aespa have done a fair amount of covers in their career, and they haven’t exactly chosen obscure material. There’s a danger in covering beloved classics, which is my cue to encourage you all to listen to the original Regret Of The Times and Seo Taiji & Boys’ entire 90’s discography. It’s amazing how many genres … 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 wonder how many ITZY fans … 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. B1A4’s new album blitzes through three … 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. On what must be a limited … Continue reading
The month of January has a reputation for being pretty dry when it comes to K-pop, right? This week has been anything but, and has certainly kept me on my toes when it comes to new releases. Next up is Lee Chanhyuk from AKMU, with his first solo single following his 2022 debut album. 1 … Continue reading
Whether working with Teen Top or on his own, Niel’s voice instantly conjures nostalgia. It’s very recognizable and rich with character. And on new single Parting Path (이별하러 가는 길), it’s quite versatile as well. The song is largely mid-tempo, but with an energy that builds and changes as it reaches its finale. I’m sure I … Continue reading
JYP Entertainment releases so many music videos and performance videos and extended teasers that it’s become difficult to know which songs to write about on this blog! Run For Roses was first performed last year and isn’t the title track for NMIXX’s upcoming album, but it’s a compelling taste of what’s to come. Run For … Continue reading
2024 is already delivering several debuts, and boy group Waker is next on the docket. They pre-released Dash last month, which I really should have covered on the blog because it’s quite good. Now, they’ve turned the page with a softer sound on the anthemic Atlantis. Songs with “Atlantis” in the title have a pretty … Continue reading
The year is only a few days old, but we already have a new debut! The five-member Geenius hail from Sure Place Music & Creative, but had previous ties with the embattled Blockberry Creative. Their first digital single Voyage shows promise, even if its unfocused nature ultimately makes for a frustrating listen. In my recent … Continue reading
The Boyz have recently started releasing music videos for unit tracks. Last summer’s Passion Fruit got one and now we have a stylish visual for Sunwoo and Eric’s hip-hop track Honey, originally released on the group’s November album. Apart from its excellent title track, that album didn’t resonate with me the same way Christmas In … Continue reading
Thus far, ICHILLIN’ have pinballed through a variety of styles, most recently getting caught in the sing-chant nursery rhyme style that plagues many of their peers’ discographies. New digital single Bite Me still has a (lack of) melody problem, but its dynamic instrumental counterpunches with surprising force. Bite Me opens with a wallop, as thundering … Continue reading
TWS are not set to debut until later this month, but as the first Pledis Entertainment boy group following the incredible success of Seventeen, many eyes are already on them. As a taste of their self-described “boyhood pop,” they’ve dropped a fun music video for pre-release Oh Mymy: 7s. The early Seventeen vibes are strong … Continue reading
TVXQ are celebrating their twentieth anniversary with the release of their first Korean album in five years. There are few active K-pop acts I’d consider “royalty,” but TVXQ are legends among legends. It’s always exciting to have them back with new music, even if a lot has changed since 2018’s New Chapter #2: The Truth … Continue reading
Korea’s mandatory military conscription seems like it’s hitting K-pop especially hard at the moment, with soloist WOODZ the latest to announce an impending hiatus. Before he fulfils his service, he’s gifted fans with a pair of new songs. It’s easy to think of this work as an extension of his excellent album OO-LI, fully embracing … Continue reading
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
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 