The last time Lee Gikwang promoted as a soloist was before Beast or Highlight were even a thing. He made his debut as AJ (short for the ultra-lame “Ace Junior”) …
Read More »Jeong Sewoon still has growing to do, but “Just U” lays an impressive foundation
If there was one contestant I wished would have made it into the ‘Produce 101‘ boy group Wanna One, it’s twelfth-place finisher Jeong Sewoon. Not only was he a personal …
Read More »Good Day debut with insipid “Rolly”, the worst track on their album
Good Day’s “Rolly” is what happens when you take the worst song from your album and make it the title track. The girls are new to the k-pop landscape, but …
Read More »Henry’s plodding “That One” shows why SME had him in the basement
Late last year, Henry publicly expressed frustration with his label, SM Entertainment, for the lack of opportunities they were providing for the release of new music. Ever since, he’s enjoyed …
Read More »HyunA thankfully switches gears on “Babe”, but gets mixed results
Some may argue to the contrary, but for my money HyunA hasn’t given us a truly great solo single since 2014’s “Red“. Instead, she’s been caught in an unending loop …
Read More »Golden Child debut with energetic, catchy “DamDaDi” that sounds like it’s from a musical
The debut of Woollim Entertainment’s new boy group has been rumored for well over a year, increasing expectations for what Golden Child may sound like. And from a personal perspective, …
Read More »S.I.S take a productive first step with surprisingly anthemic “I’ve Got A Feeling” debut
Beyond the steady stream of debut groups from known agencies, there exists a whole other shadow world of K-pop rookies who spring from agencies too small to offer much promotion. …
Read More »VIXX LR use fantastic instrumental to overcome simplistic hook on “Whisper”
VIXX sub-unit VIXX LR debuted two years ago with the melancholic “Beautiful Liar“, which suited Leo and Ravi well even if it wasn’t exactly the late-summer anthem many of us …
Read More »PRISTIN’s “We Like” does many things wrong but prevails due to its infectious qualities
Pristin’s debut track “Wee Woo“ seemed to grow on many listeners, but my experience was a bit different. The song remains dangerously catchy, but its more grating elements haven’t aged …
Read More »Sunmi shines when given the chance on “Gashina”, but Teddy too often takes the reins
Now that Wonder Girls are officially disbanded, many have been curious what each member will release as a soloist. Sunmi hasn’t necessarily been a stranger to solo work, but it’s …
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