As you know from a previous plagiarism controversy between BTS and Big Bang, the latter group has a rock solid, impregnable copyright on the ‘No Signal’ color screen that was …
Read More »Monsta X’s “Shine Forever” bogged down by monotonous, forgettable melody
Monsta X are one of a few new-wave boy groups who have enjoyed steadily increasing success since their debut. Their pursuit of a harder-edged sound hasn’t always been to my …
Read More »B1A4’s “Sukidakara Shouganai” rides an addictive hook to an instant classic
Whether it be in Korean or Japanese, B1A4 know how to deliver a pop song. The group has had a high level of control over their music for quite a …
Read More »Girls Next Door make one wish they were a real group with “Deep Blue Eyes”
We don’t usually associate variety shows with grade-A K-pop releases, but ‘Sister’s Slam Dunk‘ surprised by providing one of May’s best singles with Unnies’ “Right“. And now it’s time for …
Read More »Nine Muses return as a quartet on dark, driving, and modern “Remember”
Nine Muses are now a quartet for their “Remember” comeback, but surprisingly the music still hasn’t taken a turn for the worse as they continue to release underappreciated quality. “Remember” …
Read More »Indie Focus: Microdot showcases his versatility on ‘+64’, leaving listeners wanting more
I’ve known Microdot more through his guest spots on other hip-hop artists’ songs, but I spent some time with his 2016 EP ‘+64‘ and I don’t know why he’s not …
Read More »NCT 127’s “Cherry Bomb” continues to push boundaries, but this time not for the better
SM Entertainment doesn’t always get the credit it deserves when it comes to being a boundary-pushing agency. They’ve been blending genres and playing with song structure since the very beginning. …
Read More »T-ara’s “What’s My Name” definitely grows on you, but thankfully “Reload” exists as well
T-ara are saying goodbye (to MBK Entertainment) without Boram and Soyeon with “What’s My Name“, which provides challenges aside just the lack of members. While their absence is noticeable on …
Read More »Pentagon’s “Critical Beauty” mixes successful rock elements with failing hip-hop ones
Over the course of two mini albums, Pentagon have already shown a lot of promise for a group who only debuted half a year ago. But I have noticed one …
Read More »Indie Focus: The Black Skirts lose the magic on cliched ‘Team Baby’
The first time I listened to The Black Skirts was all the way back in 2012, when I encountered the magic of ‘201‘. ‘201’ was an album with character and …
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