One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Ave Maria (from Parallel/Rainbow – 2017) Oh, I like this track a lot. It opens with an addictive freestyle synth loop that borrows from the 80’s while still managing to sound completely current. The verses have great drive in the classic GFriend … Continue reading
Nomad debuted earlier this year with the groovy No Pressure. I honestly had to go back and re-read my review to remember that song, but after jarring my memory its “no pressure, no diamond” hook quickly wormed its way back in. I suppose this is a testament to its enduring catchiness, even if I personally … Continue reading
Back in 2008, J-pop superstar Namie Amuro released the triple A-side 60s 70s 80s, where she recorded three songs inspired by those titular decades. My favorite was the 80’s-tastic What A Feeling, but the 60’s pastiche New Look wasn’t far behind. For their new single, Twice’s Japanese sub-unit Misamo have covered that track, tossing away … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Apple (from Song Of The Sirens – 2020) What I said then: “Given 2020 K-pop’s urge to shift styles every three seconds, Apple is a remarkably consistent track. Its various elements lock together flawlessly, though the entire thing hits at the same … Continue reading
Over the years, Jay Park has found a successful formula collaborating with female artists. He’s had hits with IU and Kiss Of Life’s Natty and now he’s paired with Chungha for a funky single that brings out the best in his music. I’m one of those listeners who swears on Joah and So Good being … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! A Starry Sky (from Time For Us – 2019) The crystalline chimes that open this ballad feel like a good starting point for this K-Pop A-Z feature. If GFriend are defined by their “powerful innocence” concept, A Starry Sky sees them tackle … Continue reading
TVXQ are celebrating the twentieth (!) anniversary of their Japanese debut with the upcoming release of new album Zone. Before that, its lead single Sweet Surrender has been pre-released alongside a music video. The guys have steadily promoted since their 2017 return from the military, but to be honest it’s been a few years since … Continue reading
In a strange twist, the sweet, ultra-melodic girl group sound I came to love (think: Lovelyz, GFriend, April) has found a new home with fifth-gen boy groups. TWS are the most popular act tackling a bright, bubbly style but prior to their debut The Wind offered their take on the genre. Their Our: YouthTeen album … Continue reading
3piece are one of those very under-the-radar acts hampered only by their lack of notoriety and resources. Their debut single borrowed sonic touchstones from K-pop’s past (namely, tropical pop), which definitely appeals to me. However, the music missed the extra spark that a bigger budget could likely add. New single Light Up (피어올라) follows a … Continue reading
In connection with my desire to fully keep up with the J-pop industry, I’m planning to do a weekly round-up of any new releases that have caught my ear. Some of these may have been covered on the blog already, but my hope is that this will become a one-stop shop for anyone interested in … Continue reading
A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. When it comes to the brighter … Continue reading
A few weeks ago, I gave a brief overview of the lengthy singles run of J-pop group News — one of my favorite acts whose material is just now being released to streaming. Now, those singles have been joined by the group’s albums. Some of their best material can be found here, so of course … Continue reading
ASC2NT debuted earlier this year with the groovy Love Me Do, displaying an impressive set of vocals and a relatively old-school approach. New single Sweet Devil gives them a bad boy makeover, mixing rock and hip-hop elements into the brew. While this showcases their versatility, the song tends to blend with many similar boy group … Continue reading
Kiss Of Life have quickly become one of K-pop’s buzziest acts and their ascent seems to have come about naturally. They’re not from a major agency, but their producers seem to have their finger on the pulse of popular sounds. In a K-pop summer devoid of big hits, their Sticky became an emblem of the … Continue reading
It’s always interesting to measure the lag between a very popular western pop song and the inevitable K-pop progeny. I’m not sure Lisa’s solo material can be considered “K-pop” given its language and her nationality, but you can definitely hear how new single Moonlit Floor echoes the approach of Sabrina Carpenter’s breezy global smash Espresso. … Continue reading
NCT’s many members are slowly starting to embark upon solo careers, each with their own musical focus. Yuta has been with the group since the very beginning, debuting in 2016 as part of NCT 127. Since then, he’s felt like one of the more underutilized talents. Regardless of my thoughts on the song itself, I’m … Continue reading
Thus far, rookies TIOT have opted for a bad boy rocker sound with their debut track. The song itself didn’t work for me at all, though its band elements showed promise. New single The Long Season (그 계절 긴 터널을 지나) takes a softer approach, bolstering its guitar and drums instrumental with plenty of melody. … Continue reading
ATEEZ have kept a relatively consistent style between their Korean and Japanese work, even when collaborating with J-pop act BE:FIRST for a couple of songs. New single Birthday doesn’t upend this pattern, keeping their core production team and riffing off elements similar to their past few albums. The problem, of course, is that I didn’t … 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. September 2024 Overall Thoughts While the first half of 2024 was quite strong, these past few … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 