Taeyeon publicly stated that 2020 was going to be a year for her to focus on her mental health, so kicking it off with the release of Dear Me (내게 들려주고 싶은 말) seems fitting. The song leads a repackage of her October album, and is a hopeful wish for her own personal strength. It’s … Continue reading
Boy group ENOi debuted last spring with the deep house track Bloom. I didn’t get a chance to review the song, but thought it was a decent – if super generic – offering. Like I always say, being a rookie is all about standing out and crafting a style all your own. Bloom did neither … Continue reading
Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. ATEEZ have finally wrapped up their Treasure series and, suitably, their … Continue reading
Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. I’m still not quite sure how I feel about VERIVERY’s Lay … Continue reading
VERIVERY were one of my top three rookies of last year, and much of that had to do with their distinct new jack swing sound. But, like almost every boy group in the history of K-pop, 2020 sees them “maturing” that sound into edgier territory. Not only have they switched styles, but they’ve brought in … Continue reading
The release of a group’s first full-length album is a big deal, but the roll-out for SF9’s First Collection has felt simultaneously rushed and muted. Today was an especially confusing landmark, as we received the track list, highlight medley and music video all within hours of each other. And, the album’s not even out until … Continue reading
Unlike many music markets around the world, K-pop rarely promotes follow-up singles beyond a special performance or two. That’s why I was surprised to see teasers for Dongkiz’s All I Need Is You. I neglected to feature this song as a buried treasure back in November, but now I don’t have to because it joins … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! 3.6.5 (from XOXO / Growl – 2013) 3.6.5 feels like a good track to end this (seemingly endless) K-Pop A-Z segment. It’s not a complicated or groundbreaking song, but it’s an unusually potent burst of pop energy within EXO’s discography. The track … Continue reading
Well, this song came out of nowhere! Boy group Cross Gene is facing a diminishing roster, with member Takuya the latest to exit in pursuit of new challenges within the entertainment industry. The group now stands as a quartet, and leader Shin Wonho is thankfully still among their ranks. Though he’s more well-known for his … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! White Noise (from Ex’Act / Lotto – 2016) The first thing you’ll notice about White Noise is its odd, herky-jerky percussion that feels as if its constantly fighting to keep up with itself. This helps to forge experimental verses that take a … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! What If… (from Exodus / Love Me Right – 2015) As someone who came of age in the 90’s, I have a total soft spot for this kind of r&b slow jam. For those of us who might remember, the vocal hook … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Unfair (from Sing For You – 2015) Promoted as a sub-title track alongside Sing For You, Unfair finds EXO at their least guarded, offering a loose arrangement perched over a swinging, piano-infused instrumental. The song gives the guys a chance to showcase … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Two Moons (ft. Key) (from Mama – 2012) As EXO’s earliest rap song, Two Moons had a precedent to set. To help accomplish that, the track enlisted SHINee’s Key as a counterpoint to Kai, Chanyeol and Sehun. I’m not sure he was … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Trauma (from Love Shot – 2018) Trauma is a slick funk groove in a discography full of them, and could be easily forgotten because of that. And truthfully, EXO has released better songs of this genre before. But Trauma is not to … Continue reading
We’ve been inundated with ballads lately, and they’re making me sleepy. Down-tempo December is nothing new, but K-pop seems especially subdued this winter. Even most of its holiday-themed tracks have been on the slower side. And really, there’s only so much that you can do with a standard Korean ballad. We know the template well. … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Transformer (from Exodus / Love Me Right – 2015) With a militant hip-hop beat and distorted electronics, Transformer stands as one of EXO’s more aggressive tracks. It’s also one of their most fascinating. The verses are phrased with hip-hop flow even when … Continue reading
Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. There are so many K-pop introduction tracks that I wish were … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Touch It (from The War / The Power Of Music – 2017) EXO’s The War/The Power of Music album was filled with great grooves, and Touch It’s placement near the end means that it could get lost in the shuffle. However, right … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Thunder (from Overdose – 2014) Thunder has a wonderfully late-90’s/early-00’s throwback appeal. It’s an uncluttered pop/r&b track with a straightforward groove and subtle use of symphonic synths. This provides ample opportunity for EXO to showcase their vocals. Members like D.O. and Baekhyun … Continue reading
Over the course of their two-year history, Stay Kids’ releases have existed as a pair of trilogies. Last year, the I Am series opened with the dramatic District 9 and concluded with the more subdued I Am YOU. Though the genre elements have changed, the group’s 2019 Clé trilogy has followed almost the same trajectory, … Continue reading
