Over the past few months, LOONA’s pre-release tracks have taken on an edgier, synth-kissed style that positions the girls just outside the mainstream. This has cultivated an ever-increasing buzz among international fans, but hasn’t led to any substantial commercial success. From the trendy sound of Heart Attack, it seems as if new member Chuu is … Continue reading
Having released over seventy (!) singles, there aren’t many genres that BoA hasn’t tackled. But the electroswing of Jazzclub is definitely a new one. The single comes from her upcoming Japanese album, which will be her first full-length in any country since 2015. I can’t imagine that the entire thing will sound as distinctive as … Continue reading
Carrying on a tradition that began with 2013’s still unbeatable Miracles In December, EXO is back with their fourth special winter album. Sometimes these releases end up being overtly tied to the holidays, and other times they’re simply an excuse to spotlight a good ballad. Universe falls into the latter category, delivering a wistful piano ballad … Continue reading
B.A.P have nearly replicated their prolific 2016, making another three comebacks this year. That constant work ethic has to be lauded, even if the material hasn’t always kept up the same level of consistency. New single Hands Up throws back to the group’s debut sound, marrying its modern verses to a gruff, 2012-era hook. This … Continue reading
For all its merits, mainstream k-pop is too often dependent on the newest and shiniest idol acts. Its current incarnation may have developed in the 90’s, but there just aren’t enough of those original superstars left who can compete with today’s trends. Luckily, dance floor diva Uhm Jung Hwa made a very welcome, long-awaited return … Continue reading
Over the past few years, SM Entertainment has made an annual tradition of releasing the same sort of gentle piano ballad for Christmas. All have been enjoyable in their own right, but none have matched EXO’s utterly gorgeous Miracles in December from 2013. EXO will be coming back with another winter single next week, but … Continue reading
It’s hard to believe that this is already Twice’s fourth single of 2017 (fifth, if you count Japanese release One More Time). To say the girls have had a big year is an understatement, but that type of frequent promotion should be expected from Korea’s biggest girl group. With new single Heart Shaker, they once … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! 60 Seconds (from New Challenge – 2013) Though leader Sungkyu’s original solo recording remains the definitive version of 60 Seconds and would easily garner a rating in the 9’s, the full group brings a certain amount of weight to the already-excellent track. It’s … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! 24 Hours (from For You – 2015) Coming off Dilemma’s hard rock stomp, 24 Hours reverted to a much more standard j-pop sound for their second original Japanese single. The song is overlong by about a minute, but it’s refreshing to hear Infinite … Continue reading
Currently, Snuper have become more popular in Japan than their native Korea. And while I’m happy for their success, this presents a problem when it comes to their music. While their Sweetune-produced k-pop material has been consistently fantastic, their j-pop sound feels worlds away. I’ve never really liked it when a group pursues such different … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! 1/3 (from Over The Top / Paradise – 2011) Though Infinite’s first full length album was bolstered by two back-to-back mega-hits, its album tracks are often a bit more experimental. In some ways, 1/3 is of the standard dance-pop style that the group … Continue reading
I felt very much in the minority when it came to Taemin’s Move album back in October. So many raved about his shifting musical style and the cohesive mood that ran through the material. And I hear that. But too often the songs felt like a study in a trend-focused r&b vibe without a strong … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! With… (from Infinitize – 2012) As Infinite’s original fan song, With holds a special place in their discography as a dramatic, emotional closer to their 2012/2013 concerts. As a simple pop ballad, it has a satisfying heft to it, made only more galvanizing … Continue reading
Debuting an idol group in the month of December is an interesting choice. On one hand, the whole k-pop industry seems to slow to a crawl this time of year, meaning that there just aren’t as many eyes attuned to new releases. But on the plus side, a debut has a better chance of standing … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Wings (from First Invasion – 2010) Though Infinite would go on to have an easily defined sound, their debut mini album was actually pretty diverse. Wings takes them into drum-skitter, early 00’s pop r&b, which is a surprisingly solid fit for their talents. … Continue reading
No matter the issues I’ve had with the second half of DAY6‘s Every DAY6 project, I’ve got to hand it to the guys for seeing it through to the end. Not every group can manage to release new singles every month of the year, complete with professionally shot music videos. It was an ambitious project … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Waiting For The Moment (from Air – 2017) Though I’m sure it was not designed as such, Waiting For The Moment has become Infinite’s swan song as a seven-member group. As such, its sound and message are fitting. The group hasn’t recorded all … Continue reading
There are few k-pop comebacks that feel quite as exciting as the forthcoming return of legends TVXQ. And while we still have a bit longer to wait for the duo’s upcoming Korean album, they’re already active again in Japan. As miffed as I may be that they’re promoting in a foreign country first after their … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Voice Of My Heart (from Evolution – 2011) Most of Infinite’s early ballads tend to follow a certain formula akin to typical Korean OST releases. Voice Of My Heart is a perfect example, with its ornate sound and melodic base. It’s sentimental to … Continue reading
No matter how popular HyunA is, she will always be a divisive artist. K-pop pushes sexuality as much as any genre of entertainment, but it’s usually clouded in a confusing mix of innocence and perceived wholesomeness that plays to a sense of cultural modesty. HyunA, on the other hand, throws it all out there. This … Continue reading
