Though they might not make full-fledged comebacks as frequently as they used to, Apink can always be counted on for an anniversary track. Every April, they release a new song in honor of their debut milestone, and most of these have been upbeat affairs rather than schlocky fan service ballads. Thank You (고마워) keeps this … Continue reading
Tag Archives: rating 7
Song Review: Nu’est – Inside Out
It’s been nearly seven years since the release of Nu’est’s first full album. That’s the length of the typical idol group contract, and it’s stunning to consider the journey the guys have been on during that time. For the record, I think 2014’s Re:Birth is one of their strongest works, but listening to it now … Continue reading
Song Review: Majors – Rain On Me
Girl group Majors are taking an interesting approach to their debut year promotions. Rather than finely craft a single title track, they’ve blitzed the market with several budget-conscious music videos for multiple singles. The hope, I’m sure, is that one of these songs will somehow hit big. But, I’d rather have on knockout track than … Continue reading
Song Review: A.C.E – Down (ft. Grey)
With 2019’s Under Cover and 2020’s Favorite Boys (Goblin), A.C.E have proven their ability to deliver a knockout title track. I wish they would funnel all their energy into crafting more of these killer releases. But, K-pop is an ever-expanding market, and idol groups have a variety of options on their plate. Despite coming from … Continue reading
Song Review: Kang Daniel – Antidote
While most Produce 101 alum have migrated to an idol group or signed with agencies for solo promotions, Kang Daniel’s own Konnect Entertainment has afforded him a higher level of creative control. Lately, he’s leveraged that by incorporating his own experiences into his music. And although the results haven’t always been to my taste when … Continue reading
Song Review: STAYC – ASAP
STAYC were my favorite girl group debut of 2020, and that’s off the strength of a single song. So Bad – as many Black Eyed Pilseung tracks tend to be – was a total grower, and effortlessly wove retro synth trends into a quintessential K-pop sound. STAYC’s diverse set of vocal tones also helped their … Continue reading
Song Review: Yukika – Insomnia
Yukika made her Korean debut just before the city pop revival took hold. This puts her in an enviable position. She comes across as a cool trendsetter, yet can also reap the benefits of that trend becoming more widespread. Her 2020 album was consistently strong, with the beguiling Yesterday positioning itself as a modern classic … Continue reading
Song Review: NiziU – Poppin’ Shakin’
Double a-side singles are common in Japan. Similar to Korea’s double title tracks, they offer a chance for J-pop acts to quickly grow their singles discography. NiziU have immediately followed Take A Picture with its coupling song, Poppin’ Shakin’. It’s becoming increasingly clear that the group’s hyper pop style is rarely going to be for … Continue reading
Song Review: Chanyeol (EXO) – Tomorrow
EXO are one of my all-time favorite K-pop groups. In fact, much to my surprise they sit just below Infinite on this site’s “Bias List Scorecard” – a cumulative, weighted ranking of the acts with the most songs in my monthly round-ups. So, I say this as a major fan: EXO has some of the … Continue reading
Song Review: Lee Jinhyuk (UP10TION) – 5K
As hard as I’ve been on most of Lee Jinhyuk and Kim Wooseok’s solo releases, it might seem like I harbor some vendetta against UP10TION. That couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, I even included one of their singles in my “Top 100 K-pop Songs of All-Time.” I think you can still admire … Continue reading
Song Review: BTS – Film Out
Taking BTS’s success out of the equation, it’s fascinating to trace how much their music has changed since their 2013 debut. As happens with many world-conquering pop groups, their sound expanded beyond a niche market, becoming more palatable to a wider audience. This has its upsides and downsides, but in general I think BTS have … Continue reading
Song Review: Park Bom – Do Re Mi Fa Sol (ft. Changmo)
“Park Bom comeback” is a statement that will always give me some thrill. 2NE1 were a vital component of my favorite generation of K-pop, and Bom’s unique voice contributed greatly to that appeal. But as with so many idols-gone-soloists, her own music can be hit or miss. That voice will always be enough to capture … Continue reading
Song Review: T1419 – Exit
T1419’s debut Asurabalbalta was one of the few K-pop singles that never grew on me. And, it definitely had the opportunity! I feel like I watched it promoted on music shows for months. To me, Asurabalbalta was emblematic of the worst “noise pop” that’s taken over certain sub-sections of the industry’s boy group landscape. Add … Continue reading
Song Review: Baekhyun (EXO) – Bambi
With Baekhyun’s military enlistment just around the corner, EXO are set to temporarily lose yet another member. Despite the group having no comeback since November of 2019, he’s kept busy as a soloist and with SuperM. His solo work has been highly successful, but as much as I love the guy’s voice and general vibe, … Continue reading
Song Review: Checkmate – You
It’s been a rocky road for rookie group Checkmate. With only two songs under their belt, they’ve already undergone major shifts in configuration. They debuted as five last September, but now they’re down to four with the departure of vocalist/rapper Nason and the quick arrival/departure of Haechang, who never even got to participate in any … Continue reading
Song Review: NiziU – Take A Picture
K-pop has a long history of pushing into the Japanese market, and often there were concessions made when it came to sound and image. But with the rise of groups like JO1 and NiziU, the two industries have entered a new form of symbiosis. For all intents and purposes, these are J-pop groups produced as … Continue reading
Song Review: Sorn (CLC) – Run
Pop music and running go hand in hand, and when I think about many of my favorite songs, they have that sense of propulsion that could be visualized by running (or driving) full steam along an open road. Perhaps it wasn’t surprising, then, that my favorite song of 2020 happened to be called “Run.” Now, … Continue reading
Song Review: Super Junior – House Party
Super Junior have titled their milestone tenth album “The Renaissance,” which conjures images of regality and refinement. To me, the group have always been more about amiable, self-deprecating personality, which makes the concept feel like an odd fit. But as far as I can tell, the title has little to do with the music itself, … Continue reading
Song Review: Purple Kiss – Ponzona
Following in the footsteps of agency seniors Mamamoo, Purple Kiss preceded their official debut with several pre-releases. My Heart Skip A Beat and Can We Talk Again were polar opposites in sound and style, but both carried a mood that pointed towards a darker, edgier sound for the girls. Debut single Ponzona delivers on this … Continue reading
Song Review: Rosé (BLACKPINK) – On The Ground
Back in the fall of 2018, BLACKPINK’s Jennie released her debut solo track, aptly titled… Solo. Unless I’m remembering things incorrectly, this was meant to be the first in a series of releases from the group’s individual members. Over two years later, the project finally resumes with the debut of Rosé’s On The Ground. A … Continue reading