Lee Hongki’s 2015 solo album was a surprisingly diverse affair. It may have been led by a big, theatrical ballad in the vein of his group’s 2012 hit Severely, but the b-sides offered a range of sounds that dabbled in dance and synthpop. In other words, it was exactly what a solo album should be … Continue reading
It may seem like DAY6 have cornered the market on emotive idol rock, but The Rose are slowly building a passionate fan base that positions them well for future releases. However, I still need more convincing before I jump on the bandwagon. April’s Baby offered a flash of potential, undercut by its affected vocals and … Continue reading
Sistar’s Hyolyn released two of this summer’s highlights, which shouldn’t come as a surprise. Her performance style is perfectly suited to the season. But as we transition to fall, it’s Soyou’s turn to shine. Her music has always carried a more relaxed vibe, and her breathy tone acts as an ideal autumnal soundtrack. With All … Continue reading
Though Girls’ Generation don’t often promote as a full group anymore, SM Entertainment has leveraged their success for a variety of solos and sub-units. This has mostly consisted of albums by leader Taeyeon, but now it’s time for Yuri to take a shot at solo stardom. Apart from her work with the group, she’s found … Continue reading
I didn’t review Noir’s debut track — mostly because it felt more like noise than an actual song — but I’m always up for a new rookie group. And by making it to a second mini album, Noir have already released more material than many of their newly-debuted peers. From its title alone, it’s hard … Continue reading
The tried-and-true melancholic hip-hop ballad has been a staple of YG Entertainment’s discography for many years, but it feels like it’s been a while since we’ve heard a new one. Goodbye Road (이별길) fits neatly within this template, and is the first real ballad iKON has promoted since 2015’s Apology. Road makes a nice bookend … Continue reading
With new Korean enlistment laws going into effect, VIXX are approaching that precarious moment when some of its members will have to take an extended leave from the group. Whether the guys enlist one at a time or all together, Reincarnation will likely be their final 6-member Japanese comeback for awhile. It’s no surprise that … Continue reading
With over 2,300 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 the … Continue reading
Thinking back to K-pop’s most successful debuts, one factor remains the same. If you’re supported by a big agency, your chances of breaking through skyrocket. Everyone else has to fight for scraps, with the odd act making a name for themselves via a combination of perfect timing and luck. New boy group Lucente faces an … Continue reading
Lately, it feels like SM Station has become an extended teaser for that new EXO album we’ve all been waiting for. It’s hard to believe that, six years into their career, we’ve yet to see fully-promoted solos or sub-units from the group other than EXO-CBX. With mandatory military enlistment looming, I think this will change … Continue reading
I want to love Hoya’s solo music. His charisma brought a unique aspect to Infinite‘s sound, but I don’t bear him any ill-will for choosing to leave the group last year. And judging from the styles he’s pursued since then, idol dance pop was never really his thing anyway. This is where our musical tastes … Continue reading
As Kiwi Pop’s first idol group, GWSN feel as if they’ve materialized out of nowhere. Their name is an acronym for a Korean phrase translating to “Girls in the Park,” but becomes hopelessly difficult to remember when stacked up against the many other four-letter K-pop acronyms (WJSN, SNSD, YDDP, WJMK, etc). Nevertheless, the group has … Continue reading
JYP Entertainment’s halfhearted management of Jimin Park the Recording Artist has resulted in her becoming better known as Jimin Park the After School Club Host. It’s understandable for the agency to shift focus to guaranteed money-makers like Twice and GOT7, but Jimin has a talent that really should be nurtured. She’s a dynamite r&b vocalist, … Continue reading
Jeong Jin Woon’s solo material has always been a welcome, rock-tinged counterpoint to K-pop’s usual blend of hip-hop and dance. The guy’s got a whole lot of swagger, and a gritty tone to back it up. New single All I Need Is You switches things up, presenting an experimental soundscape heard more often in indie … Continue reading
Few K-pop artists can spark my interest in the quintessential melancholic Korean ballad, but Infinite’s Woohyun wields one of my favorite voices of all time. Impossibly rich and incredibly emotional, it’s a tone that elevates anything it touches. Ballads are his bread and butter, but I’ve got to admit… I’ve always preferred Woohyun the dance-pop … Continue reading
It always cracks me up when a group’s press release proudly declares that they’ll be venturing into a new sound, only to have that sound turn out to be something that literally every other group has already adopted. Such is the case with 100%, who are the latest to (misguidedly) ditch producers Sweetune in favor … Continue reading
When JYJ’s Jin Longguo unveiled his first pre-release as a solo artist last June, I figured that its downbeat r&b was simply a stepping stone to more intriguing sounds. After all, pre-releases are often less ear-catching than fully promoted title tracks. But Friday n Night continues down a similar route, embracing an understated style that … Continue reading
Stray Kids have become a real toss-up group for me. I loved their debut mini album from start to finish, and still think that District 9 is one of the year’s top singles. However, the recently released I Am WHO has not clicked with me at all. Even title track My Pace, which initially earned … Continue reading
There really isn’t a precedent for the kind of music an act like Shinhwa should be releasing. It’s been an astonishing twenty years since their debut, making them K-pop’s longest-running idol group. At this point, their sound could go in any number of directions. I would have expected new single Kiss Me Like That to … Continue reading
At the risk of alienating their passionate base of fans, I’m not sure if LOONA and I will ever fully click. I get why they’re popular — the ambitious roll-out, the interconnecting storylines, the endless fan theories — but it’s been awhile since their actual music lived up to that hype. FavOrite was a promising … Continue reading
