In honor of SHINee’s Key taking charge of his sound on new mini album Bad Love, I’ll be taking a look at each track throughout the week. Check back every day, and make sure to explore my other In-Depth Album Reviews if you’re interested! 1. Bad Love // 2. Yellow Tape // 3. Hate That… … Continue reading
You can’t always judge a book by its cover, and you can’t always judge a rookie by their debut song. K-pop history is full of strong groups who debuted with subpar material (Girl’s Day and ZE:A say hello), and we may need to add Ciipher to that list. Last spring’s I Like You was an … Continue reading
In honor of SHINee’s Key taking charge of his sound on new mini album Bad Love, I’ll be taking a look at each track throughout the week. Check back every day, and make sure to explore my other In-Depth Album Reviews if you’re interested! 1. Bad Love // 2. Yellow Tape // 3. Hate That… … Continue reading
It’s been over five years since I last wrote about a single from Japanese trio (now duo) w-inds. They’re an act I check in with from time to time, because at their best they produce fantastic pop material. The guys got their start as pre-teens, debuting all the way back in 2001 with the kind … Continue reading
I love the idea of Japan’s sprawling, dozens-of-members-strong girl groups, but these large configurations make it difficult to find an entry point in the same way I can with smaller groups. Because of this, I often fall behind on releases by the various 46/48 artists. Then every once and awhile, a song like Sakurazaka46’s Dead … Continue reading
Despite debuted just over two years ago, AB6IX are already releasing their second full-length album. From its title Mo’ Complete, you get the sense the group is laying it all on the line, and that includes the first Lee Daehwi-composed title track since last year’s Salute. Cherry is the brightest, most cheerful single they’ve ever … Continue reading
After being delayed from a planned July release, SHINee’s Key has finally returned as a soloist with his Bad Love mini album. Judging from reports, he and SM Entertainment clashed on everything from concept to title track. I imagine a scenario where SM presented some dusty old NCT scrap and said: “this is what the … Continue reading
Rather than release double title tracks, JYP Entertainment has been gifting its acts with a variety of music videos, blurring the line between singles and b-sides. In general, I think this is an exciting prospect, but I’m starting to wish the agency invested as much effort in making great music. As I mentioned in my … Continue reading
I feel like I’m always writing about Kis-My-Ft2 being my favorite J-pop group, yet rarely provide suitable evidence. The group’s b-side game is strong, and that’s one of the reasons their 250+ song discography has so much to offer. This got me thinking about all my very favorite J-pop tracks, many of which never get … Continue reading
K-pop’s title tracks might gain most of listeners’ attention, but many album tracks are worth equal spotlight. I call these “buried treasures.” Beyond this, K-pop’s albums deliver thousands of additional tracks that settle for a more limited audience. It’s these songs that will become a part of my “battle of the b-sides” feature. In this … Continue reading
I was surprised how invested I became with the second season of Japan’s Produce 101. I decided to watch it on a whim, and found myself rooting for the contestants in a way I hadn’t since Korea’s second go-around back in 2017. I’m delighted with the final line-up, particularly since it includes a few killer … Continue reading
K-pop history is stuffed with great albums, and there’s only so many Buried Treasures and Battle of the B-sides features available to cover all these noteworthy tracks. The album format has always been special to me. Whether it’s a full-length or mini, albums have the opportunity to tell stories and develop an act’s personal style. … 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. For me, ITZY’s music has suffered … Continue reading
Victon is slowly proving to be a group of successful soloists. Han Seungwoo carved out a nice career for himself prior to enlistment, and now it’s rapper Do Hanse’s turn. His debut comes in the form of a digital album, with Take Over as the first of two title tracks. Surprisingly, it’s the only song … Continue reading
K-pop history is stuffed with great albums, and there’s only so many Buried Treasures and Battle of the B-sides features available to cover all these noteworthy tracks. The album format has always been special to me. Whether it’s a full-length or mini, albums have the opportunity to tell stories and develop an act’s personal style. … Continue reading
ITZY burst into K-pop two and a half years ago with a song and sound that made them one of 2019’s most interesting groups. Since then, so many of their peers have ITZYfied their own music – shoveling teen crush attitude over busy instrumentals stuffed with restless, chintzy percussion. ITZY should be immensely proud of … Continue reading
It’s been over two years since The Rose’s Kim Woosung released his first mini album, though he returned with digital single Lazy earlier this year. His material usually maintains an alternative edge while flirting with pop sounds. In a trendy but welcome shift, he’s put on his disco shoes and sparkly shirt to deliver the … Continue reading
The Universe app continues to bear musical fruit — if you’re willing to go through all the rigmarole to view the full mv! Luckily, the complete audio is available for anyone who wants to listen, and the latest act to deliver a new song is WJSN. Most Universe releases have elicited little more than an … Continue reading
K-pop’s title tracks might gain most of listeners’ attention, but many album tracks are worth equal spotlight. I call these “buried treasures.” Beyond this, K-pop’s albums deliver thousands of additional tracks that settle for a more limited audience. It’s these songs that will become a part of my “battle of the b-sides” feature. In this … Continue reading
K-Pop debuts can be tricky things. At times, they’re the best song a group delivers. Sometimes, they’re the only song a group delivers! But, debuts can also be huge wtf moments in an artist’s career. In this feature, I’ll be looking back at debut songs through the prism of time, re-evaluating how well they hold … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 