SHINee’s agency hypes new album

Minho

SHINee will release a new EP on March 21, its first album in 18 months, SM Entertainment announced yesterday.

“Sherlock” is being widely promoted by the agency, which said it will release teaser images from the album’s jacket in the lead-up to the release date. A picture of a bare-chested Minho was the first to appear online, much to the excitement of fans.

SHINee’s agency seems eager to show the progress the group has made since it released “Hello” a year and a half ago.

“The new album will show the evolution of the band in terms of its music, performance techniques and style,” a representative from SM Entertainment said.

The boy band made its debut in 2008 with the song “Replay,” and has since become a household name in Korea. Its members are also extremely popular in Japan and Southeast Asia.

On Dec. 28, the boy band was named K-pop Group of the Year by Japanese music retail giant Tower Records based on record sales and votes from netizens.