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. Though they had no comeback, TXT … Continue reading
Trot music doesn’t often pop up on this blog, despite the genre being a huge part of the Korean music industry. Some artists cross over and blend trot with more typically “K-pop” aspects, such as Hong Jinyoung. Others don’t perform on weekly music shows at all. It’s rare for an idol to make a debut … Continue reading
A decade after their debut as a sub-unit, Super Junior-D&E have finally released their first full Korean album. That’s a long wait, softened by the fact the guys have been active in Japan as well. Countdown was preceded by solo efforts from both Donghae and Eunhyuk, though neither of those tracks are included in the … Continue reading
I don’t know what’s in the water this year, but K-pop has really embraced Halloween. Idol acts often record livestreams or special videos for the holiday, but I can’t remember another year with so much Halloween-themed content. In Pink Fantasy’s case, they’ve themed a whole comeback around it. Tales Of The Unusual (기기괴괴) arrives alongside … 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. Kingdom are slowly proving themselves kings … Continue reading
Up to this point, we’ve been lucky to get one or two tracks from Somi each year. Now, she’s released her first full album with (brace yourself…) four new songs! Beggars can’t be choosers, and I’m glad she has a chance to flesh out her sound. New title track XOXO is composed by the usual … Continue reading
While DreamNote’s title tracks have been pretty inconsistent, they’ve shown a marked improvement over time. I didn’t care for their debut at all, but follow-up Hakuna Matata ended up being one of my favorites of 2019. We last heard from the girls pre-pandemic – almost two years ago. I worry that the ensuing restrictions stole … Continue reading
I was no fan of EPEX’s debut, but the official description for first comeback Do 4 Me caught my attention. The song is described as taking influence from Queen’s Another One Bites the Dust, INXS’s Need You Tonight and Dua Lipa’s Break My Heart. That’s a musical trilogy that aims straight for my heart, and … Continue reading
After releasing the first part of their newest full-length album back in January, Epik High are set to complete the project in the coming weeks. Before that, they’ve teamed with fellow rappers Giriboy, Sik-K and JUSTHIS for pre-release Face ID. The group’s past few title tracks have been restrained and emotional, so it’s fun to … Continue reading
The trend of producers creating idol groups continues with the debut of bugAboo, the second group under Ryan Jhun’s A Team label. As such, their music comes courtesy of Jhun himself, a proven hitmaker in the industry. Their cutesy group name (which just happens to be one of my childhood nicknames…) seems to promise an … Continue reading
Just weeks after NCT 127’s Sticker unleashed screechy flute on an unsuspecting K-pop industry, the group has returned with repackage track Favorite. The description for this one promised ample use of a whistle, which elicited ample eye rolls from me. It seems that SM is developing a tradition of releasing decent title tracks only 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. Seventeen’s new mini album is strong, … 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. Though he participated in lyric writing … Continue reading
In a disappointing month for K-pop comebacks, I’ve cast poor Seventeen as my Great Shining Hope of October. That’s a lot of pressure to put on one song, but Rock With You seemed to promise many of the elements I’ve been craving: big, bounding energy + a hooky structure (with rock guitar thrown in for … Continue reading
A week after Super Junior’s Donghae pre-released his solo track California Love, Eunhyuk is back with his own song. This double shot of D&E heralds the release of their upcoming unit album. I think this promotional tactic is cool – allowing each member to offer a taste of their own style before a comeback that … Continue reading
After nearly a decade of anticipation, CL’s first full album has finally arrived! If I used gifs to illustrate my point, I’d paste a standing ovation after this sentence. Seriously, give the lady some applause. The industry has not always been kind to her, but she’s persisted and released three singles in 2021. Not all … Continue reading
Infinite’s Woohyun wasted no time after military service, releasing new music just weeks after being discharged. He’s one of two Infinite members sticking with Woollim Entertainment, though it seems the guys have negotiated stipulations that allow them to remain active as a group. As I’ve mentioned before, Woohyun is one of my absolute favorite voices … 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 may never stop complaining about … Continue reading
Growing up, the Jackson family (specifically Janet and Michael) were my pop star archetypes. This probably explains my current taste in music, as well as my initial fascination with K-pop. So much of the industry’s sound and spectacle draws influence from the Jacksons – sometimes even more so than Western music markets. And when idols … Continue reading
ENHYPEN have been a frustrating prospect to watch. I was in on the ground floor, watching their formation through the I-LAND series. With huge agency support and a team of well-regarded songwriters, their music should be resonating. But every time I think they’re going to pull something spectacular out of the hat, the songs are … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 