A day after YG’s BLACKPINK released the minimalist acoustic ballad Stay, SM Entertainment counter punches with its own version in the form of Taeyeon’s 11:11. But unlike the former’s flirtation with tempo change and folk elements, 11:11 plays it straight down the middle. Surprisingly, this no-nonsense approach actually pays off. More than any other … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I’ll look back at my three favorite title tracks by k-pop artists. Unlike my end-of-year countdowns, jpop and Japanese releases by kpop artists are ineligible, though I will give the great ones a spotlight. For my top three tracks, I’ll take my own ratings into account, but there is a … Continue reading
For the second pre-release before Sistar member Hyolyn’s debut solo album, she’s teamed up with Jay Park. Despite the high wattage of star power on display, One Step still feels like an album track rather than a proper single. But unlike last week’s offering, the song’s sound is much better suited to Hyolyn’s inimitable performance … Continue reading
It feels like we’re reaching the breaking point when it comes to the tropical house trend. Big name groups like BTS and BLACKPINK have managed to wring some life from it this past month, but when even lower-profile acts like Berry Good jump on the bandwagon, the market starts to feel a bit over-saturated. Luckily, … Continue reading
One of the selling points upon Seventeen’s debut last year was their unique configuration as three separate units (performance, hip-hop and vocal) within their thirteen-member group. Though the vocal unit delivered a fantastic one-off in February, I’m surprised that we haven’t had releases from the other units outside of side tracks on the group’s albums. … Continue reading
YG Entertainment has a long history of releasing excellent mid-tempo ballads, but none has ever sounded quite like BLACKPINK’s new single Stay. The girls have constantly been compared to 2NE1 (the only other female act in the agency) and portions of Stay‘s melody feel lifted from directly from that group’s oeuvre, but it’s been repackaged … Continue reading
For the past few months, I’ve felt like one of the only k-pop fans who hasn’t been completely won over by new YG girl group BLACKPINK. Luckily their first comeback, consisting of Playing With Fire (불장난) and Stay, has gone a long way in reigniting my interest. At many points, both Whistle and Boombayah felt as … Continue reading
Given last week’s funky and laidback pre-release, it was only a matter of time before Bastarz returned with something closer to last year’s hard-hitting Zero For Conduct. Make It Rain is definitely that track, slamming listeners over the head with an aggressive, grimy hip-hop sound. Block B made their name on edgy material, but even … Continue reading
With The Closer, VIXX have delivered on their ambitious 2016 trilogy release schedule. When the project first began with April’s excellent Dynamite, I looked forward to a year of varying concepts that pushed VIXX’s already solid sound. But between Fantasy and The Closer, the guys have instead settled into a certain downbeat vibe, assisted by … Continue reading
As a group heading into its fifth year, the first official EXO sub-unit seems almost overdue, especially given their large number of members and initial unit configuration of EXO-M and EXO-K. When it was announced that CBX would comprise of Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin, it was hard to guess exactly what sound they’d be paired with. … Continue reading
Sub-units are common in k-pop, but few end up being more popular than the actual group that spawned them. Though they haven’t released anything in two years, Orange Caramel has arguably leapfrogged over their parent group, After School, when it comes to awareness and chart success. Consisting of members Nana, Raina and Lizzy, the trio … 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. ZigZag Note … Continue reading
I never found the time to review The Solutions’ July single Ticket To The Moon, even though I found it to be a summer highlight. Korea isn’t exactly known for its rock music, and The Solutions’ particular brand of synthy indie pop is even more unique in the world of k-pop. Paired with Lovelyz’ main vocal Kei forges … Continue reading
A couple of weeks after pre-releasing the upbeat r&b funk of What You Need, EXO member Lay is back with his debut solo EP. To herald its release, Lose Control slows things down and sexes things up, giving his sound yet another layer. From the very beginning, Lose Control screams late 90’s/early 00’s radio r&b. Almost … Continue reading
K-Pop is an agency-driven genre, meaning that what gets put into the market is often expertly crafted by a team of individuals and hoisted upon a group/artist who then takes it to the next level with their talent and charisma. This doesn’t necessarily take art out of the equation, but it does create an environment … Continue reading
Although members of Sistar have featured on many tracks outside of their group’s releases, Hyolyn is the first to go completely solo with her upcoming mini album. As befits a member of one of k-pop’s biggest groups, she’ll be releasing a trio of singles as part of her solo debut. First up is Love Like This, … Continue reading
At the tail end of last year, it seemed as if LuHan was releasing songs and music videos every other week, including the brilliant (and underrated) Medals. But after months away, he returns with the moody Catch Me When I Fall. And although it doesn’t quite live up to the best of his past material, it’s … Continue reading
Although Block B sub-unit Bastarz’s 2015 mini album was heralded by its heavy hip-hop title track, the rest of the EP ended up being far more diverse in sound. With this in mind, the retro funk/jazz fusion vibe of Selfish & Beautiful Girl (이기적인 걸) isn’t as surprising as it first may seem. Co-composed by member … Continue reading
Twice’s rapid rise to the top has been an incredible feat to witness. Just two singles in, and they’re arguably the most impactful girl group in k-pop at the moment. In our meme-driven entertainment culture, the girls have crafted a sound built on an assortment of colorful musical moments — both catchy and viral-worthy. After the … Continue reading
During their eight years in the k-pop industry, 4Minute were one of few prominent girl groups who rose to fame on a harder-edged, attitude infused sound, contrasting with the lighter, cuter concepts preferred by many of their peers. For this, they’re often put in a similar bracket as 2NE1. And although we won’t be getting any … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 