Thus far, BTOB members have experimented here and there with their solo work but never strayed too far from the balladry that’s made them so popular. On past efforts, Lee Changsub has embraced nostalgia, offering his takes on older genres and even newer iterations of older genres. New single Vroom Vroom (부릉부릉) is not a … Continue reading
Xdinary Heroes fans are regularly fed by the band, who must be one of the most prolific acts working at the moment. It feels like new music is always just around the corner, whether that’s in the form of fully-promoted comebacks or drips and drabs of digital singles. New single FiRE (My Sweet Misery) falls … Continue reading
Jeon Somi has returned with what will likely be her only new music this year. Talk about a discography doled out in crumbs! Despite debuting as a soloist all the way back in 2019, she’s never been given more than one single or mini album per year, making it even more important that each and … Continue reading
With ALLDAY PROJECT’s breakout success, co-ed K-pop groups may be having a moment. What better time for KARD to reheat the nachos they created and show the industry how it’s done? However, it’s been a very long time since those nachos felt fresh, as the group has moved from their refreshing tropical sound to a … Continue reading
Girl group RESCENE enjoyed a bit of momentum with last year’s single Love Attack, but their agency has been unable to capitalize on this so far. Title track Glow Up came and went with little fanfare earlier this year, and the buzz around new single Deja Vu also seems to be muted. The public clearly … Continue reading
As 2025 kicked off, BABYMONSTER were still promoting their first album with a series of follow-up tracks. A second album has been promised for this fall (though take that with a grain of salt given YG Entertainment’s track record) and the summer-themed Hot Sauce acts as its opening salvo, released digitally to kick off the … Continue reading
I keep putting “(Victon)” after Han Seungwoo’s name whenever writing about his music, but it may be time to let that tag go. Given the state of the group’s contract renewals, it seems unlikely that they’d be coming back any time soon. Instead, it’s time to focus on solo projects and Seungwoo already has a … Continue reading
Jessi’s career has evolved in stages. There are times when her music is as hot as can be, but also many instances where her celebrity feels on the backburner. I have a huge soft spot for her place in Korean music, as she boasts a fiery charisma that’s different than most idols. It’s always lovely … Continue reading
Leading up to the release of their second EP, Katseye have delivered contrasting charms. Gnarly and Gabriela led us from the bold to the boring, which makes me wonder if there’s a happy medium somewhere in the middle. New track Gameboy doesn’t aim to answer that wonder, choosing instead to echo popular trends for a … Continue reading
One of 2024’s biggest success stories was SM Entertainment’s reigning girl group aespa. Going into the year they were already very popular, but the trio of Supernova, Armageddon and Whiplash jolted them to a new level, becoming ubiquitous hits that still have a hold on the charts months later. Rather than return with a brand … Continue reading
Since returning from the military, Wonho’s music seems targeted toward an international market with English-language lyrics and an overall trendy sound. For about two years from 2020 to 2022 he stood as one of the industry’s most reliable artists, releasing a string of bangers. I wish he’d return to that pattern. There’s something deflating about … Continue reading
XODIAC are one of those under-the-radar groups who make far more comebacks than their limited notoriety might suggest. I’m always amazed that an agency like JACSO Entertainment has the funds to promote so often, but then again they’re based in China and financial endeavors in that part of the world are a mystery to me. … Continue reading
Since going their separate ways for solo promotions, no SHINee member has been as musically prolific as Onew. This isn’t what I would have expected based on past history, but he’s been churning out material with great consistency. Next up is summer single Confidence, pre-released ahead of this third full album next month. As you … Continue reading
The guys of 2PM have remained quite active as soloists even if they don’t often release group material these days. Some of their best work has emerged from solo albums, though it’s been awhile since a song has really connected with me. Jang Wooyoung’s Sexy Lady and R.O.S.E still hold great nostalgic memories, and even … Continue reading
It’s been about a year since I last wrote about girl group VVUP, though I realize I mixed them up with the newly debuted VVS in my mind, assuming they were one and the same. That’s what your insistent acronyms do to us, K-pop! That’s also what forgettable music does, as I can’t remember a … Continue reading
Here’s a little secret about the ratings on this blog, and it may seem counterintuitive. I rarely venture below a “6” on my overall scale, but any song that hits below this mark has a special place in my heart. In fact, I tend to “like” them more than many of the songs rated in … Continue reading
K-pop can often be a microcosm of confusion. The newly debuted BE BOYS have nothing to do with the soon-to-premiere survival series B:MY BOYZ, but you’d be forgiven for making the easy mistake. Up until about a week ago, I assumed the two were one and the same. Instead, this rookie group is the first … Continue reading
It’s been awhile since I last wrote about a solo GOT7 song. Many have passed me by without much fanfare and I simply let them fall by the wayside. However, Yugyeom has some decent solo work to his name and any song whose title beckons me to dance is sure to get my attention (at … Continue reading
It’s a day of pre-releases, as Mamamoo’s Moonbyul joins the fray with a teaser of her new album. She had a very strong slate of 2024 releases, including several standouts in a variety of genres. With this as a comparison, ICY BBY is a definite step down and feels much more indebted to current K-pop … Continue reading
Cube Entertainment’s rookie boy group Nowadays has struggled to gain traction in the market, but it seems the agency is finally ready to give them a push. They’ve been rebranded under the moniker “NOWZ” and given a pre-release track composed by and featuring i-dle’s Yuqi leading up to their appearance at this year’s KCON LA. … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 