Apart from their ‘girl in a mask’ gimmick, not much about Pink Fantasy’s discography has remained consistent. Their music swings pretty wildly between sounds, though a creepy sense of unease ties everything together. Still, I think the group hit the sweet spot with 2019’s rock-fueled Fantasy. It’s a shame that follow-up singles jettisoned this style … Continue reading
**This post has been updated with the official music video now that the song is being promoted as a follow-up single!** After a drought of strong K-pop albums, this week has delivered a host of great b-sides. As much as I love a knockout comeback track, an equally-great album makes the whole experience so much … Continue reading
After the massive success of Rollin, Brave Brothers had a singular goal for Brave Girls: make them the new Queens of K-Pop Summer. And honestly, it’s about time! Ever since Sistar left the throne vacant, no group has made a convincing bid to take the crown. Yes, there have been individual tracks that dominated the … Continue reading
Lucy were my biggest personal K-pop discovery last year. I usually prefer K-pop’s more dance-oriented material since it seems most different to the pop music I grew up with, but Lucy are the perfect idol band package. They’ve got incredible vocals, excellent songwriting, an unusual instrument (in this case, a violin), and an endearing ‘never-take-ourselves-too-seriously’ … Continue reading
While I’ve never counted UP10TION among my personal favorite idol groups, they’ve elbowed their way into my year-end top ten list a couple of times. Their singles tend to be hit or miss — but when they hit, they hit big. Funny enough, Spin Off encapsulates this contrast into one song. It boasts many excellent … Continue reading
A K-pop group’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’ve been watching season two of … Continue reading
A K-pop group’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. In a surprising turn of events, … Continue reading
Back on release day, I mentioned how TXT’s 0X1=LOVESONG could “go either way” when it came to longevity. I’m happy to say the song has grown more addictive over the past two weeks – so much that it probably deserves a retroactive spot within my top three songs of May. Follow-up track Magic is also … Continue reading
Like so many debuts, Cube Entertainment’s LIGHTSUM includes members already familiar through survival series like Produce 48 and The Unit. But in K-pop’s overcrowded market, it takes more than familiarity to guarantee success. And with agency-mates (G)I-DLE as popular as ever, it’s important that LIGHTSUM’s music doesn’t overlap too much. Despite its uninspiring title, Vanilla … Continue reading
EXO were the second group featured in my “K-pop A-Z” project. In late 2019, I took a deep dive into their discography and reviewed each and every track. Because of this, any new material will also become part of that page, meaning it’s time for another “in-depth album review” for the newly-released Don’t Fight The … Continue reading
To put it bluntly, I haven’t enjoyed a single song WEi have released since debut. But, idol groups are often at the whim of their producers, and switching collaborators can totally change a team’s sound. New single Bye Bye Bye pairs the guys with MosPick, who’ve proven themselves reliable purveyors of upbeat boy group pop. … Continue reading
EXO were the second group featured in my “K-pop A-Z” project. In late 2019, I took a deep dive into their discography and reviewed each and every track. Because of this, any new material will also become part of that page, meaning it’s time for another “in-depth album review” for the newly-released Don’t Fight The … Continue reading
EXO were the second group featured in my “K-pop A-Z” project. In late 2019, I took a deep dive into their discography and reviewed each and every track. Because of this, any new material will also become part of that page, meaning it’s time for another “in-depth album review” for the newly-released Don’t Fight The … Continue reading
Despite selling well, Ha Sungwoon’s comebacks never seem to garner all that much attention or discussion. But he’s been remarkably consistent, releasing a string of very strong singles. New track Sneakers (스니커즈) follows suit, harnessing a bright, optimistic melody perfectly suited for summer while managing to filter many of his influences into one consistent song. … Continue reading
With four members currently enlisted in the military, EXO have released their first album in nineteen months. Don’t Fight The Feeling arrives with much anticipation, including my own. As one of my gateways into K-pop, EXO hold a special place in my heart – so much that I’ve written about every single track they’ve released! … Continue reading
Seemingly out of nowhere, NCT 127 announced a collaboration track with the talents behind independent label Amoeba Culture. It’s an unexpected pairing, but not an unwelcome one. With many of NCT’s tracks being outsourced to international talent, it’s satisfying to hear the group tackle a song crafted by well-known Korean producers. Save arrives courtesy of … Continue reading
A K-pop group’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’ve seen GWSN compared to f(x) … Continue reading
Though fans had to suffer through a long hiatus as he found his footing with a new agency, B.I has been prolific this year. Back in March, he released his debut solo single. That was followed by a pre-release last month, and now a full album. I suppose this is one of the benefits of … Continue reading
Rather than take an expected route for her solo debut, Red Velvet’s Joy has released an album of covers. She reinvents songs of the past few decades, including title track Hello (안녕). This is a cover of Park Hye-kyung’s 1999 hit Goodbye, and mostly opts for a straightforward interpretation. But, I’m delighted to hear her … Continue reading
With the release of their second album, TXT have embarked upon a new “Chaos” chapter. This was preceded by a very cool teaser video that delivered the kind of inventive performance and concept K-pop excels at. But true to form, the tone and energy of that ice storm teaser is completely different than title track … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 