There was a time when Bae Suzy’s presence felt inescapable in K-pop. As a member of girl group Miss A and a very popular actress, her career straddled multiple facets of the Korean entertainment industry, earning her the title of “The Nation’s First Love.” She’s still a notable presence in dramas, but it’s been four … Continue reading
It seems Astro have entered a phase in their career that favors sub-unit and solo releases. This tends to happen after a group has established themselves, and it’s fun to see the individual members showcase their unique charms. Recent months have seen albums from main vocal MJ and dance/hip-hop unit Rocky and JinJin, but sub-unit … Continue reading
Ha Sungwoon has released quite a lot of solo material, but his new material will see him operating under a new label. He’s recently signed with BPM Entertainment – home to VIVIZ as well. Sungwoon’s You is billed as a “special album,” which usually means no big promotional rollout. And, this style of song doesn’t … Continue reading
K-Pop debuts can be tricky things. At times, they’re the best song a group delivers. Sometimes, they’re the only song a group delivers! But, debuts can also be huge wtf moments in an artist’s career. In this feature, I’ll be looking back at debut songs through the prism of time, re-evaluating how well they hold … Continue reading
DAY6 are the latest act to navigate K-pop’s tricky enlistment-imposed hiatus. With member Jae taking his own leave from the group and Sungjin, Young K and Dowoon all currently serving, that leaves lead vocal/keyboardist Wonpil to pursue solo efforts. Unfortunately, the guy just tested positive for covid, forcing cancellation for most promotions of debut solo … Continue reading
After Changmin’s Japanese solo album last year, TVXQ’s Yunho is up next. The two previously released solo albums in Japan prior to their 2015 enlistment, and Yunho’s is well worth tracking down if you can. I’m forever salty that Bang wasn’t promoted as a single, and hope that the new album will contain something similar. … Continue reading
For me, Mark’s voice is synonymous with NCT’s music. Early on, he was in every unit, bringing a sense of cohesion to the sprawling project. I’m actually surprised he hasn’t released a solo song yet. But with the advent of NCT Lab – a platform for solo works from NCT’s many members – we’ve got … Continue reading
The Universe app really needs to stop releasing these random tracks so I can stop with my tradition of off-kilter reviews. It’s getting harder to come up with new ideas! In short, I appreciate how Don’t Stop pairs ATEEZ with their usual collaborators. It makes it feel less like a cash-in and more like an … Continue reading
It’s been a long time since we heard new music from KARD, and with member J.Seph enlisted in the military it seems we’ll have to wait at least a few more months. After label-mate April’s disbandment, they join rookies Mirae as DSP Media’s only active group. It’ll be interesting to see if the agency takes … Continue reading
For the first time in years, I didn’t cover last month’s MAMA Awards on this blog. Honestly, they were just too boring to write about. But, I did enjoy the Wanna One reunion — even if it was just a medley of their familiar hits. If anything, the members’ post-Wanna One careers have only exemplified … Continue reading
Though Nature aren’t yet well-known to the general public, they’ve amassed a solid discography that hasn’t been afraid to experiment with new sounds. We haven’t heard from them since June of 2020 – a lifetime when it comes to K-pop groups. But, they’re finally back with the boisterous Rica Rica. I’m not entirely sure what … Continue reading
Global music trends are currently in my favor, as sounds shift in directions I tend to enjoy. As always, K-pop is catching up to deliver a wealth of rhythmic, retro-themed tracks. By any measure, I should be jumping up and down and proclaiming this a golden age for the industry. Yet when it comes to … Continue reading
Under-the-radar group Luminous nabbed a spot on my top 2021 rookies list thanks to the strength of debut single Run. Many boy groups use hip-hop as a base for their sound, but Run harnessed the groovier aspects of the genre to craft a song that felt nostalgic yet fresh. Sadly, new single All Eyes Down … Continue reading
Mamamoo’s Moonbyul has been teasing her newest album for weeks, and pre-released the fun throwback track G999 last month. That song hinted at new directions for her music, and Lunatic further fulfills that promise. But while G999 benefited from a laidback groove and focused arrangement, Lunatic feels all over the place. Judging by its title, … Continue reading
I didn’t love BamBam’s solo debut, but his recent duet with Red Velvet’s Seulgi offered a different avenue for his talent. It turns out moody sounds fit him quite well, and that approach continues on new single Slow Mo. The track retains plenty of hip-hop influences, but they’re in service to a gentle, atmospheric melody. … Continue reading
The era of post-GFriend projects is upon us, with Viviz’s debut next month and Yuju’s solo album today. I’m still in shock that the group is no more, but it will be interesting to hear the music they come up with. If Play (놀이) is any indication, Yuju is set to lean into her skills … Continue reading
This should be a good week for Mamamoo fans, as two of its members are releasing solo albums. First up is Wheein, working under her new agency The L1ve. So far, her solo material has trended toward more subdued sounds, though last year’s Water Color found a satisfying groove. New single Make Me Happy (오묘해) … Continue reading
I hadn’t given ENHYPEN’s music much love until last year’s Dimension: Dilemma album, which finally began to carve out a musical niche that didn’t just rehash other HYBE groups. This was most apparent on the album’s rock-influenced tracks like Attention, Please. Given that song’s success, I’m happy to see the guys continue to explore an … Continue reading
BZ-Boys (otherwise known as Blue Zone Boys) have been kicking around since 2019. They debuted under Chrome Entertainment — an agency most famous for quirky girl group Crayon Pop. Unfortunately, lengthy hiatuses have blunted most of their momentum and their material has tended to lean on the generic side. New single Find You (널 찾으러 … Continue reading
Despite counting many fantastic idols among its roster, Omega X’s title tracks haven’t yet connected with me. They’re firmly entrenched in the “noise music” trend favored by many modern boy groups, where “going hard” takes precedence over most other elements. I understand the appeal, but I tend to prefer songs that merge their intensity with … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 