The end of the year countdowns are here! We’re kicking things off with the big one… the top 50 songs of the year! Each day this week, I’ll be counting down ten of the year’s best, until number one is revealed on Friday. To be eligible for this top 50 list, songs must have had … 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. October 2017 Overall Thoughts October matched February with 2017’s highest cumulative rating thus far, and I’m not … Continue reading
Debuting in 2015, the ten-member UP10TION is the latest (and largest) boy group to carry the torch for TOP Media. They’ve managed to quickly develop a strong fan base, even as they constantly explore different sounds and genres with their title tracks. And though they haven’t yet had ten official comebacks, they’ve released just enough … 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. UP10TION’s latest single album may only be two tracks long, … Continue reading
UP10TION have much to make up for after the disappointingly generic tropical track they returned with last June. For awhile, it felt as they were making a quick ascent to the upper levels of k-pop boy groups, but even though their sales remain impressive, 2017 has seen their buzz begin to stall. Going Crazy (미치게 … Continue reading
Okay, we’re going to have to start an intervention here. We’ve truly reached a breaking point with this tropical house/tropical pop trend. I know I sound like a broken record, but it’s gotten to the point where every other new comeback (especially boy groups) has become a cut-and-paste job with the same beats and the … Continue reading
Though not often mentioned alongside k-pop’s most prominent breakout acts, UP10TION have quietly sold an impressive amount of albums, positioning them as one of the most successful rookie groups of the moment. That success looks to be replicated as they make their debut in Japan. J-pop efforts from Korean groups can be very hit and … Continue reading
I love the stage set-up MBC uses. I can’t remember if this is the same staging as last year, but it’s definitely the same as it was in 2014. It strikes a nice balance between intimate and expansive, and places the audience super close to both indoor stages, which results in a more “live” feel. … Continue reading
Wrapping up the end of year countdowns, it’s time to delve deeper into the albums 2016 gave us. Among hundreds and hundreds of tracks released this year (and last December!), here are forty of the absolute best. PART ONE HERE + Make sure to check out the rest of the year-end countdowns here! 20. UP10TION – STUCK … Continue reading
As we move through the year’s best k-pop moments, it’s important not to forget 2016’s most memorable choreography, which is one of the genre’s most valuable hallmarks. Dance routines are such a huge part of most k-pop comebacks, highlighted by a catchy “point dance” that aims to be easily repeated by viewers. As groups’ rosters begin … Continue reading
Now that we’ve taken a look at this year’s best debuts, it’s time to count down the ten artists who really defined 2016. This list’s criteria is about 75% musical quality/personal taste and 25% influence on the k-pop industry. Since rookies have their own list, they’re ineligible for this particular countdown. + Make sure to check … Continue reading
An idol group is nothing without their actual music, and that music doesn’t come to life on its own. K-pop producers and composers shape a year’s sound more than anybody else, and in 2016 there were five that stood out as being particularly energizing. + Make sure to check out the rest of the year-end … Continue reading
The end of the year countdowns are here! We’re starting things off with the big one… the top 50 songs of the year! Each day this week, I’ll be counting down ten of the year’s best, until number one is revealed on Friday. Unlike last year, j-pop releases will be placed in their own countdown, … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I’ll look back at my three favorite title tracks by k-pop artists. Unlike my end-of-year countdowns, jpop and Japanese releases by kpop artists are ineligible, though I will give the great ones a spotlight. For my top three tracks, I’ll take my own ratings into account, but there is a … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-sides deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. Over their relatively brief career, UP10TION have already dabbled in a … Continue reading
Boy group UP10TION are back with their fifth (!) mini album in the space of just over a year. This is the way to do it for rookies — just blitz the market with continual comebacks so that no one can forget you. And it’s working. The guys wowed me with August’s Tonight, which felt very … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I’ll look back at my three favorite title tracks by k-pop artists. Unlike my end-of-year countdowns, jpop and Japanese releases by kpop artists are ineligible, though I will give the great ones a spotlight. For my top three tracks, I’ll take my own ratings into account, but there is a … Continue reading
As a newly debuted boy group, UP10TION’s management have smartly had them make incredibly frequent comebacks, never letting more than a couple months pass between albums. In this time, the group has cycled through all manner of concepts, showing their versatility but never really marking a definitive sound for themselves the way a group like … Continue reading
UP10TION are one of a handful of rookie boy groups from mid-size agencies that are poised to usher in the next generation of kpop. Up to this point, they’ve released two solid mini-albums, though the title tracks from each haven’t been as strong as some some of the songs that they didn’t promote. Attention seeks to … Continue reading
2016 is going to be known as the year of cross-company duets. It feels like SM artists have been collaborating with everybody, and now even smaller agencies are at it. Cherish is a duet between Yuju of girl group GFriend and Sunyoul of boy group Up10tion. Both are known as main vocalists in their respective teams, … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 