K-pop legend BoA has returned with her tenth Korean album, celebrating twenty (!) years since her debut. That kind of career is rare for any pop star, but the K-pop industry tends to be extra fickle. The fact that BoA remains such a dynamic presence is a testament to her skill, charisma and willingness to … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! So Into U (from Pinocchio / Hot Summer – 2011) So Into U has that classic “wet” sound I always associate with certain producers like Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and that alone gives it some welcome nostalgia. As far as the … 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. November 2020 Overall Thoughts November was absolutely packed with releases, and though only one title track … Continue reading
EXO’s Kai has been primed for a solo debut for years now. As one of the group’s most dynamic performers, it feels like the sky’s the limit when it comes to the showstoppers he could deliver on his own. And, the pre-release teaser film for his debut album harnessed that theatricality in exciting ways. Yet, … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Snapshot (from Pink Tape – 2013) The intro to Snapshot is among the cheesiest moments in f(x)’s discography, but it establishes the song’s vampy sound well. The jazzy verses have a vaudevillian appeal to them, though I’ve never been a huge fan … Continue reading
Since the start of The Bias List in January 2016, I’ve always looked back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists each month. Now, it’s time to look even further into the past, one month at a time. And, yes, the top three rankings count toward The Bias List’s personal artist scorecard! January … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Signal (from Pink Tape – 2013) Those who are loving K-pop’s current dalliance with disco music will find plenty to admire about Signal. From its wispy strings to its indelible groove, the song bumps with the best of them. Its instrumental remains … Continue reading
It’s that time of year again! Over the next few weeks, I’ll be looking at many of K-pop’s biggest agencies and offering my thoughts about how their 2020 went. First up is SM Entertainment. As usual, the thoughts are my own and aren’t privy to any insider information. I’m not taking into account things like … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Shadow (from Pink Tape – 2013) Shadow emerges as track two in the Pink Tape album, and has always suffered in comparison to Rum Pum Pum Pum. Under the hood, the song is almost as experimental, but the overall arrangement is much … Continue reading
NCT is absolutely stuffed with talent and personality. But, that only goes so far without strong songs to harness it. On the whole, both parts of the NCT Resonance album remind me of a b-side collection. They’re not so common anymore, but artists used to cobble together unreleased material and outtakes into a special album … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Rum Pum Pum Pum (from Pink Tape – 2013) Rum Pum Pum Pum is my favorite f(x) title track, and arguably the group’s crowning achievement. The song has everything I look for when it comes to f(x): a great melody, off kilter … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Red Light (from Red Light – 2014) Though I recognize I’m in the minority, Red Light is relatively low on my personal list of favorite f(x) title tracks. I find it an easier song to appreciate than to fully embrace. But to … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Rainbow (from Red Light – 2014) Rainbow assaults the listener right from its first moment. This is noisy EDM at its most frantic, utilizing synth yelps as a through-line while the instrumental twists itself in distorted directions. The production is consistently harsh, … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Puzzle Bubble (from Puzzle Bubble OST – 2011) Released as an OST for an online game, it’s hard to have very high expectations for Puzzle Bubble. The song is also known as Garagabana, which should give you an even clearer idea of … Continue reading
The announcement of NCT’s 23-member Resonance project sparked a lot of excitement, and much of that stemmed from how awesome their 2018 Empathy album was. Songs like Baby Don’t Stop and Boss are still in heavy rotation, and have become pillars of NCT’s discography. In comparison, Resonance hasn’t brought the same level of focus or … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Pretty Girl (from Pink Tape – 2013) Pretty Girl manages to make distortion sound a little bluesy, even as its ticking time bomb of an instrumental assaults us with frantic hi-hats and a hearty clap. The verses are comparatively reserved, but build … Continue reading
Since the start of The Bias List in January 2016, I’ve always looked back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists each month. Now, it’s time to look even further into the past, one month at a time. And, yes, the top three rankings count toward The Bias List’s personal artist scorecard! March … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Pinocchio (Danger) (from Pinocchio / Hot Summer – 2011) I feel like repackage Hot Summer often steals the limelight from Pinocchio, but this track is far more quintessentially f(x). The stomping electro beat takes no prisoners, nudged along by the group’s rhythmic … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Papi (from 4 Walls – 2015) Papi is pure fun, indebted to nothing more than having a good time. It’s a monstrous dance track, thriving on a generous dose of electro bass and a chirpy synth loop. The chorus is instantly memorable, … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Paper Heart (from Red Light – 2014) Putting a cap on the adventurous Red Light album, Paper Heart is an extremely refreshing closer. Driven by plucked guitar (or ukulele?), the verses are light and relaxing. This sets up the stomping, sing-along chorus … Continue reading
