If you were to peruse any of my unfavorable reviews of the past few years, you’d likely find mentions of song structure, energy, and momentum. For me, these are some …
Read More »[Review] BAP’s Youngjae provides unbridled pop fun on “Forever Love”
Back in 2012, K-pop found itself lodged within an EDM trend. But, it didn’t sound like today’s EDM, where stop/start structures and instrumental drops abound. This particular trend tethered huge …
Read More »[Review] NU’EST return to the tried and true deep-house well for “Love Me”
Since 2016, NU’EST’s title tracks have been emblematic of what I would call the Pledis Entertainment “house sound.” Each one was co-composed by the agency’s own producer Bumzu, and adhered …
Read More »[Review] TXT’s bold, occasionally fanciful “Run Away” another step in right direction
It’s been a long road to TXT’s first comeback. Originally scheduled for August, “Run Away” arrives after two postponements, increasing anticipation for where the group’s music would go next. TXT has …
Read More »[Review] BTOB’s Hyunsik elevates “Dear Love” above standard ballad fare with unique edge
I think I may have been underrating this Lim Hyunsik guy. I never covered his 2017 solo track “Swimming,” and I kind of want to time travel and give past …
Read More »[Review] AB6IX’s “Blind For Love” is effortlessly enjoyable
Of all the K-pop songs that have grown on me this year, AB6IX’s Breathe has had one of the most impressive climbs. I was dismissive of the track upon release, …
Read More »[Review] ATEEZ’s theatrical “Wonderland” is a standout success
ATEEZ have taken 2019 by storm, releasing a steady stream of music that has now culminated with their first full album. The fact that all of this has been accomplished …
Read More »[Review] Super Junior hit highs and lows on “I Think I”
Over the course of the past eight years, Super Junior have offered a template for how to deal with Korea’s mandatory military enlistment. Though they’ve promoted almost every year, the …
Read More »[Review] SuperM have ‘Avengers’ ambition but “Jopping” is more like ‘Justice League’
SuperM seemed like a questionable idea from the start, with many fans initially skeptical at best and angry at worst. However, as the hype machine rolled along, predictably many fans …
Read More »[Review] ONEUS ride the traditional/hip-hop fusion cheat code to success on “LIT”
ONEUS impressed with their “Valkyrie” debut, effectively putting the group on the K-pop map. “Twilight” was less impressive, but they returned with “Lit“, which marks probably my favorite release of …
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