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
Tag Archives: bap
Song Review: B.A.P – That’s My Jam
2016 has seen veteran boy group B.A.P shift towards a lighter uptempo pop sound, and it’s working better for them than I would have ever expected. That’s My Jam feels like a natural extension of their very strong mini album Carnival, released earlier this year. The song augments a trendy EDM beat into something much … Continue reading
Top K-Pop Albums of 2016 (So Far)
After taking a look at the songs, it’s time to turn to the albums of 2016. As much as I love a good single, it can only be improved by being part of an excellent album. Last year saw Wonder Girls, Infinite, B1A4 and Shinee releasing my favorite collections. This year, the boy groups have … Continue reading
The Year in K-POP so far: Risers & Fallers
Reviews of any sort represent a snapshot in time. I’d like to think that what I write about a song the day after its release ends up being what I think about it in the long term, and more often than not that’s the case. But certain songs have a way of creeping up on you … Continue reading
Song Review: Sleepy – Body Lotion (ft. Bang Yong Guk)
Korean rapper Sleepy is one half of the hip-hop duo Untouchable, and for Body Lotion, he’s teamed with labelmate Bang Yong Guk of boy group B.A.P. It’s a pairing that makes sense, given their complementary styles. Despite his moniker, Sleepy raps (and sings) at a higher, more sprightly pace, while Yong Guk is all deep-voiced … Continue reading
The Top Ten Best Songs by B.A.P
To tell the truth, B.A.P was a group I got into late in the game. Something about their image turned me off initially, but then I came to my senses and realized that their music is actually pretty awesome. They’ve been through a bit of turmoil over the past couple of years, but now that … Continue reading
Song Review: B.A.P – Kingdom
For their first truly original Japanese single, B.A.P have opted for a sort of hybrid of their Young, Wild & Free from last year and 2013’s excellent One Shot. Even the music video features shades of both. This is a wise move, as the sound is one hundred percent theirs and skillfully paints a clear … Continue reading
Top Three K-Pop Songs of February 2016
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
Song Review: B.A.P – Feel So Good
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
Thoughts on the 2015 MBC Gayo Daejejeon
Oh, good old reliable MBC. Yet again, they have the most consistently good Gayo of the year. There wasn’t any performance as flawless as Infinite’s KBS one last night, but there were also very few stinkers. They do have a leg up from the start, with a more complete line-up and the New Year’s celebrations buoying … Continue reading