Ravi’s Tuxedo is a frustrating song. It has a ridiculous amount of potential, and in many ways feels like the strongest solo work that he has released yet. But, the entire track is undone by its constant use of unnecessary vocal effects. Full disclosure here: I’ve never been a huge fan of Ravi’s rap style. … Continue reading
GFriend have already packed a lot into their 2019. In just two months, they’ve released a full-length Korean album and a Japanese single. Now, they’re back with another new J-pop track, funneling various sounds from their four-year career into the upbeat Flower. Last year’s Memoria was a lyrical, slow-burn affair, but Flower punches right out … Continue reading
Double title tracks seemed to be all the rage a few years ago, but we don’t see much of them anymore. Woollim Entertainment has a history of this tactic, previously promoting two singles from Sungkyu’s 2015 album. It’s a great way to showcase multiple sounds. In Dongwoo’s case, the exciting Party Girl makes up for … Continue reading
Nearly nine years after his group’s debut, Infinite’s Dongwoo has finally released a solo album. Its been a long time coming. As one half of successful sub-unit Infinite H, his talent as a vocalist and rapper have positioned him to take on styles that aren’t usually associated with Infinite’s music. As a rabid Infinite fan, … Continue reading
For fans of second-generation idol acts like myself, it seems like all we hear these days is farewell/going-on-hiatus tracks. Most are wistful ballads or “please don’t forget me” dirges, so it’s always refreshing to hear something more upbeat. As more and more SM Entertainment artists begin their mandatory military enlistment, the agency has done a … Continue reading
Sunmi is in the middle of what many music fans would call an “imperial phase,” where basically everything she releases is gold. New single Noir arrives without any music show promotion and very little pre-release teasing, yet will be the track on everyone’s playlist based on her name alone. And with two singles in my … Continue reading
One of my biggest K-pop new year’s wishes was that boy groups would ditch the moodiness and go brighter, so I was delighted when it was announced that Big Hit’s new group TXT would debut with an upbeat, youthful concept. Based on agency clout alone, the guys were destined for massive out-of-the-gate success — the … Continue reading
After the success of JJ Project, it’s time for GOT7 to spawn a second sub-unit. JUS2 is formed by members Yugyeom and JB, and comes after a year in which the group took more creative control of their sound. Focus On Me is again co-composed by the guys themselves, and builds on aspects of their … Continue reading
With over 2,600 songs on my iPhone’s “K-Pop Singles” playlist, I thought it would be fun to add a bit of unpredictability to my song review posts. So as a result, we have the “Random Shuffle Review” feature. The rules are simple. I fire up my playlist, press “shuffle,” and whatever song plays first gets … 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 2019 Overall Thoughts We’re deep in the winter doldrums, and that’s exactly what February’s K-pop … Continue reading
It’s been over six months since we’ve heard from (G)I-DLE as a group, but leader Soyeon has been a constant presence in K-pop since then. She featured in a special SM Entertainment project group last September and co-composed last month’s memorable No for fellow Cube Entertainment act CLC. I expect her star power to grow … Continue reading
I’m honestly a little confused when it comes to Boyfriend’s current status. Their contracts would have expired last year, but I never remember hearing news of a renewal. As much as I love the group’s music, I would have pegged them for a likely disbandment simply because Starship Entertainment rarely does anything for them in … Continue reading
With over 2,300 songs on my iPhone’s “K-Pop Singles” playlist, I thought it would be fun to add a bit of unpredictability to my song review posts. So as a result, we have the “Random Shuffle Review” feature. The rules are simple. I fire up my playlist, press “shuffle,” and whatever song plays first gets the … Continue reading
In a K-pop climate filled with copycats, an old-school musical concept feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s a pity, then, that The Pink Lady is only a project group to promote a Korean staging of hit U.S. musical Grease. I don’t know if God Girl is a one-off or the first in a … 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. As usual, I prefer Monsta X’s new album to its title … Continue reading
Boy group Seven O’Clock released a truly underrated mini album last October, led by a pair of equally strong title tracks. Unfortunately, the group’s work seems under-funded and under-promoted, making it hard for them to stand out in the competitive K-pop market. Given these circumstances, I’m not sure if they’ll ever break out in a … Continue reading
T-ara’s Hyomin has been building up to her new mini album with a series of digital singles. Last year’s quirky Mango polarized opinion, while January’s U Um U Um went more generic. Neither made much of a splash with me, especially when compared to her group’s classic discography. New single Allure (입꼬리) falls into a … Continue reading
Like it or not, the post-Wanna One floodgates are about to open. I just hope the slew of upcoming solos aren’t all ballads. I can’t think of any better way to kill momentum than with a paint-by-numbers K-pop ballad, and Yoon Jisung’s In The Rain is pretty much that. In Wanna One, he acted as … Continue reading
While it’s certainly not the only factor in making a successful idol group, I’ve always thought that a distinct sound and concept is important. As solid as SF9’s singles run has been, I struggle with the haphazard nature of their discography. On one hand, they should be applauded for attempting a diverse spectrum of styles. … Continue reading
TREI are the latest in an already-robust slate of 2019 rookie groups to debut over the last few weeks. Hailing from Banana Culture (home to popular girl group EXID), the guys’ have arrived with limited fanfare and a surprisingly subdued roll-out. That approach extends to their debut title track. Gravity (멀어져) plays it straight, lacking … Continue reading
