The story of HIGH4 is a frustrating one. Debuting in the spring of 2014 with a highly successful duet with soloist IU, the group seemed to be on the right track from the very first step. But that song ended up being more about IU than them, and was followed by a series of disparate … Continue reading
Girls’ Generation‘s Taeyeon has been all over the k-pop map this past year. Few artists have embarked on such a sprawling solo career, covering the spectrum from acoustic pop balladry to tropical house-influenced dance. Most recently, she teased us with the hypnotic I Got Love, which seemed to polarize opinion. For me, it was one … Continue reading
In the midst of riding high on the success of her OST work with hit drama Goblin, soloist Ailee released digital single Reminiscing. This comes after a subtle reinvention of her sound with last year’s Home. But Reminiscing (낡은 그리움) doesn’t aim to reinvent anything, content to provide Ailee with a mellow showcase for her … Continue reading
Gugudan’s 2016 debut confounded many. For an act comprised of so many high-profile members, from an agency known to take artistic risks with boy group VIXX, how was Wonderland so generic? Though Gugudan’s potential and name recognition afforded them modest debut success, many of us were hoping that their follow-up would be a leap into new … Continue reading
From the beginning, girl group Lovelyz debuted with a quirky synthpop sound that seemed all their own, even as it complimented the general vibe put forth by most of their peers. That’s a credit to main producers OnePiece, who have steered most of their work since 2014. At times this has worked wonders, though it … Continue reading
Twice aren’t a simple k-pop group anymore. In the course of a year, they’ve established themselves as a true cultural phenomenon. That they’ve been able to achieve this so quickly is just as much a testament to their idiosyncratic music as the members’ individual appeal. Production duo Black Eyed Pilseung has steered their sound from … Continue reading
Rookie group VAV have released a few songs already, but I didn’t bother writing about them because the music just seemed like a budget version of countless other boy groups. But looking at the production credits for Venus (Dance With Me), I was struck by one name: Ryan S. Jhun. Jhun, alongside a team of … Continue reading
Rocker and TV variety personality Jung Joon Young has developed a pattern of crafting raucous alternative rock with his group Drug Restaurant (formerly JJY Band) and more traditional Korean balladry when it comes to his solo work. The latter approach gave us the incredibly Sympathy last year, and with new single Me And You he’s … Continue reading
Though it’s not likely to receive that same attention as BigBang‘s similarly scheduled roll-out in 2015, DAY6 are releasing a single and accompanying music video each month this year. It’s a remarkably exciting prospect, especially for a group who feels like they haven’t been allowed to release nearly enough material since their debut in 2015. January’s … Continue reading
On a certain level, I’ve often found Zion.T’s output to be frustrating. It would be hard to find anyone who would deny his influence on Korean music over the past couple of years. He has one of the most identifiable and iconic vocal tones in k-pop, and has almost single-handedly invented his own genre of neo-soul. … Continue reading
Ever since their debut, SM’s Red Velvet has existed in a somewhat awkward place between mainstream and experimental. Their music has borrowed elements from both extremes of their agency’s girl group output, but every time they score a song that feels like the perfect blend, they seem to take a step or two back with … Continue reading
I very rarely write about songs performed in English, but this being a super slow week in k-pop releases means that Gallant’s new song gets a mention. Of course, with Eric Nam and Tablo taking over two thirds of the track, Cave Me In is about as Korean as a Western pop song could be. … Continue reading
San E is one of those Korean artists who straddles the line between being a musician and a personality. Long-term, this is a huge asset, as it will allow him to seamlessly transition to hosting and variety jobs when the music dries up. But similar to Eric Nam (also known for his engaging personality), San … Continue reading
The k-pop career of American-born Jessi has been full of twists and turns. Beginning as a solo dance-pop artist over a decade ago, she then became the vocalist of hip-hop trio Lucky J before gaining massive notoriety as a rapper on the variety show Unpretty Rapstar. But throughout all her transformations, it feels like the … Continue reading
Honey Bee is one of those songs that’s just oozing potential from the get-go. Taking f(x)‘s Luna, EXID’s Hani and Mamamoo‘s Solar and setting them loose on a big diva pop track is definitely an exciting prospect. But as we learned with last year’s Triple T collaboration, big names don’t always mean quality songs. While … Continue reading
Though Zico remains Block B‘s biggest solo breakout, I’ve actually preferred the more playful, quirkier material released by Park Kyung. Both Ordinary Love and Inferiority Complex were dynamic, interesting pieces of hip-hop pop, and pairing his verses with female vocalists seemed to be a winning formula. New single When I’m With You (너 앞에서 나는) … Continue reading
Though Girls’ Generation‘s last comeback was about a year and a half ago, they’ve remained in the public consciousness through solo releases. The last few months have seen multiple releases by Taeyeon, Tiffany, Yoona and Hyoyeon, but now it’s youngest member Seohyun’s turn. Every solo SNSD track has been different, but they all seem to pull from … Continue reading
Teen Top‘s Niel has returned with his second solo mini album. His work has always reminded me of a lighter version of what Shinee‘s Taemin releases. They’re both clearly inspired by Michael Jackson, but Niel has an airier tone and seems to prefer a less aggressive r&b sound than Taemin’s go-for-broke dance assault. Love Affair … Continue reading
Solo female pop artists are incredibly difficult to launch in Korea. Just ask Shannon Williams, who really should be on her way to becoming the next BoA rather than fighting for her last chance on this season of K-Pop Star. As much as Korea loves its girl groups, that sentiment doesn’t seem to extend to … Continue reading
I’ve been pretty lukewarm toward Hello Venus’ latest singles, but their sporadic 2016 material seemed like more of a teaser for something bigger than actual comebacks. They’re a group I really want to like more than I do. Unfortunately, their sound has shifted so many times since their 2012 debut that it’s been hard to … Continue reading
