One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Together (from Grow OST – 2014) Every idol group needs a celebratory song for the fans. And before Together came into existence, Infinite used to close their shows with the 2012 power ballad With. But in late 2014, Together became the group’s quintessential … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Time (Woohyun solo) (from Over The Top / Be Back – 2011) Woohyun has what is possibly my favorite voice in all of k-pop — an impossibly rich and commanding tone that can power dance tracks just as well as classic ballads. … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-side tracks deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. As much as I’ve enjoyed many of EXID’s past singles, … Continue reading
Ready-made fanbases are becoming more and more important to k-pop, but a truly blockbuster idol group has to reach past those who have been with them since their formation and embrace a wider audience. This may be tricky for fromis_9. First, there’s that what-were-they-thinking, borderline undecipherable group name to contend with. And then there’s Idol … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Tic Toc (from Over The Top / Paradise – 2011) Tackling a more experimental arrangement, Tic Toc’s staccato verses are underlined by a fitful skitter of a beat that feels as if it’s in constant flux. This sense of unrest continues into the … Continue reading
It’s been awhile since we’ve heard a debut from a group not affiliated in some way with Produce 101. BLK (standing for Beyond Limit Key because… I have no idea) hails from Byking Entertainment, an agency that — as far as I can tell — has no previous experience debuting idols. This newness explains the … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Still I Miss You (from New Challenge – 2013) A classic Infinite ballad, Still I Miss You is buoyed by its sentimental atmosphere and lilting, harmonized chorus. It’s a formula, but one that the group delivers gorgeously. Throughout the years, k-pop visual … Continue reading
As the 18-month rollout of girl group LOONA enters its final stretch, we’re left with only a few new members to introduce. Thankfully, the soundtrack to these introductions has become more and more impressive as the debut project deepens. Coming off the ambitious, experimental Odd Eye Circle sub-unit of the past two months, newest girl-of-the-month … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Shower (from Season 2 / Be Back – 2014) Closing out the Be Back album with a shot of energy, Shower marked the first time Infinite collaborated with producers Iggy and Seo Yongbae. The song is a fan-favorite, and for good reason. … Continue reading
It’s become increasingly difficult for me to review Jun. K’s solo material because, more and more, our musical preferences just don’t match. He’s been at the forefront of experimenting with the future bass genre, which — try as I might — hasn’t been a style I can get into. His more down-tempo material tends to … Continue reading
MAP6 are one of the few struggling groups who didn’t opt to appear on this year’s pair of “idol rebooting” shows, The Unit and MIXNINE. That’s a shame, because the guys could really use the exposure. With each passing release, it feels like their career has stalled more and more. Since debuting at the tail … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Shot (from Inspirit – 2011) One of Infinite’s strongest b-sides, Shot never once lets up. From the opening, explosive refrain, the song is a jolt of pure energy. Sweetune ups the presence of electric guitars, fusing them to an aggressive dance beat … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-side tracks deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. I’ve always preferred Red Velvet‘s upbeat “red” material over their … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! She’s Back (from First Invasion – 2010) As Infinite’s first single with Sweetune, She’s Back set the stage for what would follow over the next four years. The song is relentlessly cheerful, melding 80’s power pop with the kind of soaring vocals the … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Rosinante (from Season 2 / Be Back – 2014) Using a Don Quixote literary reference as its title, Rosinante takes Infinite’s trademark synth sound and jettisons almost everything else. Like many of the tracks on Be Back, the production merges dance pop funk … Continue reading
Less than a week after their historic performance on the American Music Awards, BTS have returned with a remixed version of their album track MIC Drop, courtesy of U.S. DJ/producer Steve Aoki. For the past year or so, I feel like I’ve been in the minority when it comes to the group’s incredible worldwide success. … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Request (from Request – 2013) CF tracks are designed primarily to promote a product, and they really aren’t supposed to be this good. But rather than go gimmicky or opt for a commercial jingle sound, Request sees Infinite teaming once again with Sweetune … Continue reading
Pentagon are back with their second self-composed album after making a sonic shift with September’s Demo_01. Taking over the reigns of their music was a smart choice, especially when it resulted in a song as spectacular as Like This. Runaway successfully continues this sound, even if it never reaches the heights of its predecessor. Once … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Reflex (from Season 2 / Be Back – 2014) Embracing 80’s synthpop stronger than ever before, Reflex feels like a sonic sequel to Be Mine. The instrumental is built on the old Stock Aitken Waterman drum program sound that powered so many late-80’s … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Real Story (from Over The Top / Paradise – 2011) Closing out Infinite’s first full album, Real Story is the type of inoffensive mid-tempo pop song that is the very definition of filler. This being Infinite, even their filler is stronger than many … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 