Kpop

by Nick on April 9, 2026 at 4:18 pm

Katseye are not a K-pop group, but of all the global acts backed by K-pop agencies they’re by far the buzziest so I continue to write about their work regardless of my own criteria for this blog. Love or hate their songs, they’re guaranteed to garner a strong reaction. Alongside new single Pinky Up, Katseye … Continue reading → […]

by Nick on April 9, 2026 at 1:57 pm

Hwasa scored a mega hit last fall with Good Goodbye — a song that took a moment to top the charts but didn’t relinquish its place once it got there. That success was a welcome surprise. I didn’t care much about the song itself, but I’ve always liked Hwasa. Time will tell if those good … Continue reading → […]

by Nick on April 8, 2026 at 2:40 pm

I find it difficult to be a consistent fan of groups formed through the Produce/Planet series of survival shows. No matter how much I might like the members, the music often functions as an expanded version of the series’ concept missions. Groups don’t develop a signature sound, meaning one month they may release the best … Continue reading → […]

by Nick on April 8, 2026 at 2:36 pm

After many, many years, T.O.P finally released his full debut solo album last week. Listening through, it’s the kind of work I admire even if I don’t personally enjoy. He’s always had an idiosyncratic approach to hip-hop that I believe works better in small doses as part of a larger group. However, fans of his … Continue reading → […]

by Nick on April 8, 2026 at 2:35 pm

Bands have become all the rage in K-pop this year and today we have the debut of yet another one. hrtz.wav come from Mnet’s survival series Steal Heart Club, guaranteeing a certain level of promotion from one of the industry’s leading forces. I didn’t watch the series, but certainly noted the band’s masked drummer hagiwa. … Continue reading → […]

by Nick on April 8, 2026 at 2:33 pm

New group KEYVITUP must be so impressed by their silly name that they made it the title of their debut track as well. There’s power in repetition, and getting your name out to listeners is important. Their pre-debut Best One hinted at strong vocals, but (the song) KEYVITUP mostly jettisons that charm for familiar 90s … Continue reading → […]

by Nick on April 8, 2026 at 2:30 pm

AMPERS&ONE have an identity crisis. Each time they return with new music, it’s like hearing a completely different group. This makes them a tricky prospect to follow and enjoy. Their catalog is so hit and miss and there’s no overriding concept tying the music together. I’ve liked them best when they go straight for the … Continue reading → […]

by Nick on April 8, 2026 at 2:28 pm

Since releasing the very good Love Attack in 2024, RESCENE have become a paragon of the trendy “subdued” girl group sound. I’m not sure why their producers decided not to return to Attack‘s upbeat appeal, and for me their musical trajectory has really stalled. New single Runaway doesn’t do much to change that track, though … Continue reading → […]

by Nick on April 7, 2026 at 3:20 pm

The campaign for BTS’s ARIRANG album continues unabated with the release of another music video. This time, Hooligan gets its time in the spotlight. This track was promoted with dance challenges even before the debut of its video, making it feel like a co-lead track with Swim. For those looking to recapture the boisterous energy … Continue reading → […]

by Nick on April 7, 2026 at 2:36 pm

Super Junior remains one of the most active groups of their stature, routinely releasing new music as a collective and as soloists. Today, Donghae is back with a new album of his own, collaborating with Jay Park and 1iL for its title track Good Day. As its title suggests, this is an upbeat, sunny stomper … Continue reading → […]