Twice debuted just over three years ago, but their unparalleled success has been buoyed a work ethic that’s driven a steady stream of singles. Though their Japanese releases leave something to be desired, their robust Korean catalog has largely been a ton of fun. Here are their best: Updated 2-4-19 10. Signal (2017) Signal‘s incessant bass … Continue reading
Twice have enjoyed a meteoric rise in Japan, quickly reigniting the female side of the hallyu wave. I only wish that this success was accompanied by music that felt as fresh as most of their Korean output. So far, singles One More Time and Candy Pop have largely adhered to the tropes one might expect … 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. FRANTS Years … Continue reading
DAY6 had an incredibly prolific 2017, releasing two songs a month that were then compiled into a pair of full-length albums. However, this demanding schedule seemed to be taking its toll by the end of the year. Their music began to lose some of its edge, transforming into a ballad-heavy brand of OST-friendly rock. The … Continue reading
Thus far, Suzy’s solo music has often been more about aesthetic than dynamic composition. She possesses the kind of soft vocal that lends itself well to this relaxing style, even if it’s not the type of thing to appeal to my tastes. This makes it difficult to review most of her work, as it feels … Continue reading
When I think about 2PM’s Wooyoung as a soloist, I hear bright, funky rhythms and a carefree sort of delivery that feels playful and not overly choreographed. This perception — true or not — makes the acoustic strum of Quit (뚝) feel like quite a surprise. And within the context of his new album, which mostly sticks … Continue reading
JYP Entertainment has done a fantastic job handling Stray Kids’ rollout so far, giving them an effective pre-debut reality series with an accompanying mixtape album composed of all of that show’s featured songs. And now we’re on our second “performance” video, which is basically just a less-complex version of typical k-pop music videos. By the … Continue reading
Most of the time, a k-pop 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 k-pop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. When Stray Kids makes their official debut later this year, … Continue reading
Over the past few years, the Korean wave has seemed to slow in Japan. That’s begun to change as some of k-pop’s biggest acts make an overseas push. Twice is certainly leading the pack, enjoying instant success with October’s One More Time. And that’s really no surprise. Both their sound and image are perfectly positioned … Continue reading
Korean comebacks from individual members of 2PM can sometimes seem superfluous. This isn’t because they’re unwelcome, but because they’re often re-releases of already existing Japanese material. The guys are so popular in the j-pop world that their most exciting material tends to be released internationally. Such is the case with Going Going, which was originally … Continue reading
Convoluted k-pop release schedules have now gotten to the point where an entire album can be considered “pre-debut.” Such is the case with Stray Kids’ Mixtape, which includes buzz single Hellevator and six other tracks featured in their variety survival series. I’m curious if the group will tackle drastically different material upon their official debut, … 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. December 2017 Overall Thoughts 2017 certainly ended with a whimper. December is usually a pretty barren month, … Continue reading
More often than not the KBS Gayo feels like the most intimate of the three end-of-year festivals, held in a theater rather than a stadium. This has its pluses and minuses, but the idea to structure this year’s special more like a traditional concert was an interesting choice. It was one made out of necessity, … Continue reading
K-pop is a highly visual medium, and although my song reviews try not to focus on the accompanying music videos, I certainly have my opinions! Here are my top ten visual moments of 2017, along with quite a few incredible honorable mentions. + Make sure to check out the rest of the year-end countdowns here! … Continue reading
Hundreds (if not thousands) of songs are released each year in Korea, but only a fraction receive full title track promotion. This leaves behind many buried treasures in need of a spotlight. Here are forty of 2017’s best: + Make sure to check out the rest of the year-end countdowns here! 40. TWICE – 24/7 A … Continue reading
Artist of the year countdowns are controversial by nature, and if I was re-creating this list based solely on commercial success and impact on the k-pop industry, it would look very different. But there are enough of those countdowns floating around (and the consensus is usually pretty even across-the-board). This is a countdown for the … Continue reading
The end of the year countdowns are here! We’re kicking things off with the big one… the top 50 songs of the year! Each day this week, I’ll be counting down ten of the year’s best, until number one is revealed on Friday. To be eligible for this top 50 list, songs must have had … Continue reading
The end of the year countdowns are here! We’re kicking things off with the big one… the top 50 songs of the year! Each day this week, I’ll be counting down ten of the year’s best, until number one is revealed on Friday. To be eligible for this top 50 list, songs must have had … Continue reading
It’s hard to believe that this is already Twice’s fourth single of 2017 (fifth, if you count Japanese release One More Time). To say the girls have had a big year is an understatement, but that type of frequent promotion should be expected from Korea’s biggest girl group. With new single Heart Shaker, they once … Continue reading
No matter the issues I’ve had with the second half of DAY6‘s Every DAY6 project, I’ve got to hand it to the guys for seeing it through to the end. Not every group can manage to release new singles every month of the year, complete with professionally shot music videos. It was an ambitious project … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 