Of all the top ten lists I’ll write, Infinite’s will always be the hardest. It’s a real challenge to rank what I consider to be the strongest singles run in all of kpop. Infinite have a sound that is tailor-made to match my taste, and even the singles that didn’t make my list (it was especially … Continue reading
Girl’s Day was one of the last major kpop groups I got into, and I’m sorry to say that their group name turned me off for much too long. It sounded to me like a tween lifestyle magazine, and conjured up images of slumber parties and secret diaries. But eventually, the strength of their music wore … Continue reading
2015 saw the rise of its fair share of super rookies. Some were predestined to be huge, and some were surprises. But, for every breakout success, there are dozens of groups slowing clawing their way to the top. Some make it, some fail. And some produce music that’s better than the big boys. Let’s take … Continue reading
2015 saw the rise of its fair share of super rookies. Some were predestined to be huge, and some were surprises. But, for every breakout success, there are dozens of groups slowing clawing their way to the top. Some make it, some fail. And some produce music that’s better than the big boys. Let’s take … Continue reading
Vixx is known to many as Korea’s “concept idols.” For much of their career, they’ve explored the darker, more fantasy-influenced tropes of kpop. From vampires to cyborgs, they’ve offered us some of the most dynamic visuals and routines of the past few years. More than that, they’ve been incredibly reliable as albums artists, whose b-sides … Continue reading
In honor of Teen Top’s new single and mini album (which sadly will not feature on this list) I thought it was a good time to look back at their singles run. To give you a bit of background, Teen Top is a group that I like quite a bit, but has never crossed into … Continue reading
I feel like it’s that age old dilemma. As the global popularity of kpop has grown over the years, more and more online vendors have sprung up to satiate our needs. It can sometimes be confusing picking which store to go for. What’s the cheapest option? Which gives you the quickest shipping? I won’t be … Continue reading
When it comes to girl groups, 2NE1 are like no other in the kpop world. They sit at the very top of my bias list, and much of that is due to their fierce image and the fantastic songs that they’re given. While I wait (somewhat) patiently for a comeback after their excellent 2014 album Crush, … Continue reading
For me, Shinee has been one of the most consistently strong groups in all of kpop. It’s hard to believe they debuted all the way back in 2008, since they still seem so fresh and relevant with each new release. As much as I love their music, it was surprisingly hard to rank my favorite … Continue reading
2015 was a year in which almost every major kpop group and soloist made at least one comeback. So who had the most influence over the kpop landscape? Who were the ultimate trend groups of the year? It’s impossible to answer with 100% accuracy, but I’m going to try my best! Male Group: BTS There … 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
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
It’s the week of the Gayos, culminating with MBC’s show on New Year’s Eve, which usually ends up being the best of the three. While SBS’s broadcast last Sunday was certainly messy, it’s unfortunate that KBS suffers from a different problem this year. Honestly, their Daechukje was mostly just kinda… boring. It was hindered a bit at … Continue reading
The annual Gayo Daejuns are one of my favorite times of the year for kpop. A combo of song festival and awards ceremony/gala, they round out December nicely by offering dozens of performances from the biggest artists of the year, often in remixed or reinterpreted versions. They’re reliable for providing some of the biggest and best … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 