The other day, I cobbled together a playlist of every LOONA-related song and hit the shuffle button. I’ve had my gripes about their music in the past (mostly tied to personal taste rather than objective quality), but hearing the breadth of their sound was quite a striking experience. In less than two years, the girls … Continue reading
Are you missing the quirky dance-pop sound of acts like Crayon Pop and Orange Caramel? It’s harder to find nowadays, but rookie girl group Saturday is definitely hearkening back to that ultra-catchy template. I never wrote about their 2018 debut, MMook JJi BBa, but most of my feelings about that song will be echoed here. … Continue reading
A solo debut from Mamamoo’s Hwasa almost feels overdue. Though each of the girls possess the necessary charisma to drive a solo career, Hwasa’s always struck me as the member most poised for a potential breakout. She’s been beefing up her variety show resume lately as well, proving to be quite a success with the … Continue reading
In theory, boy group Hotshot stood to benefit big time from 2017’s second season of Produce 101. But despite member Sungwoon becoming part of Wanna One, the guys have struggled to stand out in K-pop’s ever-competitive industry. Both group comebacks came and went without much fanfare, and it’s unclear if that will improve now that … Continue reading
2019 is still young, but it’s already given us an Eung Eung, a Ya and now an U Um U Um (으음으음). Is this the year of nonsense filler word titles? Probably not, but it’s an interesting pattern. Hyomin’s U Um U Um (that’s a lot of U’s!) follows last year’s Mango, which didn’t sit … Continue reading
2018 felt like the year where Cosmic Girls really embraced their signature sound, resulting in a pair of spacey, synth-dripped title tracks that built on the potential they first displayed with 2016’s Secret. September’s excellent Save Me, Save You established a lofty precedent, and shot my anticipation sky-high for the follow-up. New single La La Love … Continue reading
It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year and a half since we’ve last heard from KNK. They were one of the many groups screwed over by YG’s failed MIXNINE program, and the past year has seen them lose a member, part ways with their old agency and add a new face in the … Continue reading
Trilogies and series are all the rage in K-pop, but few have lasted as long as iKON’s New Kids. Barring their 2018 album Return, the group has been releasing tracks under this title for so long that they’re in danger of turning into old kids. But with the arrival of I’m OK, it seems as … Continue reading
Most of us first met M.O.N.T when they participated in YG’s survival series MIXNINE. They earned the nickname of “mountain idols” because their small agency was located in the mountainous countryside, creating quite a contrast from the otherwise Seoul-centered K-pop industry. That unique story, combined with their endearing personalities, made them a rookie to watch. … Continue reading
N.Flying have had a rough go of it over the past month, with bassist Kwangjin leaving the group among accusations of inappropriate online conduct. This came just days before the group was scheduled to release the second track in their year-long Fly High project. Fly High seems to mirror the ambitious (and successful) 2017 promotions … Continue reading
With so many dramas in need of sappy, soaring soundtracks, Korea has got to be one of the biggest music markets for ballads. With so many being pumped out every year, it becomes difficult to stand out. A dynamite ballad can be such a cathartic experience — especially when delivered by a robust, dependable voice. … Continue reading
I feel pangs of guilt every time I sit down to write a review of Chungha’s music because I just can’t be very objective. I try hard not to be biased against artists or groups, even if their work has been universally awful. Chungha’s music has not been awful at all — it’s actually been … Continue reading
December is such a barren month for new K-pop releases, and what we do get tends to be an endless stream of ballads and mid-tempos. This languid pace makes it hard to drum up any excitement for a song like Candle Light (사랑한단 뜻이야). However, the track is significant for several reasons. Not only is … Continue reading
JYP Entertainment artists have been blitzing the Korean and Japanese markets this year. It’s hard to think of a more prolific agency, especially when you consider the ratio between JYP’s roster of artists and number of 2018 comebacks. Just like Twice, Stray Kids and DAY6, GOT7 must be exhausted. But, that didn’t stop them from … Continue reading
The season of ballads continues to roll on, and it’s the perfect time of year for BTOB’s Lee Changsub to release his debut mini album. As expected, it’s a down tempo affair. But like Infinite’s Sungkyu, he’s gone for a rock-tinged sound that helps differentiate his own music from that of his group’s. Given this … Continue reading
Laboum released one of my favorite girl group singles of 2017 with the upbeat Hwi Hwi. But rather than double down on this style of bubblegum pop, they’ve spent 2018 pursuing a more subdued, mid-tempo sound. July’s Between Us proved that they were a solid match for this musical transition, so it only makes sense … Continue reading
It’s December, which means we’ve entered the month of ballads and holiday releases. GOT7 are kicking things off with the sentimental Miracle, which spearheads a repackage of their latest album. Even if their music hasn’t always been to my taste lately, I’ve got to give it to the guys. Most repackages add two to four … Continue reading
The first time I heard Red Velvet’s Dumb Dumb back in 2015, I thought it was a complete mess. The song has since gone on to become one of my favorite tracks in the group’s discography. I mention this because new single RBB (Really Bad Boy) gave me the exact same impression upon first listen. … Continue reading
With their past few releases, rookie group The Boyz has begun to develop a high-energy, funk pop sound that reminds me of SHINee at their most upbeat. Both Giddy Up and Right Here point towards a style I’m eager to hear more of — especially given 2018’s trend of brooding mid-tempos. For that reason, it’s … Continue reading
A Mino solo album has been rumored nearly as long as Winner have been active as a group. We came close with his Show Me The Money tracks in 2015, and then his unit album with iKON’s Bobby in 2016. But now, YG Entertainment has finally delivered on their promise with the sprawling, twelve-track debut … Continue reading
