It’s been over two years since Taeyeon’s last full-length album, and in that time her discography has grown in drips and drabs — a holiday album here, a Japanese mini-album …
Read More »[Review] ARIAZ make promising debut with “Moonlight Aria”
As packed as October’s release slate has been, it’s been surprisingly short on girl group comebacks. Apart from Ladies’ Code and Limesoda, new group ARIAZ practically have the month to …
Read More »[Review] WINNER experiment a bit on the unbalanced “SOSO”
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 …
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