Around this time last year, AMPERS&ONE debuted with the ebullient On And On, setting expectations for a bright, exciting discography. This year’s follow-up Broken Heart swerved in a different direction, muddying those same expectations. That song grew on me a bit but felt like an overall dip in quality. Thankfully, new single He + She … Continue reading
Over the past few years, Purple Kiss have flirted with quite a number of genres. Their singles run tends to bounce between negative and positive reviews on this blog. I prefer their more melodic tracks, especially given the strength of their vocalists. New single On My Bike offers a bit of everything, melding their various … Continue reading
Pre-release tracks aren’t necessarily meant to become the biggest hit of an artist’s career, but aespa’s Supernova surprised everyone by lodging itself at the top of the charts for the better part of the year. Karina’s recent solo track Up seems to be doing the same, adding to aespa’s red hot ascent. Now, the full … Continue reading
*This was originally a “buried treasure” review, but now that we have an official mv, it’s been changed to a “song review” post. My rating hasn’t changed. It’s been quite some time since a Seventeen album has captured me, and new release Spill The Feels (such a cheesy title) is unlikely to break that trend. … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Crush (from The Awakening – 2017) GFriend’s music was often bolstered by new jack swing elements even if it never pushed definitively in that direction. Crush is the closest they got, tying a mystical tone to funky percussion that gives the song … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Crossroads (from Labyrinth – 2020) What I said then: “My central issue with Crossroads is that it’s just too lightweight. Yes, there are string sections aplenty swirling around the bulk of the song, but the percussion is too thin and inconsequential to … Continue reading
After years of infrequent releases, the BLACKPINK members have blitzed the market with solo singles over the past few weeks. Some of these have featured international stars, like Lisa’s duet with Spanish pop queen Rosalía. Now, it’s Rosé’s turn to join forces with a global hitmaker, pairing up with Bruno Mars for the quirky, irreverent … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Contrail (from The Awakening – 2017) There will be some songs in this feature that have already received short write-ups as part of other reviews, but I don’t plan to reference those old thoughts while writing about them this time. It’ll be … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Compass (from LOL – 2016) LOL was a great debut album and holds up very well – especially within its sugary pop genre. Compass is pure sweetness, underlined by a propulsive beat that builds to an astounding chorus. The synth percussion has … Continue reading
This spring, 82MAJOR’s Choke impressed with its addictive hip-hop production, but its lackluster hooks were quickly overshadowed by a similarly-themed comeback from fellow boy group YOUNITE. Still, the guys showed promise as hip-hop idols and new single Stuck (혀끝) seeks to capitalize on that sound. The instrumental isn’t quite as addictive this time around, but … Continue reading
Fresh off their snoozy pre-release R.E.M, Kiss Of Life are back with the title track from their new album. Get Loud ratchets up the energy and throws back to mid-2000’s R&B/dance sounds. The song wouldn’t sound out of place on a girl group album from that era, and that’s a solid direction for this group … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Cocktail Love (from Sugar Man 3 OST – 2020) So, this is technically a remake track featured on the (very great) variety show Sugar Man, but my K-pop A-Z feature is nothing if not comprehensive. Despite this cover being released in 2020, … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Click (from LOL – 2016) Early in their career, GFriend’s music could occasionally get a bit cutesy. Click’s exuberant cheerleader chants won’t be for everyone, and it doesn’t help that the song opens with them. However, the rest of the track offers … Continue reading
A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. 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. It’s a fun time to be … Continue reading
As their career progresses, XG have moved between two major modes: hip-hop and club music. Often, there are elements of both in their music, but songs like Something Ain’t Right and New Dance leaned heavily into melodic house influences. New single IYKYK builds upon this approach, adding smooth R&B-style vocals that give it a sleek, … Continue reading
I never got a chance to write about BEWAVE’s debut Sing! earlier this year. That song didn’t do much for me, but I heard potential from this young group. New single Hard To Get To You (너에게로 가는 길이 너무 어려워) moves toward fulfilling that potential, unveiling a surging sound that’s refreshingly anthemic in its … Continue reading
Despite consistently releasing new music, AB6IX have struggled to recapture the buzz of their debut era. Instead, they’ve expanded their sonic palette, exploring a variety of genres with generally strong results. 2021’s funky Cherry was one of those successes and new single NVKED echoes that upbeat energy. NVKED has an effusive, bounding instrumental, pulsing with … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Ave Maria (from Parallel/Rainbow – 2017) Oh, I like this track a lot. It opens with an addictive freestyle synth loop that borrows from the 80’s while still managing to sound completely current. The verses have great drive in the classic GFriend … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Apple (from Song Of The Sirens – 2020) What I said then: “Given 2020 K-pop’s urge to shift styles every three seconds, Apple is a remarkably consistent track. Its various elements lock together flawlessly, though the entire thing hits at the same … Continue reading
Over the years, Jay Park has found a successful formula collaborating with female artists. He’s had hits with IU and Kiss Of Life’s Natty and now he’s paired with Chungha for a funky single that brings out the best in his music. I’m one of those listeners who swears on Joah and So Good being … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 