Ever since their debut, SM’s Red Velvet has existed in a somewhat awkward place between mainstream and experimental. Their music has borrowed elements from both extremes of their agency’s girl group output, but every time they score a song that feels like the perfect blend, they seem to take a step or two back with … 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. Shinee‘s latest Japanese album, Five, is super solid. The first … Continue reading
As Korea spends one more day celebrating the Lunar New Year, putting new k-pop releases on hold, it’s a good time to spotlight one of the most promising new j-pop groups of 2016. FlowBack debuted last year, and Heartbreaker was released in December, but the song is too good not to share — even a month … Continue reading
Shinee‘s j-pop material has always been stronger than many of their peers, but their new album Five is especially solid. Bolstered by a heavy dose of bombastic funk, most of its tracks see the group moving towards a big, uptempo party vibe that contrasts with their more experimental, nuanced work last year in Korea. Get … Continue reading
I very rarely write about songs performed in English, but this being a super slow week in k-pop releases means that Gallant’s new song gets a mention. Of course, with Eric Nam and Tablo taking over two thirds of the track, Cave Me In is about as Korean as a Western pop song could be. … Continue reading
I’ve been watching K-Pop Star since it’s been on the air, but I’ve always been surprised out how few bona fide stars it actually produces. Apart from Akdong Musician and Lee Hi, the show has become more closely associated with indie acts. This isn’t to say that an artist with a less pop-influenced style can’t be a … Continue reading
Rookie group IMFACT were frustratingly managed in their debut year, suffering a fate that has affected many new acts before them. Rather than establish a distinct sound, they pin-balled between the upbeat novelty of debut Lollipop and the tuneless, swagger-on-steroids of Feel So Good. Neither were particularly great songs, and both seemed built to appeal to vastly … Continue reading
As her group Miss A continues to exist in an uncertain position somewhere between hiatus and disbandment, Suzy has finally made her full-fledged solo debut with the JYP-produced Yes No Maybe. But even though the song is part of her debut mini album, she’s been one of k-pop’s most famous idols for some time, spurred on … Continue reading
San E is one of those Korean artists who straddles the line between being a musician and a personality. Long-term, this is a huge asset, as it will allow him to seamlessly transition to hosting and variety jobs when the music dries up. But similar to Eric Nam (also known for his engaging personality), San … Continue reading
The k-pop career of American-born Jessi has been full of twists and turns. Beginning as a solo dance-pop artist over a decade ago, she then became the vocalist of hip-hop trio Lucky J before gaining massive notoriety as a rapper on the variety show Unpretty Rapstar. But throughout all her transformations, it feels like the … Continue reading
It seems like these past couple of months have been riddled with farewell songs. Bigbang‘s Last Dance kicked things off as a goodbye to an era, and just this week we had I.O.I’s final track. But none seems quite as definitive as 2NE1‘s Goodbye (안녕). When they were active, 2NE1 were my favorite k-pop girl group, … Continue reading
After what seems like years of waiting, Woollim Entertainment is set to debut their new boy group this year. And alongside them, we get the added surprise of a new girl group as well. Rather than introduce these unfamiliar faces through a reality show (which honestly would have been preferable), the agency has decided to … Continue reading
Honey Bee is one of those songs that’s just oozing potential from the get-go. Taking f(x)‘s Luna, EXID’s Hani and Mamamoo‘s Solar and setting them loose on a big diva pop track is definitely an exciting prospect. But as we learned with last year’s Triple T collaboration, big names don’t always mean quality songs. While … Continue reading
Though Zico remains Block B‘s biggest solo breakout, I’ve actually preferred the more playful, quirkier material released by Park Kyung. Both Ordinary Love and Inferiority Complex were dynamic, interesting pieces of hip-hop pop, and pairing his verses with female vocalists seemed to be a winning formula. New single When I’m With You (너 앞에서 나는) … Continue reading
As the whole I.O.I saga comes to a close, I still struggle to understand why the group’s phenomenal popularity just didn’t resonate as strongly with me. After all, I loved Produce 101 and was primed to support the girls’ output as they embarked on their year-long promo, but other than Very Very Very (which added … Continue reading
Girl group CLC have been active for nearly two years now, but four mini albums later and they’re still struggling to break through and distinguish themselves from the pack. This is despite a very promising debut with the addictive Pepe in March of 2015. Given this dilemma, a total aural and image overhaul was a … Continue reading
Though Girls’ Generation‘s last comeback was about a year and a half ago, they’ve remained in the public consciousness through solo releases. The last few months have seen multiple releases by Taeyeon, Tiffany, Yoona and Hyoyeon, but now it’s youngest member Seohyun’s turn. Every solo SNSD track has been different, but they all seem to pull from … Continue reading
Teen Top‘s Niel has returned with his second solo mini album. His work has always reminded me of a lighter version of what Shinee‘s Taemin releases. They’re both clearly inspired by Michael Jackson, but Niel has an airier tone and seems to prefer a less aggressive r&b sound than Taemin’s go-for-broke dance assault. Love Affair … Continue reading
Continuing the trend of veteran acts making comebacks, Rain has released his first new material since 2014’s Rain Effect. Though he hasn’t been all that active these past couple of years, Rain’s legacy of music is ensconced in every fiber of today’s modern k-pop. As with other artists of his stature, he runs the risk … Continue reading
The world of k-pop girl groups is general pretty uniform. I often hear people complain that all boy group songs sound the same, but I’d argue that that’s even more common when it comes to the girls. In 2016, a specific blend of cutesy and quirky became especially prevalent, resulting in some tremendous songs but also … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 