Song Review: Holland – Number Boy
Review

Song Review: Holland – Number Boy

Since making his breakthrough in early 2018, Holland has struggled to consistently release music. After a blitz of singles at the end of the last decade, Number Boy is his first new work in years. It’s a welcome return for the groundbreaking performer and reestablishes him as a purveyor of moody synthpop. With this sound … Continue reading

Song Review: Xikers – Tricky House
Review

Song Review: Xikers – Tricky House

Every time I read the word “Xikers,” my mind immediately imagines an exaggerated Scooby Doo-esque character making colorful exclamations like “Zowwwee!” and “Gee willikers!”. That probably says more about me than the group in question. Xikers!! Xikers are the newest act from KQ Entertainment – home to the tremendously popular ATEEZ. With that pedigree, they’ve … Continue reading

Song Review: CSR – Shining Bright
Review

Song Review: CSR – Shining Bright

In a sea of too-cool-for-school NewJeans clones and don’t-mess-with-us girl crush fare, CSR stand out as a bright, bubbly representative of K-pop’s past. Their debut album last summer was a wonderful surprise, painting them as this generation’s answer to GFriend or Lovelyz. The group have more-or-less continued along that path, yet haven’t matched the power … Continue reading

Song Review: Mamamoo+ – GGBB
Review

Song Review: Mamamoo+ – GGBB

Mamamoo+’s pre-release Chico Malo felt like a lateral move for the girls – a song that sits squarely within the group’s recent repertoire. In contrast, title track GGBB brings us back to early-Mamamoo, when the girls vamped over old-school sounds with an almost vaudevillian flair. But while this nostalgia is appreciated, I wish the song … Continue reading

Song Review: JO1 – Tiger
Review

Song Review: JO1 – Tiger

Ah, the days of Born To Be Wild feel soooo far away. Like label-mates INI, JO1 occasionally hit things out of the park but more often succumb to the limitations of their material. They remain immensely popular, so this is obviously a matter of taste. But, new single Tiger feels like reheated K-pop with no … Continue reading

Song Review: CRAXY – Nugudom
Review

Song Review: CRAXY – Nugudom

Regardless of the music itself, I respect CRAXY for naming their new single “Nugudom.” I wish the content was less earnest and more tongue-in-cheek, but I’ll always applaud a “nugu” (ie: under-known group) who swings for the rafters. After all, much of my favorite K-pop music has come from acts who bear that oft-derided moniker. … Continue reading

Song Review: HORI7ON – Dash
Review

Song Review: HORI7ON – Dash

One benefit of shortening many song reviews is that I’m more likely to cover tracks I’d normally pass by. I didn’t follow MLD’s Dream Maker Project that  formed boy group HORI7ON, but I’m always up for a new voice in K-pop. Unfortunately, there’s nothing new to see (or hear) here. Dash’s verses are by-the-numbers boy … Continue reading

Song Review: ATEEZ – Limitless
Review

Song Review: ATEEZ – Limitless

Though I’ve found their Japanese work hit or miss, I appreciate that ATEEZ have stuck with their core production team regardless of which music market they’re targeting. Whatever I may think of their discography on a song-by-song level, it’s very consistent. Limitless switches things up by changing composers, though members Hongjoong and Mingi retain writing … Continue reading