There’s some irony in calling a song “The New Era,” but crafting it to sound like every other song from the last era. I’ve had my issues with GOT7’s Korean discography of late, but their Japanese releases are really just on another level. Sales-wise, they seem to be successful, but I can’t wrap my brain … Continue reading
Watching (and obsessing over) Avengers: Infinity War last week has got me thinking. If I wielded the Infinity Gauntlet and had the power to shape the universe, how would I control K-Pop? Infinite comebacks every month! New Sweetune songs every week! Just kidding. I’m not going to be that biased. Instead, I thought it would … Continue reading
Between Korea and Japan, barely a month goes by without new music from Twice. This prolific release schedule should be an asset, but all it’s doing is making each song feel interchangeable with the last. And now, we’re approaching the point of over saturation. Underwhelming Korean single What Is Love suffered a bit from this, … Continue reading
At this point, it’s almost pointless to review a Twice single. No matter the quality, the group’s insane popularity will ensure that it’s immediately lodged at the top of the charts and played into oblivion. Even if you don’t love the track on first listen, it’ll eventually wear you down through sheer ubiquity. And though … Continue reading
For some, the heavy rock/hip-hop assault of Stray Kids’ District 9 may have felt too noisy and unrelenting. In my case, the song is only improving with age, and has quickly cemented these rookies as an exciting (and needed) burst of energy within the 2018 k-pop landscape. But as strong as their debut is, the … 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 2018 Overall Thoughts Well, March certainly didn’t pan out the way I had expected. If … Continue reading
I’m officially pushing for rock guitar to be the defining trend of 2018. It’s an unlikely scenario, but the fact that a big name rookie group like Stray Kids seems to be using this instrument to craft their signature sound is quite promising. Of course, this being k-pop, they also have to throw in a … Continue reading
Oh, GOT7. I want to love your music. I really do. Your first two years were full of addictive hits that struck a perfect balance between pop and hip-hop. But ever since 2016’s Fly, I’ve struggled to connect with what is clearly becoming your signature style. Seriously, though, I feel like a broken record whenever … 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 2018 Overall Thoughts When it comes to k-pop, I was dreading February. Between the Pyeongchang … Continue reading
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
