One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Glitter (from 4 Walls – 2015) Glitter is an exuberant track, bursting with a sense of positivity right from the start. Its bright synths have an energy similar to the theme song of a children’s tv show, but this is countered by … Continue reading
Since reinventing herself as a DJ/dance vocalist, SNSD’s Hyoyeon has become pretty prolific. Her singles often see her collaborating with a diverse roster of artists and producers, but the music has all tied together by harnessing a similar vibe. For Think About Me, she’s paired with hip-hop artist Coogie and DJ/producer Raiden, who also featured … Continue reading
I don’t usually write about song covers, but ATEEZ and Halloween seem like too good a match to pass up. Several months ago, they reinvented Turbo’s 90’s hit Black Cat as part of the series Immortal Songs. Now, they’ve recorded a proper studio version and paired it with a big-budget performance video. The result is … Continue reading
Mino made his official solo debut back in 2018, though he’s been releasing solo music since Winner’s debut in 2014. I still consider his I’m Him an underrated gem. But overall, he and I are on two different planets, musically. I appreciated the ambition and creativity of 2018’s Fiancé, but didn’t have much urge to … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Gangsta Boy (from Pinocchio / Hot Summer – 2011) Taking an old-school hip-hop approach, Gangsta Boy unveils a quirky sing-talk style for most of its verses. As expected from its era, the chorus opts for a generous dose of stylistic autotune. I … Continue reading
When it comes to pop music, I’ve always followed producers. In fact, that approach became one of the biggest reasons I first got into K-pop. I followed producer Thomas Troelsen, who I’d always admired from his work with Scandinavian acts (including his own brilliant group Private). I mention this because The Midnight Romance’s music and … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Ending Page (from Pink Tape – 2013) Opening with rock guitar and a catchy chant, Ending Page initially seems as if it’s going to more bombastic than it is. Instead, the verses dial back to focus on acoustic guitar and a satisfying … Continue reading
Full disclosure: I’m not much of a gamer. And, I don’t really find the idea of virtual/avatar pop stars to be appealing (hello, æspa!). So, while everyone else was raving about Pop/Stars two years ago, I was mostly oblivious to the hype. For those like me, the K/DA project is a virtual girl group themed … Continue reading
Forget retro or trap or EDM or whatever trend you want to highlight. Yoo Jaesuk has become the year’s most reliable purveyor of mega-hits – at least on the Korean charts. His series Hangout with Yoo has transformed itself into a delivery method for K-pop unit groups. First we had SSAK3 with their summer smash … Continue reading
Though they released Only One last December, it’s been over a year since JBJ95 have come back with an album. The duo have proven themselves adept at delivering melodic pop tracks, and I think their work is at its best when it conjures a sense of nostalgia. New track Jasmin takes them in a more … Continue reading
In a day of debuts, P1Harmony are here to make themselves known with the powerful Siren. Hailing from FNC Entertainment, the group follows in the footsteps of agency seniors SF9, who have grown into a very successful act in their own right. And though P1Harmony lack a ton of pre-debut hype, they did appear in … Continue reading
Over the years, Woollim Entertainment’s music has proven to consistently match my taste, so the thought of any new debut from the agency is exciting. But though Nostalgia may be their first official title track, DRIPPIN are not unknown to the public. Every member except one participated in last year’s Produce X 101 series, with … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Electric Shock (from Electric Shock – 2012) While not quite my favorite f(x) title track, Electric Shock is emblematic of many of the charms found in their music. It’s a taut, relentless pop song, simultaneously inviting and aloof. The instrumental thrives on … Continue reading
Originally scheduled for release all the way back in June, it’s been a long wait to hear CIX’s Jungle (정글). The hiatus is a stumbling block for the group, who gained quite a following during their debut year. Their music – and the producers they’ve been paired with – hasn’t been for me thus far, … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Dracula (from Red Light – 2014) Maybe it was because I grew up with Thriller, but I’ve always loved a cheesy Halloween-themed pop track. And, as gimmicky as Dracula could have been, f(x) turn it into one of their highlights. The theatrical … Continue reading
I am not against some good Halloween-themed K-pop fun. As eager as the industry is to churn out wintery releases in December, few idol acts ever embrace the inherently goofy potential of Halloween. T1419 (we’re gonna change that mouthful of a name upon debut, right??) are teasing their upcoming music with pre-release track Dracula. And, … Continue reading
Though they haven’t received as much attention as some of the year’s more prominent rookies, boy group DKB has been chugging along, steadily releasing music that matches the sonic history of their agency Brave Entertainment. Unfortunately, as they’ve gone on I’ve enjoyed their output less and less. Though Brave Brothers is listed as a composer, … Continue reading
After an incredibly strong debut year, I began to worry about TXT. Visuals and lore aside, it felt like Big Hit was pushing them too hard to sound like agency-seniors BTS, rather than embracing the group’s unique strengths. This hit a sour note with May’s Can’t You See Me, which felt like a junior version … Continue reading
When one of K-pop’s A-list acts embrace a musical trend, you know it’s officially sunk its teeth into the industry. Synthpop is the sound of the moment, and Twice have tackled the genre with I Can’t Stop Me. This follows similar efforts from Everglow and SoRi, and lands somewhere in the middle of those two … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Diamond (from 4 Walls – 2015) 4 Walls is an incredible album start to finish, but Diamond feels like one of its lesser moments. That’s certainly not due to a lack of trying. The song’s vocal arrangement is incredibly interesting, layering the … Continue reading
