With over 5,000 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
Over the past few days, Stray Kids have been releasing music videos for each of the unit tracks on their new mixtape. We’ve already heard from Changbin, I.N, Han and Felix, leaving four more members to go. Up next is Bang Chan and Hyunjin. Their Escape brings just as much bombast as the past two … Continue reading
As someone who doesn’t keep up with Xdinary Heroes’ schedules, it seems like the band are making comebacks with incredible regularity. That may be more of a sense than a fact, but they’ve quickly developed a hearty catalog of music that sees them exploring various aspects of the rock genre. New single Beautiful Life embraces … Continue reading
With the recent announcement that boy group A.C.E would not be renewing their contracts with Beat Interactive, the agency’s decision to debut Newbeat seems even more important. These rookies are now the vanguard of the company, paving a new road forward. If their pre-releases were any indication, that road seems build around quirky, old-school hip-hop. … Continue reading
Ten is one of those performers with absolutely seismic potential who just can’t seem to find material as strong as his own presence. Though I’ve enjoyed many solo Ten songs, I’ve never loved one. Stunner‘s very title seems to promise a turnaround, aiming to fully capture our attention. It succeeds in fits and starts. Over … Continue reading
Even though today marks KiiiKiii’s official debut, it feels like they “debuted” weeks ago with their pre-release I Do Me heavily promoted on music shows. I still find that track incredibly generic, but its earworm melody has snuck up on me through sheer repetition and the group sell it well on stage. Now, it’s time … Continue reading
After yesterday’s unit track from members Changbin and I.N, Han and Felix are next on the docket with a music video for their entry from Stray Kids’ new mixtape. We’re moving from rock intensity to a hard-hitting blend of EDM and hip-hop. After a moody, ornate opening, Truman‘s beat pushes us into an off-kilter sonic … Continue reading
No matter what I may have thought about any ONEUS single at any given time, one thing has stayed consistent: main vocal Seoho has an incredible (and often underutilized) voice. He’s responsible for many of my favorite parts in the group’s songs, so a solo track is a welcome proposition. Unfortunately, Hatchling also comes along … Continue reading
Stray Kids’ new mixtape may not be led by any official title track, but its four unit tracks will be promoted with music videos. First up is Changbin and I.N’s Burnin’ Tires, a rock-rap hybrid that borrows elements from the group’s early days while upping the intensity. Being a pre-debut fan, I have a soft … 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. The Boyz’ dynamic title track VVV … Continue reading
BTS’s J-Hope is quickly making up for lost time — not that there weren’t projects and songs released during his military enlistment as well. Just two weeks after his duet with R&B crooner Miguel, he’s back with solo single Mona Lisa. This time the music is a bit more upbeat and groovy, but the song … Continue reading
Veteran K-pop act Ailee has returned with three (!) new music videos today. Looking at the tracklist of her new album, it appears MMI is the designated title track. It’s also the song with the most YouTube views at this moment so it’s the one I’ll write about today. To be honest, none of Ailee’s … Continue reading
It’s been awhile since we’ve heard from Fantasy Boys, but they made their mark on 2024 with a very fun summery EP promoted with an excellent title track. Nearly a year later, they’re back with a very different sound. Undeniable is darker and groovier, but as with many boy group songs of this nature its … Continue reading
Tempest are set to release a new mini album at the end of the month, but today they’ve unveiled the kind of for-the-fans pre-release that cobbles together behind-the-scenes footage to highlight what’s clearly more of a b-side than promoted single. In the grand scheme of pre-releases, Destiny is neither here nor there. It’s the typical … Continue reading
Rookie rock group Dragon Pony’s Pop Up impressed me last year, so much that they nearly climbed the top of my 2024 rookies list. Powerful vocals paired with strong songwriting will always appeal to me no matter the genre. Pop Up also managed to house a hook so anthemically pleasing that it became undeniable. Follow … Continue reading
After nearly a year of pre-releases, NCT’s Mark is finally scheduled to drop his debut album early next month. It’s been a long-gestating project, so I’m eager to see what he’s got in store. We don’t have to wait until April for new music, though. Pre-release +82 Pressin pairs him with bandmate Haechan. This duo … Continue reading
Debuting around this time last year, rookie girl group Candy Shop has had a hard time making their mark on the industry. With vaunted producer Brave Brothers at the helm, they should be releasing banger after banger. Sadly, their music thus far has felt like “reheated nachos” — and not in the good way. New … Continue reading
When a song hits big in K-pop, the industry tends to drive that same sound into the ground over the next few years. With aespa’s Supernova and Whiplash both major hits in 2024, it was only a matter of time before pounding club beats and spoken-word attitude lodged itself within the girl group oeuvre. STAYC’s … Continue reading
WayV’s Ten has a new mini album out later this month and — like seemingly everyone in K-pop — has teased it with a pre-release single. Pre-releases often end up being bigger hits than the actual title tracks, as artists want to come out of the gate with their strongest material first. Bambola takes a … Continue reading
There’s this K-pop sub-genre lovingly referred to as “Christian horse girl music.” Think early efforts by GFriend, Lovelyz, Oh My Girl, April and the like. If you have time, do yourself a favor and go down the YouTube rabbit hole of this music, as it encompasses much of my favorite girl group output of the … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 