Male idol solo tracks tend to fit within a few distinct realms these days. Either they opt for a slinky funk track (usually served with a huge side of Justin Timberlake’s Like I Love You), stark piano ballad or light rocker. These archetypes have become so hardened that it’s difficult to pull much enjoyment from … Continue reading
ONEWE are getting into the pre-release game with Ferris Wheel (관람차), which is a taste of their upcoming demo album. The word “demo” feels more like branding than reality here, as I’m not sure songs can still be considered demos after they’ve been promoted with music videos and performed on shows. But regardless of vernacular, … Continue reading
There have been an increasing number of Japanese groups formed by Korean agencies who end up promoting in Korea much more often than their home country. With this in mind, NCT Wish have split their efforts pretty well between the two countries, building a large fan base in the process. Apart from a song here … Continue reading
n.SSign’s sole 2025 single Itty Bitty was a sneaky little earworm, slowly rising to become one of my favorite songs of last spring. The guys don’t promote nearly enough for a group of their stature. They still feel like rookies, despite debuting in 2023. New single Funky Like Me was first premiered last month at … Continue reading
LNGSHOT is the first idol group to launch from Jay Park’s MORE VISION record label. They made a pre-debut last month in the midst of all of my year-end countdowns, so I wasn’t able to write about that song. However, they’ve made their full debut today and I’m ready to dive in. I grew up … Continue reading
ILLIT have a knack for releasing viral songs — or at least dance challenges that make their songs go viral. The ultra-subdued Not Cute Anymore is currently enjoying a run on the charts that has prompted the group to get back on music shows for additional promotions. In the midst of this, they’ve released the … Continue reading
Though their music has been very uneven so far, I find ALLDAY PROJECT a pretty exciting addition to the current K-pop landscape. Certain members court controversy, which only adds to their appeal for some fans. For my part, I’m just happy to see another co-ed group becoming successful in K-pop. I wish we had more … Continue reading
KiiiKiii had a strange debut year, moving from ultra-quirky sounds to much more straightforward fare before going silent for the last chunk of the year. That was in preparation for their upcoming comeback due at the end of this month. From initial teasers, they seem to be embracing their quirkier side once more, though little … Continue reading
As members are entering the military one by one, Seventeen has smartly reconfigured its promotions into units. This isn’t unique for the group. Their structure is designed as three teams combining into one larger group and they often feature unit and solo tracks on their albums. Vocal led ballads are also common for the group, … Continue reading
Recently, idol groups spawned by survival series have subverted corporate expectations and developed signature sounds that give them a unique identity in the K-pop market. AHOF, Close Your Eyes and NouerA all come to mind as great examples. However, CJ ENM and their label WakeOne Entertainment are as corporate as it gets and watching season … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I compile my top three K-pop title tracks and list a ton of honorable mentions. But each Sunday, I’ll offer a compendium of the week’s new releases featured on the blog. And even more than that, I’ll attempt to rank them from my least-to-most-liked. I invite you to share … 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
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. It’s been a very sleepy start … Continue reading
In a way, Young Posse were ahead of their time. There’s this garish brand of “quirky” that’s taken over K-pop lately. Think Katseye’s Gnarly or LE SSERAFIM’s Spaghetti. Some of these work better than others (I happen to love the latter), but they share the same approach of placing meme culture ahead of anything else. … Continue reading
We’re on a steady march to ZEROBASEONE’s inevitable dissolvement/re-configuration. With their contract extended a scant few months, they’ve planned a final concert and special album set for release early next month. Leading up to that project, the group has promised two pre-releases. Running To Future is the first of these tasters and already feels like … Continue reading
Unless I’m forgetting someone, we have our first debut of 2026 with project group Latency. However, this is more like a re-debut for most members. This band consists of familiar faces (Loossemble’s Hyunjin and cignature’s Jeewon, Semi and Haeun), reinventing idols as rockers. Today, we get the first taste of their music via digital single … Continue reading
Boy group Waker impressed me very early in 2024 with their debut Atlantis. Sadly, they haven’t had many more chances to impress, with one follow-up in mid-2024 and not a single title track last year. Those of us who have been around K-pop for long enough know how this story of underfunded rookie groups often … Continue reading
Some veteran K-pop groups take agonizingly long breaks and return with grand comebacks, while others simply chug along year after year. CNBLUE have definitely had their hiatuses, but it’s never felt like they’ve been gone for long. In various configurations, they’ve released music since 2009, making them one of the industry’s longest-running acts. The guys … Continue reading
Several years after debuting as a soloist, former-LOONA member and actress/variety star Chuu has released her first full album. Full albums are meaningful for K-pop artists for a number of reasons, allowing them to craft a larger body of work and usually proving some level of longevity. Title track XO, My Cyberlove gives listeners the … 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
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 