We’re officially in spring overload. And with that, I have to apologize for my continued lack of enthusiasm over many of the “springlike” songs released lately. More than almost any other country, Korea is obsessed with supplying an unending series of inoffensive seasonal tracks so light and unassuming that they just kind of fizzle into … Continue reading
It’s been awhile since listeners have heard the softer side of Zico’s solo music. As the leader of rambunctious boy group Block B, his sound is most closely tied with his playful, charismatic image. But of all his solo work, my favorite track is probably the soft, melodic I Am You, You Are Me from … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-sides deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. It’s been weeks since I’ve written one of these buried treasure … Continue reading
Even with all its quirks and innovations, I consider myself to have a very solid understanding of the k-pop landscape. NCT’s ever-evolving configuration? Easy. LOONA’s year-long debut process? Not a problem. But the whole BOYS24 project is still a bit of a head-scratcher. This is despite watching (and enjoying) the entire competition series that launched … Continue reading
It’s been nearly four years since Teen Top has worked with producer Brave Brothers on a title track, even though he was largely responsible for building their trademark sound. But 2017 seems like the perfect time for a reunion. The group has lost a member in rapper L.Joe, and last year’s tepid Warning Sign was … Continue reading
Though I try to remain relatively objective when writing about music on this site, if I were to pick one specific sub-genre of k-pop as my least favorite, it would be the mid-tempo, acoustic coffeehouse sound that seems so pervasive this time of year in Korea. The fact that the solo career of Apink‘s Eunji … Continue reading
After the surprise resurgence of popularity for 2014’s ubiquitous Up & Down, EXID’s music began to feel shoehorned into a certain style. You certainly can’t blame them. Fame is not an easy target in k-pop, and once you’ve scored a hit, it’s smart to follow up with the formula that proved successful. That strategy worked … Continue reading
Debuting in 2014, Red Velvet are SM Entertainment’s newest girl group. Their unique concept has them releasing both quirky uptempo pop (“red”) and refined r&b (“velvet”), resulting in a diverse discography that’s sure to please a variety of tastes. Like f(x) before them, their music lies on SM’s more experimental side, ensuring that k-pop remains … Continue reading
While 2016 gave us many notable debuts from big companies, 2017’s current crop of rookies seem to be coming from smaller agencies. In some ways, this makes their music harder to critique. Without big budgets and promotion behind them, it can be difficult to compete at even the most basic level. Still, a group like MVP … Continue reading
Only two weeks in and SM Entertainment‘s “season two” of Station has given us its first non-traditional release. As a kick-off to what promises to be a performance-focused project highlighting some of the agency’s strongest dancers, the hypnotic Dream In A Dream (몽중몽) is almost entirely instrumental. The song acts as a launching pad for … Continue reading
Though I have my qualms about digital singles replacing album releases, the biggest upside of a monthly title track schedule is that it allows an artist’s material to change along with the time of the year. Now that winter’s over, I expect that DAY6’s singles will begin to take on a sunnier pop style. They’ve already … Continue reading
After re-branding from their previous sound as pop group Minx, the girls of Dreamcatcher reemerged with the ballsy dance/rock hybrid of Chase Me. Looking back on my thoughts about that track in January, I probably wasn’t generous enough with my score. Though it left a defining mark back then, the song has only grown more impressive … Continue reading
Rookie boy group IMFACT have teased a monthly release schedule for 2017, but the month of March was conspicuously skipped. I have to assume this was due to preparation for new single Tension Up (텐션업), which seems to boast a bigger budget and scope than either January or February‘s tracks. For the first time since last … Continue reading
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
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 