So far in izna’s discography, there hasn’t been a full single that I’ve loved. Instead, there have been parts of izna singles I’ve loved. The synthpop chorus of Sign. The mid-2010s, vaguely tropical beat of their self-titled debut. Producers Teddy, Kush and 24 have robust resumes but I need them to take every one of … Continue reading
I often write about K-pop groups needing to find a “signature sound,” but that doesn’t mean the sound is always for me. Boy group POW have taken an oddly subdued approach with their music, leaning on elements of downbeat jazz to fuel their aesthetic. It hasn’t worked all that well commercially, but at least their … Continue reading
EXO has seen many of its members go solo and I’m beginning to spot a musical pattern between their output. Kai aside, I can’t think of any other major boy group whose solos have hung on more tightly to adult contemporary sounds. The guys seems to love tasteful rock and R&B that draws upon the … Continue reading
As Seventeen enters their inevitable military enlistment era, focus has shifted from group work to solos and sub-units. Next on the docket are S.Coups and Mingyu, joining forces alongside American singer/rapper Lay Bankz for a party track that heavily samples Roy Orbison’s iconic 1964 hit Pretty Woman. Wow… that’s a lot going on in one … 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. There have been plenty of debuting … Continue reading
In many ways, P1Harmony represent a new generation of K-pop idol groups. While they certainly have a fanbase in Korea, so much of their focus seems to be targeted toward western markets. It feels like they’re always touring in the States and now they’ve released an English-language album. They even premiered its single Ex on … Continue reading
Over the years, from20 has leaned into a sort of “colorful himbo” character and it’s good, campy fun. His spring single Eye Candy replicated early-2000s hip-hop more convincingly that the vast majority of current Y2K-inspired tracks and that’s because it didn’t forget to be silly. A cartoonish streak ran through much of millennial pop music … Continue reading
Boy band Aimers have been kicking around since 2022 — one of those underrated, underknown groups who somehow manage to come back each year despite never breaking free of the dreaded “nugu” label. I have a soft spot for groups like this, though no Aimers song has hit me hard enough to be anything more … Continue reading
Throughout her solo career, GFriend’s Yerin has tried on a few musical guises. Her bright vocals and undeniable presence have served her well throughout these various sounds and continue to do so on new pop/rock single Awake. Awake exists in a lineage of similarly-constructed songs over the past year or so. It seems that everyone … Continue reading
WOODZ surprise-released an aggressive rock stomper back in July — shortly after returning from his military enlistment. He’s clearly ready to strike while the iron of his career is hot, and I love that approach. Today, he’s returned with a more fully fleshed out visual and a song whose emotive sound is likely to appeal … Continue reading
After a few underwhelming months, it seems as if K-pop’s comeback floodgates will burst open in October. Before that, we’re treated to a few pre-releases from artists slated to return next month. SM Entertainment’s Hearts2Hearts don’t yet have a mini or full album to their name and have presented conflicting sounds so far. The Chase … Continue reading
In 2020, AAA’s SKY-HI formed his company BMSG and since then he’s debuted a constant surge of new acts. The vast majority of this music has not been for me, as it often favors the type of clanging, shout-heavy hip-hop that I dislike in K-pop as well. Still, I appreciate his ambition and most of … Continue reading
Boy group TIOT have waffled between the wonderful and the frustrating, finding most success on this blog when they let their vocals do the talking on softly anthemic pop-rock. New single My Pride lacks the obnoxious production of their most polarizing work but struggles to find a compelling replacement. My Pride feels like a late-album … Continue reading
Last year, Kingdom added a “The,” capitalized their “D” and released one mini album before taking a lengthy hiatus. It all seems like much ado about nothing, and the title of special single Last Flower (화월가) makes me a bit concerned for their future. Still, it’s nice to see them revert back to the historical … Continue reading
GENBLUE blur the lines between K-pop and C-pop, composed of both Korean and Taiwanese members and promoting music in both languages. So far, their Chinese singles outweigh their Korean work, but they seem to be making a renewed push into the market with new track Badass. This title already gives me pause, as I often … Continue reading
Since their debut, rookies HITGS have released some truly diabolical material — songs I’ve disliked but have gone on to begrudgingly sing along with because they’re so stupidly catchy. This doesn’t make the music good, but it leaves an impression. New single A-Ha! dispenses with many of the gimmicks of the group’s past to embrace … Continue reading
In a K-pop climate where everyone seems to be harnessing rock touchstones, EXO’s Suho has thrived on the genre for years. It’s been a sweet spot for his solo music and new title track Who Are You continues to paint him in this light. It’s a sprawling mid-tempo seemingly designed for road trip sing-alongs. This … Continue reading
Earlier this month, JYP Entertainment rookies KickFlip pre-released the anthemic pop/rock track Band-Aid, showcasing a sonic upgrade that fits them so well. That soundscape continues with new title track My First Love Song (처음 불러보는 노래), which underpins its rock energy with a consistently bounding beat. There’s a brightness to this song that helps it … Continue reading
TWS have been teasing their October comeback for some time now and today we finally have our first taste of their upcoming mini album. As any regular reader of the blog already knows, I’ve become a mega fan of their music over the past two years and love the way they’ve been able to establish … Continue reading
Big Hit is going to make me write about every one of these damn CORTIS songs, aren’t they? The group’s debut rollout has now hit its fourth music video, leaving only one album track to go. That’s a lot of promotion, but I’m curious if it’s actually bearing fruit. Their music hasn’t worked for me … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 