A week after Kim Lip’s Can You Entertain, the Odd Eye Circle solos continue with fellow ARTMS member JinSoul. Ring Of Chaos exists in a similar musical world, harnessing throwback elements for a breezy, understated pop track. Though I wouldn’t fully call Ring Of Chaos new jack swing, it borrows rhythms made popular in the … Continue reading
It’s hard to tell what Hearts2Hearts are aiming for during their debut year. Are they the new-gen SNSD redux many of us hoped for? Or, are they a moodier prospect with subdued sounds befitting K-pop’s current landscape? They can be both or course, but I’m craving a strong musical identity from the start. New title … Continue reading
TXT are about to release their third Japanese studio album, making them well-established within the territory. Their albums have featured a mix of new material and Japanese re-recordings of Korean tracks, and this time we’ve got a proper lead single as well. Can’t Stop pulls from an addictive 80s sound and offers a peak at … Continue reading
1. Head Shoulders Knees Toes // 2. Overdrive // 3. Hot Blue Shoes // 4. Caffeine Rush // 5. Overthinking // 6. Here For You HERE FOR YOU Fan songs are an integral part of an idol group’s discography, and they’re at their best when they’ve got some heft to their melody and production. TWS … 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. NMIXX’s first full album is very … Continue reading
1. Head Shoulders Knees Toes // 2. Overdrive // 3. Hot Blue Shoes // 4. Caffeine Rush // 5. Overthinking // 6. Here For You OVERTHINKING We’re back in highlight territory as the album moves toward its finale. When Overthinking was first teased, I commented that it sounded like “Lucky To Be Loved in the … Continue reading
ARTMS’s trio of Odd Eye Circle members are set to release new singles one by one and first up is Kim Lip. She asks us the very pertinent question: “Can you entertain?” Almost every idol or group can release their version of a trend or a trope, but actual entertainment involves more than simply tracing … Continue reading
Someone needs to calculate just how many times the schoolboy/schoolgirl concept has been used in J-pop. That would be impossible, of course, as it’s become one of the industry’s leading tropes. It still works, partly because the idols themselves are young enough to sell it but mostly because it’s an experience the vast majority of … Continue reading
1. Head Shoulders Knees Toes // 2. Overdrive // 3. Hot Blue Shoes // 4. Caffeine Rush // 5. Overthinking // 6. Here For You HOT BLUE SHOES I’m not sure what a “hot blue shoe” is, but it definitely paints an image in your head. If you thought TWS got hip-hop out of their … Continue reading
To be honest, I skip past a lot of idol-turned-soloist releases. Every once and awhile you’ll get something that feels artistically different, but nine times out of ten you’re usually in store for a sentimental ballad or a mid-tempo r&b/rock/pop track — especially if a big agency is behind it. Pentagon’s Kino made his solo … Continue reading
Over three years since their debut, NMIXX have finally released their first full album. And with twelve tracks, JYP Entertainment isn’t skimping on the occasion. Pre-release Spinnin’ On It built hype earlier this month and now Blue Valentine is here to remind us just how strange the group’s music can be. “Mixxpop” isn’t something that’s … 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. I’ll confess that I haven’t given … Continue reading
This blog gets a bit confusing when dealing with artists like BamBam. Nothing about new single Wondering is technically “K-pop,” as the song is performed in Thai and English. However, BamBam made his name with popular K-pop group GOT7 so I tend to consider him “part of the family,” if you will. Regardless of where … Continue reading
Twice are no strangers to fan songs. In fact, their career has been one long ode to their fans. I can’t think of another group who has consistently catered to fans’ taste and musical expectations as well as Twice have. That’s not to say they haven’t experimented here and there with sound and style, but … Continue reading
Thus far, BABYMONSTER have followed the tried and true YG Entertainment formula, releasing a bunch of seemingly disparate digital singles eventually cobbled together into a mini or full album. This new comeback feels much more typical of K-pop: a title track and a few new b-sides. They’re not even tacking their summer single Hot Sauce … Continue reading
With over 5,000 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 … Continue reading
After breaking into the big leagues last year, QWER have been a reliable fixture on the Korean charts. Korea loves a rock band with a quirky, indie sound and QWER fill a void. As far as chart success is concerned, they feel like the female DAY6 at the moment. In addition to their off-kilter material, … Continue reading
After a slew of singles, newcomers HITGS are finally releasing their first mini album. The Chuseok holiday is a very odd time to do so, but they’re out with new title track Happy today. So far, their music has been pitched to a young audience, at times sounding like something you’d hear on a children’s … 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. One thing’s for sure: the entire … Continue reading
As we enter the pre-Chuseok holiday period, new K-pop releases are bound to slow down. However, that doesn’t affect Japanese releases from K-pop idols since they don’t have to worry about Korean music shows being cancelled. i-dle are taking advantage of this with new J-pop single Where Do We Go (どうしよっかな), which paints a summery … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 