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
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Deja Vu (from 4 Walls – 2015) Deja Vu is all about texture. Its synth backbone has a retro 8-bit appeal – fizzy and scuzzy but undeniably cool. This continues into the catchy pre-chorus, which utilizes a brighter synth note to distinguish … 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
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Dangerous (from Pinocchio / Hot Summer – 2011) An undeniable product of SM’s patented SMP sub-genre, Dangerous pounds forward on crunchy rock guitar and icy synth accents. It’s a stomping good time, allowing the girls a chance to truly vamp it up. … 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. I can appreciate LOONA’s Why Not for what it is, but … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Cowboy (from 4 Walls / Cowboy – 2016) As experimental as J-pop can be, it feels like a wasted opportunity that Cowboy is f(x)’s only original Japanese track. As such, it’s got a lot to live up to. The song doesn’t disappoint, … Continue reading
A week after Rania was resurrected from K-pop purgatory, an even more surprising comeback has occurred. Boy group MVP debuted in March of 2017 with the excellent Take It… and then never returned. After a stint on survival (“rebooting”) series The Unit, the group seemed to disappear from the face of the earth, destined to … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Chu~♡ (from Chu~♡ – 2009) As f(x)’s first comeback, Chu worked to extend the idiosyncratic electro-pop sound that had marked their debut. Its herky-jerky instrumental and seesawing hook combine to create a strange little pop truffle. Essentially, the song is an incredibly … Continue reading
Thus far, CRAVITY’s promotional schedule has included duel concepts. Their title tracks opt for a harder-hitting dance pop style, while their follow-ups embrace the lighter side of boy group fare. The latter has offered greater opportunity to deliver solid pop melody, making it my preferred sound for the group. And though I would have enjoyed … Continue reading
When it comes to the priorities for an AleXa comeback, the actual song seems to come about third or fourth on the list. The music video and performance are clearly the stars here, which is fine. But, as someone who listens to K-pop more often than watching the songs’ accompanying videos, this approach can be … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Chocolate Love (from Chocolate Love – 2009) Released by both f(x) and Girls’ Generation with different themes and arrangements, this “electro-pop” version of Chocolate Love is more suited to my personal taste. It comes across like many of SM’s girl group tracks … Continue reading
Last we heard from boy group D-CRUNCH, they were crunching our ears with the aggressive Pierrot. That song didn’t do much to differentiate them from the pack, but they’ve stuck to their guns with the almost-as-noisy Across The Universe (비상(飛上)). This track brings stronger textures to the table, but reinforces an exhausting trend that’s affected … Continue reading
Weeks before making his military enlistment, Crush has released a mini album with a fun concept. With Her pairs the soloist with a different female artist for each track. I think this is a wonderful idea, as each collaborator could bring out a different part of his artistry, while potentially challenging themselves as well. The … Continue reading
True to JYP form, Stray Kids have proven to be real workhorses this year. Just over a month after their last Korean comeback (which they’re still promoting), they’ve dropped the music video for their new Japanese single. All In follows this spring’s standout TOP, and heralds the release of their first Japanese mini album. Like … Continue reading
I have great affection for the members of Mamamoo, yet it’s been ages since I’ve loved one of their singles. Their music has always had a tongue-in-cheek, comical aspect, and that willingness to poke fun at themselves has become one of their charms. But, this approach has also made some of their comebacks feel a … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Cash Me Out (from 4 Walls – 2015) Melding an abrasive electro beat with a steady kick and a big, floor-filling chorus, Cash Me Out is an invigorating slab of quirky EDM. It doesn’t really get going until its bonkers post-chorus drop … Continue reading
To this day, my absolute favorite NCT track remains 2016’s Without You. That song spotlighted vocalists Doyoung, Taeil and Jaehyun without resorting to the kind of piano ballad usually reserved for vocal-driven tracks. In my mind, there are far more interesting ways to showcase your vocalists than a traditional ballad. Anthemic synth-rock is only one … Continue reading
2020 has defied expectations at every turn, but one thing I never expected to see is a B1A4 comeback. For me, B1A4 are one of K-pop’s definitive groups, with an incredible catalog of music. But, it’s been over three years since they’ve graced K-pop with a new album. The release of Origine follows a reconfiguration … Continue reading
Fans have had to wait ages between LOONA comebacks, but 2020 marks the first year the group has released multiple albums. Why Not? follows February’s So What, which steered the girls in a more brash direction. Judging from the songs’ titles alone, you get a sense of how both might sound. They thrive on a … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 