With the release of last month’s Secret Time, Spica has just enough singles for a Top Ten Countdown. The group came hard during their debut year, releasing no less than five comebacks in 2012. Their sound has evolved throughout their career, but always with a focus on strong vocals and a catchy hook. An unfortunate … Continue reading
Ever since their debut in 2014, Halo have been on my list of underrated k-pop groups. I worry for them. Despite releasing an excellent pop track back in December, they weren’t even able to film a music video to accompany it. Thankfully, through the crowd-sourcing Makestar platform, their new single Mariya (마리야) gets a charmingly … Continue reading
It’s not uncommon for an agency to use one of its established stars to introduce a new rookie group, and that’s exactly what Plan A (formerly A Cube) are doing with their “Plan A Boys.” Pairing with solo singer Huh Gak, the boys are given a slight head-scratcher of an introduction in the form of … Continue reading
Just over a month after their excellent High Heels comeback, Brave Girls has surprised us with Yoo Hoo (유후 (우린 아직 여름)), a very summery track released just as we’re moving closer to fall. It’s odd timing, and relegates Yoo Hoo to feeling like a bit of an afterthought. Part of that is due to … 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
The story of Sunny Hill is that of a group slowly and incrementally losing their color. It’s hard to believe that the girls giving us On The Way Home (집으로 가는 길) are the same ones who delivered such creative dance tracks as Midnight Circus and The Grasshopper Song. It’s even harder to imagine that the group actually … Continue reading
It’s been a long while since I last reviewed a straight-up Korean ballad, but it’s a slow Tuesday and vocal duo Homme are the sole big release of the moment. Though their music has little in common with labelmates BTS, Dilemma (딜레마) was co-written by that group’s leader, Rap Monster, as well as frequent BTS-collaborator … Continue reading
Two comebacks in, and it’s clear that Nu’est has fully reinvented their sound. I think this is smart. As labelmates Seventeen are going full pop, Nu’est are establishing a more mature, artistic style that sets them apart. But on a personal note, I’m realizing that this new Nu’est just isn’t going to be for me. … Continue reading
This was not one of the easier lists to compile. FTIsland have dozens of singles to choose from, and I’ve liked almost all of them. But, if I were to rate their discography as a whole, the scores would be pretty even across the board, with a few major peaks standing out from an otherwise … 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. LDN NOISE … 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. Time Leap, along with the other original songs from BOYS24‘s … Continue reading
How can a song featuring so many esteemed and exciting artists end up being so dull? In theory, Born To Be Wild should be a momentous hodgepodge of cross-agency collaboration, but it’s ultimately just as messy as its parentheses-filled title. I applaud SM for reaching out to artists and producers from competing agencies. I have … Continue reading
Girl group Spica has been absent from the k-pop scene for two years, causing them to have a lot of rebuilding and rebranding to do. The world of k-pop moves quickly, and unless you’re an a-list super group, it’s not particularly easy to come back after such a long time away. Making things even more … Continue reading
The longer SM Entertainment’s NCT project is in existence, the more excited I get about its potential. Some of that is due to the agency’s smart showcasing of members’ personalities through variety series, but most of it is a direct result of the project’s ambition and scope. More than anything, NCT is a vessel to channel … Continue reading
On Crush’s first album, there’s a collaboration with Zion. T called Hey Baby. I’ve wanted to love the rest of Crush’s music ever since I first heard this song. Hey Baby offered a pitch-perfect recreation of the early 90’s New Jack Swing sound, filtered through the lens of Michael Jackson era performance style. It’s a … Continue reading
Full disclosure: when Ailee’s on, she’s really on, but I have always preferred her more uptempo, aggressively soulful tracks to the ballads. Songs like Don’t Touch Me, or the almighty U&I, crackle with a certain k-pop energy that is hers and hers alone. So when it became clear that her newest comeback would be a … Continue reading
As the first season winner of successful singing competition K-Pop Star, you’d expect Jimin Park (or Park Jimin, I suppose…) to be Korea’s answer to Kelly Clarkson. But although the two share an incredible level of vocal talent, Jimin has struggled to capture the spotlight since signing with JYP. In my opinion, much of that … Continue reading
Laboum has been on the tip of many tongues when it comes to up-and-coming girl groups, and there’s a reason why. Their singles run has been on a continual upswing since their debut in 2014, and Shooting Love (푱푱) continues that pattern. While it took a couple of listens for the track’s rowdy go-for-broke production to … Continue reading
Coming back without a bit of teasing or build-up, Romeo have released Treasure as a special single from their repackaged album. I’ve previously lamented the fact that they no longer work with production team Sweetune after their label merged with Stardom Entertainment, and Treasure is no different. Once again, the song has been composed by Deeds … 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. VIXX are well known for having a remarkably consistent discography that goes far beyond their singles. Here’s the best of the best. Honorable Mentions: Echo What U Waiting For … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 