Of all the Wanna One members, Yoon Jisung had the toughest post-group promotional circumstances. Due to his age, his mandatory military enlistment came only months after Wanna One’s disbandment, making it difficult to establish any solo career before having to go on hiatus. But, he’s returned to the industry with a new mini album, released … Continue reading
When Rosé’s On The Ground was released, I noticed that quite a few fans seemed to prefer its b-side Gone. So of course, I immediately checked it out. But more than anything, the song just reaffirmed my disinterest in this style of pop. I can’t say I’ve listened to On The Ground much since its … Continue reading
M!LK released my second-favorite J-pop single of last year, but I’ve followed them long before that. Though their early work drew from the idol world’s more exaggerated aspects, it’s been rewarding to hear their music mature and develop as the guys have grown older. Part of that development hinges upon collaboration, and that’s exactly what … Continue reading
Years ago, K-pop legend Rain formed boy group MBLAQ. They found sizable success, and were followed by junior acts Two X and Madtown before the subsidiary J. Tune Camp went defunct. Now, Rain is back with the first idol group from his own R.A.I.N Company. Of course, times and tastes have changed since 2009. How … Continue reading
Rookie group WEi is organizing their first few mini albums around the idea of “identity.” Their goal, I assume, is to display their versatility and show different sides to their music. It’s odd, then, that their title tracks have been formatted with a producer credit in the title – giving top-billing to their collaborators. But … Continue reading
Remember when male idol title tracks used to be fun? Angsty, horror concepts are not new to K-pop, but the music itself rarely felt as dour. Take VIXX for example. Their whole image revolved around these edgy concepts, but the title tracks were still punchy and exuberant, as if reveling in the inherent goofiness of … Continue reading
There was a time when SM Entertainment’s Japanese releases were something to really look forward to. The J-pop discographies of Girls’ Generation, SHINee and TVXQ are particularly strong and often pushed the artists in new directions. But, I can’t remember the last time a Japanese single by an SM artist really stood out – maybe … Continue reading
The roll out for Chungha’s first studio album Querencia has stretched across eleven months, showcasing a variety of sounds and styles. This extended run of singles has been quite successful, offering a little something for every taste. The album itself takes advantage of this. It’s divided into four distinct sides, each driven by a specific … Continue reading
After their breakout 2018 success, Momoland have pinballed from one novelty to another, trying to find something that might stick. This has been largely unsuccessful, though they remain a competitive force in today’s K-pop landscape. Their pursuit of viral sounds has led them toward a few different collaborations, the latest of which sees them paired … Continue reading
I can’t quite get a grasp on Pink Fantasy, and I’m not just talking about their weird “bunny mask” schtick (which is getting creepier and creepier, by the way). Across their small discography, the girls have returned with a number of different concepts, often jarring in their contrast. I think the most successful of these … Continue reading
Despite boasting incredible album sales and hailing from a proven agency, I couldn’t find the reasoning to include CRAVITY in my “top rookies of 2020” list last month. To me, their music thus far has been the definition of “generic boy group.” It’s never been objectively bad, but CRAVITY haven’t yet released anything that sounds … Continue reading
Before we get into Asurabalbalta (아수라발발타) itself, can we all just agree on T1419 being a horrible name for a K-pop group? I mean, I know the market is oversaturated, but there are plenty of words that are still available. T1419 feels like it was cobbled together by the periodic table. But then again, this … Continue reading
More often than not, December is a month where idols release their cozy, downtempo tracks that are perfect for fireside listening. My music taste is about as far away from this as you can imagine, but I suppose if I were to listen to this coffeehouse style, it would be during this time of year. … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! 1, 2, 3 (from SMTOWN Winter ‘The Warmest Gift’ – 2011) Released as part of the special winter compilation albums SM Entertainment used to release, 1,2,3 is undeniably cheesy. It feels as if it was ripped from some imaginary Disney movie, down … Continue reading
GOT7 will return next week with their fourth Korean full-length album, but prior to that they’re sharing pre-release track Breath (넌 날 숨 쉬게 해). Like most of the album, this song is self-penned – in this case by member Youngjae. I think it’s great for idol groups to move into self-production, but that alone … Continue reading
Since debut, Mamamoo’s sound has changed quite drastically. Looking back, I think the turning point was 2018’s Starry Night, which went on to become a big hit for them. From that point on, most of their title tracks have rejected the big vocal moments that characterized their first few years. In their place is a … Continue reading
AB6IX’s music has really grown on me since debut, but my impression was initially quite negative thanks to pre-release Hollywood. I mention this because new single Salute hearkens back to many of the elements that I disliked about Hollywood, offering a noisy beat-drop in place of a chorus. It feels like Salute was designed with … Continue reading
Though they haven’t received as much attention as some of the year’s more prominent rookies, boy group DKB has been chugging along, steadily releasing music that matches the sonic history of their agency Brave Entertainment. Unfortunately, as they’ve gone on I’ve enjoyed their output less and less. Though Brave Brothers is listed as a composer, … Continue reading
A week after Rania was resurrected from K-pop purgatory, an even more surprising comeback has occurred. Boy group MVP debuted in March of 2017 with the excellent Take It… and then never returned. After a stint on survival (“rebooting”) series The Unit, the group seemed to disappear from the face of the earth, destined to … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Calling Out (from Cinderella Sister OST – 2010) f(x) recorded quite a few OST tracks in their early days, and this ballad from Luna and Krystal showcases many of that format’s strengths and limitations. Many OST ballads are only as effective as … Continue reading
