Solo idol stars are a tricky proposition in K-pop — a genre that thrives on a constantly morphing, assembly-line style of dynamic group performance. But Chungha has the weight of …
Read More »DAY6’s “I Smile” plays to the band’s emotional strengths, could use improved hook
It’s getting a little repetitive to open every DAY6 review with the same sentiments, but I just can’t believe how well their year-long promotional cycle is going. They’ve been punctual …
Read More »Indie Focus: Lee Yong Won showcases talent on ‘No God’, could benefit from diversity
Lee Yong Won definitely has an established style. Whether you consider it rock or punk rock, his love of distorted guitar, fast tempos, and melodic vocals continues on ‘No God’. …
Read More »NP Union bring a band to their hip-hop party on addictive “GEEKY FREAKY”
I had never heard of NP Union before I happened to stumble upon their “GEEKY FREAKY” release, but I’m glad I did and got to experience their brand of hip-hop. …
Read More »Indie Focus: Love X Stereo challenge themselves on experimental ’37A’
When Love X Stereo announced their Patreon to release 37 songs in a year, I was surprised due to the sheer scope of the undertaking. If you support the band …
Read More »MARMELLO prove more than just an idol girl band concept on addictive “PUPPET”
Idol girl band MARMELLO recently dropped “PUPPET“, which I think is their debut. While the concept itself is enough to get some attention, the song itself is deserving as well …
Read More »Solbi’s “Princess Maker” stands out in a surprisingly addictive and refreshing way
Casual fans may recognize Solbi more for the steady stream of variety show appearances she’s made than her music, but she has a long history of crafting genre-pushing electro-pop just …
Read More »Hyoyeon’s “Wannabe” is aptly titled and it fails on about every level
When Hyoyeon released “Mystery“, I was pleasantly surprised. Not because I thought the song was particularly good, but because it was a passable showing that laid a foundation for a …
Read More »SISTAR give themselves an appropriate send-off with bittersweet “Lonely”
If you haven’t heard, SISTAR are going their separate ways after this comeback with “Lonely“. And while that’s terrible news for people who love summer jams, thankfully they’re not going …
Read More »24K succeeds with “Only You” thanks to an oddly addicting chorus
24K have made a comeback recently with “Only You“, a track produced by member Cory and written by member Jeonguk, that involvement surprised me because of how creative and polished …
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