There have been a number of great boy group debuts this year, and KickFlip were the first out of the gate. But despite their (over)long gestation since 2021’s Loud survival series, their music didn’t immediately connect with me the way other groups’ has. It’s been a slower burn, with May’s Freeze easily their best title … Continue reading
Straight-up R&B can be a tough sell in the glossy K-pop idol world, but most of the hits we know and love are built on elements of the genre. Jun. K and his group 2PM are very familiar with a great R&B-influenced croon, and he’s enlisted Stray Kids’ Changbin for back-up on new single R&B … Continue reading
It’s hard to believe YG Entertainment’s Treasure have already reached their fifth anniversary. Their music has gone through several iterations during that time, ultimately leaning into a lighter pop/rock sound than they debuted with. New single Paradise is emblematic of this shift, offering a lightweight pop bop that’s well-suited to summer. This bright, easy-listening approach … Continue reading
NCT Wish released a late-summer highlight in the form of their buoyant Surf and promptly followed it with a second pre-release (the much more confounding Baby Blue). With the theme of color driving their new album, you’d expect the music to be as vibrant as possible. Title track Color is certainly stuffed with sound, rarely … Continue reading
Monsta X are celebrating their tenth anniversary — a huge milestone for any group. Album promotions kicked off with pre-release Do What I Want last month and now they’re back with their title track N The Front. It’s a Dem Jointz production, whose work I haven’t always gelled with. But if anyone’s going to carry … Continue reading
With the end of ZEROBASEONE’s contract looming in the (very near) distance, fans are concerned this might be their last comeback — at least in their current iteration. It’s impossible to know for sure what the future holds, but the guys are no doubt throwing everything they have into their first full album and the … Continue reading
It took awhile before members of Twice embarked on solo careers, but we’re now at a stage of their career where that feels like an appropriate extension of their brand. I can’t say I have any particular allegiance toward one member or another, but Nayeon’s solo work has been most suited to my pop-loving taste. … Continue reading
ILLIT made a sneaky Japanese debut with a soundtrack song, though their 2024 mega-hit Magnetic was also omnipresent in Japan. Like fellow HYBE artists TWS and BOYNEXTDOOR, their sound feels tailor-made for J-pop so it’s nice to hear them leaning into that on new single Toki Yo Tomare. After being somewhat hesitant about ILLIT last … Continue reading
Each time Stray Kids release a new album, they tend to film music videos for multiple tracks. As my interest in their music has waned over time, I haven’t always written about these follow up songs — especially now that I have a weekly post where I can spotlight any notable b-sides. Album opener BLEEP … Continue reading
It’s been a very slow week in K-pop, which means I’m turning my eye to “special videos” in the absence of proper comebacks. Miyeon’s Sky Walking was first released all the way back in December 2024, but has now been repurposed as a tourism campaign for Macau. So while I missed the track last year, … Continue reading
Former (G)I-DLE/i-dle member Soojin made her solo debut back in 2023 and has released a comeback each year since then. Her music so far hasn’t been for me, as the songs felt underdeveloped and over-reliant on stylish sounds rather than strong melodies. New single Baditude brings a heightened sense of energy but continues her run … Continue reading
It’s been over a year since we last heard from Sunmi, and even longer since she’s released anything more than a digital single. An album is reportedly in the works, but before that we have another standalone song with Blue!, which continues the softer sound of last year’s Balloon In Love. K-pop’s in this weird … Continue reading
NCT Wish’s buoyant Surf has proven to be a real grower, as summer-themed songs often are for me. The group is spoiling fans with multiple pre-releases for their upcoming mini album, with new track Baby Blue the second in line before the title track is unveiled next week. By its very nature, Baby Blue has … Continue reading
New K-pop trio RE:WIND impressed me big time with their pre-debut RE:SET earlier this year. I also enjoyed the early-2000’s pastiche of Forever even if a muddled arrangement dulled much of its effect. The guys recently released their first EP and have now unveiled the music video for new track Little Too Late. Like Forever, … Continue reading
New trio In A Minute made their debut earlier this year, but without a music video to promote their song I never wrote about them on the blog. Now, they’ve returned with their first comeback and their first video. How We Do has a refreshing funk pop sound that begs for further development. At two … Continue reading
Last week, EXO’s Chanyeol pre-released the incredibly soft Happy Accident as a teaser for his new album. When listening to that song, I hoped he had something with more bite coming down the line next. Throughout his solo career, Chanyeol has experimented with rock textures and that’s proven to be a good match for him. … Continue reading
AB6IX are like K-pop’s “little engine that could.” They’re far past their commercial peak, yet keep churning out new music with regularity. And, that music often carries an upbeat energy that makes it feel as if the group is just getting started. New single Stupid takes an emotive approach, recalling K-pop’s early efforts in pulling … Continue reading
Though IVE have occasionally dipped into different genres, they’ve enjoyed their biggest chart success with a bombastic pop sound. You don’t have to look any further than this year’s Rebel Heart and Attitude, with the anthemic pre-release easily outperforming the actual title track. New single XOXZ sees them returning to an edgier hip-hop sound with … Continue reading
Over the years, Stray Kids have grown into one of K-pop’s premiere groups. In fact, their popularity is so global that it almost feels as if they’ve transcended the industry altogether. Once upon a time, they also topped my year-end singles chart. Gosh, that seems like lifetimes ago. The group is back today with their … Continue reading
K-pop collaborations with global artists have become much more common over the years and exist across a wide spectrum. For every Rosalía and Megan Thee Stallion there’s a Maroon 5 and Alex Warren. NMIXX have already experimented with their music in many ways, so you’d expect them to choose an interesting collaborator as well. For … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 