As they have in the past, ATEEZ held a public vote to decide which of two songs would become their newest title track. My choice was soundly beaten, proving yet …
Read More »[Review] BLACKPINK’s Lisa serves Teddy’s reheated leftovers on “LALISA” solo debut
Rather than return with a full group comeback, BLACKPINK’s 2021 has seen the group deliver long-promised solo songs. This spring marked the release of Rosé’s first solo, and now Lisa …
Read More »[Review] Lee Hi’s “Savior” (Feat. B.I) is a vibe but not much else
Lee Hi rose to fame as a contestant on the very first K-variety show I ever watched: K-pop Star. I still remember the excitement of her debut, marking the arrival of …
Read More »[Review] Fromis 9 make a satisfying debut under Pledis with “Talk Talk”
No matter the agency, fromis_9 return again and again with strong material. Their rocky journey has now brought them to the doorstep of Pledis Entertainment, who will be managing their …
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] 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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