Unlock is the last official KAT-TUN single before member Taguchi leaves the group and the remaining three go on hiatus. Because of this, it carries with it an aura of sadness, though you wouldn’t know it from the song alone. Unlock is a classic uptempo rock number from the guys. And even if it may not … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-sides deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. By all accounts, Taemin’s album Press It is a total triumph. … Continue reading
This has got to be the most embarrassing release from a major company in recent memory. CLC are from Cube Entertainment, home to such icons as Beast and 4Minute. They struggled in their debut last year, despite releasing some songs I really enjoyed. Now, after a nine-month hiatus, they’ve come back with two new members. … Continue reading
B1A4 are one of my absolute favorite groups in kpop. They’re also one of the most underrated. Because their music is often sunny, youthful and incredibly melodic, they don’t always get taken as seriously as many of their peers. It’s a shame, because the group boasts one of kpop’s best composers in leader Jinyoung, and they’ve … Continue reading
Paldang is a Dam built on Korea’s Han River, but in this funky new single from Eddy Kim and Beenzino, it’s simply a roadblock for girls to “rush over like water” on their way to a good time. The single cover even depicts a waterfall of long, dyed blue hair. As metaphors go, it’s basically … Continue reading
While the vocals in many of their peers’ tracks can sometimes feel like accessories to the beat or concept, Mamamoo puts the singing front and center. No need for electronic builds or breakdowns when a robust vocal harmony can get the job done even more effectively. It’s a commendable, even old-fashioned, characteristic of their music, and … Continue reading
Arashi have been around for longer than many kpop and jpop idols have been alive, and released a massive amount of singles and albums in that time frame. As could be expected from such a prolific band, their material is incredibly hit or miss for me. For every No One Knows or Under The Blue Sky, … Continue reading
Starship Entertainment hasn’t debuted a new girl group since Sistar, and that was all the way back in 2010. In those six years, Sistar has gone on to become one of the leading female groups in kpop, so when it was announced that Starship would be teaming with Yuehua Entertainment to form Cosmic Girls, I … Continue reading
True rockers are a rarity in the kpop world. Some of that is due to the musical tastes that the genre caters to, but I think just as much comes from the culture itself. There’s an element of respect, particularly when it comes to age, that’s woven into every fabric of Korean life. That makes the persona … Continue reading
It’s almost impossible to separate Ladies’ Code’s new material from the horrible tragedy the group suffered in September of 2014. But, it’s not fair to base all further perceptions of their music on that tragedy either. I’m sure they don’t want to be known solely for their story, so I’ll try as much as possible to focus my thoughts … Continue reading
Girl group 4TEN briefly went by the (strange) name Poten and released a very underrated single last summer. Nevertheless, they’ve been unable to break out in the kpop world. Like many groups with a similar struggle, they’ve come back again and again with varying sounds and concepts, trying to find something that will stick. I’m … Continue reading
I came into this song without a lot of expectation. I know that new group Astro have a bit of a following due to web series and other online promotion, but I know next to nothing about them. In fact, I’d even say that my initial feelings for their music was less than positive, and … Continue reading
I’ve been waiting almost two years for this. As I mentioned before, I’m a huge fan of Taemin’s solo music. I got a little nervous when I heard that he was working with Bruno Mars on this single. Nothing against Bruno, but I don’t really like my kpop artists intermingling with American music (there’s a … Continue reading
After making their long-awaited return from the ashes last November, B.A.P have made a speedy comeback with their new mini album, Carnival. It marks a drastic shift in sound and image from their last us-against-the-world concept. In fact, we really haven’t seen the guys this light and colorful since Stop It, from all the way … Continue reading
Before I start, I need to give full disclosure on my relationship to Taemin’s music. I’m an enormous fan, and I selfishly want him to be Korea’s answer to Michael Jackson. I think he’s that good. In my opinion, he’s the best dancer in all of kpop. All this praise means I also hold him … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-sides deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. Though SS301 released shortened promo videos for every track off their … Continue reading
For whatever reason, Beast were the last of Korea’s major boy groups that I became interested in. I knew and enjoyed all of their singles, but it took a long time for me to investigate their entire discography. However, once I finally got around to it, they quickly became one of my favorite boy groups in all … Continue reading
If Tell Me (What Is Love) is any indication, it seems as if SM’s new weekly Music Station platform may become an avenue to release some long-awaited fan favorite material. This song is not unknown among Exo fans, and is one of many unreleased tracks from SM’s vault that has been performed live in the … Continue reading
BTOB enjoyed one heck of a 2015, finding a new level of success and finally becoming the group they were meant to be. They also began to push into Japan with original material that catered almost exclusively to the genre preferences of that market. In other words, their two singles were super j-poppy. Dear Bride strikes a nice balance … Continue reading
I raved about LuHan’s Medals at the end of last year, but with each successive release, it seems more and more apparent that the stately melodicism of that track was a red herring in his solo discography. For Excited, LuHan has once again paired himself with American production team Rock Forward. They do an adequate job … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 