Back in the mid-2010s, there was a micro-trend of big, brassy girl group tracks — no doubt inspired by global megahits like Jessie J’s Bang Bang. I didn’t appreciate this sound as much as I should have in the moment, but looking back it was a great opportunity for K-pop’s girl groups to bring the … Continue reading
As K-pop’s 2025 release schedule starts to slow ahead of the end-of-year festivals and award shows, Starship Entertainment is having a few of their artists release digital singles. This is a smart way to feed their fan base without needing to invest in larger projects during a time that’s already busy. Monsta X have an … Continue reading
Rookie group Close Your Eyes completely reinvented their sound with last month’s pre-release SOB. While I initially balked at the cringe lyrics and heavy vocal effects, that song eventually won me over through the sheer force of its dance beat. However, I still enjoy the guys best on smooth, vocal-focused tracks like their killer debut … Continue reading
ONF have been a firm favorite of this blog since their debut, but trouble seemed to be in the air surrounding this new comeback. Not only does it interrupt the promising “My Identity” series the group launched earlier this year, but it completely jettisons their main producer Hwang Hyun in favor of in-house talent from … 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. For their new mini album, NEWBEAT … 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 been meaning to write about … 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. Apart from its brilliant title track, … Continue reading
After twenty-two years in the industry, TVXQ’s U-Know has finally unveiled his first full-length solo album. This project was preceded by Body Language, a track I found disappointing in almost every regard. Thankfully, title track Stretch feels much more aligned with U-Know’s incredible legacy. It’ll never not be weird to hear a TVXQ release minus … Continue reading
It’s hard to believe Sunmi has never released a full-length album until now. If we count her time with Wonder Girls, she’s been an active idol for eighteen years and a soloist for twelve. It’s a shame this album couldn’t have emerged when she was knocking out back-to-back classics like Heroine and Siren, but it’s … Continue reading
In addition to actual debuts, “pre-debuts” have become a thing for K-pop idols. I’m not entirely sure what the point is apart from building hype without taking a huge financial risk, but the more music we get the better so I can’t complain. I.MET.U is an upcoming girl group from (checks notes) TikTok survival series … Continue reading
Even as a fan who’s watched &TEAM gradually rise to “million sellers” in Japan, I was shocked by how well their Korean debut sold. It’s a solid album, and title track Back To Life has grown on me more with each day. The guys are wasting no time keeping the hype train going with a … Continue reading
It’s been over three years since we last heard new music from Winner’s Kang Seung Yoon. During that hiatus, he’s fulfilled his military service and taken time crafting a new full-length album. The fruits of his labor have finally arrived today in the form of new title track Me (美). Though I haven’t fallen for … Continue reading
When Ryugujo’s new EP was released earlier this month I had a feeling Sugar would be given a music video eventually. And while I prefer the bombastic rock tracks Egure Mekure and Yohaku, the fact that this song is now a theme for member Yuki’s new drama makes it the obvious contender for extra promotion. … Continue reading
It’s funny to look back at old reviews of Xdinary Heroes’ work on this blog. I really hated some of their early material, but with time the group has developed stronger songs and found better ways to deploy their humor. Recent single ICU is probably my favorite track they’ve ever promoted, and the accompanying album … Continue reading
More and more with K-pop, we’re seeing a rift form between acts who primarily target Asian markets and those making a bigger push toward Western audiences. Ideally, artists would simply release great music that appeals to everyone, but it’s not uncommon for a performer to release English-language material and tour it extensively in the States. … Continue reading
Though JYP Entertainment’s output had a rough start this year, the agency has been unfurling hit after hit over the past few months. They’re set to finish 2025 strong and that extends to global (but mostly K-pop so far) group NEXZ. I haven’t been a fan of most of their music and new single Beat-Boxer … Continue reading
Since their debut in late 2022, &TEAM have developed a strong Japanese discography. All of those singles have also been recorded and performed in Korean, making it feel like they’ve already made a K-pop debut. But with the release of their first original Korean album, the guys have officially branched out to a new market. … Continue reading
The era of Golden Child’s music dominating this blog came to an abrupt end when the group went on an indefinite hiatus in 2024 as most members left Woollim Entertainment. Since then, the agency has been largely inactive. Joochan’s new solo track Rise & Shine is the rare sign of life from Woollim — 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. I may never have heard this … Continue reading
Over the past year or so, Just B have developed buzz that their infrequent release schedule isn’t taking full advantage of. When we last heard from them this spring, they dabbled in an electronic hyperpop sound that fit them surprisingly well and began to carve out a nice musical niche. A new mini album is … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 