Girl group April have now released seven singles, but as solid as many of those tracks have been, none has felt like the type of moment that might define a unique sound for the girls. In many ways, they’ve been plagued by a common struggle when it comes to rookie acts. Rather than branch out … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-side tracks deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. As expected, BTS’s new album and title track have smashed … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-side tracks deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. GFriend songs have a way of growing on me, and … Continue reading
With each new comeback, the hype behind BTS only grows stronger. I still envision them as the ragtag bunch of hip-hop rookies they were back in 2013, but their music has now reached a point that has transcended the label of “k-pop,” placing BTS among the ranks of globally popular artists. As such, they’re in … Continue reading
The Snowball Project mockumentary has been one of 2017’s best surprises, offering continually entertaining doses of heightened behind-the-scenes mischief for SM and Mystic Entertainment. The series’ soundtrack has been more hit and miss. The unapologetically lame Lemonade Love kicked things off in upbeat, earnest fashion, but Snowball‘s next mission saw each agency cover a song … Continue reading
2017 has been the year of Bigbang members’ solo tours, organized as farewell victory laps as military conscription looms in the near future. After G-Dragon visited Seattle back in July, I was happy to see that band mate Taeyang would be coming even closer to my corner of the world — landing in Vancouver, BC … Continue reading
At their core, double title tracks are designed to showcase two sides of an artist. With Bobby’s I Love You displaying a youthful, upbeat vibe, Runaway is given the task of digging a little deeper and hitting a more emotional tone. As such, it’s an important piece of a well-rounded comeback, even if the end … Continue reading
Boy group iKON feel like they’re in the same place as fellow YG artists Winner were last year. Their career kicked off with a highly successful debut that built them a steady and dedicated fan base, but their domestic promotions have started to stall in years two and three. What they need is a Really … Continue reading
When GFriend returned last month with Love Whisper, my initial reaction was overwhelming disappointment. How could a group known for their powerful, dynamic music release something so safe and forgettable? Love Whisper eventually won me over, and I convinced myself that its generic structure was only a temporary shift to win over those who may … Continue reading
Girl group ELRIS made a quick debut after one of its members, Sohee, finished as runner-up of the final season of K-Pop Star. Unfortunately, it was in the form of the forgettable We, First, which ticked all the expected girl group boxes without establishing an identity of its own. But we all know that debuts … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-side tracks deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. Groups with a large number of members are nothing new … Continue reading
Earlier this year, 2PM‘s Junho released one of the very best songs of the summer. Unfortunately, Ice Cream was only promoted in Japan so it didn’t receive the full k-pop comeback treatment. Instead, he’s cobbled together some of the b-sides from his past few j-pop albums and re-recorded them in Korean for his first domestic … Continue reading
MYNAME is one of those k-pop groups who have become far more popular in Japan than Korea. Their j-pop material has generally become more interesting as well, pulling strongly from dance and club music with a focus on big, sweeping choruses. But being Korean idols, mandatory military conscription is inevitable, and member Insoo is preparing … Continue reading
One of k-pop’s best-selling and most successful acts, Turbo took over the 90’s with their high energy blend of techno and pop. Buoyed by Kim Jong Kook’s unmistakable vocals, Turbo songs sound like nothing else out there. Many modern fans may be more familiar with Jong Kook as a variety personality, but before his stint … Continue reading
So far, 2017 has given us a long string of solid tracks, as well as a handful of truly great ones. But I can’t help think that there has been a general lack of excitement surrounding this year’s k-pop offerings. Perhaps it’s due to the strong influence of certain trends, which has made so many … Continue reading
The Solutions are one of Korea’s best kept secrets — a good old fashioned power-pop rock band with a real ear for a catchy hook. They’ve been active for years now, but have consistently flown under the radar. When it comes down to it, they’re probably too poppy for the cool crowd, and too rock-based … Continue reading
The Produce 101 train continues to roll on, guaranteeing that nearly every participant gets an opportunity for extra promotion — no matter how small that sliver may be. In the case of Youngmin and Donghyun from MXM, I’m The One is only a starting point. The two are essentially a sub-unit of a yet-to-be-named boy … Continue reading
Pentagon may be an unknown group to some, but its leader Hui has co-composed two of k-pop’s most ubiquitous tracks this year. Working with production team Flow Blow, he’s created both Produce 101‘s tropical-inspired Never and Wanna One’s immense Energetic. It’s still early in the game, but with his talents on board, Pentagon have the potential … Continue reading
DAY6’s monthly Every DAY6 project kicked off with a bang during 2017’s first few months, but like every promotional plan this ambitious and long-lasting, the impact of their releases has started to lull as the year has gone on. It’s not that the past few months’ songs have been of poor quality, but they definitely … Continue reading
Ever since their return in late 2015, B.A.P have blitzed Korea with a string of diverse genre comebacks, all in a bid to regain the hype that powered their first year after debut. This steady stream of releases has been something of a mixed bag, but you have to give it to the guys for … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 