Whenever a group I enjoy states they’ll be releasing a song that “sounds nothing like anything we’ve done before,” I get nervous. Yes, I want groups to push outside the box and experiment with new sounds, but in K-pop “nothing like we’ve ever done before” tends to mean attempting some (bad) global trend an agency … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I compile my top three K-pop title tracks and list a ton of honorable mentions. In 2025, I thought I’d try something new and add a weekly feature to supplement my monthly round-up. Each Sunday, I’ll offer a compendium of the week’s new releases featured on the blog. And … 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
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. NCT Dream’s Beat It Up grew … Continue reading
I don’t know what’s gotten into me this year, but there have been several boy group tracks I’ve loved that — in the past — I might have dismissed as “noise music.” I suppose as this trend has softened it’s made the sound less infuriating. Or, maybe the songs have just been more fun. Chief … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I compile my top three K-pop title tracks and list a ton of honorable mentions. In 2025, I thought I’d try something new and add a weekly feature to supplement my monthly round-up. Each Sunday, I’ll offer a compendium of the week’s new releases featured on the blog. And … 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
It’s that time of year again! While December is filled with year-end countdowns, I like to take a look back at some of K-pop’s biggest agencies during November. Before reading (especially if you’re new to the blog), it’s helpful to know that my grading focuses most heavily on music releases and how comebacks are managed … Continue reading
Given their status as a Japanese idol group, NCT Wish have been more active in Korea so far. This seems to be the trend for J-pop groups formed by K-pop agencies. However, they have new Japanese material on the horizon and they’re teasing that now with surprise pre-release Dreamcatcher. NCT Wish’s material has been extremely … Continue reading
After twenty-two years in the industry, TVXQ’s U-Know has finally unveiled his first full-length solo album. This project was preceded by Body Language, a track I found disappointing in almost every regard. Thankfully, title track Stretch feels much more aligned with U-Know’s incredible legacy. It’ll never not be weird to hear a TVXQ release minus … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I compile my top three K-pop title tracks and list a ton of honorable mentions. In 2025, I thought I’d try something new and add a weekly feature to supplement my monthly round-up. Each Sunday, I’ll offer a compendium of the week’s new releases featured on the blog. And … 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
NCT’s Yuta has taken his solo work as an opportunity to embrace a whole new persona. His Japanese discography rocks hard in a way that NCT was never designed for. This sits nicely within an industry that still wholeheartedly embraces rock music. New single Ember continues the sound, though it’s more likely to polarize than … 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
It’s hard to tell what Hearts2Hearts are aiming for during their debut year. Are they the new-gen SNSD redux many of us hoped for? Or, are they a moodier prospect with subdued sounds befitting K-pop’s current landscape? They can be both or course, but I’m craving a strong musical identity from the start. New title … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I compile my top three K-pop title tracks and list a ton of honorable mentions. In 2025, I thought I’d try something new and add a weekly feature to supplement my monthly round-up. Each Sunday, I’ll offer a compendium of the week’s new releases featured on the blog. And … Continue reading
U-Know’s first (!) full album is scheduled for early next month, but prior to that he’s dropped pre-release Body Language to offer a hint of what we might be in for. With over twenty years in the industry, he’s tried his hand at just about every genre you can imagine, but Body Language pairs him … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I compile my top three K-pop title tracks and list a ton of honorable mentions. In 2025, I thought I’d try something new and add a weekly feature to supplement my monthly round-up. Each Sunday, I’ll offer a compendium of the week’s new releases featured on the blog. And … Continue reading
K-pop’s title tracks might gain most of listeners’ attention, but many album tracks are worth equal spotlight. I call these “buried treasures.” Beyond this, K-pop’s albums deliver thousands of additional tracks that settle for a more limited audience. It’s these songs that will become a part of my “battle of the b-sides” feature. In this … Continue reading
Over the years, K-pop agencies have found ways to keep content coming even as male idols serve their mandatory military enlistment. NCT’s Taeyong won’t be discharged until later this year, but he pre-recorded a video for “new” track 501 and surprise-released it for fans eagerly awaiting his return. I can’t say I’ve been a big … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 