It’s been over a year since IN2IT’s last comeback. While none of their material has bowled me over so far, I’ve felt a special kinship with the group ever since running into them at a Target store (!). In some ways, they feel like MNET’s forgotten child, given short shrift in favor of Produce 101-spawned … Continue reading
Prior to their full group debut today, Fanatics’ sub-unit Flavor delivered a quirky little synthpop song last November that hinted at interesting things to come. But as is the case so often with K-pop, the group has opted for a safer sound when it comes to their debut title track. Sunday is upbeat, bubblegum fare … Continue reading
Neither of JBJ95’s past title tracks were instant hits with me, but both proved to be growers over time. While trendy, their music doesn’t feel like typical idol fare, focusing on sentiment over performance-driven gimmicks. This approach isn’t very flashy, but it’s well suited to a vocalist/rapper duo like them. New single Spark (불꽃처럼) shimmers … Continue reading
I never reviewed Pink Fantasy’s 2018 debut, but I was definitely aware of the group. They’re hard to miss, as one of their members is obscured by a horror-show bunny mask that will apparently remain affixed to this “mystery performer” until Pink Fantasy reaches the number one spot on Billboard. So in other words, this … Continue reading
Oh My Girl are no stranger to the summer single, gaining popularity with their 2016 cover of K-pop classic A-ing. New single Bungee (Fall In Love) arrives as a repackage title track, contrasting May’s lush The Fifth Season with a more straightforward blast of upbeat pop. As someone who prefers when the group steers a … Continue reading
Over the past year or so, I’ve found myself more disconnected with Seventeen’s music. Their once unique blend of old-school funk and killer song construction threatened to be overtaken by current musical trends. I feared that they were losing what made them special in the first place. As a group who co-writes all of their … Continue reading
Boy group TRCNG has been M.I.A since the start of 2018, making them the male rookie with the longest hiatus — at least where groups from notable agencies are concerned. Of course, TS Entertainment has always been a mess. I fear that their mismanagement has sabotaged TRCNG before the guys even had a chance to … Continue reading
With over 2,600 songs on my iPhone’s “K-Pop Singles” playlist, I thought it would be fun to add a bit of unpredictability to my song review posts. So as a result, we have the “Random Shuffle Review” feature. The rules are simple. I fire up my playlist, press “shuffle,” and whatever song plays first gets … Continue reading
With over 2,600 songs on my iPhone’s “K-Pop Singles” playlist, I thought it would be fun to add a bit of unpredictability to my song review posts. So as a result, we have the “Random Shuffle Review” feature. The rules are simple. I fire up my playlist, press “shuffle,” and whatever song plays first gets … Continue reading
After a July with few newcomers, the ‘Year of Debuts’ rolls on with an August release schedule already flush with rookies. Leading the charge is Happyface Entertainment’s D1CE, composed of long-suffering trainees who have all been involved with survival series such as Produce 101, MIXNINE and BOYS24. This is the new reality for a lot … Continue reading
Girl group Busters have been around since 2017, but this is the first time I’m writing about them here. As with most rookies from small agencies, their music has tended to blend in with the crowd, lacking any discernible identity of its own. This is despite a unique origin story. The group was formed to … Continue reading
Rookie group VERIVERY have spent nearly a year recreating the same title track with slightly different variations (or are they VERI-ations?). But once you accept that, their songs are a blast. In a sea of trendy musical mush, their brand of high-energy new jack swing is needed more than ever. The group’s new single album … Continue reading
With over 2,600 songs on my iPhone’s “K-Pop Singles” playlist, I thought it would be fun to add a bit of unpredictability to my song review posts. So as a result, we have the “Random Shuffle Review” feature. The rules are simple. I fire up my playlist, press “shuffle,” and whatever song plays first gets … 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. For casual fans already confused by the NCT system, NCT Dream’s … Continue reading
Given the pedigree of JYP Entertainment, ITZY were never going to be anything but an instant smash. Still, the girls have exceeded already-high expectations, delivering one of 2019’s only bonafide idol group blockbusters in Dalla Dalla. While much of the Korean charts have been clogged with ballads and r&b this year, ITZY’s unabashedly ballsy K-pop … 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. After the shellacking I gave Kang Daniel’s debut title track, you … Continue reading
Since venturing out into solo territory, SHINee’s Taemin has split his discography equally between Korea and Japan, maintaining a consistent level of quality regardless of the language he performs in. This is good news for fans, as it means we get new Taemin music regularly. His effortless charisma draws attention no matter what sound he … Continue reading
I’ve spent too much energy this month complaining about songs produced by Devine Channel. Between 1Team’s Rolling Rolling, Kang Daniel’s What Are You Up To and EXO-SC’s very own What A Life, this production team has played a big part in this July being one of the worst K-pop months I can remember. So, I … Continue reading
With little attention from the K-pop industry as a whole, idol band The Rose seems to have cultivated a dedicated international fan base — enough for the group to launch tour dates around the world. They may only have a few singles under their belt, but the band has already spawned a solo album from … Continue reading
It’s been almost a year since the last proper NCT Dream comeback, though with the way the ever-rotating NCT system works these long hiatuses never feel quite as endless. New single BOOM also acts as the first promoted song under the group’s six-member configuration. With Mark graduating from Dream at the end of 2018, the … Continue reading
