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. P1Harmony continue to stretch their hip-hop … 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. There are some production teams you … Continue reading
BZ-Boys (otherwise known as Blue Zone Boys) have been kicking around since 2019. They debuted under Chrome Entertainment — an agency most famous for quirky girl group Crayon Pop. Unfortunately, lengthy hiatuses have blunted most of their momentum and their material has tended to lean on the generic side. New single Find You (널 찾으러 … Continue reading
Since her ambitious, sc-fi-themed debut, AleXa’s sound and concepts have swerved all over the place. Last time we heard from her, she let us know what she likes on her burger and fries. As cringy as Xtra’s lyrics could be, they succeeded in giving the track some character. When it comes to new single Tattoo, … Continue reading
We haven’t even passed our first week of 2022 and the year’s crop of rookies are already making themselves known. Following on the heels of Kep1er is new boy group Trendz. They hail from Interpark Music Plus, home to girl group Laboum. New debuts are always exciting, but if TNT (Truth & Trust) is any … Continue reading
Despite counting many fantastic idols among its roster, Omega X’s title tracks haven’t yet connected with me. They’re firmly entrenched in the “noise music” trend favored by many modern boy groups, where “going hard” takes precedence over most other elements. I understand the appeal, but I tend to prefer songs that merge their intensity with … Continue reading
Everything about WJSN Chocome’s Super Yuppers (슈퍼 그럼요) is disarmingly silly. First there’s that ridiculous song title, which effectively previews the giddy energy of the music itself. Then there’s the tongue-in-cheek video, which hearkens back to similar efforts by groups like Crayon Pop and Orange Caramel. I’m delighted to see a big-name comeback opt for … Continue reading
Thus far, my favorite woo!ah! song hearkened back to sounds of K-pop generations past and harnessed a sense of melodicism that helped showcase the group’s skills. Their singles haven’t had a consistent sound, but I’m hoping they’ll settle on the fun, retro pop of new single Catch The Stars (별 따러 가자). The song is … Continue reading
A few days ago, ONEWE covered Infinite’s The Chaser and (obviously) scored huge brownie points from me. It also reminded me how much I enjoy the band when they really rock out. Too often, their title tracks settle on a more morose energy. On the plus side, this offers the chance to spotlight the group’s … Continue reading
I become a broken record when writing about how important a “signature sound” is for rookie groups. But, I stand by my opinion – even when that sound isn’t 100% to my taste. Blitzers have definitely embraced their specific rock-influenced style, and that’s helped them gain a foothold within a sea of rookies. I’m a … Continue reading
UP10TION’s music has a way of sneaking up on me. I’ve never considered them a favorite group, yet their songs have placed inside my year-end top ten on two separate occasions. Last year’s dynamic Spin Off nearly made that three. However, I find their output to be very inconsistent. Like so many K-pop groups, they’re … Continue reading
P1Harmony have already proven themselves compelling rookies, but they’ve been undercut by a serious lack of promotion. FNC missed a big opportunity limiting them to a single comeback in 2021. Hopefully 2022 will offer a more steady stream of music, because their hip-hop sound has a ton of potential. Last year’s Scared pointed toward a … Continue reading
Seventeen members have used the buzzword “mixtape” as a way to slowly branch out as soloists. Last time I checked, a digital single doesn’t quite count as a mixtape, but I’ll happily take new music in whatever form it’s offered. After similar efforts from Hoshi, The8, Wonwoo and Mingyu last year, Seventeen’s vocal leader Woozi … Continue reading
Several years after launching their ambitious SuperM project, SM Entertainment has developed a similar strategy for their female artists. From what I can gather, Girls On Top will encompass multiple mix-and-match units. First up is GOT The Beat – a performance unit comprised of BoA, SNSD’s Taeyeon and Hyoyeon, Red Velvet’s Seulgi and Wendy, and … Continue reading
It’s a K-pop tale as old as 2016: group forms through (usually controversial) survival show, group sells a boatload of albums in preorders, group releases a song that fans complain about but stream anyway. Of course, there are exceptions, but it feels like these cobbled-together, made-for-TV acts take awhile to find their bearings. The newly-debuted … Continue reading
Okay, I’ve had my fun (?) with these Universe releases and their half-mvs. Universe has actually gotten better at uploading the full videos to YouTube (whether we want them or not!), but it’s hard to get excited about a K-pop product that feels like a total afterthought. With that in mind, I’m going to let … Continue reading
Ahead of a new 2022 project, BamBam is closing out 2021 with pre-release single Who Are You. The song has already garnered attention thanks to a guest feature from Red Velvet’s Seulgi, but it deserves praise on its own merits as well. After a solo debut that felt a little throwaway, Who Are You takes … Continue reading
Imagine a big bushy Christmas tree — or replace that with whatever decoration or tradition matches your wintertime festivities. Underneath are packages galore, each containing a winter-themed K-pop track. Some have been unwrapped early (Stray Kids’ Christmas EveL, Billlie’s Snowy Night, ONEUS/ONEWE’s Stay) but there are still plenty to go. After furiously opening each gift, … Continue reading
With the full YouTube release of every Universe MV a few weeks ago, I thought maybe the app had turned a corner. Unfortunately, Oh My Girl’s Shark brings us right back to where we started, with official “previews” on YouTube alongside an invitation to download Universe for the full experience. I guess this means my … Continue reading
“Brother” groups ONEUS and ONEWE have a history of collaborations, from a pre-debut single to a fun variety show. They also share real (twin) brothers. I’ve long hoped for another collaboration – perhaps a full album? In my mind, they need to unite their specific skills and release a full-on idol dance track backed by … Continue reading
