Exile Tribe’s Battle of Tokyo series continues with its second installment. This mix of animation and live-action has been quite cool so far, and I’m eager to see the rest of the series. Call of Justice finds personal favorite The Rampage joining the fray, bolstered by their familiar rock-meets-rap style. It’s an exciting jolt of … Continue reading
Though they’re short two original members, Highlight have become one of K-pop’s longest-running groups thanks to a rebranding and revitalization in 2017. Perhaps unsurprisingly, their new single Not The End (불어온다) seems to spring directly from that year’s musical trends, feeling like an outtake from their earlier work rather than a new push forward. Highlight … Continue reading
Just over two months since his last single, Nissy is back with Say Yes. And with a music video that carries on the story of February’s Get You Back, he seems to be crafting a connected universe of songs. I wouldn’t be surprised if we heard from him again two months from now. This regularity … Continue reading
When it was released in 2015, I never would have imagined SHINee’s View would kick off years of deep house K-pop tracks. It’s the musical trend that refuses to quit, and I fear we’re reaching over-saturation. I enjoy deep house as a genre, but I keep waiting for K-pop to remove the “deep” and jump … Continue reading
In the middle of writing about last year’s I-LAND, I questioned whether I should continue with the show. It didn’t seem to be creating the buzz I’d expected among K-pop fans. But, then ENHYPEN debuted and sold a boatload of albums. Clearly, you don’t need a huge viewing audience to spawn a successful idol act. … Continue reading
You would think anniversary fan songs would be something to look forward to. In reality, they tend to veer toward sentimental schlock that shares little connective tissue with the rest of an artist’s discography. Music like this is often referred to as a “gift to the fans,” but in my opinion the best gift an … Continue reading
K-Pop debuts can be tricky things. At times, they’re the best song a group delivers. Sometimes, they’re the only song a group delivers! But, debuts can also be huge wtf moments in an artist’s career. In this feature, I’ll be looking back at debut songs through the prism of time, re-evaluating how well they hold … Continue reading
A K-pop group’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. Nu’est Romanticize is far stronger than … Continue reading
P1Harmony made a solid debut last October, but waited six months before returning with their first comeback. Judging from their new album, the group seems to have settled on hip-hop as their overarching sound. I think it’s a good fit for their talents – especially if they can draw from various elements and eras of … Continue reading
Exile Tribe’s 2019 Battle of Tokyo was one of the coolest, most ambitious J-pop projects in recent years. The collective’s four “junior” groups battled it out over a series of song collaborations, released subsequently throughout a single week in June. These were tied to big budget music videos that combined to create a (sometimes incoherent) … Continue reading
You Make Me isn’t only DAY6’s first comeback in almost a year. It’s JYP Entertainment’s first release since November 2020. That’s a surprisingly long hiatus for one of K-pop’s biggest agencies. And, the album feels weightier than normal. With leader/main vocal Sungjin enlisted in the military, any upcoming DAY6 releases will likely sound quite different. … Continue reading
Though I didn’t love BTS’s Dynamite as much as others seemed to, I have to thank it for helping reinvigorate K-pop’s interest in bright, disco-inspired songs. Groups are starting to ditch their dark, harness-heavy costumes for pastel suits, bringing a greater sense of balance to the boy group ecosphere. Great Guys’ new single Touch By … Continue reading
Seventeen have been consistent with their J-pop releases, crafting original material in addition to re-recording existing songs in Japanese. And rather than outsource the creative process, new single Not Alone (ひとりじゃない) is again composed by Woozi and Bumzu. Even so, this doesn’t come across as a leftover K-pop track pitched to the Japanese market. There’s … Continue reading
After a debut year stuffed with upbeat funk pop comebacks, Dongkiz explored edgier sounds in 2020. Neither concept has brought them much attention, but I think a youthful, exuberant style best illustrates their charms. New single Universe calls back to their 2019 era, albeit with much more generic trappings. Unfortunately, you can feel the budget … Continue reading
After SHINee’s Don’t Call Me album was released in February, I broke it down track by track. And now that we have a repackage on our hands, it’s time to add those new tracks to the in-depth album review! 1. Atlantis // 2. CØDE // 3. Don’t Call Me // 4. Area // 5. Heart … Continue reading
CIX’s Cinema has been a slow burn hit for me. I liked it when it first came out, but the song has had unexpected staying power on my playlist. So, I was excited to see the guys continue this lighter sound for their next Japanese release. All For You is an upbeat burst of brass-kissed … Continue reading
Just days after Seventeen’s Hoshi delivered his solo track Spider, bandmate The8 has dropped his own digital single. I guess my wish for more Seventeen solo projects is coming true! Apart from being familiar with his role in the group, most of my knowledge about The8 stems from Chinese collaboration show Chao Yin Zhan Ji. … Continue reading
Mamamoo have not only proven themselves a force to be reckoned with, but each member has gone on to enjoy solo success in a variety of fields. Wheein seems perfectly poised for this endeavor, with a strong voice that can tackle a wide spectrum of genres. New single Water Color sees her paired with a … Continue reading
After SHINee’s Don’t Call Me album was released in February, I broke it down track by track. And now that we have a repackage on our hands, it’s time to add those new tracks to the in-depth album review! 1. Atlantis // 2. CØDE // 3. Don’t Call Me // 4. Area // 5. Heart … Continue reading
A K-pop group’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. The overriding opinion on STAYC’s ASAP … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 