Newbeat debuted earlier this year with a sound that was decidedly not for me. Their “new beat” included a surplus of irritating sing-talk and recycled samples we’ve heard a thousand times before from boy groups. But with a first comeback comes the chance to course correct. The version of Newbeat heard on Look So Good … Continue reading
I recently finished watching the JYP edition of The Game Caterers — a field day suite of games involving members of every active JYP group. The series was a lot of fun and I admired how agency COO J.Y. Park participated as well. It was like watching the principal of a school hang out with … Continue reading
XLOV’s genderless concept is so welcome in K-pop and makes me want to support the group wholeheartedly, but I’ve struggled with the disconnect between their image and their music. This summer’s 1&Only became a sleeper hit for me, but even then the song felt much too straightforward for XLOV’s ambitions. Sadly, new single Rizz is … Continue reading
After twenty-two years in the industry, TVXQ’s U-Know has finally unveiled his first full-length solo album. This project was preceded by Body Language, a track I found disappointing in almost every regard. Thankfully, title track Stretch feels much more aligned with U-Know’s incredible legacy. It’ll never not be weird to hear a TVXQ release minus … Continue reading
It’s hard to believe Sunmi has never released a full-length album until now. If we count her time with Wonder Girls, she’s been an active idol for eighteen years and a soloist for twelve. It’s a shame this album couldn’t have emerged when she was knocking out back-to-back classics like Heroine and Siren, but it’s … Continue reading
Two years since their debut, Kiss Of Life are pushing into the Japanese market with their first J-pop single. It’s hard not to wonder if this move comes as a pivot away from the western markets they had been pursuing up until their controversy earlier this year. Whatever the case, Lucky is a so-so debut … Continue reading
I’ll be honest: a shiver runs down my spine when I see a song title like “Eenie Meeny Miny Moe.” Nursery rhymes have been a part of pop music for decades, but K-pop likes to go overboard with the approach, utilizing their sing-song melodies for the basis of an entire song. Fifty Fifty’s quirky Pookie … Continue reading
There’s a large contingent of us (relatively) old K-pop fans who constantly reminisce about the industry’s “good old days.” I’m sure this is very annoying to younger fans who are immersed in K-pop’s present, and it’s natural for any music market to evolve as time goes on. But whatever era you determine to be your … Continue reading
In addition to actual debuts, “pre-debuts” have become a thing for K-pop idols. I’m not entirely sure what the point is apart from building hype without taking a huge financial risk, but the more music we get the better so I can’t complain. I.MET.U is an upcoming girl group from (checks notes) TikTok survival series … Continue reading
Despite emerging from a K-pop agency I have a lot of respect for, I’ve struggled to get into any of ARrC’s material so far. Their overall sound hasn’t been for me as most of the songs have relied on chanted or rapped hooks. Still, I try to approach each new comeback with a blank slate … Continue reading
There’s a certain type of song that’s hard to rate on this blog. It’s a piece of music that sounds objectively good but would never come close to being part of my own playlists. Such was the case with Miyeon’s pre-release Reno. I appreciated the direction she went with the track even if the music … Continue reading
Even as a fan who’s watched &TEAM gradually rise to “million sellers” in Japan, I was shocked by how well their Korean debut sold. It’s a solid album, and title track Back To Life has grown on me more with each day. The guys are wasting no time keeping the hype train going with a … Continue reading
It’s been over three years since we last heard new music from Winner’s Kang Seung Yoon. During that hiatus, he’s fulfilled his military service and taken time crafting a new full-length album. The fruits of his labor have finally arrived today in the form of new title track Me (美). Though I haven’t fallen for … Continue reading
When Ryugujo’s new EP was released earlier this month I had a feeling Sugar would be given a music video eventually. And while I prefer the bombastic rock tracks Egure Mekure and Yohaku, the fact that this song is now a theme for member Yuki’s new drama makes it the obvious contender for extra promotion. … Continue reading
It’s funny to look back at old reviews of Xdinary Heroes’ work on this blog. I really hated some of their early material, but with time the group has developed stronger songs and found better ways to deploy their humor. Recent single ICU is probably my favorite track they’ve ever promoted, and the accompanying album … Continue reading
Since their rebranding as DKZ in 2022, the artists formerly known as Dongkiz have released a series of songs I barely remember. Somehow, they even managed to make a Sweetune-produced b-side completely forgettable. I fear their quirkiness dissipated with the “dong.” Okay… maybe don’t quote me on that last line… At any rate, DKZ are … Continue reading
I’ve got a serious bone to pick with xikers’ management. Time and time again, they’ve got the group releasing a so-so title track when there are several banger b-sides begging to be promoted instead. Sometimes, they’ll give one of these b-sides follow-up promotion, but often they’re left solely in the hands of fans who buy … Continue reading
More and more with K-pop, we’re seeing a rift form between acts who primarily target Asian markets and those making a bigger push toward Western audiences. Ideally, artists would simply release great music that appeals to everyone, but it’s not uncommon for a performer to release English-language material and tour it extensively in the States. … Continue reading
A couple of weeks ago, Lucy released an OST that captured my attention. I love when the group colors slightly outside genre lines, bringing in electronic elements to compliment their existing tone. For a few years now, the band’s work has threatened to congeal into one single sound, struggling to find the killer melodies that … Continue reading
It’s a day of boy group dancefloor thumpers, with both 82MAJOR and Close Your Eyes releasing talk-heavy dance tracks. 82MAJOR are more closely associated with hip-hop, so while this transformation makes sense it’s still a notable change in production style. Trophy (트로피) is still very much a hip-hop track but with added club bounce. This … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 