Fresh off their debut in October, rookie Cube boy group Pentagon is making a quick comeback with second single Can You Feel It (감이 오지). Keeping them in the spotlight is a smart move, and there are enough musical through-lines between their two singles to begin to form a distinct identity for the group. In … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-sides deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. Seventeen’s albums are usually divided between the title track, one or … Continue reading
Heize first gained fame about a year ago by appearing on the second season of Unpretty Rapstar, but rather than follow an expected hip-hop trajectory since the show’s finale, she’s offered music that adds much more of a melodic, r&b influence. Taking this approach even further, Star (저 별) goes full-on ballad, showcasing Heize’s vocals over spare … Continue reading
Seventeen have quickly become one of the most reliable hit-makers in k-pop, regularly churning out the kind of dance pop that feels universal and classic — in line with trends, but pulling influences from multiple decades and genres. 2016 has been a big year for the group, cementing them at the top of the new … Continue reading
It was a night of emotional acceptance speeches, expensive set pieces and, of course, a little behind-the-scenes drama as well. The MAMA Awards are always an exciting, larger than life capper on the year of k-pop, and this year’s broadcast was strong in a number of ways. But as with all award shows dedicated to … Continue reading
I’ve been wanting to do a miss A countdown for awhile now, but the problem is that they only have nine actual singles. This is despite being together for over five years. And with an uncertain hiatus holding the future of the group hostage, it’s unclear whether we’ll ever be getting more songs to add … Continue reading
If there’s anything I’ve learned from covering pop music for over a decade, it’s that songwriters and collaborators are just as important as the artists themselves. Though they often work behind the scenes, this feature is a chance to shine the light on some of k-pop’s most innovative and accomplished producers and composers. DUBLE SIDEKICK … Continue reading
The holiday season is in full swing, as more and more festive, winter-inspired songs start to come out of Korea. Up next is girl group Laboum, who have been an incredibly consistent purveyor of quality material. They’re just waiting for that one big hit to break them into the mainstream. Winter Story (겨울동화) is unlikely … Continue reading
After receiving a boost of much-deserved spotlight for her dancing on summer series Hit The Stage, Hyoyeon is the latest Girls’ Generation member to get a crack at a solo single. And while distributing it digitally through the SM Station platform is a bit of a cop-out to those waiting for an accompanying mini album, … Continue reading
With just a passing glance at the title of Shinee’s new Japanese single, it’s hard not to imagine the guys traipsing around a faux-snow set while belting out the Christmas classic. And as horribly cheesy as that sounds, I’ll admit that part of me would have actually looked forward to it. In reality, Winter Wonderland … Continue reading
As part of their multi-pronged comeback under YG Entertainment, late 90’s veteran group Sechs Kies has released an entire album of reworked and re-recorded versions of their hits. It’s a novel approach, catering to both nostalgia and current trends, but its level of satisfaction is entirely dependent on the creativity and willingness to experiment behind … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I’ll look back at my three favorite title tracks by k-pop artists. Unlike my end-of-year countdowns, jpop and Japanese releases by kpop artists are ineligible, though I will give the great ones a spotlight. For my top three tracks, I’ll take my own ratings into account, but there is a … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-sides deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. B1A4’s new album is full of gems, and those who prefer their … Continue reading
The month of Christmas releases is nearly upon us. Kicking things off a bit early is reggae artist and tv personality HaHa, working with up-and-coming girl group Oh My Girl. The two acts previously collaborated back in August with the special single A-ing. Apparently, they enjoyed the pairing so much that they decided to revisit it … Continue reading
Shinhwa have a long history in k-pop, ranking as the longest running boy group in the genre with all of its original members intact. They’ve also written the template of how to stage an effective comeback after years away from the scene. Their music since their return in 2012 has been a masterclass in how … Continue reading
Block B‘s Zico has become one of Korea’s most prolific hit-makers, routinely releasing hip-hop tracks of various styles to massive success. His newest single is a collaboration with fellow “it” boys Crush and DEAN. By name recognition alone, the trio is a real supergroup, representing three of the biggest names in this particular k-pop sub-genre. … Continue reading
It’s been nearly a year and a half since B1A4 made a comeback in Korea, and the wait has felt like forever. They’re one of the few idol groups who truly have a sound all their own, and even though leader/composer Jinyoung has found much success this year producing for girl groups, there’s nothing that can … Continue reading
Following in their label-mates FTIsland‘s footsteps, CNBLUE were the second big idol band from FNC Entertainment. They perform in a somewhat lighter, pop and funk influenced style, and have enjoyed incredibly success in both Korea and Japan. And although their biggest digital hit to date, I’m A Loner, didn’t quite make it on my list, … Continue reading
K-Pop is an agency-driven genre, meaning that what gets put into the market is often expertly crafted by a team of individuals and hoisted upon a group/artist who then takes it to the next level with their talent and charisma. This doesn’t necessarily take art out of the equation, but it does create an environment … Continue reading
As a companion to my Top Ten Singles lists, it’s time to look at some of the best album tracks and b-sides from the best artists. In light of the very sad news of 2NE1’s disbandment today, it seems like a perfect time to take another look at their discography. In true YG style, they’ve … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 