I spend a lot of time (probably too much!) complaining about the things that annoy me when it comes to K-pop agencies, but in YG Entertainment’s case I’ve always loved how they’ll occasionally extend an album’s life cycle by promoting a song months after its release. B.O.M.B comes from Treasure’s summer project Reboot, appearing late … 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. Last week, Just B quietly released … Continue reading
I know it’s a placeholder, but “NCT New Team” is still weirdly literal for a group name. These six members form the long-teased Japanese unit of NCT — apparently the project’s final fixed unit. They’re scheduled to debut next year, but Hands Up offers a pre-release tease of what to expect. Fans of the NCT … Continue reading
You may have noticed my hesitancy to feature virtual or animated acts on the blog. In my mind, a company’s focus on this technology only steers them further from putting effort into the songs themselves. Maybe I’m self-flagellating by continuing to approach K-pop for the music. After all, the industry has transformed into a true … Continue reading
I can’t even process Kingdom’s Coup D’Etat without remembering the classic G-Dragon album of the same name. I also get a little self conscious because I can never remember where to place the apostrophe in “D’Etat”. Yes, this is the level of stumbling block I push through to deliver song reviews on the daily. Poor … Continue reading
After pre-releasing the pleasant Underwater last week, Chuu has returned with her official solo debut. Howl leads her new album with a pulsing electro beat that compliments her clear, pleasant voice. I hadn’t been keeping up with song teasers, so its gradual transformation surprised me on first listen. What begins as a wistful ballad gains … Continue reading
Every once and awhile, we get a song so ridiculous and so misguided that I wonder if we’ve gone past ‘traditional K-pop release’ and moved right into parody. If you told me Macaroni Cheese was part of some SNL skit lampooning the K-pop industry, the track would make much more sense. But no, this is … Continue reading
YOUNITE have struggled to match the pure funk of their pre-debut single, pinballing between genres to no avail. They’ve settled on this light, airy pop sound that’s quite innocuous, and new track Love It (정했어) perfectly illustrates the limitations of this style. In short, writing about Love It is like reviewing air. Every time I … Continue reading
A new Sunmi single is something to be excited about, even if last year’s Heartburn didn’t do much for me. After a brief foray with different producers, she’s reunited with longtime collaborator Frants for Stranger. The song mashes together many of her musical hallmarks to create an odd, ungainly product. There’s half of a good … Continue reading
Jay Chang is making an event of his debut, releasing two title tracks in one day. If you haven’t already, make sure to check out my thoughts on his New Jack Swing-indebted Rockstar. The second track I’ll Be There dials things back but retains focus on his clear, confident vocals. First off, I can’t get … Continue reading
E’Last delivered a great chorus with February’s Thrill, but struggled to form an equally engaging song around it. However, the highlight medley for their new album sounds as if it’s ripped straight from K-pop’s second generation — a hallowed era in my eyes. And, new single Kiss Me Baby takes them in a decidedly funkier … Continue reading
Jay Chang made a name for himself on this year’s Boys Planet. Though he didn’t become a member of ZEROBASEONE, he captured attention with his strong vocals and natural presence. Rockstar is one of two title tracks from his debut album, the second of which will be revealed later today. It’s a little funny calling … Continue reading
I couldn’t tell you how either of rookie group Queenz Eye’s singles sound, though I covered one on the blog earlier this summer. However, they’ve caught my ear with new track This Is Love by taking a more melodic approach that puts their vocals at the forefront. To be fair, This Is Love is only … 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. TXT’s new album has exactly two … Continue reading
IVE’s singles run has been pretty bulletproof so far, but the lead-up to their first EP has underwhelmed at every step. Starship Entertainment opted to promote three new tracks with music videos, which would be awesome if each one was on the level of an After Like or I Am. Instead, pre-releases Either Way and … Continue reading
TXT continue to push into global markets, building upon their winter smash Sugar Rush Ride with English and Spanish language collaborations featuring Jonas Brothers and Anitta. Both tracks are present on their new album (minus Anitta), offering a taste of different genres. Meanwhile, new single Chasing The Feeling is the latest in a long line … Continue reading
It’s interesting to consider where IMP. would be if they had stuck with the agency-that-will-soon-not-be-called-Johnny’s. They’d likely have years to go before debut, spending their weeks performing on The Shounen Club as juniors instead. But just months after joining the newly-formed TOBE, they’re on their third single with a physical release scheduled for November. This … Continue reading
The other day, I took a retrospective look at Mamamoo’s debut track Mr. Ambiguous. It was a fun trip down memory lane, but it also reminded me that it’s been years since I’ve really connected to one of their songs. That includes solo work. The ladies are so talented and charismatic, but their recent music … Continue reading
Soloist Jini was briefly a member of JYP girl group NMIXX before leaving at the end of last year. Free from the “mixxpop” concept and backed by a new agency, she’s returned with her first EP. More and more, K-pop soloists have been leading the charge for new sounds, unburdened by structural constraints that often … Continue reading
Though we only had a pre-release to go by, I couldn’t find much in last week’s Sure Thing to convince me of 82MAJOR’s potential. It was a nice song, for sure. But these days, K-pop is overstuffed with “nice songs.” Now that they’ve made their official debut, it’s time to see what this group can … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 