At the end of last year, I picked Stray Kids as my top rookie of 2018. However, that was largely based on the incredible strength of their March debut. By …
Read More »[Review] DIA’s “WOOWA” is a Shinsadong Tiger retread, which continues to be a good thing
When it comes to girl group DIA, each comeback feels like a minor miracle. I’m not sure they’ve ever released new material that hasn’t suffered some sort of delay or …
Read More »[Review] Produce X 101’s “X1-MA” is appropriately desperate
As much as I loathe the effect ‘Produce 101‘ has had on the K-pop industry, the series can always be trusted to deliver a killer theme song. I may drift …
Read More »[Review] Highlight’s Lee Gikwang brings his best for “Don’t Close Your Eyes” before enlistment
You’ve got to feel sorry for Lee Gikwang. What an absolutely terrible time for him to make a comeback. Korea is reeling from a host of scandals that have already …
Read More »[Review] MAMAMOO carries a placeholder track in “Gogobebe” as far as they can
MAMAMOO‘s new album completes their colors concept, in which the group released material each season and matched it with a defining color. “Gogobebe” arrives right at the tail end of …
Read More »[Review] DreamNote show improvement, potential with “Hakuna Matata”
DreamNote’s self-referencing debut won quite a few fans, but I found its performance too over-caffeinated for its own good. This hyper-excited style seems to be part of the groups’ overall …
Read More »[Review] Unimpressive “Still Loving You” doesn’t give 100% much to do
So, let me get this straight, 100%. You’re going to tackle a retro concept and not give Sweetune a call? I mean, talk about a missed opportunity! For a few …
Read More »[Review] GWSN continue to establish their core sound on “Pinky Star”
For me, the single most important thing a rookie group can accomplish during their first few releases is the establishment of a core sound. Even if their songs blur together …
Read More »[Review] Red Velvet’s Yeri goes solo with pleasant but unremarkable “Dear Diary”
I often feel that, if given complete creative freedom, most idols would release nothing but ballads and coffee-shop style acoustic tracks. For a fan of megawatt pop music, this suspicion …
Read More »[Review] Park Bom successfully restarts career with “Spring”
In a year that’s seen K-pop’s new guard begin to supplant its old guard, what could be more welcome than the long-awaited return of ex-2NE1 member Park Bom? And better …
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