As a sub-unit, the Odd Eye Circle trio have delivered the LOONA project’s most interesting music to date — so much so that I almost wish these three would promote together on a permanent basis. LOONA itself has had such a lengthy roll out, and it remains to be seen whether all the build-up will … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Going To You (from Destiny – 2013) At their best, Infinite’s unique vocal blend can soar to truly majestic places. Going To You is one of the strongest examples of this. Building slow from a soft gallop of percussion, the track soon … Continue reading
To say that Super Junior’s ascent as elder statesmen of k-pop has been a graceful one would be wishful thinking. With multiple controversies sidelining several members, it feels like this upcoming comeback’s very existence is a minor miracle. And though there may only be seven of the once thirteen-member group promoting this time around, the … Continue reading
In 2017, Twice has continued to dominate charts and secure their position as the number one girl group in Korea. But neither of their singles this year packed quite the impossibly contagious, long-lasting effect of their opening Like Ooh-Ah/Cheer Up/TT trilogy. This can be traced directly to production duo Black Eyed Pilseung, who sat the … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! For You (from For You – 2015) Though For You may not have been produced by Sweetune, it brought back a certain funky lightness that had been missing from many Infinite tracks by the time December of 2015 rolled around. The song’s … Continue reading
With so many similarly-pitched idol competitions premiering at the same time, I fear the onset of k-pop survival series fatigue. And by releasing their theme song last out of the group, MIXNINE’s Just Dance (선공개) feels way too familiar in both inspiration and execution. But the song was co-composed by producer Teddy, who has long … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Footsteps (from Reality – 2015) Taken from one of the group’s strongest albums, Footsteps feels a bit meandering when stacked up with the material surrounding it. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but the track plays with structure by not providing the … Continue reading
Few rookie groups have suffered as long a hiatus as Playback. The girls debuted all the way back in June of 2015 and released two underrated singles that year. And now — twenty-five months since we last heard them — they’ve finally delivered a follow-up. Because of this, it’s almost more accurate to consider Want … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Follow Me (from Season 2/Be Back – 2014) One of the most underrated tracks in Infinite’s arsenal, Follow Me is a captivating blend of ornate strings and thrilling tempo shifts. Kicking off at a gallop, the first verse swells with a beautiful build … Continue reading
After giving us its co-ed theme song and the boys’ group track, it’s time for The Unit to complete its trilogy of pre-releases before the series officially debuts tomorrow. This time the female contestants take center stage for the peppy Shine, and the song is a veritable case study for why I’m generally inclined towards … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Fixed Star (from First Invasion – 2010) Fixed Star is Infinite’s first ballad, giving us a taste of just how well-matched the group’s vocals are for this style. Melodically, it’s typical of the genre, hearkening back to a boy band sound popularized in … Continue reading
Three years after riding high as one of k-pop’s most successful breakout girl groups, AOA has found themselves in a bit of a slump. After member controversies and the departure of main vocal ChoA, it’s unclear where they’re headed next. We haven’t heard from the girls since January’s double title track release, and I can’t … Continue reading
The BOYS24 project has been an exhausting, drawn-out ordeal, with the prospect of its resulting boy group IN2IT getting less exciting by the month. But then the guys started dropping teasers for their official debut, filled with gorgeous scenery and a majestic, African-sounding instrumental that seemed as if could offer a breath of fresh air … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Feel So Bad (from Infinitize – 2012) Feel So Bad is a more experimental piece for the group, exploring tempo changes and dramatic production shifts. Though percussion is definitely a player here, the instrumental is given over almost entirely to an intricately … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-side tracks deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. When it comes to ballads, I love it when groups … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Fantasy (from What Is Mom OST – 2012) Infinite hasn’t recorded much soundtrack work, but this synth-driven ode to the 80’s fits right in with their album material. Fantasy hits strong right out of the gate, offering a propulsive electro gallop that … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-side tracks deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. As should be the case with any celebration, Highlight’s new … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Entrust (from First Invasion – 2010) Initially coming across as a fluffy throwaway, Entrust has since become almost legendary as Infinite’s “fan service” song performed at nearly every concert. It’s certainly on the lighter end of their discography, but its cutesy hooks … Continue reading
One thing I’ve always appreciated about Epik High is that, even when they’re exploring trends, they have a style unique to them. This blend of alternative and old school hip hop gives their music a familiar base to work from and guarantees a certain amount of continuity between albums. The last time we heard from … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Dilemma (from Dilemma – 2015) As Infinite’s first original Japanese single, Dilemma had a lot to live up to. The guys took a hard swerve into heavy metal with the instrumental’s guitar crunch and percussive stomp. It’s a transformation that works surprisingly … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 