Critical Kpop Podcast

Well, friends, it's been a beautiful run for us here at Critical Kpop, but all good things must come to an end! Episode 28 marks our final episode of the Critical Kpop Podcast. Join Sarah, Tim, and Zander one last time as they look back at some of their favorite moments. Thank you all for joining us along the way!

If you think that every Kpop music video is an idol dancing inside a box, there's a whole range of experiences you've missed. On today's episode, Sarah, Tim, and Zander explore just a few of the idols who experiment with representation. From Winner to JYP himself, from Gain to Lim Kim, these idols definitely go "outside the box."

Less is more? Pshhh, Taemin is more! Listen as Sarah, Tim, and Zander geek out over new music and MV's from Taemin. The crew even advances a few crazy theories about the meaning behind "Press Your Number." But it's not just Taemin this week -- B.A.P's back too, and our feelings are mixed. How do we reconcile their past with their present? Speaking of which, this week also witnessed the first official comeback of Ladies' Code since the tragic loss of EunB and RiSe. All this and more on today's episode of the Critical Kpop Podcast!

Join Sarah, Tim, and Zander as they stress over new and old fan club names and the seeming thoughtlessness of entertainment companies. The crew reviews some impressive releases from the likes of AOA Cream, Mamamoo, and G.Soul, but this week is all about the old guard with Double S 301, Kim Jae Joong, and even Rainbow coming back with new music. Do you remember a time before we had such great music? Of course not, it was BK: Before Kpop! Listen here, friend!

It's almost Valentine's Day, and that can only mean one thing here at Critical Kpop: REVENGE! Using popular MVs from the likes of After School, EXID, Dal Shabet, Brown Eyed Girls, and more, Tim and Zander ask what it means to revenge against your lover, when revenge is warranted, and what a "good" revenge should look like. You won't want to miss this in-depth exploration of the most beautiful of all human emotions! So sit back, relax, and tell your loved one to give you some space for the next hour, goodness!

What is the best Kpop release of 2016 so far? Will Tim and Zander be taken with the dubstep drop of 4Minute's "Hate" and their album, Act.7, or will they be wooed by the smooth rock of the first part of Winner's four-act album, EXIT? Or is there another artist that deserves that honorific? Perhaps Taeyeon, or even G-Friend? All this and more on today's episode of the Critical Kpop Podcast.

There are certain Kpop albums that are so good, so beautiful, that every fan should know them by heart. For whatever reason, though, too many of these albums are nearly forgotten. Deep cuts, a new series on the Critical Kpop Podcast, will seek to restore those albums to their appropriate place in the pantheon of Kpop. T-ara's first studio album, Absolute, will be the first. Join Tim and Zander as they take a tour through the 14 classic songs on Absolute, with a slight detour into SM Entertainment's recent news.

In 2015, rookie girl group, Twice, enjoyed a successful debut that garnered them millions of fans. Three weeks into 2016, however, it would be difficult to imagine even a casual fan of Kpop for whom Chou Tzuyu, sixteen-year-old member of Twice, was not a household name. Through a baffling series of events, Tzuyu would become a beacon of independence for millions, a symbol of hatred and betrayal for millions more, and a misunderstood focal point for much of the rest of the world. Without trying, this sixteen-year-old girl would affect the outcome of the Taiwanese presidential election, and in the process, change the business of Kpop forever. On today's episode, Tim and Zander tell the story of Chou Tzuyu in their most serious podcast yet.

On today's episode of the Critical Kpop Podcast we say goodbye to one of Kpop's most iconic groups. Join Tim and Zander as they chart the rise and fall (and fall) of Kara with a close analysis of twelve of their hit singles! Yes, twelve! Listen to find out when Kara finally "Jumped the Damaged Lady," as Tim so eloquently put it. Or, in the inimitable words of Stevie Smith, how long have Kara been "not waving but drowning"?

Welcome to 2016! Join Sarah, Tim, and Zander as they gear up for a new year full of great music! Today we tie up a few loose ends from 2015 (did Jun. K, iKon, Gary, and Turbo do enough to save December?), review the first big release of 2016 (how did Dal Shabet fare?), and talk recommendations and resolutions. Listen here and let us know what your resolutions are for the new year!