In the spring of 2017, WINNER pulled themselves out of a slump (and added fuel to an already burning trend) with the tropical pop of “Really Really“. Despite an island-themed …
Read More »[Review] EXO excel vocally on “Love Shot” but are let down by the production
When writing about EXO‘s excellent album track “Gravity“, I mentioned that I never judge their albums before hearing the repackage. After all, some of the group’s most iconic singles (“Growl“, …
Read More »[Review] Twice’s holiday-adjacent “The Best Thing I Ever Did” is different but bland
Twice have had a truly prolific 2018. With “The Best Thing I Ever Did” acting as a capper, they’ve released seven official singles and a few additional music videos. Throughout it …
Read More »[Review] DAY6 successfully invoke 80s rock in “Days Gone By”
Almost six months after their title track “Shoot Me“, the second part of DAY6’s ‘Youth‘ series is upon us. Beyond the sequential numbering of the mini-albums, there doesn’t seem to …
Read More »[Review] UP10TION overloads on Auto-Tune for “Blue Rose”
Over the course of their three year career, UP10TION have never developed a signature style. Instead, they pinball from concept to concept, making their comebacks quite unpredictable. Over the past …
Read More »[Review] SHINee’s Onew makes a ballad compelling with focused & distinct “Blue”
The much-dreaded (but inevitable) SHINee hiatus begins next week when leader Onew will enlist to serve his mandatory military conscription. Before that, he’s gifted fans with his very first solo …
Read More »[Review] SHINee’s Key & Crush team up on a trendy & safe effort on “One Of Those Nights”
Now that Key has unleashed his first full-length album upon the world, the SHINee pentagram of solo releases is nearly complete. Leader Onew’s material is set for release next month, …
Read More »[Review] Red Velvet’s “RBB” is ambitious but all over the map and never really comes together
The first time I heard Red Velvet’s “Dumb Dumb“ back in 2015, I thought it was a complete mess, but the song has since gone on to become one of …
Read More »[Review] The Boyz disappoint with pleasant but generic “No Air”
With their past few releases, rookie group The Boyz has begun to develop a high-energy, funk pop sound that reminds me of SHINee at their most upbeat. Both “Giddy Up“ …
Read More »[Review] Timeless nature of MAMAMOO’s “Wind Flower” has ups and downs
MAMAMOO’s highly successful 2018 has been filled with mini albums that follow a “four seasons,” color-specific concept. March’s “Starry Night“ was painted with yellow, while summer hit “Egotistic“ burned with …
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