Think of Omega X as the idol group version of 2017’s The Unit: Idol Rebooting Project. The group attempts to take members of disbanded (or disbanding?) acts and bring them together for a re-debut. Its line-up includes performers from Spectrum, Limitless, Seven O’Clock, 1Team, ENOi, 1THE9, Gidongdae and even my beloved Snuper. If anything, this … Continue reading
Like many newly-debuted groups, Just B boasts a line-up of familiar faces. Its members have established some notoriety through variety programs I-LAND (Geonu, JM), Under 19 (Bain, DY) and The Fan (Lim Jimin). Given this built-in fan base, their debut arrives with heightened expectation. And with word that title track Damage would be co-produced by … Continue reading
BDC’s Intersection trilogy may have flown under the radar for many casual fans, but it’s been an exciting, cohesive project with far more focus than most idol group album series. Its spacey synth sound was largely relegated to the guys’ title tracks, and this feels like a missed opportunity. But, the run of Shoot The … Continue reading
Twice’s Japanese output has been a mixed bag, representing some of their strongest and weakest material. But, no one can argue with the group’s prolific work ethic. In addition to their nonstop Korean output, the girls will have released three full Japanese albums by the time Perfect World comes out in July. This newest album’s … Continue reading
Following the strong double punch of Don’t Call Me and Atlantis, SHINee refuse to release their grip on 2021. Prior to youngest member Taemin’s military enlistment, the guys shot a video for new Japanese single Superstar. The song itself has been available for weeks, but its promotional package is now complete. And while it may … Continue reading
Anyone have the phone number of Woollim Entertainment’s A&R team? We need to have a discussion… DRIPPIN have been one of the year’s most promising rookies. In fact, they were my top pick of 2020! And while March’s Young Blood didn’t quite live up to their excellent debut Nostalgia, b-side Reach Out Your Hands offered … Continue reading
When Han Seungwoo announced his first solo comeback, it wasn’t immediately apparent that the title track would also serve as a farewell before his enlistment hiatus. I guess the writing was on the wall, but this distinction totally transforms the album’s appeal. Stripped back to bare bones, Seungwoo has chosen See You Again (다시 만나) … Continue reading
One of 2021’s most welcome trends has been the resurgence of classic second-gen groups. Whether this comes via rediscovery of old tracks or the embrace of new comebacks, it’s gratifying to see these established acts get their due. The latest group to make a long-awaited return is 2PM. Make It (해야 해) arrives almost five … Continue reading
NCT Dream’s Hot Sauce had an interesting trajectory for me. On first listen, I was repulsed. That chanted chorus felt like a jackhammer to the skull. Then, something switched, and I found myself bopping along. The instrumental’s percussion and guitar became highlights and I was happy to embrace Dream’s aural madness. That lasted about a … Continue reading
LOONA’s relatively long hiatuses make each comeback feel like an event. And, this time their title track is even more momentous. It’s their first full-group release since 2019. Leader Haseul is back, and the Bollywood-esque PTT (Paint The Town) welcomes her with aplomb. But, like so many K-pop singles this year, the song suffers from … Continue reading
It’s been an unusually long break since Stray Kids’ last Korean comeback. They spent their first three years blitzing the market with music — no less than nine albums’ worth of material depending on how you classify their minis and repackages. Their 2021 has been devoted to Mnet’s Kingdom, which paid off in victory during … 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
K-Pop debuts can be tricky things. At times, they’re the best song a group delivers. Sometimes, they’re the only song a group delivers! But, debuts can also be huge wtf moments in an artist’s career. In this feature, I’ll be looking back at debut songs through the prism of time, re-evaluating how well they hold … Continue reading
K-Pop debuts can be tricky things. At times, they’re the best song a group delivers. Sometimes, they’re the only song a group delivers! But, debuts can also be huge wtf moments in an artist’s career. In this feature, I’ll be looking back at debut songs through the prism of time, re-evaluating how well they hold … Continue reading
A.C.E may not come back very often, but they’ve managed to place a song in my year-end top ten for two years running. ‘Quality over quantity’ is not a bad approach, and they’ve been wise to stick with the same circle of producers to ensure a cohesive discography. Higher is their latest release with composer … Continue reading
Nissy has released a string of singles this year, forging a cinematic universe with a series of music videos that see him teleporting from place to place. This teleportation power seems to be fueled by angst, as there’s plenty of emotive navel-gazing to be found in the visuals. The video for new single Do Do … 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. Yep, it’s another Produce 101 Japan … Continue reading
Apart from their ‘girl in a mask’ gimmick, not much about Pink Fantasy’s discography has remained consistent. Their music swings pretty wildly between sounds, though a creepy sense of unease ties everything together. Still, I think the group hit the sweet spot with 2019’s rock-fueled Fantasy. It’s a shame that follow-up singles jettisoned this style … 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. Seventeen’s Ready To Love appears to … Continue reading
**This post has been updated with the official music video now that the song is being promoted as a follow-up single!** After a drought of strong K-pop albums, this week has delivered a host of great b-sides. As much as I love a knockout comeback track, an equally-great album makes the whole experience so much … Continue reading
