Back in February, IZ*ONE made their Japanese debut with the stirring Suki to Iwasetai. It remains my highest-rated song by the group, but it turned out to be a total …
Read More »[Review] Produce 101 Japan’s “It’s Coming” builds to a fittingly obvious climax
There was a time when I would have been excited by the prospect of a Japanese Produce 101 spin-off, but the series has reached the point of over saturation. I’m …
Read More »[Review] MOMOLAND go cheerleaders on helium in Japan for “Pinky Love”
After their incredible 2018 success, Momoland are in the process of navigating the tricky business of follow-ups. Their name is known throughout Asia, and they’ve attempted to capitalize on that …
Read More »[Review] Sunmi sacrifices melody for attitude on “LALALAY”
Since debuting as a soloist, Sunmi has been a reliable producer of high-quality, slightly left-of-center K-pop. She had a particularly strong 2018, perfecting a musical style that drew heavily on …
Read More »[Review] X1’s “Flash” debut provides promise even if not a standout
As fraught with disappointment as the ‘Produce 101‘ discographies can be, they can also usually be counted on to deliver a strong debut track. As far as I’m concerned, no …
Read More »[Review] UP10TION almost draws us into their gravity with “Your Gravity”
I was surprised when it was first announced that members of UP10TION would be participating in ‘Produce X 101.’ I knew that the buzz around the group had slowed in …
Read More »[Review] Viini (Kwon Hyunbin) has himself a disaster of a solo debut with “GENIE”
With YG Entertainment in continual freefall, the company seems unable to release anything but threadbare solo albums from its artists. BLACKPINK’s stuck in a one-per-year promotional schedule, iKON is in …
Read More »[Review] A Pink’s Hayoung has solo debut with “Don’t Make Me Laugh”, which is light and pleasant enough
A Pink have quietly become one of the longest running girl groups still active in today’s idol industry. They rarely make waves (at least internationally), but have sustained their popularity …
Read More »[Review] EVERGLOW invoke obvious comps with “Adios”, continue to commit to high energy
In a year flush with debuts, Everglow’s “Bon Bon Chocolat“ stood out thanks to its edgy sound. I wasn’t as enthralled with the song as others seem to be, but …
Read More »[Review] THE BOYZ’s “D.D.D” has more pluses than minuses, comes with creepy MV
This April, The Boyz explored lighter territory with the bubblegum pop of “Bloom Bloom.” While I will always be leading the charge for more bright boy group material, the incessant …
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