Even before the formation of WINNER, I longed for a Seungyoon album. His early solo songs — “Wild & Young,” “Stealer,” “It Rains” — hinted at a gutsy rocker, and …
Read More »[Review] Sexy Zone registers another standout with “Let’s Music”
For a brief, shining moment last fall, Sexy Zone were five again. However, they’ve been knocked back to four as member Marius takes a break from the industry to focus …
Read More »[Review] IU’s “Coin” an effective second in the one-two punch of title tracks
IU is supporting her new album with a good old-fashioned double title track strategy. We don’t see double promotions in K-pop nearly enough anymore. I’ve always thought it was a …
Read More »[Review] B.I makes his return with vulnerable, authentic “Midnight Blue”
Since leaving iKON and YG Entertainment in 2019, B.I has worked more as a producer than a solo artist. He’s also uploaded music to the online platform Soundcloud, a long-standing …
Read More »[Review] Daichi Miura continues his synth excellence on “Backwards”
A couple years ago, dance icon Daichi Miura released the incredible Be Myself. If you haven’t heard that song before, make it your most urgent mission to do so. Since …
Read More »[Review] Super Junior adds a bizarre breakdown to an otherwise generically fun “House Party”
Super Junior have titled their milestone tenth album “The Renaissance,” which conjures images of regality and refinement. To me, the group have always been more about amiable, self-deprecating personality, which …
Read More »[Review] Pentagon return with refreshing & unique “Do Or Not”
After a jolt of renewed interest from their stint on Road to Kingdom, Pentagon now face the tricky business of military enlistments. Jinho and Hui have already taken their enlistment …
Read More »[Review] Rose makes solo debut with inoffensive, beige “On The Ground”
Back in the fall of 2018, BLACKPINK’s Jennie released her debut solo track, aptly titled… Solo. Unless I’m remembering things incorrectly, this was meant to be the first in a …
Read More »[Review] BDC find a formula that works with dramatic, relentless “Moon Rider”
Brand New Music’s BDC kicked off their “Intersection” series last September with the synth-fueled Shoot The Moon. That song ended up being a big grower, and I loved its sci-fi …
Read More »[Review] ATEEZ suffer from treatment of vocals on “Fireworks”
ATEEZ’s years-long Treasure project remains one of K-pop’s most daring works – exciting, inventive and packed with killer songs. But so far, I’m not feeling the “Fever.” This follow-up project …
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