A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. Nothing about Mirae’s new album cements … Continue reading
If you followed The Bias List throughout 2021, you’ll know how much I adore OnlyOneOf’s libidO. The track felt like a confident shot across the bow, melding experimental artistry with taut songcraft. Unfortunately, the group faced a tumultuous year that prevented them from capitalizing on this momentum. The second part of their Instinct series was … Continue reading
Last time I wrote about a Momoland song, the girls were collaborating with DJ/producer Chromance. Surprisingly, their newest single sees them paired with another global artist. This time, it’s Dominican singer Natti Natasha. I think these collaborations are a cool idea, but they make me question how much faith MLD Entertainment has in Momoland themselves. … Continue reading
For his newest mini album, TVXQ’s Max Changmin has tackled a variety of genres. So far, that’s resulted in the incredible pomp-rock of Maniac. Meanwhile, title track Devil has been described as a “slow-tempo R&B song.” But rather than mine 90’s sounds (as SM Entertainment often does), Devil moves back to earlier roots of the … Continue reading
Since going solo, Hyolyn has proven herself adept at a variety of genres. Nostalgia will always lure me toward her upbeat, Sistar-esque summer pop, but her R&B-influenced work has also been great. Nothing quite beats 2018’s Dally in this regard, but new single Layin’ Low certainly puts up a fight. When it comes to Hyolyn, … Continue reading
I chose Mirae as my favorite rookie of 2021 due to the strength of their single Killa as well as their entertaining presence in variety. But, follow-up track Splash revealed a weakness in their armor. Like so many K-pop acts, their sound seems dictated by a “throw everything at the wall” approach rather than an … Continue reading
The album cover for Swan’s digital single Road In The Light proudly declares “Mortals born by “GAIA.” But with the abandonment” …as if we’re supposed to understand what the heck any of that means. This pseudo-mythology pretty much sums up girl group CRAXY – along with much of the K-pop industry! Like so many of … Continue reading
After years of releasing excellent material, The Rampage’s 2021 work swerved in directions that weren’t for me. In fact, they missed out entirely on my Top 50 J-pop countdown last month – a rare omission for one of my favorite groups. Leading up to their latest full-length album (basically a compilation of those 2021 singles), … Continue reading
Despite boasting several big-name Produce 101 players among its roster, boy group WEi is still searching for their breakout moment. Solo releases might just be the fuel they need, taking advantage of individual members’ popularity. Solos don’t usually spawn from newly-debuted groups, but WEi is a special case. Kim Yohan has proven an in-demand actor … Continue reading
TVXQ’s Max Changmin has been taking teasers to a whole new level for his upcoming album. First, he gave us a taste of b-side Fever through a live performance. Now, we get a proper music video for Maniac. Title track Devil has a lot to live up to because this new track is fantastic. Maniac … Continue reading
I hadn’t given ENHYPEN’s music much love until last year’s Dimension: Dilemma album, which finally began to carve out a musical niche that didn’t just rehash other HYBE groups. This was most apparent on the album’s rock-influenced tracks like Attention, Please. Given that song’s success, I’m happy to see the guys continue to explore an … Continue reading
K-pop’s title tracks might gain most of listeners’ attention, but many album tracks are worth equal spotlight. I call these “buried treasures.” Beyond this, K-pop’s albums deliver thousands of additional tracks that settle for a more limited audience. It’s these songs that will become a part of my “battle of the b-sides” feature. In this … Continue reading
When SixTONES and Snow Man debuted in January 2020, I was pretty convinced SixTONES would be my group of choice. After all, Imitation Rain was a downright legendary debut. Two years later and I’m a Snow Man mega-fan, while SixTONES’ output feels much more hit and miss. It’s a personal taste thing, but I’m also … Continue reading
A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. P1Harmony continue to stretch their hip-hop … Continue reading
A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. There are some production teams you … Continue reading
BZ-Boys (otherwise known as Blue Zone Boys) have been kicking around since 2019. They debuted under Chrome Entertainment — an agency most famous for quirky girl group Crayon Pop. Unfortunately, lengthy hiatuses have blunted most of their momentum and their material has tended to lean on the generic side. New single Find You (널 찾으러 … Continue reading
Since her ambitious, sc-fi-themed debut, AleXa’s sound and concepts have swerved all over the place. Last time we heard from her, she let us know what she likes on her burger and fries. As cringy as Xtra’s lyrics could be, they succeeded in giving the track some character. When it comes to new single Tattoo, … Continue reading
We haven’t even passed our first week of 2022 and the year’s crop of rookies are already making themselves known. Following on the heels of Kep1er is new boy group Trendz. They hail from Interpark Music Plus, home to girl group Laboum. New debuts are always exciting, but if TNT (Truth & Trust) is any … Continue reading
Despite counting many fantastic idols among its roster, Omega X’s title tracks haven’t yet connected with me. They’re firmly entrenched in the “noise music” trend favored by many modern boy groups, where “going hard” takes precedence over most other elements. I understand the appeal, but I tend to prefer songs that merge their intensity with … Continue reading
Everything about WJSN Chocome’s Super Yuppers (슈퍼 그럼요) is disarmingly silly. First there’s that ridiculous song title, which effectively previews the giddy energy of the music itself. Then there’s the tongue-in-cheek video, which hearkens back to similar efforts by groups like Crayon Pop and Orange Caramel. I’m delighted to see a big-name comeback opt for … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 