Taemin’s Press It was my favorite album of last year, so this comeback arrives with much anticipation (especially since it was originally confirmed for an August release). One of the reasons I gravitate to his solo music is that he pulls influence from the kind of classic, larger-than-life performers who simply don’t exist any more. … Continue reading
Over the past four weeks, Seventeen has been releasing a special track for each of its sub-units (including a new “leader” unit). This has been a smart way to shine focus on what makes this group so unique. They’re undeniably strongest when they’re all together, but the fact that they can craft songs of such … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Can U Smile (from Evolution – 2011) Released in two versions, the original’s scuttle of bright synth set the perfect backdrop for this catchy update to the classic boy band sound. Can U Smile’s melody plays like a ballad, but the song … 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! BTD (Before The Dawn) (from Evolution – 2011) After the lightness of Come Back Again and She’s Back, Sweetune took Infinite down a darker, more aggressively produced route with the bombastic BTD. The song’s opening synth klaxon is among the group’s most iconic … Continue reading
Longtime readers of The Bias List will know that I have my particular likes and dislikes when it comes to musical structure and style, and once I dig into something that bothers me about a song, it becomes hard to enjoy even the music’s more successful moments. One crime against pop that has been especially … Continue reading
SM Station’s latest release brings together Doyoung from NCT and Sejeong from Gugudan. Though only Doyoung is an actual SM artist, the two share at least one thing in common. Both are supremely talented vocalists whose group comebacks rarely give the opportunity to fully display that skill. Star Blossom (별빛이 피면) may be yet another … Continue reading
KBS’s upcoming competition series The Unit brings together dozens of male and female idols from mid to low tier groups (including members from my current fave, Snuper). The idea is to forge two nine-member project groups at the culmination of the show, but as with all of these survival series, the most eye-catching moment is … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Breathe (from Season 2 / Back – 2014) Following more ornate moments on Infinite’s sonically ambitious Season 2/Back album, Breathe offers a shot of pure dance pop bliss. Its rock-guitar infused instrumental feels streamlined and animated, never once letting up. The song has … Continue reading
Season 2 of Produce 101 was such a phenomenon that it has spawned not only its winning act, Wanna One, but other project groups as well. Rainz consists of seven fan favorite trainees from the program, debuting and promoting for one year. However, it’s not the members that piqued my interest, but the involvement of … Continue reading
UP10TION have much to make up for after the disappointingly generic tropical track they returned with last June. For awhile, it felt as they were making a quick ascent to the upper levels of k-pop boy groups, but even though their sales remain impressive, 2017 has seen their buzz begin to stall. Going Crazy (미치게 … Continue reading
The return of ex-Wonder Girls member Yenny under her solo alias HA:TFELT is immensely exciting. Last time she promoted on her own it was in the form of 2014’s stirring Ain’t Nobody, which melded interpretive dance with a bombastic, dubstep instrumental to incredible effect. She’s one of those rare k-pop acts who march to the … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Between Me and You (from Reality – 2015) In the running for Infinite’s best ballad, the rock-tinged Between Me and You is one of the strongest vocal showcases in the group’s entire discography. Growing from an organ-like synth, the opening verse builds tension … Continue reading
SF9 only debuted a year ago and have already experimented with a number of styles. Switching things up again, their new single finds them trading hip-hop and EDM for Spanish guitars. Latin music has long been a familiar excursion for boy bands of the West, but its influence is far more unusual when it comes to … Continue reading
October is quickly becoming the month of new boy groups. And even if they won’t be making their official debut until November, The Boyz are getting in on the trend with an introductory pre-release. Unless a group is from one of the big three agencies, songs released prior to debut are usually pretty forgettable. But … Continue reading
In an effort to ignite a level of popularity that has thus far eluded them, boy group MASC has doubled in number. After two releases as a quartet, they now boast eight members and a whole new sound. It’s hard not to feel like this is a bit of a last-ditch effort, but if the … Continue reading
In these days of the waning tropical trend, artists really have to do something daring with the genre’s template to stand out. A simple fill-in-the-blank “trop bop” just won’t do. And with the repackaged single Good Night (굿밤), DIA have fully surrendered to the most grating aspects of this fad. For a group constantly struggling … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Because (Sungkyu solo) (from Over The Top / Paradise – 2011) Before he released his first (excellent) solo material, Sungkyu took the reigns of Because from Infinite’s first full album. The song opens in theatrical fashion, as a militaristic drum line supports … Continue reading
Hash Tag could have been a clever name for a k-pop group a few years ago, but now it feels a little dated. Still, all rookie groups are worthy of a chance, no matter how lame their name may be. And with ㅇㅇ (graciously given the added title of “Hue” because… well, how are you … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Beautiful (from New Challenge – 2013) Written by main vocal Woohyun, Beautiful doesn’t skimp on the cheese. But by taking its cues from bombastic 80’s balladry, the song’s more generic leanings are bolstered by a sense of grandiosity that transforms the whole … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 