One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Ice Cream (from Nu Abo – 2010) Ice Cream utilizes plenty of 8-bit synth textures as part of its retro arrangement, and that’s probably the biggest contributor to its appeal. The melody itself is a little sing-song for my taste, but there … Continue reading
I’ve been watching Park Jihoon in the web-drama Love Revolution and have been really impressed with his knack for comedy. With that drama’s dorky/endearing character fresh in my mind, it’s quite jarring to watch the music video for new single Gotcha. But, I guess this is just a testament to his versatility as a performer. … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! I Love You, I Love You (from More Charming By The Day OST – 2010) Another of f(x)’s many soundtrack offerings, I Love You, I Love You is a sprightlier affair than the ballads already covered in this segment. The song is … Continue reading
Monsta X have returned with their fourth full Korean album Fatal Love (though their minis often have enough tracks to count as “full” under other agencies’ qualifications). And, the album feels like a bit of a progression for the group, leaning closer in sound to their English-language work. Whether that’s a positive thing or not … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Hard But Easy (Luna + Krystal) (from Invincible Lee Pyung Kang OST – 2009) Taken from the Invincible Lee Pyung Kang soundtrack, Hard But Easy is much more straightforward than most of the material found on f(x)’s own albums. As a vocal … Continue reading
Almost a year ago, CL debuted her In The Name Of Love project, much to the delight of 2NE1 fans. But, the album was marred by a lack of promotion, and never became the big return-to-form I was hoping for. As talented and iconic as CL is, she’s facing an uphill battle in an industry … Continue reading
Since reinventing herself as a DJ/dance vocalist, SNSD’s Hyoyeon has become pretty prolific. Her singles often see her collaborating with a diverse roster of artists and producers, but the music has all tied together by harnessing a similar vibe. For Think About Me, she’s paired with hip-hop artist Coogie and DJ/producer Raiden, who also featured … Continue reading
Mino made his official solo debut back in 2018, though he’s been releasing solo music since Winner’s debut in 2014. I still consider his I’m Him an underrated gem. But overall, he and I are on two different planets, musically. I appreciated the ambition and creativity of 2018’s Fiancé, but didn’t have much urge to … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Gangsta Boy (from Pinocchio / Hot Summer – 2011) Taking an old-school hip-hop approach, Gangsta Boy unveils a quirky sing-talk style for most of its verses. As expected from its era, the chorus opts for a generous dose of stylistic autotune. I … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Ending Page (from Pink Tape – 2013) Opening with rock guitar and a catchy chant, Ending Page initially seems as if it’s going to more bombastic than it is. Instead, the verses dial back to focus on acoustic guitar and a satisfying … Continue reading
Forget retro or trap or EDM or whatever trend you want to highlight. Yoo Jaesuk has become the year’s most reliable purveyor of mega-hits – at least on the Korean charts. His series Hangout with Yoo has transformed itself into a delivery method for K-pop unit groups. First we had SSAK3 with their summer smash … Continue reading
Originally scheduled for release all the way back in June, it’s been a long wait to hear CIX’s Jungle (정글). The hiatus is a stumbling block for the group, who gained quite a following during their debut year. Their music – and the producers they’ve been paired with – hasn’t been for me thus far, … Continue reading
I am not against some good Halloween-themed K-pop fun. As eager as the industry is to churn out wintery releases in December, few idol acts ever embrace the inherently goofy potential of Halloween. T1419 (we’re gonna change that mouthful of a name upon debut, right??) are teasing their upcoming music with pre-release track Dracula. And, … Continue reading
When it comes to the priorities for an AleXa comeback, the actual song seems to come about third or fourth on the list. The music video and performance are clearly the stars here, which is fine. But, as someone who listens to K-pop more often than watching the songs’ accompanying videos, this approach can be … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Chocolate Love (from Chocolate Love – 2009) Released by both f(x) and Girls’ Generation with different themes and arrangements, this “electro-pop” version of Chocolate Love is more suited to my personal taste. It comes across like many of SM’s girl group tracks … Continue reading
Last we heard from boy group D-CRUNCH, they were crunching our ears with the aggressive Pierrot. That song didn’t do much to differentiate them from the pack, but they’ve stuck to their guns with the almost-as-noisy Across The Universe (비상(飛上)). This track brings stronger textures to the table, but reinforces an exhausting trend that’s affected … Continue reading
Weeks before making his military enlistment, Crush has released a mini album with a fun concept. With Her pairs the soloist with a different female artist for each track. I think this is a wonderful idea, as each collaborator could bring out a different part of his artistry, while potentially challenging themselves as well. The … Continue reading
I have great affection for the members of Mamamoo, yet it’s been ages since I’ve loved one of their singles. Their music has always had a tongue-in-cheek, comical aspect, and that willingness to poke fun at themselves has become one of their charms. But, this approach has also made some of their comebacks feel a … Continue reading
To this day, my absolute favorite NCT track remains 2016’s Without You. That song spotlighted vocalists Doyoung, Taeil and Jaehyun without resorting to the kind of piano ballad usually reserved for vocal-driven tracks. In my mind, there are far more interesting ways to showcase your vocalists than a traditional ballad. Anthemic synth-rock is only one … Continue reading
2020 has defied expectations at every turn, but one thing I never expected to see is a B1A4 comeback. For me, B1A4 are one of K-pop’s definitive groups, with an incredible catalog of music. But, it’s been over three years since they’ve graced K-pop with a new album. The release of Origine follows a reconfiguration … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 