As we get closer to my monthly round-up for January, I’m desperate for singles to choose as part of my “top three.” For the second month in a row, I’ve got nothing but placeholders so far. The brief music video teaser for Korean-Thai group THE7’s debut seemed promising. A bright, synth-packed funk instrumental? Yes, please! … Continue reading
Aimers debuted late last year with Fight Inside – a song that seemed to win them many fans. I came around to some of its charms (especially the SHINee-esque ones) through multiple listens, but the group hasn’t yet convinced me of their unique place in K-pop. Their all-important first comeback is still ahead of us, … Continue reading
Despite climbing to some of the highest highs in recent years, TXT’s title tracks tend to be hit or miss with me. They’ll release something utterly brilliant like Crown or Run Away or 0X1=LOVESONG, only to follow it with a single that hits many of my musical pet peeves (I’m side-eying you, Can’t You See … Continue reading
If I were to chart my listening habits over the past month or so, it would look something like: 80% J-pop, 10% Finnish pop (!), 5% American pop and 5% K-pop. Pretty strange for a K-pop blogger, right? That’s a testament to just how stalled the industry has become since November. It’s no surprise, then, … Continue reading
K-pop teasers can be deceptive if you’re not paying close attention. Take a look at the visual teasers for Yesung’s new comeback and you might expect a gritty punk rock track. I’d love to hear him tackle something like this – a song that gives his strong vocals more bite. But beyond the visuals, it … Continue reading
K-pop’s title tracks might gain most of listeners’ attention, but many album tracks are worth equal spotlight. I call these “buried treasures.” Beyond this, K-pop’s albums deliver thousands of additional tracks that settle for a more limited audience. It’s these songs that will become a part of my “battle of the b-sides” feature. In this … Continue reading
I woke up today resigned to the fact I’d be writing about yet another K-pop song from twelve years ago. It turns out, it’s quite challenging to run a K-pop review blog without new K-pop releases! But, Bias List favorites OnlyOneOf have swooped in to save the day, unveiling their new Japanese single Chrome Arts … Continue reading
Twice made a convincing English-language debut with 2021’s The Feels. While the language of their lyrics may have changed, the song retained the core elements of the group’s appeal. If an idol group plans to localize for foreign markets, this seems like the way to do it. Sixteen months later and Twice have returned with … Continue reading
With over 3,000 songs on my iPhone’s “K-Pop Singles” playlist, I thought it would be fun to add a bit of unpredictability to my song review posts. So as a result, we have the “Random Shuffle Review” feature. The rules are simple. I fire up my playlist, press “shuffle,” and whatever song plays first gets … Continue reading
One of my favorite GOT7-related projects was sub-unit JJ Project, which consisted of members Jinyoung and Jay B. 2017’s Tomorrow, Today grew into a big standout that convinced me of Jinyoung’s skill with a melody. Six years later and he’s returned as a soloist with his own mini album. Title track Cotton Candy retains elements … Continue reading
We last heard from Cignature in late 2021 when their title track Boyfriend opted for familiar “Top 40” pop tropes that could have been pulled from any global music market. New single Aurora (오로라) returns to a more quintessentially K-pop sound, offering a straightforward take on the bubbly energy that fueled past comebacks like Arisong … Continue reading
Yuehua Entertainment has become known for drastic concept shifts. Both Everglow and Tempest have made major sonic u-turns between comebacks, and now it’s time for soloist Yena to tackle something new. Obviously, it’s beneficial for artists to stretch the limits of their sound and evolve as their career goes on. But during a debut year, … Continue reading
SM Entertainment’s all-star GOT The Beat unit was one of 2022’s most baffling projects. The agency assembled many of its strongest female performers only to debut a single track at the beginning of the year with limited promotions and no real follow-through. Clearly, this unit was never intended to carry SuperM-esque ambitions. I assumed the … Continue reading
K-pop’s title tracks might gain most of listeners’ attention, but many album tracks are worth equal spotlight. I call these “buried treasures.” Beyond this, K-pop’s albums deliver thousands of additional tracks that settle for a more limited audience. It’s these songs that will become a part of my “battle of the b-sides” feature. In this … Continue reading
Music quality aside, it’s always nice to see the debut of a unique K-pop configuration. An idol duo is hardly a new idea, but we don’t see many of them within the industry. Primrose aim to break that pattern, stuffing all the bombast of a group comeback into two skilled performers. Judging by their self-titled … Continue reading
Some songs arrive with fanfare even before a single preview has dropped. Vibe represents not only the long-awaited return of Bigbang’s Taeyang, but a colossal meeting of two K-pop generations. During the early 2010’s, Bigbang helped construct the international crossroads that made K-pop such a global success. Years later, BTS paved those roads in platinum, … Continue reading
As the lines between industries continue to blur, it can be difficult to decide which songs to feature on this blog. Is Henry’s English-language Moonlight *technically* K-pop? Probably not. But, it’s a very slow week for new releases so the song is sneaking onto my review schedule. After all, this is the same Henry that … Continue reading
After eight years in the industry, Monsta X’s sound has evolved in a way that feels natural and satisfying. Members have begun taking more creative control of their music, so I’m surprised to see their names credited only to the lyrics of new single Beautiful Liar. The song borrows hallmarks from some of their biggest … Continue reading
Coming off the heels of an incredibly slow December, 2023 in K-pop is off to a similarly stagnant start. I’m waiting to hear the first track of the year that’ll knock me off my feet, and Puzzle‘s propulsive teasers seemed to point in the right direction. SF9’s music has grown more consistently slick over the … Continue reading
K-pop’s title tracks might gain most of listeners’ attention, but many album tracks are worth equal spotlight. I call these “buried treasures.” Beyond this, K-pop’s albums deliver thousands of additional tracks that settle for a more limited audience. It’s these songs that will become a part of my “battle of the b-sides” feature. In this … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 