Idol rock band 2Z debuted earlier this year, and although I never wrote about their song My 1st Hero, I thought it was a fun 90’s throwback that stood out within the idol group landscape. Now, 2Z have returned with their first comeback, upping the intensity for the pounding Doctor. I’m not sure it’s the … Continue reading
I’ve noticed an emerging girl group trend that perches aegyo vocal performances over retro-inspired instrumentals that are much more interesting than the song they support. Just last month, Cignature’s ASSA and GWSN’s Bazooka suffered more from their groups’ delivery than the underlying production. I don’t think this is the fault of the girls themselves, but … Continue reading
In an all-too familiar K-pop template, Astro’s increasing success has come with a shift in their music. Their once bright, energetic style has dulled to a generic, moody haze – the likes of which are peddled by so many other boy groups of this era. This transformation started with 2018’s excellent Always You, but took … Continue reading
In a perfect world, Oh My Girl would have had a big, Remember Me-style comeback track waiting to be released just after their successful run on last year’s Queendom. Maybe their agency didn’t expect them to do as well as they did, but waiting nearly six months to capitalize on their boosted profile seems like … Continue reading
I’m surprised at how long this Pepsi CF campaign has hung around. Though it’s officially connected to Starship Entertainment, the resulting songs have featured artists from across the K-pop sphere, often completely unrelated to Starship’s roster. Such is the case with Refresh, which pairs Zico with Kang Daniel. I can’t think of a trendier duo … Continue reading
After a couple of pre-releases, Hangyul and Dohyun (H&D) have officially made their post-X1 debut with the release of Soul. If nothing else, the Produce franchise has reignited interest in duos. It’s a unique and challenging configuration for an idol act, but can work if the two personalities and talents are well-aligned. So far, I … Continue reading
My relationship with GOT7’s post-2015 music has been fraught with disappointment and disinterest. However, 2019 reignited some sparks, led by a strong spring mini album and a great fall single in the form of the funky You Calling My Name. It was satisfying to hear the guys tackle something a little more lighthearted in sound, … Continue reading
When it comes to boy group releases, 2020 has been lousy so far. In fact, I looked back at my reviews for the year, and it’s been three whole months since I rated a K-pop boy group title track above an 8.25. That’s kind of staggering, and totally unprecedented when it comes to the history … Continue reading
Despite my initial hesitance, MCND’s Ice Age has slowly become one of my favorite boy group tracks of 2020. Of course, it hasn’t exactly had much competition in that realm, but its goofy charm has been a welcome salve in this era of trap-fueled angst. However, the rest of the group’s debut album was too … Continue reading
After almost six years of music, Winner’s third full album Remember arrives just as the group is set to go on hiatus. It’s also on the heels of member Jinu’s military enlistment, essentially ending this era of Winner. And, what a turbulent, musically diverse era it’s been. The group first debuted with a solid, sophisticated … Continue reading
(G)I-DLE seemed to debut right at the perfect time, finding instant success with a sound that was both trendy and addictive. Their run on last year’s Queendom series only boosted their appeal, spotlighting some of the lesser-known members and painting the group as a do-it-yourself idea bank. The concept of self-producing idol groups is not … Continue reading
When writing about their debut Nun Nu Nan Na, I gave Cignature a lot of flack for an approach that’s plagued too many current girl groups. More often than not, their performance style favored chirpy, infantile affectations rather than robust singing, making their music feel more like a nursery rhyme or playground taunt. Follow-up single … Continue reading
Hong Jinyoung’s new music often seems to arrive as we’re moving into spring, and she’s just the right person to soundtrack that transition. As K-pop’s leading purveyor of trot crossover, her singles are usually upbeat and enthusiastic – two qualities we could certainly use right now. Last year’s Love Tonight veered in a more straightforward … Continue reading
Even in the middle of a global pandemic, Monsta X are reliably churning out new music. Their trilingual career is turning out to be one of modern K-pop’s most prolific. Seriously, hats off to their work ethic. Though to be fair, I’ll bet Wishing On The Same Sky was recorded some time ago. After all, … Continue reading
The scandal and dissolution of MNET’s Produce 101 series has left the guys of X1 in a lurch. While the series’ popular 2017 season buoyed nearly every trainee who was lucky enough to be part of it, the 2019 Produce X aftermath has been far messier. We’ve seen a few winners (Victon, Lee Jinhyuk), but … Continue reading
New boy group TOO has a cool-sounding (and completely ridiculous) name. TOO stands for “Ten Oriented Orchestra,” which makes me imagine some super ambitious, symphonic performance group. In reality, the guys were formed through yet another MNET survival series called World Klass. This show had a heavy presence at last year’s KCON LA, with the … Continue reading
In a double-hitter, two of Wanna One’s most prominent members have released new music this week. Kang Daniel went first yesterday with the slick 2U, and Ong Seong Wu is right behind him with Gravity. So far, Seong Wu’s music has played things down the middle, opting for pleasant, generic fare over more daring material. … Continue reading
Between comebacks, Stray Kids have done a nice job maintaining interest through a series of Mixtape releases. I suppose that’s one of the benefits of self-producing so much of your material. Not all of these tracks have been title track-worthy, and few have felt like actual standouts. But, something is better than nothing, and it’s … Continue reading
After several years of success in Korea, Seventeen made their Japanese debut with 2018’s excellent Call Call Call. Since then, the group has released one J-pop follow-up, which sacrificed Call’s upbeat funk-rock energy for something more in line with their newly “matured” Korean work. New single Fallin’ Flower (舞い落ちる花びら) largely replicates this mood, albeit with … Continue reading
Only three releases in, and rookie group PurpleBeck have gone from having Kim Jaejoong guest star in their music video to releasing a self-filmed, ultra-low-budget product like VALENTi. This downward curve is not unique to new groups from small agencies, but it’s always a bit depressing. After debuting last year with the quirky Crystal Ball, … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 