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
As the weather gets chillier and December approaches, it’s the time of year to dust off the old K-pop Christmas playlist. Korean acts have been giving us special holiday songs for years, but I narrowed my ten picks to tracks released over the past five years. Some have official music videos, and some do not. … Continue reading
Though they’re relative newcomers to the k-pop world, Mamamoo have quickly established themselves as a girl group with a different sound than any of their peers. Their powerful vocals are perfectly suited to the old-school soul/r&b that has defined their work since debut. And though they’ve got much more ahead of them, they’ve released just … Continue reading
Girl group Mamamoo have slowly been inching their way into the major leagues of k-pop. Their sound is unique among their peers, opting for an old-fashioned mix of soul and r&b in a world of trendy production techniques and concepts. This approach can only succeed with true talent at the helm, and Mamamoo are a powerhouse … 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
I’m noticing a new trend with Mamamoo. When it’s time for a comeback, instead of giving us the main title track right away, they’ve developed a pattern of dropping a series of pre-releases — some with music videos, and some without. Though the girls gave us unit tracks at the end of August, New York inches … 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
Heechul and Jungmo’s M&D project was one of 2015’s best surprises — a j-rock inspired passion project filled with gorgeous melodies and theatrical delivery. For this week’s Station release, the two revisit that sound, with the added bonus of Mamamoo’s Whee In as a duet vocalist. Sadly, I’m not sure that it works as well this … Continue reading
CF (Commercial Film) releases from kpop acts are often pretty flimsy, which makes sense because their whole purpose is to act as an advertisement for whatever product or brand a group is endorsing. Similarly, CF music videos are little more than extended commercials, usually with the product awkwardly shoehorned in. But, Mamamoo’s Woo Hoo is … Continue reading
While the vocals in many of their peers’ tracks can sometimes feel like accessories to the beat or concept, Mamamoo puts the singing front and center. No need for electronic builds or breakdowns when a robust vocal harmony can get the job done even more effectively. It’s a commendable, even old-fashioned, characteristic of their music, and … Continue reading
For anyone worried that Mamamoo’s upcoming album would be one-note, we now have their second pre-release, the satirical Pride of 1cm. Compared to the gorgeous darkness of I Miss You (review here), 1cm is a total departure in sound and message. Skewering Korean idols’ obsession with height, the track comes across as more of a … Continue reading
Mamamoo can sing. They’ve shown us that over and over again. They can also perform the hell out of a song. In this way, they’re a very different idol group than most. In fact, they have more in common with the golden age of Motown than with the kpop world. And just like Motown, their … Continue reading
Oh, good old reliable MBC. Yet again, they have the most consistently good Gayo of the year. There wasn’t any performance as flawless as Infinite’s KBS one last night, but there were also very few stinkers. They do have a leg up from the start, with a more complete line-up and the New Year’s celebrations buoying … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 