One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Can U Smile (from Evolution – 2011) Released in two versions, the original’s scuttle of bright synth set the perfect backdrop for this catchy update to the classic boy band sound. Can U Smile’s melody plays like a ballad, but the song … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! BTD (Before The Dawn) (from Evolution – 2011) After the lightness of Come Back Again and She’s Back, Sweetune took Infinite down a darker, more aggressively produced route with the bombastic BTD. The song’s opening synth klaxon is among the group’s most iconic … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Breathe (from Season 2 / Back – 2014) Following more ornate moments on Infinite’s sonically ambitious Season 2/Back album, Breathe offers a shot of pure dance pop bliss. Its rock-guitar infused instrumental feels streamlined and animated, never once letting up. The song has … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Between Me and You (from Reality – 2015) In the running for Infinite’s best ballad, the rock-tinged Between Me and You is one of the strongest vocal showcases in the group’s entire discography. Growing from an organ-like synth, the opening verse builds tension … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Because (Sungkyu solo) (from Over The Top / Paradise – 2011) Before he released his first (excellent) solo material, Sungkyu took the reigns of Because from Infinite’s first full album. The song opens in theatrical fashion, as a militaristic drum line supports … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Beautiful (from New Challenge – 2013) Written by main vocal Woohyun, Beautiful doesn’t skimp on the cheese. But by taking its cues from bombastic 80’s balladry, the song’s more generic leanings are bolstered by a sense of grandiosity that transforms the whole … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Be Mine (from Over The Top / Paradise – 2011) What to say about one of modern k-pop’s most iconic songs? Be Mine is a perfect encapsulation of Sweetune’s synth-driven 80’s sound — so flawlessly written that it feels disarmingly simple, as … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Bad (from Reality – 2015) Though its simple chant of a chorus was initially disappointing for a group who had made their name on the strength of such indelible melodies, Bad’s hip-hop inspired arrangement is bolstered by the symphonic grandiosity that drives … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Back (from Back – 2014) Infinite had worked with producers Rphabet before on 2013’s Destiny, but Back truly solidified their partnership. It’s one of the group’s most dynamic songs, growing from somber, dramatic balladry to the explosive orchestral electronics that drive its chorus. … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! As Good As It Gets (from New Challenge – 2013) Sweetune had been working with Infinite for years before As Good As It Gets was recorded, and by this time the production team had full mastery of how to utilize the guys’ … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! An Inconvenient Truth (from New Challenge – 2013) Long before the tropical trend hit maximum impact, An Inconvenient Truth’s bright synths brought an island sound to k-pop. Though the song’s lyrics have been derided by many, there’s no denying the strength of its … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Amazing (from Over The Top / Paradise – 2011) Though their bread and butter lies in propulsive dance tracks, Infinite tackles soft rock better than almost any other k-pop group. Buoyed by Sweetune’s lush production, Amazing layers the group’s vocals to tremendous effect. … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Alone (Infinite H) (from Season 2 / Back – 2014) Infinite H had already proven themselves as a credible hip-hop unit by the time Alone rolled around, but by focusing solely on Hoya and Dongwoo without the addition of a guest vocalist, … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! After Dark (from Air – 2017) Driven by a funk-infused bass guitar, After Dark almost feels more like something a group like Shinee would release. On the whole, it’s more rhythmic than a lot of Infinite’s music, but the song never quite … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! A Person Like Me (from Season 2 / Back – 2014) Infinite have a real knack for sentimental ballads, partly because they possess such a range of vocal tones. This helps lend even the most generic sentimentality much needed texture. A Person … 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. MONOTREE Years … Continue reading
Though k-pop rises or falls on the strength of its singles, a group’s real strengths can often be found in the lesser-known material that makes up their mini albums and full lengths. The definition of “album” in k-pop is so wide that I’ve got to lay down some ground rules before composing any sort of … Continue reading
I love the stage set-up MBC uses. I can’t remember if this is the same staging as last year, but it’s definitely the same as it was in 2014. It strikes a nice balance between intimate and expansive, and places the audience super close to both indoor stages, which results in a more “live” feel. … Continue reading
Getting super meta for a moment, I thought it would be fun to cap off the year with a look at which ten articles were the most read on this site in 2016. In its own way, it’s a completely unscientific gauge of which artists were most popular with English-speaking k-pop fans this year. I’m … Continue reading
The first thing that was immediately apparent when watching this year’s KBS Gayo Daechukje was that, rather than opting for the biggest stage possible like last year, the producers chose to go more intimate (like back in 2013). This resulted in a very different show than last year, filled with idol interactions and interviews (most … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 