JYP (Park Jinyoung) is a legend in the world of kpop, and rightfully so. Not only is he the founder and head of his eponymous agency, but his career has continually forged the path of what kpop has developed into, starting in the 90’s and continuing to present day. He’s also a total character, and … Continue reading
I’ve always found SM’s “throw ’em out there” approach to debuting new groups to be kind of refreshing. There’s no endless countdown clocks or debut dates announced weeks before music is released. When they’re ready, they briefly tease and then just drop the music. Bucking industry trends, the first releases from their NCT boy group … Continue reading
I want to preface this review by saying that 1PUNCH’s debut was one of my favorite kpop tracks of last year. Because of that, I’ve been following Punch since the duo’s disbandment. I think he has incredible potential and I’m really pulling for him. I say all this to clarify that I bear no ill-will … Continue reading
Thank the kpop gods! We finally have an SM Station release that isn’t a lifeless ballad! This alone is something to celebrate, but the fact that Lil’ Something is a great song in its own right is icing on the cake. For those unfamiliar, Chen is one of the main vocalists in mega-group EXO, and Heize … Continue reading
Produce 101 has been such a fun ride and, more importantly, has already provided us with some great music. Both Pick Me and In The Same Place were deserved hits, but now that the final group has been decided, Crush acts as their official (pre)debut. As such, the song adheres to the EDM concept that … Continue reading
I’ve been following Laboum since their debut, and recently named them one of the most underrated rookies in kpop. With December’s spectacularly fun Aalow Aalow, they finally found the hit that should have catapulted them into stardom. Coming off that momentum, my expectations were high for their follow-up. For me, Imagine More is a bit … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-sides and album 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 find myself continually drawn back to DAY6’s … Continue reading
The year of the duets continues, with JYP launching its own series of in-house company collaborations. If nothing else, the project seems well-suited to give us new music from some of the agency’s less-promoted artists. For instance, it’s been ages since we heard from Kpop Star‘s Bernard Park, and for With You, he’s been … Continue reading
CF (Commercial Film) releases from kpop acts are often pretty flimsy, which makes sense because their whole purpose is to act as an advertisement for whatever product or brand a group is endorsing. Similarly, CF music videos are little more than extended commercials, usually with the product awkwardly shoehorned in. But, Mamamoo’s Woo Hoo is … Continue reading
I get the sense that CNBLUE’s Cinderella from last year wasn’t all that well-received. But, I appreciated the move towards a more synth/dance driven style and it actually got me more interested in the group than I’d been in quite some time. Nevertheless, You’re So Fine offers a sort of return to form, with its funky, … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-sides and album 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. Oh My Girl’s entire Liar Liar mini is … 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. Now that B1A4’s Jinyoung is finally getting recognition as a … Continue reading
You’ve got to give it to N-Sonic. After over four years on the scene without even a wikipedia page to show for it, they keep plugging along. It’s rare for a group of their stature to surprise me, but with Excalibur, they managed to do just that. The song jolts from its opening moment, where … Continue reading
After losing member Junhyuk, DAY6 is back as a five-piece to offer us another rockier alternative to traditional kpop. Their debut mini album was a very pleasant surprise last September, and luckily their new material ends up being more of the same. While Letting Go lacks some of the singalong quality that made Congratulations so … Continue reading
Throughout their consistently great, three-year career, Boys Republic have attempted nearly every style of kpop and still managed to go mostly unnoticed. It’s a shame, because this constant strive to elevate their status has forced them to become a group of multiple identities. Yes, all those identities have been pretty awesome in their own … Continue reading
Jpop is not nearly as accessible to the western market as kpop has become, so I’m often late to the party when it comes to new releases. Yell has actually been available for a few weeks now, but I’ve recently become interested in boy group Bullet Train and wanted to offer my thoughts on the track. The … Continue reading
It seems like forever ago that Sam Kim took the runner-up place in Kpop Star season 3. Back then, he was known for his incredible skill with the guitar and charismatic vocal delivery. Now, two years later we have his official debut with Antenna Music, the soft, almost meditative Mama Don’t Worry. Maybe it’s because … Continue reading
We’ve had a somewhat steady stream of solo releases by girl group members this year. Hyomin’s Sketch didn’t wow me a week and a half ago, but from the teasers, Secret’s Jun Hyo Seung promised to take a similarly sexy approach, but merge it with a more propulsive dance pop production. Boy, did she ever. … Continue reading
Three years into their career, BTOB had a breakthrough with 2015’s immensely effective It’s Okay. But now that they’re on their third ballad comeback in a row, we’re beginning to see diminished returns. I was hoping they’d use their resurgence to gradually move back to more interesting material, but they seem to be stuck in ballad mode. The … Continue reading
A few weeks ago, I named Oh My Girl the most underrated female rookie group in kpop, and with Liar Liar, they continue to show why they earned that title. Combining the offbeat pop sensibility of debut track Cupid with the melodic heft of last fall’s Closer, they’ve found a nice mix that defines their … Continue reading
