Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. Up until now, my favorite Cosmic Girls song was last year’s … Continue reading
Being the current bias group of The Bias List has its advantages, and just like their big brother group Infinite, Golden Child are going to get the full-album review treatment. (Plus, back in the summer when it seemed like Golcha was never going to come back, I promised on twitter to run this feature!) So … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! She’s Dreaming (from Ex’Act / Lotto – 2016) She’s Dreaming feels like a song painted in watercolor. Its edges all bleed into each other, powered by a warped, off-balance instrumental that gives the entire track a languid, dreamlike mood. Beyond the obvious … Continue reading
I’ve already offered my thoughts on the 2019 prospects of SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment and JYP Entertainment, but this year I’m adding a new agency to the fray. Big Hit Entertainment‘s achievements more than qualify them for the full-article analysis, so here we go! As usual, the thoughts are my own and aren’t privy to any … Continue reading
Being the current bias group of The Bias List has its advantages, and just like their big brother group Infinite, Golden Child are going to get the full-album review treatment. (Plus, back in the summer when it seemed like Golcha was never going to come back, I promised on twitter to run this feature!) So … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Run This (from Countdown – 2018) EXO’s Countdown doesn’t have a bad track, but Run This is probably its most inconsequential. Trying on bad boy posturing in the most obvious way, the song is little more than shouts and grumbles competing with … Continue reading
Well, this seems to be the week where all my favorite, once-bright boy groups go dark. I’m not sure what alternate timeline I’ve stumbled into, but I want out. With Golden Child, this transition was eased by an excellent album and some inventive song construction. Astro’s Blue Flame does not enjoy these same benefits. This … Continue reading
Being the current bias group of The Bias List has its advantages, and just like their big brother group Infinite, Golden Child are going to get the full-album review treatment. (Plus, back in the summer when it seemed like Golcha was never going to come back, I promised on twitter to run this feature!) So … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Run (from Overdose – 2014) EXO songs often have a slightly experimental bent to them, so it’s always surprising when the group goes full-on pop. Run does not have a self-serious bone in its body. It’s the kind of anthemic track clearly … Continue reading
Rookie group CIX seem to have their sights set on EXO’s sound, but in a pretty narrow way. Rather than borrow the more bombastic elements of their title tracks, most of CIX’s songs feel more like the kind of mid-tempo r&b that often laces EXO’s albums. In a world of trap and tropical, this is … Continue reading
Though I wouldn’t have predicted it when they debuted three years ago, Cosmic Girls have slowly become one of my favorite girl groups of their generation. In many ways, they’re filling the same niche that GFriend did during their first two years. Their music is neither cutesy nor “hard.” It hits that sweet spot right … Continue reading
Being the current bias group of The Bias List has its advantages, and just like their big brother group Infinite, Golden Child are going to get the full-album review treatment. (Plus, back in the summer when it seemed like Golcha was never going to come back, I promised on twitter to run this feature!) So … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Promise (EXO 2014) (from Love Me Right – 2015) Despite its title, Promise (EXO 2014) was released in the middle of 2015 as part of the group’s Love Me Right repackage album. The track blurs the line between ballad and mid-tempo, borrowing … Continue reading
Being the current bias group of The Bias List has its advantages, and just like their big brother group Infinite, Golden Child are going to get the full-album review treatment. (Plus, back in the summer when it seemed like Golcha was never going to come back, I promised on twitter to run this feature!) So … Continue reading
SuperM’s Let’s Go Everywhere first arrived two weeks ago as the soundtrack to a wonderfully weird in-flight safety video on Korean Air’s fleet of planes. If nothing else, this super group is certainly going to cash in on every CF deal that Korea has to offer. I’m still very much on board with this SuperM … Continue reading
After a series of slower tracks, IU has revisited past sounds with new album Love Poem. And, there are certainly plenty of sounds to choose from. She’s had an interesting career, launching with a bubblegum pop style before segueing into a more theatrical, Broadway-ready belt that ultimately calmed to the quirky-cool singer we know today. … Continue reading
Over the past few years, I think I’ve liked the idea of IU better than the reality itself. Once known for ornate, symphonic pop music, her oeuvre has devolved into wispy ballads and quirky coffeehouse fare. She remains intensely popular in Korea, and her pleasantly light vocal timbre and undeniable presence back up this success. … Continue reading
Good things come to those who wait. And wait. And wait. Seriously, I spent most of this year moaning about how long it was taking for Golden Child to make a comeback. Injuries, acting schedules and other agency pursuits combined to create an unbearably long, thirteen-month hiatus. I was fearful that my favorite group had … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Playboy (from Exodus / Love Me Right – 2015) Gifted to EXO by SHINee’s Jonghyun, Playboy carries all of his melodic and production quirks. As such, it seems better suited to a solo Jonghyun performance than EXO, but it does allow them … Continue reading
Like BTS before them, TXT have taken to promoting more than one song from their albums. This approach allows for several big-budget music videos, and Big Hit seem intent on fusing a sense of fantasy lore to TXT’s already-compelling persona. For Magic Island, the guys have delivered a thirteen-minute short film, utilizing part of the … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 