JYP Entertainment has done a fantastic job handling Stray Kids’ rollout so far, giving them an effective pre-debut reality series with an accompanying mixtape album composed of all of that show’s featured songs. And now we’re on our second “performance” video, which is basically just a less-complex version of typical k-pop music videos. By the … Continue reading
Infinite’s long-awaited comeback resulted in the title track Tell Me, which divided opinion on this site and others. It’s taken from the group’s third full-length album, Top Seed, and kicks off a string of ten other newly released songs. Just like with 2016’s Infinite Only, I’m here to offer my thoughts on every single one … Continue reading
It’s been almost two years since we’ve heard from NCT U, and that in itself illustrates some of the frustration with SM Entertainment’s NCT project. When the concept was first announced, we were promised an ever-expanding roster of units, but 2017 only afforded opportunities for NCT 127 and NCT Dream to promote. I love both … Continue reading
Over the past few years, the Korean wave has seemed to slow in Japan. That’s begun to change as some of k-pop’s biggest acts make an overseas push. Twice is certainly leading the pack, enjoying instant success with October’s One More Time. And that’s really no surprise. Both their sound and image are perfectly positioned … Continue reading
Korean comebacks from individual members of 2PM can sometimes seem superfluous. This isn’t because they’re unwelcome, but because they’re often re-releases of already existing Japanese material. The guys are so popular in the j-pop world that their most exciting material tends to be released internationally. Such is the case with Going Going, which was originally … Continue reading
As Block B have progressed to a new stage in their career, their comebacks seem to alternate between the raucous hip-hop/pop of their past and more pensive balladry. November’s Shall We Dance brought the party vibes, and new single Don’t Leave (떠나지마요) follows it up with the inevitable come down, casting the group in a … Continue reading
Convoluted k-pop release schedules have now gotten to the point where an entire album can be considered “pre-debut.” Such is the case with Stray Kids’ Mixtape, which includes buzz single Hellevator and six other tracks featured in their variety survival series. I’m curious if the group will tackle drastically different material upon their official debut, … Continue reading
Late last spring, Momoland were rescued from obscurity by member JooE, whose blissfully hyperactive performance during an EDM remix of the group’s single Wonderful Love went viral. Though Momoland released another mini album soon after, they haven’t fully capitalized on this notoriety until now. The girls have always promoted light, upbeat material, but BBoom BBoom (뿜뿜) … Continue reading
Kriesha Chu made her solo debut mere weeks after her stint on last year’s final season of K-Pop Star. There isn’t a whole lot of precedent for successful female solos in the idol driven k-pop industry, unless their style leans heavily toward ballads or indie r&b. But the youthful pop of Trouble offered a different … Continue reading
To be honest, the combination of Eric Nam and “winter ballad” doesn’t exactly pique my interest. Nam is one of k-pop’s most amiable personalities, and I’ve often argued that he’s at his best when he’s harnessing that charm to deliver light uptempo pop. Ballads are already at risk of becoming overly sentimental, and coupled with … Continue reading
Over the past few months, LOONA’s pre-release tracks have taken on an edgier, synth-kissed style that positions the girls just outside the mainstream. This has cultivated an ever-increasing buzz among international fans, but hasn’t led to any substantial commercial success. From the trendy sound of Heart Attack, it seems as if new member Chuu is … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! 24 Hours (from For You – 2015) Coming off Dilemma’s hard rock stomp, 24 Hours reverted to a much more standard j-pop sound for their second original Japanese single. The song is overlong by about a minute, but it’s refreshing to hear Infinite … Continue reading
Currently, Snuper have become more popular in Japan than their native Korea. And while I’m happy for their success, this presents a problem when it comes to their music. While their Sweetune-produced k-pop material has been consistently fantastic, their j-pop sound feels worlds away. I’ve never really liked it when a group pursues such different … Continue reading
Debuting an idol group in the month of December is an interesting choice. On one hand, the whole k-pop industry seems to slow to a crawl this time of year, meaning that there just aren’t as many eyes attuned to new releases. But on the plus side, a debut has a better chance of standing … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Wings (from First Invasion – 2010) Though Infinite would go on to have an easily defined sound, their debut mini album was actually pretty diverse. Wings takes them into drum-skitter, early 00’s pop r&b, which is a surprisingly solid fit for their talents. … Continue reading
No matter the issues I’ve had with the second half of DAY6‘s Every DAY6 project, I’ve got to hand it to the guys for seeing it through to the end. Not every group can manage to release new singles every month of the year, complete with professionally shot music videos. It was an ambitious project … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Waiting For The Moment (from Air – 2017) Though I’m sure it was not designed as such, Waiting For The Moment has become Infinite’s swan song as a seven-member group. As such, its sound and message are fitting. The group hasn’t recorded all … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Voice Of My Heart (from Evolution – 2011) Most of Infinite’s early ballads tend to follow a certain formula akin to typical Korean OST releases. Voice Of My Heart is a perfect example, with its ornate sound and melodic base. It’s sentimental to … Continue reading
Now that three of its most popular members have completed their mandatory military service, Super Junior is wasting no time re-establishing themselves in multiple markets. This includes new material from sub-unit D&E, consisting of members Donghae and Eunhyuk. This duo has been a reliable source of upbeat, party-starting music in the past — most notably … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Time (Woohyun solo) (from Over The Top / Be Back – 2011) Woohyun has what is possibly my favorite voice in all of k-pop — an impossibly rich and commanding tone that can power dance tracks just as well as classic ballads. … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 