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
To me, new Korean/Japanese boy group KJRGL are most memorable because their name looks like someone smashed their head on a keyboard and wrote down the resulting nonsense. In reality, “KJRGL” is an acronym for “Kind (of) Just Right Good Luck”, which is somehow even more endearing. They’re under Sony Music Entertainment Korea, but debut … Continue reading
In the lead-up to their first Korean mini album, NCT Wish have already delivered the SHINee-esque pre-release Dunk Shot. Now, they’ve given us another taste of what’s to come with the lighter pop of 3 Minutes (3분까진 필요 없어). I’m assuming this isn’t the title track since the album doesn’t arrive until next week, but … Continue reading
I chose NINE.i’s Vahn as my second favorite K-pop producer of 2023. Not only was he responsible for his group’s excellent mini album, but he also had a hand in Golden Child’s Feel Me. That second song feels like a roadmap to the similarly-titled Feeling — the title track for his first EP. In a … Continue reading
With over 4,000 songs on my iPhone’s “K-Pop Singles” playlist, I thought it would be fun to add a bit of unpredictability to my song review posts. So as a result, we have the “Random Shuffle Review” feature. The rules are simple. I fire up my playlist, press “shuffle,” and whatever song plays first gets … Continue reading
EDIT: This was previously published as a “buried treasure” review, but now that we’ve got an official video I’m switching it over to a normal Song Review! When writing about xikers’ Witch, I mentioned that there are often enjoyable b-sides on the group’s albums even if their title track doesn’t appeal to me. That’s especially … 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
It’s been teased since aespa’s debut in 2020, and now SM Entertainment has finally debuted their virtual creation nævis. For those not in the know, nævis is (according to Fandom.com) “an AI system that helps the aes of aespa appear in the real world, allowing them to be seen by the real aespa members.” Okay, … 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
NCT Wish have pinballed promotions between Japan and Korea, releasing previous single Songbird first in Japanese before unveiling its Korean version. Their new album seems to be taking the opposite approach, starting with pre-release Dunk Shot. No, this is not a cover of the 90’s track that NCT Dream already recorded. This is another Dunk … 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
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. ONEWE tried their hand at a … 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. MADEIN’s title track Uno is among … 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. There were a number of b-sides … Continue reading
After returning from the military, Baekhyun (mostly) parted ways with SM Entertainment and set up his own label INB100. He’s not the first SM artist to do so, and likely won’t be the last. With this newfound freedom, he’s made his long awaited comeback with the synth grooves of Pineapple Slice. Looking at this song … Continue reading
Though it has obvious commercial firepower behind it, Teddy and Kush’s The Black Label has also developed a reputation for infrequent comebacks and — at times — dated production choices. With all the talent involved, it’s a bit surprising how little the agency actually does. That work schedule will be tested with the debut of … 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
EXO’s Chanyeol made his comeback last week, but he’s already back again with follow-up single… Back Again. While Black Out took a subdued rock approach, Back Again dives into a more boisterous 90’s sound. It’s a much more interesting song, pulling together several distinct segments. Back Again almost feels like a mash-up. The rapped verses … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 