Tempest have a new comeback on the horizon, and I’m confident it’ll be good. This confidence comes from math. For whatever reason, the group seems to alternate between songs I love and songs I loath. I’ve cracked the pattern, and after last September’s awful Vroom Vroom we’re in for a Can’t Stop Shining style hit! … Continue reading
Astro haven’t released a single or album since the passing of member Moonbin last April. Any new music would surely be laced with an undertone of sadness, and that’s completely natural. But for a group who built their name on upbeat bubblegum pop, it’s almost hard to imagine their music taking on a mournful tone. … Continue reading
Twice continued their winning streak with the feel-good, synth-fueled I Got You earlier this month. That song acted as a pre-release for both One Spark and the accompanying album With YOU-th. The two songs share a sense of uplift, anchored by glossy pop melodies and a confident performance. For whatever reason, K-pop’s pre-release tracks often … Continue reading
With so many music videos tied to her new project, IU’s The Winning is turning into a veritable visual album. She certainly has the cachet to support such aggressive promotion, and so far her output has run the musical gamut. The bluesy Shh.. continues expanding the variety. Featuring a trio of guest artists from three … Continue reading
Though they’ve delivered a few pre-release songs, we haven’t had a title track from A.C.E since 2021. The group still isn’t quite whole for new single My Girl, but with Kang Yuchan (Chan) recently coming back from military service, the days of five-member promotions seem just around the corner. As far as long-awaited comebacks go, … Continue reading
The line between “idol” and “artist” can be pretty thin, especially when artists start enlisting idols to feature in their music videos. I’ve never written about a solo BiBi song before, but given her ascent to the top of the digital charts it’s probably time I started paying more attention. New single Sugar Rush will … Continue reading
The JYP family has joined forces for a song advertising Coca-Cola because… why not? Patriarch J.Y. Park has written a real Frankenstein of a track that somehow fails to utilize any of the artists’ skills while digital artists work overtime to jarringly place them within expensive, virtual reality landscapes. None of this makes me thirsty … Continue reading
Moonbyul’s pre-release Think About was a very nice surprise, reinventing her as a funky pop diva with the frothy melodies to make it stick. With Touchin&Movin — the title track of her first full album — she’s further deepened this sound and crafted a real gem. I’ve never been a huge fan of Mamamoo’s solo … Continue reading
The pre-releases for IU’s newest album have run the musical gamut, from theatrical balladry to quirky, hip-hop inflected dance. She’s saved the best for last, unveiling the uplifting pop surge of Shopper. It ticks many of the boxes we’ve come to expect from her music but does so with such gusto that it’s hard to … Continue reading
TRI.BE have the distinction of being backed by legendary producer Shinsadong Tiger, who has written more than his fair share of classic K-pop tracks. But thus far, they’ve struggled to deliver classics themselves, largely playing on trends without fully embracing a signature sound that gives them their own musical perspective. New single Diamond arrives almost … Continue reading
Sometimes you have to wonder how a song even finds its way out of the recording studio. X:IN are not from a big agency, so there probably aren’t a ton of checks and balances when it comes to A&R, but someone still had to give the green light to My Idol. Sure, the song’s intentions … Continue reading
Though it received a muted response around these parts, LE SSERAFIM’s Overwatch single Perfect Night went on to become a big hit for the group. Someone at Source Music was clearly paying attention, as new title track Easy does its best to replicate that sound. This time, the girls have jettisoned the bombastic turns of … 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. In writing about The Wind’s H! … Continue reading
Watching TWS’s Plot Twist‘s unlikely rise to the top of the Korean charts has been an absolute joy. The digital charts tend to be a tough place for boy groups — especially rookies with a bright pop sound. However, the song has caught on and truly lived up to its name sake. This is a … Continue reading
All the way back in 2019, BTOB’s Lim Hyunsik released a cool sci-fi concept album. Its unique artistic ambitions felt like a rarity in the world of idol soloists, and fans have waited a long time for a follow-up. I approached new single La Mar with built-up expectation, hoping for a follow-up with its own … Continue reading
The release of IU’s new album will be preceded by multiple tracks. We’ve already heard Love Wins All, which has promptly gone on to rule the Korean charts. Now it’s time for something a little more eccentric. Holssi (홀씨) ups the tempo just a bit, giving IU something groovier to play with. For as long … Continue reading
I wouldn’t say that (G)-IDLE’s Super Lady has grown on me, but I appreciate its bold EDM energy and commitment to old fashioned showmanship. With that said, the group feels far more at home on grittier material that evenly spreads its time between the members’ various tones. Revenge falls much more in line with what … Continue reading
After last week’s pre-release, iKON’s DK is back with the title track from first solo album. Groovin vaults him out from the murky mire of LTNS and deposits him in the club. The song’s minimalist sound is surprisingly effective. It’s more of a “vibe” track than a dance track, but DK’s smooth vocals glide over … Continue reading
Woollim Entertainment has dropped the ball when it comes to Golden Child solos and sub-units. The potential for fun mash-ups and interesting musical diversions feels endless, but the agency has a hard enough time even managing regular group comebacks. So instead of exploring new avenues for its talents, they give us the most predictable ballads. … Continue reading
For as popular as Cha Eunwoo is, I’m surprised it’s taken so long for him to make his solo debut as a singer. I guess with so many acting and promotional jobs coming in, he probably doesn’t have much free time on his hands! Despite Stay being his first official title track, Eunwoo has recorded … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 