Comparing Fantagio Entertainment’s roll-out of Astro in 2016 and LUN8 in 2023-24 is like measuring a freight train against an old jalopy. Without frequent comebacks, robust promotion or a distinct sound, this group feels nebulous and underappreciated. And to make things worse, the music has rarely been that great. I’m sure LUN8 are very talented … Continue reading
Someone needs to do a case study on why so many idol soloists debut with the most subdued (ie: dull) material you could possibly imagine. Have they been so beaten down by the maximalist needs of K-pop’s idol group system? Are they under the impression that — above all else — they must show some … Continue reading
It’s been a rough couple of weeks for fans of underrated girl groups. We’ve seen the departure of members and even the disbandment of long-standing acts. The latest to suffer this fate is Fantagio Entertainment’s Weki Meki. The girls debuted in 2017 but have essentially been inactive for the last two years. Now, instead of … Continue reading
Fantagio Entertainment’s new boy group LUN8 has had an oddly fractured debut roll-out. They emerged late last spring and then followed their title track with a sub-unit release in the fall. New single Super Power marks their first official comeback as a full group, and sounds very little like any of the tracks they’ve released … Continue reading
Astro haven’t released a single or album since the passing of member Moonbin last April. Any new music would surely be laced with an undertone of sadness, and that’s completely natural. But for a group who built their name on upbeat bubblegum pop, it’s almost hard to imagine their music taking on a mournful tone. … Continue reading
For as popular as Cha Eunwoo is, I’m surprised it’s taken so long for him to make his solo debut as a singer. I guess with so many acting and promotional jobs coming in, he probably doesn’t have much free time on his hands! Despite Stay being his first official title track, Eunwoo has recorded … Continue reading
I’ve listed my “top tens” for many artists, but it’s time to rummage through entire discographies and rank every single from worst to best. This feature will primarily tackle groups who have disbanded or gone on indefinite hiatus. It’s a way for me to re-evaluate my initial thoughts on their singles run. Don’t be surprised … Continue reading
It’s pretty gutsy to debut a sub-unit before your group has even released their first comeback, but LUN8wave have burst on the scene five months after LUN8 made their June debut. Playground sees five of its members returning with a sound that could have been carried just as well with all eight guys. To be … 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. June 2023 Overall Thoughts In the coming days, I’ll be sharing my top picks from the … Continue reading
LUN8’s debut mini album is pretty strong, but opening track Voyager sticks out like a sore thumb. Not only is it my least favorite song, but it sounds like it’s pulled from a completely different project than the rest of the material. I’m curious why Fantagio decided to promote it with a music video. Despite … 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
If there’s anything I’ve learned from covering pop music for over a decade, it’s that songwriters and collaborators are just as important as the artists themselves. Though they often work behind the scenes, this feature is a chance to shine the light on some of K-pop’s most innovative and accomplished producers and composers. FULL8LOOM Years … Continue reading
Over the past few years, Astro members have been more active in solos and sub-units than full-group comebacks. The most prolific has been the duo of Moonbin and Sanha. It’s hard to believe they’re already on their third mini album! They made a strong debut with 2020’s Bad Idea before embracing more atmospheric material with … Continue reading
I spend the whole year plucking “buried treasures” from K-pop’s vast slate of albums, and now it’s time for those b-sides to have their own countdown! As usual, some of 2022’s strongest music was never promoted with a glossy video or music show blitz. Over the next two days, I’ll be counting down my forty … Continue reading
The end of the year countdowns are finally here! As always, we’ll kick off with the big one: The Bias List’s top 50 songs of the year! Each day this week, I’ll be counting down ten of the year’s best, until number one is revealed on Friday. To be eligible for this top 50 list, … Continue reading
Disclaimer: As with my write-ups on K-Pop’s biggest agencies, this is written from an outsider’s perspective. I’m not privy to any business-related financial information beyond what any other fan would know. The purpose of these articles is to examine how well these agencies are serving their artists and the general K-pop fan-base. If you’re curious … Continue reading
It’s been almost a year since we heard from Weki Meki, but before we get a full group comeback we have the solo debut of member Choi Yoojung. Yoojung has long been one of the group’s most well-known members, beginning her career in IOI before moving on to become the “face” of Weki Meki. She … Continue reading
Welcome to Astro’s U&Iverse! It’s exactly like our universe, except every word that’s meant to start with “U” actually starts with “U&I”! U&Inderstand? To find out more about their U&Iverse, solve the questions in this Astro-themed crossword puzzle. Remember, every answer starts with “U&I,” but when transferring your answer to the crossword puzzle, leave out … Continue reading
We’ll take a brief hiatus from the usual Sunday Open Discussion post today because my annual “Risers and Fallers” feature always spurs conversation. Every July, I like to take a look at which songs have either grown or sunk on my own playlist. With years of reviewing under my belt and a pretty solid understanding … Continue reading
Yesterday, I struck a disappointed note when rounding up this year’s strongest singles, and this albums list is going to be quite similar. 2022 has delivered some decent albums so far, but nothing close to a My Name/City Of ONF, Don’t Call Me/Atlantis, YES, Summer Queen, Gatcha or The Chaos Chapter: Freeze. In fact, I’m … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 