Cosmic Girls (WJSN) debuted with a pretty airtight sound, melding the trends of the day with a spacey, synth-filled style in keeping with their group name. Over the past two years, they’ve briefly dipped into muddle waters, with last year’s Twice-esque Happy being the most jarring detour. But with Save Me, Save You (부탁해), they’ve … Continue reading
The Unit may not have drawn huge ratings, but the series has spawned a universally solid run of singles. This is surprising, as I wouldn’t normally trust a huge conglomerate like KBS to select songs that are anything more than cynical commercial endeavors. Both UNB and UNI.T’s releases haven’t exactly reinvented the wheel, but they’ve … Continue reading
News are in the midst of celebrating their fifteen-year anniversary, though the group currently looks quite different than it did when they debuted in 2003. But though the years have whittled them down to a four-piece, their lengthy career is quite admirable. Few pop groups last even half this long. And to help mark this … Continue reading
Back in March, GOT7 became Exhibit A in my diatribe about messy K-pop verses. Their Look was only half a great song, with its memorable chorus waylaid by all the atonal posturing around it. Hearing teasers for new single Lullaby convinced me that it would be more of the same, but this time the guys … Continue reading
Lately, it feels like SM Station has become an extended teaser for that new EXO album we’ve all been waiting for. It’s hard to believe that, six years into their career, we’ve yet to see fully-promoted solos or sub-units from the group other than EXO-CBX. With mandatory military enlistment looming, I think this will change … Continue reading
I want to love Hoya’s solo music. His charisma brought a unique aspect to Infinite‘s sound, but I don’t bear him any ill-will for choosing to leave the group last year. And judging from the styles he’s pursued since then, idol dance pop was never really his thing anyway. This is where our musical tastes … Continue reading
It’s been over two years since we’ve heard from T-ara’s Hyomin, and though her last single didn’t set the charts alight, it’s always nice to have a K-pop veteran back in the spotlight. Her solo career is no stranger to courting controversy, making new comeback Mango feel overly tame in comparison. Sure, the music video trades … Continue reading
After the ambitious release of three promoted title tracks this spring, SHINee certainly don’t owe us any more material in 2018. Yet, here they are, returning to put a bow on top of their already strong Story of Light album. Countless (셀 수 없는) feels as if it came out of nowhere, teased by SM … Continue reading
After a brief detour into monkey-themed madness with sub-unit Banhana, Oh My Girl have returned as a full group, picking up where they left off with January’s stately Secret Garden. The girls have found their niche with a lushly-produced dream pop style that allows them to indulge their more eccentric musical leanings while delivering the … Continue reading
There’s no shame in seeking to replicate the success of a hit single. Momoland did it earlier this year when BAAM all but plagiarized their own Bboom Bboom, and now Pentagon have doubled down on the musical hallmarks of their slow-burning spring hit Shine. Of course, Naughty Boy (청개구리) sees the group in a very … 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. Though he excels at them, I must admit to slight disappointment … 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. Even though it ranked as one of my top three singles of … Continue reading
As Kiwi Pop’s first idol group, GWSN feel as if they’ve materialized out of nowhere. Their name is an acronym for a Korean phrase translating to “Girls in the Park,” but becomes hopelessly difficult to remember when stacked up against the many other four-letter K-pop acronyms (WJSN, SNSD, YDDP, WJMK, etc). Nevertheless, the group has … Continue reading
I wasn’t as sold on The Boyz’ 2017 debut as most seemed to be, but this spring’s ebullient Giddy Up hinted at incredible promise for the rookie group. They seemed poised to take up SHINee’s 2013-era electro-funk-pop sound, which has been sorely missed over the past few years. And after a bump in the road … Continue reading
When last year’s contract negotiations ended with three of its members leaving SM Entertainment to pursue other endeavors, the future of Girls’ Generation seemed to be in flux. The group could have easily seen their tenth anniversary as a natural ending point and went their separate ways. But lucky for us, Girls’ Generation is back … Continue reading
Thus far, the most notable thing about Great Guys has been their horrifically bad name. K-pop is littered with oddball group names, but few are as awkwardly straightforward as this. The (great) guys have released two singles over the past year. 2017’s funk-laced Last Men showed potential but was held back by some intrusive instrumental … Continue reading
JYP Entertainment’s halfhearted management of Jimin Park the Recording Artist has resulted in her becoming better known as Jimin Park the After School Club Host. It’s understandable for the agency to shift focus to guaranteed money-makers like Twice and GOT7, but Jimin has a talent that really should be nurtured. She’s a dynamite r&b vocalist, … Continue reading
The only consolation for Wonder Girls’ disbandment is that it’s allowed Sunmi to further pursue a solo career that’s becoming more riveting with each release. Last year’s Gashina was a slow-burn success for me, but January’s Heroine took only one listen to cement its place among 2018’s best singles. Siren (사이렌) follows in its footsteps, standing … Continue reading
Jeong Jin Woon’s solo material has always been a welcome, rock-tinged counterpoint to K-pop’s usual blend of hip-hop and dance. The guy’s got a whole lot of swagger, and a gritty tone to back it up. New single All I Need Is You switches things up, presenting an experimental soundscape heard more often in indie … Continue reading
I’m not sure it’s pervasive enough to be considered a trend, but I’ve noticed something during the past few months in K-pop. While the established and buzzy acts continue to cater to international tastes (ie: tropical/EDM/trap/etc), lesser-known names are starting to embrace K-pop’s past. This is likely out of necessity, as smaller budgets make it … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 