Despite not having a monthly release schedule like they did last year, DAY6 has still been plenty busy in 2018. They may have only made one Korean comeback, but Breaking Down is now their third Japanese single in seven months, unveiled ahead of their first full J-rock album to be released next month. Breaking Down follows … Continue reading
Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-sides 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 I see the title “I-Yah,” I instantly think of Boyfriend’s … Continue reading
Girl group S.I.S debuted over a year ago with the underrated I’ve Got A Feeling, but quickly got sucked into the orbit of KBS’ idol rebooting show The Unit. I’m not sure how a newly debuted group would need “rebooting,” but it doesn’t seem like the show did much for the girls except delay their … Continue reading
Thinking back to K-pop’s most successful debuts, one factor remains the same. If you’re supported by a big agency, your chances of breaking through skyrocket. Everyone else has to fight for scraps, with the odd act making a name for themselves via a combination of perfect timing and luck. New boy group Lucente faces an … Continue reading
2018 has been pretty light on debuts from K-pop’s bigger agencies, making me wonder if the industry’s rapid proliferation has started to slow. This is advantageous for rookies currently seeking to prove themselves, but there are few things more exciting than a knockout debut. I’m cautiously optimistic that Jellyfish Entertainment’s new boy group VERIVERY will … Continue reading
Ever since GFriend’s 2015 debut, fans have eagerly awaited their inevitable push into Japan. After all, their Korean material already borrows heavily from J-pop tropes, so much so that early hit Me Gustas Tu functioned just as well as a Japanese release. But until Memoria, the girls had yet to deliver an original J-pop track. … Continue reading
Over the past few years, K-pop has become fascinated with trilogies and conceptual series. So many groups have debuted under this release schedule, building a cohesive sound through interconnected albums before venturing out to new horizons. Dreamcatcher used their Nightmare series to cement an aggressive, rock-fueled style, and this has resulted in a passionate (if … Continue reading
