The year of debuts rolls on, but not every rookie will hail from a huge agency with tons of pre-debut hype. For every ITZY or TXT, there will be dozens of new acts struggling for recognition. These groups often do not have the budget necessary for elaborate teasers or expensive music videos, but it doesn’t … Continue reading
SHINee’s Key is slated for his mandatory military enlistment soon, but before going on hiatus he’s teased a repackage of his excellent debut album. Cold is a prelude to that, digitally released as part of SM Entertainment’s Station project. But unlike the retro-pop and EDM found on his album, the song is downbeat and emotional. … Continue reading
Are you missing the quirky dance-pop sound of acts like Crayon Pop and Orange Caramel? It’s harder to find nowadays, but rookie girl group Saturday is definitely hearkening back to that ultra-catchy template. I never wrote about their 2018 debut, MMook JJi BBa, but most of my feelings about that song will be echoed here. … Continue reading
A solo debut from Mamamoo’s Hwasa almost feels overdue. Though each of the girls possess the necessary charisma to drive a solo career, Hwasa’s always struck me as the member most poised for a potential breakout. She’s been beefing up her variety show resume lately as well, proving to be quite a success with the … Continue reading
Thus far, Dreamcatcher have done an excellent job maintaining their unique brand of metal-meets-K-pop, resulting in a cohesive (but never stagnant) singles run. Most of my favorite Dreamcatcher songs tend to draw upon diverse influences rather than go straight-on rock, so Piri’s electronic elements are definitely welcome. The song may not completely reinvent the wheel, … Continue reading
It feels like an Infinite comeback has been imminent for months now, especially when the group first performed Clock on the new year. Fans like me were hoping for an album of some sort, but that’s still only a prospect for later in 2019. Instead, we get what essentially amounts to a fan song, given … Continue reading
Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of k-pop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. When reviewing songs, I feel like I write a lot about … Continue reading
