Red Velvet have had an incredible year so far, dominating (to varying degrees) both the winter and summer with mega-hits Rookie and Red Flavor. The latter felt like a true watershed moment, made even more impressive by its killer selection of b-sides. With Peek-A-Boo (피카부), the group has teased a combination of their “red” and … Continue reading
At this point, the tag team of Snuper and Sweetune has built up such good will that I’m bound to enjoy anything the two collaborate on. I love it when a group finds the perfect producer to steer their sound and actually sticks with them long enough to establish a cohesive discography. Snuper may have … Continue reading
Before he was known as part of Produce 101’s “Avengers team,” Samuel was one half of underrated retro act 1Punch. Debuting in early 2015, the one-and-done duo released the fantastic New Jack Swing of Turn Me Back. It’s a sound I’ve always wanted Samuel to return to, and Candy (캔디) sees him doing just that. … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Monster Time (from Telemonster OST – 2015) One of the more idiosyncratic entries in Infinite’s discography, Monster Time was recorded for the soundtrack of an animated kid’s show. That explains some of the bizarre lyrics. But as the group matures in sound … Continue reading
Woollim Entertainment has more than their share of managerial issues (when is that fabled Infinite comeback, again?), but one thing I’ve always appreciated is that they develop a strong, recognizable sound for their artists. Rather than jump from trendy producer to trendy producer, a group like Lovelyz has largely stuck with quirky production team One … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Memories (from Season 2 / Be Back – 2014) Memories is the kind of song that sneaks up on you. It’s not immediately impressive as it floats along a warm, mid-tempo groove, but its modest arrangement is carried out with such verve … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-side tracks deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. Seventeen continues to impress with their latest album, even if … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Love Of My Life (from For You – 2015) Infinite’s original Japanese work has often been a testing ground for new sounds, and Love Of My Life points toward a very promising direction. The guys go full lighters-in-the-air power ballad here, complete with … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-side tracks deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. SM Entertainment’s releases have been somewhat scattershot this year (along … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Just Another Lonely Night (from 24 Hours/For You – 2015) Infinite’s original Japanese material has been hit and miss, with some of their b-sides eclipsing the actual singles. That’s the case with Just Another Lonely Night, which opens with an addictive vocal … Continue reading
With Dramarama, I think Monsta X have given k-pop its most awesome song title of the year. The word alone is so ridiculously overblown, conjuring a sense of rock opera action movie bombast (or maybe just “jazz hands”). It’s delightfully tongue-in-cheek — except this is k-pop, so of course it’s not actually tongue-in-cheek. My biggest … Continue reading
Over the past few weeks, k-pop has enjoyed a much-needed resurgence of proper choruses. And though EXID never quite fell victim to the trend of instrumental riffs masquerading as hooks, there were a number of times during new single DDD (덜덜덜) that I feared the song may take that dreaded, melody-averse turn. But then again, … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Julia (from Over The Top/Paradise – 2011) Julia’s most indelible hook has no words, leading the track with a nonchalant, almost disconnected delivery. But the rest of the song is no slouch, either. The falsetto-driven chorus is a real treat, as is … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Inception (from Destiny – 2013) With a title like Inception, you might expect something truly mind-bending. The song doesn’t go that far, but it is one of the most unique entries in Infinite’s catalog. Driven by a slinky synth loop and mid-tempo groove, … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! I Like You (from Infinitize – 2012) Though 2012’s Infinitize was led by one of the group’s most bombastic singles, the actual album is much more laid-back in nature. I Like You strikes a nice balance between the era’s more acoustic leanings and a … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! I Don’t Know (from Evolution – 2011) One of Infinite’s most aggressively energetic tracks, I Don’t Know blasts forward on a blend of frantic electronics and crunchy guitar reminiscent of 90’s j-pop and video game soundtracks. That all sounds like a recipe … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Hysterie (from Evolution – 2011) Built upon flashes of rhythm guitar, big brass flourishes and enough nimble bass to power several songs, Hysterie stands as one of Infinite’s funkiest tracks. That it came so early in their career is impressive, and that … Continue reading
As a sub-unit, the Odd Eye Circle trio have delivered the LOONA project’s most interesting music to date — so much so that I almost wish these three would promote together on a permanent basis. LOONA itself has had such a lengthy roll out, and it remains to be seen whether all the build-up will … Continue reading
To say that Super Junior’s ascent as elder statesmen of k-pop has been a graceful one would be wishful thinking. With multiple controversies sidelining several members, it feels like this upcoming comeback’s very existence is a minor miracle. And though there may only be seven of the once thirteen-member group promoting this time around, the … Continue reading
In 2017, Twice has continued to dominate charts and secure their position as the number one girl group in Korea. But neither of their singles this year packed quite the impossibly contagious, long-lasting effect of their opening Like Ooh-Ah/Cheer Up/TT trilogy. This can be traced directly to production duo Black Eyed Pilseung, who sat the … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 