Before Seventeen or After School or Nu’est, dance diva Son Dam Bi was the original Pledis artist. Debuting as the “female Rain,” she found success with a synth-pop sound that capitalized on her effortless charisma. She hasn’t released a single since 2013, but her string of k-pop classics still electrify dance floors today. 10. Amoled … 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. September 2017 Overall Thoughts September is oftentimes underwhelming, since it marks the point in the year where … Continue reading
The beauty behind the kind of sustained release schedule DAY6 has utilized this year is that it gives an artist the opportunity to display a wide variety of sounds without the risk and money that goes into a full-fledged, long-anticipated comeback. But over the past few months, I fear that DAY6 are started to fall … Continue reading
When discussing k-pop’s most impactful voices, it would be hard to forget Changmin of TVXQ. His powerful tone becomes the focal point of almost any track he records, piercing through the busiest of productions with a commanding intensity. His ad-libs on 2011’s epic Before U Go remain one of the genre’s most chill-inducing performances, even … Continue reading
If I imagine a P.O solo track, my mind instantly leans toward something like Block B‘s Bastarz sub-unit — gruff and aggressive and very, very loud. After all, his coarse rapping style has become well known as the anchor for songs like Very Good and Nillili Mambo. But rather than go the expected route, the … Continue reading
Last time I wrote about Nada’s solo music, I suggested that she try something more unique in order to stand out among the burgeoning group of female rappers in k-pop. But rather than push the envelope and explore unknown genres, Trippin’ (공식 뮤직비디오) tackles the heavy “badass” rap style favored by artists like Jessi and … 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. LOONA have not even officially debuted yet, and already their … Continue reading
Helmed by mega-producer Yoo Young-Jin, SM Entertainment’s self-created SMP (S.M. Performance) genre played an immense role in establishing modern k-pop’s sound. Fusing rock elements with hard-hitting dance and hip-hop, it’s a style I’ve missed greatly over the past few years. As SM has incorporated more and more Western influences, I’m worried that they’re forgetting what … Continue reading
There are few “sure things” in k-pop. but the beauty of a self-produced group is that you can be assured of some sense of musical consistency. B1A4 has been that group for the better part of their career, driven primarily by the songwriting prowess of members Jinyoung and CNU. Leader Jinyoung has been in charge … Continue reading
Though Lay is still technically part of EXO, he didn’t participate in their new album or repackage. Understandably frustrating for fans, his absence is the byproduct of continual Chinese promotions. With that in mind, his upcoming second Chinese solo album will see him dipping feet into both markets. He’s still signed with and supported by … Continue reading
Few groups take advantage of their sub-units as well as Seventeen. Since their inception, many of Seventeen’s album tracks have centered on their unique configuration into vocal, hip-hop and performance units. Over the next few weeks, we’ll get to hear from each individually, but to kick off the group’s promotions for their upcoming second full … Continue reading
Criminally underrated, Fiestar has not yet had the opportunity to release ten title tracks. But with the future of the group in limbo, I still wanted to spotlight their singles discography by adding a pair of songs from their main rapper, Yezi. The girls have had an undeniably strong run so far, covering a large … Continue reading
After the incredible success of her 2017 album Palette, IU is taking a victory lap with the release of her second covers project. A Flower Bookmark 2 follows the same trajectory of its 2014 predecessor, covering k-pop songs from the 80’s and 90’s. Chief among these selections is Last Night Story (어젯밤 이야기), a 1988 … Continue reading
With a title like “What’s Good?”, Niel’s latest effort was going to be fighting an uphill battle from the very beginning. American slang just doesn’t translate that well to k-pop, and its injection almost always feels like pandering to trends and the perceived coolness of Western media. But Niel’s solo work has always seemed to … Continue reading
Ever since it was announced that Sechs Kies would be signing with YG Entertainment for a late-career comeback, many were waiting for that big track that would herald the return of one of the k-pop’s most-loved 90’s groups. Instead, the agency released piecemeal remake albums and compilations, anchored by new tracks that felt solid but slight. … Continue reading
So you thought that NCT had a complicated group configuration? Well, LOONA might just have them beat. The girls have not even debuted as a full group yet, but we already have two sub-units and a host of individual releases. And while the first unit went by the name of LOONA 1/3, “2/3” was just … Continue reading
Girl group April have now released seven singles, but as solid as many of those tracks have been, none has felt like the type of moment that might define a unique sound for the girls. In many ways, they’ve been plagued by a common struggle when it comes to rookie acts. Rather than branch out … 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 expected, BTS’s new album and title track have smashed … 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. GFriend songs have a way of growing on me, and … Continue reading
With each new comeback, the hype behind BTS only grows stronger. I still envision them as the ragtag bunch of hip-hop rookies they were back in 2013, but their music has now reached a point that has transcended the label of “k-pop,” placing BTS among the ranks of globally popular artists. As such, they’re in … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 