K-Pop Risers & Fallers: February 2023
Feature

K-Pop Risers & Fallers: February 2023

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

Grading the K-Pop Agencies 2022: HYBE LABELS
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Grading the K-Pop Agencies 2022: HYBE LABELS

This feature has gradually shifted from a December to a November tradition, leaving more space for next month’s sprawling end-of-year countdowns. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be looking at many of K-pop’s biggest agencies and offering my thoughts about how their 2022 went. Following SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment‘s and JYP Entertainment‘s evaluations, it’s time for … Continue reading

Song Review: TXT – Good Boy Gone Bad
Review

Song Review: TXT – Good Boy Gone Bad

Back when TXT debuted with the excellent Crown, it seemed they had years of bright, bubbly pop ahead of then. Instead, the group quickly veered into more combative territory. Their first comeback enhanced the rock angst and – apart from one disco-infused “minisode” in 2020 – they’ve stayed pretty faithful to that template. This paid … Continue reading

Battle of the B-Sides: Taeyeon, Super Junior-KRY, GOT7, TXT, Monsta X
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Battle of the B-Sides: Taeyeon, Super Junior-KRY, GOT7, TXT, Monsta X

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