As the whole I.O.I saga comes to a close, I still struggle to understand why the group’s phenomenal popularity just didn’t resonate as strongly with me. After all, I loved Produce 101 and was primed to support the girls’ output as they embarked on their year-long promo, but other than Very Very Very (which added … Continue reading
Wrapping up the end of year countdowns, it’s time to delve deeper into the albums 2016 gave us. Among hundreds and hundreds of tracks released this year (and last December!), here are forty of the absolute best. PART ONE HERE + Make sure to check out the rest of the year-end countdowns here! 20. UP10TION – STUCK … Continue reading
An idol group is nothing without their actual music, and that music doesn’t come to life on its own. K-pop producers and composers shape a year’s sound more than anybody else, and in 2016 there were five that stood out as being particularly energizing. + Make sure to check out the rest of the year-end … Continue reading
The end of the year countdowns are here! We’re starting things off with the big one… the top 50 songs of the year! Each day this week, I’ll be counting down ten of the year’s best, until number one is revealed on Friday. Unlike last year, j-pop releases will be placed in their own countdown, … 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. JINYOUNG Years … Continue reading
Though she’s been a member of two girl groups this year, neither I.O.I nor Gugudan have managed to display Kim Sejeong’s full talent. Consistently ranked at or near the top during the Produce 101 variety series, she quickly became known for her incredible vocals and refined image. She seems perfectly suited to ballads, which makes … Continue reading
Fans of mega-successful project group I.O.I probably haven’t been very happy with me over the year, as I haven’t often been kind to their music. This is despite absolutely loving Pick Me and the Produce 101 series that spawned the group. Beyond that, it’s been hard for me to understand the hype. In general, the whole … Continue reading
Soloist Kim Juna gained popularity on girl group survival series Produce 101, and she’s the latest “eliminated” contestant to debut this year. So far, the track record for these debuts has been pretty spotty, both commercially and quality-wise, but Juna attempts to take on a different, more westernized sound with Summer Dream. While girl group … Continue reading
Produce 101, and its resulting girl group I.O.I, has been a strange phenomenon. The show itself managed to spawn several strong hit singles, but once the group actually debuted, they’ve struggled to find a sound (or song) that matched the delirious heights of Pick Me. Whatta Man is no different, offering an unoriginal mixture of … Continue reading
As reality show Produce 101‘s representative girl group, expectations were high for I.O.I’s official debut. Coming only one month after the series ended, it’s no surprise that Dream Girls feels rushed and under-thought, but with the talent and clout on display, it’s unnerving just how safe and cheesy a route the powers-that-be chose to steer the girls … Continue reading
Produce 101 has been such a fun ride and, more importantly, has already provided us with some great music. Both Pick Me and In The Same Place were deserved hits, but now that the final group has been decided, Crush acts as their official (pre)debut. As such, the song adheres to the EDM concept that … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 