As Wanna One’s first center and a bonafide variety show star, Kang Daniel is easily the most anticipated of the group’s post-disbandment debuts. He’s spent the past few months locked …
Read More »[Review] MAMAMOO’s “Gleam” is a surprising release that delivers little surprise
Sometimes it feels like K-pop releases are preceded by endless weeks of teasers, so Mamamoo’s surprise drop of “Gleam” is a refreshing new strategy. It makes me wonder if an idol act …
Read More »[Review] CIX debuts with “Movie Star”, which is moody & smooth but doesn’t really go anywhere
The year of debuts rolls on with 2019’s second Wanna One-spawned idol group in CIX, who will likely enjoy instant success due to the presence of member Bae Jinyoung. They’re …
Read More »[Review] TVXQ go unabashedly big & fun with “Hot Hot Hot”
TVXQ have been busy in both Korea and Japan since both members were discharged from the military in mid-2017. But so far, nothing they’ve released has quite matched their pre-enlistment material in …
Read More »[Review] EXO-SC’s “What A Life” is remarkably disappointing
Before EXO’s Chanyeol and Sehun debuted as an official sub-unit, they paired together to deliver last year’s SM Station track “We Young“. That song offered a nice balance between hip-hop …
Read More »[Review] Hyoyeon continues to be surprisingly convincing with “Badster”
Hyoyeon’s transformation into an EDM DJ initially felt like a gimmick, but last year’s addictive “Punk Right Now“ proved that she was willing to have fun with the genre. With “Badster“, she …
Read More »[Review] Pentagon’s “Humph!” blends in with the crowd
Here’s a road map to the lead-up of Pentagon’s new comeback, as seen through my jaded eyes: 1. The group releases teasers for a summertime single. Good! Fun summery songs …
Read More »[Review] MONSTA X’s “X-Phenomenon” is high-octane fun other than the buzzkill of a chorus
Fans of Monsta X are very lucky. Hardly a month goes by without some kind of release from the group or its members. They tour constantly, including a hefty amount …
Read More »[Review] KNK’s “Sunset” is good but frustratingly close to being great
KNK made a long-awaited return this January with new member Lee Dongwon. And although title track “Lonely Night“ didn’t exactly set the world on fire, it was a good first …
Read More »[Review] DAY6’s “Time Of Our Life” injects some life into July
In a July that has seen an unprecedented amount of downbeat, forgettable comebacks so far, DAY6 have returned to inject some life into the month. We last heard from the …
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