Last time Mamamoo released a CF song and music video, it was in the form of the gloriously breezy Woo Hoo, which remains one of the best tracks in their discography. Now, the girls are shilling for Maeil Bio yogurt with the much more derivative Everyday (매일 봐요). This comes right on the heels of … Continue reading
Sometimes, songs aren’t designed to be experienced in traditional ways. Super Junior’s Super Duper first reared its head during the group’s tour, where spirits were high and adrenaline was pumping. Had I been there in the audience, I’m sure I would have been enthralled by its goofy energy. But, I was not there. And taken … Continue reading
Since parting ways with Cube Entertainment and establishing their own agency, the individual members of Highlight have been quite prolific. Sometimes this has been in the form of mini albums, or — in rapper/composer Junhyung’s case — digital and single releases. His solo work has dropped without much build-up or promotion, as if he’s simply … Continue reading
Every k-pop rookie has a story, but some are more off-the-wall than others. With the debut of new trio Honey Popcorn, we’ve got quite a doozy. The group is composed of three former Japanese AV (adult video) stars, relaunching their careers as idols in Korea. It’s hard to imagine this backstory flying in k-pop’s squeaky-clean … Continue reading
Back in 2016, when I.O.I charted the course for what a post-Produce 101 group would look like, I felt like one of the few listeners who didn’t completely succumb to their charms. Part of that was due to an uneven series of releases with a quality level that didn’t seem to match the girls’ potential. … Continue reading
Oh, GOT7. I want to love your music. I really do. Your first two years were full of addictive hits that struck a perfect balance between pop and hip-hop. But ever since 2016’s Fly, I’ve struggled to connect with what is clearly becoming your signature style. Seriously, though, I feel like a broken record whenever … Continue reading
Lately, it seems like we’re getting a lot of pre-releases and sort-of-but-not-really comebacks masquerading as “fan songs.” Pop duo MXM are the latest to follow this path, making a quick turnaround from their January comeback Diamond Girl before a promised full-length release later in the year. I happened to love the funk-laced makeover of their … Continue reading
Twice have enjoyed a meteoric rise in Japan, quickly reigniting the female side of the hallyu wave. I only wish that this success was accompanied by music that felt as fresh as most of their Korean output. So far, singles One More Time and Candy Pop have largely adhered to the tropes one might expect … Continue reading
Less than a year into their debut, girl group Weki Meki have quickly become lodged in a frustrating dilemma: their album tracks are consistently superior to the songs they’re given to promote. This pattern began with August’s noisy I Don’t Like Your Girlfriend, which came across as nearly atonal compared to the five tracks that … Continue reading
Thus far, Suzy’s solo music has often been more about aesthetic than dynamic composition. She possesses the kind of soft vocal that lends itself well to this relaxing style, even if it’s not the type of thing to appeal to my tastes. This makes it difficult to review most of her work, as it feels … Continue reading
With the cute bubblegum pop of Twice leading the girl group wave in Korea, it’s becoming harder to find new rookies debuting with anything but a cheerful image and sound. When Girlkind (what a name…) first started dropping teasers for Fanci, it seemed that we were in for something new. They’re billed as a hip-hop … Continue reading
Sometimes it feels like Monsta X and I are on a constant seesaw. I’ll love one single, then dislike the next. To be fair, their hard-edged sound was not designed for my particular musical taste. I understand why they’ve amassed such a devoted fan base, but I think they’re at their best when they blend … Continue reading
At this point, I think I’d rather SM Entertainment abandon their digital Station project to focus more completely on full-fledged comebacks. It’s not that Station hasn’t resulted in some standout songs, but overall last year’s discography felt pretty forgettable. I fear that, rather than adding to artists’ catalogs in an interesting way, many of the … Continue reading
B.A.P have nearly replicated their prolific 2016, making another three comebacks this year. That constant work ethic has to be lauded, even if the material hasn’t always kept up the same level of consistency. New single Hands Up throws back to the group’s debut sound, marrying its modern verses to a gruff, 2012-era hook. This … Continue reading
Over the past few years, SM Entertainment has made an annual tradition of releasing the same sort of gentle piano ballad for Christmas. All have been enjoyable in their own right, but none have matched EXO’s utterly gorgeous Miracles in December from 2013. EXO will be coming back with another winter single next week, but … Continue reading
I felt very much in the minority when it came to Taemin’s Move album back in October. So many raved about his shifting musical style and the cohesive mood that ran through the material. And I hear that. But too often the songs felt like a study in a trend-focused r&b vibe without a strong … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Toki (from Air – 2017) As one of only three new tracks released in 2017, the Japanese Toki more strongly represents current tastes in j-pop than Infinite’s own music. The funk-driven instrumental pulses with addictive energy, but the melody never quite finds a … Continue reading
There’s no reason why Rain shouldn’t have the number one single in Korea right now. He’s one of k-pop’s most beloved (and most successful) soloists, back after a long hiatus and buoyed by his hosting/mentoring stint on KBS’s The Unit. At this stage in his career, I think it’s more important to remind the public … Continue reading
It’s been awhile since we’ve heard a debut from a group not affiliated in some way with Produce 101. BLK (standing for Beyond Limit Key because… I have no idea) hails from Byking Entertainment, an agency that — as far as I can tell — has no previous experience debuting idols. This newness explains the … Continue reading
It’s become increasingly difficult for me to review Jun. K’s solo material because, more and more, our musical preferences just don’t match. He’s been at the forefront of experimenting with the future bass genre, which — try as I might — hasn’t been a style I can get into. His more down-tempo material tends to … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 