Infinite’s long-awaited comeback resulted in the title track Tell Me, which divided opinion on this site and others. It’s taken from the group’s third full-length album, Top Seed, and kicks off a string of ten other newly released songs. Just like with 2016’s Infinite Only, I’m here to offer my thoughts on every single one … Continue reading
Tag Archives: rating 9
Song Review: EXO – Electric Kiss
Japanese releases by k-pop artists can be very hit and miss, but if any agency has managed a consistently solid j-pop catalog for their artists, it’s SM Entertainment. They’ve nurtured massive success overseas with TVXQ, Girls’ Generation and SHINee in particular, and for awhile I’ve wondered why EXO haven’t been given the same Japanese spotlight. … Continue reading
Buried Treasure: Stray Kids – School Life
Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-side tracks deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of k-pop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. When Stray Kids makes their official debut later this year, … Continue reading
K-Pop A-Z: Infinite – Shower
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Shower (from Season 2 / Be Back – 2014) Closing out the Be Back album with a shot of energy, Shower marked the first time Infinite collaborated with producers Iggy and Seo Yongbae. The song is a fan-favorite, and for good reason. … Continue reading
K-Pop A-Z: Infinite – Shot
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Shot (from Inspirit – 2011) One of Infinite’s strongest b-sides, Shot never once lets up. From the opening, explosive refrain, the song is a jolt of pure energy. Sweetune ups the presence of electric guitars, fusing them to an aggressive dance beat … Continue reading
K-Pop A-Z: Infinite – She’s Back
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! She’s Back (from First Invasion – 2010) As Infinite’s first single with Sweetune, She’s Back set the stage for what would follow over the next four years. The song is relentlessly cheerful, melding 80’s power pop with the kind of soaring vocals the … Continue reading
K-Pop A-Z: Infinite – Moonlight
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Moonlight (from Reality – 2015) Infinite have only worked with producers Seo Young-bae and Iggy two times, but both collaborations have resulted in absolute knockouts. Strong enough to be a title track, the strings-driven, disco-kissed Moonlight is one of the group’s best … Continue reading
K-Pop A-Z: Infinite – Lately (White Confession)
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Lately (White Confession) (from Lately – 2011) Some things just go perfectly together, and Sweetune + Christmas is one of them. Lately supplies Infinite with the kind of surging, ultra-melodic pop sugar rush their first few years were built on, but by adding … Continue reading
Song Review: Sonamoo – I (Knew It)
It took them awhile, but girl group Sonamoo have finally released two fantastic, back-to-back singles. This summer’s Friday Night was an unexpected, disco-infused treat, but I (아이) ups the ante by pulling influence from k-pop’s past. The song may have been produced by one half of the ubiquitous e.one production duo, but its dramatic, brass-spiked … Continue reading
Song Review: Seventeen – Clap
Though the emotional EDM of May’s Don’t Wanna Cry was far from Seventeen‘s usual sound, it ended up being one of the year’s biggest growers. And as the group led up to their second full album with a string of sub-unit releases, fans were promised an evolving, newly matured style. But this is Seventeen, who … Continue reading
Song Review: Super Junior – Black Suit
As part of their preparations for their first comeback in over two years, Super Junior have been releasing a documentary series online. If you’ve been watching, you’ll already have a pretty good idea of how Black Suit sounds. Upon hearing the first clip a couple of weeks ago, I feared that the song might be … Continue reading
Buried Treasure: Twice – 24/7
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-side tracks deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. As much as I’ve enjoyed Twice’s singles, I’ve never pegged … Continue reading
K-Pop A-Z: Infinite – In The Summer
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! In The Summer (from Infinitize – 2012) A staple of their live shows, In The Summer‘s warm acoustic nature is Infinite at their least guarded. The song steps away from the high-tempo dance pop that characterizes most of their work, but maintains … Continue reading
Song Review: Astro – Crazy Sexy Cool
Ever since their debut, Astro has stuck with a lighthearted, ultra-pop sound. This is one of the reasons I’ve been so excited about their music. Many boy groups seem to be intent on showing how hard and edgy they can be, but with Astro it feels like the song and melody come before the posturing. … Continue reading
K-Pop A-Z: Infinite – Going To You
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Going To You (from Destiny – 2013) At their best, Infinite’s unique vocal blend can soar to truly majestic places. Going To You is one of the strongest examples of this. Building slow from a soft gallop of percussion, the track soon … Continue reading
K-Pop A-Z: Infinite – For You
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! For You (from For You – 2015) Though For You may not have been produced by Sweetune, it brought back a certain funky lightness that had been missing from many Infinite tracks by the time December of 2015 rolled around. The song’s … Continue reading
K-Pop A-Z: Infinite – Follow Me
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Follow Me (from Season 2/Be Back – 2014) One of the most underrated tracks in Infinite’s arsenal, Follow Me is a captivating blend of ornate strings and thrilling tempo shifts. Kicking off at a gallop, the first verse swells with a beautiful build … Continue reading
Buried Treasure: BTOB – Finale: Our Concert
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-side tracks deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. When it comes to ballads, I love it when groups … Continue reading
Buried Treasure: Highlight – Celebrate
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-side tracks deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. As should be the case with any celebration, Highlight’s new … Continue reading
K-Pop A-Z: Infinite – Dilemma
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Dilemma (from Dilemma – 2015) As Infinite’s first original Japanese single, Dilemma had a lot to live up to. The guys took a hard swerve into heavy metal with the instrumental’s guitar crunch and percussive stomp. It’s a transformation that works surprisingly … Continue reading