What is up with GOT7’s Japanese discography? I can’t think of any other k-pop act with such a wide discrepancy between their Korean and Japanese material. Yes, Japan is a very different market with their own likes and dislikes, but Hey Ya (along with their other j-pop releases) doesn’t even fit neatly into current Japanese … Continue reading
Although members of Sistar have featured on many tracks outside of their group’s releases, Hyolyn is the first to go completely solo with her upcoming mini album. As befits a member of one of k-pop’s biggest groups, she’ll be releasing a trio of singles as part of her solo debut. First up is Love Like This, … Continue reading
K-pop debuts are a dime a dozen, and have been for several years. To make matters more confusing, they often have similar names. For example, Highteen are a four-girl pop act. But coming down the line, we also have the impending debut of Myteen, a 7-member boy group. It takes a dynamite song to etch … Continue reading
Girls Girls debuted at the tail end of last year with a sound that blends 2NE1-style swag with the overt sexuality of artists like EXID and HyunA. Unfortunately, it hasn’t done much for them yet. In fact, Juicy Secret (쥬시시크릿) is really their first track that made it on my radar — and my radar … Continue reading
Thus far, FNC Entertainment has been known primarily for its rock groups FTIsland and CNBLUE, as well as girl group AOA (who technically started with a band concept). Much… erm… “fanfare” has been made around the debut of the agency’s first male dance act, SF9. Debuts are a tricky thing, and often end up being … Continue reading
With BTOB’s transition into a ballad-focused group, I feel like most of the issues I’ve had with their recent material has centered around the awkward shoehorning in of rap sections. But with this new sub-unit, composed of vocalists Eunkwang, Sungjae, Changsub and Hyunsik, rap is definitely not a concern. True to expectations, BTOB-Blue are given … Continue reading
CNBLUE have been around long enough now that their music has settled into a somewhat predictable pattern. Their specific brand of soft rock is always pleasant, but rarely that inventive any more. Such is the case with new Japanese single, Glory Days, which opts for a familiar sound rather than messing with what’s always worked … Continue reading
Members of veteran boy group 2PM are soon to enlist in their mandatory military service, but before they take that two-year break from releasing music, they’ve got one more album and title track to give us. Promise (I’ll Be) piggybacks on the sound of main vocal Jun. K’s recent solo Think About You, offering a modern … 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
Just over a month after their excellent High Heels comeback, Brave Girls has surprised us with Yoo Hoo (유후 (우린 아직 여름)), a very summery track released just as we’re moving closer to fall. It’s odd timing, and relegates Yoo Hoo to feeling like a bit of an afterthought. Part of that is due to … Continue reading
Who really needs a chorus, anyway? This seems to be the prevailing theory around much of this year’s pop music, and it’s almost always a failing proposition. It’s also evidenced by 24K’s latest offering, which despite flashes of quality, falls victim to an overall sense of jumbled hooks that never fully connect. Throughout the years … Continue reading
As well as being the main vocalist for boy group 2PM, Jun. K is responsible for my very favorite 2PM-related song — the utterly magnificent Love & Hate. His solo career has been more hit and miss since then, but I’m always curious what he’ll come up with next. As far as soloists-from-popular-bands go, his … Continue reading
I hesitate to review commemorative anniversary songs because, more often than not, their sole purpose isn’t to be a terrific song, but a marker of a group’s career milestone. And I certainly congratulate Girls’ Generation on their incredible nine years together. Even at this stage in their career, they remain one of k-pop’s most defining … Continue reading
Male vocal group VROMANCE tested the water by featuring on Huh Gak’s fantastic ballad Already Winter earlier in the year, but now it’s time for their full debut. They’re also Mamamoo’s “little brother group.” As a result, they have a lot to live up to. So how does debut title track She (여자 사람 친구) … Continue reading
It’s been several years since SE7EN has released new material, and a large part of that gap included his mandatory military service. First comebacks after enlistment are always a big deal, but I’m Good also marks his first work since splitting from YG Entertainment. Operating as an independent artist allows SE7EN more musical freedom, but … Continue reading
Of all the newly debuted girl groups, TS Entertainment’s Sonamoo has mostly passed me by. I found their debut underwhelming, but thought Cushion was a step in the right direction, at least melodically. With I Like U Too Much (넘나 좋은 것), they’ve assimilated into the current cutesy trend, losing some of their identity along … Continue reading
By sheer number of releases alone, SM Entertainment has had quite a year. But despite being responsible for a handful of 2016’s best tracks, they’ve also fallen into a bit of a rut when it comes to repeating sounds. Their focus on international house beats worked brilliantly on Shinee’s View last year, but I can’t help … Continue reading
The oddly named Gugudan (Gu9udan) are the first girl group to debut under Jellyfish Entertainment, home to successful boy group VIXX. Given VIXX’s impressive track record and the fact that a few of Gugudan’s members were very successful on variety show Produce 101 earlier this year, many were curious to see what debut single Wonderland would … Continue reading
Last time San E and Raina paired (back in 2014), they gave us the ubiquitous mega-hit A Midsummer Night’s Sweetness. It only makes sense that they’d re-team in an attempt to repeat their success. And while I don’t see Sugar & Me having nearly the same effect on the k-pop zeitgeist, it’s still a decent … Continue reading
Long before I started covering k-pop exclusively, I learned the importance of following songwriters and producers, rather than just focusing on artists and groups. After all, a song doesn’t pop into the universe from out of nowhere. Even though a bias group may be able to elevate it with their talent and performance style, the same … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 