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. While BoA’s Better doesn’t have quite as many highlights as 2018’s … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Stand Up! (from Pinocchio / Hot Summer – 2011) Stand Up is the kind of cheery girl group song you’d expect of most K-pop acts. It actually feels a little more suited to the Japanese market than Korea. The melody is bright … Continue reading
I’ve been a little hard on NCT lately, but that’s only because I find their concept so promising. It borrows quite a bit from systems that the J-pop market has been using for ages, but has the potential to bring a uniquely K-pop aesthetic to the approach. That potential has popped up here and there … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Spread Its Wings (from God Of Study OST – 2010) A sub-unit track recorded for the God Of Study OST, Spread Its Wings brings together Luna, Krystal and Amber for a mushy mid-tempo that sounds exactly as you’d expect it to. For … 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. Song for song, ENHYPEN’s debut mini album is perfectly solid. However, … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Spit It Out (from Red Light – 2014) Spit It Out’s introduction is quite exciting, unveiling an ascending bed of synths and vocals. This quickly collapses into an off-kilter rap before segueing into a rapid-fire melodic verse. The song moves at such … 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 Kai’s debut mini album isn’t exactly the sound I’d hoped … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Sorry (Dear.Daddy) (from Nu ABO – 2010) This song title does not inspire confidence. Despite considering Madonna’s Papa Don’t Preach one of the finest pop songs in history, these kind of daughter-to-father tracks are usually way too sentimental for me. And, that’s … Continue reading
After getting done in by a firing squad in their last music video, ONEUS have moved full circle with the bright, funky BBUSYEO (뿌셔). How’s that for versatility? This marks the group’s first digital single release and arrives days after their first online concert. And really, a song like BBUSYEO is tailor-made for a concert … Continue reading
K-pop legend BoA has returned with her tenth Korean album, celebrating twenty (!) years since her debut. That kind of career is rare for any pop star, but the K-pop industry tends to be extra fickle. The fact that BoA remains such a dynamic presence is a testament to her skill, charisma and willingness to … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! So Into U (from Pinocchio / Hot Summer – 2011) So Into U has that classic “wet” sound I always associate with certain producers like Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and that alone gives it some welcome nostalgia. As far as the … Continue reading
A week after unveiling pre-release song Breath, GOT7 have made their official comeback with Last Piece, the title track to their fourth full-length album. Breath didn’t exactly fill me with anticipation, but the teasers for Last Piece hinted at a grittier instrumental that felt fresh and exciting. The entire song doesn’t quite live up to … Continue reading
After recapping each and every episode of this summer’s I-LAND, I feel a strange sort of kinship to ENHYPEN. This comes despite the fact that I rarely enjoyed the music that came out of that series. Still, the guys have plenty of potential, and that fact that they’re bolstered by the support of Big Hit … Continue reading
EXO’s Kai has been primed for a solo debut for years now. As one of the group’s most dynamic performers, it feels like the sky’s the limit when it comes to the showstoppers he could deliver on his own. And, the pre-release teaser film for his debut album harnessed that theatricality in exciting ways. Yet, … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Snapshot (from Pink Tape – 2013) The intro to Snapshot is among the cheesiest moments in f(x)’s discography, but it establishes the song’s vampy sound well. The jazzy verses have a vaudevillian appeal to them, though I’ve never been a huge fan … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Signal (from Pink Tape – 2013) Those who are loving K-pop’s current dalliance with disco music will find plenty to admire about Signal. From its wispy strings to its indelible groove, the song bumps with the best of them. Its instrumental remains … Continue reading
For reasons I’m still not entirely clear on, J-pop idol group Keyakizaka46 has renamed and rebranded itself as Sakurazaka46. Apart from some member changes earlier in the year, the reboot hasn’t really affected their general sound. Ahead of their first single release in early December, the girls are blitzing fans with multiple music videos. They’re … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Shadow (from Pink Tape – 2013) Shadow emerges as track two in the Pink Tape album, and has always suffered in comparison to Rum Pum Pum Pum. Under the hood, the song is almost as experimental, but the overall arrangement is much … Continue reading
With eighties synth sounds currently in vogue, Bullet Train feel like the perfect J-pop match for the sound. Given their exuberant – often goofy – dance style, they’re uniquely positioned to capitalize on the cheesier side of the era. And all it takes is one look at the delightful outfits in the music video for … Continue reading
Some melodies are so instant and insistent that you come away from the very first listen with the hook rattling around in your head. This is often referred to as an “earworm,” and Japanese group BuZZ’s Sun and Love is the mother of all earworms. These guys have been around for a few years, but … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 