New girl group izna made their debut last November with a song that never seemed to capture the public’s attention in the way I’d expect from their pre-debut hype. Given this, I’m surprised they took so long to promote more music, but now they’re back with digital single Sign. This song reunites them with famed … Continue reading
When LE SSERAFIM’s album was released earlier this month, the b-side that seemed to capture most attention was Ash. I think that song’s just fine, but feels more indebted to its mood and soundscape than the type of melodic pop I tend to prefer. Instead, my ears were drawn to the off-kilter throwback Come Over. … Continue reading
Over the years, I’ve been impressed with Just B’s willingness to experiment with their sound. To me, it seems that they’ve refashioned their underdog status into an advantage and excuse to try new things. Last year’s pop/punk anthem Daddy’s Girl was a career high, and now they’ve switched things up again with the electro hyperpop … Continue reading
It can be difficult to keep all of K-pop’s three-letter-acronym-named boy groups straight, especially when that moniker changes midway through an act’s career. TNX were briefly known as “The New Six,” but have seemed to revert back to the acronym for this new promotion. We last heard from them about a year ago when they … Continue reading
To K-pop fans, J-pop’s extended promotional schedule might seem crazy. The audio of CRAVITY’s new single Jelly Bean was released all the way back in mid-February, but the physical single and music video weren’t available until today. This gives J-pop acts a nice window to promote up until their release date rather than save all … Continue reading
As someone who doesn’t keep up with Xdinary Heroes’ schedules, it seems like the band are making comebacks with incredible regularity. That may be more of a sense than a fact, but they’ve quickly developed a hearty catalog of music that sees them exploring various aspects of the rock genre. New single Beautiful Life embraces … Continue reading
Ten is one of those performers with absolutely seismic potential who just can’t seem to find material as strong as his own presence. Though I’ve enjoyed many solo Ten songs, I’ve never loved one. Stunner‘s very title seems to promise a turnaround, aiming to fully capture our attention. It succeeds in fits and starts. Over … Continue reading
Stray Kids’ new mixtape may not be led by any official title track, but its four unit tracks will be promoted with music videos. First up is Changbin and I.N’s Burnin’ Tires, a rock-rap hybrid that borrows elements from the group’s early days while upping the intensity. Being a pre-debut fan, I have a soft … 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. The Boyz’ dynamic title track VVV … Continue reading
It’s been awhile since we’ve heard from Fantasy Boys, but they made their mark on 2024 with a very fun summery EP promoted with an excellent title track. Nearly a year later, they’re back with a very different sound. Undeniable is darker and groovier, but as with many boy group songs of this nature its … Continue reading
Rookie rock group Dragon Pony’s Pop Up impressed me last year, so much that they nearly climbed the top of my 2024 rookies list. Powerful vocals paired with strong songwriting will always appeal to me no matter the genre. Pop Up also managed to house a hook so anthemically pleasing that it became undeniable. Follow … Continue reading
When a song hits big in K-pop, the industry tends to drive that same sound into the ground over the next few years. With aespa’s Supernova and Whiplash both major hits in 2024, it was only a matter of time before pounding club beats and spoken-word attitude lodged itself within the girl group oeuvre. STAYC’s … Continue reading
Despite hailing from one of K-pop’s biggest agencies, NMIXX’s ascent has been slow and steady. While their debut single polarized fans, the group has surged in popularity with each passing year and started to develop a diverse catalog of sounds. Their singles tend to be very hit or miss for me and often take some … 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. As is often the case with … Continue reading
When last we heard from LE SSERAFIM, they urged us to “act like an angel and dress like crazy.” The actual song that accompanied these lyrics wasn’t nearly as boundary-pushing as its sentiment expressed, but I appreciate how the group tried to bring some campy fun to the table. New title track Hot pulls things … Continue reading
Girl group Say My Name debuted late last year, the first act under Kim Jaejoong’s iNKODE label. Despite this pedigree, their single WaveWay was surprisingly faceless K-pop — the kind of song that could have been peddled by just about anyone. New single ShaLala manages to be generic in a different way, though it’s a … 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. ITZY’s Yeji made a splash this … Continue reading
It’s hard to believe that SF9 will be celebrating their tenth (!) anniversary next year. Their discography has remained remarkably consistent, and every once and awhile they’ll pull out a total stunner. As with many of their recent releases, Love Race sees their group configuration slightly reduced with six out of eight members promoting this … Continue reading
The music video for XG’s not-quite-new single Is This Love was delayed to improve quality, only to have fans calling out its use of AI transitions. I don’t really have a horse in this race so I’ll bow out of the controversy, but I am always interested in the music. Thus far, XG have swerved … Continue reading
Today is the day of girl group members gone solo, as Red Velvet’s Seulgi joins ITZY’s Yeji with new material. Baby, Not Baby is her second official solo single, though she was recently a duet partner with K-pop legend Kim Wan Sun on the 80’s throwback Lucky. This time around, she’s gone for an edgier … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 