K-Pop Risers & Fallers: April 2023
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K-Pop Risers & Fallers: April 2023

Rather than contain my “Risers and Fallers” feature to a single post in June, I’m going to share a bite-sized version at the end of each month. This will let me account for more songs and make a nice lead-in to the monthly round-up post. I anticipate most of these ratings adjustments will be negligible: … Continue reading

K-Pop Producer Spotlight: Full8loom
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K-Pop Producer Spotlight: Full8loom

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. FULL8LOOM Years … Continue reading

Song Review: DRIPPIN – Hello Goodbye
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Song Review: DRIPPIN – Hello Goodbye

I’m a Woollim mega-fan, but I’ve been deliberately silent about the agency’s upcoming activity because I’m quite annoyed with the current state of affairs. Whether driven by budget, scheduling or staffing, it feels like Woollim has left us supporters in a lurch. Its artists have essentially gone M.I.A since mid-November and the upcoming enlistment of … Continue reading

Battle of the B-Sides: Winner, Youngjae, BTS, Rocket Punch, H.O.T
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Battle of the B-Sides: Winner, Youngjae, BTS, Rocket Punch, H.O.T

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

The Top 10 K-Pop Albums of 2022
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The Top 10 K-Pop Albums of 2022

Compared to 2021, this year definitely felt weaker when it comes to albums. Mini albums faired better than full-lengths, but apart from a few mega-standouts, most K-pop releases took a piecemeal approach to their music — too often stuffing tracklists with a horde of different producers rather than settling on one unique vision. Like usual, … Continue reading