Battle of the B-Sides: SHINee, SF9, MBLAQ, Baekhyun, (G)I-DLE
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Battle of the B-Sides: SHINee, SF9, MBLAQ, Baekhyun, (G)I-DLE

K-pop’s title tracks might gain most of listeners’ attention, but many album tracks are worth equal spotlight. I call these “buried treasures.” Beyond this, K-pop’s albums deliver thousands of additional tracks that settle for a more limited audience. It’s these songs that will become a part of my “battle of the b-sides” feature. In this … Continue reading

Battle of the B-Sides: Seventeen, CNBlue, (G)I-DLE, Twice, STAYC
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Battle of the B-Sides: Seventeen, CNBlue, (G)I-DLE, Twice, STAYC

K-pop’s title tracks might gain most of listeners’ attention, but many album tracks are worth equal spotlight. I call these “buried treasures.” Beyond this, K-pop’s albums deliver thousands of additional tracks that settle for a more limited audience. It’s these songs that will become a part of my “battle of the b-sides” feature. In this … Continue reading

Battle of the B-Sides: Girls’ Generation, Epik High, G.Soul, (G)I-DLE, DAY6
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Battle of the B-Sides: Girls’ Generation, Epik High, G.Soul, (G)I-DLE, DAY6

K-pop’s title tracks might gain most of listeners’ attention, but many album tracks are worth equal spotlight. I call these “buried treasures.” Beyond this, K-pop’s albums deliver thousands of additional tracks that settle for a more limited audience. It’s these songs that will become a part of my “battle of the b-sides” feature. In this … Continue reading

Song Review: (G)I-DLE – Tomboy
Review

Song Review: (G)I-DLE – Tomboy

With K-pop’s “girl crush” sound and concept omnipresent over the past few years, it’s become abundantly clear which groups can pull it off and which feel less authentic. I wouldn’t call (G)I-DLE’s debut era “girl crush,” but their edgier energy certainly helped lay the groundwork. They’ve made their name on self-produced shots of calculated attitude. … Continue reading

Top K-Pop Songs of 2021 (So Far)
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Top K-Pop Songs of 2021 (So Far)

What a difference a year makes! This time in 2020, I struggled to cobble together a mid-year list worth celebrating. I ended up finding five songs, though one wasn’t technically a single. This year, I’ve got a whopping fourteen tracks! That’s quite a turnaround, and a testament to 2021’s strength. Because of this, I’ve scrapped … Continue reading

Song Review: (G)I-DLE – HWAA
Review

Song Review: (G)I-DLE – HWAA

Whatever I may think about (G)I-DLE’s music, I can always appreciate their ambition. They commit to their concepts, and leader Soyeon’s composition skills ensure that their title tracks feel consistently them regardless of the genre. Unfortunately, more often than not their songs just don’t connect with me. Oftentimes, I find their work to be heavy … Continue reading