B1A4 - It's Christmas Time

I'm going to take a break from the countdowns today to focus on what is undoubtedly the best new Christmas song this year (and of quite a few years). Korea's been producing a slew of new k-pop Christmas tracks this year, but this song by B1A4 has really not gotten the love or attention it deserves. Part of that is probably because the song isn't paired with a music video, like most k-pop releases are. That's a shame, because a lot of B1A4's charm is in their colorful, creative visuals. That said, this song is so good that it doesn't even need a music video. It's firmly in the "All I Want For Christmas Is You" vein of holiday music, all upbeat sleigh bells and explosive chorus. And let's talk about that chorus, because it's one of the year's absolute best. And I love that, judging from the sole English line alone, this isn't another schmaltzy romantic message, but a more innocent plea for friendship. We could all use more songs about that.



(If you decide to buy K-Pop physical album releases -- and my god you should, because they're awesomely presented -- try catchopcd for some of the best prices out there. Use this link to get 5% off your first order!)

Lovelyz - For You

There's a very specific sound that's become especially popular this year with Korean girl groups. It's a bubbly, effervescent pop style that emphasizes bright melody and punctuations of synth that act more like guitar stabs. It's a high energy mix, and one that groups such as Lovelyz and Gfriend have mastered in 2015. For You is the new single from the former, although it sounds more like a track from the latter. It's not as cutesy or quirky as Lovelyz have been in the fast, opting instead for a more powerful, in your face production. While I liked it during the first listen, it took a few spins before that chorus really took hold. Now I can't get the damn thing out of my head!



(If you decide to buy K-Pop physical album releases -- and my god you should, because they're awesomely presented -- try catchopcd for some of the best prices out there. Use this link to get 5% off your first order!)

Seventeen + Ailee - Q&A

Seventeen (my favorite debut group of the year), have gifted us a surprise collaboration single with popular solo artist Ailee. Better yet, the song features a unit group of my three favorite members. Essentially, it's a light hip-hop track that's a lot less in your face than their full-group singles. It's also a total grower. That breezy hook is indelible, and works its way inside your head without you even noticing it. The cool thing is that the hip-hop verses, which can sometimes simply float by without any fanfare, are full with character and catchy flow. It helps that the video is also adorable and requires very little translation to get its point across.



(If you decide to buy K-Pop physical album releases -- and my god you should, because they're awesomely presented -- try catchopcd for some of the best prices out there. Use this link to get 5% off your first order!)

Intro to INFINITE: A K-Pop Retrospective

I've recently began dabbling in video editing, in the hope that I can string together an artist's entire music video discography and help promote this thing called K-Pop to those who might find it all too overwhelming.

I had to start with my absolutely favorite group, Infinite. So here, in just under twelve minutes, is an encapsulation of their flawless singles run. Enjoy!



INTRO to INFINITE: K-Pop Retrospective by KpopRetrospective

PSY - Bell Bottoms

God, these Psy songs are so stupid. Honestly, and I'll admit full bias here, if they were created and performed by some obnoxious American group like LMFAO instead of an obnoxious Korean, I'd probably dismiss them altogether. This is just my own issue, and I own that. A song like Daddy has the potential to be incredibly annoying, but something about Psy's exuberance to perform and make a mockery of himself is contagious.Plus, he's one hell of a dancer. Better than Daddy, though, is his other new single, Bell Bottoms. It's just not as in your face and... well... it's more of an actual song. Plus, I'm a sucker for anything 80's or disco influenced. The backing track and hook alone are worthy of praise here. The music video is also really clever and well-done, and as usual with Psy tracks, the production is top-of-the-line, robust and impeccable. It's great to see him returning to the kind of material he perfected between 2010 and 2012. Daddy, as fun as it is, feels like yet another diminished grasp for Gangnam Style-level success, but Bell Bottoms (and some of the other tracks on the album), have a bit more heft to them while still managing to be funny.



(If you decide to buy K-Pop physical album releases -- and my god you should, because they're awesomely presented -- try catchopcd for some of the best prices out there. Use this link to get 5% off your first order!)

BTS - Run

BTS have really thrown down the gauntlet this year and catapulted to the top tiers of the K-Pop industry. Their two part project, The Most Beautiful Moment In Life, has so far resulted in the brilliantly evocative I Need U music video and extended album trailer. Now we've got Run, which is itself a stunning long-form, cinematic music video. It's probably wrong to romanticize teenage gang crime or turn it into fashion, but for whatever reason I find myself drawn to concepts like this. Maybe it's because I wish I was a little more rebellious! I think it's also because BTS have managed to fully capture a mood with this video, and that's an ambition that few K-Pop groups aspire to. Whatever the reason, the cinematography and acting here is top notch, and the song itself is an instant head rush. Taken together with their previous work this year, it really feels like they're the group that's currently leading the hallyu wave.



(If you decide to buy K-Pop physical album releases -- and my god you should, because they're awesomely presented -- try catchopcd for some of the best prices out there. Use this link to get 5% off your first order!)

Road Boyz - Show Me Bang Bang

This song came out of nowhere. Literally, nowhere. I don't think Road Boyz (terrible name, by the way... especially since in Korean it's pronounced "load boys") were on anyone's radar. And nobody's talking about them, even after the release of this single. They're from a tiny company and their music video looks like it was shot for about ten bucks, but boy did they deliver with this song. Ignore the overused autotune/vocoder in the introduction. It tones down quickly, and what follows is a propulsive dance track that sounds like a throwback to the way k-pop was three or four years ago. I have no idea why it's called "Show Me Bang Bang" (another stupid name, btw), since those lyrics never come up. Instead, the guys repeat "can't let you go" a gazillion times (too many times, in fact). In short, there are so many amateur missteps here, yet somehow the song itself ends up being absolutely epic and one of the best I've heard this month. This is the kind of pop music I love.



(If you decide to buy K-Pop physical album releases -- and my god you should, because they're awesomely presented -- try catchopcd for some of the best prices out there. Use this link to get 5% off your first order!)

Exid - Hot Pink

Exid is one of a handful of k-pop girl groups who have had an amazingly breakout 2015. Like most listeners, I was late to the party and really only fell in love with them this year. Up and Down and Ah Yeah remain unmatchable, but their new single Hot Pink tries its hardest. It doesn't have nearly as much staying power, but it's definitely a fun track in its own right. The music video feels needlessly sexual/stupid in a juvenile way, and the song greatly benefits from being disconnected to some of those visuals. The random "black guy" bits are a bit of a wtf moment, but the catchy-as-hell hook and beat makes up for that. Now we just need a full album worth of songs that are up to par so that the girls can prove to us that 2015 wasn't just some brilliant fluke.



(If you decide to buy K-Pop physical album releases -- and my god you should, because they're awesomely presented -- try catchopcd for some of the best prices out there. Use this link to get 5% off your first order!)

San E + Mad Clown - Sour Grapes

Another day, another k-pop track. Seriously, don't be surprised when my top 50 singles of the year ends up being 90% k-pop. Try as I might, I really just can't get into most western (especially American) music these days. In my mind, the Korean stuff is just so much more fun and interesting. Take Sour Grapes as a prime example. This is pure goofy joy, and I'm surprised how much I like it because I've never really been into past tracks by either of these artists. San E I know from appearing in multiple variety shows. It took me awhile to warm to his goofball personality, but it perfectly compliments the tone of this track. Mad Clown, on the other hand, is a rapper I've never really liked. It all comes down to the tone of his voice, which grates on me. Seems like a perfectly nice guy... it's just a personal taste thing. Even so, his parts are fine here. But the highlight by far is the hooky, retro chorus.



(If you decide to buy K-Pop physical album releases -- and my god you should, because they're awesomely presented -- try catchopcd for some of the best prices out there. Use this link to get 5% off your first order!)

Hongki - Insensible

Insensible is an awkward name for a song, but I love me a big power rock ballad. Hongki is the lead vocal of Korean rock group FTIsland, and because of this I was expecting a straight-up rock sound from his new solo album. To my surprise (and delight), the album incorporates a lot more dance and pop influences than I would have thought. In fact, despite being a ballad, Insensible is probably the rockiest track on the album. It's total bombast, from the squealing guitar solo, to the soaring chorus, to the punctuations of lightning and rain in the video. It helps that the guy's got an amazing voice, and this track really puts that on display. In short, this release was hardly on my radar but I find myself utterly taken with it. Here's to nice surprises!



(If you decide to buy K-Pop physical album releases -- and my god you should, because they're awesomely presented -- try catchopcd for some of the best prices out there. Use this link to get 5% off your first order!)

iKON - Apology

YG continues his strange (and frustrating) 2015 promo plan of sidelining the vast majority of his artists and instead blitzing us with multiple releases by just two groups. First it was Bigbang, and now it's iKON (who are pushed to be Bigbang's successors). Luckily, they released a great mini album six weeks ago and their newest pair of singles are very good too. These two tracks (the somber Apology and aggressive Anthem) sound even more Bigbangy than ever, most likely due to the fact that they've been co-created by Teddy, one of Bigbang and G-Dragon's go-to collaborators. I was struck particularly by Apology the first time I heard it. It's just a beautiful rock/hip-hop ballad. Yes, it sounds exactly how you'd expect a YG track of this nature to sound like, but I guess if it's not broken, don't fix it. The music video is gorgeously shot as well.



(If you decide to buy K-Pop physical album releases -- and my god you should, because they're awesomely presented -- try catchopcd for some of the best prices out there. Use this link to get 5% off your first order!)

EXO - Lightsaber

I never thought K-Pop and Star Wars would combine, but I guess Disney knows what it's doing in terms of international outreach, because they paired with Korea's biggest group for a themed track. Now, a short clip of a 2012-ish EXO demo called Lightsaber has been available for some time, but it's unclear whether or not this is the same song. When I first heard it, I groaned at the inevitable dubstep chorus with one-word repetition, but I've grown to really love the song. It's definitely not proper, full-fledged comeback quality, but as an unexpected treat it's shown a lot more staying power on my playlist than I'd anticipated it would after my first listen. The verses are especially catchy.



(If you decide to buy K-Pop physical album releases -- and my god you should, because they're awesomely presented -- try catchopcd for some of the best prices out there. Use this link to get 5% off your first order!)

VIXX - Chained Up

Although never completely warming up to them personally, VIXX has always been a group that reliably delivers the goods when it comes to music. Because of this, I was so excited for their new album. Unfortunately, I'm finding myself underwhelmed. Maybe it's because their 2013-2014 releases were so flawless that I had set my expectations too high, but I just can't help thinking that they are capable of better. Chained Up is a perfectly serviceable title track. I certainly don't dislike it, but something feels lacking -- particularly during the verses. I think I'll have to chalk it up to personal taste, as many have been raving about the song. The chorus is catchy, for sure, but it definitely feels smaller than past tracks like Error, Eternity, Hyde or GR8U. Still, I'm giving it multiple spins in the hope that it'll grow on me.



(If you decide to buy K-Pop physical album releases -- and my god you should, because they're awesomely presented -- try catchopcd for some of the best prices out there. Use this link to get 5% off your first order!)

Brown Eyed Girls - Brave New World + Warm Hole

I can't pick between these two videos today. K-Pop royalty Brown Eyed Girls came back with a new album last week. It's mostly very boring, except for these two brilliant singles. They're very different from each other, despite both being throwback in sound. Brave New World is intense and experimental, with a disco string section seemingly lifted straight out of Michael Jackson's Don't Stop Til You Get Enough. The trippy, fierce video is one of the year's best. Warm Hole, on the other hand, (and yes that's the actual title) is full-on 60's striptease, with a hilarious (very unsubtle) video. I'd argue that its hook is even stronger than Brave New World's, even if it is understandably a more lightweight track. Taken as a duo, these two songs are an incredible end-of-the-year push for a group that had every right to rest on their laurels and rely on their name instead of continuing to push boundaries. It's just a shame that the rest of the album isn't as strong.



(If you decide to buy K-Pop physical album releases -- and my god you should, because they're awesomely presented -- try catchopcd for some of the best prices out there. Use this link to get 5% off your first order!)

Romeo - Target

Romeo's a group that's been on my radar for one single reason: they're following Infinite's lead and building their career with title tracks produced by the flawless Sweetune. Sweetune is an obsession for me. They create tracks that hit everything I love about pop music... bombast, an emphasis on soaring melody, and bright, polished production. Target isn't as good as the group's Lovesick from earlier this year, but it's still a fun track. I'm not sure I understand what the video's supposed to be (beyond sickeningly saccharine), but this is still a rookie group that I'm watching very closely.



(If you decide to buy K-Pop physical album releases -- and my god you should, because they're awesomely presented -- try catchopcd for some of the best prices out there. Use this link to get 5% off your first order!)

HIGH4 - D.O.A. (Dead Or Alive)

Rookie boy group HIGH4 have had the worst roll-out plan. From what I've seen, the rookies that end up with the most success are those who develop an identity quickly and ride the formula out until they're big enough to experiment a bit. HIGH4 have done the complete opposite, moving from a successful indie duet debut, to balladry, to colorful hip-hop, to dark electro-pop. This has made it hard to be a fan, and I haven't jumped aboard until now. I hope they stay with the sound of D.O.A. Despite an odd song structure, the song's clipped, seesaw synth and dramatic chorus caught my attention straight away. I guess with all the shifting genres, they were bound to stumble onto my personal taste eventually. I do wish the melody had more impact in some places, but overall I'm finding myself very addicted to this track. I would've loved an entire mini album in this style rather than just a single, but I hope it brings them some success so that their management will be inclined to continue this route. Sure, it's not incredibly original, but at least it has some impact.



(If you decide to buy K-Pop physical album releases -- and my god you should, because they're awesomely presented -- try catchopcd for some of the best prices out there. Use this link to get 5% off your first order!)

f(x) - Deja Vu

f(x) is undoubtedly one of the most consistent and interesting girl groups in Korea. Their music always carries an experimental edge to it that sets them apart from rivals. They're also consistent in the fact that, unlike the vast majority of idol groups, the singles taken from their albums are hardly ever the best tracks on there. 4 Walls is quite good, for sure, but no matter how much I try to nudge it from my mind, it's hard to forget that (for me) it's basically just a lesser version of Shinee's excellent View from earlier this year. Luckily, the album itself is top notch. Explosive tracks like Rude Love and Papi were the first to stick out in my head, but so far Deja Vu has had the longest lasting appeal. It's probably because I favor the 80's over the 90's, and Deja Vu hits that decade beautifully, with its fuzzy synth and glammed up, sugary melody. Either way, it's one of many tracks that make 4 Walls (the album) a total hit.


(If you decide to buy K-Pop physical album releases -- and my god you should, because they're awesomely presented -- try catchopcd for some of the best prices out there. Use this link to get 5% off your first order!)

B1A4 - Happy Days

One nice thing about Japanese releases (particularly those by Korean artists) is that, even though they're announced way too early, sometimes we get a nice surprise and the music video for the single is put out weeks in advance. This happened last week with B1A4, who just happen to be one of my most favorite K-Pop groups. Better yet, unlike many Japanese releases, Happy Days is a strong return to the group's more fun, poppy side. It's like What's Happening part two (except not as perfect). I haven't been able to confirm, but I'm assuming this was written by leader Jinyoung, just like most of the group's singles. The video is cheesy as hell, but the song itself is super catchy, super upbeat and represents the sound I hope they go for when it comes to their next Korean comeback.



(If you decide to buy K-Pop physical album releases -- and my god you should, because they're awesomely presented -- try catchopcd for some of the best prices out there. Use this link to get 5% off your first order!)

K-Pop Halloween: Day Four

In the infancy of this blog, I used to post a lot of Halloween-themed songs during the month of October. After a few years, that feature started to dwindle a bit. After all, there are only so many Halloween songs out there! But, to better reflect the changing tastes of the blog, I thought it would be fun to feature some Halloween-related tracks from Korea (and maybe one from Japan). Halloween isn't big in Korea, but I like to think these horror-themed songs could stand right alongside Thriller or Monster Mash!

Donghae and Eunhyuk - Skeleton
Every Halloween needs a ridiculous party song, right? Skeleton is exactly that (+ some added ridiculousness), but make sure to also take a listen to Scary House from the same mini album.



Tatsuya Ueda - Monster Night
More of a monster-themed story vignette than an actual song, this solo track by Kat-Tun member Ueda is bursting with mischievous sound effects and voice overs. It's pretty bizarre, and really solely suited for Halloween time.

K-Pop Halloween: Day Three

In the infancy of this blog, I used to post a lot of Halloween-themed songs during the month of October. After a few years, that feature started to dwindle a bit. After all, there are only so many Halloween songs out there! But, to better reflect the changing tastes of the blog, I thought it would be fun to feature some Halloween-related tracks from Korea (and maybe one from Japan). Halloween isn't big in Korea, but I like to think these horror-themed songs could stand right alongside Thriller or Monster Mash!

Shinee - Nightmare
Shinee's Misconceptions of Me has several tracks that would fit the season, but this opener hits all the right notes with its dark, synth beat and slinky chorus.



Park Jung Min - Devil
Jung Min's 2012 album Midnight Theatre is almost a Halloween album unto itself, especially when he integrates a dramatic church organ so completely into the dance beat.