One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Up To You (from Reality – 2015) Also translated as “Take Care of the Ending,” Up To You closes out one of Infinite’s strongest albums — 2015’s Reality. The aggressive instrumental melds electro-swing with more traditional dance pop to thrilling, effortless effect. The … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Toki (from Air – 2017) As one of only three new tracks released in 2017, the Japanese Toki more strongly represents current tastes in j-pop than Infinite’s own music. The funk-driven instrumental pulses with addictive energy, but the melody never quite finds a … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Together (from Grow OST – 2014) Every idol group needs a celebratory song for the fans. And before Together came into existence, Infinite used to close their shows with the 2012 power ballad With. But in late 2014, Together became the group’s quintessential … 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 2017 Overall Thoughts Just like last November, this month saw a quality stream of new releases. … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Time (Woohyun solo) (from Over The Top / Be Back – 2011) Woohyun has what is possibly my favorite voice in all of k-pop — an impossibly rich and commanding tone that can power dance tracks just as well as classic ballads. … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Tic Toc (from Over The Top / Paradise – 2011) Tackling a more experimental arrangement, Tic Toc’s staccato verses are underlined by a fitful skitter of a beat that feels as if it’s in constant flux. This sense of unrest continues into the … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Still I Miss You (from New Challenge – 2013) A classic Infinite ballad, Still I Miss You is buoyed by its sentimental atmosphere and lilting, harmonized chorus. It’s a formula, but one that the group delivers gorgeously. Throughout the years, k-pop visual … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Shower (from Season 2 / Be Back – 2014) Closing out the Be Back album with a shot of energy, Shower marked the first time Infinite collaborated with producers Iggy and Seo Yongbae. The song is a fan-favorite, and for good reason. … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Shot (from Inspirit – 2011) One of Infinite’s strongest b-sides, Shot never once lets up. From the opening, explosive refrain, the song is a jolt of pure energy. Sweetune ups the presence of electric guitars, fusing them to an aggressive dance beat … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! She’s Back (from First Invasion – 2010) As Infinite’s first single with Sweetune, She’s Back set the stage for what would follow over the next four years. The song is relentlessly cheerful, melding 80’s power pop with the kind of soaring vocals the … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Rosinante (from Season 2 / Be Back – 2014) Using a Don Quixote literary reference as its title, Rosinante takes Infinite’s trademark synth sound and jettisons almost everything else. Like many of the tracks on Be Back, the production merges dance pop funk … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Request (from Request – 2013) CF tracks are designed primarily to promote a product, and they really aren’t supposed to be this good. But rather than go gimmicky or opt for a commercial jingle sound, Request sees Infinite teaming once again with Sweetune … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Reflex (from Season 2 / Be Back – 2014) Embracing 80’s synthpop stronger than ever before, Reflex feels like a sonic sequel to Be Mine. The instrumental is built on the old Stock Aitken Waterman drum program sound that powered so many late-80’s … Continue reading
Disclaimer: As with my write-ups on the Big Three agencies, this is written from an outsider’s perspective. I’m not privy to any business-related financial information beyond what any other fan would know. The purpose of these articles is to examine how well these agencies are serving their artists and the general k-pop fan-base. Read Part … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Real Story (from Over The Top / Paradise – 2011) Closing out Infinite’s first full album, Real Story is the type of inoffensive mid-tempo pop song that is the very definition of filler. This being Infinite, even their filler is stronger than many … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Paradise (from Paradise – 2011) Infinite had a lot riding on Paradise. Be Mine had finally given them the breakout hit they needed to gain public recognition and secure their first music show win, but that could have easily faded away without a … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Only Tears (from Infinitize – 2012) One of Infinite’s most delicate ballads, Only Tears’ gentle mix of piano, guitar and strings provides little distraction from the purity of the group’s vocals. Even so, the instrumental builds gorgeously, becoming more grandiose as the song … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Nothing’s Over (from Inspirit – 2011) Sweetune are at their best when they go ultra-melodic, and Nothing’s Over is one of their essential tracks. From the opening, piano-accented beat to the soaring melodies that make up the chorus, the song is life-affirming pop … Continue reading
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. 1Take & … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Mother (from Destiny – 2013) Sometimes a song is more about sentiment than melody or production. It’s hard not to fall for an ode to moms, no matter how treacly it might come across. Even so, Mother is one of Infinite’s less … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 