Girl group Majors are taking an interesting approach to their debut year promotions. Rather than finely craft a single title track, they’ve blitzed the market with several budget-conscious music videos for multiple singles. The hope, I’m sure, is that one of these songs will somehow hit big. But, I’d rather have on knockout track than … Continue reading
With 2019’s Under Cover and 2020’s Favorite Boys (Goblin), A.C.E have proven their ability to deliver a knockout title track. I wish they would funnel all their energy into crafting more of these killer releases. But, K-pop is an ever-expanding market, and idol groups have a variety of options on their plate. Despite coming from … Continue reading
Of all the Wanna One members, Yoon Jisung had the toughest post-group promotional circumstances. Due to his age, his mandatory military enlistment came only months after Wanna One’s disbandment, making it difficult to establish any solo career before having to go on hiatus. But, he’s returned to the industry with a new mini album, released … Continue reading
After a debut year stuffed with upbeat funk pop comebacks, Dongkiz explored edgier sounds in 2020. Neither concept has brought them much attention, but I think a youthful, exuberant style best illustrates their charms. New single Universe calls back to their 2019 era, albeit with much more generic trappings. Unfortunately, you can feel the budget … 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 SHINee’s Don’t Call Me album was released in February, I broke it down track by track. And now that we have a repackage on our hands, it’s time to add those new tracks to the in-depth album review! 1. Atlantis // 2. CØDE // 3. Don’t Call Me // 4. Area // 5. Heart … Continue reading
CIX’s Cinema has been a slow burn hit for me. I liked it when it first came out, but the song has had unexpected staying power on my playlist. So, I was excited to see the guys continue this lighter sound for their next Japanese release. All For You is an upbeat burst of brass-kissed … Continue reading
Just days after Seventeen’s Hoshi delivered his solo track Spider, bandmate The8 has dropped his own digital single. I guess my wish for more Seventeen solo projects is coming true! Apart from being familiar with his role in the group, most of my knowledge about The8 stems from Chinese collaboration show Chao Yin Zhan Ji. … Continue reading
Mamamoo have not only proven themselves a force to be reckoned with, but each member has gone on to enjoy solo success in a variety of fields. Wheein seems perfectly poised for this endeavor, with a strong voice that can tackle a wide spectrum of genres. New single Water Color sees her paired with a … Continue reading
While most Produce 101 alum have migrated to an idol group or signed with agencies for solo promotions, Kang Daniel’s own Konnect Entertainment has afforded him a higher level of creative control. Lately, he’s leveraged that by incorporating his own experiences into his music. And although the results haven’t always been to my taste when … Continue reading
After SHINee’s Don’t Call Me album was released in February, I broke it down track by track. And now that we have a repackage on our hands, it’s time to add those new tracks to the in-depth album review! 1. Atlantis // 2. CØDE // 3. Don’t Call Me // 4. Area // 5. Heart … Continue reading
There are few things more satisfying than a pop group in their element. With age comes clarity, and SHINee are at a point in their career where they know their strengths. They can tackle pretty much any genre and make it their own (ie: Don’t Call Me), but no one does bombastic electro funk pop … Continue reading
A K-pop group’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. The overriding opinion on STAYC’s ASAP … Continue reading
A K-pop group’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’m not super thrilled with the … Continue reading
A K-pop group’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. OnlyOneOf’s libidO just gets better with … Continue reading
As SM Entertainment’s Avengers-like super group, SuperM have been deployed as K-pop ambassadors, scooping up CFs in a variety of spaces. Occasionally, this results in new music. 2019’s Let’s Go Everywhere was a fun advert for Korean Air, while the newly released We Do soundtracks a partnership with Prudential Corporation Asia. Songs like this threaten … Continue reading
BAE173 debuted late last year with the fun funk pop of Crush On U. Like almost every boy group in K-pop history, darker, edgier waters surely lie before them. You can already feel a bit of that “maturity” poking through on new single Loved You (사랑했다). But, if the guys are going to bring the … Continue reading
STAYC were my favorite girl group debut of 2020, and that’s off the strength of a single song. So Bad – as many Black Eyed Pilseung tracks tend to be – was a total grower, and effortlessly wove retro synth trends into a quintessential K-pop sound. STAYC’s diverse set of vocal tones also helped their … Continue reading
The mysterious artiness surrounding OnlyOneOf can be a bit exhausting. I tend to enjoy their music most when it goes for the pop jugular, marrying an addictive hook to the group’s cool image. New single libidO isn’t exactly ‘straightforward,’ but it feels like the best blend of OnyOneOf’s experimental and commercial sides. Coupled with an … Continue reading
Whenever I see a new girl group track with an onomatopoeia title, I get nervous. If I could change one thing about current girl group trends, it would be to replace all the chirpy dum diddy la la la bum bums with melodies that show off the performers’ vocal skills. It’s not that this assembly … Continue reading
