Three years ago this month, SHINee released their masterful “View“, which would go on to become one of 2015’s most enduring songs of summer and jump-start K-pop’s fascination with 90s …
Read More »[Review] Boyfriend’s “Sunshower” is an overly sentimental, paint-by-number anniversary song
Boyfriend are the latest group to find themselves at that precarious seven year mark, where contracts are up and the guys are forced to decide whether to stick together or …
Read More »[Review] Bolbbalgan4 get poppier with “Travel” to create a summer classic
Bolbbalgan4 have been an absolute force in the Korean music scene ever since their 2016 breakout hit “Galaxy“. Yet even as their music has become ubiquitous, I’ve continued to consider …
Read More »[Review] VICTON try hand at emulating “Spring Day” with “Time Of Sorrow” but miss the mark
Despite releasing a steady stream of material since their debut in late 2016, Victon have never really connected with me. That’s not a critique of the guys themselves, it’s just …
Read More »[Review] UNI.T’s “No More” is a slice of summery reggae-pop & the vocals don’t hurt
Comparing the debuts of UNI.T and UNB encapsulates the K-pop scene as a whole. Both groups hail from KBS’s survival series ‘The Unit‘, but there’s clearly been a stronger promotional …
Read More »[Review] N.Flying manage to make a more reserved sound work on “How R U Today”
If any group might have been spared the effects of K-pop’s prolonged tropical love affair, I assumed it would be one like N.Flying. Since reemerging with new member Hweseung last …
Read More »[Review] Kanto bucks expectations and surprises with funky and refreshing “Salty”
Despite not being your typical idol, rapper Kanto was one of the many acts to compete in KBS’s ‘The Unit‘ rebooting series. Though he failed to make the show’s debuting group, …
Read More »[Review] Produce 48’s version of “Pick Me” is still cheesy, overblown, and glorious
In the short time since it’s been on the air, ‘Produce 101‘ has spawned its own mini-genre of hyperactive, multitracked pop anthem. Whether it’s Midas-T, Ryan S. Jhun, or now …
Read More »[Review] Favorite reverse a trend on “Where Are You From?”
Favorite have one of the least-searchable group names on the Internet. Without a grasp on hangul, international fans are going to be sifting through hundreds of pages on “favorite K-pop …
Read More »[Review] Cross Gene’s “Touch It” feels a summer too late, but is fun nonetheless
Cross Gene have been away from the Korean music scene since February of 2017, when they released their brilliantly dramatic “Black Or White“ in tandem with its violent, horror show music …
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