I just can’t with these “virtual” groups. I’m already irritated by how industry titans like HYBE use effects to strip away all character from their artists’ voices, slowing turning K-pop idols into pretty, performing robots. But crafting an entire group from CGI is another level entirely. With so many acts already vying for attention, I … Continue reading
DKB are at a transitional moment, recently losing member Teo after a drunk driving incident. No one could blame them for being upset, and the aggressive energy of What The Hell seems to channel that feeling. Most of this song is boy-group-by-the-numbers, unveiling a mixture of crooning and bad boy rapping over a rugged beat. … Continue reading
Prior to today’s debut, new boy group One Pact have dropped several pre-release songs. Unfortunately, none of this music has appealed to me (though I did enjoy member Jay Chang’s solo songs last month). After this series of more bombastic, performance-oriented tracks, the guys have pulled way back for Must Be Nice (좋겠다). I’m surprised … Continue reading
This year’s been light on original K-pop holiday carols so far, but I guess we’re just now knocking on December’s door. Rookies ATBO have made an early-career bid for winter ubiquity, releasing a single album themed to the season. Must Have Love checks off all the Christmassy tropes, bounding along a sleighbell-assisted beat. At its … Continue reading
Seventeen members have made smart use of mixtapes to tiptoe into solo work without all the fuss of full comeback promotions. I’m not sure how a single song can constitute a “mixtape,” but music is music whatever you call it and I’m happy to see Dino stretching his wings with more solo material. As one … Continue reading
Though she’s featured in SM Entertainment’s super group Got The Beat and made a successful return with Girls’ Generation last summer, it’s been a long wait for new solo music from Taeyeon. It’s hard to believe INVU was nearly two years ago! Now, she’s back with a new mini album and title track To. X. … Continue reading
Fantasy Boys need better promotion behind their comebacks. I had no idea they were releasing an album or that this album would include two title tracks. K-pop releases are all about their roll-out. Build the hype, guys! Get It On is far more boisterous than yesterday’s Potential, bursting out of the gate with a rugged … Continue reading
A couple weeks after dropping pre-release ballad Miss You, former Treasure member Bang Yedam has returned with his first solo album. Title track Only One (하나만 해) puts a bit more bounce in his step, recalling K-R&B hitmakers Zion.T and Crush. This musical lane fits Yedam and feels authentic to the style he’d prefer. I’m … Continue reading
I must have been in a grumpy mood on the day of Fantasy Boys’ September debut because I definitely under-rated New Tomorrow. That song was never going to change the idol industry or become a year-end highlight, but its frothy pop sound stood the test of time. However, the guys have switched gears entirely for … Continue reading
It’s pretty gutsy to debut a sub-unit before your group has even released their first comeback, but LUN8wave have burst on the scene five months after LUN8 made their June debut. Playground sees five of its members returning with a sound that could have been carried just as well with all eight guys. To be … Continue reading
MCND have had a mixed bag of title tracks so far, but their bright energy often carries the day. New single Odd-Venture follows June’s Pop Star, but feels more in line with their 2022 album. It’s not as unhinged or catchy as their best material, even if the bluesy stomp of its instrumental ignites a … Continue reading
Astro has suffered a tragic year with the untimely death of member Moonbin. But even before that, the future of the group seemed uncertain as Rocky ventured out on his own back in February. I feel for the guys in so many ways, and hope that they can find happiness in whatever capacity they choose … Continue reading
Dreamcatcher have become known as one of the most reliably solid girl groups of their generation, sticking with their rock influences through thick and thin. And although I often state my wish for them to incorporate more electronic sounds into their title tracks (their EDM b-sides are always fantastic), I can’t fault them for continuing … Continue reading
Gosh, I haven’t written about a Jessica Jung song for over six years! I don’t remember enjoying much of her solo work, but simply hearing her name brings back all sorts of good memories. It’s always nice to hear new material from K-pop’s veteran acts, even if it becomes more and more infrequent as their … Continue reading
With long-awaited returns from second and early-third gen boy groups SHINee, Infinite, EXO, Teen Top and U-Kiss, 2023 has been a dream for us older K-pop fans. Or rather, it would have been a dream if the majority of these comebacks hadn’t underwhelmed to various degrees. Seriously, I’m not sure how 2023 messed this up … Continue reading
Useless fact of the day: if you run a google image search for “Puzzle – Savior,” you get a bunch of reeeaaally creepy Jesus puzzle designs. I know you could technically search with the group’s name in Hangul, but given K-pop’s ever-increasing global presence it always surprises me what monikers an agency chooses to bestow … Continue reading
I’ll keep this short rather than belabor a point I’ve made over and over: K-pop producers must find a way to tie better songs to their cool instrumentals. Imagine having a track as exciting as NTX’s Holy Grail — rumbling bass, throbbing electronic backbone and post-apocalyptic fervor — and you waste it on a lame … Continue reading
Despite my initial hesitance, &TEAM’s Firework perfected the synth-inflected side of HYBE’s oeuvre. Somehow, that song leveraged the agency’s faceless vocal processing as an asset, tying it to strong hooks and a compelling atmosphere. This success raised the stakes for &TEAM’s first full album, but new single War Cry takes a different approach. Unlike with … Continue reading
Back in 2012 when Bang Yedam stepped on the stage of K-pop Star with a harmonica in his hand and his father accompanying him on guitar, I never pictured him as part of a YG act like Treasure. It always seemed like an odd fit, so when he eventually left the group it wasn’t too … Continue reading
Despite being an early supporter, somewhere along the line Stray Kids’ music began to lose me. It’s a frustration I feel with many of their contemporaries and I’m eagerly awaiting the song or album that brings me back. Unfortunately, new single Lalalala moves in the opposite direction. Lalalala blusters along in true Stray Kids fashion, … Continue reading
