Girls Girls debuted at the tail end of last year with a sound that blends 2NE1-style swag with the overt sexuality of artists like EXID and HyunA. Unfortunately, it hasn’t done much for them yet. In fact, Juicy Secret (쥬시시크릿) is really their first track that made it on my radar — and my radar … Continue reading
Cube Entertainment hasn’t had a stellar year. In the course of several months, they’ve lost their biggest girl group, 4minute, and one-sixth of their biggest boy group, Beast (whether the other members re-sign their expiring contracts remains to be seen). Given this, there’s a lot riding on Pentagon’s debut. The agency seems to have invested quite … Continue reading
When it comes to k-pop’s evolution both domestically and internationally, BTS are in the driver’s seat. It’s been an absolute thrill to see them come back again and again with material that’s both friendly to pop radio and beguilingly artistic. Blood, Sweat & Tears (피 땀 눈물) is the latest in their continual reinvention, and … Continue reading
Though they’ve only been active since 2014, JYP boy group GOT7 have already become one of k-pop’s biggest acts — especially internationally. They’ve released just enough title tracks to create a top ten list, though I’ve mentioned before that their Japanese output really pales in comparison to their Korean material. As usual, only promoted title … 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. I’m sad to admit that much of Shinee’s latest album … 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. RPHABET Years … Continue reading
When it was first announced that 90’s superstars Sechs Kies had signed with YG Entertainment for their long awaited reunion, I couldn’t imagine what the resulting material would sound like. Sechs Kies older songs don’t really bear anything close to the trademark YG sound, though I suppose a focus on hip-hop creates some sort of through … Continue reading
Though several former EXO members have struck out on solo careers in China, Lay’s What You Need is the first major push from a current member of the group. Though he’s been less visible in more recent EXO tracks, SM Entertainment seems content to give Lay some freedom when it comes to his home country. What … Continue reading
A week after Crayon Pop gave us a revival of 80’s italo disco, new group Sixth Sense debuts with a similar sound. The girls are from Up Entertainment — a small agency that doesn’t seem to have much of an internet presence. From watching the music video, it’s clear that budgets are tight and … Continue reading
Thus far, FNC Entertainment has been known primarily for its rock groups FTIsland and CNBLUE, as well as girl group AOA (who technically started with a band concept). Much… erm… “fanfare” has been made around the debut of the agency’s first male dance act, SF9. Debuts are a tricky thing, and often end up being … Continue reading
Beyond being one of Korea’s leading solo artists, Ailee also has her own unique place in k-pop. Her American roots have influenced her sound, providing work that effortlessly straddles the line between U.S. Top 40 and more typical Korean fare. Bolstered by her soulful vocals, she provides a performance style that no other k-pop artist has … Continue reading
Shinee had an outstanding 2015, releasing two of their very best title tracks in the space of a few months. Because of this, anything they followed up with in 2016 would arrive amidst sky high expectations. So instead of going big, they go specific… with the early 90’s new jack swing throwback of 1 Of 1. Immediately, this move doesn’t … Continue reading
It’s a testament to just how badly I’m wishing for a B1A4 comeback that when the solo debut of main vocal Sandeul was announced, I let out a disappointed sigh. This is insane, since Sandeul is an amazing performer with so much potential as a solo artist. But to me, the only thing this announcement … Continue reading
Patience pays off. Monsta X is a group I’ve wanted to love for a long time. I watched their debut survival series. I’ve seen them live (twice, now). Their music has gotten better with each album, though never quite to point where I found myself totally captured. But with Fighter, they’ve broadened their sound and … Continue reading
Earlier this year, I picked HIGH4 as the most underrated boy group in k-pop. I really root for them, and I was thrilled to see their Makestar crowdfunding campaign become such a big success. But with this said, I have no idea what they’re doing with this HIGH4 20 sub-unit. The duo is composed of rappers … Continue reading
When talking about underrated boy groups, Cross Gene have to be in the conversation. They debuted in 2012 and have straddled the line almost equally between Korean and Japanese releases. They’ve also become better with time, even if the general public hasn’t completely been won over yet. For a group of their stature, they have … Continue reading
With Heartbeat, SM Entertainment has completed their f(x)-driven EDM trilogy that started with Wave in May and continued with July’s All Mine. Given the strict adherence to genre structure, all three tracks feel somewhat interchangeable, but this helps create a welcome sense of continuity when they’re taken together, one right after another. Heartbeat was released as … Continue reading
October is officially here, which means the countdown to Halloween has started. Whether you’re cobbling together a mix for a Halloween party or carnival, or just looking for some seasonal selections to soundtrack your pumpkin carving, K-Pop has a lot to offer. Here are some of the best tracks. If your favorite Halloween K-Pop song … 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
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
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 