Asian Junkie Asian pop. Without discretion.
Dreamcatcher have sort of been hovering around, lurking in Japan and waiting for a chance to get on an anime OST, and with “Eclipse” they got one through their ‘King’s …
Read More »[Review] Dreamcatcher only check the anime OST boxes with “Eclipse”
Ballad Roundup: Mailbag (John Park, Lim Jae Bum, KARD, AKMU), Hwang Chi Yeul, Crowd Lu, Wendy
John Park, Respected Entertainer Sprinkling mailbag goodies in with some more recent content. —— Hwang Chi Yeul – “Two Letters” On the Bugs chart (at the time of me writing …
Read More »[Review] STAYC are capable of more than generic “ASAP”
STAYC were my favorite girl group debut of 2020, and that’s off the strength of a single song. “So Bad” — as many Black Eyed Pilseung tracks tend to be …
Read More »[Review] SHINee’s “Atlantis” is right in their wheelhouse, but results more good than great
After reflecting on it a bit, it’s safe to say that SHINee is my all-time favorite K-pop boy group in terms of musical output. Throughout the years they’ve continually churned …
Read More »[Review] YUKIKA uses city pop to cure “Insomnia”
YUKIKA made her Korean debut just before the city pop revival took hold. This puts her in an enviable position. She comes across as a cool trendsetter, yet can also …
Read More »[Review] BLACKPINK Rose’s “Gone” is a generally dull affair
When Rosé’s “On The Ground” was released, I noticed that quite a few fans seemed to prefer its b-side “Gone.” So of course, I immediately checked it out. But more …
Read More »[Review] SEVENTEEN Hoshi’s sophisticated “Spider” sets up his solo future well
Given their vast array of members and talents, I’m surprised we haven’t seen many solo projects from SEVENTEEN. The group is approaching its sixth debut anniversary, which seems like the …
Read More »Indie Focus: Susan showcases versatility on standout ‘Eros’ album
Susan’s 2021 EP, ‘EROS‘, explores five different kinds of love, one in each track — and, perhaps intentionally, she manages to traverse and incorporate nearly as many genres’ elements in …
Read More »[Review] BTS’s “Film Out” is a sentimental, meandering ballad
Taking BTS’s success out of the equation, it’s fascinating to trace how much their music has changed since their 2013 debut. As happens with many world-conquering pop groups, their sound …
Read More »[Review] WJSN’s key is “Unnatural” but the nu-disco transition shows promise
It feels like ages since WJSN made a comeback. I’ve missed their music, and consider them one of this generation’s most consistently great girl groups. Apart from a few notable …
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