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. A2O Soul’s debut EP is uniformly … 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. Once I got past its cringier … Continue reading
ENHYPEN’s “spin-off” single I Want You isn’t scheduled for release until November 20th, but they’ve premiered the music video early. I’m not sure why this choice was made, as it seems to put their promotion on a collision course with the upcoming comeback from their HYBE peers TXT, but for better or worse we have … Continue reading
You know a K-pop trend has truly taken hold when it starts to morph the sound of an established artist’s discography. H1-KEY have experimented with genres before, but kept a melodic rock core to most of their work. And how awesome could that be if paired with the thumping dance beats that are currently in … Continue reading
A couple of weeks ago, ATEEZ pre-released the first taste of their new album with Drip. Its relatively flat, repetitive approach seemed to build off the assumed recipe for Bad‘s overwhelming success. However, teasers for the album’s title track Up promised a return to the bombastic sound the group first developed with their debut-era Treasure … Continue reading
Lucy released an ambitious fifteen-track album earlier this year, divided between new material and re-recordings of older songs. Now, to cap off 2026 they’re back with new single Again! (다시). As has been the style for some of their music videos in the past, this one’s entirely animated. When I first got into Lucy in … Continue reading
Though we can’t really call this K-pop, I need to write about the new EL CAPITXN single anyway. For those unfamiliar with him, EL CAPITXN debuted as the main vocalist of underrated boy group History. However, he developed a condition that affected his vocals and can no longer sing the way he used to. Because … Continue reading
It’s been over a year since we last heard from boy group Aimers. That’s long enough for the group to reinvent their sound, though to be honest I can’t quite place what their sound was in the first place. Their discography feels like a grab bag of different songs they just happen to be performing. … Continue reading
D.O. released a very strong mini album in September and its title track is still charting today. Even so, he’s made a quick comeback with new digital single Darling. This song is more in line with what many would expect from him, offering sentimental balladry just at the time of year Korean charts tend to … Continue reading
Jay Park’s LNGSHOT made their debut early in the year and have steadily released material since, but are finally embarking on their first official comeback today. Title track Bananas arrives on the heels of last month’s pre-release Masterpiece, which… didn’t exactly live up to its namesake. Bananas is more aptly-titled, yet no less frustrating. We’ve … Continue reading
Despite my interest in their concept, I haven’t yet become a fan of XLOV’s musical output. However, one song on their new album stood out to me, and not just because of its unique title. Tooth Gem Chiwawa (투스젬치와와) comes closer to fashioning the kind of offbeat electronic pop the group seem to be pursuing. … Continue reading
iNKODE Entertainment’s choice to debut two boy groups this year has been ambitious, but has also sacrificed their ability to actively promote both. KEYVITUP arrived first and benefited from a string of promoted tracks on their first EP, while second-in-line VAYONN have settled for one mini album in 2026. Now, KEYVITUP have returned with their … Continue reading
The ITZY members have gradually unfurled their solo debuts over the past two years. 2025 saw the release of Yeji’s first album, while Yuna made her solo debut earlier this year. Next up is Chaeryeong, who is often referred to as one of the most skilled dancers of her generation. Because of this, her own … Continue reading
After pre-releasing album opener The Sun last month, NCT Dream are embarking on their first project since founding member Mark Lee left to go solo. And with title track Boogie Woogie, they’ve returned to their bright, upbeat roots. I’d like to think there’s no age limit on fun bubblegum pop music, but it does become … Continue reading
When A2O Lite and A2O Soul released their first songs last month, each act had different chart fortunes. Lite lodged their super-hit Neon at the top of the charts almost instantly, while Soul’s Superstar never reached those heights but enjoyed a smaller, steady climb. This is pretty typical of how boy and girl groups function … Continue reading
Ah, XG. They’re one of those J-pop/global groups with enough K-pop crossover that Bias List readers have come to expect a write-up each time they release new music. With the way markets are zig-zagging into one another these days, it can be hard to know what to cover on this blog. For their part, XG … Continue reading
After leaving SM Entertainment and NCT, Mark Lee has started to carve out a solo career in what seems to be easy-listening, Christian music. I’m neither a fan of easy-listening nor a religious person, so I’m not sure I totally understand what makes a song like this good, but I do know what makes music … Continue reading
It’s always telling which day and time K-pop artists release new music. Those releasing early in the week tend to target the domestic market and Korea’s nearer neighbors, while those adhering to America’s “New Music Friday” (ie: 12am, US Eastern time) tend to compete in a more global market. P1Harmony have long been favorites of … Continue reading
Rather than opt for one big comeback, HITGS have spent the year doling out digital singles every couple of months as part of their Things We Dream project. While blitzing the market like this can be a nice strategy, it’s difficult to gain traction this way unless you’re already an established name. New single BRB … Continue reading
Dragon Pony made a stellar debut back in 2024, right as the new wave of K-idol bands were beginning to roll out. Two years later, there’s a ton of competition in this space running the gamut of sounds and styles. For me, the two factors that have always helped Dragon Pony stand out are their … Continue reading
