It’s been about a year since we heard from Hwasa with the gimmicky (but somehow enduring?) I Love My Body. On new single NA, she’s traded that song’s retro trappings for a more modern house beat. It’s a welcome jolt of energy within her discography, even if the track spends too much time talking when … Continue reading
The Chuseok-related K-pop drought ends today with the first solo debut from popular group TXT. Over the years, Yeonjun has become a sort of ‘it boy’ within his generation, so it’s no surprise that he’s given the chance to showcase his skills as a soloist. As always, I’m most interested to see what his music … Continue reading
We rarely hear K-pop groups promote ballads anymore, usually making them a pre-release (if they’re released at all). A.C.E have a history of this approach with their excellent 2020 track Stand By You. They definitely have the vocal firepower to pull it off, and special single Anymore takes advantage of this skill. Rather than Stand … Continue reading
Xdinary Heroes continue their blitz of 2024 digital singles with a real coup. They’ve managed to get Yoon Do Hyun from venerated rock group YB as a duet partner for iNSTEAD!. I was delighted to see this, as I love Do Hyun’s voice and A Flying Butterfly is one of my all-time favorite K-rock songs. … Continue reading
When it comes to music I love, there tends to be two categories of songs. There are instant hits that capture my attention on first listen. Then, there are ‘stealth bombers’ that reveal their charms more gradually. Every single BOYNEXTDOOR song has fallen into the second category. In the long run, it doesn’t mean they’re … Continue reading
I’ve been hot and cold on xikers’ music so far, usually finding at least one b-side I enjoy but often wishing their title tracks went a different direction. Making matters worse, I found the preview of new single Witch (위치) the least compelling clip on their album’s highlight medley, forgoing their freewheeling rock energy for … Continue reading
As the Twice members slowly begin to develop solo careers, it’s interesting to see which girls release music first. Nayeon has become the most prolific, delivering two solo albums. Leader Jihyo also made a solo debut last summer. Now, Tzuyu is the next to follow in their footsteps. As a casual fan, I’m not familiar … Continue reading
L5ST are a newly debuted group from Macaroni Media — one of the most enjoyable K-pop company names we’re heard in some time. They’re also set to appear on Abema’s upcoming Re:Born series. I guess being “born” once through debut isn’t enough these days! Their first single Only One sees them tackling a light rock … Continue reading
September is the month of SHINee solos, with three of four members releasing music or mvs over the next few weeks. It’s interesting to hear what they’re up to under new management, and for Onew the change seems to have ignited a sense of groove. When I think of his solo work, I’m more liable … Continue reading
Nine years into their career, it’s amazing how immensely popular DAY6 have become. Their 2019 title track Time Of Our Life has (rightfully) become a sleeper hit on the charts, while newest single Welcome To The Show has also experienced a boomerang over the past few months. The group boasts a robust back catalog, and … Continue reading
With mega-hit songs like aespa’s Supernova and TWS’s Plot Twist sucking up the oxygen for female and male idol groups this year, we can’t forget to mention the incredible fortunes of QWER’s latest single TBH. Hailing from a little-known subsidiary, this all-female rock group has been lodged in the top ten for much of 2024. … Continue reading
Few rookie groups have endured a story as dramatic as Fifty Fifty. Initially emerging from a fledgling agency, they quickly gained international notoriety and incredible momentum, only to have this success undercut by alleged abuse, escalating lawsuits and contract terminations. The timeline is too complicated for me to recount here, but we’re left with an … Continue reading
From the moment they kicked their legs in the air to open Fearless‘s compelling choreo, LE SSERAFIM have displayed tons of potential and even more style. But too often, the group has been saddled with ultra-trendy material that feels like an echo of Western pop sounds rather than a guiding light forward. With new single … Continue reading
Originally debuting as a main rapper in EXO, Chanyeol has gone on to release several solo singles in a variety of genres. He may not be a powerhouse vocalist within the group, but his tone has an easily identifiable charm suited to rock and indie music. Black Out comes from his first official solo album … Continue reading
I count myself among the contingent of Chungha fans who prefer when her music aims straight for the clubs, meaning this spring’s title track Eenie Meenie became eclipsed by its clubbier b-side I’m Ready. With new single Algorithm, she seems to have grasped the formula (see what I did there?) many of us have been … Continue reading
Given Cube Entertainment’s once-savvy position in the K-pop industry, I’m surprised how soft their launch of new boy group Nowadays has been. Their debut came and went without much fanfare, followed by a cover version of Beast’s Rainy Day. Neither of these tracks helped establish Nowadays as a unique group of their own, so first … Continue reading
NCT’s Jaehyun pre-released two tracks from his debut solo album earlier this month. I gave both average ratings but never returned to them again. Rather than “good” or “bad,” the songs didn’t have much effect on me at all. They simply existed — nice, well-performed and very predictable. Title track Smoke continues this pattern, painting … Continue reading
Sungmin has found a comfortable niche in trot music, a sound that’s still very popular in Korea. And with SM Entertainment set to debut a trot boyband of their own, the genre seems poised for even more of a resurgence. For my part, I appreciate a great trot track (especially when performed live) but very … Continue reading
Last year, it was reported that Nine Muses might be regrouping for a reunion comeback. I’d love to see it, as their discography is one of K-pop’s most underrated gems. But a year later, it seems that the news might have been a pipe dream — and judging by recent returns from groups like Infinite … Continue reading
STAYC have leaned further into their quirky side as their career has developed, and that includes their Japanese work. 2022’s Poppy is one of their wackiest tracks, capitalizing on a certain J-pop energy that isn’t always embraced by Korean acts. Despite its silly title, new single Meow is more straight-laced, delivering a brief burst of … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 