Heize first gained fame about a year ago by appearing on the second season of Unpretty Rapstar, but rather than follow an expected hip-hop trajectory since the show’s finale, she’s offered music that adds much more of a melodic, r&b influence. Taking this approach even further, Star (저 별) goes full-on ballad, showcasing Heize’s vocals over spare … Continue reading
Seventeen have quickly become one of the most reliable hit-makers in k-pop, regularly churning out the kind of dance pop that feels universal and classic — in line with trends, but pulling influences from multiple decades and genres. 2016 has been a big year for the group, cementing them at the top of the new … Continue reading
The holiday season is in full swing, as more and more festive, winter-inspired songs start to come out of Korea. Up next is girl group Laboum, who have been an incredibly consistent purveyor of quality material. They’re just waiting for that one big hit to break them into the mainstream. Winter Story (겨울동화) is unlikely … Continue reading
After receiving a boost of much-deserved spotlight for her dancing on summer series Hit The Stage, Hyoyeon is the latest Girls’ Generation member to get a crack at a solo single. And while distributing it digitally through the SM Station platform is a bit of a cop-out to those waiting for an accompanying mini album, … Continue reading
With just a passing glance at the title of Shinee’s new Japanese single, it’s hard not to imagine the guys traipsing around a faux-snow set while belting out the Christmas classic. And as horribly cheesy as that sounds, I’ll admit that part of me would have actually looked forward to it. In reality, Winter Wonderland … Continue reading
As part of their multi-pronged comeback under YG Entertainment, late 90’s veteran group Sechs Kies has released an entire album of reworked and re-recorded versions of their hits. It’s a novel approach, catering to both nostalgia and current trends, but its level of satisfaction is entirely dependent on the creativity and willingness to experiment behind … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-sides deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. B1A4’s new album is full of gems, and those who prefer their … Continue reading
The month of Christmas releases is nearly upon us. Kicking things off a bit early is reggae artist and tv personality HaHa, working with up-and-coming girl group Oh My Girl. The two acts previously collaborated back in August with the special single A-ing. Apparently, they enjoyed the pairing so much that they decided to revisit it … Continue reading
Shinhwa have a long history in k-pop, ranking as the longest running boy group in the genre with all of its original members intact. They’ve also written the template of how to stage an effective comeback after years away from the scene. Their music since their return in 2012 has been a masterclass in how … Continue reading
Block B‘s Zico has become one of Korea’s most prolific hit-makers, routinely releasing hip-hop tracks of various styles to massive success. His newest single is a collaboration with fellow “it” boys Crush and DEAN. By name recognition alone, the trio is a real supergroup, representing three of the biggest names in this particular k-pop sub-genre. … Continue reading
It’s been nearly a year and a half since B1A4 made a comeback in Korea, and the wait has felt like forever. They’re one of the few idol groups who truly have a sound all their own, and even though leader/composer Jinyoung has found much success this year producing for girl groups, there’s nothing that can … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-sides deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. Over their relatively brief career, UP10TION have already dabbled in a … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-sides deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. Of all the title tracks that I’ve written about this month, … Continue reading
Though she’s been a member of two girl groups this year, neither I.O.I nor Gugudan have managed to display Kim Sejeong’s full talent. Consistently ranked at or near the top during the Produce 101 variety series, she quickly became known for her incredible vocals and refined image. She seems perfectly suited to ballads, which makes … Continue reading
In a truly how-the-hell-did-that-happen moment for k-pop, veteran girl group Sistar have collaborated with disco/dance legend Giorgio Moroder for special single One More Day. Given that Moroder is practically the originator of what we now call EDM, it makes sense that the track is dance music at its most classic, eschewing today’s tired build/drop format … Continue reading
VIXX have had an incredibly prolific 2016, releasing six singles between both Korea and Japan. Though there have been some major standouts, as the year’s gone on it’s begun to feel a bit more like quantity over quality. But thankfully, after the downbeat double header of Fantasy and The Closer, Milky Way brings back a … Continue reading
Boy group UP10TION are back with their fifth (!) mini album in the space of just over a year. This is the way to do it for rookies — just blitz the market with continual comebacks so that no one can forget you. And it’s working. The guys wowed me with August’s Tonight, which felt very … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-sides deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. Astro’s music is consistently strong, whether we’re talking about title tracks … Continue reading
Rookie group KNK are back with a new single… and no music video. Citing quality issues, the (presumably) completed video was cancelled and won’t be re-filmed. It’s a head-scratcher of a move, and would actually be kind of laughable if it wasn’t so sad. I mean, imagine the poor editor realizing that, no matter how … Continue reading
Taking into account both Korean and Japanese releases, BAP has now given us six singles since last November. And although none have become instant classics in their discography, the fact that they’ve all been so consistently good (and varied in sound) is quite a feat. Fly High continues that trend, opting for a more generic … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 