As you might have expected from a new group debuting under Big Hit, Cortis have blown up since the release of their first album. Big Hit has used scarcity to their advantage, promoted tracks from that album but holding off on a comeback until later. That comeback is finally scheduled for next month, and pre-release … Continue reading
Xdinary Heroes have distinguished themselves from other idol bands through their willingness to move past sentiment into whimsical theatricality. Early efforts in this vein weren’t quite to my taste, but they’ve found a satisfying middleground lately. New title track Voyager offers a slightly different sound for the group, bolstering their anthemic songwriting with celestial synth … Continue reading
Well… look who’s back! I (along with everyone else) assumed DXMON had faded into the K-pop ether. They haven’t released new material since 2024 and for a group of their stature that’s usually a tacit disbandment or at the very least an “indefinite hiatus.” However, today they’ve surprise released new single SSS (She’s Sweet & … Continue reading
A few weeks ago, TWS collaborated with American rapper 24kgoldn for the first release in the “essential; studio” series of promotional tracks. As TWS songs always do, the hooks grew on me the more I listened to it. Next up is agency seniors Seventeen — or more accurately, DK and Seungkwan, who debuted as a … Continue reading
Along with his work in One Pact, Jay Chang has had a side career as a soloist. This makes sense given his talents as a vocalist. Not many idols can effectively drive an entire song on their own, but his voice has the polish and weight to make any material compelling. He’s already tried his … Continue reading
Mnet loves wringing as much as possible from its survival series, so in addition to ALPHA DRIVE ONE, Boys II Planet gives us a spinoff group. MODYSSEY is comprised of Chinese members who didn’t quite make the cut, promoting in Korea with a song by Stray Kids’ 3racha. This is a set-up for instant success, … 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. Kiss Of Life’s Who Is She … 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. The KickFlip machine at JYP Entertainment … Continue reading
Hwasa scored a mega hit last fall with Good Goodbye — a song that took a moment to top the charts but didn’t relinquish its place once it got there. That success was a welcome surprise. I didn’t care much about the song itself, but I’ve always liked Hwasa. Time will tell if those good … Continue reading
After exploring various sub-genres of hip-hop (my favorite being 90s G-funk), Young Posse have turned their attention toward a sound closer to hyperpop. This resulted in the utterly awful Visa earlier this year, but they’ve managed some refinement since then. New single We Don’t Go To Bed Tonight is much more palatable. There’s a great … Continue reading
Kiss Of Life have been teasing a comeback for some time now, no doubt hoping to recapture the buzz of their early work before a large chunk of the K-pop fandom turned on them. With new single Who Is She, they’re smart to return to some of the 2000s sounds that first brought them to … Continue reading
One thing about JYP groups is that they’re always going to be very prolific. KickFlip debuted just over a year ago and are already on their fourth mini album. That frequency and consistency has quickly built a catalog of music that feels unique to them. I’m loving their youthful pop/rock sound and am happy that … Continue reading
Since leaving Cube Entertainment, Pentagon’s Kino has embarked on a solo career filled with quirky electropop and interesting ideas. I enjoyed his last EP quite a bit and new title track Taxi builds upon that sonic foundation while adding a generous sprinkle of 80s synth and occasional bursts of rock intensity. So many acts are … Continue reading
Jang Haneum participated in last year’s Boys II Planet and was set to debut in that program’s spin-off group, though that seems to be cancelled for now. He’s been releasing solo music for awhile and has somehow passed me by despite having a brilliant voice. When I heard teasers for new title track Wanna, I … Continue reading
DAY6 solo projects have largely left me cold, and that’s actually true for a lot of bands. Unless a member strikes out on their own with a vastly different sound, solo work can often feel like a lesser version of what the full band provides. I haven’t written about a solo track from keyboardist Wonpil … Continue reading
I wasn’t sure whether to write about this song or not since it’s barely promoted and the animated (AI slop) video doesn’t really fit my requirements for review. However, I’m very fond of CSR and their discography and it’s a slow day/week in K-pop. The group debuted in 2022 with a whopper of a mini … Continue reading
While I wait impatiently for TWS to announce the details of their promised April comeback, we’ve got an unexpected treat to tide us over. Three of the group’s members (Dohoon, Jihoon & Kyungmin) have teamed up with American rapper 24kGoldn on a project single for Bugs‘ Essential; Studio. I’m not sure exactly what this is … Continue reading
ITZY are currently enjoying unexpected virality thanks to their 2020 b-side That’s A No No gaining traction on SNS. It’s the perfect time for the girls to be promoting, and if a full group comeback isn’t in the works a solo debut is the next best thing. Following the group’s leader Yeji, youngest member Yuna … Continue reading
Since debut, ALL(H)OURS have stuck to a bombastic sound, fusing huge beats to catchy chants. This formula has often thrown melody to the curb in favor of other aspects, and that’s been the one missing piece that has prevented me from becoming absolutely obsessed with their singles. I wish I could sit their producers down … 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. There are some idols that you … Continue reading
