Since opening Label SJ (a sub-label supported by SM Entertainment), Super Junior have taken a more active role in the production of their music. This is (understandably) the ultimate goal for many idol artists, but it doesn’t always end up creating the strongest material. In Super Junior’s case, the added input has resulted in an … Continue reading
When it comes to groups spawned by survival shows, it’s hard to predict what genre their music will take. More often than not, these projects simply cycle through whatever trends may be hot at the moment, with little regard towards building a cohesive discography. 1THE9 have already tackled downbeat r&b with the Crush-penned Domino, and … Continue reading
Sometimes you just fall in love with a voice. This actually doesn’t happen to me all that often, as I’m usually more concerned with melody and song construction, but last winter I found myself obsessed with balladeer Yongzoo on survival series The Fan. I was so enamored with his tone and performance style that I … Continue reading
With over 2,600 songs on my iPhone’s “K-Pop Singles” playlist, I thought it would be fun to add a bit of unpredictability to my song review posts. So as a result, we have the “Random Shuffle Review” feature. The rules are simple. I fire up my playlist, press “shuffle,” and whatever song plays first gets … Continue reading
MBC’s Under Nineteen survival series played like a budget version of Produce 101, but it cobbled together a surprisingly strong group of guys for its winning group 1THE9. Like other shows of its ilk, the whole thing feels corporation-driven rather than artistically inspired, down to that awful group name. But, I’m excited to see where … Continue reading
From late-2016 to 2017, BLACKPINK seemed destined to fill the huge hole left behind by fellow YG Entertainment artists 2NE1. Both Playing With Fire and As If It’s Your Last were excellent pop songs, hampered only by a lack of b-side material to go along with them. Last year’s mega-hit Ddu-Du Ddu-Du took the girls … Continue reading
Last year, BOL4 delivered their version of a summer song, and Travel went on to become a huge crossover hit. New single Bom (나만, 봄) takes its cues from spring — a season where K-pop goes crazy with drowsy mid-tempos and wistful ballads. As such, the song isn’t as much giddy fun as Travel was, … Continue reading
As SM Entertainment’s biggest-selling group for the past several years, EXO’s solo and sub-unit potential has been severely underutilized. I expect that this will change as members start enlisting, but I can’t believe it’s taken this long to see an official solo album from the group (not counting Lay’s Chinese efforts, of course). And honestly, … Continue reading
With leader Zico leaving Block B late last year, it’s hard to imagine a path forward for the group. I don’t mean to discount the contributions of the other members, but Zico always felt like the face of Block B. Luckily, the group already has an established sub-unit. Bastarz debuted in 2015, and consists of … Continue reading
Though he has yet to release a mini album, the holy quintet of SHINee solos is now complete with the arrival of Minho’s I’m Home (그래). The track comes only days before his enlistment, which will leave Taemin as the group’s only actively promoting member. It’s crazy how time flies. Even five years ago, it … Continue reading
Looking back, I was unfairly harsh on JBJ95’s debut last October. Despite its repetitive hook, Home stuck around through the winter and unveiled its charms gradually. When it comes to style and sound, I’m still not sure exactly who JBJ95 are as a duo, but in a landscape crammed with boy groups, their small configuration … Continue reading
It’s been a long wait for new material from Taeyeon, and even longer since she’s actively promoted in Korea. With the release of digital single Four Seasons (사계), it doesn’t seem as if that promotional lull will end any time soon, but it’s nice to hear her voice again. The song arrives just over two … Continue reading
Momoland had a stellar 2018, propelled by the surprise smash of their hit Bboom Bboom and its copy-and-paste follow-up BAAM. Now, the real test begins. Having one breakout single is one thing, but forging a consistently successful career is quite another. Just ask Crayon Pop. Now that the girls have found a template that works … Continue reading
This time last year, NCT had already delivered an exciting yearbook project that saw the release of no less than four singles (with more to come). In comparison, 2019 has been downright barren. In fact, SM Entertainment’s 2019 schedule has been exceedingly light, relegating to a pair of SHINee-related solos and a few other ballads. … Continue reading
At the rate we’re going, 2019 might just set the record for having the most K-pop debuts. While the year has been relatively underwhelming so far, a rush of new acts has helped to buoy the industry. And with the arrival of Everglow, we’ve got yet another compelling girl group to add to the scene. … Continue reading
I’m in love with the idea behind The T-Bird and The Pink Ladies — two project groups taking on a musical theater concept. K-pop is ready for some new sounds, and this conceit has the potential to be really fun. The Pink Ladies’ God Girl was a great first step, and has only grown more … Continue reading
I often feel that, if given complete creative freedom, most idols would release nothing but ballads and coffee-shop style acoustic tracks. For a fan of megawatt pop music, this suspicion is a little depressing, and only reinforces the over-played idea that only some musical styles hold real artistic merit. Perhaps this is why I’ve struggled … Continue reading
Mamamoo’s new album completes their colors concept, in which the group released material each season and matched it with a defining color. Gogobebe (고고베베) arrives right at the tail end of winter, but it’s not the style of song you’d expect from this time of year. Rather than close their series with a big, sweeping … Continue reading
For me, the single most important thing a rookie group can accomplish during their first few releases is the establishment of a core sound. Even if their songs blur together when it comes to style and melody, an overall brand can work wonders when it comes to developing a loyal fan base. GWSN are following … Continue reading
Epik High have been a staple in the Korean music scene for as long as I can remember, and their brand of emotive hip-hop has a timeless feel that is immune from trends. Over the past few years, their title tracks have taken on a more melancholic vibe, and that culminates in the downbeat Lovedrunk … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 