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. There’s a lot of stomping going … 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. ENHYPEN’s second full album is a … Continue reading
Though JYP Entertainment has been active in Japan for many years, girl group NiziU was an early experiment in “J-pop group produced by Korean agency.” With companies like HYBE, SM and Lapone following suit, this strategy has become more common as time has gone on. It’s changing the J-pop idol landscape and blurring the lines … Continue reading
ENHYPEN’s music has evolved over time, moving from darker, concept-heavy fare to softer earworms that embrace global pop trends. Last year turned up up the funk with Bite Me and (especially) Sweet Venom, but new single XO (Only If You Say Yes) smooths the groove for an airier take on understated radio pop. Not many … Continue reading
Though Dreamcatcher have experimented with various genres, their core rock sound has remained intact across the past seven years. Overall quality may ebb and flow depending on the track, but you pretty much know what you’re in for when you press play on a new single. Justice leverages many of their greatest strengths, offering a … Continue reading
Weeekly went through some growing pains, but have largely stuck to a bright, upbeat concept. Now in their fourth year, the group tackles a K-pop right of passage: the summer-themed comeback. Lights On bounds forward with plenty of energy, even as it struggles to distinguish itself within a sea of similar summer efforts. The song … Continue reading
Xdinary Heroes are having a busy year. Fresh off the release of their first full album, they’ve embarked on a series of digital singles. Last month, we heard the rollicking Boy Comics. July’s treat comes in the form of LOVE and FEAR — a more aggressive blast of cathartic rock. LOVE and FEAR plays like … 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. I’ve softened a bit on Rocky’s … Continue reading
TRENDZ’s music may be more inconsistent than I’d like, but January’s brilliant Go Up instantly landed them in my own K-pop hall of fame. The recently released Glow painted them in a smooth disco funk light and Japanese single Season Of You continues that approach. This is fluffy, inoffensive summertime pop at its most basic. … Continue reading
Despite over a decade of music to his name, this may be the first mention of Lee Seungyoon on this blog. I mainly focus on idol releases, but every once and awhile it’s nice to have a palette cleanser, and Seungyoon’s Brit-rock sound is just what the doctor ordered. Waterfall (폭포) is the first title … Continue reading
It appears there will be no full group comeback for SHINee this year, but that doesn’t mean the individual members won’t be busy. In between his many appearances on variety, Key has returned with a new Japanese single. Tongue Tied was made available last week, but today marks its music video debut. I haven’t been … Continue reading
I wasn’t bowled over by ALL(H)OURS’ debut earlier this year, but I sensed musical ambition that might lead to exciting things in the future. With their second mini album, the guys are moving in the right direction. Title track Shock (도깨비) takes many familiar boy group tropes but adds a crackling instrumental that feels new … Continue reading
Kiss Of Life have quickly established themselves as one of K-pop’s buzziest rookie acts. April’s Midas Touch expertly mined the current Y2K trend to craft a catchy showcase that gave the group their own sonic calling card. New summer single Sticky feels more closely attuned to the laidback, Afrobeats-inspired sound currently sweeping global charts. I’ve … Continue reading
Thus far, BABYMONSTER have embraced all the YG girl group tropes you’d expect, casting them as heirs to 2NE1 and BLACKPINK’s throne. This is not an agency known for its willingness to experiment. Instead, they’ve managed to enthrall fans with slight tweaks to successful formulas. With this in mind, it’s time for BABYMONSTER’s version of … Continue reading
GreatGuys is one of those acts that consistently releases solid material, even if they never receive the attention that material deserves. They rarely appear in my year-end countdowns or “top three of the month” rankings, but I’m always pleasantly surprised by their output. I wanted to quickly touch on new single I Love You (각이야) … Continue reading
KATSEYE, like VCHA before them, present an interesting challenge for this blog. They can’t really be considered “K-pop,” but they were formed on the competition show Dream Academy co-managed by HYBE Corporation. Time will tell if I keep writing about their music, but for now I think it’s important to touch on their debut as … 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. TWS’s Summer Beat is a varied … Continue reading
Seventeen years since their debut, FTIsland are set to release a new album next month. Now a trio, the guys have become one of K-pop’s longest running acts, and pre-release Burn It proves they still have plenty of gas left in the tank. As far as I can tell, this song comes as a surprise. … Continue reading
After leaving Astro, Rocky embarked on a solo career with last year’s ROCKYST and title track Lucky Rocky. I enjoyed the direction he pursued, but thought the execution could use some work. When it comes to today’s Jealousy, I’m drawn even more to Rocky’s musical direction. This style of funky synthwave-influenced pop music is very … Continue reading
B.D.U is a project group spawned from MNET’s reality show Build Up: Vocal Boy Group Survivor and consists of M.O.N.T’s Bitsaeon, CIX’s Seung Hun, One Pact’s Jay Chang and trainee Kim Minseo. While I love the idea of a show focused on K-pop’s often-underutilized vocalists, I’d rather the entire industry make a shift toward robust … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 