For the past few days, Winner’s Mino and iKON’s Bobby have been building up to their sub-unit with solo releases. And as enjoyable as they’ve both been, it turns out that (for Hit Me, at least) the two are strongest together. I can’t even begin to describe how refreshing it is to hear them actually … Continue reading
A day after iKON’s Bobby released his solo single, fellow YG rapper Mino has unveiled Body (몸), which was billed as a slower, sexier counterpart to his label-mate’s boisterous hype track. This doesn’t necessarily seem like the more interesting description on paper, but in the battle of the solo tracks, I think Body just barely edges … Continue reading
SM girl group Red Velvet have been bouncing between their dual concepts, giving us delirious pop hits (red) and low-key slow burns (velvet) for the past couple of years. With Russian Roulette (러시안 룰렛), it seems that they’ve found some middle ground, tempering what is essentially a high energy synthpop track with a more subdued … Continue reading
This week marks the long-awaited release from The MOBB, which is the sub-unit of rappers Bobby and Mino (from YG groups iKON and Winner, respectively). But before we get to that collaboration, we’ll be treated to a solo track from each. First up is Bobby, who’s delivered a hype track with a truly obnoxious title. … Continue reading
Lim Chang Jung is an absolute juggernaut in the world of Korean ballads. His fantastic Love Again single was one of last year’s biggest hits and has enjoyed incredible longevity on the charts. Like it or not, this is the kind of sentimental music that does gangbusters in Korea, even if it may not be the most sonically (or … 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. SWEETUNE Years … Continue reading
As a companion to my Top Ten Singles lists, it’s time to look at some of the best album tracks and b-sides from the best artists. EXO have a flawless singles run, but the quality doesn’t stop there. Here’s the best of what their albums have to offer. Honorable Mentions: Exodus Thunder Love, Love, Love … Continue reading
With the release of last month’s Secret Time, Spica has just enough singles for a Top Ten Countdown. The group came hard during their debut year, releasing no less than five comebacks in 2012. Their sound has evolved throughout their career, but always with a focus on strong vocals and a catchy hook. An unfortunate … Continue reading
Ever since their debut in 2014, Halo have been on my list of underrated k-pop groups. I worry for them. Despite releasing an excellent pop track back in December, they weren’t even able to film a music video to accompany it. Thankfully, through the crowd-sourcing Makestar platform, their new single Mariya (마리야) gets a charmingly … Continue reading
It’s not uncommon for an agency to use one of its established stars to introduce a new rookie group, and that’s exactly what Plan A (formerly A Cube) are doing with their “Plan A Boys.” Pairing with solo singer Huh Gak, the boys are given a slight head-scratcher of an introduction in the form of … Continue reading
Just over a month after their excellent High Heels comeback, Brave Girls has surprised us with Yoo Hoo (유후 (우린 아직 여름)), a very summery track released just as we’re moving closer to fall. It’s odd timing, and relegates Yoo Hoo to feeling like a bit of an afterthought. Part of that is due to … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I’ll look back at my three favorite title tracks by k-pop artists. Unlike my end-of-year countdowns, jpop and Japanese releases by kpop artists are ineligible, though I will give the great ones a spotlight. For my top three tracks, I’ll take my own ratings into account, but there is a … Continue reading
The story of Sunny Hill is that of a group slowly and incrementally losing their color. It’s hard to believe that the girls giving us On The Way Home (집으로 가는 길) are the same ones who delivered such creative dance tracks as Midnight Circus and The Grasshopper Song. It’s even harder to imagine that the group actually … Continue reading
It’s been a long while since I last reviewed a straight-up Korean ballad, but it’s a slow Tuesday and vocal duo Homme are the sole big release of the moment. Though their music has little in common with labelmates BTS, Dilemma (딜레마) was co-written by that group’s leader, Rap Monster, as well as frequent BTS-collaborator … Continue reading
Two comebacks in, and it’s clear that Nu’est has fully reinvented their sound. I think this is smart. As labelmates Seventeen are going full pop, Nu’est are establishing a more mature, artistic style that sets them apart. But on a personal note, I’m realizing that this new Nu’est just isn’t going to be for me. … Continue reading
This was not one of the easier lists to compile. FTIsland have dozens of singles to choose from, and I’ve liked almost all of them. But, if I were to rate their discography as a whole, the scores would be pretty even across the board, with a few major peaks standing out from an otherwise … 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. LDN NOISE … 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. Time Leap, along with the other original songs from BOYS24‘s … Continue reading
How can a song featuring so many esteemed and exciting artists end up being so dull? In theory, Born To Be Wild should be a momentous hodgepodge of cross-agency collaboration, but it’s ultimately just as messy as its parentheses-filled title. I applaud SM for reaching out to artists and producers from competing agencies. I have … Continue reading
Girl group Spica has been absent from the k-pop scene for two years, causing them to have a lot of rebuilding and rebranding to do. The world of k-pop moves quickly, and unless you’re an a-list super group, it’s not particularly easy to come back after such a long time away. Making things even more … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 