Though not often mentioned alongside k-pop’s most prominent breakout acts, UP10TION have quietly sold an impressive amount of albums, positioning them as one of the most successful rookie groups of the moment. That success looks to be replicated as they make their debut in Japan. J-pop efforts from Korean groups can be very hit and … Continue reading
The story of HIGH4 is a frustrating one. Debuting in the spring of 2014 with a highly successful duet with soloist IU, the group seemed to be on the right track from the very first step. But that song ended up being more about IU than them, and was followed by a series of disparate … Continue reading
Girls’ Generation‘s Taeyeon has been all over the k-pop map this past year. Few artists have embarked on such a sprawling solo career, covering the spectrum from acoustic pop balladry to tropical house-influenced dance. Most recently, she teased us with the hypnotic I Got Love, which seemed to polarize opinion. For me, it was one … Continue reading
In the midst of riding high on the success of her OST work with hit drama Goblin, soloist Ailee released digital single Reminiscing. This comes after a subtle reinvention of her sound with last year’s Home. But Reminiscing (낡은 그리움) doesn’t aim to reinvent anything, content to provide Ailee with a mellow showcase for her … Continue reading
Gugudan’s 2016 debut confounded many. For an act comprised of so many high-profile members, from an agency known to take artistic risks with boy group VIXX, how was Wonderland so generic? Though Gugudan’s potential and name recognition afforded them modest debut success, many of us were hoping that their follow-up would be a leap into new … Continue reading
From the beginning, girl group Lovelyz debuted with a quirky synthpop sound that seemed all their own, even as it complimented the general vibe put forth by most of their peers. That’s a credit to main producers OnePiece, who have steered most of their work since 2014. At times this has worked wonders, though it … Continue reading
It took them awhile, but SM Entertainment is doing a nice job allowing EXO’s individual members to embark on solo and duet opportunities. Almost all of them have had a chance to shine on their own or in sub-units, even if the focus tends to be on the group’s main vocalists. Though Chanyeol’s official position in EXO … Continue reading
Oh, the ever-elusive Boyfriend. It’s been two years since they’ve released a promoted title track in Korea. Some listeners might even assume the group has disbanded. But in reality, Boyfriend has been churning out excellent Japanese material during their k-pop absence, most recently with last October’s standout Jackpot. And new single I Miss You is another to … Continue reading
There are many underrated k-pop groups, but few can boast a discography as consistently solid as 100%’s. Their sound has shifted throughout the years, and new single Sketch U (어디 있니) follows up on their Sweetune-produced reinvention last October. Though I’m a bit blinded by my love for Sweetune’s music, I’m thrilled that they’ve continued to … Continue reading
Ever since 2015’s I Need U and Dope, BTS have been successfully dominating their release cycles with a juxtaposition of more melodic material with harder-edged blasts of hip-hop dance. That approach continues with their newest repackage album. Last week we had the emotional, rock-infused balladry of Spring Day before Not Today rumbles in to slam listeners with its … Continue reading
Twice aren’t a simple k-pop group anymore. In the course of a year, they’ve established themselves as a true cultural phenomenon. That they’ve been able to achieve this so quickly is just as much a testament to their idiosyncratic music as the members’ individual appeal. Production duo Black Eyed Pilseung has steered their sound from … Continue reading
Rookie group VAV have released a few songs already, but I didn’t bother writing about them because the music just seemed like a budget version of countless other boy groups. But looking at the production credits for Venus (Dance With Me), I was struck by one name: Ryan S. Jhun. Jhun, alongside a team of … Continue reading
Taeyeon has been churning out solo material at an incredibly consistent pace since 2015’s I. Along with Mark from NCT, I’d argue that she’s become SM’s busiest single artist. I haven’t been a fan of everything she’s released, but I respect the diverse discography that she’s building. There aren’t a whole lot of solo female acts … Continue reading
With only one single under their belt, co-ed group K.A.R.D have already amassed an impressive fan base. It just goes to show that k-pop is always looking for new ideas, even if the genre may sometimes seem stagnant. And although the group’s tropical house-infused music isn’t particularly unusual (especially for western listeners), the group wraps … Continue reading
Melody Day have dabbled in a variety of genres since their debut in 2014, most recently with the jazzy r&b of last year’s Color. That track had a surprisingly sneaky earworm of a hook that served it well in the long run, so I was curious what they would come up with next. When first … Continue reading
Boy group BIGFLO debuted in 2014 with an off-the-wall, Block B-esque sound that incorporated many alternative musical influences into their otherwise straightforward brand of k-pop. Songs like Delilah and Bad Mama Jama painted the group in an interesting light, but that goodwill began to erode as BIGFLO lost and gained members, taking long hiatuses between releases. Stardom … Continue reading
Both Sistar‘s Soyou and EXO‘s Baekhyun have become known as popular duet partners, so it’s a no-brainer to pair them together for a digital single. Infuse some of the downbeat balladry that Korea loves and you have a recipe for instant success. Unfortunately, “success” doesn’t necessarily translate to “interest,” and I can’t say I was particularly … Continue reading
There are a number of k-pop groups who seem to be stuck at a certain level of notoriety and success regardless of the quality of music they release. Whether it’s due to being from a smaller agency, or just not having that one breakthrough member or song, I’m always impressed by these groups’ determination to keep … Continue reading
Over the past few years, BTS have been churning out showstopping singles with an almost inhuman regularity, rightfully earning their place as k-pop’s biggest international breakthrough. New single Spring Day (봄날) comes only three months after their superb Blood, Sweat and Tears, and represents a shift in sound well-suited to these cold winter months. Releasing a big, sweeping … 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. NCT Dream have only recorded three songs so far, but … Continue reading
