Taeyeon has been churning out solo material at an incredibly consistent pace since 2015’s I. Along with Mark from NCT, I’d argue that she’s become SM’s busiest single artist. I haven’t been a fan of everything she’s released, but I respect the diverse discography that she’s building. There aren’t a whole lot of solo female acts … Continue reading
With only one single under their belt, co-ed group K.A.R.D have already amassed an impressive fan base. It just goes to show that k-pop is always looking for new ideas, even if the genre may sometimes seem stagnant. And although the group’s tropical house-infused music isn’t particularly unusual (especially for western listeners), the group wraps … Continue reading
Melody Day have dabbled in a variety of genres since their debut in 2014, most recently with the jazzy r&b of last year’s Color. That track had a surprisingly sneaky earworm of a hook that served it well in the long run, so I was curious what they would come up with next. When first … Continue reading
Boy group BIGFLO debuted in 2014 with an off-the-wall, Block B-esque sound that incorporated many alternative musical influences into their otherwise straightforward brand of k-pop. Songs like Delilah and Bad Mama Jama painted the group in an interesting light, but that goodwill began to erode as BIGFLO lost and gained members, taking long hiatuses between releases. Stardom … Continue reading
Both Sistar‘s Soyou and EXO‘s Baekhyun have become known as popular duet partners, so it’s a no-brainer to pair them together for a digital single. Infuse some of the downbeat balladry that Korea loves and you have a recipe for instant success. Unfortunately, “success” doesn’t necessarily translate to “interest,” and I can’t say I was particularly … Continue reading
There are a number of k-pop groups who seem to be stuck at a certain level of notoriety and success regardless of the quality of music they release. Whether it’s due to being from a smaller agency, or just not having that one breakthrough member or song, I’m always impressed by these groups’ determination to keep … Continue reading
Over the past few years, BTS have been churning out showstopping singles with an almost inhuman regularity, rightfully earning their place as k-pop’s biggest international breakthrough. New single Spring Day (봄날) comes only three months after their superb Blood, Sweat and Tears, and represents a shift in sound well-suited to these cold winter months. Releasing a big, sweeping … Continue reading
Debuting in 2015, Seventeen are still a very new group, but their unique configuration of vocal, hip-hop and performance units within the larger group has rounded out their promotional material to create a singles discography just big enough for a countdown. And honestly, they’re one of the biggest and best k-pop acts of the moment, so … 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. KENZIE Years … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop 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 kpop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. NCT Dream have only recorded three songs so far, but … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop 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 kpop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. When SF9 secured the path to their eventual debut on … Continue reading
This is a generalization, but it’s safe to say that SM Entertainment is more notable for hiring outside composers and producers than relying on their artists to self-produce material. Because of this, their idols essentially function as delivery methods for the huge stockpile of songs the agency is sitting on. This isn’t to take away … Continue reading
Though they’ve never found the mainstream success their music warrants, Cross Gene has been a reliably strong k-pop group since their debut in 2012. For their latest Korean release, they’ve mashed two pre-release tracks into one hybrid title track. The approach is more interesting than enjoyable. I felt the same way when Shinee experimented with this idea … Continue reading
Rocker and TV variety personality Jung Joon Young has developed a pattern of crafting raucous alternative rock with his group Drug Restaurant (formerly JJY Band) and more traditional Korean balladry when it comes to his solo work. The latter approach gave us the incredibly Sympathy last year, and with new single Me And You he’s … Continue reading
Though it’s not likely to receive that same attention as BigBang‘s similarly scheduled roll-out in 2015, DAY6 are releasing a single and accompanying music video each month this year. It’s a remarkably exciting prospect, especially for a group who feels like they haven’t been allowed to release nearly enough material since their debut in 2015. January’s … Continue reading
Though it grew on me a bit as time went on, I’m still not a big fan of SF9’s debut single. Regardless of that, the group has already cultivated a nice fan base out of the gate and are clearly on the track to become a big player in this new generation of k-pop. New … Continue reading
Though members Zico and Park Kyung have made waves as solo artists, Block B‘s group comebacks are becoming more and more infrequent. It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost three years since they gave us a song as bright and upbeat as 2014’s HER. But with the rollicking Yesterday, they’ve finally revisited this style. The … Continue reading
Though new debuts by k-pop groups are always exciting, I’d argue that their follow-up release is even more important. When making a first impression, investments are high. But the real test is whether a group can keep up the quality, especially when it comes to rookies from small agencies. MASC impressed with debut track Strange last … Continue reading
After writing about FlowBack’s ultra-80’s, ultra-fantastic single Heartbreaker earlier this week, it feels like the right time to launch a new feature. My itunes library is riddled with playlists to suit all my specific interests within the k-pop sphere. Chief among these personal biases is 80’s-inspired music. K-Pop has a love affair with this specific … Continue reading
This time last year, SM Entertainment‘s 52-week Station project kicked off with Taeyeon’s Rain. At the time, it seemed like an exciting prospect that could have gone in any number of directions. And though the end results weren’t usually as thrilling or noteworthy as they could have been, the project itself felt like a total … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 