What do we have here? A K-pop dance track with a consistent pulse? A rugged electro beat that doesn’t slow or stop even for the pre-chorus?? These shouldn’t be rare features to find in a song, yet Narsha’s Game feels like a time capsule unearthed from a different era. This shouldn’t be surprising coming 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. When ATEEZ move away from their … Continue reading
When a group has a handful of 10-out-of-10 Legendary Songs in their discography, it can be hard to temper expectations for new music. I probably hold Kis-My-Ft2 to a higher standard than many other groups because their 2016-18 era is among my favorite discographies in all of J-pop. They’re unlikely to replicate that again, making … Continue reading
With new single Boogie Man, Lucy proudly continue K-pop’s tradition of releasing songs with a great Halloween theme long after the holiday has passed. There’s nothing like a little spookiness alongside your winter lights, right? But regardless of Boogie Man‘s musical tone, it’s nice to hear the group stretch themselves and tackle something with more … Continue reading
I don’t often write “buried treasure” posts for Japanese b-sides, but I almost made an exception for &TEAM’s Dropkick. As fate would have it, HYBE decided to release the song with its own music video and send the guys to promote it on music shows. That’s one hundred percent the correct choice, since Dropkick laps … Continue reading
Upon the release of his first full album, fans are reeling at the revelation that Nam Woohyun was secretly battling a rare form of cancer earlier this year. Beyond the sheer ache we all feel for his struggle, I can’t help but admire his bravery in the face of a life-altering diagnosis. It’s impossible not … Continue reading
Ryugujo are my favorite 2023 debut in any music market. I find the concept of a boy group taking on Avu-chan’s genre-bending, gutsy alt-rock very compelling and unlike anything else on the market. Part of the fun is watching them grow into this challenge. You don’t simply sing an Avu-chan track, nor are there many … Continue reading
“24K+” is the weirdest rebrand. It’s an offshoot of boy group 24K, who debuted all the way back in 2012. Yet, no original member remains and their new style/concept is markedly different from what 24K had been doing most of their career. I’d understand the slight tweaking of the name if the entity “24K” had … Continue reading
You’ve gotta hand it to JYP. He sticks to what he excels at… and often takes a mean promo shot to go along with it! I’m loving the styling and the pose of the picture above. It’s weirdly flattering, even if its inspirations lie in a bygone era. But really, JYP has made a late-career … Continue reading
The Boyz delivered one of my favorite sets of summer songs with the first part of their new album this August. This was somewhat unexpected — not because the group isn’t talented, but because I never know what I’m going to get with them. Of all the groups in their standing, I can’t pinpoint a … Continue reading
ZEROBASEONE’s Crush has grown on me a lot over the past few weeks, so much so that I hardly notice the momentum-shifting chant at its centerpiece. But for those who would prefer something a little smoother, the group has released a music video for the album’s opening track, Melting Point. This is much more in … Continue reading
Though this spring’s Bite Me was not without its issues, it went on to be a big hit for ENHYPEN by tapping into the Y2K trend and prioritizing a short-but-sweet song structure. The funky teasers for new title track Sweet Venom promised something even better, and HYBE-related acts have found recent success with MJ-esque throwbacks. … Continue reading
It’s not often that K-pop releases collaborations between its major agencies, but Nobody sees representative artists from SM Entertainment, Cube Entertainment and Starship Entertainment come together to deliver a theme for Busan’s bid to host the World Expo 2030. I didn’t know these things warranted a theme song, but I’m glad to have Nobody regardless … Continue reading
Over the past few months, I’ve had a horserace in my mind regarding which Bias List favorite would return with new music first: Golden Child or Kis-My-Ft2. It turns out Golcha emerged victorious, though Kisumai arrives right on their tail. But while Golcha’s recent efforts have been infrequent but excellent, Kis-My-Ft2’s recent material has been … Continue reading
As ONEWE’s activities wind down, rapper/singer/producer Giuk (formerly known as CyA) has been steadily crafting a solo discography. I never wrote about his spring solo debut, but the dramatic teasers for Scratch (내 영혼에 낸) caught my attention. I appreciate the direction Giuk’s taking his music, even if the songs could stand to be more … Continue reading
This year has been stuffed with new boy group debuts featuring Boys Planet contestants, but FNC Entertainment’s AMPERS&ONE caught my eye thanks to the bright, upbeat direction of their music. I’d love for K-pop to embrace a resurgence of thick synths and propulsive dance beats, and the teasers for On And On seemed to promise … Continue reading
Crush has been a reliable presence in K-R&B since his debut over a decade ago, scoring at least one big hit nearly every year. Last year’s Rush Hour paired him with BTS’s J-Hope and brought a renewed sense of funk to his sound. New single Hmm-cheat (흠칫) continues the party, borrowing from classic grooves to … Continue reading
The high points in Red Velvet’s discography are so high, but if I really think about it I haven’t cared for one of their title tracks since 2019. As with most groups approaching their tenth year in the industry, their comebacks have become less frequent, but today they deliver a wealth of new material on … 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 guess there’s an unspoken rule … 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’ll always be that person who … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 