When this LIGHTSUM comeback was first announced, my immediate thought was: “didn’t they disband?” Obviously, I was getting them confused with another group (probably Cherry Bullet), but it says something when a K-pop obsessive like me can’t even remember the status of LIGHTSUM. The group just hasn’t released much material and their long hiatuses make … Continue reading
&TEAM’s pre-release Koegawari has snuck up on me to become a real sleeper hit this summer. I love the understated warmth of its rhythmic instrumental and the way its arrangement allows spotlight on the members’ vocals without needless studio effects. If Koegawari was a delicious appetizer, it’s now time for the main course. Aoarashi is … Continue reading
Someone needs to do a case study on why so many idol soloists debut with the most subdued (ie: dull) material you could possibly imagine. Have they been so beaten down by the maximalist needs of K-pop’s idol group system? Are they under the impression that — above all else — they must show some … Continue reading
Formed on SBS’s reality show Universe Ticket, UNIS made their debut this past March with a solid — but unspectacular — track. With their first official comeback, they’ve upped the energy and ambition, opting for a strutting glam rock beat and an in-you-face performance style. It’s a good move for them, even if the song … Continue reading
After their group reunion, the members of Infinite continue to pursue solo careers. Most of these releases have been well within their comfort zones, and for L that means gentle acoustic pop. His new album actually features a tropical dance track, but I would have been shocked if he had promoted something with that kind … Continue reading
K-pop is littered with acts who – for one reason or another – didn’t get the full spotlight they deserved. I’ve spent plenty of time ranking and reviewed the industry’s biggest artists, but these underrated acts should never be forgotten. This feature will take a look at disbanded groups and rank/rate their entire singles run, … 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. Many specific K-pop sounds get repurposed … Continue reading
I had the pleasure of attending Jeon Somi’s meet and greet at KCON LA this past weekend and was quite taken with her abundant charisma. This seed of interest was sown with last year’s stellar dance single Fast Forward — a song that still gets me pumped to this day. But with that said, love … Continue reading
Super Junior’s Eunhyuk and One Pact’s Jongwoo have gotten into the idol group business with the production of multi-national boy group Celest1a, formed through the series K-pop House. From what I can tell, much of their promo thus far has been in Japan, but debut single Panda sees them performing mostly in English. As far … Continue reading
**NOTE: This review was originally published as a “buried treasure” but now that the song is being promoted I wanted to bump it back up to the top of the blog and add the music video to the post. The song rating has also been updated! ENHYPEN’s second full album is a mellow affair and … Continue reading
BTOB are most celebrated for their stately ballads and light pop music that showcases their vocals. However, the group are capable of much more than that. I’m partial to their many dalliances with new jack swing, mostly because those songs let the guys have fun in a more carefree way. New sub-unit single Tang Tang … Continue reading
Across their Rania, BP Rania and Blackswan days, this group has been home to a whopping twenty four members. This revolving door has gained some stability in the past few years, with the current line-up performing together since 2022. Roll Up arrives just over a year since their last comeback and sees the group trying … Continue reading
I don’t always write about Stray Kids’ follow-up singles because they tend to release so many music videos for songs that otherwise go un-promoted. However, this is very slow period for K-pop due to the Paris Olympics pre-empting music shows, so I might as well make an exception for Mountains. Mountains opens the group’s newest album … Continue reading
RIIZE have barely let a month slip by without releasing new music. This is the perfect way to unveil a rookie group, blitzing the market with material so fans have no opportunity to stray elsewhere. Just six weeks since their funk dynamo comeback Boom Boom Bass, the guys have returned with their Japanese debut. Lucky … Continue reading
Thus far, XG have presented several distinct styles. Most prominent is their mix of hard-hitting hip-hop and R&B flourishes, which has already won them many devoted fans. But every once and awhile, the group shifts things over to the dancefloor. New single Something Ain’t Right is the most full-throated move in this direction yet. Taking … Continue reading
Mystic Story has become known as a creative, slightly left-of-center agency, home to quirky girl group Billlie, the violin-powered idol band Lucy and K-pop’s original sonic rulebreakers Brown Eyed Girls. Now, it’s time for a more traditional boy group with the soon-to-debut ARrC. Before their official unveiling next month, they’ve teased us with pre-release Dummy. … Continue reading
HYBE and Geffen’s American (K-pop adjacent) girl group KATSEYE made a pre-debut last month with the solid but underdeveloped Debut. Less than a month later, they’re back with follow-up Touch, which succumbs to the same issues as its predecessor without developing its own strengths. Like Debut, Touch is a wisp of pop track. At just … Continue reading
K-pop idols thrive on building a steady, dedicated fan base. This is most often accomplished by a constant stream of releases and deluge of content. But within the vast K-pop industry, there are more than a few “one hit wonders” – acts who release one single or album and are scarcely heard from again. It’s … Continue reading
After uniting on a band version of Gaho’s Start Over in 2020, KAVE have transformed into an actual group with a proper debut. Fronted by Gaho, the band boasts an eclectic mix of producers that add a unique touch to Korea’s K-rock scene. Legend acts as their first title track and delivers a mix of … Continue reading
When debuting a new K-pop group, I’m convinced that agencies either pull a random handful of letters/numbers from a bag or crack open a dictionary, close their eyes and choose the first word their finger lands on. “Dignity” is a perfectly nice word. It’s beautiful, even. However, it doesn’t immediately conjure the image of a … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 