The New Six (formerly TNX)’s era-spanning teasers for new single Kick It 4 Now have been very entertaining. Nostalgia is all the rave right now, and the guys did a great job recreating various pop music aesthetics from the 80’s and 90’s. The song follows suit, delivering a retro taste of new jack swing. I’ll … Continue reading
I wasn’t sure whether Die For Love should be categorized as a “song review” or a “buried treasure.” It has no music video, but it’s listed as one of the title tracks from B.I’s newest album. Whatever you want to call it, this is one of the strongest K-pop songs I’ve heard in awhile. I … Continue reading
Look, K-pop producers… all I want is a great song that stays great all the way through. Is that too much to ask? The teasers for Xodiac’s Special Love seemed to promise bubbly, synth-kissed energy. Its exuberant chorus definitely delivers, but if the entire track had followed suit we might have a Sweetune-esque pop banger … Continue reading
fromis_9’s comebacks tend to hang around the mid 8’s on this blog, which isn’t a bad place to be. Their music rarely knocks my socks off, but they’ve developed a stable sound that can be counted on to deliver sleek, streamlined pop. New single #menow adds to this list, neither better nor worse than most … Continue reading
Sakurazaka46 has their “aggrieved protagonist vents frustration through combative dance routines” format down pat, and its sense of empowerment feels more genuine than much of what passes as empowering in pop music. If you’re looking for catharsis in the form of a song, this is the group for you. Start Over is an absolute beast, … Continue reading
There are times when you admire something even if you don’t necessarily like it. Stray Kids’ new single S-Class (특) has those qualities. I admire its chutzpah, and I admire the group’s willingness to experiment with sound and structure. This seems to be their answer to JYP Entertainment’s “mixx-pop” endeavor — basically cramming an entire … Continue reading
I was not a fan of HORI7ON’s first pre-debut single Dash, but follow-up track Lovey Dovey dramatically transforms their sound. Gone is the tough-guy chanting of Dash, replaced by pastel outfits and a light funk pop beat that borrows elements of new jack swing. This style appeals to me, even if the song feels a … Continue reading
Twice’s Hare Hare has been kicking around digital spaces for a few weeks, but I’ve held off writing about it in a J-pop round-up because I knew the music video was just around the corner. Today, we have the visuals to accompany this bouncy dance track. Hare Hare is modern Twice, through and through. It … Continue reading
The Faker Club is providing necessary counterprogramming for mainstream K-pop trends. Its artists from20 and Hello Gloom have delivered some of my favorite songs of the year, simply by opting for sounds and structures that are hard to find elsewhere. Eyes On Me is another winner. If you’ve perused any of my “Global Round-Up” posts, … Continue reading
A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. Dreamcatcher can always be counted on … Continue reading
With over 4,000 songs on my iPhone’s “K-Pop Singles” playlist, I thought it would be fun to add a bit of unpredictability to my song review posts. So as a result, we have the “Random Shuffle Review” feature. The rules are simple. I fire up my playlist, press “shuffle,” and whatever song plays first gets … Continue reading
Some of my favorite Dreamcatcher tracks meld the group’s rock sound with borderline-cheesy, stadium-ready melodies. Songs like Fly High and Over The Sky veer closer to “anthem territory” and bring the sense of drama I crave in a great rock track. New single BONVOYAGE harnesses a similar energy, even if its execution doesn’t quite find … Continue reading
Upon the release of LE SSERAFIM’s most recent album, the track Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s Wife seemed to spark a lot of online discussion. So, I’m not surprised it’s been given a music video and follow-up promotions. While Unforgiven attacks with its central catchphrase, Eve maintains the stylish — almost monotone — air of … Continue reading
2022 delivered a host of newly-debuted girl groups, and this year seems poised to do the same for boy groups. One of 2023’s most anticipated debuts is BOYNEXTDOOR — the first idol act under Zico’s KOZ Entertainment, with the backing of K-pop overlords HYBE. Their upcoming single album promises three promoted tracks, and today we … Continue reading
Last week, I called Avu-chan’s Year 0, Class 0 the best audition show I’d ever seen. That feeling has only intensified with time. And, it’s bolstered my interest in Ryugujo — the group formed through the series. They’re a self-proclaimed “alternative” act, which essentially means their music has a unique perspective and sound. Both songs … Continue reading
I was pleased to see VERIVERY find such big success with a bright, upbeat pop track last year. Not every boy group has to posture and pose like a villain to sell albums, and Tap Tap felt like the start of a new era for the guys. Crazy Like That takes a slight sidestep, delivering … Continue reading
I’ve been a bit confused by Travis Japan’s rollout so far, but that’s coming from a longtime Johnny’s fan who’s used to physical singles and albums. Digital music is the norm most markets, but this approach means the group only has two released songs to their name — even though they debuted all the way … Continue reading
When you think about it, HYBE’s embrace of the ever-growing AI market feels inevitable. I expect this to be a huge facet of K-pop as time goes on. Before writing about MIDNATT, let me tell you how I’ve been using AI over the past seven months. Last November, I discovered the Whisper AI model, which … Continue reading
I’ve been jokingly referring to newly-debuted group The Wind as “BFriend,” and I have a feeling that moniker is going to stick. So far, their music is a note-perfect re-creation of GFriend’s debut year. This alone scores them massive points from me. How refreshing to hear a new boy group do something totally different from … Continue reading
Thus far, there’s been a big disconnect between how much I like INI as a group and how much I enjoy the music they’re given. My favorite songs tend to be one-off projects or b-sides, while most of their singles have landed with a thud. But, the universe has finally aligned with Fanfare. It’s not … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 