Bigbang may be one of the biggest k-pop acts around, but they’ve also mastered the art of solo releases. Each of their five members has released solo work tailored specifically to their strengths. Most of these have fit comfortably within the Bigbang brand, but power vocal Daesung has branched out even further, carving an immensely … Continue reading
Debuting with YG Entertainment in 2014, sibling duo Akdong Musician are the very best act to come out of competition series K-Pop Star. Their acoustic pop sound pulls in a seemingly endless mix of genres, bursting with creativity and a sense of boundary-pushing inventiveness. Despite only having three proper studio albums to their name, they’ve … Continue reading
Akdong Musician have always seemed older than their years, bringing a sense of world-weary maturity to even their lightest pop songs. Since their first album in 2014, they’ve been going from strength to strength on the back of older sibling Lee Chanhyuk’s brilliant songwriting. And with The Tree (나무), they’ve brought that idiosyncratic vision to … Continue reading
As YG Entertainment itself has continued to pull back on releasing new material from its artists, sub-labels HIGHGRND and The Black Label have started to flourish. Code Kunst is a producer from the former, which is headed by rapper/producer Tablo, who features on Fire Water. Joining the two is JYP’s G.Soul, who has seen a fair … 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. DAISHI DANCE … Continue reading
On a certain level, I’ve often found Zion.T’s output to be frustrating. It would be hard to find anyone who would deny his influence on Korean music over the past couple of years. He has one of the most identifiable and iconic vocal tones in k-pop, and has almost single-handedly invented his own genre of neo-soul. … 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. January 2017 Overall Thoughts 2017 started with one of the strongest (and most packed) first weeks that we’ve … Continue reading
It seems like these past couple of months have been riddled with farewell songs. Bigbang‘s Last Dance kicked things off as a goodbye to an era, and just this week we had I.O.I’s final track. But none seems quite as definitive as 2NE1‘s Goodbye (안녕). When they were active, 2NE1 were my favorite k-pop girl group, … Continue reading
Since their debut in 2003, Epik High have been one of Korea’s most interesting hip-hop groups. Whether they’ve been part of a small or major label, they’ve always incorporated multiple genres into their sound, resulting in an exciting alternative to mainstream k-pop. They also have a remarkably consistent track record of releasing quality singles. Whittling … Continue reading
Last May, Akdong Musician brought us Spring, a mini album full of bright folk pop perfectly suited for the season. Now, just as the new year begins, they’re back with Winter, their second full-length album. It’s (presumably) the last before Chanhyuk’s two-year stint in the military, and has been heralded by an ambitious short film … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I’ll 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. December 2016 Overall Thoughts As expected, the last month of the year was comparatively sparse when it … Continue reading
In k-pop, music videos are nearly as important as the songs themselves. It’s become such a visual genre, regularly churning out glossy videos that look much more expensive than they are. Without focusing too much on the actual song (though it’s impossible to fully separate the two), here were the top ten visual moments of … Continue reading
One of the things I look most forward to each year in k-pop is the rise of new rookie groups. 2016 was particularly kind when it came to promising new artists, with a few offering some of the best songs of the year. Unlike the MAMA Awards, I won’t be considering the massively successful I.O.I as … 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
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
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
Swan songs have a particular aura around them, and although Last Dance may not be the last thing we ever hear from Bigbang as a group, it certainly feels like the end of something. As their final single released before years of staggered military conscription service, it’s at the very least the last song the … Continue reading
Originally scheduled for release in September of 2015, Bigbang‘s full Made album is finally here — though with only three new songs it feels more like a repackage than a full comeback. Even so, it marks the last we’ll hear from the group as a whole for quite some time, as members begin their mandatory … Continue reading
Bigbang has mastered the art of sub-units and solos, scoring enormous hits even when its members aren’t together as a group. Given that I have already counted down solo tracks from G-Dragon and Taeyang, those songs are ineligible for this list. Luckily, there are more than enough singles left over for a strong top ten. … Continue reading
As part of their multi-pronged comeback under YG Entertainment, late 90’s veteran group Sechs Kies has released an entire album of reworked and re-recorded versions of their hits. It’s a novel approach, catering to both nostalgia and current trends, but its level of satisfaction is entirely dependent on the creativity and willingness to experiment behind … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 