Unlike K-pop, it’s not unusual for C-pop albums to be promoted by more than one music video. WayV were quite a tease in this regard, dropping their mini album with “Moonwalk” as …
Read More »[Review] Hey! Say! JUMP are unashamed, which is why rock opera “Beast & Rose” works
Most of this year’s releases by Johnny’s Entertainment artists have left me underwhelmed (hence, the lack of new reviews). But lately, the agency is enjoying a sort of renaissance. The …
Read More »[Review] HINAPIA have the novelty & concept down, though “Drip” just a solid debut
Second chances are rare in K-pop, but for four of PRISTIN‘s ex-members (Eunwoo, Minkyeung, Gyeongwan, and Yaebin), a new opportunity has emerged in the form of girl group HINAPIA. However, …
Read More »[Review] Lumbering “Savage” is a waste of A.C.E
This May, A.C.E released one of 2019’s most thrilling title tracks: the rock-tinged, attitude-driven “Under Cover.” The guys seemed to have found their niche, taking the intensity of their debut-era …
Read More »[Review] WayV deliver standout chorus & excellent final third on “Moonwalk”
More than any other year so far, 2019 has seen SM Entertainment’s NCT project expand its tentacles toward foreign markets. Chief among these initiatives is WayV, the Chinese branch of …
Read More »[Review] Monsta X’s Korean return also sees a return to bombast with “Follow”
Never one to miss an opportunity, Monsta X have been releasing a non-stop stream of music over the past several years. Between Korea, Japan and America, they’ve got to be …
Read More »[Review] Brown Eyed Girls inject life into “Wonder Woman”
Most of the world’s music industries were built on song covers, launching artists with performances of what many would consider standards. Covers (and cover albums) have lost their popularity in …
Read More »[Review] Taeyeon provides powerful energy through “Spark”
It’s been over two years since Taeyeon’s last full-length album, and in that time her discography has grown in drips and drabs — a holiday album here, a Japanese mini-album …
Read More »[Review] ARIAZ make promising debut with “Moonlight Aria”
As packed as October’s release slate has been, it’s been surprisingly short on girl group comebacks. Apart from Ladies’ Code and Limesoda, new group ARIAZ practically have the month to …
Read More »[Review] WINNER experiment a bit on the unbalanced “SOSO”
If you were to peruse any of my unfavorable reviews of the past few years, you’d likely find mentions of song structure, energy, and momentum. For me, these are some …
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