It always cracks me up when a group’s press release proudly declares that they’ll be venturing into a new sound, only to have that sound turn out to be something …
Read More »[Review] Baekhyun & Loco deliver on “Young”, which eschews trends but is limited by its melody
As the third season of the ‘SM Station‘ platform continues to shine light on unexpected collaborations, the pairing of EXO’s Baekhyun and rapper Loco arrives with much expectation. It’s been …
Read More »[Review] NCT Dream make “We Go Up” work despite lacking a fleshed out chorus
2017 set the bar incredibly high for NCT’s youngest unit with the February release of NCT Dream’s buoyant “My First And Last“. In fact, I’d argue that SM Entertainment hasn’t …
Read More »[Review] Shinhwa go subdued instead of celebratory for 20th anniversary single, “Kiss Me Like That”
There really isn’t a precedent for the kind of music an act like Shinhwa should be releasing. It’s been an astonishing 20 years since their debut, making them K-pop’s longest-running …
Read More »[Review] Raina’s “It’s Okay” is as forgettable as the title implies
The indefinite hiatus of girl group After School and its sub-unit, Orange Caramel, is made even more frustrating whenever one of the group’s members returns with a by-the-numbers ballad. I don’t …
Read More »[Review] Daichi Miura lays it all on the line & finds success with outstanding “Be Myself”
There are few things more frustrating than the Japanese music industry’s insistence on posting short music videos online. I get the fact that videos usually come packaged with physical albums …
Read More »[Review] BIGFLO go with something refined in “Upside Down” and it works wonders
After eighteen months away, boy group BIGFLO is back with renewed energy. Main dancer Euijin finished in second place during KBS’s “The Unit“, garnering attention through his promotions with project …
Read More »[Review] Hyolyn basically drops a SISTAR summer comeback with “Bae”
Amidst all of the comebacks this season, Hyolyn has surprisingly become the summer MVP. Last month’s “See Sea“ leapfrogged over its competition to soundtrack July, but she’s not finished yet. Reuniting …
Read More »[Review] Super Junior D&E’s lightweight attempt at trendiness in “Bout You” falls flat
Since returning from their military enlistment, Super Junior’s Donghae and Eunhyuk have released a steady stream of music in Japan, culminating in their recently unveiled album ‘Style‘. But, it’s been …
Read More »[Review] TWICE pull bait-and-switch with “BDZ”, but chant-along hook is a redeeming quality
As popular as it has been, TWICE’s Japanese material has left a lot to be desired thus far. Pursuing a hyper cutesy motif, it’s only seemed to accentuate the group’s …
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