Pixy have undergone quite a transformation in my eyes, moving from noisy drop-style music to funky experimentations that offer a fresh voice in K-pop’s girl group landscape. New single Karma feels like a distillation of all these sounds… for better or worse. It has its standout moments, but they’re undercut by a jarring drop that … Continue reading
Twice’s graceful metamorphosis into their current pop sound marks one of K-pop’s most satisfying evolutions. The group has always created great music, but they’ve managed to mature in a way that feels fresh, fun and natural. When it comes to pop groups, the goal is really quite simple: consistently release strong music and promote it … Continue reading
Fresh off a successful group comeback, Kara’s Nicole is back with her own solo single. She’s become the most musically prolific of the group and holds a special place on my bias list because of her solo work with production team Sweetune (check out her 2016 J-pop album Bliss if you haven’t!). Unfortunately, all good … 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. As I mentioned when writing about … Continue reading
Thus far, Yuju’s solo career has played out exactly as I feared it might. Her voice was the anchor to many a great GFriend song, providing a powerful sense of drama worth looking forward to. There’s nothing I love more than a dynamite vocalist tackling a big dance track. But, her ambitions seem to lie … Continue reading
Cherry Bullet have made a habit of returning exactly once a year with a song that gains many admirers but never quite breaks them into a new level of success. This is FNC Entertainment’s fault more than anything. Unless you’re BLACKPINK, you can’t expect much from once-a-year comebacks. The group has been around for four … Continue reading
K-pop’s boy group landscape has become increasingly baffling to me. Back in 2020/2021, I would have scoffed if you told me CRAVITY would become one of the most reliable purveyors of bright, upbeat pop music. But, the guys have ditched the “skrrt skrrt” energy of their past and opted for a musical makeover. From last … Continue reading
After nearly a year since his last mini album, SHINee’s Onew is back with the release of his first full-length effort. He’s the latest SHINee member to deliver new music before the group’s promised spring comeback. Thus far, his solo sound has incorporated a soft, adult contemporary sheen that fits his beautiful vocal color. It … 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. My favorite OnlyOneOf track from last … Continue reading
Two weeks ago, Snow Man released the first half of their upcoming double a-side on YouTube. The excellent Tapestry was made available in full, allowing listeners to indulge in the song’s satisfying builds without unnecessary edits. The rock-fueled W follows suit, unfurling the full track alongside a striking video. As far as I’m concerned, the … Continue reading
We’ve entered the era of BTS enlistments, with Jin leaving late last year and J-Hope scheduled to depart soon. Before he does, he’s teamed with another “J” — American rapper J. Cole — for On The Street. This pairing transforms the song into more than a typical “farewell for now” stopgap before hiatus. And though … Continue reading
OnlyOneOf spent the bulk of 2022 unveiling their Underground Idol series – a collection of interconnected solo tracks that displayed the versatility of the members as it embraced a variety of genres. This project won them new fans and strengthened their existing fan base, raising expectations for the inevitable group comeback. A pair of Japanese … 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
When AB6IX first debuted in 2019, they were riding high on the existing popularity of their Wanna One members and Produce trainees. That popularity has since faded as more competition shows have emerged and the group’s music has struggled to maintain public awareness. But, rapper Park Woojin still carries plenty of name recognition to leverage … Continue reading
Though Hwang Minhyun has released solo music while with Nu’est, Hidden Side acts as his official solo debut. He’s also busy as the host (erm… I mean, “star master”) of the currently-airing Boys Planet. His history with Nu’est and Wanna One gives him plenty of industry cache, but I can’t say I immediately picture him … Continue reading
King & Prince’s last single Tsukiyomi released just after it was revealed that three of the five members would be leaving the group this spring. Now, the group is running on momentum until that fateful moment. Double a-side Life Goes On / We Are Young serves double duty as a dual OST offering and a … Continue reading
Fifty Fifty’s debut album was a pleasant surprise, offering a variety of styles with consistent songwriting and execution. Title track Higher wasn’t the most instantly engaging choice for promotion, but it endured nicely over time. Its languid energy frames new single Cupid, though the girls have subdued their sound even further this time around. Their … Continue reading
Newly debuted group HAWW’s name stands for “Heal All The World Wide,” and I love them for that. Earnestness is a severely underrated charm, and I’m 100% ready for an idol group to usher in world peace, reverse climate change and ensure economic equality via a cute little pop bop. Of course, I’m being sarcastic … Continue reading
From their 2020 debut through the summer of 2021, Lucy were pretty much unstoppable. Their music dominated my playlist and stood apart from all of their peers. Since then, I’ve struggled to connect with their comebacks in the same way. All the same ingredients remain, but the melodies and arrangements don’t feel as memorable or … Continue reading
Post-Johnny’s success can be elusive for idols who leave the agency, whether they were part of an established group or never debuted at all. One OK Rock’s Taka is the biggest counterexample, but more often than not these performers struggle against an entertainment industry largely beholden to Johnnys’ legacy. 7ORDER first emerged as Johnny’s Jr. … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 