Apink have been pretty prolific lately, routinely bouncing between Korean and Japanese comebacks. While I’m afraid this heavy work ethic has taken a toll on the general quality of their music, it’s nice to see a veteran group that still seems hungry for success. Their latest Korean song has grown on me, though there’s no … Continue reading
Boyfriend have been on a roll lately with their Japanese material, releasing a pair of tracks over the last few months that rival their best Korean material. When k-pop acts go j-pop, they occasionally adopt the genre’s more frantic leanings, resulting in music that can feel a little shrill. Summer is a collision of these … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by k-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade. June 2017 Overall Thoughts Of the 18 months I’ve been running this site, June was the strangest … Continue reading
Some songs just scream summer. And with July approaching, I’m hoping to hear quite a few of them soon. But the first single to really embrace the sunny pop stylings of the season isn’t actually from Korea. Japan beat k-pop to the prize in the form of Junho’s deliriously catchy Ice Cream. Given his stature … Continue reading
Shinee‘s Taemin has long been one of k-pop’s most arresting performers, and Japan has taken note of that as well. Last summer, he launched his solo j-pop career with the captivating Sayonara Hitori, which was later remade into Korean single Goodbye. For his 2017 follow-up, he hasn’t strayed too far from that sound, taking things … Continue reading
I’ve often noted the difference between sounds when it comes to a group’s Korean and Japanese releases, and this diversity has become especially noticeable with boy group 100%. In Korea, they’ve moved toward a statelier, mature pop sound that emphasizes the strength of their voices. But in Japan, their music has grown more dance oriented … Continue reading
Whether it be in Korean or Japanese, B1A4 know how to deliver a pop song. The group has had a high level of control over their music for quite a number of years, with most of their material composed by either leader Jinyoung or vocalist CNU. That approach has extended to their j-pop releases as … Continue reading
One of the many admirable things about B1A4 is that they compose almost all of their own material, and this includes their Japanese releases. When most k-pop groups go j-pop, the difference between the two outputs can be shocking. But with B1A4 at the helm of their own career, there’s a nice consistency that all … Continue reading
GOT7 have steadily began to have more creative input when it comes to their Korean material, but their scattershot j-pop releases are still driven mostly by composers from that genre. Sometimes I wonder how k-pop groups feel about their Japanese work. Do they treat the song as an important part of their overall discography, or … Continue reading
EXO’s CBX sub-unit was one of last year’s best surprises, giving us a collection of bright, classic pop when many of their peers were going dark and/or trendy. Seven months later, they’ve returned with a debut Japanese mini-album. EXO has enjoyed quite a bit of success in Japan despite never releasing an actual album in the country. … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by k-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade. April 2017 Overall Thoughts 2017 continues to fall behind when compared to last year. Though it was easy … Continue reading
Bullet Train (Choutokkyuu) have never been the most subtle of groups. I mean, just look at that song title. If it wasn’t already demanding enough, they just had to go and capitalize DANCE. But as k-pop continues to strive for the cooler and sleeker and trendier, it can be refreshing to listen to a group … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by k-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade. March 2017 Overall Thoughts Oh, March. It’s such a long month, yet gives us so little when it … Continue reading
Apink have been releasing material in Japan since 2014, but have thus far found more success with covers of their Korean hits than entirely original songs. Within this context, new single Bye Bye makes a lot of sense. Though it is an original track for the j-pop market, the song touches on elements of the … Continue reading
J-Pop is not a particularly global genre, and it only has its own systems and practices to blame. Its music videos and albums are often heavily restricted from international users, making it hard to discover new artists. Its musical touchstones are sprawling and diverse, but don’t always adhere to global trends or tastes. Japan is … Continue reading
Bigbang may be one of the biggest k-pop acts around, but they’ve also mastered the art of solo releases. Each of their five members has released solo work tailored specifically to their strengths. Most of these have fit comfortably within the Bigbang brand, but power vocal Daesung has branched out even further, carving an immensely … Continue reading
Of the many, many rookie groups in k-pop at the moment, the one I’m rooting for the most strongly is Snuper. Their endearing goofiness and solid teamwork reminds me a lot of Infinite during their debut years. And then there’s the Sweetune-produced music, which has been absolutely fantastic. Over the past few months, the group has gained … Continue reading
B1A4 have recently switched agencies for their Japanese material, signing with the massive Universal Music Japan. While this irritates me on a personal level since Universal almost never uploads full versions of music videos, it’s certainly an upward move for the group. I love how both of their j-pop labels have let them compose most … 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. ALBI ALBERTSSON … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by k-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade. February 2017 Overall Thoughts If I could describe February with only one word, it would be “consistent.” … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 