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. U-Know’s first mini album True Colors … Continue reading
Thus far, I’ve found Cherry Bullet’s music to be pretty hit or miss. They don’t have a large discography, and their title tracks tend to tackle vastly different sounds, making it feel that FNC Entertainment is trying everything they can in pursuit of a hit. But, this versatility has pushed the group toward K-pop’s retro … Continue reading
Chungha’s months-long rollout of singles has nearly reached its conclusion, with an album release just around the corner. Even if the quality of these singles has been mixed at times, I’ve been very impressed with their versatility and Chungha’s development into a well-rounded artist. New single X (걸어온 길에 꽃밭 따윈 없었죠) continues to grow … Continue reading
It’s a brave new world for fans of Johnny’s Entertainment. Once restricted solely to physical media, the agency has slowly dipped their feet into the digital market, making edited versions of music videos available on youtube and even supplying streaming platforms with the discography of the now-retired Arashi. The company recently announced that it would … Continue reading
After a debut year highlighted by an addictive deep house sound, AB6IX’s music faced growing pains in 2020. And with the departure of their leader, it felt like the group was at a crossroads. This resulted in a pair of comebacks that were polar opposites of one another, leading me to question exactly what AB6IX … Continue reading
U-Know’s second mini album is themed around the movies, with a series of cinematic teasers leading up to the release of new single Thank U. Known as a passionate performer, he’s the perfect conduit for an ambitious project like this, and his old-school sense of showmanship is always welcome in the K-pop industry. Thank U … Continue reading
With over 3,000 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
Former YG Entertainment trainee Youha debuted last year with Island, which honestly wasn’t anywhere near my radar. But… introduce synthwave production and you’ve officially got my attention! Similar to Yubin’s Perfume (also released today), comeback track Abittipsy (오늘 조금 취해서 그래) brings Youha’s sound right in line with K-pop’s retro synth craze. And, it does … Continue reading
With K-pop’s retro trend continuing to chug along, artists like Yubin stand to benefit most. After all, she’s been tackling city pop before it was popular, with songs like 2018’s Lady. And while she briefly explored her hip-hop side with last year’s Yaya, new single Perfume (향수) brings her back to sharp, icy synth textures. … 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. When reviewing Victon’s What I Said yesterday, I mentioned how I … Continue reading
Though still mostly-unknown, boy group E’Last has gained admirers with their unique symphonic sound. Both of their singles have felt refreshing within a stale boy group landscape, though I don’t think the group has yet harnessed their full potential. Underwhelming melodies have caused both Swear and Tears of Chaos to fade quickly from my playlist. … Continue reading
YG Entertainment’s Treasure blitzed the K-pop market last year with the release of three singles. Throughout this process, they developed a malleable hip-hop sound, though many of their tracks had challenges bringing together disparate genres in a compelling way. For the release of their first full album, the guys have opted for a lighter, more … Continue reading
Whatever I may think about (G)I-DLE’s music, I can always appreciate their ambition. They commit to their concepts, and leader Soyeon’s composition skills ensure that their title tracks feel consistently them regardless of the genre. Unfortunately, more often than not their songs just don’t connect with me. Oftentimes, I find their work to be heavy … Continue reading
SixTONES have been taking advantage of their popularity with a veritable marathon of releases. A single in November, a full album in January and another single coming up next month. Johnny’s Entertainment does this occasionally with its acts, and it’s always a nice way to build momentum. New single ST arrives on the heels of … Continue reading
Rookies MCND quickly established their sound in 2020 – a playful blend of energetic hip-hop and trendier boy group tropes. Their music was at its best when it embraced its inherent goofiness (Ice Age remains a guilty pleasure), and new single Crush (우당탕) returns to that tone. The song is more of an extension than … Continue reading
I was beginning to wonder if Jeong Sewoon would ever return with the follow-up to part one of his album 24. But with a title representative of his (Korean) age, I suppose the second half had to come out before his May birthday. Dividing the album in parts allows for a contrast of sounds, and … Continue reading
Ex-Rainz member Hong Eunki has released several solo singles, though I’ve yet to cover any of them on this site. But 2021 is only a few days old, and there just hasn’t been much music released yet. On&On benefits from this desolate slate. All eyes and ears are ready for something new. So, does Eunki … Continue reading
Whether related to the pandemic or not, SM Entertainment’s reach into the Japanese market seemed to stall in 2020. I’ve always considered them one of the few K-pop agencies that really put an effort into their J-pop discography, with incredible catalogs from Girls’ Generation, TVXQ, SHINee and EXO. Last year’s release slate was relegated to … Continue reading
Back in November, woo!ah’s boisterous Bad Girl attempted to deliver the edgy girl crush energy of 2020. It was mostly successful, despite a few musical diversions that chipped away at the song’s consistency. Now, like any ambitious rookie group, the girls have returned with a follow-up single from their latest album. I Don’t Miss U … Continue reading
Rain’s 2020 has been a story of resurgence, as his ridiculous 2017 single Gang unexpectedly rose to fame and he became one third of retro pop pastiche SSAK3. JYP’s 2020 has seen him embracing his own history, including collaborations with some of the artists he’s mentored over the years. Switch To Me (나로 바꾸자) brings … Continue reading
