One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Going Crazy (from The War / The Power Of Music – 2017) Opening with a frantic synth loop and dramatic sweeps of strings, Going Crazy promises drama to come. And though the track never fully lives up to that mood, its creeping … Continue reading
For a group that most would consider to be under-the-radar, VAV have enjoyed a surprisingly consistent promotion calendar. They’ve already released over a dozen singles/music videos since their 2015 debut. Despite having a lot to choose from, I’ve run real hot and cold with their music. They’re one of those groups that just doesn’t have … Continue reading
Since 2016, Nu’est’s title tracks have been emblematic of what I would call the Pledis Entertainment “house sound.” Each one was co-composed by the agency’s own producer Bumzu, and adhered to a similar instrumental approach. Sub-unit Nu’est W switched things up a bit in 2018, but this April’s lackluster Bet Bet continued exactly where 2016’s … Continue reading
It’s been a long road to TXT’s first comeback. Originally scheduled for August, Run Away (9와 4분의 3 승강장에서 너를 기다려) arrives after two postponements, increasing anticipation for where the group’s music would go next. TXT has been pitched as a lighter, more pop-informed version of agency-mates BTS, and this approach resulted in a knockout … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Girl x Friend (from Sing For You – 2015) Looking at its title alone, you can probably guess that this is going to be one of EXO’s more lighthearted efforts. And as a special holiday release, that amiable energy is well-targeted. A … Continue reading
In every concert, there are those few songs that the audience waits for with bated breath. They’re showstoppers — amazing on their own but enhanced exponentially when paired with a live performance. Most of my all-time favorite K-pop tracks have this kind of larger-than-life intensity, as if the song itself isn’t enough to contain all … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Forever (from The War / The Power Of Music – 2017) Forever is the kind of lumbering, almost industrial beast that SM boy groups do so well. Its arrangement has a tense energy, constantly on the build without ever reaching a sense … Continue reading
I’ve always considered Into The New World (다시 만난 세계) as the unofficial dawn of K-pop’s second generation. Yes, there were plenty of second-gen stalwarts who debuted earlier (TVXQ, Wonder Girls, Bigbang, Super Junior, etc), but World just feels like the turning of a page. Back in 2007, K-pop had a much stronger Japanese influence … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! The First Snow (from Miracles In December – 2013) It’s hard to beat acoustic guitar and sleigh bells during the holidays, and The First Snow knows this. EXO’s vocals are taken full advantage of here, offering a warm bed of harmonies over … 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. What a week for a Super Junior release. Seriously, this week … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! First Love (from Love Me Right – 2015) Anchored by a plodding piano line, First Love is the sort of hesitant r&b track that often shows up on the second half of EXO albums. The melody and phrasing are interesting here, particularly … Continue reading
Like too many groups of the new K-pop generation, 1THE9 has an expiration date looming over their heads. That’s the drawback of being formed through a competition survival show. You get the initial exposure, but once your project group has finished its contract, all bets are off. 1THE9 are nearing the end of their 12-month … Continue reading
As Twice’s Korean output has shifted styles this year, their Japanese music has followed suit. This began with June’s striking Breakthrough, and continues with new single Fake & True. As with the last few years, Twice are churning out new singles with alarming speed, and that ubiquity has helped them make a convincing transformation in … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Falling For You (from For Life – 2016) Unabashedly festive, Falling For You is the musical equivalent of a warm holiday party on a snowy day. Bolstered by jubilant brass and splashes of vocal harmony, the track has a lush, upbeat swing … 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 usually pretty quick at picking these buried treasure songs, but … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Fall (from Universe – 2017) Fall opens with a simple arrangement of acoustic guitar and percussion, but soon grows more grand with haunting, layered vocals and distorted synth. The chorus is among EXO’s most idiosyncratic, possessing a uniqueness of tone like nothing … Continue reading
Ever since breaking out with the self-penned Rooftop earlier this year, N.Flying have taken more creative control of their music. This has been something of a mixed bag. Their follow-up single, Spring Memories, was an oddly subdued choice and failed to set the charts alight in the same way as its predecessor. With new release … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Exodus (from Exodus / Love Me Right – 2015) One of the few genuinely upbeat tracks on the initial version of EXO’s 2015 album, Exodus hearkens back to the r&b-laced dance pop of the early 2000’s. It pulses on a nimble electronic … Continue reading
I think I may have been underrating this Lim Hyunsik guy. I never covered his 2017 solo track Swimming, and I kind of want to time travel and give “past me” a slap in the face. BTOB are a group flush with talented vocalists, as well as big personalities. Hyunsik is chief among the group’s … Continue reading
Super Junior have spent the better part of a year exploring Latin rhythms, which has helped bolster a growing South American fan base. But, the title of their new album Time Slip — the first in eight years as a complete group — promised something more retro. And while pre-release I Think I offered a … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 