So far in 2017, SM Entertainment has released ten title tracks. About a third of those have belonged to Girls’ Generation leader Taeyeon. The agency has worked hard to foster her solo career, and her sales numbers certainly back that up. But unlike other listeners, I wasn’t 100% sold on this idea until February’s My Voice album release. … Continue reading
Lately, YG artists have taken to releasing nearly every new track as a single, complete with music video and extended promotion. As with anything, this strategy is a double-edged sword. It’s exciting to have a visual complement to each piece of music, even if the project’s hefty budgetary requirements may limit the amount of material that … Continue reading
Of all the acts that have been screwed over by YG Entertainment‘s unreliable release schedule, none has had to put up with more than Winner. First there was the nearly two year wait between their debut and follow-up, and then came last year’s botched EXIT project (they never made it past “E,” regrettably). Though the group has … Continue reading
Rookie boy group INX debuted last August with the promising Alright, opting for a classic synth sound that helped them stand out. Unfortunately, they went pretty silent shortly after. In this day and age, rookies need to be a near constant presence, utilizing social media, vlive, youtube and any other outlet they can find to … Continue reading
They may not have hit quite the same level of success as some of their 2015-debuted peers, but Oh My Girl has consistently released interesting — at times challenging — pop music. In a genre known for its adherence to trends, a little bit of experimentation is never a bad thing. K-pop is at its … Continue reading
K-Pop is one of the few international genres that places more focus on groups than solo acts, but when a single artist does make it big, they often burst into the stratosphere. Such is the case with Rain (Bi), who set the standard for male soloists everywhere. He is not only a Korean star. He’s a … 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. KIM TAE … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by k-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade. March 2017 Overall Thoughts Oh, March. It’s such a long month, yet gives us so little when it … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 