When SM Station Season 2 was announced earlier this year, it was promised to feature collaborations from foreign artists and folks who were not part of SM’s roster. But with All That You Want, I struggle to find how exactly the song connects to SMent. The Solutions aren’t an SM group, and I don’t see … Continue reading
Only a month after the release of their first full-length album, Cosmic Girls have returned with a bid for the summer crown once held by their former label-mates Sistar. With their peppy, mile-a-minute style, you’d think Cosmic Girls + summer would be a match made in heaven. And with the right song, I still think … Continue reading
Ever since her high-profile resurgence with 2015’s Unpretty Rapstar, Jessi has struggled to convert her immense charisma and variety show talent into a broadly successful music career. Though many pigeonhole her as a rapper, Jessi’s heart seems to lie in her more vocal-driven material. Over the past year, she’s released a few solid (if not … Continue reading
For his new min-album Television, Block B‘s Zico has returned with dual title tracks, and each paints a very different side to his style. While Artist opted for a bouncy hip-hop/pop concoction, Anti takes things darker and more melodic. As part of this approach, Zico has enlisted r&b singer G.Soul for Anti‘s hook, and it … Continue reading
Over the past few years, Zico has been much more prolific as a solo artist than as a member of his group Block B. Though he’s only released two mini albums, both have been stuffed with tracks that served as comebacks throughout the year. Television is no different, compiling past singles with new songs. First … Continue reading
It might not be the k-pop hub that is L.A., but living in the Pacific Northwest, we get our fair share of concerts in neighboring Vancouver. Even so, when I saw that G-Dragon had extended his world tour to Seattle, it seemed like a minor miracle. I can’t remember a time when a big-name k-pop … Continue reading
The first time I saw and heard One was as part of the short-lived duo 1Punch. Their Turn Me Back was one of the most underrated singles of 2015, but it turns out that its catchy New Jack Swing style wasn’t really what One was about. Rather than continue that sound for his solo debut, … Continue reading
Much has been made about the debut of YG Entertainment‘s first new solo artist in years, and with that kind of qualifier you might expect a splashy, go-for-the-jugular k-pop smash. But rather than offer the sort of bombastic, swag-filled hip-hop that the agency has become known for, One debuts with a laid-back summer track 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. Red Velvet‘s Red Summer mini album is so strong 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. Sometimes k-pop comeback choices baffle me. Why Halo (or Halo’s … Continue reading
Apink have been pretty prolific lately, routinely bouncing between Korean and Japanese comebacks. While I’m afraid this heavy work ethic has taken a toll on the general quality of their music, it’s nice to see a veteran group that still seems hungry for success. Their latest Korean song has grown on me, though there’s no … Continue reading
I’m a big fan of most material released by SM Entertainment, but it’s been awhile since the agency promoted a track that wasn’t trying to be anything else but a chart-conquering, energy-building pop hit. Even Red Velvet‘s last single, which seemed to grow on almost everyone, initially split opinion with with its chirpy, repetitive chorus. … Continue reading
So far, the 2017 “season” of SM Station has been pretty underwhelming. Even when bigger name artists have gotten involved, it’s usually been in the form of a ballad or forgettable mid-tempo. What we need is a good pop song, and as soon as Xiumin and Mark were announced as the next Station artists, it … Continue reading
Boyfriend have been on a roll lately with their Japanese material, releasing a pair of tracks over the last few months that rival their best Korean material. When k-pop acts go j-pop, they occasionally adopt the genre’s more frantic leanings, resulting in music that can feel a little shrill. Summer is a collision of these … Continue reading
Boy group Halo haven’t exactly had an easy time of it, releasing six comeback singles up to this point without garnering a substantial hit. Though it may be hard to believe, they’re actually senior artists to many of their peers, having debuted way back in 2014. What makes this lack of notoriety even more frustrating … Continue reading
When it comes to the style of music released, DAY6’s Every DAY6 project has kind of subverted expectations. When I think of k-pop, it’s the summer months that hold the most uptempo, party-starting tracks. But DAY6’s more boisterous material was released towards the start of this year, with these last two months devoted to mid-tempo, … Continue reading
The first rule of a successful cover version is to do no harm. Most songs worth covering are loved for a reason, and a certain respect for the original should be given when looking to make it a part of your own discography. Beyond that, an artist should make their interpretation count. There’s no sense … Continue reading
Rookie groups are a dime a dozen these days, and the threshold for success seems to be even more immediate than it used to be. Mess up the first go around and you may not get a second chance. This is likely the reason we’re seeing such polished debuts even from low-to-mid tier agencies. New … Continue reading
In 2013, Lee Hyori made a highly successful return to k-pop with a sound that balanced a newly matured style with the kind of pop hooks that brought her such notoriety as a solo artist. Fast forward four years later and she’s come back with material that exists even farther from the k-pop mainstream, choosing … Continue reading
As lead vocalist for boy group g.o.d, Kim Tae Woo’s voice helped soundtrack a generation. But more often than not, members of first generation groups struggle to achieve any sort of musical notoriety so long after their brand was at its peak. This isn’t unique to k-pop, either. The music industry isn’t exactly kind to … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 