After debuting at the start of 2022, the MNET-spawned rookie group Kep1er took a detour via the company’s own Queendom competition, further building their fanbase as they competed with senior acts. Now, it’s time to get back to the music with the summer-themed Up. I’m more than ready for a great 2022 summer track, and … Continue reading
Last time I wrote about News, the year was 2018 and the group had four members. I’ve been an avid listener since then, especially fond of their incredible 2020 album Story. Since then, News has navigated a tricky transition into a trio, releasing several great songs within the past two years. But, I think new … Continue reading
“Sweet,” you say? Universe app, you say?? I think it’s time for a recipe: Hooks 7 Production 7 Longevity 8 Bias 7 RATING 7.25 Continue reading
Dawn’s verses in old Pentagon songs were always interesting and quirky. So far, his solo career has felt like an expanded version of those verses, zigging this way and that but always anchored by his colorful personality. He has a way of making the most ridiculous ideas work because you get the sense that he … Continue reading
BDC continue to be a mystery. They’re not listed as a temporary project group, but their treatment thus far has suggested a quickly approaching expiration date. Despite releasing the super-solid Intersection trilogy of mini albums, Brand New Music has never attempted to push them as a big, ongoing group in the same way as AB6IX … Continue reading
Sometimes I forget ex-Snuper member Sebin is part of Omega X. Revisiting 2016’s K-pop releases yesterday, I realized yet again how desperate I am for some Snuper-esque Sweetune pop in 2022. Quick! Get Sebin on the phone with his old collaborators and work out a deal. After all, Omega X’s agency has opted to switch … Continue reading
Like most new K-pop groups, DRIPPIN debuted without a signature sound or concept. Their career has been a revolving door of styles as Woollim searches for the one that will stick. The group is now lodged in a multi-part series of albums under the title Villain. Like 99% of their peers, this has painted them … Continue reading
While I haven’t been sold on Pixy’s title tracks thus far, last year’s b-side turned English-language single Bewitched hinted at a more beguiling sound. By dabbling in dynamic electronic textures, Pixy found a niche worth exploring further. So, when teasers suggested new single Villain might build on this momentum, my interested was piqued. Opening with … Continue reading
It’s been a long wait between bugAboo’s debut and their first comeback. Their self-titled track came out all the way back in October. Eight months later, we finally have Pop. Strangely, the song is not composed by agency-head Ryan Jhun (even though he composes pretty much every other K-pop track these days!). But, it continues … Continue reading
Wonho continues to be one of K-pop’s most consistent soloists, taking the reigns of his career by co-composing his work. This gives his music a sense of authenticity, but not the kind of “sit in the corner of a coffee shop with your guitar” authenticity that often colors our idea of a singer-songwriter. You can … Continue reading
I’m not sure what it says about the state of the industry, but some of the best K-pop tracks of the past few weeks have been given “dance” or “performance” videos rather than the full comeback treatment. Take Treasure’s rocky remix of Darari, for example. The guys didn’t really promote it, but the accompanying video … Continue reading
Japanese tracks by Korean idol groups have been pretty lousy lately, but Stray Kids have the benefit of self-composition. The guys’ production unit 3RACHA has already dabbled in the J-pop market, including the production of a standout track for J-idol group JO1. New single Circus takes a high-concept approach, putting as much focus on its … Continue reading
As BTS’s popularity has skyrocketed, the frequency of their output has dwindled – a surprising approach for an act as in-demand as they are. The past nineteen months have seen occasional solos and collaborations, but only a trio of full-group tracks. Now, we can add several more to their catalog. Their multi-disc compilation album Proof … Continue reading
“Woo! Ah!” is the sound I desperately want to make after listening to a new K-pop track. But more often than not, those exclamation marks have been replaced with angry face emojis this year. Seriously… this is getting old. Just a day after Secret Number’s by-the-numbers boredom of Doomchita, we have another aural assault from … Continue reading
Boy group Trendz debuted earlier this year with TNT (Truth&Trust), a song I can barely recall. Their first mini album didn’t instill much confidence, largely forgoing memorable melodies for blustering attitude. On follow-up Who (吼), the guys have bolstered the intensity but still struggle to find a song that lives up to that energy. Who … Continue reading
The odds are stacked against Secret Number’s Doomchita (둠치타) based on its title alone. Tracks with these weird onomatopoeia names tend to be as irritating as their sound effect suggests. Flash back to 2020 and this group had my attention with the effusive Got That Boom. Even earlier than that, their debut suggested a vocal-heavy … 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
I have a fear that many of K-pop’s 2022 summer offerings will opt for a subdued city pop sound. It probably won’t be proven true, but the industry does love a gentle coffeehouse vibe. Highlight’s Son Dongwoon has returned with his own summer track, and it falls closely along these lines. Today’s Weather (우리 날씨 … 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
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. Seventeen’s newest album maintains the strength … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 