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. SWEETUNE Years … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I’ll look back at my three favorite title tracks by k-pop artists. Unlike my end-of-year countdowns, jpop and Japanese releases by kpop artists are ineligible, though I will give the great ones a spotlight. For my top three tracks, I’ll take my own ratings into account, but there is a … Continue reading
I’m a wishful sort of music listener, often finding myself wanting to jump in and help guide my favorite artists when it comes to choice of material and concept. I guess that’s pretty much describes any fan, right? With Infinite’s comeback looming around the corner, I thought it would be fun to imagine a situation … 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. SEO YOUNG-BAE … Continue reading
Despite Infinite being far and away my favorite k-pop group, I’m always a little hesitant when approaching their Japanese releases. Unlike the consistent quality of their Korean output, their j-pop material involves work with a more diverse collection of composers, resulting in a hodgepodge of different sounds. Luckily, D.N.A sees them trying on a punchy … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I’ll look back at my three favorite title tracks by k-pop artists. Unlike my end-of-year countdowns, jpop and Japanese releases by kpop artists are ineligible, though I will give the great ones a spotlight. For my top three tracks, I’ll take my own ratings into account, but there is a … Continue reading
As a companion to my Top Ten Singles lists, it’s time to look at some of the best album tracks and b-sides from the best artists. Of course Infinite had to come first. They have a discography large and amazing enough to fill several lists like this, but here are the best of the best. … Continue reading
It’s been a long wait for Infinite fans. I’ve made no excuses for my bias towards them and their music, and I had totally pumped myself up for a July comeback only to hear that it would be postponed to late summer or fall. Luckily, they’ve thrown us a bone in the form of That … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I’ll look back at my three favorite title tracks by k-pop artists. Unlike my end-of-year countdowns, jpop and Japanese releases by kpop artists are ineligible, though I will give the great ones a spotlight. For my top three tracks, I’ll take my own ratings into account, but there is a … Continue reading
In honor of Nam Woohyun’s solo debut, it seemed like a good time to look back at the ten best singles released from solos and sub-units of boy group (and personal bias) Infinite. Other than Bigbang and Super Junior, Infinite have most successfully harnessed the power of their individual members through side projects. What makes … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-side tracks deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. As much as I can appreciate a good Korean ballad, … Continue reading
It’s difficult reviewing a song by a bias group or artist, and Still I Remember (끄덕끄덕) is particularly tricky. On one hand, it’s the solo debut for Woohyun, one of the MVPs of my ultimate bias group Infinite. But it’s also a ballad from an album full of ballads, and I’ve never been predisposed to liking … Continue reading
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
When it comes to kpop, it’s easy to focus solely on the glossy and creative music videos, but kpop stars and groups have also been giving us amazing live performances year after year. For the first entry in my Great Performances feature, I had to start with Infinite. I’m sure I’ll spotlight more than a … Continue reading
I’ve been to a lot of concerts in my life, even a few kpop shows. But even before the show started, Infinite’s tour was going to be different. There’s nothing quite like seeing your bias group live, in person, for the first time. In some ways, it felt like a surreal dream. It took quite awhile … Continue reading
It seems fitting to kick off my ongoing “Legendary Song” feature with what I believe to be the best kpop song of all time. To be honest, for me it’s not even a contest. The Chaser goes beyond simple pop song and traverses into uncharted territory. It’s simply an audio blast from another planet — so perfectly crafted and utterly thrilling … Continue reading
I feel like I need to begin every Infinite review or post by reminding everyone that they are my ultimate bias group, and although I’ll try to be somewhat objective, I’m going to like pretty much everything they do. That being said, Can’t Get Over You is probably my least favorite single they’ve ever released … 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 Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 