Of all the Wanna One members, Ha Sungwoon never really caught my attention. Yet, his solo career has gone from strength to strength. He’s proving himself a great pop songwriter with surprising versatility. And, I love the funky route his title tracks have taken. Forbidden Island (그 섬) continues this arc, thriving on a hearty … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! La Cha Ta (from La Cha Ta – 2009) Given their penchant for off-kilter, experimental material, what could an f(x) debut possibly sound like? Well, flash back to 2009 and you’ll find La Cha Ta. There are certainly touches of what would … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Kick (from Pink Tape – 2013) The Pink Tape album is full of interesting textures, and Kick unveils its aggressive electronic assault immediately. It’s an abrasive track, melding hard-hitting rap with all manner of synth samples. The pre-chorus slows things down for … Continue reading
It’s no secret how much I adored Sexy Zone’s Run. That song felt like the climax to years of musical growth for the group. And immediately after its release, fans were treated to the announcement of member So Matsushima rejoining the group after a nearly two year hiatus. New single Not Found finds Sexy Zone … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Jet (from Electric Shock – 2012) Right from the start, Jet pulls no punches. We get a brilliant ascending introduction that quickly segues into a hard hitting verse. I love the electro beat during this segment. The melody is all over the … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! …Is It Ok? (from Hot Summer – 2011) I’ve always loved Is It Ok’s introductory instrumental. It primes the listener for a big, grandiose show that materializes gradually as the rest of the song unfolds. The ornate production is perfectly paired with … Continue reading
Berry Good are a resilient bunch. It’s been over a year since their last comeback, and when you’re talking about a lower-profile group that kind of a hiatus can be very anxiety-producing. But, the girls are back with new single ACCIO (presumably named after the magic spell in Harry Potter). Upon hearing the first teaser, … Continue reading
Though they debuted with little hype, Secret Number caught my attention with strong vocals and a song that took advantage of that skill. I haven’t played Who Dis? all that often since its release in May, but I still have a soft spot for its straightforward arrangement and hearty delivery. New single Got That Boom … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Goodbye Summer (ft. D.O.) (from Pink Tape – 2013) Certain summer songs succeed on a sense of wistfulness, and Goodbye Summer nails that sentiment. The track is little more than strumming guitar and airy harmonies, but its simplicity works. This is a … Continue reading
Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, 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. Though I Can’t Stop Me is the undisputed highlight of Twice’s … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Glitter (from 4 Walls – 2015) Glitter is an exuberant track, bursting with a sense of positivity right from the start. Its bright synths have an energy similar to the theme song of a children’s tv show, but this is countered by … Continue reading
I don’t usually write about song covers, but ATEEZ and Halloween seem like too good a match to pass up. Several months ago, they reinvented Turbo’s 90’s hit Black Cat as part of the series Immortal Songs. Now, they’ve recorded a proper studio version and paired it with a big-budget performance video. The result is … Continue reading
When it comes to pop music, I’ve always followed producers. In fact, that approach became one of the biggest reasons I first got into K-pop. I followed producer Thomas Troelsen, who I’d always admired from his work with Scandinavian acts (including his own brilliant group Private). I mention this because The Midnight Romance’s music and … Continue reading
Full disclosure: I’m not much of a gamer. And, I don’t really find the idea of virtual/avatar pop stars to be appealing (hello, æspa!). So, while everyone else was raving about Pop/Stars two years ago, I was mostly oblivious to the hype. For those like me, the K/DA project is a virtual girl group themed … Continue reading
Though they released Only One last December, it’s been over a year since JBJ95 have come back with an album. The duo have proven themselves adept at delivering melodic pop tracks, and I think their work is at its best when it conjures a sense of nostalgia. New track Jasmin takes them in a more … Continue reading
In a day of debuts, P1Harmony are here to make themselves known with the powerful Siren. Hailing from FNC Entertainment, the group follows in the footsteps of agency seniors SF9, who have grown into a very successful act in their own right. And though P1Harmony lack a ton of pre-debut hype, they did appear in … Continue reading
After an incredibly strong debut year, I began to worry about TXT. Visuals and lore aside, it felt like Big Hit was pushing them too hard to sound like agency-seniors BTS, rather than embracing the group’s unique strengths. This hit a sour note with May’s Can’t You See Me, which felt like a junior version … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Diamond (from 4 Walls – 2015) 4 Walls is an incredible album start to finish, but Diamond feels like one of its lesser moments. That’s certainly not due to a lack of trying. The song’s vocal arrangement is incredibly interesting, layering the … Continue reading
This year’s retro synth revival continues to spread around the globe, and that includes Japan. Exile Tribe has always had a retro flair, rooted most deeply in the early-90’s, so it’s no surprise that one or more of their groups would pick up this baton and run with it. However, Fantastics have never attempted a … Continue reading
Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, 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. Seventeen’s Home;Run is a fun return-to-form for the group. I may … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 