A K-pop group’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. Just B’s Damage does a lot … Continue reading
A K-pop group’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. Tucked away on the end of … Continue reading
A K-pop group’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. LOONA’s true musical merit can most … Continue reading
A review is just a snapshot in time, and sometimes I end up regretting the way I rated a song. There are so many factors that influence the longevity of K-pop. Familiarity, album context, live performances and cultural saturation can all boost or sink a song’s fortune. I run this feature during the mid-point of … Continue reading
Following on the heels of yesterday’s ‘top 2021 singles,’ it’s time to turn our attention to K-pop’s full and mini albums. As with title tracks, 2021 has delivered a strong series of albums so far. My lists are a little longer than normal, but the criteria remains the same. To be considered an “album,” the … Continue reading
KARD’s BM and I often live on different musical planets, but I appreciate the energy and swagger he brings to the industry. With the group’s future uncertain, the time is right for a solo project. And judging from the title of his single album (The First Statement), BM is playing the long game. Nonetheless, title … Continue reading
Congratulations to Girls’ Generation’s Party! The two songs were neck and neck all day, but in the end it pulled off the victory with 51.6% of the vote. Personally, I’m on team Darling. But, I don’t get to vote! So far, each match-up has included songs popular in different years. This time, the competing tracks … Continue reading
What a difference a year makes! This time in 2020, I struggled to cobble together a mid-year list worth celebrating. I ended up finding five songs, though one wasn’t technically a single. This year, I’ve got a whopping fourteen tracks! That’s quite a turnaround, and a testament to 2021’s strength. Because of this, I’ve scrapped … Continue reading
I don’t think I’ve written about N.O.M before, though I’ve made sure to check out all their releases. My overall impression is that this group could do with a bigger budget and songs that come across as less gimmicky. I think they could craft some really cool stuff within the niche they’re carving out for … Continue reading
Okay, let’s get this straight before we move on. Break Ice (얼음깨) is a charity release, with proceeds benefiting pandemic relief. For that reason alone, you should stream the song, watch the ads and do what you can. Or, simply donate to the cause yourself. With that said, I’m here to write about what I … Continue reading
The Universe platform continues to blast youtube with half-videos, saving its full pleasures for those who download the app. So far, I haven’t found a song worth treading those waters, but CIX’s Tesseract arrives with some serious name recognition behind it. Pentagon’s Hui co-produced the track, and his name is featured prominently in the promotion. … Continue reading
In a surprise release, city pop chanteuse Yukika has paired with Canadian DJ/producer Pat Lok for The Moment (그라데이션). Up to this point, Yukika’s music has captured a specific vibe very well. Even when the songs threaten to become too subdued for their own good, I always appreciate their sense of musical continuity. The Moment … Continue reading
Over the past couple of years, Dongkiz have been one of my favorite way-under-the-radar groups. Last year’s Beautiful took them in an ill-advised “edgy” direction, but other than that their music has been a ton of fun. They really embrace K-pop’s inherent goofiness, even introducing a silly ghost mascot during some of their live stages. … Continue reading
Kingdom’s February debut proved to be polarizing, but I think everyone could get onboard with the group’s high-concept visual. Excalibur introduced Kingdom’s world view, and the guys promise to release a series of albums to further develop that lore. It’s an ambitious plan for a rookie, but I applaud them for trying something new. I … Continue reading
Taking all her singles into account, I feel like AleXa has been let down by her material. She’s talented and charismatic, and her videos surround her with an unlimited supply of effects and eye candy. But when you strip away all that gloss, the songs have been lacking in personality. Because of this, I was … Continue reading
Congratulations to f(x)’s Hot Summer! It was a tight match yesterday, but the girls edged it out with 52.8% of the vote. That’s three SM victories in a row! Will we have another after this round? Today, it’s the battle of the girls. Literally. Will they have a day… or a whole generation?? It’s Girls’ … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade. June 2021 Overall Thoughts So far, the rule of 2021 seems to be “expect the unexpected.” … Continue reading
Think of Omega X as the idol group version of 2017’s The Unit: Idol Rebooting Project. The group attempts to take members of disbanded (or disbanding?) acts and bring them together for a re-debut. Its line-up includes performers from Spectrum, Limitless, Seven O’Clock, 1Team, ENOi, 1THE9, Gidongdae and even my beloved Snuper. If anything, this … Continue reading
Like many newly-debuted groups, Just B boasts a line-up of familiar faces. Its members have established some notoriety through variety programs I-LAND (Geonu, JM), Under 19 (Bain, DY) and The Fan (Lim Jimin). Given this built-in fan base, their debut arrives with heightened expectation. And with word that title track Damage would be co-produced by … Continue reading
BDC’s Intersection trilogy may have flown under the radar for many casual fans, but it’s been an exciting, cohesive project with far more focus than most idol group album series. Its spacey synth sound was largely relegated to the guys’ title tracks, and this feels like a missed opportunity. But, the run of Shoot The … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 