Currently, Snuper have become more popular in Japan than their native Korea. And while I’m happy for their success, this presents a problem when it comes to their music. While their Sweetune-produced k-pop material has been consistently fantastic, their j-pop sound feels worlds away. I’ve never really liked it when a group pursues such different … Continue reading
I felt very much in the minority when it came to Taemin’s Move album back in October. So many raved about his shifting musical style and the cohesive mood that ran through the material. And I hear that. But too often the songs felt like a study in a trend-focused r&b vibe without a strong … Continue reading
Debuting an idol group in the month of December is an interesting choice. On one hand, the whole k-pop industry seems to slow to a crawl this time of year, meaning that there just aren’t as many eyes attuned to new releases. But on the plus side, a debut has a better chance of standing … Continue reading
No matter the issues I’ve had with the second half of DAY6‘s Every DAY6 project, I’ve got to hand it to the guys for seeing it through to the end. Not every group can manage to release new singles every month of the year, complete with professionally shot music videos. It was an ambitious project … Continue reading
There are few k-pop comebacks that feel quite as exciting as the forthcoming return of legends TVXQ. And while we still have a bit longer to wait for the duo’s upcoming Korean album, they’re already active again in Japan. As miffed as I may be that they’re promoting in a foreign country first after their … Continue reading
No matter how popular HyunA is, she will always be a divisive artist. K-pop pushes sexuality as much as any genre of entertainment, but it’s usually clouded in a confusing mix of innocence and perceived wholesomeness that plays to a sense of cultural modesty. HyunA, on the other hand, throws it all out there. This … Continue reading
Now that three of its most popular members have completed their mandatory military service, Super Junior is wasting no time re-establishing themselves in multiple markets. This includes new material from sub-unit D&E, consisting of members Donghae and Eunhyuk. This duo has been a reliable source of upbeat, party-starting music in the past — most notably … Continue reading
What is it about Chinese releases from k-pop stars being consistently terrible? The Chinese music industry is so restrictive to Western listeners that it’s hard to accurately gauge the country’s pop climate, but all c-pop can’t be this bad, right? As with Jackson’s last solo endeavor (the embarrassing Papillon), I feel like I have to … Continue reading
There’s no reason why Rain shouldn’t have the number one single in Korea right now. He’s one of k-pop’s most beloved (and most successful) soloists, back after a long hiatus and buoyed by his hosting/mentoring stint on KBS’s The Unit. At this stage in his career, I think it’s more important to remind the public … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-side tracks deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. As much as I’ve enjoyed many of EXID’s past singles, … Continue reading
Ready-made fanbases are becoming more and more important to k-pop, but a truly blockbuster idol group has to reach past those who have been with them since their formation and embrace a wider audience. This may be tricky for fromis_9. First, there’s that what-were-they-thinking, borderline undecipherable group name to contend with. And then there’s Idol … Continue reading
It’s been awhile since we’ve heard a debut from a group not affiliated in some way with Produce 101. BLK (standing for Beyond Limit Key because… I have no idea) hails from Byking Entertainment, an agency that — as far as I can tell — has no previous experience debuting idols. This newness explains the … Continue reading
As the 18-month rollout of girl group LOONA enters its final stretch, we’re left with only a few new members to introduce. Thankfully, the soundtrack to these introductions has become more and more impressive as the debut project deepens. Coming off the ambitious, experimental Odd Eye Circle sub-unit of the past two months, newest girl-of-the-month … Continue reading
It’s become increasingly difficult for me to review Jun. K’s solo material because, more and more, our musical preferences just don’t match. He’s been at the forefront of experimenting with the future bass genre, which — try as I might — hasn’t been a style I can get into. His more down-tempo material tends to … Continue reading
MAP6 are one of the few struggling groups who didn’t opt to appear on this year’s pair of “idol rebooting” shows, The Unit and MIXNINE. That’s a shame, because the guys could really use the exposure. With each passing release, it feels like their career has stalled more and more. Since debuting at the tail … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-side tracks deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. I’ve always preferred Red Velvet‘s upbeat “red” material over their … Continue reading
Less than a week after their historic performance on the American Music Awards, BTS have returned with a remixed version of their album track MIC Drop, courtesy of U.S. DJ/producer Steve Aoki. For the past year or so, I feel like I’ve been in the minority when it comes to the group’s incredible worldwide success. … Continue reading
Pentagon are back with their second self-composed album after making a sonic shift with September’s Demo_01. Taking over the reigns of their music was a smart choice, especially when it resulted in a song as spectacular as Like This. Runaway successfully continues this sound, even if it never reaches the heights of its predecessor. Once … Continue reading
KARD have received a fair amount of criticism (including some from this very site) for essentially replicating the same sound each time they release a new single. There’s something to be said about artists spinning their wheels, but I also believe that the best idol groups are those who develop a trademark style and gradually … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-side tracks deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. Apart from title track Sixteen, I wasn’t a big fan … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 