Since their 2016 debut, Cosmic Girls have gone a long way towards established a signature sound. Much of this has been possible by keeping their stable of songwriters tight. I think this is important for an idol group, as it fosters a sense of incremental growth without jarring transitions in style. New single Butterfly continues … Continue reading
It’s been almost a year since Ha Sungwoon’s last comeback. That summer album showed a lot of promise, foregoing the tepid r&b of his solo debut for more adventurous sounds. Now, he’s back with the kind of funk-pop track I’d like to see K-pop’s moody boy groups tackle again. Get Ready isn’t perfect, but its … Continue reading
More often than not, K-pop agencies play the long game with their trainees, recruiting young with the hope of rearing a world-conquering star. This is usually a behind-the-scenes process, but fans have been with Bang Yedam ever since he competed in the second season of K-pop Star at the age of ten. K-pop Star was … Continue reading
Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, 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 not as strong or consistent as either of their 2019 … Continue reading
If I’m being honest, I’ve never been blown away by a Victon title track. They strike me as the kind of group that can excel at a variety of concepts, but if I were asked to think of their iconic song or image, I’d come up short. This jack-of-all-trades approach isn’t unique within the idol … Continue reading
As Woollim Entertainment’s roster has grown, I’ve longed for more inter-agency collaborations. A holiday song, a special mixed-group unit – something that would showcase all of this ta)lent in one place. It took a global pandemic for that to finally happen, as the agency has unveiled their healing song Relay (이어달리기). The track encompasses over … Continue reading
Stray Kids’ TOP has been rattling around for awhile now, but I wanted to wait until the music video was out before offering my thoughts. Though released in several different languages, TOP is essentially the group’s debut J-pop single – at least when it comes to original material. And as with most J-pop singles, it’s … Continue reading
I’ve spent pretty much all of ONEWE’s debut year complaining about their music’s lack of energy. I’d followed the group since before their re-branding, and it always seemed like they were playing fun, upbeat pop-rock at their busking shows. Yet, 2019-20 gave us the subdued trilogy of Reminisce About All, Regulus and Q. Two of … Continue reading
Today is truly the day of male solo releases, with no less than three big-name tracks dropping. And of those three, Park Jihoon easily takes the win. I’m not sure I would’ve expected this. I’ve enjoyed his two title tracks, while finding their respective albums quite boring. But, for Wing he’s injected his music with … Continue reading
KEEMBO consists of ex-Spica members Boa and Bohyung, re-debuting as a duo. They’ve gotten precious little attention so far, but I’m here to change that for one very important reason: they’ve brought my lord and savior (and occasional Spica collaborator) Sweetune along for the ride! Sweetune have been MIA for too long now, only popping … Continue reading
Despite a fair amount of online buzz, OnlyOneOf have largely flown under my radar. However, their 2019 title track Sage ended up growing on me quite a bit after watching it performed over and over on weekly music shows. I guess repetition will do that. Still, up to this point I think I’ve enjoyed their … Continue reading
This has been quite the week for girl group debuts, hasn’t it? REDSQUARE is the third new act to emerge in the space of forty-eight hours. And like Woo!ah! and Secret Number, they come from a relatively small agency without the kind of clout that would render them instant successes. But of the three groups, … Continue reading
Originally scheduled for debut in March, COVID-19 pushed back Secret Number’s first single album to May. And, as any new act is wont to do, they’re confidently asking us: Who Dis? Extra points for the intentionally bad spelling and grammar. But though that title might conjure images of cringe-inducing “hip-hop hands” and misguided hair styles, … Continue reading
It seems like just yesterday that NCT Dream unveiled their newest mini album. The “Neo Zone” sure has been prolific lately, with member Haechan participating in a comeback each month since March. Punch arrives as a repackaged title track to NCT 127’s second full-length, and expands on their abrasive hip-hop sound. In doing so, the … Continue reading
Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, 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. As usual, DAY6’s new album is far more exciting and adventurous … Continue reading
Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, 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. Apart from atmospheric opener Moon Dance and obligatory ballad Must, I’d … Continue reading
May is quickly shaping up to be the month of superstar collaborations. Yours brings together EXO’s Chanyeol and DJ Raiden, and throws in Lee Hi and Changmo for good measure. This buffet of talent offers a little something for everyone, and each performer is used well – even if the song takes a minute to … Continue reading
Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, 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. Much of Astro’s new mini album (including its decent but unspectacular … Continue reading
Girl group fans will likely know Natty as a contestant in both Sixteen (which went on to form Twice) and Idol School (which formed fromis_9). She has the unlucky distinction of being eliminated in episode eleven of both series, which has got to be maddening. But now, after five years in the public consciousness, she’s … Continue reading
The global K-pop fandom lost its collective mind upon the announcement that IU would be collaborating with BTS’s Suga. And true to grouchy form, I received the news with a shoulder shrug, imagining the dull hip-hop ballads that usually result from these high-profile pairings. However, Eight (에잇) sounds nothing like I’d expected, and I say … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 