I chose The Wind as my favorite rookie of 2023 for many reasons. One of the biggest was their willingness to let their main vocal belt. But now that main vocal is gone, making future music a dicey prospect. New single H! TEEN both confirms my worries and offers an exciting offramp toward a reconfigured … Continue reading
Seven years after his debut with NCT U, Ten has finally released his first solo album. Talk about delayed gratification! He’s had plenty of solo singles throughout the years, but I can’t believe it took this long for SM Entertainment to give him something more substantial. He follows a lineage of male idol performers gone … 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’m one of those weird people … Continue reading
I’m not as familiar with Billlie’s discography as others, so I was confused by the “Japanese version” tag attached to this music video. Is there a Korean version of Domino? I certainly can’t find one. Regardless, this synth-heavy sound would be a great direction for the group to take in any music market, melding their … Continue reading
Mamamoo’s Moonbyul is gearing up to release her full album at the end of the month, and like so many others she’s kicking off with a pre-release track. Pre-releases usually go one of two ways: either the artist teases with their strongest material, relegating the actual title track to an afterthought, or they shine spotlight … Continue reading
ICHILLIN’s music has been on an upward trajectory lately, and last month’s Bite Me impressed with its edgy beat and exciting energy. The girls aren’t wasting any time with a follow up, releasing new digital single Demigod just weeks later. This song shares so much with Bite Me, succeeding and struggling in the exact same … 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. In addition to strong title tracks, … Continue reading
If we were to judge solely by Korean comebacks, Twice had a relatively sparse 2023. It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly a year since Set Me Free was released. The group has been on a roll awhile now, luxuriating in their space as a long-running, extremely stable idol act. JYP Entertainment has also been … Continue reading
I hadn’t really connected with Vanner’s music in the past, but their post-Peak Time comeback album impressed me last year. The group harnessed a sleek funk sound that took advantage of their impressive vocals and stage presence. Now it’s time to see if that track was a one-off or if the guys can forge an … Continue reading
I wasn’t going to write about VCHA because… well, they’re not K-pop. They’re produced by a K-pop agency, but this marks JYP Entertainment’s first attempt to create a strictly American girl group. From the start, I’ve felt apprehensive about this project — not because of the cross cultural interplay but because K-pop’s attempts at “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. I’ve been quite addicted to TWS’s … Continue reading
It’s been nearly three years since IU released an album, but comeback season is upon us once again in 2024. This kicks off with pre-release ballad Love Wins All. The song’s video has already received buzz thanks to the participation of BTS’s V. But taken on its own, Love Wins All is the kind of … Continue reading
New WJSN music may be a distant memory, but today marks the solo debut of one of its members. Seola has been involved with many sub-unit projects and recorded a couple OSTs on her own. She’s also done a lot of acting, raising her profile. A solo career in music makes sense and with any … Continue reading
Super Junior-L.S.S. made their debut last summer with the fun Close The Shutter. They’re the sixth Super Junior sub-unit, consisting of members Leeteuk, Shindong and Siwon. Beyond the unique configuration of members, I’m not sure if L.S.S. have a specific musical goal different from Super Junior itself, but thus far their songs have veered toward … Continue reading
Up to this point, I’ve found AB6IX’s (surprisingly large) discography quite workmanlike. Their music is often good, but always on the generic side without much in the way of unique personality or perspective. It doesn’t help that they flit between genres very often, meaning you never know what you’ll get when a new comeback rolls … Continue reading
January has already been stuffed with debuts, but TWS are surely the most hyped of all. They’re Pledis Entertainment’s first new boy group since Seventeen, buoyed by a similar brightness they’re calling “boyhood pop.” Pre-release Oh Mymy: 7s was a promising taste of this sound, though it was undercut by a threadbare chorus. Debut single … 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 seemed to be less enthralled … Continue reading
The Boyz have gone all-out for the promotion of their newest album. Rat In The Trap is the third music video taken from the project, which makes me wish they would have done the same for the superior Christmas In August last summer. However, they’ve chosen the right tracks to highlight. Extra promo for Sunwoo … Continue reading
Sometimes a new release is perfectly timed to capture the mood of the day. Genic’s Sayonara no wake has been available since last month, but the music video for this winter ballad dropped today. It just so happened to correspond with a major snowstorm hitting my little corner of the world, perfectly complimenting the quiet … Continue reading
We’ve seen many long-awaited comebacks come to fruition lately, but Sistar19 has them all beat. It’s been a staggering eleven years since the duo last released music. That’s longer than some K-pop fans may have been alive! And with these two gracing our screens once more, we’re that much closer to a full Sistar reunion. … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 