After LOONA dissolved and re-formed as acts like Loossemble and ARTMS, Yves made her solo debut earlier this year. The stylish Loop offered plenty of potential but succumbed to so-so songwriting that failed to leave much of a mark. Now, she’s back with the Viola and she’s brought the beat with her. As soon as Viola … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Letter In My Pocket (from Pokémon the Movie XY&Z: Volcanion and the Exquisite Magearna OST – 2016) Of course GFriend recorded a Pokémon OST! I mean, who better to do that? Better yet, it was released during their stellar 2016 run, drawing … Continue reading
I adored Lovelyz while they were active, but I don’t think I fully appreciated them until their style of lush, melodic girl group pop fell out of favor. Nowadays, there simply isn’t a K-pop group like them. The industry’s musical focus has changed so completely, leaving their discography as an enticing time capsule. Today, it’s … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! La Pam Pam (from Fallin’ Light – 2019) Previous Thoughts: “The first few moments of La Pam Pam are absolutely divine. Eunha delivers a gorgeous solo that opens the track on a mysterious note. I don’t think the higher part of her … Continue reading
Album repackages are common in K-pop, but it’s been four months since the original release of ENHYPEN’s latest album, making this revisit feel more like a brand new comeback. No Doubt continues the laidback vibe of its predecessor XO (Only If You Say Yes), upping the tempo a bit but refusing to break free of … Continue reading
Last week, NCT Dream unveiled pre-release Flying Kiss, which was… half a good song. Its verses and chorus existed on a different plane from one another, but its best moments offered a peek at what we might hear on the group’s full album. Title track When I’m With You never hits the heights of Flying … Continue reading
I’ll rave about Ryugujo to anyone who will listen. Their Deep Wave EP earlier this year is among the most exciting pieces of music released in 2024 and I have similar hopes for their first full album later this month. Lead track Urashima is more ‘statement of intent’ than full song, making it a curious … Continue reading
Pre-releases have become incredibly common this year in K-pop — particularly from the big agencies. NCT Dream’s album isn’t out quite yet, but they’ve surprised us with new track Flying Kiss during the lead-up to promotions. The song showcases the lighter side of the group, offering a soft burst of pop buoyed by a standout … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Here We Are (from Labyrinth – 2020) We’re slowing things down again with a lovely mid-tempo track. The opening verse does little for me, but Here We Are climaxes in a beautiful, layered chorus. The melodies aren’t much to write home about, … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Hear The Wind Sing (from The Awakening – 2017) GFriend flirted with the tropical trend every once and awhile and Hear The Wind Sing definitely has hints of that sound in its percussion. However, its brilliance is adding strings to its house … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! GRWM (from Walpurgis Night – 2020) What I said then: “GRWM isn’t quite as disco as the three tracks that precede it, but it offers a shot of adrenaline that fits GFriend well. It’s got that galloping electro beat I love so … Continue reading
I’ll confess this right at the top: despite enjoying Yesung quite a bit as a performer, I nearly didn’t listen to this new solo track at all. My bias (and his musical history) had me expecting a specific type of ballad that just isn’t my thing. I very rarely have much to write about these … Continue reading
I feel like I must open every new DAY6-related review by mentioning just how well the group has done this year. It’s insane to see so many of their singles running up the charts — both old and new. Korea is clearly in love with their sound, more than any other time in the past … Continue reading
Boy group EPEX have taken the unusual route of releasing two full-length albums this year. And when we add new title track Universe to the list, the guys will have promoted a total of five (!) songs with music videos in 2024. That’s quite prolific. Not all the material has been equally great, but this … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Gone With The Wind (from LOL – 2016) With a cinematic title like Gone With The Wind, you just know this is going to be good! Indeed, it’s one of my highlights from the LOL album. The song opens with a peppy … Continue reading
Today, Minho becomes the final SHINee member to release a full studio album. New material from SHINee is always something to cheer about, but in the past Minho’s work hasn’t often been targeted to my taste. He tends to prefer more downbeat, vibes-driven material. New single Call Back adds a driving beat, but its tone … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Glow (from Time For Us – 2019) GFriend never explored roller rink disco pop as often as they probably should have, but each and every effort is a standout. Their vocals lend themselves very well to this style, backed by shimmering synths … Continue reading
Earlier this year, Moon Jongup reunited with three other ex-B.A.P members for “Bang & Jung & Yoo & Moon,” but he’s also been active as a soloist. New single Twist Ya follows last year’s slinky X.O.X, adding a healthy dose of synthwave to give the track extra flavor. Though it doesn’t break any new ground, … Continue reading
It’s been seven years since I last got to write about new G-Dragon music. To call him foundational to my own K-pop fandom would be a vast understatement. From his work with Bigbang to his solo material, G-Dragon is K-pop for me. With an album set for release next month, he’s finally returned with pre-release … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Flower (from Fallin’ Light – 2019) What I said then: “As with many J-pop tracks, Flower’s melody is pretty long-winded, taking several different refrains and melding them into one intricate chorus. Because of this, the song lacks the direct and immediate impact … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 