BACK TO K-POP’S FIRST GENERATION: Duke – Starian

K-Pop’s first generation is often referenced as the foundation for the industry we enjoy now, but there aren’t enough good English-language sources that give its music the focus it deserves. I’m hoping to change that with a continuing flashback series, spotlighting personal highlights from the era – both iconic and obscure.

The era in question is often considered to run from the debut of Seo Taiji & Boys in 1992 to the emergence of TVXQ in late 2003. The music featured in this series will largely fit within that time frame, give or take a few years on either side.

It was a time of bonkers song structures, wild fashion, slamming techno beats, bad reggae impressions, flagrant use (theft?) of American hip-hop samples, hearty power ballads, foul language, the growliest rapper tones you can imagine and an anything-goes scrappiness that’s impossible to pigeonhole. To borrow the name of a popular second-gen act, these years were the “big bang” of an emerging musical powerhouse, still finding its footing and throwing everything at the wall.

Check out other “Back to K-pop’s First Generation” reviews here.

While techno was a passing trend in the States, it was a huge musical era in both Korea and Japan. For a few years in the early 2000’s, it seems like every K-pop act was swept up in the techno craze. This genre isn’t for everyone, but I’ve always loved it and it’s fun to have a treasure trove of music to explore.

Duke have an incredibly solid discography. And despite their debut with the techo-tastic Starian, their work is actually quite varied. From rock to ballads to funk to high energy dance, their albums cover the genre gamut. It’s all held together by great songwriting and the absolutely incredible vocals of Kim Ji-hoon (R.I.P). He started as a vocalist for the short-lived Two Two in the mid-90’s but really found his footing here. His howling power notes on Starian are arresting in their undiluted confidence.

Starian occupies a space I love in K-pop. It’s a moment where ambition outstripped technology, as evidenced by its hilariously over-the-top music video with its quaint computer graphics. However, these were the building blocks of the grand, high-budget K-pop we now know and love. More importantly, Starian’s insistent thump is such a delight. It’s almost trance-like in its continued intensity, offering contrast between speed-rapped verses and lighter pop melodies. Then, there’s that chorus and its elongated, goosebump-inducing vocal bombast. This group could never be accused of being too subdued!

Grade: A