Hey, it’s that guy who’s technically part of Super Junior but never performs with them anymore! I find this situation (and the reason behind it) quite odd, but I’m happy Sungmin still gets to release solo music. In the case of Lovesick (사랑이 따끔), he’s bringing a blast of upbeat trot music. I appreciate trot … Continue reading
The spring of 2023 will be characterized by a quartet of top-tier girl group releases. The results have been mixed so far, with IVE’s I Am throwing down the gauntlet in rousing fashion but LE SSERAFIM’s Unforgiven missing the mark. Now, aespa sweep us into the final stretch before (G)I-DLE bring things to a close … Continue reading
In connection with my desire to fully keep up with the J-pop industry, I’m planning to do a weekly round-up of any new releases that have caught my ear. Some of these may have been covered on the blog already, but my hope is that this will become a one-stop shop for anyone interested in … Continue reading
SM’s Station releases are often forgettable little trifles, but at their best they offer the chance for the agency’s artists to stretch their wings and record a song that wouldn’t fit on a typical idol album. Hybrid is a meeting of two giant voices. TVXQ’s Changmin is known for his powerful high notes, while Guckkasten’s … Continue reading
Ahead of their album release next week, aespa have returned with the evocative Welcome to MY World (yes, the capitalization of “MY” is intentional!). Rather than hitting us over the head with intense hyperpop sounds, the track offers a more languid energy. Welcome to MY World builds gradually, moving from downbeat, rock-influenced trap-pop to symphonic … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade. April 2023 Overall Thoughts I’ve been complaining about K-pop a lot this year, but April was … Continue reading
Rather than contain my “Risers and Fallers” feature to a single post in June, I’m going to share a bite-sized version at the end of each month. This will let me account for more songs and make a nice lead-in to the monthly round-up post. I anticipate most of these ratings adjustments will be negligible: … Continue reading
This subunit name is a mouthful, isn’t it? Rather than opt for something more streamlined (“NCT V” was right there, SM!), the powers-that-be have smashed together the names of this trio, “Brangelina” style. DOJAEJUNG unites NCT vocalists Doyoung, Jaehyun and Jungwoo. Too often, vocal-based sub-units are relegated to ballads or coffeeshop fare. But, there’s nothing … Continue reading
Rumors have been swirling that Mark’s new solo track Golden Hour is a Gordon Ramsay diss track, stemming from an infamous Twitter exchange. The idea alone is humorous. But although the famous chef is mentioned in the lyrics, the song itself is much weirder and more inscrutable. Whatever I may think about Golden Hour (honestly… … Continue reading
In this feature, I zoom into some of K-pop’s most legendary weeks — short periods of time that delivered multiple classics. K-pop is usually a Monday through Friday affair (at least in my time zone), with some weeks stuffed to the brim with releases. But, not all include multiple 9+ rated songs. Here, I’ll through … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade. March 2023 Overall Thoughts So… when does the good stuff start? Seriously, we had yet another … Continue reading
This isn’t a title track or a “buried treasure,” but aespa’s new Tetris OST seems noteworthy enough to receive a write-up. Yes… you read that right. “Tetris OST.” We’re living in the upside-down, here. Thankfully, this upcoming Tetris movie is billed as a biopic/thriller and not one of those awful animated cash-ins that ruin a … Continue reading
Rather than contain my “Risers and Fallers” feature to a single post in June, I’m going to share a bite-sized version at the end of each month. This will let me account for more songs and make a nice lead-in to the monthly round-up post. I anticipate most of these ratings adjustments will be negligible: … Continue reading
Prior to his solo debut in 2020, I had imagined this huge Michael Jackson style career for Kai. Big songs, showstopping performances and tons of theatricality. Reality hasn’t played out like that, as he seems more intent on pursuing vibey tracks that lean further into R&B. This is absolutely fine (who am I to tell … Continue reading
After nearly a year since his last mini album, SHINee’s Onew is back with the release of his first full-length effort. He’s the latest SHINee member to deliver new music before the group’s promised spring comeback. Thus far, his solo sound has incorporated a soft, adult contemporary sheen that fits his beautiful vocal color. It … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade. February 2023 Overall Thoughts I hate to say it, but my interest in K-pop is kind … 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. Key improved an already-solid album with … Continue reading
It’s been a long ninety days since a K-pop song – title track or otherwise – scored a “9” or higher on this blog. That’s a new Bias List record, if you’re wondering! I’ve often joked that 2023 hasn’t actually started yet, but now we can put that critique to rest. Leave it to SHINee’s … Continue reading
November-December 2008 Overall Thoughts In addition to my monthly K-pop round-up, I’ve taken a look at my favorite three singles from each month since 2009 and factored them into my ultimate Bias List scorecard, which can be found here. The problem is, prior to 2009 it becomes harder to find reliable sources for K-pop release … Continue reading
As a spin-off to my Battle of the B-sides feature, I’m pleased to announce the arrive of “Battle of the Title Tracks!” In this feature, I’ll be pitting three K-pop title tracks/singles against each other and choosing a winner. These songs will mostly be from pre-2016 since I’ll try to focus on music I haven’t … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 