Crush is one of those artists that I want to love. Watching him on variety shows like I Live Alone reveals a quirky, oddly charismatic personality that doesn’t always translate to his music. In the world of solo r&b acts, he’s got that extra little something that makes him stand out. But as his popularity … Continue reading
Okay, we’re going to have to start an intervention here. We’ve truly reached a breaking point with this tropical house/tropical pop trend. I know I sound like a broken record, but it’s gotten to the point where every other new comeback (especially boy groups) has become a cut-and-paste job with the same beats and the … Continue reading
Though he’s released a handful of singles and composed tracks for some of k-pop’s biggest artists, G.Soul has yet to break through in the way that other acts of his genre have. Part of me wonders if his famously long training time actually hurt him. It’s hard to seem fresh and new if listeners know … Continue reading
While girl group Apink‘s first few years marked them as a reliably strong purveyor of sugary-sweet pop music, their last few releases have been mired in the same “been there, done that” feeling of repetition. They’re not a group that has ever pushed many boundaries musically or image-wise, but it may be time for a … Continue reading
I’ve often noted the difference between sounds when it comes to a group’s Korean and Japanese releases, and this diversity has become especially noticeable with boy group 100%. In Korea, they’ve moved toward a statelier, mature pop sound that emphasizes the strength of their voices. But in Japan, their music has grown more dance oriented … Continue reading
Monsta X are one of a few new wave boy groups who have enjoyed steadily increasing success since their debut. Their pursuit of a harder-edged sound hasn’t always been to my taste, but as they progress it feels like they’re beginning to incorporate some very BTS-like emotional weight to their music. While this seems like … Continue reading
Solo idol stars are a tricky proposition in k-pop — a genre that thrives on a constantly morphing, assembly line style of dynamic group performance. But Chungha has the weight of Produce 101 and I.O.I behind her, lending an instant hype to her solo work. Rather than branch out and establish herself as a unique … Continue reading
I’m not sure what kind of alternate-reality-grammar “We, First” is following, but I do know that this specific brand of synth-infused, cutesy girl group release is getting a bit stale. ELRIS is a brand new act, most notable for featuring K-Pop Star‘s Sohee as a member. She debuted last month with the trendy Spotlight, and … Continue reading
It’s ironic that the title of MAP6’s new single album is Momentum, because I don’t know what kind of momentum their agency thinks the group is creating with their current promotional schedule. Since their debut in 2015, the boys have released a grand total of seven songs in Korea, making only one comeback per year. … Continue reading
The recently-concluded final season of K-Pop Star was one of the series’ best years, largely due to the producers’ decision to include trainees in the process. This has continued to pay off, as multiple contestants are releasing material only weeks after the final episode aired. Many of these acts come from smaller agencies that are hungry for … Continue reading
Boy group VAV have been around for six singles now, but they’ve yet to release a song that has had the impact necessary to shoot them to stardom. February’s 80’s-influenced Dance With Me was a step in the right direction, and they’ve definitely chosen the right collaborator in producer/composer Ryan S. Jhun, but it feels … Continue reading
Rather than a full-fledged comeback, Lonely (종현) is part of the second half of Jonghyun’s Story OP project, which collects songs he’s written based on stories sent in by listeners of his now-completed Blue Night radio program. It’s an interesting conceit for an album, and the work itself couldn’t be more different than the material … Continue reading
Whenever you have a music market that’s over-saturated, there are bound to be groups that struggle to stand out. For DIA, this struggle has been a constant one. None of their singles have been unpleasant, but time after time it feels like they’ve been given another group’s leftovers. I don’t doubt the girls’ talent or … Continue reading
It’s been awhile since listeners have heard the softer side of Zico’s solo music. As the leader of rambunctious boy group Block B, his sound is most closely tied with his playful, charismatic image. But of all his solo work, my favorite track is probably the soft, melodic I Am You, You Are Me from … Continue reading
Even with all its quirks and innovations, I consider myself to have a very solid understanding of the k-pop landscape. NCT’s ever-evolving configuration? Easy. LOONA’s year-long debut process? Not a problem. But the whole BOYS24 project is still a bit of a head-scratcher. This is despite watching (and enjoying) the entire competition series that launched … Continue reading
Though I try to remain relatively objective when writing about music on this site, if I were to pick one specific sub-genre of k-pop as my least favorite, it would be the mid-tempo, acoustic coffeehouse sound that seems so pervasive this time of year in Korea. The fact that the solo career of Apink‘s Eunji … Continue reading
Apink have been releasing material in Japan since 2014, but have thus far found more success with covers of their Korean hits than entirely original songs. Within this context, new single Bye Bye makes a lot of sense. Though it is an original track for the j-pop market, the song touches on elements of the … Continue reading
When it comes to prevailing tastes, Korea and I usually agree. But try as I might, I’ve never been able to fully understand IU’s enduring stranglehold on the charts. By all accounts, she seems like a lovely person. And being a successful actress certainly boosts her profile. I appreciate her willingness to go vintage when … Continue reading
It’s no secret that plastic surgery is rampant within the idol world (and really, Korea as a whole), but crafting an entire comeback concept around it is pretty audacious. Sixbomb are no stranger to controversy, and Becoming Prettier (예뻐지는 중입니다 After) sees them physically altered as a sequel to their pre-surgery single last month. Some … Continue reading
With less than a week to go until spring, it’s the time of year when Korea unleashes a torrent of light, acoustic pop in keeping with the season. It’s hard for me to write about songs in this k-pop sub-genre without bias coming in to play. It’s not that I can’t appreciate a laid-back, guitar-strumming … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 