K-pop’s summer is starting late this year, as idol groups are finally remembering that it’s time for those high-energy blasts of sunny pop music. Oh My Girl offered their bid …
Read More »[Review] Fanatics spring a flat tire with generic “Sunday”
Prior to their full group debut today, Fanatics’ sub-unit Flavor delivered a quirky little synthpop song last November that hinted at interesting things to come. But as is the case …
Read More »[Review] Taemin shows why he’s “Famous” in new Japanese release
Since venturing out into solo territory, SHINee’s Taemin has split his discography equally between Korea and Japan, maintaining a consistent level of quality regardless of the language he performs in. …
Read More »[Review] SEVENTEEN at least bring energy & aggressiveness on “HIT”
Over the past year or so, I’ve found myself more disconnected with Seventeen’s music. Their once unique blend of old-school funk and killer song construction threatened to be overtaken by …
Read More »[Review] Rocket Punch make solid “Bim Bam Bum” debut that could get lost in the crowd
When it comes to pop music, everyone’s got their biases. But, being a fan of an entire agency is a uniquely K-pop proposition. It’s akin to being a devotee of …
Read More »[Review] Oh My Girl return with surprisingly lightweight “Bungee”
Oh My Girl are no stranger to the summer single, gaining popularity with their 2016 cover of K-pop classic “A-ing“. New single “Bungee” arrives as a repackage title track, contrasting …
Read More »[Review] ITZY continue to establish themselves with performance-oriented “ICY”
Given the pedigree of JYP Entertainment, ITZY were never going to be anything but an instant smash. Still, the girls have exceeded already-high expectations, delivering one of 2019’s only bonafide …
Read More »[Review] EXO-SC’s “Closer To You” is actually pretty good
I’ve spent too much energy this month complaining about songs produced by Devine Channel. Between 1Team’s “Rolling Rolling,” Kang Daniel’s “What Are You Up To,” and EXO-SC’s very own “What …
Read More »[Review] Woosung (The Rose) makes solo debut with the effortlessly addicting “FACE”
I was surprised to find out that “FACE” is the solo debut of The Rose‘s Woosung, so I guess it just felt overdue. Honestly, I had no idea what direction …
Read More »[Review] NCT Dream grow up a bit on sleek “BOOM”
It’s been almost a year since the last proper NCT Dream comeback, though with the way the ever-rotating NCT system works, these long hiatuses never feel quite as endless. New …
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