Despite my negative reaction to pre-release Koong, I’ve been playing Xikers’ new album quite often. Title track Do Or Die is fantastic, and songs like Run and Sunny Side are surprisingly groovy. Homeboy‘s hazy, downbeat sound is a surprising choice for follow-up single, but the song has grown on me with time. Homeboy‘s verses utilize … Continue reading
“Pre-debut” releases are quite confusing, but I guess it’s a nice way to introduce your group without the pressure of official debut promotions. The members of TIOT will be familiar to viewers of Boys Planet, and their song Unbeatable (백전무패) will be familiar to much older K-pop fans. It’s a cover of the 2001 track … Continue reading
XG continue to make inroads into K-pop markets, most recently performing at this year’s KCON LA. I’ve struggled to connect to most of their music, but I think I’m in the minority. Their blend of hip-hop, dance and fierce attitude seems poised to make them favorites of international fans. New Dance is XG’s most straightforward … Continue reading
The slow-burn success of H1-KEY’s Rose Blossom was one of the year’s most surprising (and deserved) stories, and the group has taken their time to deliver a follow-up. Time To Shine (불빛을 꺼뜨리지 마) arrives courtesy of the same composer (Hong Ji Sang) and offers a sprightlier sound than its predecessor. This track forges an … Continue reading
“Best Of” albums are far more common in the Japanese market than any other country I’m aware of, and that extends to K-pop acts. Ima (Even If The World Ends Tomorrow) (今 -明日 世界が終わっても-) is taken from Seventeen’s first “best of,” marking another stage in their successful career. And though the track was composed by … Continue reading
When it comes to upbeat boy group tracks, August has been very generous so far. Now, Peak Time winners Vanner join the fray — re-emerging with the funky Performer. Both sonically and thematically, it feels like a suitable statement of intent, even if the song loses some potency when it strays from its taut, propulsive … Continue reading
Riize is SM Entertainment’s first new, non-NCT boy group since 2016. That’s a pretty big deal. They share connective tissue with the NCT universe, as members Shotaro and Sungchan were previously included in NCT projects. But overall, this feels like an important step forward for the agency. In my mind, this important step will be … Continue reading
It’s full steam ahead on the ‘aespa-conquers-international-markets’ ship with the release of another English-language single following last year’s Life’s Too Short. Earlier this year, they also dropped the Tetris-interpolating Hold On Tight — their best non-Korean track to date. I definitely underrated it back in March. Better Things isn’t as creative, but it’s a charming … Continue reading
Following Nayeon last summer, Twice’s leader Jihyo has become the second member of the group to embark upon a solo career. For me, her voice has always been emblematic of Twice’s sound, making solo music an interesting prospect. Would she paint within the lines of Twice’s established style or push herself in new directions? It … Continue reading
IMP’s Cruisin’ is important for several reasons. First, it’s the official debut of former Johnny’s Junior IMPACTors, now promoting under a slightly different name. Second, it’s the first release from Hideaki Takizawa’s TOBE company. Takizawa (or Tackey, as he’s often know), was active as one half of Johnny’s duo Tackey & Tsubasa before becoming president … Continue reading
For me, Lucy is at their best when they wear their heart on their sleeve and bolster than sentiment with a copious amount of violin. Early standouts like Snooze and (especially) Flare played this approach to the hilt, delicately weaving their empathic storytelling as the songs crested to dramatic peaks. New single Haze (아지랑이) doesn’t … Continue reading
I’m gonna need a doctorate to keep all these tripleS sub-units straight, but one thing they all share is a dynamic sense of style. Even when the songs don’t quite hit me, I’m impressed by the vision behind this enterprise. It’s quite reminiscent of LOONA’s multi-year rollout — another Jaden Jeong project. LOVElution is the … Continue reading
I went on such a strange ride with STAYC’s winter hit Teddy Bear. I liked the song right off the bat, and that quickly grew into love as it became one of my most played songs of the year. But after a month or so, I’ve barely returned to the track and don’t have much … Continue reading
For their latest comeback, DKB have utilized two of K-pop’s long-successful promotional tactics — releasing a repackage with double title tracks. Rather than write about both songs (All Yours isn’t very good, tbh), I’m going to focus on the one whose video appears to be edited with more care. Furthering the nostalgia factor, DKB emerge … 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. It’s been a long time since … Continue reading
Dance troupe turned K-pop group Artbeat v debuted late last year (minus the “v”), and since then the members have shuffled. Now a five-person act, they’re back with the sugary sweet new jack swing of Dubi Dubi. New jack swing happens to be one of my favorite genres, and this is an incredibly straightforward re-creation … Continue reading
Over the past few weeks, there’s been a ton of K-pop releases embracing bright dance pop sounds. This has been a boon to my playlist, as I tend to flock toward this energy during the summer months. Jo Yuri’s music has shifted style with each release, but Taxi lands her right in the K-pop roller … Continue reading
Lapone Entertaiment’s ‘J-pop that’s basically K-pop’ groups tend to release music that falls into several established archetypes. Of these archetypes, my favorite by far is the propulsive disco-funk-dance hybrid that characterized JO1’s epic Born To Be Wild. DXTEEN’s First Flight can’t touch that instant JO1 classic, but its glossy sound and surging chorus make for … Continue reading
Rather than opt for a standard music video, TVXQ’s U-Know is promoting his newest mini album with a thirteen-minute short film, unveiling his cinematic concept via a full storyline. Even so, the album has an official title track in Vuja De, and that’s what I’ll be writing about today. Vuja De embraces elements of big … Continue reading
I can’t believe it’s been two years since I last wrote about a Jeon Somi comeback! I had to look back to verify that, because 2021 seems like a lifetime ago. Thankfully, she’s returned with an upgrade. Producer Teddy is still in tow, but Fast Forward has a fashionable Euro-dance sound that makes for an … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 