Sol T are a brand new girl group who are making their debut with the slinky hip hop of Curveball. It seems that they’ve perched their sound somewhere between EXID and 2NE1, which is definitely a refreshing departure from the cotton-candy sweetness of most rookie girl groups this year. After all, groups like 2NE1 shouldn’t have a … Continue reading
As reality show Produce 101‘s representative girl group, expectations were high for I.O.I’s official debut. Coming only one month after the series ended, it’s no surprise that Dream Girls feels rushed and under-thought, but with the talent and clout on display, it’s unnerving just how safe and cheesy a route the powers-that-be chose to steer the girls … Continue reading
Of the two title tracks that Akdong Musician released as part of their new mini album, How People Move is the looser, more fun-loving sibling. It’s also one of the most bizarre mainstream kpop releases we’ve heard in quite some time. On first listen, many portions of the song come across as improvised. Though it’s … Continue reading
Akdong Musician have long been a favorite of mine, and it’s seemed like a lifetime since they had a proper comeback. Though kpop as a whole continues to become more musically diverse, there are no easy comparisons to this quirky sibling duo. For their new album, we’re treated to double title tracks, with Re-Bye being the … Continue reading
I know next to nothing about newly debuted girl group Mixx, but Oh Ma Mind ended up sounding much different than I’d expected it to. This alone is a welcome surprise, given the cut-and-paste concepts most rookie groups tend to tackle. Like Brave Girls’ Deepened from earlier in the year, Oh Ma Mind straddles the line between … Continue reading
GFriend sit comfortably at the top of my rookie girl group bias list, and that’s due mostly to the incredible pop songs they’ve been given by composing duo Seo Young-Bae and Iggy. So what happens when the girls cover an older kpop track instead of working with their normal songwriters? Well, like most CFs (ie: advertisement songs), … Continue reading
Very few artists can get away with the sort of non-chorus hype track that I so often complain about in my reviews. Bigbang pulled it off with last year’s Bang Bang Bang, and BTS certainly did with the awesome Dope. Now, Bangtan is back with what feels like Dope‘s spiritual successor, in the form of … Continue reading
In the world of kpop, T-ara is really a one of a kind girl group. At their best, they merge an addictive electro dance club bounce to more traditional Korean trot elements. One glance and you may dismiss them as a gimmicky novelty act, but they possess one of the strongest, most reliably catchy discographies … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I’ll look back at my three favorite title tracks by k-pop artists. Unlike my end-of-year countdowns, jpop and Japanese releases by kpop artists are ineligible, though I will give the great ones a spotlight. For my top three tracks, I’ll take my own ratings into account, but there is a … Continue reading
I missed talking about CoCoSoRi’s debut back in January, though it’s probably for the best since it didn’t really leave much of a mark on me. I applaud the duo’s desire to take the quirkier girl group route favored by acts like Orange Caramel and Crayon Pop, especially since there isn’t a lot of it … 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. A rating in the high 8’s really doesn’t indicate much … Continue reading
As part of their big 2016 comeback, the members of SS501 sub-unit Double S 301 have recently released a Japanese mini album. Its title track is the sorrowful Fraction, which takes a more dramatic, ballad-with-a-beat approach compared to their earlier Korean comeback. I tend to cut English phrases in kpop or jpop a tremendous amount of … Continue reading
Is there a point where “cutesy” becomes “too cutesy”? That’s the question that April’s Tinkerbell has me asking. This particular sound has been in vogue for girl groups of late, and generally I’m on board because it usually puts a focus on sticky bubblegum melodies and bright, energetic production. Tinkerbell certainly has both of those, … Continue reading
Mighty Mouth is a male duo that’s been active in the kpop world for eight years, minus time for their mandatory military conscription. Despite being such an established act, the reason I suspect most modern fans would be interested in checking this song out is that it was produced by Block B’s Zico. It’s probably a bit … Continue reading
Lovelyz are right at the top of the newer girl group pack for me. Their quirkiness and fizzy synth pop sound won me over instantly, but then they delivered the double sucker punch of Ah Choo and (the amazing) For You last year. That pretty much sealed the deal. When I heard they would be going more … Continue reading
Few groups have enjoyed as meteoric a rise as Twice has with their debut single Like Ooh Ah. It took me a long time to fully come around to Ooh Ah‘s charm, and if its longevity is anything to go by, I’m not the only one. Cheer Up feels as if it may achieve the same feat. On … Continue reading
It’s a tall order to follow-up a song as well received (and well-delivered) as Mansae. For me, it was one of 2015’s best singles, and established Seventeen as the top rookie group of the year. It also raised expectations almost impossibly high for their follow-up. Both Adore U and Mansae shared similar styles, opting for … Continue reading
Now that Hyunseung has officially left Beast, permanently changing the group’s DNA, I thought it was a perfect time to share this gem of a performance. Sketchbook is a show that’s known for its live performances. Often backed by a live band, the stage is the best possible showcase for Korean artists on TV. I’ve … Continue reading
For the first solo artist to feature on my Top Ten lists, I could really only choose one person. In many ways, G-Dragon represents the epitome of k-pop — endlessly creative, wildly influential as a fashion icon, and charismatic to a fault. He’s the brains behind most of Bigbang‘s best songs, but his solo career … Continue reading
If there’s any male group that deserves a full-fledged comeback, it’s got to be ZE:A. They’ve never been able to totally break into the a-list as a unit, despite a highly underrated discography and some very notable members. And now that their cohesion as a group seems to be somewhat fractured, it looks like we’ll have to make … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 