It’s amazing what can be accomplished when the shackles of a big agency like YG Entertainment are thrown away. In just a couple of months, iKON members have released a full album and solo tracks/features. This is lovely to see, especially with so many years of infrequent comebacks. Lead vocalist Jay (also known as Jinhwan) … Continue reading
One of these days, Lapillus are going to release a great song that’s worthy of them. Today is not that day. It’s almost as if this group’s music has been engineered in a lab as a Bias List repellant. I haven’t enjoyed anything they’ve put out, and Who’s Next proudly continues that trend. The song … Continue reading
It’s day three of Kiss Of Life’s pre-debut advent calendar of solo videos, and today we’re introduced to the group’s leader and rapper Julie. Kitty Cat offers a more hip-hop flavored taste of their sound while sitting comfortably alongside the past two tracks. It’s becoming very clear that Kiss Of Life’s work will be well-produced. … Continue reading
Kim Jaehwan’s finally gone and done it. He’s promoting a funk song! Ever since 2019’s excellent Designer, I’ve been on his case about releasing more upbeat material. Yes, big voices are well-suited to ballads — but there is nothing better than a skilled, powerful singer flexing their skills over an equally powerful dance beat. Lucky! … Continue reading
New girl group Kiss Of Life are pulling a Loona-style rollout, revealing solo tracks from each member before the group’s title track emerges. However, they seem to be stuffing this rollout into a single week. I’ll try to write about each song, though the reviews will likely be on the shorter side. Yesterday, Natty impressed … Continue reading
While fans wait impatiently for a Korean comeback (it’s going on four-and-a-half years, now…), TVXQ are back with another Japanese single. Lime & Lemon adds to their summertime playlist, offering a shot of uptempo dance music well-suited for the season. This will always be a style that appeals to me, but it’s become its own … Continue reading
Kang Daniel’s newest album comes paired with striking Mad Max-esque visuals. SOS‘s music video is very cool, delivering high octane action even as the song trudges away underneath. Its sound continues in the vein of past singles — an alt rock/trap hybrid that feels emotional and gritty. This has become a preferred style for Kang … Continue reading
SM Entertainment has been into their pre-releases lately, teasing anticipated albums with a full song weeks before the rest of the tracks are set to drop. Following SHINee and EXO, NCT Dream are the next group to give us a taste of their new sound. And though Broken Melodies may not reinvent any wheel, it’s … Continue reading
Girl group Kiss Of Life has yet to debut, but we’re already familiar with Natty from her solo work. She released a couple of solid singles back in 2020 before cutting her solo career short. It seems fitting, then, that this new group’s rollout begins with another solo track. Sugarcoat captures my 90’s r&b heart. … Continue reading
GreatGuys’ new music video opens in a roller rink, so you know my interest is already piqued! I love a bright boy group track that’s roller-rink-ready, and Luv Luv Luv fits that template to a tee. It’s driven by tropical synth squiggles and a dance beat that (mostly) stays focused and steady. However, this is … 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. Nothing on Ren’s debut mini album … Continue reading
My trajectory with ATEEZ has been a bit of a mystery. Back in 2019, I found them to be one of the most exciting acts in K-pop. But as the years have gone on, it’s been harder to retain the same level of excitement around their music. I’m not sure why this is. Their core … Continue reading
Twice’s first promoted sub-unit Misamo debuts not with a Korean release, but a J-pop song. This is a little surprising, especially since the mellow Marshmallow seems suited to Korean tastes. But when you realize who’s involved in this unit, the decision couldn’t be clearer. Misamo gives the group’s three Japanese members a chance to shine … Continue reading
LUN8 are Fantagio Entertainment’s first new group since Weki Meki in 2017, succeeding Astro as the agency’s second boy band. Astro’s debut year will always be a sterling example of a new group debuting with their own sound and musical perspective. LUN8 have a big legacy to live up to, and Wild Heart shows potential. … Continue reading
Though they’re not exactly the same, I like to think of Mrs. GREEN APPLE and Official HIGE DANdism as parallel artists. Both have seen an incredible rise in popularity over the past five years with a rock sound that embraces hearty melodies and cathartic energy. Both have powerful vocalists at their helm. And, both have … Continue reading
Like many groups from smaller agencies, DKB has diversified their audience by touring extensively overseas. Their smooth, hip-hop inspired sound holds big international appeal, but new single I Need Love takes them in a direction more suited to the dancefloor. There’s a great song packed in here, but the structure and production seem intent on … Continue reading
It seems I’m writing about a HYBE act or a HYBE-adjacent act every other day on this blog. The monolithic company has taken over K-pop and has its sights set on J-pop as well. The resulting music is of mixed quality, but HYBE’s ever-expanding roster of artists have all found success so far. Love them … Continue reading
Ren’s penchant for colorful, over-the-top pop music makes him the Nu’est member I was most excited about going solo. With any luck, he’d use 2021’s Rocket Rocket as a template and craft an entire album of big club bops. There’s a hole in the market for a male idol like that. Ready To Move targets … Continue reading
I’m doing mental somersaults to determine the connection between Suzy and HYBE’s upcoming series R U Next. I thought maybe she was the host or a mentor, but a quick Google search reveals nothing. I guess IU performed I-LAND‘s theme track without being part of the actual series, so there’s a precedent for super popular … Continue reading
Good old VAV! I haven’t written about them in nearly three years. It’s good to see the group back. Their discography has varied so much in sound, from the early funk-pop days to their latter experiments with darker moods. New single Designer brings the guys back to the Latin-inspired style they’d adopted in 2018-19. They … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 