Now that I’ve had a chance to spotlight the year’s best singles, it’s time to look at the standout albums of 2018’s first six months. As usual, I split the categories between full and mini, with three strong contenders from each. What are your picks? FULL LENGTH ALBUMS Infinite – Top Seed While their first comeback … Continue reading
As we move into July, we’re entering K-Pop’s third quarter of releases for the year. As always, it’s a good time to take stock of what 2018 has offered so far. Back in early spring, I remember feeling pretty pessimistic about this year’s singles, but I’ve actually been able to compile a strong mid-year list. … 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. ESBEE Years … Continue reading
Starting her career as a member of girl group Jewelry, Seo In Young soon branched out as a solo artist. Over the course of a decade, she’s established a diverse discography, moving between dancefloor anthems and torch ballads with ease. She also possesses one of the most unique vocal tones in all of k-pop. There’s … Continue reading
First of all, I apologize for the alarmist title. I don’t believe k-pop is anywhere near dying, nor do I think the concept of a fandom is a bad thing. I consider myself a massive k-pop fan, so much that I’ve written about it every day for the past two and a half years. I’d … Continue reading
Watching (and obsessing over) Avengers: Infinity War last week has got me thinking. If I wielded the Infinity Gauntlet and had the power to shape the universe, how would I control K-Pop? Infinite comebacks every month! New Sweetune songs every week! Just kidding. I’m not going to be that biased. Instead, I thought it would … Continue reading
The day has finally come. Snuper have released enough singles to warrant a top ten list! It’s disappointing that the song to put them over the top is the supremely underwhelming Tulips, but I’m happy to say that the top four entries on this countdown are near-perfect, A+ examples of k-pop. If you haven’t checked out … Continue reading
The fact that I’ve been able to compile a top ten list for LOONA before their actual debut is a testament to just how ambitious their roll-out has been. Over the course of eighteen months, each member of the group has been unveiled via solo and unit tracks. There are over twenty songs to choose … 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. Coach & … Continue reading
I often complain about trends while in the midst of them, mostly because I prefer k-pop to draw from a wide variety of influences rather than use a copy-and-paste template. But looking back at the industry’s history, trends are an interesting way to summarize a year or era. I thought it would be fun to … Continue reading
I think most of us could agree that — at least so far — 2018 has seen a certain amount of renewed attention given to strong choruses. As the EDM build/drop structure has begun to (slowly) wane in popularity, we’re seeing more melody take its place. Yet, many of my recent song reviews could be … 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. Joombas Music … Continue reading
We’re just over two months in to this new year, and though February proved to be something of a non-starter, I’m feeling very optimistic about what 2018 is going to bring in terms of k-pop. I feel like I spent much of 2017 (and some of 2016) railing against Westernized trends that seemed to have … Continue reading
Twice debuted just over three years ago, but their unparalleled success has been buoyed a work ethic that’s driven a steady stream of singles. Though their Japanese releases leave something to be desired, their robust Korean catalog has largely been a ton of fun. Here are their best: Updated 2-4-19 10. Signal (2017) Signal‘s incessant bass … Continue reading
Now that the top eighteen idols have been crowned and Units B and G are finalized, it’s the perfect time for a retrospective on survival show The Unit’s hefty discography of songs. Like similar series before it, the show spawned a number of digital singles — from full group anthems to competitive sub-unit standouts. With … 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. FRANTS Years … Continue reading
Since their debut in 2014, Halo have been one of k-pop’s most underrated groups. But with their new Japanese single released last month, they’ve delivered just enough singles to qualify for a top ten countdown. Just like any artist with a relatively slim catalog, when I’m talking about their ten best singles, I’m literally talking … 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. BreadBeat Years … Continue reading
In the months since its conclusion, season two of Produce 101 has dramatically altered the k-pop landscape — at least when it comes to boy groups. Its reach extends to so many corners of the industry that it can be difficult to keep up with it all. That’s where this handy guide comes in, as … Continue reading
Super Junior is home to many solo and sub-unit projects, but none has been quite as enduring as D&E. Composed of members Donghae and Eunhyuk, the duo has crafted an impressive discography of their own and enjoyed massive success in Japan. It’s worth mentioning that I didn’t consider the brilliantly bonkers Can You Feel It … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 