Helmed by mega-producer Yoo Young-Jin, SM Entertainment’s self-created SMP (S.M. Performance) genre played an immense role in establishing modern k-pop’s sound. Fusing rock elements with hard-hitting dance and hip-hop, it’s a style I’ve missed greatly over the past few years. As SM has incorporated more and more Western influences, I’m worried that they’re forgetting what … Continue reading
There are few “sure things” in k-pop. but the beauty of a self-produced group is that you can be assured of some sense of musical consistency. B1A4 has been that group for the better part of their career, driven primarily by the songwriting prowess of members Jinyoung and CNU. Leader Jinyoung has been in charge … Continue reading
Though Lay is still technically part of EXO, he didn’t participate in their new album or repackage. Understandably frustrating for fans, his absence is the byproduct of continual Chinese promotions. With that in mind, his upcoming second Chinese solo album will see him dipping feet into both markets. He’s still signed with and supported by … Continue reading
Few groups take advantage of their sub-units as well as Seventeen. Since their inception, many of Seventeen’s album tracks have centered on their unique configuration into vocal, hip-hop and performance units. Over the next few weeks, we’ll get to hear from each individually, but to kick off the group’s promotions for their upcoming second full … Continue reading
Criminally underrated, Fiestar has not yet had the opportunity to release ten title tracks. But with the future of the group in limbo, I still wanted to spotlight their singles discography by adding a pair of songs from their main rapper, Yezi. The girls have had an undeniably strong run so far, covering a large … Continue reading
After the incredible success of her 2017 album Palette, IU is taking a victory lap with the release of her second covers project. A Flower Bookmark 2 follows the same trajectory of its 2014 predecessor, covering k-pop songs from the 80’s and 90’s. Chief among these selections is Last Night Story (어젯밤 이야기), a 1988 … Continue reading
With a title like “What’s Good?”, Niel’s latest effort was going to be fighting an uphill battle from the very beginning. American slang just doesn’t translate that well to k-pop, and its injection almost always feels like pandering to trends and the perceived coolness of Western media. But Niel’s solo work has always seemed to … Continue reading
Ever since it was announced that Sechs Kies would be signing with YG Entertainment for a late-career comeback, many were waiting for that big track that would herald the return of one of the k-pop’s most-loved 90’s groups. Instead, the agency released piecemeal remake albums and compilations, anchored by new tracks that felt solid but slight. … Continue reading
So you thought that NCT had a complicated group configuration? Well, LOONA might just have them beat. The girls have not even debuted as a full group yet, but we already have two sub-units and a host of individual releases. And while the first unit went by the name of LOONA 1/3, “2/3” was just … Continue reading
Girl group April have now released seven singles, but as solid as many of those tracks have been, none has felt like the type of moment that might define a unique sound for the girls. In many ways, they’ve been plagued by a common struggle when it comes to rookie acts. Rather than branch out … 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. As expected, BTS’s new album and title track have smashed … 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. GFriend songs have a way of growing on me, and … Continue reading
With each new comeback, the hype behind BTS only grows stronger. I still envision them as the ragtag bunch of hip-hop rookies they were back in 2013, but their music has now reached a point that has transcended the label of “k-pop,” placing BTS among the ranks of globally popular artists. As such, they’re in … Continue reading
The Snowball Project mockumentary has been one of 2017’s best surprises, offering continually entertaining doses of heightened behind-the-scenes mischief for SM and Mystic Entertainment. The series’ soundtrack has been more hit and miss. The unapologetically lame Lemonade Love kicked things off in upbeat, earnest fashion, but Snowball‘s next mission saw each agency cover a song … Continue reading
2017 has been the year of Bigbang members’ solo tours, organized as farewell victory laps as military conscription looms in the near future. After G-Dragon visited Seattle back in July, I was happy to see that band mate Taeyang would be coming even closer to my corner of the world — landing in Vancouver, BC … Continue reading
At their core, double title tracks are designed to showcase two sides of an artist. With Bobby’s I Love You displaying a youthful, upbeat vibe, Runaway is given the task of digging a little deeper and hitting a more emotional tone. As such, it’s an important piece of a well-rounded comeback, even if the end … Continue reading
Boy group iKON feel like they’re in the same place as fellow YG artists Winner were last year. Their career kicked off with a highly successful debut that built them a steady and dedicated fan base, but their domestic promotions have started to stall in years two and three. What they need is a Really … Continue reading
When GFriend returned last month with Love Whisper, my initial reaction was overwhelming disappointment. How could a group known for their powerful, dynamic music release something so safe and forgettable? Love Whisper eventually won me over, and I convinced myself that its generic structure was only a temporary shift to win over those who may … Continue reading
Girl group ELRIS made a quick debut after one of its members, Sohee, finished as runner-up of the final season of K-Pop Star. Unfortunately, it was in the form of the forgettable We, First, which ticked all the expected girl group boxes without establishing an identity of its own. But we all know that debuts … 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. Groups with a large number of members are nothing new … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 