One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Crossroads (from Labyrinth – 2020) What I said then: “My central issue with Crossroads is that it’s just too lightweight. Yes, there are string sections aplenty swirling around the bulk of the song, but the percussion is too thin and inconsequential to … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Crème Brûlée (from Song Of The Sirens – 2020) The plucky percussion that opens this track gives me bad flashbacks to when this style of production was ubiquitous in K-pop. I’m not a fan of this overall vibe. It’s too slow to … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Contrail (from The Awakening – 2017) There will be some songs in this feature that have already received short write-ups as part of other reviews, but I don’t plan to reference those old thoughts while writing about them this time. It’ll be … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Compass (from LOL – 2016) LOL was a great debut album and holds up very well – especially within its sugary pop genre. Compass is pure sweetness, underlined by a propulsive beat that builds to an astounding chorus. The synth percussion has … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Cocktail Love (from Sugar Man 3 OST – 2020) So, this is technically a remake track featured on the (very great) variety show Sugar Man, but my K-pop A-Z feature is nothing if not comprehensive. Despite this cover being released in 2020, … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Click (from LOL – 2016) Early in their career, GFriend’s music could occasionally get a bit cutesy. Click’s exuberant cheerleader chants won’t be for everyone, and it doesn’t help that the song opens with them. However, the rest of the track offers … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Bye (from Time For The Moon Night – 2018) We’re back in ballad territory with the gentle Bye. Its orchestral opening sounds ripped straight from a Disney soundtrack about fairies. I don’t mean that in a bad way, though the approach will … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Better Me (Sowon & Umji) (from Walpurgis Night – 2020) For their final album, the group recorded tracks as units. Better Me sees Sowon and Umji taking a much more hip-hop influenced approach, which is cool but also a strange fit for … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Beautiful (from Fallin’ Light – 2019) The piano arpeggio that opens this track is gorgeous and promises a sense of dynamism that never quite materializes. The instrumental shifts as we hit the first verse and the track transforms into… for lack of … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Ave Maria (from Parallel/Rainbow – 2017) Oh, I like this track a lot. It opens with an addictive freestyle synth loop that borrows from the 80’s while still managing to sound completely current. The verses have great drive in the classic GFriend … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Apple (from Song Of The Sirens – 2020) What I said then: “Given 2020 K-pop’s urge to shift styles every three seconds, Apple is a remarkably consistent track. Its various elements lock together flawlessly, though the entire thing hits at the same … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! A Starry Sky (from Time For Us – 2019) The crystalline chimes that open this ballad feel like a good starting point for this K-Pop A-Z feature. If GFriend are defined by their “powerful innocence” concept, A Starry Sky sees them tackle … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! 4 Walls (from 4 Walls – 2015) I often wonder how I would have responded to 4 Walls had it been released before SHINee’s View. This song was originally meant for the guys, but it fits f(x) like a glove. Yet, I’m … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! 12:25 (Wish List) (from Winter Garden – 2015) Unlike yesterday’s look at an f(x) holiday track, this write-up will be more favorable. 12.25 happens to be firmly ensconced on my own holiday playlist. I love its off-kilter sound, leveraging the infinite power … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! 1, 2, 3 (from SMTOWN Winter ‘The Warmest Gift’ – 2011) Released as part of the special winter compilation albums SM Entertainment used to release, 1,2,3 is undeniably cheesy. It feels as if it was ripped from some imaginary Disney movie, down … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Zig Zag (from Electric Shock – 2012) Zig Zag is a percussive beast, throwing all its weight behind the robust set of rhythmic elements that make up most of its instrumental. Even the swoops of distorted synth have a percussive drive. And … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! You Are My Destiny (Luna & Krystal) (from Chu – 2009) Previewing the sentimental style they’d bring to many OST releases, You Are My Destiny is a standard K-ballad performed by two powerhouse vocalists. In that regard, it’s an enjoyable showcase for … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! X (from 4 Walls – 2015) Continuing the retro grooves that fuel most of the 4 Walls album, X brings us back to 80’s electro-funk in great style. The gurgling instrumental is immensely appealing, and offers a playground for the girls to … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! When I’m Alone (from 4 Walls – 2015) With a co-writing credit from Carly Rae Jepsen (!), you might expect When I’m Alone to be an upbeat bubblegum pop song. Instead, this glistening, synth-fueled slow burn caps off the 4 Walls album … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 