While everybody is now riding the retro wave, Sunmi has been there and done that for a while now, dating back to the Wonder Girls and some of her recent …
Read More »[Review] AKMU & IU explore the upside to falling on “NAKKA”, an addictive rhythmic gem
When an AKMU and IU collab was announced for the former’s collab album, a sound like “NAKKA” was not at all expected. Yet based on the end product of the …
Read More »[Review] Weeekly’s repetitive “Holiday Party” struggles to find melodies
Thus far, Weeekly have rejected the popular girl crush trend for something sweeter and more approachable. In this way, their vibe reminds me of earlier K-pop generations. They burst on …
Read More »[Review] Somi’s “Dumb Dumb” has some highlights, though the search for an identity continues
Somi’s solo career has existed in drips and drabs, with no more than a single comeback each year since debut. All three songs have been co-produced by Teddy, whose familiar …
Read More »[Review] Dreamcatcher will love you to death on the delightfully creepy “BEcause”
Dreamcatcher ended their dystopian trilogy to begin 2021 with the addicting “Odd Eye” and are now releasing what they are calling a special album that seems to be a one-off …
Read More »[Review] Ali simplifies the complicated in new single, “Are You There”
Showing off her powerful vocals in her new ‘adult ballad’ single, “Are You There”, Ali reminds us of the popular old K.I.S.S. principle — “keep it simple, stupid!”. To get …
Read More »[Review] BTS churn out a cloying commercial jingle with “Permission To Dance”
There’s a fine line between polished, sugary radio pop and cloying commercial jingle, and that difference was perfectly illustrated by BTS’s “Dynamite” and “Butter“. The two songs are quite similar in sound, style …
Read More »[Review] (G)I-DLE’s Soyeon is assertive on an otherwise bland “Beam Beam”
In perhaps the most unsurprising K-pop news of 2021, (G)I-DLE’s Soyeon has released her first solo album. I mean, she technically debuted as a soloist in 2017 before re-debuting as …
Read More »[Review] Taeyeon’s “Weekend” is SME’s “Say So” without the enduring hook
Despite being best known for her ballads, some of Taeyeon’s most enduring work has spawned from daring musical turns. Songs like “Something New” and “I Got Love” harnessed rhythmic energy …
Read More »[Review] OMEGA X provides a second chance, but after “VAMOS” they might need a third
Think of OMEGA X as the idol group version of 2017’s The Unit. The group attempts to take members of disbanded (or disbanding?) acts and bring them together for a …
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