Hyoyeon’s latest release under her HYO stage name has been classified as “jungle pop.” Jungle is a hybrid sub-genre that first emerged from the heavily-percussive breakbeat hardcore, incorporating elements of reggae, dancehall, funk and several other sounds into a dense, noisy brew that favors repeated electronic loops. That all sounds more interesting than Dessert turns … Continue reading
So… we can all just pretend that last year’s Birthday didn’t exist, right? I know that song has its defenders, but it was an incredibly odd, underwhelming debut for someone with as much hype as Somi. I have my issues with new single What You Waiting For as well, but it actually sounds like the … Continue reading
EXID may have gone on indefinite hiatus, with the majority of its members leaving their agency, but the group has one more project to unveil. Their second Japanese album arrives next month, spearheaded by B.L.E.S.S.E.D. It’s an unconventional swan song for the girls, but when have EXID ever been conventional? Their entire career arc was … Continue reading
Mamamoo’s Hwasa has a really groovy track on her new mini album called Why. It would have made a great single, but she seems intent on embracing a more introspective route this time around. Though it was draped in the trendy musical trappings of this era, title track Maria was essentially a song written to … Continue reading
Given Apink’s continued success, it’s no surprise to see another solo release from Jeong Eunji. So far, her work has hinged on ballads and mid-tempos, but Simple’s summery theme seemed poised to deliver more upbeat fare. AWay certainly has more energy than most of her solo material, though the cathartic pop track still draws from … Continue reading
Dreamcatcher have yet to grace us with a follow-up to February’s excellent Scream, but they’re keeping fans on their toes with a special OST release for online RPG game Girl Cafe Gun. Tie-ups like this are common in J-pop, but not so much in Korea – at least not to the extent that they receive … Continue reading
There was a time when I actively looked forward to a Crush comeback. Songs like Hug Me, Oasis or the (incredible) New Jack Swing b-side Hey Baby pointed toward an artist willing to harness a sense of groove to craft dynamic r&b tracks. But over the past few years, Crush’s work has become synonymous with … Continue reading
It’s been almost a year since we last heard from Pink Fantasy – an alarmingly long hiatus for a rookie group struggling to gain a foothold in the competitive K-pop market. Worse yet, despite sharing the same name, this iteration of Pink Fantasy is actually a sub-unit consisting of only four of the group’s seven … Continue reading
Since their 2019 debut, Dongkiz have been reliable conduits for fun, upbeat pop music. Even though they hail from a comparatively small agency, their comebacks have been surprisingly frequent. Now the group is embarking on a sub-unit project, the first of which sees members Jaechan and Munik forming duo I:KAN for the retro New Jack … Continue reading
It’s been a long time coming, but SM Entertainment has finally given us a Red Velvet sub-unit. Apparently, we still have to wait a bit for the music video, as it has yet to be published at the time of writing this review. And if I’m being picky, I really wish the agency could have … Continue reading
Just the other day, I was going through my old B1A4 albums and realizing just how much I miss their presence in K-pop. Nobody has taken up their bright, quirky mantle. To be fair, they’re difficult to replicate since so much of their material was self-produced, but when Jinyoung comes back from the military I … Continue reading
I’m currently watching Nizi Project at the delayed pace that JYP Entertainment is releasing official subtitles, so I’ve pretty much given up hope when it comes to avoiding spoilers. And with debuting group NiziU releasing their first music video today, whatever shred I may have been clinging onto has completely disintegrated. So, I have surrendered. … Continue reading
The year of Mamamoo solos continues, with Hwasa making a long-awaited comeback. She’s a lightning rod of charisma, and sometimes I think her music relies too strongly on that. She can make anything sound cooler than it is, and if paired with the right song could certainly create something legendary. Last year’s Twit nearly got … Continue reading
As usual, Golden Child gets the “bias group advantage” on this site. This means not only their title track and a buried treasure will be reviewed, but I’ll be taking a look at the entire new mini album Take A Leap. Check back over the next five days, as I tackle the songs one at … Continue reading
I’ve been longing for the return of “funky Seventeen” for way too long now. Their first three years remain unbeatable, offering a steady supply of rollicking, upbeat tracks. These can still be found from time to time within their albums, but the group’s title tracks have steered toward angstier and edgier material for some time … Continue reading
For me, Weki Meki’s discography has been extremely hit or miss. For every Tiki Taka or Picky Picky, there’s a Dazzle Dazzle. Apparently, they love repetitive titles, as well! “Oopsy” might as well be a thinly veiled apology for some of their more regrettable material. In reality, it’s the title of their newest single, and … Continue reading
When it comes to sound and style, Nature have been on a roller coaster. As an under-the-radar rookie, they’re making a lot of the right moves, even if it doesn’t always result in the right songs. What I mean by this is that they’re taking chances. Whatever you might think of them, title tracks like … Continue reading
When we last met rookies AWEEK, they were thrilling us with the brisk dance track Breathe. Though I haven’t returned to that song as much as I would have thought, it still stands as one of 2019’s more refreshing efforts. New single 1.4.3 (Henry says hi!) opts for a brighter sound, delivering the kind of … Continue reading
After an uncertain 2019, IZ*ONE are back on track with the release of their second album this year. Though they’ve flirted with several different production teams, their sound has remained in the same general ballpark. For me, though, they’ve yet to replicate the taut momentum of Violeta. February’s Fiesta had its moments, but was a … Continue reading
It’s hard to believe there was a time when Brown Eyed Girls were gifting K-pop with mainstream blockbusters like Abracadabra and ambitious opuses like Sixth Sense. The group – and its members – has since moved on to more niche material, including a genre-hopping covers album late last year. Solo releases have been infrequent, and … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 