Author: Kim-si-young
It’s been a year of changes for fromis_9. Not only did their contract expire with Pledis Entertainment but the group went through a reconfiguration upon signing with new label Asnd, reduced from nine to five members. “fromis_5” doesn’t have the same ring to it, so the girls have retained their name as a nod to their history and a commitment to the future. New single Like You Better echoes this strength, barreling forward with a shot of summer energy. I can’t stress enough how refreshed I am by Like You Better‘s bombastic production. I’ve been waiting for girl groups to…
Since going their separate ways for solo promotions, no SHINee member has been as musically prolific as Onew. This isn’t what I would have expected based on past history, but he’s been churning out material with great consistency. Next up is summer single Confidence, pre-released ahead of this third full album next month. As you might expect from the season, the track has a brighter aesthetic. While summer used to be a time of bounding, energetic title tracks, I’ve noticed a cooldown over the past seven years. Groovier, downbeat fare has become just as popular as those great Duble Sidekick-esque…
The guys of 2PM have remained quite active as soloists even if they don’t often release group material these days. Some of their best work has emerged from solo albums, though it’s been awhile since a song has really connected with me. Jang Wooyoung’s Sexy Lady and R.O.S.E still hold great nostalgic memories, and even if new single Simple Dance never lives up to those heights it’s still refreshing to hear from him again. This slinky mid-tempo draws upon many of Wooyoung’s strengths, placing his smooth vocals over an atmospheric groove that’s content to provide an enticing vibe rather than…
Five years since their debut, CRAVITY are in a rebirth phase. They’ve changed leaders and teased their new album with images of the members emerging from giant eggs covered in amniotic fluid. Yes, you read that correctly. And yes, it’s kind of awesome in its sheer nerve. Rebirths in K-pop don’t always mean drastic shifts in sound or style, and thankfully new single SET NET G0?! retains many of the group’s strongest elements. In fact, this song finds a way to stuff just about every CRAVITY sound into one package. SET NET G0 moves through several distinct segments, from the…
Newly-debuted co-ed group ALLDAY PROJECT released their single Famous a week ago to mixed reviews. Some loved its rhythmic, chorus-less approach while others found its sound dated and dull. I count myself in the latter group, though I’d gladly take a dozen Famous‘s over one Wicked. At some point, a large swath of K-pop’s output became “lame boasts over lamer beats.” I’m not quite sure how we got here, but I wish artists would stop treating the industry like some battle royale where they constantly need to arrive with guns blazing, shouting about how awesome they are. There’s nothing more…
As time has gone on, any enthusiasm I mustered around ENHYPEN’s recent title track Bad Desire (With or Without You) has fizzled. The music just feels so undeveloped, trussed up with overly dramatic visuals that only serve to highlight how threadbare the actual sound is. This extends to their newest album, which is getting a second shot of promotion with follow-up track Outside. I like this even less than Bad Desire, though it feels like the more intentional track of the two. I see what they’re going for here, even if it’s not for me at all. This style of…
Each week, I’ll be taking a listen to the newest K-pop releases and giving my thoughts. Check back frequently for new reviews and commentary on everything K-Pop! Where to Buy K-Pop Albums Online Top 3 K-Pop Songs of May 2025 BEST OF 2024 MASTERPOST
The Bias List is a K-pop blog that also covers a fair amount of J-pop. But just like most music fans, I enjoy tracks from all around the world. So, I thought I’d start a monthly round-up of some of the non-K-pop songs that have caught my ear. No ratings — just highlights! February 2022 // March 2022 // April 2022 // May 2022 // June 2022 // July 2022 // August 2022 // September 2022 // October 2022 // November 2022 // January 2023 // February 2023 // March 2023 // April 2023 // May 2023 // June 2023…
The Bias List is a K-pop blog that also covers a fair amount of J-pop. But just like most music fans, I enjoy tracks from all around the world. So, I thought I’d start a monthly round-up of some of the non-K-pop songs that have caught my ear. No ratings — just highlights! February 2022 // March 2022 // April 2022 // May 2022 // June 2022 // July 2022 // August 2022 // September 2022 // October 2022 // November 2022 // January 2023 // February 2023 // March 2023 // April 2023 // May 2023 // June 2023…
It’s been about a year since I last wrote about girl group VVUP, though I realize I mixed them up with the newly debuted VVS in my mind, assuming they were one and the same. That’s what your insistent acronyms do to us, K-pop! That’s also what forgettable music does, as I can’t remember a single past VVUP track despite covered each in detail. So, I guess we can consider Giddy Boy a fresh start of sorts. The vast majority of Giddy Boy simply reheats current girl group tropes that have been run into the ground, but it has a…