If there’s anything I’ve learned from covering pop music for over a decade, it’s that songwriters and collaborators are just as important as the artists themselves. Though they often work behind the scenes, this feature is a chance to shine the light on some of k-pop’s most innovative and accomplished producers and composers. DEVINE CHANNEL … Continue reading
As one of k-pop’s most legendary groups, TVXQ needs no introduction. Today’s idol world strives for big numbers and a big sound, often bloating groups to twelve or thirteen members. TVXQ (or DBSK, as they were known at the time) had only five vocalists — and yet still Rising Sun manages to sound more immense … Continue reading
In one of the most unexpected collaborations of the year, balladeer (and notable NCT fanboy) Parc Jae Jung has teamed with NCT’s Mark for the newest SM Station track, Lemonade Love. The song spawns from the web series Snowball Project, which has been one of the more entertaining (and delightfully awkward) variety shows of the … 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. If the executives at SM Entertainment had put me in … Continue reading
Unfairly or not, comeback tracks by top-of-the-pack artists like EXO will always be held to a higher standard. K-pop moves so fast, with each month stuffed full of releases big and small. Within that framework, there are a handful of acts that command attention across the entire k-pop spectrum. This sets expectations sky-high, but throughout … Continue reading
When SM Station Season 2 was announced earlier this year, it was promised to feature collaborations from foreign artists and folks who were not part of SM’s roster. But with All That You Want, I struggle to find how exactly the song connects to SMent. The Solutions aren’t an SM group, and I don’t see … 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. Red Velvet‘s Red Summer mini album is so strong that … Continue reading
I’m a big fan of most material released by SM Entertainment, but it’s been awhile since the agency promoted a track that wasn’t trying to be anything else but a chart-conquering, energy-building pop hit. Even Red Velvet‘s last single, which seemed to grow on almost everyone, initially split opinion with with its chirpy, repetitive chorus. … Continue reading
So far, the 2017 “season” of SM Station has been pretty underwhelming. Even when bigger name artists have gotten involved, it’s usually been in the form of a ballad or forgettable mid-tempo. What we need is a good pop song, and as soon as Xiumin and Mark were announced as the next Station artists, it … 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. June 2017 Overall Thoughts Of the 18 months I’ve been running this site, June was the strangest … Continue reading
Being a relatively new genre, modern k-pop has few acts that could rightly be considered legends, but I think it’s safe to say that BoA fits the bill. Active for seventeen years now, she’s conquered not only Korea but most of Southeast Asia as well. And now that she’s fresh off her stint as the … Continue reading
After taking a mid-year review of 2017’s songs last week, it’s time for the albums. In a landscape shifting more and more towards the digital single, I’ve been a longtime proponent of the classic pop album. 2017 hasn’t given us all that many, but there have definitely been a few standouts. Here are my favorites … Continue reading
Though he got his start as a member of SMent sub-unit Super Junior M, Henry has become more widely known for his appearances in variety, dramas and as a solo artist. Lately, he’s seemed to take more creative control over his output, delivering a series of digital tracks that have helped to remind listeners that … 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. NCT 127’s Cherry Bomb has already grown on me quite … Continue reading
Before the Bias List‘s Top 50 songs countdown in December, it’s time to take a mid-year survey of the k-pop landscape in 2017. Compared to 2016, this year has been somewhat underwhelming. But that doesn’t mean 2017 hasn’t had its share of highlights. Unsurprisingly, my list includes a number of acts that overlap with last … Continue reading
SM Entertainment doesn’t always get the credit it deserves when it comes to being a boundary-pushing agency. They’ve been blending genres and playing with song structure since the very beginning. Hits like H.O.T’s I Yah or TVXQ’s Rising Sun still feel miles away from what we think of as “Top 40” radio fare. But these … Continue reading
At what point does a “joke” song become a “real” song? The last time comedy duo UV hit it big with a high profile collaboration was in 2011 with Itaewan Freedom featuring Park Jinyoung. That song is obviously intended as a parody of sorts, but it’s a dynamite pop track in its own right and … Continue reading
Hyoyeon — known as one of the main dancers in Girls’ Generation — made her solo debut with last year’s SM Station track Mystery. It left a lot to be desired, especially since Hyoyeon herself possesses so many aspects that make for a compelling solo act. New single Wannabe improves a bit on Mystery, but … Continue reading
EXO’s CBX sub-unit was one of last year’s best surprises, giving us a collection of bright, classic pop when many of their peers were going dark and/or trendy. Seven months later, they’ve returned with a debut Japanese mini-album. EXO has enjoyed quite a bit of success in Japan despite never releasing an actual album in the country. … Continue reading
Hitchhiker has long been one of my favorite SM Entertainment producers, collaborating with acts like Shinee and Super Junior to brilliant effect. His experimental solo work is a little harder to enjoy on a pure pop level, relying heavier on trippy, repetitive riffs and percussive loops than any sense of melody. Last year’s $10 felt … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 