For me, the arrival of rookie groups can often be more exciting than the work of their established peers. I love nothing more than discovering a new artist and witnessing their potential unfold as they grow. 2017 was a year without any major agency debuts, making the rookie field much more competitive. Like last year, … Continue reading
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
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! 60 Seconds (from New Challenge – 2013) Though leader Sungkyu’s original solo recording remains the definitive version of 60 Seconds and would easily garner a rating in the 9’s, the full group brings a certain amount of weight to the already-excellent track. It’s … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! 24 Hours (from For You – 2015) Coming off Dilemma’s hard rock stomp, 24 Hours reverted to a much more standard j-pop sound for their second original Japanese single. The song is overlong by about a minute, but it’s refreshing to hear Infinite … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! 1/3 (from Over The Top / Paradise – 2011) Though Infinite’s first full length album was bolstered by two back-to-back mega-hits, its album tracks are often a bit more experimental. In some ways, 1/3 is of the standard dance-pop style that the group … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! With… (from Infinitize – 2012) As Infinite’s original fan song, With holds a special place in their discography as a dramatic, emotional closer to their 2012/2013 concerts. As a simple pop ballad, it has a satisfying heft to it, made only more galvanizing … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Wings (from First Invasion – 2010) Though Infinite would go on to have an easily defined sound, their debut mini album was actually pretty diverse. Wings takes them into drum-skitter, early 00’s pop r&b, which is a surprisingly solid fit for their talents. … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Waiting For The Moment (from Air – 2017) Though I’m sure it was not designed as such, Waiting For The Moment has become Infinite’s swan song as a seven-member group. As such, its sound and message are fitting. The group hasn’t recorded all … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Voice Of My Heart (from Evolution – 2011) Most of Infinite’s early ballads tend to follow a certain formula akin to typical Korean OST releases. Voice Of My Heart is a perfect example, with its ornate sound and melodic base. It’s sentimental to … Continue reading
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
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 