Over the past few weeks, k-pop has enjoyed a much-needed resurgence of proper choruses. And though EXID never quite fell victim to the trend of instrumental riffs masquerading as hooks, there were a number of times during new single DDD (덜덜덜) that I feared the song may take that dreaded, melody-averse turn. But then again, … Continue reading
EXID debuted in early 2012 with a colorful retro pop sound that instantly set them apart from their contemporaries. The group struggled during their initial years before eventually blowing up in 2014. Since then, the girls have gone from strength to strength, and they finally have enough title tracks to warrant a countdown. Here are … Continue reading
After the surprise resurgence of popularity for 2014’s ubiquitous Up & Down, EXID’s music began to feel shoehorned into a certain style. You certainly can’t blame them. Fame is not an easy target in k-pop, and once you’ve scored a hit, it’s smart to follow up with the formula that proved successful. That strategy worked … Continue reading
Honey Bee is one of those songs that’s just oozing potential from the get-go. Taking f(x)‘s Luna, EXID’s Hani and Mamamoo‘s Solar and setting them loose on a big diva pop track is definitely an exciting prospect. But as we learned with last year’s Triple T collaboration, big names don’t always mean quality songs. While … 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. SHINSADONG TIGER … 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. EXID’s Street album is a bit of a frustrating listen for … Continue reading
After the incredible one-two punch of Up & Down and Ah Yeah, it appeared that EXID had become an unstoppable force in k-pop. Then they released the less-incredible Hot Pink and revealed a chink in their pop armor. New single L.I.E (엘라이) promised us something completely different, and that’s certainly true. But I’m not sure … Continue reading
Only One isn’t the first time EXID’s leader Solji and variety-show-magnet Hani have collaborated as a subunit. Back in 2013, they released a pretty strong dance single called Good Bye under the name Dasoni. I’m not sure why they didn’t revive that moniker for Only One, but at least the sound is somewhat similar. Quite tellingly, the … Continue reading
Okay, okay. When I say kpop, I mean mostly kpop, because there’s going to be some jpop and cpop in this list as well (some of it in very prominent positions), but “Top 50 K-Pop & J-Pop & C-Pop Songs of 2015” just doesn’t have the same ring to it! The only other criteria for … Continue reading
EXID is one of a handful of girl groups who have had an amazingly breakout 2015. Like most listeners, I was late to the party and really only fell in love with them this year. Up & Down and Ah Yeah remain unmatchable, even though their new single Hot Pink tries its hardest. It doesn’t … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 