Prior to the release of their new mini album next month, the members of Seventeen have embarked upon several offshoot projects. In April, Hoshi and The8 each delivered a solo track. Now, members Wonwoo and Mingyu have teamed up with Lee Hi for the release of Bittersweet. But while the song boasts a powerhouse line-up, … Continue reading
Whenever I see the name woo!ah!, I’m tempted to sing the hook from that old Busta Rhymes track. But, I’m sure that’s just my cranky old self coming through! 90’s hip-hop aside, I can’t say that any of woo!ah!’s tracks have hung around for long on my personal playlist, though I think their last two … Continue reading
It’s been just over a year since we last heard from GWSN, and their new album marks a shift in both sound and collaborators. As someone who has appreciated – but not loved – their past work, I wasn’t too interested in this comeback before hearing the teasers. But, The Other Side of the Moon’s … Continue reading
Last September, Everglow reinvented themselves as retro synth warriors, releasing one of the year’s best songs in the process. La Di Da was immensely satisfying, finding a megawatt melody to match the girls’ always-impressive presence. Their charisma continues to flourish in the newly released First, but the song struggles to find a hook worth raving … Continue reading
I swear, I’m going to keep reviewing these Universe tracks until one completely knocks me out. So in other words… I’ll probably keep reviewing them forever. For those just now jumping onboard, Universe is a K-pop app that promises idol interaction and exclusive material. It’s already enlisted many top idols, releasing original songs and videos … Continue reading
At a certain point, a specific K-pop sound becomes so ubiquitous that it’s difficult to write about with any originality. Such is the case with this blah blah blah, la la la “girl crush” style that has invaded the industry over the past two years. I’m not a fan of this style in general, but … Continue reading
Many fans have wholeheartedly indulged in ENHYPEN’s Carnival, buoyed by the energy of title track Drunk-Dazed. But while I enjoyed the song initially, I’m finding myself less inclined to revisit it as time goes on. Oddly, the aspect that bugged me most upon first listen (its heavy vocal effects) is hardly an issue anymore. Now, … Continue reading
TRI.BE debuted earlier this year, bolstered by the production power of Shinsadong Tiger and EXID’s LE. Though I liked Doom Doom Ta just fine, its legacy has been tied up with the group’s infuriatingly catchy catchphrase: “TRI.BE be da loca!” I find myself chanting it now and again, instantly embarrassed and annoyed. It’s a classic … Continue reading
It seems like all we’ve been doing this spring is watch SM idols enlist in the military. Most have graced us with a final album or single before taking their leave, and SHINee’s Taemin is no exception. Two weeks before enlistment, he’s delivered Advice. This marks his third album in nine months — a staggering … Continue reading
You’d be hard-pressed to find a bigger Sweetune fan than me. And with Han Jaeho and Song Sooyoon making a rare public appearance on web series MMTG last week, I’ve gone down yet another spiral of legendary Sweetune singles. As K-pop’s retro trend flourishes, I can’t fathom why agencies aren’t reaching out to the best … Continue reading
With boatloads of preorders and hundreds of millions of views, there’s no doubt NCT have become SM Entertainment’s new alpha group. And with the announcement (ugh…) of “NCT Hollywood,” their influence will only grow. I wish I could confidently join the bandwagon, but the longer this NCT project advances, the more repetitive it gets. I … Continue reading
Some of my favorite Korean dramas are set within the music industry. And, given K-pop’s natural proximity to K-drama, I’m surprised we don’t see more of these crossover projects. The last one I remember was 2018’s Top Management, which spawned the fictional idol group S.O.U.L. That was such a fun series, and Get Myself With … Continue reading
After an explosion of popularity in the mid 2010’s, powerhouse vocalist Ailee has settled into once-a-year comebacks that highlight her strengths as both a balladeer and a dance artist. Even so, the newer material often lacks the spark that made past hits like U&I and Don’t Touch Me so addictive. Make Up Your Mind is … Continue reading
Super Junior’s Yesung pre-released the emotional ballad Phantom Pain a little over a week ago, and as part of that review I expressed my hope for more upbeat material in the future. I suppose Beautiful Night is as good as we’re going to get when it comes to increased energy. Like his bandmate Kyuhyun, Yesung … Continue reading
(G)I-DLE’s Last Dance is the latest single to be released via the Universe app, a frustrating approach where a song’s full music video is only viewable within the app itself. Despite gathering some big-name talent for these tie-ins, I still have no clue what the Universe app actually is, and have little desire in researching … Continue reading
Super Junior’s Yesung surprised fans with his announcement of a new mini album this week. The initial teaser seemed to indicate he’d be back in less than 24 hours, which would be a quick turnaround even by K-pop standards. But, that timetable ended up referring to a good old-fashioned pre-release. In the K-pop world, pre-releases … Continue reading
Idol band IZ kicked off their career with a series of Sweetune collaborations. Being a huge fan of Sweetune, this obviously caught my eye. But while the pairing resulted in a few good songs, I don’t think it drew upon the strength of either participant. Now, the guys have moved on to self-produced material, forging … Continue reading
Twice albums have become so omnipresent that even a normal hiatus feels endless. It’s only been a few months since the group made their return with Better, but it seems as if they’ve been gone for years. Apparently, we can look forward to a new Korean comeback in June. Until then, we have the Japanese … Continue reading
Though they might not make full-fledged comebacks as frequently as they used to, Apink can always be counted on for an anniversary track. Every April, they release a new song in honor of their debut milestone, and most of these have been upbeat affairs rather than schlocky fan service ballads. Thank You (고마워) keeps this … Continue reading
It’s been nearly seven years since the release of Nu’est’s first full album. That’s the length of the typical idol group contract, and it’s stunning to consider the journey the guys have been on during that time. For the record, I think 2014’s Re:Birth is one of their strongest works, but listening to it now … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 