One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Waiting For The Moment (from Air – 2017) Though I’m sure it was not designed as such, Waiting For The Moment has become Infinite’s swan song as a seven-member group. As such, its sound and message are fitting. The group hasn’t recorded all … Continue reading
There are few k-pop comebacks that feel quite as exciting as the forthcoming return of legends TVXQ. And while we still have a bit longer to wait for the duo’s upcoming Korean album, they’re already active again in Japan. As miffed as I may be that they’re promoting in a foreign country first after their … Continue reading
Now that three of its most popular members have completed their mandatory military service, Super Junior is wasting no time re-establishing themselves in multiple markets. This includes new material from sub-unit D&E, consisting of members Donghae and Eunhyuk. This duo has been a reliable source of upbeat, party-starting music in the past — most notably … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Toki (from Air – 2017) As one of only three new tracks released in 2017, the Japanese Toki more strongly represents current tastes in j-pop than Infinite’s own music. The funk-driven instrumental pulses with addictive energy, but the melody never quite finds a … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Love Of My Life (from For You – 2015) Infinite’s original Japanese work has often been a testing ground for new sounds, and Love Of My Life points toward a very promising direction. The guys go full lighters-in-the-air power ballad here, complete with … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Just Another Lonely Night (from 24 Hours/For You – 2015) Infinite’s original Japanese material has been hit and miss, with some of their b-sides eclipsing the actual singles. That’s the case with Just Another Lonely Night, which opens with an addictive vocal … Continue reading
As GOT7’s Korean output has continued to evolve, their Japanese releases have tended to stick to a similar pattern. For better or worse, they’ve developed a swag-driven j-pop persona that favors attitude and bluster over melody. This has resulted in a guilty pleasure or two, but never a song that can rival their best work. … Continue reading
Twice have always seemed perfectly suited to the Japanese market. Their sugary blend of chirpy vocals and catchphrase-ready hooks echoes much of what has made j-pop successful, and it’s no surprise that they’ve already seen success with re-recordings of hits like Signal and TT. But with One More Time, the girls have gone full tilt … Continue reading
MYNAME is one of those k-pop groups who have become far more popular in Japan than Korea. Their j-pop material has generally become more interesting as well, pulling strongly from dance and club music with a focus on big, sweeping choruses. But being Korean idols, mandatory military conscription is inevitable, and member Insoo is preparing … 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. July 2017 Overall Thoughts July is always the month I look most forward to when it comes … Continue reading
Offbeat j-pop group Bullet Train have really been pushing the boundaries with their more recent material, forging a path toward an everything-goes pop style that feels more divisive than much of their past work. New single My Buddy (mostly) dials down on the instrumental hyperactivity, painting a bright melody that fully embraces its own cheesiness. … Continue reading
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
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 