Momoland had a stellar 2018, propelled by the surprise smash of their hit Bboom Bboom and its copy-and-paste follow-up BAAM. Now, the real test begins. Having one breakout single is one thing, but forging a consistently successful career is quite another. Just ask Crayon Pop. Now that the girls have found a template that works … Continue reading
In this day and age, I’m always impressed if I can get through a K-pop title track without a single trendy synth flourish. The tropical squiggles of yesteryear have warped into moodier, filtered electronics that instantly signal generic 2019-era tropes. Even some of my favorite singles of the last year aren’t completely immune to this … Continue reading
In an overcrowded market of idol dance groups, soloist Jeong Sewoon has found a niche with his acoustic-meets-pop sound. After a double-header of uptempo singles, last summer’s nuanced 20 Something was an oddly restrained transition. But with new single Feeling, Sewoon returns to the groovy, guitar-driven style that first gained him post-Produce 101 attention. Just … Continue reading
When it comes to girl group DIA, each comeback feels like a minor miracle. I’m not sure they’ve ever released new material that hasn’t suffered some sort of delay or change. Though it’s not their fault, the group’s atrocious management has made it difficult for them to gain a stranglehold on K-pop’s notoriously fickle market. … Continue reading
This time last year, NCT had already delivered an exciting yearbook project that saw the release of no less than four singles (with more to come). In comparison, 2019 has been downright barren. In fact, SM Entertainment’s 2019 schedule has been exceedingly light, relegating to a pair of SHINee-related solos and a few other ballads. … Continue reading
You’ve got to feel sorry for Lee Gikwang. What an absolutely terrible time for him to make a comeback. Korea is reeling from a host of scandals that have already taken down fellow Highlight member Junhyung. I can’t imagine many of his fans are in a celebratory (or even supportive) mood. And as his last … Continue reading
At the rate we’re going, 2019 might just set the record for having the most K-pop debuts. While the year has been relatively underwhelming so far, a rush of new acts has helped to buoy the industry. And with the arrival of Everglow, we’ve got yet another compelling girl group to add to the scene. … Continue reading
I’m in love with the idea behind The T-Bird and The Pink Ladies — two project groups taking on a musical theater concept. K-pop is ready for some new sounds, and this conceit has the potential to be really fun. The Pink Ladies’ God Girl was a great first step, and has only grown more … Continue reading
I often feel that, if given complete creative freedom, most idols would release nothing but ballads and coffee-shop style acoustic tracks. For a fan of megawatt pop music, this suspicion is a little depressing, and only reinforces the over-played idea that only some musical styles hold real artistic merit. Perhaps this is why I’ve struggled … Continue reading
So, let me get this straight, 100%. You’re going to tackle a retro concept and not give Sweetune a call? I mean, talk about a missed opportunity! For a few brief months in 2016-17, the guys met their perfect producer match in the form of Sweetune. After parting ways, their music has become the definition … Continue reading
Mamamoo’s new album completes their colors concept, in which the group released material each season and matched it with a defining color. Gogobebe (고고베베) arrives right at the tail end of winter, but it’s not the style of song you’d expect from this time of year. Rather than close their series with a big, sweeping … Continue reading
For me, the single most important thing a rookie group can accomplish during their first few releases is the establishment of a core sound. Even if their songs blur together when it comes to style and melody, an overall brand can work wonders when it comes to developing a loyal fan base. GWSN are following … Continue reading
In a year that’s seen K-pop’s new guard begin to supplant its old guard, what could be more welcome than the long-awaited return of ex-2NE1 member Park Bom? And better yet… she’s not alone! Spring (봄) features fellow 2NE1er Sandara Park, reuniting the two after what seems like an endless wait. But… the excitement doesn’t … Continue reading
DreamNote’s self-referencing debut won quite a few fans, but I found its performance too over-caffeinated for its own good. This hyper-excited style seems to be part of the groups’ overall concept, so I can’t really fault them for adhering to it. New single Hakuna Matata (하쿠나 마타타) is not a cover of the Lion King … Continue reading
Epik High have been a staple in the Korean music scene for as long as I can remember, and their brand of emotive hip-hop has a timeless feel that is immune from trends. Over the past few years, their title tracks have taken on a more melancholic vibe, and that culminates in the downbeat Lovedrunk … Continue reading
Cube Entertainment has a history of successful sub-units. Both Trouble Maker and Triple H brought together artists from different groups and gave them bold material to forge new avenues in their careers. Wooseok x Kuanlin is the latest in the agency’s sub-unit history, pairing Pentagon’s (very tall) rapper and Wanna One’s (very popular) youngest 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 wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. When looking at an album, one of the first things I … 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 wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. Dongwoo’s double title tracks split opinion on this site, but I’m … 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 wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. I wouldn’t have expected it, but I am fully aboard the … Continue reading
Korean trot is a very specific genre, and with that specificity comes limitations. You pretty much know what you’re going to get out of a trot song. Whether you enjoy it or not will likely depend on your mood. I’m always up for some Hong Jin Young in variety shows (she has one of my … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 