Rookie boy group IMFACT have teased a monthly release schedule for 2017, but the month of March was conspicuously skipped. I have to assume this was due to preparation for new single Tension Up (텐션업), which seems to boast a bigger budget and scope than either January or February‘s tracks. For the first time since last … Continue reading
So far in 2017, SM Entertainment has released ten title tracks. About a third of those have belonged to Girls’ Generation leader Taeyeon. The agency has worked hard to foster her solo career, and her sales numbers certainly back that up. But unlike other listeners, I wasn’t 100% sold on this idea until February’s My Voice album release. … Continue reading
Lately, YG artists have taken to releasing nearly every new track as a single, complete with music video and extended promotion. As with anything, this strategy is a double-edged sword. It’s exciting to have a visual complement to each piece of music, even if the project’s hefty budgetary requirements may limit the amount of material that … Continue reading
Of all the acts that have been screwed over by YG Entertainment‘s unreliable release schedule, none has had to put up with more than Winner. First there was the nearly two year wait between their debut and follow-up, and then came last year’s botched EXIT project (they never made it past “E,” regrettably). Though the group has … Continue reading
Rookie boy group INX debuted last August with the promising Alright, opting for a classic synth sound that helped them stand out. Unfortunately, they went pretty silent shortly after. In this day and age, rookies need to be a near constant presence, utilizing social media, vlive, youtube and any other outlet they can find to … Continue reading
They may not have hit quite the same level of success as some of their 2015-debuted peers, but Oh My Girl has consistently released interesting — at times challenging — pop music. In a genre known for its adherence to trends, a little bit of experimentation is never a bad thing. K-pop is at its … Continue reading
K-Pop is one of the few international genres that places more focus on groups than solo acts, but when a single artist does make it big, they often burst into the stratosphere. Such is the case with Rain (Bi), who set the standard for male soloists everywhere. He is not only a Korean star. He’s a … Continue reading
If there’s anything I’ve learned from covering pop music for over a decade, it’s that songwriters and collaborators are just as important as the artists themselves. Though they often work behind the scenes, this feature is a chance to shine the light on some of k-pop’s most innovative and accomplished producers and composers. KIM TAE … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by k-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade. March 2017 Overall Thoughts Oh, March. It’s such a long month, yet gives us so little when it … Continue reading
March is always a pretty barren month when it comes to big k-pop releases, but it feels like we’re coming off of one of the driest spells in recent memory. That makes it the perfect time for SM Station to debut its “Season 2.” The music platform’s initial run was a mixed bag, but at least … Continue reading
Apink have been releasing material in Japan since 2014, but have thus far found more success with covers of their Korean hits than entirely original songs. Within this context, new single Bye Bye makes a lot of sense. Though it is an original track for the j-pop market, the song touches on elements of the … Continue reading
J-Pop is not a particularly global genre, and it only has its own systems and practices to blame. Its music videos and albums are often heavily restricted from international users, making it hard to discover new artists. Its musical touchstones are sprawling and diverse, but don’t always adhere to global trends or tastes. Japan is … Continue reading
Bigbang may be one of the biggest k-pop acts around, but they’ve also mastered the art of solo releases. Each of their five members has released solo work tailored specifically to their strengths. Most of these have fit comfortably within the Bigbang brand, but power vocal Daesung has branched out even further, carving an immensely … Continue reading
After being hinted at for years, Girl’s Day‘s highly anticipated comeback feels almost like a k-pop urban legend. It’s unusual for acts to take such a long break between albums, especially considering that the girls’ last track (2015’s Ring My Bell) didn’t quite reach the commercial heights of their biggest material. With all this pent-up … Continue reading
As a companion to my Top Ten Singles lists, it’s time to look at some of the best album tracks and b-sides from the best artists. GOT7 are one of those groups that keeps a pretty steady quality when it comes to their music. I found it difficult ranking b-sides because there are so many … Continue reading
Though k-pop rises or falls on the strength of its singles, a group’s real strengths can often be found in the lesser-known material that makes up their mini albums and full lengths. The definition of “album” in k-pop is so wide that I’ve got to lay down some ground rules before composing any sort of … Continue reading
When it comes to prevailing tastes, Korea and I usually agree. But try as I might, I’ve never been able to fully understand IU’s enduring stranglehold on the charts. By all accounts, she seems like a lovely person. And being a successful actress certainly boosts her profile. I appreciate her willingness to go vintage when … Continue reading
Of all the girl groups in k-pop, few are as underrated as Nine Muses. Though the group has released a string of super-solid singles, they’ve never been able to break through to the big leagues. Some of this might have to do with the seeming instability of the group itself. At various points in their … Continue reading
Shinee are one of the big ones. Not only are they a part of my top three k-pop groups of all time, but they’re just one of those groups that instantly come to mind when I think the word “k-pop.” They’ve covered so much ground during their career, and really pushed the genre’s boundaries while … Continue reading
Now that Pledis Entertainment has hit big with Seventeen and revitalized their standing as a k-pop powerhouse, the agency is banking on the same successful trajectory for its new girl group, Pristin. Things certainly seem promising. Among Pristin’s ranks are several girls from the mega-successful Produce 101 series, including Pinky and Nayoung who actually debuted … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 