Akdong Musician have always seemed older than their years, bringing a sense of world-weary maturity to even their lightest pop songs. Since their first album in 2014, they’ve been going from strength to strength on the back of older sibling Lee Chanhyuk’s brilliant songwriting. And with The Tree (나무), they’ve brought that idiosyncratic vision to … Continue reading
With less than a week to go until spring, it’s the time of year when Korea unleashes a torrent of light, acoustic pop in keeping with the season. It’s hard for me to write about songs in this k-pop sub-genre without bias coming in to play. It’s not that I can’t appreciate a laid-back, guitar-strumming … Continue reading
Of the many, many rookie groups in k-pop at the moment, the one I’m rooting for the most strongly is Snuper. Their endearing goofiness and solid teamwork reminds me a lot of Infinite during their debut years. And then there’s the Sweetune-produced music, which has been absolutely fantastic. Over the past few months, the group has gained … Continue reading
B1A4 have recently switched agencies for their Japanese material, signing with the massive Universal Music Japan. While this irritates me on a personal level since Universal almost never uploads full versions of music videos, it’s certainly an upward move for the group. I love how both of their j-pop labels have let them compose most … Continue reading
It’s already mid-March, but it doesn’t feel like 2017 has given us any real notable debuts yet. This time last year, we’d already seen the first releases by Astro, KNK, Cosmic Girls and Imfact. 2017 hasn’t been quite as prolific so far, but it just got a kick-start with MVP’s Take It (선택해). The new … Continue reading
I’ve deliberately refrained from writing about the ongoing LOONA project, even though members of the upcoming girl group have been releasing songs steadily for the past five months. It’s an ambitious debut (by the time the actual group is unveiled, they will have had well over a dozen pre-releases), but so far it’s seemed like … Continue reading
Of all the comebacks and dramas that are likely to happen in k-pop this year, Beast‘s transformation into Highlight might just be the most interesting. Acts have left their agencies before, but I can’t think of another group of Beast’s caliber that have had to change their entire brand because of a switch in management. … Continue reading
Oh, GOT7. How I used to love you when you recorded songs with actual choruses. I still have great fondness for the group, but ever since they embarked on this year-long Flight Plan project, there’s been a noticeable change in their music. To say that the past three singles have been completely devoid of memorable … Continue reading
Every story has a beginning, and k-pop’s idol world starts with first generation groups like H.O.T. Though their music is forever tethered to the 90’s, their experimentation paved the way for many of the genre’s tropes that are still in use today. Here’s a look at my top ten favorites from their singles run (and … 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. RYAN S. … Continue reading
By all accounts, the original Pick Me wasn’t a great song. Yet, it waltzed its way into the top twenty of my 2016 best-of countdown. On the surface, its incessant, chirpy repetition seems utterly ridiculous, but within the context of Produce 101‘s kitschy battle royale pageantry, it became a real showstopper of a moment — and eventually, a … Continue reading
Other than the inherent awkwardness that comes with pairing underage Somi with 28-year-old Eric Nam for a love song, You, Who (유후) makes total sense on paper. Both artists are known for their amiable personalities. Both have international roots and enormous fan bases. And while neither is what you would call a powerhouse vocalist, both … 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. Alongside the excellent Fingertip, GFriend have released their strongest album … Continue reading
Since their debut in 2015, boy group Romeo has suffered a bit of an identity crisis. Of course, being absorbing into a different agency right as your career is starting can certainly result in some growing pains. But in less than two years, the guys have been a mini-Infinite (Lovesick, Target), a mini-Shinee (Miro) and now … Continue reading
For better or worse, Brave Girls have always been a delivery method for songs by their agency head, Brave Brothers. This obviously limits their sound somewhat, but for fans of the Brave Brothers style, they’re pretty much the gift that just keeps on giving. And now that bigger groups like AOA and Sistar have (mostly) … Continue reading
Since their return in late 2015, B.A.P have swung wildly between concepts and tones, giving us lighter fare like Feel So Good and That’s My Jam sandwiched between the edgier Skydive and Young, Wild & Free. They’ve maintained a remarkably high quality throughout, and that doesn’t change with new single Wake Me Up. Wake Me Up … Continue reading
Since their late-career surge in 2015 with the brilliant ballad It’s Okay, BTOB have hit the ground running, releasing a steady stream of albums just as their contemporaries are beginning to slow down. And now that Beast has left Cube Entertainment and 4minute has disbanded, the group are at the top of the pack within their … Continue reading
It’s March 6th, which means another entry in DAY6’s 2017 monthly project. Three releases in and it’s clear that the quality of music will remain high throughout the year. But even better, it feels like DAY6 are utilizing this extended release schedule as an opportunity to showcase different sides of their music. Rock groups are … Continue reading
In my eyes, GFriend are at the very top of the current girl group pack. They had two songs in my top five of 2016, and have built a strong, easily identifiable sound for themselves that feels more robust and powerful than many of their peers. Learning that new single Fingertip was composed by the … Continue reading
Debuting in 2014 as Woollim Entertainment’s first girl group, Lovelyz quickly rose to fame on their quirky synth-pop sound. Though they’re most known for a light, cutesy image, their music has experimented with different tones as the group has matured. With only eight full-group promotional releases, I had to cheat a bit and add two … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 