviewing it for the blog. In a perfect world, Monsta X’s Joohoney would arrive … Continue reading
Zico has returned with a duet project, which isn’t unusual for him. Most of his recent success has been through pairings with female artists. Duet links him up him with YOASOBI’s Ikura (credited as Lilas) and straddles the line between K-pop, J-pop and global pop. In other words, it should be right within my wheelhouse! … Continue reading
BABYMONSTER tend to wring the most they can from each album, promoting several songs with music videos long after the actual comeback has occurred. Their promotions move into a third month with Supa Dupa Luv, the latest release from their We Go Up mini album. On the plus side, it’s nice to see a variety … Continue reading
Even before EXO make their long-awaited return next month, the comeback has been plagued by controversy. The entire group isn’t participating, with key members sidelined due to contractual issues with SM Entertainment. Because of this, it’s hard to be totally excited about what’s in store, but the promotion machine continues to chug along regardless with … Continue reading
Just yesterday, I wrote about a solo track from Infinite’s Sungyeol but did so mainly out of loyalty. The song itself did very little for me. Flash forward twenty four hours and we’re in the exact same boat. This time, it’s the solo debut (!) from one of Golden Child’s main vocalists, Choi Sungyun — … Continue reading
Sadly, it’s been a long time since I’ve been interested in any Infinite-related music. If you would have shown me that statement a decade ago I would’ve been shocked, but their newer material just hasn’t lived up to the potential we know they have. However, as a longtime fan I still feel loyal to the … Continue reading
In addition to his career as a singer, Daesung has continued to be a reliable variety star — especially with his own YouTube series. This takes advantage of his jovial side, which wasn’t always allowed to flourish as part of his group’s more serious hip-hop work. After a serious comeback of his own earlier this … Continue reading
It’s time to say “farewell, for now” to NCT’s Doyoung. He enlisted yesterday, alongside fellow member Jungwoo. And like Jungwoo, he’s released a parting gift for fans in the form or a digital single. Unfortunately, he won’t be promoting this on music shows but Promise (늦은 말) still stands as a welcome balm for those … Continue reading
Cha Eunwoo’s recently released Saturday Preacher was the rare song review on this blog that garnered absolutely no engagement (ie: comments) from readers. That tells me something, and it’s a contrast I’ve long suspected: Cha Eunwoo the actor and variety star? Mega success. Cha Eunwoo the solo singer? Pleasant but uncompelling. It also tells me … Continue reading
This business of finally releasing your solo debut days before you enlist in the military is kind of frustrating, right? It’s like, “Here’s all this potential. Now, buh-bye!” NCT’s Jungwoo was a late addition to the group, yet his age (and of course, nationality), means he’s next in line for an enlistment hiatus. Before that, … Continue reading
The K-pop industry continues to churn out new generations of bands, which is refreshing in a global market where rock music isn’t often at the forefront. THE SSYNDROME are most notable through association. They’re the first act since Dreamcatcher to come from Dreamcatcher Company. Their ‘double S’ name also suggests that you must make a … Continue reading
What we now know as modern K-pop emerged at a time when new jack swing was a dominant musical force around the world. This has tied the genre to the industry ever since, with so many idol acts replicating the sound over the years. One of the earliest new jack swing successes was duo Deux, … Continue reading
In keeping with their enormous group configuration, tripleS have blitzed us with an equally enormous fleet of comebacks today. “msnz” is a “universe” within tripleS (their words, not mine) with four “dimensions,” each of which has released their own song and music video. I rarely have enough stamina to write about four tracks from even … Continue reading
In keeping with their enormous group configuration, tripleS have blitzed us with an equally enormous fleet of comebacks today. “msnz” is a “universe” within tripleS (their words, not mine) with four “dimensions,” each of which has released their own song and music video. I rarely have enough stamina to write about four tracks from even … Continue reading
In keeping with their enormous group configuration, tripleS have blitzed us with an equally enormous fleet of comebacks today. “msnz” is a “universe” within tripleS (their words, not mine) with four “dimensions,” each of which has released their own song and music video. I rarely have enough stamina to write about four tracks from even … Continue reading
Whenever a group I enjoy states they’ll be releasing a song that “sounds nothing like anything we’ve done before,” I get nervous. Yes, I want groups to push outside the box and experiment with new sounds, but in K-pop “nothing like we’ve ever done before” tends to mean attempting some (bad) global trend an agency … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 