So … the EXO solos haven’t exactly panned out the way I would have hoped. So far, it’s been an unending stream of ballads and mid-tempos, each blending into the …
Read More »[Review] WINNER’s “Hold” aims for fun but ends up rather forgettable
I fondly remember watching YG Entertainment’s Who Is Next variety show back in 2013. At the time, I was a supporter of Team B, who would eventually go on to …
Read More »[Review] Kang Daniel goes smooth on sneakily addictive “2U”
After taking an extended break from the K-pop industry, Kang Daniel has returned with the release of his first mini album. Never mind that two-fifths of the EP is a …
Read More »[Review] Park Woojin (AB6IX) gets a sluggish trap solo in “Color Eye”
Somehow, despite disliking the bulk of AB6IX’s special solos album 5NALLY, I have now written about all five tracks at length. And every once in a while, I even had …
Read More »[Review] Dreamcatcher interestingly go in a heavy direction in Japan with “Endless Night”
In Korea, Dreamcatcher’s “Scream” comeback marked a bit of a departure from their previously constant rock-adjacent efforts, heading down a more EDM-inspired road and getting the desired outcome though generating …
Read More »[Review] ITZY maintain edge on “Wannabe” while addictive melody takes them to new heights
ITZY haven’t made a comeback since last summer, but their presence has definitely been felt within the K-pop industry during that hiatus. So many girl groups are taking influence from …
Read More »[Review] Yezi continues down new path, this time more successfully with “Home”
Only a month after her last solo release, ex-Fiestar member Yezi has already returned with another track. For most of her solo career, she’s capitalized on her skills as a …
Read More »[Review] “Kick It” suits NCT 127 and excels when at its most unhinged
Despite unlimited potential for new sub-units, NCT’s Korean promotion has largely boiled down to releases from either 127 or Dream. Both have secured plenty of fans under the NCT umbrella, …
Read More »[Review] Lee Daehwi’s “Rose, Scent, Kiss” is the stand out from the AB6IX solos
AB6IX’s solo project 5NALLY is mostly one long dirge, where the members’ personalities take a backseat to the kind of trendy music that prioritizes “cool” over interesting. Lee Daehwi’s Rose, …
Read More »[Review] ELRIS throw everything into “Jackpot”, though perhaps a few things too many
It’s been a staggering twenty months since Elris’s last promoted comeback. That kind of lengthy hiatus is often a death knell for idol groups. At the very least, it necessitates …
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