2018 has been pretty light on debuts from K-pop’s bigger agencies, making me wonder if the industry’s rapid proliferation has started to slow. This is advantageous for rookies currently seeking to prove themselves, but there are few things more exciting than a knockout debut. I’m cautiously optimistic that Jellyfish Entertainment’s new boy group VERIVERY will … Continue reading
Over the past few years, K-pop has become fascinated with trilogies and conceptual series. So many groups have debuted under this release schedule, building a cohesive sound through interconnected albums before venturing out to new horizons. Dreamcatcher used their Nightmare series to cement an aggressive, rock-fueled style, and this has resulted in a passionate (if … Continue reading
Cosmic Girls (WJSN) debuted with a pretty airtight sound, melding the trends of the day with a spacey, synth-filled style in keeping with their group name. Over the past two years, they’ve briefly dipped into muddle waters, with last year’s Twice-esque Happy being the most jarring detour. But with Save Me, Save You (부탁해), they’ve … Continue reading
The Unit may not have drawn huge ratings, but the series has spawned a universally solid run of singles. This is surprising, as I wouldn’t normally trust a huge conglomerate like KBS to select songs that are anything more than cynical commercial endeavors. Both UNB and UNI.T’s releases haven’t exactly reinvented the wheel, but they’ve … Continue reading
News are in the midst of celebrating their fifteen-year anniversary, though the group currently looks quite different than it did when they debuted in 2003. But though the years have whittled them down to a four-piece, their lengthy career is quite admirable. Few pop groups last even half this long. And to help mark this … Continue reading
Back in March, GOT7 became Exhibit A in my diatribe about messy K-pop verses. Their Look was only half a great song, with its memorable chorus waylaid by all the atonal posturing around it. Hearing teasers for new single Lullaby convinced me that it would be more of the same, but this time the guys … Continue reading
After the ambitious release of three promoted title tracks this spring, SHINee certainly don’t owe us any more material in 2018. Yet, here they are, returning to put a bow on top of their already strong Story of Light album. Countless (셀 수 없는) feels as if it came out of nowhere, teased by SM … Continue reading
After a brief detour into monkey-themed madness with sub-unit Banhana, Oh My Girl have returned as a full group, picking up where they left off with January’s stately Secret Garden. The girls have found their niche with a lushly-produced dream pop style that allows them to indulge their more eccentric musical leanings while delivering the … Continue reading
There’s no shame in seeking to replicate the success of a hit single. Momoland did it earlier this year when BAAM all but plagiarized their own Bboom Bboom, and now Pentagon have doubled down on the musical hallmarks of their slow-burning spring hit Shine. Of course, Naughty Boy (청개구리) sees the group in a very … Continue reading
Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of k-pop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. Though he excels at them, I must admit to slight disappointment … Continue reading
Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of k-pop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. Even though it ranked as one of my top three singles of … Continue reading
When last year’s contract negotiations ended with three of its members leaving SM Entertainment to pursue other endeavors, the future of Girls’ Generation seemed to be in flux. The group could have easily seen their tenth anniversary as a natural ending point and went their separate ways. But lucky for us, Girls’ Generation is back … Continue reading
Thus far, the most notable thing about Great Guys has been their horrifically bad name. K-pop is littered with oddball group names, but few are as awkwardly straightforward as this. The (great) guys have released two singles over the past year. 2017’s funk-laced Last Men showed potential but was held back by some intrusive instrumental … Continue reading
I’m not sure it’s pervasive enough to be considered a trend, but I’ve noticed something during the past few months in K-pop. While the established and buzzy acts continue to cater to international tastes (ie: tropical/EDM/trap/etc), lesser-known names are starting to embrace K-pop’s past. This is likely out of necessity, as smaller budgets make it … Continue reading
As the third season of SM’s digital Station platform continues to shine light on unexpected collaborations, the pairing of EXO’s Baekyun and rapper Loco arrives with much expectation. It’s been awhile since we’ve heard any EXO-related material, and fans are more than ready. Luckily, Young gives the duo an interesting piece of trend-free electro-pop music … Continue reading
2017 set the bar incredibly high for NCT’s youngest unit with the February release of Dream’s buoyant My First and Last. In fact, I’d argue that SM Entertainment hasn’t delivered a stronger single since. And as NCT begins to paint all of its units with a similar hip-hop brush, it makes me wonder whether we’ll … Continue reading
Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of k-pop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. As I anticipated, BTS’ IDOL has been quite the polarizing title … Continue reading
My descent into K-pop obsession was not an immediate one, and songs I now consider classics didn’t seem that way the first time through. There was a time when K-pop was decidedly weird, and I’d come away from a track genuinely confused about whether I loved it or hated it. This dizzying experience was what … Continue reading
It’s only been three weeks since we last heard from Japan’s Hey! Say! JUMP, but the guys have made a speedy return with the release of their sixth full length album. Banger Night leads that album, and represents a dramatic shift in sound for the group. I’m a sucker for whenever Johnny’s Entertainment groups go … Continue reading
Brand New Music has done a great job promoting duo MXM before eventually folding them into their upcoming boy group. They’ve even given the guys a full length album, which is pretty rare for a project group. With that said, More Than Ever felt like a few solid tracks hidden within a lot of filler. … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 