Kang Daniel’s newest album comes paired with striking Mad Max-esque visuals. SOS‘s music video is very cool, delivering high octane action even as the song trudges away underneath. Its sound continues in the vein of past singles — an alt rock/trap hybrid that feels emotional and gritty. This has become a preferred style for Kang … Continue reading
SM Entertainment has been into their pre-releases lately, teasing anticipated albums with a full song weeks before the rest of the tracks are set to drop. Following SHINee and EXO, NCT Dream are the next group to give us a taste of their new sound. And though Broken Melodies may not reinvent any wheel, it’s … Continue reading
Girl group Kiss Of Life has yet to debut, but we’re already familiar with Natty from her solo work. She released a couple of solid singles back in 2020 before cutting her solo career short. It seems fitting, then, that this new group’s rollout begins with another solo track. Sugarcoat captures my 90’s r&b heart. … 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. Nothing on Ren’s debut mini album … Continue reading
My trajectory with ATEEZ has been a bit of a mystery. Back in 2019, I found them to be one of the most exciting acts in K-pop. But as the years have gone on, it’s been harder to retain the same level of excitement around their music. I’m not sure why this is. Their core … Continue reading
LUN8 are Fantagio Entertainment’s first new group since Weki Meki in 2017, succeeding Astro as the agency’s second boy band. Astro’s debut year will always be a sterling example of a new group debuting with their own sound and musical perspective. LUN8 have a big legacy to live up to, and Wild Heart shows potential. … Continue reading
It seems I’m writing about a HYBE act or a HYBE-adjacent act every other day on this blog. The monolithic company has taken over K-pop and has its sights set on J-pop as well. The resulting music is of mixed quality, but HYBE’s ever-expanding roster of artists have all found success so far. Love them … Continue reading
Ren’s penchant for colorful, over-the-top pop music makes him the Nu’est member I was most excited about going solo. With any luck, he’d use 2021’s Rocket Rocket as a template and craft an entire album of big club bops. There’s a hole in the market for a male idol like that. Ready To Move targets … Continue reading
I’m doing mental somersaults to determine the connection between Suzy and HYBE’s upcoming series R U Next. I thought maybe she was the host or a mentor, but a quick Google search reveals nothing. I guess IU performed I-LAND‘s theme track without being part of the actual series, so there’s a precedent for super popular … Continue reading
Before SHINee make their long-awaited return at the end of the month, they have a gift for fans in the form of pre-release single The Feeling. This song was previously revealed as part of the group’s recent fanmeet and marks the first time we’re hearing all four members on a new Korean track since the … 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 get why fromis_9 would want … Continue reading
The New Six (formerly TNX)’s era-spanning teasers for new single Kick It 4 Now have been very entertaining. Nostalgia is all the rave right now, and the guys did a great job recreating various pop music aesthetics from the 80’s and 90’s. The song follows suit, delivering a retro taste of new jack swing. I’ll … Continue reading
I wasn’t sure whether Die For Love should be categorized as a “song review” or a “buried treasure.” It has no music video, but it’s listed as one of the title tracks from B.I’s newest album. Whatever you want to call it, this is one of the strongest K-pop songs I’ve heard in awhile. I … Continue reading
Look, K-pop producers… all I want is a great song that stays great all the way through. Is that too much to ask? The teasers for Xodiac’s Special Love seemed to promise bubbly, synth-kissed energy. Its exuberant chorus definitely delivers, but if the entire track had followed suit we might have a Sweetune-esque pop banger … Continue reading
fromis_9’s comebacks tend to hang around the mid 8’s on this blog, which isn’t a bad place to be. Their music rarely knocks my socks off, but they’ve developed a stable sound that can be counted on to deliver sleek, streamlined pop. New single #menow adds to this list, neither better nor worse than most … Continue reading
Sakurazaka46 has their “aggrieved protagonist vents frustration through combative dance routines” format down pat, and its sense of empowerment feels more genuine than much of what passes as empowering in pop music. If you’re looking for catharsis in the form of a song, this is the group for you. Start Over is an absolute beast, … Continue reading
There are times when you admire something even if you don’t necessarily like it. Stray Kids’ new single S-Class (특) has those qualities. I admire its chutzpah, and I admire the group’s willingness to experiment with sound and structure. This seems to be their answer to JYP Entertainment’s “mixx-pop” endeavor — basically cramming an entire … Continue reading
I was not a fan of HORI7ON’s first pre-debut single Dash, but follow-up track Lovey Dovey dramatically transforms their sound. Gone is the tough-guy chanting of Dash, replaced by pastel outfits and a light funk pop beat that borrows elements of new jack swing. This style appeals to me, even if the song feels a … Continue reading
Twice’s Hare Hare has been kicking around digital spaces for a few weeks, but I’ve held off writing about it in a J-pop round-up because I knew the music video was just around the corner. Today, we have the visuals to accompany this bouncy dance track. Hare Hare is modern Twice, through and through. It … Continue reading
The Faker Club is providing necessary counterprogramming for mainstream K-pop trends. Its artists from20 and Hello Gloom have delivered some of my favorite songs of the year, simply by opting for sounds and structures that are hard to find elsewhere. Eyes On Me is another winner. If you’ve perused any of my “Global Round-Up” posts, … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 