A Pink have never been out of the spotlight for long in Korea, but they enjoyed an unexpected bump last summer with the ear-catching “I’m So Sick“. Heading in an edgier …
Read More »[Review] iKON’s “I’m OK” is solid but plays it safe
Trilogies and series are all the rage in K-pop, but few have lasted as long as iKON’s ‘New Kids‘. Barring their 2018 album ‘Return‘, the group has been releasing tracks …
Read More »[Review] MONT head in right direction but can’t quite execute on “Will You Be My Girlfriend”
Most of us first met M.O.N.T when they participated in YG Entertainment’s failed survival series ‘MIXNINE‘. They earned the nickname of “mountain idols” because their small agency was located in the …
Read More »[Review] Red Velvet get adventurous with spontaneously fun “Sappy”
Japanese releases are often telegraphed weeks (and sometimes months) ahead of a time, but SM Entertainment artists seem to drop their J-pop music videos whenever they like. “Sappy” was only …
Read More »[Review] Luna’s “Even So” sets a mood and doesn’t do much else
As the wait for a full f(x) comeback (Editor’s Note: LMAO) enters its fourth calendar year, each and every move by its members attracts interest from fans. However, most of …
Read More »[Review] N.Flying trade freewheeling for restrictive on “Rooftop”
N.Flying have had a rough go of it over the past month, with bassist Kwangjin leaving the group among accusations of inappropriate online conduct. This came just days before the …
Read More »[Review] Chungha has “Gotta Go” but doesn’t end up going anywhere
Chungha‘s music has been quite solid to this point, but I’ve struggled to enjoy most of it because her unique vocal tone doesn’t work for me. She’s clearly a talented …
Read More »[Review] Shaun’s “Bad Habits” is trendy & a bit generic, but he makes the most of it
It’s a testament to Korea’s love affair with generic Western musical trends that Shaun’s “Way Back Home” became one of 2018’s biggest sleeper hits, despite the fact that it came …
Read More »[Review] NCT Dream’s “Candle Light” a warm, affable end to this iteration of the group
December is such a barren month for new K-pop releases, and what we do get tends to be an endless stream of ballads and mid-tempos. This languid pace makes it …
Read More »[Review] “Truth” is beautiful, but TVXQ have been lacking impact
They say you’re hardest on the things you love the most, and I feel like I’ve been especially hard on TVXQ this year. At the outset of 2018, I would’ve …
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