While DreamNote’s title tracks have been pretty inconsistent, they’ve shown a marked improvement over time. I didn’t care for their debut at all, but follow-up Hakuna Matata ended up being one of my favorites of 2019. We last heard from the girls pre-pandemic – almost two years ago. I worry that the ensuing restrictions stole … Continue reading
I was no fan of EPEX’s debut, but the official description for first comeback Do 4 Me caught my attention. The song is described as taking influence from Queen’s Another One Bites the Dust, INXS’s Need You Tonight and Dua Lipa’s Break My Heart. That’s a musical trilogy that aims straight for my heart, and … Continue reading
After releasing the first part of their newest full-length album back in January, Epik High are set to complete the project in the coming weeks. Before that, they’ve teamed with fellow rappers Giriboy, Sik-K and JUSTHIS for pre-release Face ID. The group’s past few title tracks have been restrained and emotional, so it’s fun to … Continue reading
The trend of producers creating idol groups continues with the debut of bugAboo, the second group under Ryan Jhun’s A Team label. As such, their music comes courtesy of Jhun himself, a proven hitmaker in the industry. Their cutesy group name (which just happens to be one of my childhood nicknames…) seems to promise an … Continue reading
Just weeks after NCT 127’s Sticker unleashed screechy flute on an unsuspecting K-pop industry, the group has returned with repackage track Favorite. The description for this one promised ample use of a whistle, which elicited ample eye rolls from me. It seems that SM is developing a tradition of releasing decent title tracks only to … Continue reading
A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. Seventeen’s new mini album is strong, … Continue reading
A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. Though he participated in lyric writing … Continue reading
Boy group INI (pronounced “eye en eye”) was formed through the second season of Produce 101 Japan. After watching the series, I’ve found myself rooting for the guys. The group has so much potential in nearly every aspect. They just need the material to match. Unfortunately, the songs for Produce groups tend to be hit … Continue reading
In a disappointing month for K-pop comebacks, I’ve cast poor Seventeen as my Great Shining Hope of October. That’s a lot of pressure to put on one song, but Rock With You seemed to promise many of the elements I’ve been craving: big, bounding energy + a hooky structure (with rock guitar thrown in for … Continue reading
Pop music as fantasy can be a lot of fun, and I love some good old-fashioned artifice. That’s why Kingdom’s renaissance faire concept is so appealing. K-pop is uniquely positioned to take advantage of long-form musical storytelling. And even though the group’s debut wasn’t perfect, its embrace of theatricality was much appreciated. However, we can’t … Continue reading
A week after Super Junior’s Donghae pre-released his solo track California Love, Eunhyuk is back with his own song. This double shot of D&E heralds the release of their upcoming unit album. I think this promotional tactic is cool – allowing each member to offer a taste of their own style before a comeback that … Continue reading
With their return last year, CNBLUE joined the distinguished list of ‘post-enlistment’ idols. Not many K-pop groups last this long, and Korea’s military conscription laws create a natural fork in the road for any male act’s career. At this point, CNBLUE may wish to tweak their sound in search of continued chart relevancy, or simply … Continue reading
After nearly a decade of anticipation, CL’s first full album has finally arrived! If I used gifs to illustrate my point, I’d paste a standing ovation after this sentence. Seriously, give the lady some applause. The industry has not always been kind to her, but she’s persisted and released three singles in 2021. Not all … Continue reading
Infinite’s Woohyun wasted no time after military service, releasing new music just weeks after being discharged. He’s one of two Infinite members sticking with Woollim Entertainment, though it seems the guys have negotiated stipulations that allow them to remain active as a group. As I’ve mentioned before, Woohyun is one of my absolute favorite voices … Continue reading
IU has bounded from strength to strength this year, holding court on the charts with both Celebrity and Lilac. She remains a constant presence seven months after the release of her album, but it’s time to tie a bow on her 2021 work with a new digital single. Strawberry Moon aims for uplift, and its … Continue reading
October’s been a pretty lousy month for K-pop so far, and I’m finding myself in a bit of a slump when it comes to new music. This happens from time to time, and always turns around eventually. Sadly, Lee Jinhyuk will not be the idol to unleash that much-needed U-turn. He and I seem to … Continue reading
A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. I may never stop complaining about … Continue reading
With over 3,000 songs on my iPhone’s “K-Pop Singles” playlist, I thought it would be fun to add a bit of unpredictability to my song review posts. So as a result, we have the “Random Shuffle Review” feature. The rules are simple. I fire up my playlist, press “shuffle,” and whatever song plays first gets … Continue reading
After nearly a year away, the newly-debuted/rebranded Blackswan have returned with their second single. Given the constraints of their agency, this alone is a huge accomplishment. I often wonder how these mid-to-smaller agencies are making things work during the pandemic. As far as I know, in-person appearances account for much of an idol group’s revenue, … Continue reading
Growing up, the Jackson family (specifically Janet and Michael) were my pop star archetypes. This probably explains my current taste in music, as well as my initial fascination with K-pop. So much of the industry’s sound and spectacle draws influence from the Jacksons – sometimes even more so than Western music markets. And when idols … Continue reading
