Since the start of The Bias List in January 2016, I’ve always looked back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists each month. Now, it’s time to look even further into the past, one month at a time. And, yes, the top three rankings count toward The Bias List’s personal artist scorecard! December … Continue reading
Author Archives: Nick
Bias List Bracket: The Ultimate K-pop Song of Summer (Intro)
Over the next few weeks, we’re going to decide K-pop’s Ultimate Song of Summer together! Starting on Monday, you’ll have a chance to participate in the first Bias List bracket. Each weekday, two summer songs will compete against each other. Simply vote for the one you want to move onto the next round. How do … Continue reading
Song Review: Stray Kids – Mixtape: Oh
It’s been an unusually long break since Stray Kids’ last Korean comeback. They spent their first three years blitzing the market with music — no less than nine albums’ worth of material depending on how you classify their minis and repackages. Their 2021 has been devoted to Mnet’s Kingdom, which paid off in victory during … Continue reading
Random Shuffle Review: VIXX – Hyde
With over 3,000 songs on my iPhone’s “K-Pop Singles” playlist, I thought it would be fun to add a bit of unpredictability to my song review posts. So as a result, we have the “Random Shuffle Review” feature. The rules are simple. I fire up my playlist, press “shuffle,” and whatever song plays first gets … Continue reading
Bias List Bracket: The Ultimate K-pop Song of Summer
Debut Re-Evaluation: Super Junior – Twins (Knock Out)
K-Pop debuts can be tricky things. At times, they’re the best song a group delivers. Sometimes, they’re the only song a group delivers! But, debuts can also be huge wtf moments in an artist’s career. In this feature, I’ll be looking back at debut songs through the prism of time, re-evaluating how well they hold … Continue reading
The Bias List’s Top-Rated K-pop Artist Countdown
I think it’s obvious that I love a good statistic. In addition to my core rating system, I’ve got my top three songs of each month, my yearly countdowns and more data breakdowns than anyone could ask for. None of these are perfect ways to categorize or quantify something as subjective as music, but they … Continue reading
Debut Re-Evaluation: Red Velvet – Happiness
K-Pop debuts can be tricky things. At times, they’re the best song a group delivers. Sometimes, they’re the only song a group delivers! But, debuts can also be huge wtf moments in an artist’s career. In this feature, I’ll be looking back at debut songs through the prism of time, re-evaluating how well they hold … Continue reading
Song Review: A.C.E – Higher
A.C.E may not come back very often, but they’ve managed to place a song in my year-end top ten for two years running. ‘Quality over quantity’ is not a bad approach, and they’ve been wise to stick with the same circle of producers to ensure a cohesive discography. Higher is their latest release with composer … Continue reading
Song Review: Nissy – Do Do
Nissy has released a string of singles this year, forging a cinematic universe with a series of music videos that see him teleporting from place to place. This teleportation power seems to be fueled by angst, as there’s plenty of emotive navel-gazing to be found in the visuals. The video for new single Do Do … Continue reading
Buried Treasure: Produce 101 Japan – Runway
A K-pop group’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. Yep, it’s another Produce 101 Japan … Continue reading
Song Review: Pink Fantasy – Poison
Apart from their ‘girl in a mask’ gimmick, not much about Pink Fantasy’s discography has remained consistent. Their music swings pretty wildly between sounds, though a creepy sense of unease ties everything together. Still, I think the group hit the sweet spot with 2019’s rock-fueled Fantasy. It’s a shame that follow-up singles jettisoned this style … Continue reading
Looking Back: The Top Three K-Pop Songs of November 2009
Since the start of The Bias List in January 2016, I’ve always looked back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists each month. Now, it’s time to look even further into the past, one month at a time. And, yes, the top three rankings count toward The Bias List’s personal artist scorecard! November … Continue reading
Buried Treasure: Seventeen – Anyone
A K-pop group’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. Seventeen’s Ready To Love appears to … Continue reading
Song Review: Brave Girls – Pool Party (ft. E-Chan of DKB)
**This post has been updated with the official music video now that the song is being promoted as a follow-up single!** After a drought of strong K-pop albums, this week has delivered a host of great b-sides. As much as I love a knockout comeback track, an equally-great album makes the whole experience so much … Continue reading
Song Review: Seventeen – Ready To Love
Though it’s been eight months since a proper Seventeen comeback, the group kept fans busy with solo releases and a Japanese single throughout this spring. It feels as if they’ve been building momentum leading up to new mini album Your Choice. Now a part of the HYBE umbrella, title track Ready To Love takes full … Continue reading
Song Review: Yugyeom (GOT7) – All Your Fault (ft. Gray)
Yugyeom pre-released a track last week as his first work since signing with hip-hop label AOMG. Now, he’s taking full advantage of the agency’s roster and employing Gray as guest producer/artist on All Your Fault (네 잘못이야). I’ve been a longtime fan of Gray’s beats, as they often feel timeless in execution. And even if … Continue reading
Song Review: Brave Girls – Chi Mat Ba Ram
After the massive success of Rollin, Brave Brothers had a singular goal for Brave Girls: make them the new Queens of K-Pop Summer. And honestly, it’s about time! Ever since Sistar left the throne vacant, no group has made a convincing bid to take the crown. Yes, there have been individual tracks that dominated the … Continue reading
Buried Treasure: Lucy – Buddy
A K-pop group’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. Two buried treasures in one day? … Continue reading
Buried Treasure: Lucy – One By One
A K-pop group’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. Though only four songs in length, … Continue reading