Kara are on a very short list of “holy grail” comebacks: K-pop legends whose reunion would send shockwaves through second-gen fans like myself. When I Move celebrates their fifteenth anniversary and is their first new music in over seven years, performed by a combination of members from the group’s various line-ups. All that’s missing are … Continue reading
It’s the end of November, which means it’s time for the fifth entry in OnlyOneOf’s ambitious Underground Idol series. This series has been a highlight of 2022, delivering a diverse tapestry of genre and mood while adhering to its interconnected storyline. Cynical viewers might see the group’s past two years as one long audition to … 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 wasn’t on the TO1 Drummin’ … Continue reading
I’m still trying to pretend that Tempest’s Dragon doesn’t exist. Others don’t seem to agree with this tactic, as the song has rewarded the group with their highest first sales week yet. Sigh. My consolation is the fact that K-pop album sales don’t correlate with the actual quality of music. It’s all about those photo … Continue reading
Repackaged albums are still common in K-pop, but they usually arrive a month or two after the original release. We’re six months away from Kang Daniel’s The Story and he’s surprised us with an extra chapter. The Story: Retold adds a handful of songs, including new single Nirvana. I can’t say I enjoyed any of … Continue reading
I had to look back to see if I had written about NTX’s debut. I couldn’t remember them at all, but once I replayed last year’s Kiss The World I remembered how much I enjoyed that song. Without a comeback since March of 2021, the group had completely fallen off my radar. That’s a loooong … Continue reading
The addition of new members and a switch in concept has revitalized TO1. Though I wasn’t completely sold on Drummin’ the first few times through, it’s gone on to become a sleeper hit – one of my most played songs of 2022. It uses its messy boisterous for good, stuffed with hook after hook. New … Continue reading
Well… this is awkward. Just a short time after Ravn left ONEUS after allegations were made against him, we have a Japanese track that places him front and center. Obviously, these releases are planned and recorded far in advance, but it still feels weird to see ONEUS as a six-member group and know that this … Continue reading
I’ve always thought the best window to release Christmas songs is late-November to early-December. That way, you’ve got a few weeks to run them into the ground before moving into the new year. With this in mind, NMIXX’s Funky Glitter Christmas arrives at just the right time for me. The only question is: how weird … Continue reading
Queen of K-pop BoA tends to make her return around this time of year. Most recently, she came back in December 2020 with a full album and December 2019 with a mini. New release Forgive Me arrives a few months after the launch of her music show K-909, where she fully embraces her position as … Continue reading
2022 in K-pop has left much to be desired, and one of the things I’ve been missing is a good, goofy comeback from JYP. He’s the gift that keeps on giving, fully in on the joke as he recycles musical elements from his youth in a way his juniors can’t replicate with such authenticity. Over … Continue reading
After spoiling us with two albums last year, 2022 hasn’t been quite as prolific for B.I. He released the hypnotic BTBT back in May, which previewed a new global project that has finally come to fruition in the form of Love Or Loved Part 1. New single Keep Me Up recaptures much of BTBT’s vibe … Continue reading
CSR’s summer debut stands as one of my favorites from 2022, opting for a bright, poppy sound that hearkened back to past K-pop eras. Not only that, but the girls enlisted my beloved Sweetune for a b-side! Since that debut, CSR have been sharing various dance covers of early-GFriend songs – a style I desperately … Continue reading
Though I haven’t yet written about him on this blog, I’ve been keeping an eye on BigOne’s music over the past few months. With so many idol acts adopting a rock sound and image, it’s nice to head straight to the source and hear a straightforward rocker fueled by punk energy. BigOne’s singles Password 486 … Continue reading
After quickly securing a place at the top of the K-pop girl group pack, STAYC are following in the footsteps of their seniors by embarking on a Japanese career. J-pop output from K-pop acts has been decidedly mixed over the past few years, far from the consistent discographies crafted by artists like SNSD, After School, … Continue reading
Debuting last year, Just B’s music has already moved through several iterations. They’re currently in a phase where their singles incorporate “=” symbols into their titles. I’m sure there’s some complex lore supporting this decision, but I’m more concerned with the music behind those titles. Their tracks often incorporate rock sounds, exemplified by this excellent … Continue reading
Funny enough, “woo!ah!” is the sound I made when I first heard Rollercoaster‘s teaser. My opinion on woo!ah!’s music has varied dramatically over the years, hitting an all-time low point with June’s cloying Danger. Now, the group has taken a confident step in the retro synth direction. Regardless of the results, you’ll always find me … Continue reading
Unless I’m missing something, DRIPPIN’s The One is the final big postponed K-pop release to arrive. Of course, it also happens to be the comeback I was most looking forward to. With The One, DRIPPIN have concluded their Villain series (until the inevitable repackage, that is!). Both Villain and Zero were highlights of the year, … Continue reading
Girl group Fifty Fifty are set to officially debut at the end of the month, but they’ve pre-released Lovin’ Me today. I was struck by its teaser, which seemed to promise a more refined, mature sound than many of K-pop’s current girl groups are offering. The full song more-or-less delivers on this promise and points … Continue reading
Rookie boy group Trendz are the latest to return with material originally scheduled for October. Thus far, the guys haven’t done much to land on my radar, though June’s Who improved with time. I appreciate when they lean heavily into rock guitar, and new single Vagabond leverages this strength. But, the song is not without … Continue reading
