TS Entertainment has been a real mixed bag when it comes to idol groups. Their first two, Secret and B.A.P, were huge hits — even if both have suffered from mismanagement and long hiatuses in recent years. But the agency has struggled to get girl group Sonamoo off the ground. And now they’re throwing a … Continue reading
The story of Nu’est is unique within the world of k-pop: a once buzzed-about group hanging on by a thread, revived not by the hype of a viral moment or the strength of a hit single, but through a music survival series designed primarily for trainees. That series was, of course, the mega-hit Produce 101, … Continue reading
I haven’t been a big fan of GOT7‘s shift in style over the past year and a half, but sub-unit JJ Project’s melodic Tomorrow, Today was one of this summer’s nicest surprises. By bringing back a sense of classic pop songcraft, JB and Jinyoung successfully laid the groundwork for the resurgence of melody in GOT7’s … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Be Mine (from Over The Top / Paradise – 2011) What to say about one of modern k-pop’s most iconic songs? Be Mine is a perfect encapsulation of Sweetune’s synth-driven 80’s sound — so flawlessly written that it feels disarmingly simple, as … Continue reading
Seventeen‘s pre-comeback tease is in full swing with the Performance Team’s Lilili Yabbay (13월의 춤). Consisting of Hoshi, Dino, The8 and Jun, Performance has become the most unpredictable of the group’s sub-units. But these non-promoted releases are the perfect venue for a little adventurous spirit, and by pushing the boundaries Yabbay is the most compelling … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Bad (from Reality – 2015) Though its simple chant of a chorus was initially disappointing for a group who had made their name on the strength of such indelible melodies, Bad’s hip-hop inspired arrangement is bolstered by the symphonic grandiosity that drives … Continue reading
Late last year, I took a look at the “big three” k-pop agencies and offered my thoughts about how they were doing in 2016. Now that a year has passed, it’s the perfect time for a second evaluation. As with 2016’s review, this is written from an outsider’s perspective. I’m not privy to any business-related … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Back (from Back – 2014) Infinite had worked with producers Rphabet before on 2013’s Destiny, but Back truly solidified their partnership. It’s one of the group’s most dynamic songs, growing from somber, dramatic balladry to the explosive orchestral electronics that drive its chorus. … Continue reading
Two weeks after releasing the supple funk of I Need U, Lay has returned with the worst k-pop-adjacent track this year (and that’s saying something, since his most recent competition is Jackson’s Papillon). Sheep (羊) is what happens when a song is so desperate to become meme-worthy that it loses any other sense of purpose … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! As Good As It Gets (from New Challenge – 2013) Sweetune had been working with Infinite for years before As Good As It Gets was recorded, and by this time the production team had full mastery of how to utilize the guys’ … Continue reading
October will soon be cluttered with idol survival/debut series, from The Unit to YG’s Mix Nine, to JYP’s Stray Kids. Of the three, Stray Kids seems set to be pitched as more of a “road to debut” documentary than a build-a-group competition, so pre-release Hellevator presumably acts as a teaser of what the actual group might … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! An Inconvenient Truth (from New Challenge – 2013) Long before the tropical trend hit maximum impact, An Inconvenient Truth’s bright synths brought an island sound to k-pop. Though the song’s lyrics have been derided by many, there’s no denying the strength of its … Continue reading
Twice have always seemed perfectly suited to the Japanese market. Their sugary blend of chirpy vocals and catchphrase-ready hooks echoes much of what has made j-pop successful, and it’s no surprise that they’ve already seen success with re-recordings of hits like Signal and TT. But with One More Time, the girls have gone full tilt … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Amazing (from Over The Top / Paradise – 2011) Though their bread and butter lies in propulsive dance tracks, Infinite tackles soft rock better than almost any other k-pop group. Buoyed by Sweetune’s lush production, Amazing layers the group’s vocals to tremendous effect. … 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. Judging from commentary online, B1A4‘s Rollin‘ comeback has disappointed a … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Alone (Infinite H) (from Season 2 / Back – 2014) Infinite H had already proven themselves as a credible hip-hop unit by the time Alone rolled around, but by focusing solely on Hoya and Dongwoo without the addition of a guest vocalist, … Continue reading
Late last year, I took a look at the “big three” k-pop agencies and offered my thoughts about how they were doing in 2016. Now that a year has passed, it’s the perfect time for a second evaluation. As with 2016’s review, this is written from an outsider’s perspective. I’m not privy to any business-related … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! After Dark (from Air – 2017) Driven by a funk-infused bass guitar, After Dark almost feels more like something a group like Shinee would release. On the whole, it’s more rhythmic than a lot of Infinite’s music, but the song never quite … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! A Person Like Me (from Season 2 / Back – 2014) Infinite have a real knack for sentimental ballads, partly because they possess such a range of vocal tones. This helps lend even the most generic sentimentality much needed texture. A Person … Continue reading
One of Seventeen‘s greatest assets is their versatility as a group. So many acts stuff their roster full with personalities meant to appeal to a diverse set of fans, but few can easily break into self-driven units and create music that successfully stands apart from their parent group. To be clear, Seventeen is at their … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 