SM’s assembly line of solo releases continues with the first single from f(x)’s powerhouse vocal Luna. It was probably safe to assume that the song would be a ballad, but luckily the powers-that-be have decided on a high energy dance track instead. SM has had quite a love affair for this specific, early 90’s club … Continue reading
As CLC returns with their second title track of 2016, I’m realizing that they just may not be the girl group for me. Pepe was such a strong debut last year, but ever since then they’ve limped back to the kpop scene without a clear identity or purpose. Coming from a large company like Cube, … Continue reading
Five months after their most recent single, YG rookies iKON are back with the gentle #WYD, a prerelease for their upcoming promotions. So far, iKON has had a sound that’s been a bit all over the place, veering from hard hip-hop tracks to light pop confections without much focus. Luckily, they’re able to pull off … Continue reading
Since going solo, Xia has almost always come back with an edgy, ambitious title track that redefines the boundaries of what kpop can be. But time after time, I find myself wishing that this experimentation carried through the entire running time of his accompanying albums. As crazy-good a dancer as he is, it feels like … Continue reading
News has slowly inched their way to the very top of my J-Pop bias list, releasing brilliant pop song after brilliant pop song. They’ve been active for an incredible thirteen years now, first as a nine-member group, then as a six-piece and finally as the very strong four-member configuration they are today. Throughout it all, their … Continue reading
Another week, another SM Station release. One of the cool things this music platform has done is allow EXO members to have long-overdue solos. Granted, the songs aren’t really promoted or given the budget a full-fledged solo debut would have, but it’s still nice to hear the guys branch out a bit. Next on the … Continue reading
It’s hard to get very excited about the commemorative “songs for the fans” that tend to be released during groups’ anniversaries — especially when that group is Boyfriend and all I really want from them is another Sweetune-produced masterpiece. But before we (hopefully) get back to the awesome stuff, we must settle for the pleasant, if hardly … Continue reading
Oh My Girl continue to move from strength to strength, offering more invention and excitement within their kpop concoctions than almost any other group so far this year. As of May, their Pink Ocean album is my favorite girl group mini of 2016, and the inclusion of Windy Day only makes it stronger. It’s worth … Continue reading
It’s been so gratifying watching Block B‘s Park Kyung rise to prominence as a solo artist. In an idol group with a leader as incredibly successful as Zico, it’s not easy to stand out, but Kyung has always been my preferred member due to his entertaining persona and lighthearted, cleverly constructed music. Last year he … Continue reading
You’ve got to feel for a group like Tahiti. They’ve been around since 2012, released seven singles, and yet still remain an almost unrecognizable presence in the kpop world. Their songs come out, they’re performed on music shows, and the girls return to relative obscurity without the momentum they so desperately need. It’s a vicious … Continue reading
Freshly debuted boy group MAP6 have done a complete 180, pulling away from the dark, post-apocalyptic pop of last year’s Storm in favor of the boisterous fun of Swagger Time (매력발산타임). Smartly, they’ve also been paired with a notable production/songwriting team in Duble Sidekick. There’s a reason certain producers’ names stand out in kpop. Duble … Continue reading
If we’re to talk about Shinee members’ solo material in incredibly simplified terms, Jonghyun would be the Prince to Taemin’s Michael Jackson. His music tends to be fussier and more cerebral — just as concerned with a complex, meticulous arrangement as it is with a good groove. Personally, this has made it easier for me … Continue reading
Boyfriend have been away from the kpop scene for too long. Throughout their career, they’ve released a truly under-appreciated barrage of modern pop classics. Luckily, their Japanese discography has also been pretty strong, so we have those releases to fill the long gaps in between comebacks. Glider is the most recent, and it is super, … Continue reading
Romeo gave us two of the best pop songs of last year, working with Sweetune to deliver a dynamic, propulsive sound similar to early Infinite. With the news that they had recently switched agencies, I was nervous how that might affect their music. It’s too early to tell, because even thought Nightmare (악몽) enlists new producers … Continue reading
In just a few short years, BTS (Bangtan Boys) have risen to utter domination of the k-pop world, taking their initial hip-hop sound and fusing it to something more melodic and adventurous. They’re a group that has gradually worked their way up my own personal bias list, through the combination of their undeniably charming personalities … Continue reading
AOA debuted with an ambitious concept having to do with angels and band-oriented sub-units, but ultimately found success adhering to a tried and true formula. A string of hits with producer Brave Brothers cemented them as a girl group on the rise, even if it meant abandoning some of their more unique trappings. But regardless … 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. Monsta X is well-known for its hard-edged hip-hop sound, but … Continue reading
Road Boyz impressed the hell out of me with their debut last winter, and kept that excitement more-or-less alive with Be My Love. But like most newly debuted groups of their limited stature, they’ve dramatically shifted their sound for Shake It Shake It, and unfortunately it’s been shifted in a direction that touches on some of my … 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. I completely understand why Good Luck (review) was chosen as … Continue reading
Heyne possesses one of the most unique voices in all of kpop. In fact, it’s the selling point she’s based much of her career on thus far. I imagine many may be turned off by this distinctive, high pitch tone, but it really depends on how, and where, it’s used. This is part of the challenge with Heyne’s … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 