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. Many specific K-pop sounds get repurposed … Continue reading
Super Junior’s Eunhyuk and One Pact’s Jongwoo have gotten into the idol group business with the production of multi-national boy group Celest1a, formed through the series K-pop House. From what I can tell, much of their promo thus far has been in Japan, but debut single Panda sees them performing mostly in English. As far … Continue reading
**NOTE: This review was originally published as a “buried treasure” but now that the song is being promoted I wanted to bump it back up to the top of the blog and add the music video to the post. The song rating has also been updated! ENHYPEN’s second full album is a mellow affair and … Continue reading
BTOB are most celebrated for their stately ballads and light pop music that showcases their vocals. However, the group are capable of much more than that. I’m partial to their many dalliances with new jack swing, mostly because those songs let the guys have fun in a more carefree way. New sub-unit single Tang Tang … Continue reading
I don’t always write about Stray Kids’ follow-up singles because they tend to release so many music videos for songs that otherwise go un-promoted. However, this is very slow period for K-pop due to the Paris Olympics pre-empting music shows, so I might as well make an exception for Mountains. Mountains opens the group’s newest album … Continue reading
Thus far, XG have presented several distinct styles. Most prominent is their mix of hard-hitting hip-hop and R&B flourishes, which has already won them many devoted fans. But every once and awhile, the group shifts things over to the dancefloor. New single Something Ain’t Right is the most full-throated move in this direction yet. Taking … Continue reading
K-pop idols thrive on building a steady, dedicated fan base. This is most often accomplished by a constant stream of releases and deluge of content. But within the vast K-pop industry, there are more than a few “one hit wonders” – acts who release one single or album and are scarcely heard from again. It’s … Continue reading
After uniting on a band version of Gaho’s Start Over in 2020, KAVE have transformed into an actual group with a proper debut. Fronted by Gaho, the band boasts an eclectic mix of producers that add a unique touch to Korea’s K-rock scene. Legend acts as their first title track and delivers a mix of … Continue reading
When debuting a new K-pop group, I’m convinced that agencies either pull a random handful of letters/numbers from a bag or crack open a dictionary, close their eyes and choose the first word their finger lands on. “Dignity” is a perfectly nice word. It’s beautiful, even. However, it doesn’t immediately conjure the image of a … Continue reading
Kara are one a few second-gen groups to make a long-awaited return these past few years. If I’ve learned anything from these comebacks, it’s that nostalgia can lead to unrealistic expectations. The chances of a group returning to their musical peak (or launching a new peak era) are usually pretty slim. For most fans, it’s … Continue reading
K-pop idols thrive on building a steady, dedicated fan base. This is most often accomplished by a constant stream of releases and deluge of content. But within the vast K-pop industry, there are more than a few “one hit wonders” – acts who release one single or album and are scarcely heard from again. It’s … 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. Since it was so easily available … Continue reading
from20 and Hello Gloom have become unlikely conduits for fantastic, EDM-influenced pop. Both have released their fair share of highlights, with March’s explosive Mamacita standing as one of this year’s most addictive singles. The two work closely together under their self-established WAYBETTER label and now they’ve finally come together on a single. Your Love acts … Continue reading
Fresh off their springtime ballad Samidare, HYBE’s &TEAM have returned with digital single (and pre-release) Koegawari. The guys have upped the energy a bit this time, delivering a laidback summer track whose charms sneak up on you. Koegawari isn’t flashy, choosing instead to softly percolate until its sprightly chorus breaks through. The instrumental shimmers with … Continue reading
n.SSign milked everything they could from their recent album, releasing no less than three title tracks. Months later, they’re back again with repackage Tiger. Repackages aren’t as common as they used to be in K-pop, but they can still be an enhancement to an already successful work. Tiger (New Flavour) pulls a 180 degree switch … Continue reading
A Brave Brothers produced boy group should be guaranteed catnip for my personal taste, but I’ve had a hard time maintaining interest in DKB’s music. They’ve released some decent singles, but for every highlight there’s another head-scratcher. New track Flirting X offers a sonic makeover, painting them as angsty rock stars. This is a welcome … Continue reading
Earlier this year, Waker’s debut slipped between the cracks for many listeners. A complete lack of music show promotion probably didn’t help, but I want to go to bat for the song because I still think Atlantis is a 2024 highlight. The guys have now returned with a summer comeback, serving a Vanilla Choco Shake … Continue reading
With member enlistments and debuts of younger artists in the agency, NCT 127 are now in an interesting place as respected seniors at SM Entertainment. This transition offers plenty of possibility for shifts in sound and approach. New single Walk (삐그덕) feels quintessentially NCT yet softens the tone for a more straightforward, digestible package. Walk … Continue reading
Whenever a new boy group debuts with a bright concept, it feels like we’re running against the clock before they inevitably shift toward edgier sounds. I’m not too worried about TWS in this regard, especially since their exceedingly bright title tracks have been huge chart successes. But when they do inevitably move on to new … Continue reading
The members of YG Entertainment group Winner have become well known as soloists, but before today main dancer Lee Seunghoon (Hoony) was the only one without an official solo debut. My Type (딱 내 스타일이야) acts as a funky springboard for his first mini album, delivering a bright blast of groovy pop. Seunghoon gets to … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 