One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Diamond (from Be Back – 2014) Challenging Between Me And You for the title of Infinite’s best ballad, the stirring torch song Diamond provides the perfect spotlight for the group’s dynamic vocals. The instrumental drops percussion entirely, framing the track with a … Continue reading
Tag Archives: rating 9
K-Pop A-Z: Infinite – Destiny
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Destiny (from Destiny – 2013) Barring their debut, Infinite had worked with Sweetune for every title track up until Destiny, making the switch to in-house producers Rphabet a big gamble. And while Rphabet strips much of the lush melodic touch that had … Continue reading
K-Pop A-Z: Infinite – Cover Girl
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Cover Girl (from Paradise – 2011) Of all the group’s album tracks, Cover Girl feels best positioned to become an actual promoted single. Stuffed to the brim with bright synths, the song kicks off with full energy from the start. The beatbox … Continue reading
K-Pop A-Z: Infinite – Come Back Again
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Come Back Again (from First Invasion – 2010) As with many k-pop acts, Infinite’s debut offered a sound they would rarely revisit. Crafted by producer Hitchhiker (more often known for his work with SM), Come Back Again’s iconic funk guitar riff frames … Continue reading
K-Pop A-Z: Infinite – Close Your Eyes (Woohyun solo)
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Close Your Eyes (Woohyun solo) (from Season 2 / Be Back – 2014) Woohyun would later release an entire solo album of ballads in 2016, but Close Your Eyes outdoes them all with its sense of good old fashioned drama and chest … Continue reading
Song Review: Highlight – Can Be Better
Highlight’s new mini-album is released in honor of their eighth year together — a feat for any k-pop group. Of course, Highlight itself only “debuted” earlier this spring, but the guys are rightfully including their time together as Beast. Can Be Better (어쩔 수 없지 뭐) follows up on the incredible success of March’s Plz … Continue reading
K-Pop A-Z: Infinite – BTD (Before The Dawn)
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! BTD (Before The Dawn) (from Evolution – 2011) After the lightness of Come Back Again and She’s Back, Sweetune took Infinite down a darker, more aggressively produced route with the bombastic BTD. The song’s opening synth klaxon is among the group’s most iconic … Continue reading
Song Review: UP10TION – Going Crazy
UP10TION have much to make up for after the disappointingly generic tropical track they returned with last June. For awhile, it felt as they were making a quick ascent to the upper levels of k-pop boy groups, but even though their sales remain impressive, 2017 has seen their buzz begin to stall. Going Crazy (미치게 … Continue reading
K-Pop A-Z: Infinite – Between Me and You
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Between Me and You (from Reality – 2015) In the running for Infinite’s best ballad, the rock-tinged Between Me and You is one of the strongest vocal showcases in the group’s entire discography. Growing from an organ-like synth, the opening verse builds tension … Continue reading
K-Pop A-Z: Infinite – Bad
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Bad (from Reality – 2015) Though its simple chant of a chorus was initially disappointing for a group who had made their name on the strength of such indelible melodies, Bad’s hip-hop inspired arrangement is bolstered by the symphonic grandiosity that drives … Continue reading
K-Pop A-Z: Infinite – As Good As It Gets
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! As Good As It Gets (from New Challenge – 2013) Sweetune had been working with Infinite for years before As Good As It Gets was recorded, and by this time the production team had full mastery of how to utilize the guys’ … Continue reading
K-Pop A-Z: Infinite – An Inconvenient Truth
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! An Inconvenient Truth (from New Challenge – 2013) Long before the tropical trend hit maximum impact, An Inconvenient Truth’s bright synths brought an island sound to k-pop. Though the song’s lyrics have been derided by many, there’s no denying the strength of its … Continue reading
Buried Treasure: B1A4 – You Need Me
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. Judging from commentary online, B1A4‘s Rollin‘ comeback has disappointed a … Continue reading
Song Review: B1A4 – Rollin’
There are few “sure things” in k-pop. but the beauty of a self-produced group is that you can be assured of some sense of musical consistency. B1A4 has been that group for the better part of their career, driven primarily by the songwriting prowess of members Jinyoung and CNU. Leader Jinyoung has been in charge … Continue reading
Buried Treasure: ONF – Difficult
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. There have been some big name rookies already this year, … Continue reading
Song Review: Girls’ Generation (SNSD) – All Night
SM Entertainment has promised a second half of the year that sees a return of some of its biggest legacy artists. That kicks off with the tenth anniversary comeback of Girls’ Generation. It’s been two years since the girls’ last album, and this extended wait has built up plenty of anticipation. As enjoyable as the … Continue reading
Buried Treasure: EXO-CBX – It’s Running Time!
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. Thank god for EXO-CBX. Even when EXO itself veers toward … Continue reading
Song Review: Snuper – The Star Of Stars
Over the past year and a half, underrated group Snuper have gone from strength to strength, solidifying a signature sound and cultivating a growing fan base. They were never going to be an act who hits it big right out of the gate. For the most part, their music bucks current trends in favor of … Continue reading
Buried Treasure: EXO – What U Do?
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. If the executives at SM Entertainment had put me in … Continue reading
Buried Treasure: Red Velvet – Zoo
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. Red Velvet‘s Red Summer mini album is so strong that … Continue reading