Good things come to those who wait. And wait. And wait. Seriously, I spent most of this year moaning about how long it was taking for Golden Child to make a comeback. Injuries, acting schedules and other agency pursuits combined to create an unbearably long, thirteen-month hiatus. I was fearful that my favorite group had … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Playboy (from Exodus / Love Me Right – 2015) Gifted to EXO by SHINee’s Jonghyun, Playboy carries all of his melodic and production quirks. As such, it seems better suited to a solo Jonghyun performance than EXO, but it does allow them … Continue reading
Like BTS before them, TXT have taken to promoting more than one song from their albums. This approach allows for several big-budget music videos, and Big Hit seem intent on fusing a sense of fantasy lore to TXT’s already-compelling persona. For Magic Island, the guys have delivered a thirteen-minute short film, utilizing part of the … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Peter Pan (from XOXO / Growl – 2013) Like its title might suggest, Peter Pan is one of the most lightweight pop confections in EXO’s arsenal. But, with a discography as dense as theirs, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The song’s … Continue reading
After taking a look at SM Entertainment and YG Entertainment earlier in the week, it’s time to move onto another of K-Pop’s leading agencies: JYP Entertainment. As usual, the thoughts are my own and aren’t privy to any insider information. I’m not taking into account things like profits and stock value. The purpose of these … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Overdose (from Overdose – 2014) Before Overdose’s 2014 release, the song leaked online. This is rare for a K-pop track — especially back then — and the fact that the comeback was postponed several weeks due to the Sewol Ferry Incident made … Continue reading
I often hesitate to use the word “underrated,” because it can mean different things to different people. But, when you compare quality of discography to chart and public success, Rainbow have got to be one of K-pop’s most under-appreciated groups. When they disbanded in 2016, many lamented the end of an era. But, few seemed … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Ooh La La La (from Don’t Mess Up My Tempo / Love Shot – 2018) When Ooh La La La was released last year, it was heralded as the “sexy track” from EXO’s Don’t Mess Up My Tempo album. While this approach … Continue reading
IN2IT’s Run Away popped up on a random shuffle the other day and I realized that I had honestly forgotten about the song. This might sound like a put down, but as the track played, I found my ears lured to its rock-infused dance beat. I couldn’t quite place who the performer was (which probably … Continue reading
Fresh off their success on Queendom, Mamamoo are back with their second title track of 2019. This has been a fruitful year for them, particularly Hwasa. Her name has been lodged at the top of the K-pop brand reputation lists, and her casual but quirky energy has become synonymous with the group’s appeal. Mamamoo have … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! One And Only (from Ex’Act / Lotto – 2016) Melding retro synths with airhorns (!), One And Only’s introduction is a little disorienting. It’s the odd track that manages to feel both languid and brisk, thanks to an insistent beat underlined by … Continue reading
Stray Kids’ Astronaut arrives nearly a week after it was originally scheduled, and several weeks after the departure of the group’s main vocal Woojin. I’m honestly surprised that they were able to release it as early as they did, given the inevitable re-recordings and edits needed to accommodate Stray Kids’ new eight-member configuration. Ironically, the … Continue reading
After taking a look at SM Entertainment over the long weekend, it’s time to move onto an agency with very different activity in 2019. Prepare yourselves, friends. It’s YG Entertainment. As usual, the thoughts are my own and aren’t privy to any insider information. I’m not taking into account things like profits and stock value. … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! On The Snow (from Sing For You – 2015) On The Snow is an amiable little fellow, groovy and enjoyable in the moment but pretty forgettable thereafter. Its warm, brassy chorus contains plenty of good cheer for the holidays, incorporating sleigh bells … Continue reading
Over the course of their two-year career, Seven O’Clock’s music has been nearly as faceless as their group name. That’s not to say it’s all been bad. Their 2018 mini album was actually quite strong, with double title tracks that both deserved more hype than they received. But, the group suffers from an under-the-radar stature … Continue reading
Since their debut last year, Nature have gone on to develop a quirky, off-kilter sound that sets them apart from other rookie groups. Fans seem to be taking notice, bringing us to the release of their first mini album. Their last comeback I’m So Pretty was an unexpected highlight of the summer, harnessing the power … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Oasis (from Don’t Mess Up My Tempo / Love Shot – 2018) Oasis’s opening line is arresting, emerging with a palpable tenseness as if the melody had finally caught up to you after a long pursuit. From here, trap influences form a … Continue reading
It’s that time of year again! Over the next few weeks, I’ll be looking at many of K-pop’s biggest agencies and offering my thoughts about how their 2019 went. First up is SM Entertainment. As usual, the thoughts are my own and aren’t privy to any insider information. I’m not taking into account things like … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! My Turn To Cry (from Miracles In December – 2013) My Turn To Cry is tangentially related to the holidays by nature of the album it stems from, but at its heart the song is a typical EXO ballad, riding on sentiment … 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 want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. I’m still not overly hyped about Victon’s comeback track, but the … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 