Having grown up on the likes of early-90’s Michael and Janet Jackson, the lockstep, staccato sound of New Jack Swing was a constant presence during my formative musical years. It remains one of my favorite genres to this day, and I love when k-pop dips its toes into its aesthetic. Of all the k-pop groups … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by k-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade. March 2018 Overall Thoughts Well, March certainly didn’t pan out the way I had expected. If … Continue reading
Last time Mamamoo released a CF song and music video, it was in the form of the gloriously breezy Woo Hoo, which remains one of the best tracks in their discography. Now, the girls are shilling for Maeil Bio yogurt with the much more derivative Everyday (매일 봐요). This comes right on the heels of … Continue reading
With every LOONA-related release, it feels like the k-pop community combusts with excitement. Now that the group’s entire roster has been introduced, it’s a good time to reconcile my personal indifference with the obvious buzz this project has garnered online. I think I get the appeal. In a way, LOONA’s otherworldly aesthetic is a push … Continue reading
It’s impossible to completely strip bias from the experience of a new k-pop comeback, but writing daily reviews since 2016 has increased my ability to separate a song from its artist. Carefully listening to hundreds upon hundreds of tracks each year will do that. And in Hoya’s case, it’s allowed me to compartmentalize how I … Continue reading
Since last summer’s Produce 101 ended, Kim Samuel has hit the ground running. In less than a year, he’s delivered three albums (one full, two mini) and a Japanese debut. That’s pretty prolific for a sixteen-year-old soloist. And though his work has never gone beyond the confines of what we might consider “teen pop,” each … Continue reading
It would be hard to overstate just how much I was looking forward to this comeback from TVXQ. To be honest, it was in contention for my “top song of 2018” before I even heard a teaser or description. After all, it’s been almost three years since their last album — four years since their … Continue reading
Most of the time, a k-pop 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 k-pop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. After the past couple of Monsta X comebacks, I might just … Continue reading
As part of their 20th (!) anniversary celebration, the members of Shinhwa have re-recorded one of their earlier singles. But rather than totally modernize All Your Dreams with today’s trends in mind, the group has simply recreated the song and music video with an ear (and eye) for every detail. It’s an interesting concept, for … Continue reading
I’ve enjoyed Monsta X’s material in fits and starts, but have found their aggressive hip-hop sound to be slightly cumbersome at times. However, when last year’s funky Dramarama rolled around, it felt as if the group were beginning to reinvent themselves. New single Jealousy continues this trend, though not without a few reversions to that … Continue reading
I’m officially pushing for rock guitar to be the defining trend of 2018. It’s an unlikely scenario, but the fact that a big name rookie group like Stray Kids seems to be using this instrument to craft their signature sound is quite promising. Of course, this being k-pop, they also have to throw in a … Continue reading
I often complain about trends while in the midst of them, mostly because I prefer k-pop to draw from a wide variety of influences rather than use a copy-and-paste template. But looking back at the industry’s history, trends are an interesting way to summarize a year or era. I thought it would be fun to … Continue reading
Sometimes, songs aren’t designed to be experienced in traditional ways. Super Junior’s Super Duper first reared its head during the group’s tour, where spirits were high and adrenaline was pumping. Had I been there in the audience, I’m sure I would have been enthralled by its goofy energy. But, I was not there. And taken … Continue reading
Since parting ways with Cube Entertainment and establishing their own agency, the individual members of Highlight have been quite prolific. Sometimes this has been in the form of mini albums, or — in rapper/composer Junhyung’s case — digital and single releases. His solo work has dropped without much build-up or promotion, as if he’s simply … Continue reading
Every k-pop rookie has a story, but some are more off-the-wall than others. With the debut of new trio Honey Popcorn, we’ve got quite a doozy. The group is composed of three former Japanese AV (adult video) stars, relaunching their careers as idols in Korea. It’s hard to imagine this backstory flying in k-pop’s squeaky-clean … Continue reading
Of all of the big-name k-pop groups currently working, Seventeen is especially ripe for successful sub-unit releases. And while they’ve already given us quite a few unit tracks as part of their albums, they’ve yet to establish a spin-off with its own album and full fledged promotions. Boo Seok Soon (or BSS) seems to be … Continue reading
Along with many other male groups of their era, FTIsland is approaching that dreaded military enlistment time, where each member will have to momentarily leave the entertainment industry for their mandatory service. This portion of an idol’s career tends to bring with it an added sense of sentimentality, as artists bid a temporary goodbye to … Continue reading
Every year around this time, I plunge back into the world of j-pop and catch up on some of the things I’ve missed. March tends to be pretty sparse when it comes to k-pop comebacks, so it’s nice to have something “new” to listen to. This March, I’ve been taking a deep dive into the … Continue reading
Back in 2016, when I.O.I charted the course for what a post-Produce 101 group would look like, I felt like one of the few listeners who didn’t completely succumb to their charms. Part of that was due to an uneven series of releases with a quality level that didn’t seem to match the girls’ potential. … Continue reading
I think most of us could agree that — at least so far — 2018 has seen a certain amount of renewed attention given to strong choruses. As the EDM build/drop structure has begun to (slowly) wane in popularity, we’re seeing more melody take its place. Yet, many of my recent song reviews could be … Continue reading
