May-June 2008 Overall Thoughts In addition to my monthly K-pop round-up, I’ve taken a look at my favorite three singles from each month since 2009 and factored them into my ultimate Bias List scorecard, which can be found here. The problem is, prior to 2009 it becomes harder to find reliable sources for K-pop release … Continue reading
K-pop’s title tracks might gain most of listeners’ attention, but many album tracks are worth equal spotlight. I call these “buried treasures.” Beyond this, K-pop’s albums deliver thousands of additional tracks that settle for a more limited audience. It’s these songs that will become a part of my “battle of the b-sides” feature. In this … Continue reading
It’s time for a new Bias List feature! K-pop’s title tracks might gain most of listeners’ attention, but many album tracks are worth equal spotlight. I call these “buried treasures.” Beyond this, K-pop’s albums deliver thousands of additional tracks that settle for a more limited audience. It’s these songs that will become a part of … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade. January 2020 Overall Thoughts What a K-pop wasteland this January was. The new decade kicked off … Continue reading
Though far from their only hit, Sechs Kies’ 1998 single Couple has become their most enduring classic. It’s the kind of light, melodic boy band fare that would often be played on adult contemporary stations here in the States. These kind of songs tend to have lasting appeal because they aren’t edgy or divisive enough … Continue reading
After taking a look at SM Entertainment over the long weekend, it’s time to move onto an agency with very different activity in 2019. Prepare yourselves, friends. It’s YG Entertainment. As usual, the thoughts are my own and aren’t privy to any insider information. I’m not taking into account things like profits and stock value. … Continue reading
It’s been a decade since Sechs Kies’ Eun Jiwon last released solo material, though he’s been active with his group and in variety shows during the lengthy hiatus. As the first new music to come out of YG Entertainment since founder Yang Hyun-suk stepped down, comeback single I’m On Fire (불나방) is already infamous in … Continue reading
Ever since it was announced that Sechs Kies would be signing with YG Entertainment for a late-career comeback, many were waiting for that big track that would herald the return of one of the k-pop’s most-loved 90’s groups. Instead, the agency released piecemeal remake albums and compilations, anchored by new tracks that felt solid but slight. … Continue reading
Despite its downbeat title, Sad Song (슬픈 노래) is actually the more uptempo offering from Sechs Kies‘ 20th Anniversary comeback. Calling it a dance track might be a bit misleading, as it retains the moodiness of its counterpart Be Well, but its persistent electro beat gives the song a stylish drive that raises the energy to … Continue reading
When Sechs Kies first signed with YG Entertainment, it was hard to imagine what their new music would sound like. They were one of the defining k-pop groups of the late 90’s, known for hard hitting dance tracks and delicate, mid-tempo singalongs. As with any comeback from a first generation band, I would have hoped … Continue reading
As part of their multi-pronged comeback under YG Entertainment, late 90’s veteran group Sechs Kies has released an entire album of reworked and re-recorded versions of their hits. It’s a novel approach, catering to both nostalgia and current trends, but its level of satisfaction is entirely dependent on the creativity and willingness to experiment behind … Continue reading
90’s boy group Sechs Kies have recently returned after sixteen years away from the music scene, signing with mega agency YG Entertainment. Back in k-pop’s first generation of idols, the title track system wasn’t quite as refined and uniform as it is now, so it was a bit tricky to decide which songs would actually … Continue reading
When it was first announced that 90’s superstars Sechs Kies had signed with YG Entertainment for their long awaited reunion, I couldn’t imagine what the resulting material would sound like. Sechs Kies older songs don’t really bear anything close to the trademark YG sound, though I suppose a focus on hip-hop creates some sort of through … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 