As with so many under-the-radar K-pop debuts, 3YE failed to make much of an impression when they dropped their first single this May. In fact, I had to search back to see if I had reviewed the song at all — that’s how little I remember it. On the plus side, the group seems to … Continue reading
When it comes to music, the Korean public and I rarely agree. Glance at the digital charts during any time of the year and you’re likely to see a glut of ballads, some subdued indie pop or r&b, and very few dance tracks. I guess this is streaming culture in a nutshell. The less polarizing … Continue reading
The weeks leading up to the Chuseok holiday are notoriously barren for K-pop, so beggars can’t be choosers when it comes to new releases. This means that I end up writing about groups I’d normally skip. To be honest, I didn’t even know We Girls existed until about a week ago — and they debuted … Continue reading
Vanner debuted earlier this year with a full album, which is incredibly unique for a rookie group. Unfortunately, this album was largely forgettable. It doesn’t matter how many tracks you record if none of them are outstanding. For their follow-up, the group has continued to work with the same team, but their sound has transitioned … Continue reading
Woollim Entertainment is my favorite K-pop agency, and one of the things I like most about them is that they carve out a signature sound for their artists. This sound usually counters trends, opting for a more classic pop approach. But now that the agency has been sucked into the Produce 101 orbit, I fear … Continue reading
Now, this one’s interesting! Fanxy Red are an established C-pop group, re-debuting after spending some time training in Korea. I can’t remember this approach being used before — usually it’s Chinese K-pop idols leaving to perform in their (very lucrative) homeland. Fanxy Red are also known as a “girl boy group.” They all identify as … Continue reading
While their sibling group ONEUS releases a series of heavily-promoted mini albums, ONEWE has received a more subdued roll-out. I guess this makes sense. When it comes to K-pop, dance groups are an easier sell than rock bands. Still, it’s a shame that we didn’t get to hear the gorgeous Reminisce About All performed on … Continue reading
