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Epik High’s “Rain Song” Leans Into the Universal
Over their 20 year career, Epik High has mastered quite a few aspects of their craft, but the skill that has become most prominent over the last few years is their ability to weave lyrics that are...
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Ha:tfelt’s “Summertime” Is A Dark Take On A Classic Concept
Ha:tfelt is one of the most interesting artists working in K-pop. She has a talent for taking any concept and turning into something rich and complex. She takes simple concepts and adds nuance, takes...
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“1/6” Offers A Stunning Look Inside Sunmi’s Mind
Ever since her solo debut, Sunmi has dabbled in a variety of sounds and aesthetic influences, showing her as someone with a keen sense of musical theory and history. Yet, it has always had the firm,...
View ArticleThe SB Mixtape, 8/19/2021: New Beginnings
About five months ago, I made a large change: I moved across the country. No friends, no family, never even saw my new city until I arrived. And the whole process of starting from this blank of a...
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Nevertheless, is a Spectacular Romance
From the description, JTBC’s Nevertheless, looks to be another cute but ultimately unmemorable romance series–the spurned in love yet still romantic Na-bi (Han So-hee) finds herself drawn to Jae-eon...
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Music & Lyrics: Under The Influence
Alcohol is a hell of a drug. It is one of the few mind-altering substances that is both legal and socially acceptable to consume, and we do. A lot. More than we should, to be honest. Alcohol can...
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Key’s “Bad Love” Is A Theatrical Masterpiece
While it can be enjoyable to see an artist grow and refine their sound as their career progresses, there is also something delightful about a performer who knows exactly where their strengths lie....
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Luna’s “Madonna” Fails To Live Up to Its Inspiration
It’s not much of an exaggeration to say that Luna, formerly of f(x), is one of the great voices of K-pop. Her range, skill, and vocal color combine into a truly unique voice, which is why it is so...
View ArticleThe SB Mixtape: If You Can’t Make Your Own Motivation…
Store-bought is fine. As October winds down and the end of 2021 looms on the horizon, many a to-do list is filling out. There’s the end of year holiday bonanza, with the spiders and skeletons barely...
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Laboum Become Their Best Selves in “Blossom”
Laboum is one of those groups who could never seem to catch a break. They had minor hits like “Hwi Hwi” or the stroke of luck of a member getting a place in UNI.T, but never managed to capitalize on...
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“I’m A B” Is Held Back By Hwasa’s Guilt
In her solo endeavors, Mamamoo’s Hwasa has always been willing to lean into the personal, specifically in how being famous affects not only one’s life, but one’s ability to live that life. Her new...
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“Fireworks” Explodes with Gaho’s Avoidance and Denial
Sometimes, doing nothing is the hardest possible option. This is the mindset explored by singer-songwriter Gaho. Though he’s been around for a few years, he had his big break last year, with his OST...
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Jirisan: Humanity In The Face of Danger
In the modern world of the 21st century, there are still dangerous places. Nature cannot be tamed, and willingly entering a wild area means opening yourself to the same dangers as people three...
View ArticleThe SB Mixtape, 1/13/2022: K-pop Punk
Punk’s not dead. It never will be. Punk rock, first formed in the garages and dive bars of the 70s, is a spirit that will never fade. Originally taking shape with three chords and the truth, the angry...
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Side B: The Genre Experiments of Fromis_9
Sometimes it can take a group a little while to get going, and Fromis_9 appears to be one such group. Debuting in 2018 with a lineup formed on the survival series Idol School, their early career hit a...
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Ha Sungwoon’s “Can’t Live Without You” is Charmingly and Excessively Intimate
Since the disbandment of Wanna One, former member Ha Sungwoon has carved out a niche for himself as a singer-songwriter. He often starts in the template of the classic “guy with acoustic guitar” mold,...
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Epik High Dive Into Their Past in ‘Epik High Is Here, Part 2’
Three old men look back at their lives and think over the choices they’ve made; are forced to weigh up the pain, the difficulties, and the sacrifices against the material and immaterial success they...
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Dramaworld 2: The Toxicity Inside the Escapism
Dramas are one of the greatest forms of escapism. They offer a world of beefy men and beautiful women, one where every setback is just another building block in the inevitable happy ending. The...
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Brave Girls Feel Heartbreak, 90s-Style in “Thank You”
Since their mainstream breakthrough, the Brave Girls have stayed firmly in the range of house music which propelled them to stardom. This is not a bad decision; their voices are well-suited to...
View ArticleThe SB Mixtape, 3/24/2022: Showcasing the Humble Piano
The piano is a truly underrated instrument. Often viewed as the most basic of all musical instruments, next only to the recorder in lameness, the humble piano is more capable than it is given credit...
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