With Can’t Stop Shining, Tempest were well on their way toward becoming my favorite boy group of this new K-pop generation. Then, Dragon happened. I came around to that song eventually, but the lack of continuity between the group’s releases gave me pause. I tend to prefer acts with a clear vision and sound rather … Continue reading
This subunit name is a mouthful, isn’t it? Rather than opt for something more streamlined (“NCT V” was right there, SM!), the powers-that-be have smashed together the names of this trio, “Brangelina” style. DOJAEJUNG unites NCT vocalists Doyoung, Jaehyun and Jungwoo. Too often, vocal-based sub-units are relegated to ballads or coffeeshop fare. But, there’s nothing … 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. As I anticipated, the hook of … 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. IVE’s I Am is by far … 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. Earlier this year, Kep1er released Japanese … Continue reading
DreamNote’s Blue was a refreshing palette cleanser — a pre-release that showcased their vocals and brought a shot of emotion to their underrated discography. As its title might suggest, Lemonade is much brighter and bubblier. As far as this specific K-pop style goes, Lemonade is a solid example. There’s not much critique I can offer … Continue reading
Lee Chaeyeon’s debut album was a quirky introduction that stood out. It seemed to promise an interesting musical future for the soloist, and if WM Entertainment’s track record is anything to go by, we’re in for a wild ride. New single Knock is another step in the right direction, though it falls short of becoming … Continue reading
It’s been almost a year since we heard from KARD, and to be honest I can’t remember much about their last title track. But, they’ve made a subtle sonic shift for new single Without You – opting for a club-ready sound that retains many of the elements that made them popular in the first place. … Continue reading
Rumors have been swirling that Mark’s new solo track Golden Hour is a Gordon Ramsay diss track, stemming from an infamous Twitter exchange. The idea alone is humorous. But although the famous chef is mentioned in the lyrics, the song itself is much weirder and more inscrutable. Whatever I may think about Golden Hour (honestly… … Continue reading
The BTS solos continue to arrive at an ever-increasing pace. Mere weeks after Jimin dropped his debut solo album, groupmate Suga has returned with a pre-release for his latest work under the Agust D moniker. People Pt.2 (사람 Pt.2) pairs him with IU for a sonic sequel to his 2020 track People. This song is … Continue reading
This is an interesting collaboration. I didn’t expect to see Heize pair with producer R.Tee, resulting in a sound that’s far more dancefloor-oriented than most of her work. Similar to his 2019 track with Anda (still a banger btw), Vingle Vingle (빙글빙글) centers around an instrumental-drop-as-chorus. If you must employ this overused trope, you better … Continue reading
The Faker Club label is on a roll, producing some of the industry’s most addictive synthpop. It’s been a joy watching from20’s career blossom from cool indie artist to impressive pop star. Last August’s Chemical became one of my most-played songs of 2022 and new single Bad Revenge maintains its undeniable flair. The production on … Continue reading
In this feature, I zoom into some of K-pop’s most legendary weeks — short periods of time that delivered multiple classics. K-pop is usually a Monday through Friday affair (at least in my time zone), with some weeks stuffed to the brim with releases. But, not all include multiple 9+ rated songs. Here, I’ll through … Continue reading
Thus far, I picture DreamNote as a fizzy/fun girl group, characterized by this 2019 standout. But, 2020’s Wish and 2021’s Ghost started to reinvent their sound. And now, pre-release track Blue makes a case for the strength of their vocals. As a song, Blue isn’t anything out of the ordinary. But as a performance, it … Continue reading
This isn’t a title track or a “buried treasure,” but aespa’s new Tetris OST seems noteworthy enough to receive a write-up. Yes… you read that right. “Tetris OST.” We’re living in the upside-down, here. Thankfully, this upcoming Tetris movie is billed as a biopic/thriller and not one of those awful animated cash-ins that ruin a … Continue reading
Since making his breakthrough in early 2018, Holland has struggled to consistently release music. After a blitz of singles at the end of the last decade, Number Boy is his first new work in years. It’s a welcome return for the groundbreaking performer and reestablishes him as a purveyor of moody synthpop. With this sound … Continue reading
In a sea of too-cool-for-school NewJeans clones and don’t-mess-with-us girl crush fare, CSR stand out as a bright, bubbly representative of K-pop’s past. Their debut album last summer was a wonderful surprise, painting them as this generation’s answer to GFriend or Lovelyz. The group have more-or-less continued along that path, yet haven’t matched the power … Continue reading
I hadn’t listened to any teasers of BamBam’s new single, so I wasn’t sure if I should expect another mid-tempo trap-pop ditty or something a bit more robust. It turns out Sour & Sweet surprised me in a good way by harnessing current synthwave trends to create a propulsive sound that hinges around a very … Continue reading
I understand the appeal of Billlie, but so far their singles run has been hit or miss for me. They’re at their best when pushing against current tropes to indulge in more unique sounds. New single Eunoia doesn’t exactly do that, but it’s a solid example of the Monotree-esque quirky dance music favored by peers … Continue reading
Lately, I’ve been delving further into the music of the “46” groups within Japan’s Sakamichi Series. I’ve casually kept up with a few singles here and there, but at the moment I’m finding their sound to be a refreshing contrast to the trends dominating K-pop’s girl group landscape. You all know I’m a sucker for … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 