2017 has been the year of Bigbang members’ solo tours, organized as farewell victory laps as military conscription looms in the near future. After G-Dragon visited Seattle back in July, I was happy to see that band mate Taeyang would be coming even closer to my corner of the world — landing in Vancouver, BC … Continue reading
Back with double title tracks, Taeyang has made a long awaited comeback as mandatory military enlistment looms in the distance. While Darling stripped back on production flourishes to shine a strong spotlight on his powerful vocals, Wake Me Up takes a trendier approach. Bigbang, and its members’ solo work, have such an idiosyncratic sound that … Continue reading
It’s been a long time coming, but 2017 seems to be the year of Bigbang members’ solo comebacks. First we had G-Dragon in June, and now it’s Taeyang‘s turn. The White Night album arrives with great anticipation, especially after the monstrous success of 2014’s Eyes, Nose, Lips. And for the first of two title tracks, … Continue reading
It might not be the k-pop hub that is L.A., but living in the Pacific Northwest, we get our fair share of concerts in neighboring Vancouver. Even so, when I saw that G-Dragon had extended his world tour to Seattle, it seemed like a minor miracle. I can’t remember a time when a big-name k-pop … Continue reading
Amidst everything going on with his band-mate T.O.P, G-Dragon made the right decision in releasing the emotive Untitled, 2014 as the first single from his new mini album. But this being G-Dragon, we knew we’d be getting at least one hip-hop hype track before the album campaign was over. The eye-catchingly titled Bullshit is the … Continue reading
It’s such a thrill to write about a solo G-Dragon track. Though Bigbang has been active over the past few years, we haven’t heard from G-Dragon on his own since 2013’s brilliant Coup d’Etat album. But on a personal level, he was one of my first ambassadors to k-pop as a whole. I can’t think … Continue reading
It’s hard to believe that, after a year and a half since launching this website, I still haven’t had the opportunity to review any Korean comebacks by solo Bigbang members. For a group approaching military enlistment age, you’d think that YG would want to keep the members as busy as possible. So Good may have been created as … Continue reading
Released in September of 2013, Coup d’Etat built on the touchstones of G-Dragon‘s 2009 debut album and his 2012 One Of A Kind mini. At this point, his immense star power had been cemented, allowing for high-profile collaborations that brought a more international flavor to his work. Within this framework, Coup d’Etat is one of k-pop’s … 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. March 2017 Overall Thoughts Oh, March. It’s such a long month, yet gives us so little when it … Continue reading
Bigbang may be one of the biggest k-pop acts around, but they’ve also mastered the art of solo releases. Each of their five members has released solo work tailored specifically to their strengths. Most of these have fit comfortably within the Bigbang brand, but power vocal Daesung has branched out even further, carving an immensely … 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. DAISHI DANCE … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I’ll 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. December 2016 Overall Thoughts As expected, the last month of the year was comparatively sparse when it … Continue reading
It’s the time of the year for Korea’s annual music festivals! It’s a particularly exciting few days for k-pop, filled with special performances and a look back at the year’s most influential hits. SBS is the first of the three networks to kick off the week of “gayos,” and unfortunately they set the bar incredibly … Continue reading
Swan songs have a particular aura around them, and although Last Dance may not be the last thing we ever hear from Bigbang as a group, it certainly feels like the end of something. As their final single released before years of staggered military conscription service, it’s at the very least the last song the … Continue reading
Originally scheduled for release in September of 2015, Bigbang‘s full Made album is finally here — though with only three new songs it feels more like a repackage than a full comeback. Even so, it marks the last we’ll hear from the group as a whole for quite some time, as members begin their mandatory … Continue reading
Bigbang has mastered the art of sub-units and solos, scoring enormous hits even when its members aren’t together as a group. Given that I have already counted down solo tracks from G-Dragon and Taeyang, those songs are ineligible for this list. Luckily, there are more than enough singles left over for a strong top ten. … 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. BRAVE BROTHERS … 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. TEDDY Years … Continue reading
Though his solo work may not be as colorful or boundary-pushing as bandmate G-Dragon, Taeyang has proved to be one of Bigbang’s most successful members. Driven by his inimitable voice, he’s released three albums on his own and keeps getting better and better. With an emphasis on classic R&B over modern YG beats, he’s given … Continue reading
For the first solo artist to feature on my Top Ten lists, I could really only choose one person. In many ways, G-Dragon represents the epitome of k-pop — endlessly creative, wildly influential as a fashion icon, and charismatic to a fault. He’s the brains behind most of Bigbang‘s best songs, but his solo career … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 