Seemingly out of nowhere, WayV’s Kun and Xiaojun announced the release of their first single album. Both are designated as main vocals within the group, yet don’t always have the opportunity to shine as part of WayV’s hip-hop heavy sound. Unsurprisingly, Back To You (这时烟火) is a ballad, stripped to its bare bones to offer … Continue reading
It’s “idol band” day, with ONEWE and Lucy revealing their comeback tracks at the same time. In ONEWE’s case, Rain To Be (비를 몰고 오는 소년) comes from their first mini album and is their first single since December’s A Book In Memory. Like many of their tracks, Rain opts for an angstier sound but … Continue reading
Lucy were my biggest personal K-pop discovery last year. I usually prefer K-pop’s more dance-oriented material since it seems most different to the pop music I grew up with, but Lucy are the perfect idol band package. They’ve got incredible vocals, excellent songwriting, an unusual instrument (in this case, a violin), and an endearing ‘never-take-ourselves-too-seriously’ … Continue reading
I’ve written way more about GOT7 this year than I’d anticipated. And, this only includes one review of a full-group song. In the past few weeks, we’ve seen releases from Jackson, Jay B, Yugyeom and now BamBam. Apart from Jackson, all members have stuck to a similar trap pop style, with varying degrees of success. … Continue reading
While I’ve never counted UP10TION among my personal favorite idol groups, they’ve elbowed their way into my year-end top ten list a couple of times. Their singles tend to be hit or miss — but when they hit, they hit big. Funny enough, Spin Off encapsulates this contrast into one song. It boasts many excellent … Continue reading
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! October … Continue reading
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. I’ve been watching season two of … Continue reading
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. In a surprising turn of events, … Continue reading
The members of GOT7 are revealing their solo projects at a rapid rate. Jackson’s already developed a longstanding solo career. And, his excellent LMLY was followed by Jay B’s debut single. Now we’ve got Yugyeom and next week we’ll hear from BamBam. Apart from LMLY, all members seem to be targeting a similar blend of … Continue reading
EXO were the second group featured in my “K-pop A-Z” project. In late 2019, I took a deep dive into their discography and reviewed each and every track. Because of this, any new material will also become part of that page, meaning it’s time for another “in-depth album review” for the newly-released Don’t Fight The … Continue reading
Back on release day, I mentioned how TXT’s 0X1=LOVESONG could “go either way” when it came to longevity. I’m happy to say the song has grown more addictive over the past two weeks – so much that it probably deserves a retroactive spot within my top three songs of May. Follow-up track Magic is also … Continue reading
Like so many debuts, Cube Entertainment’s LIGHTSUM includes members already familiar through survival series like Produce 48 and The Unit. But in K-pop’s overcrowded market, it takes more than familiarity to guarantee success. And with agency-mates (G)I-DLE as popular as ever, it’s important that LIGHTSUM’s music doesn’t overlap too much. Despite its uninspiring title, Vanilla … Continue reading
EXO were the second group featured in my “K-pop A-Z” project. In late 2019, I took a deep dive into their discography and reviewed each and every track. Because of this, any new material will also become part of that page, meaning it’s time for another “in-depth album review” for the newly-released Don’t Fight The … Continue reading
“Happy Birthday” is such an odd name for a pop song. It instantly conjures up one iconic melody, suited to a single day each year. When reading these two words, my mind certainly doesn’t imagine noisy EDM drops, but Woo Jinyoung seems intent on surprising. As part of boy group D1CE, his idol career has … Continue reading
To put it bluntly, I haven’t enjoyed a single song WEi have released since debut. But, idol groups are often at the whim of their producers, and switching collaborators can totally change a team’s sound. New single Bye Bye Bye pairs the guys with MosPick, who’ve proven themselves reliable purveyors of upbeat boy group pop. … Continue reading
Twice’s I Can’t Stop Me didn’t usher in the new wave of girl group synthpop I’d hoped for, but the song remains a high watermark in their discography. However, K-pop moves quickly and the girls are already exploring new genres. Alcohol-Free tackles summertime sounds, forgoing the season’s traditional K-pop tropes for a surprising blend of … Continue reading
EXO were the second group featured in my “K-pop A-Z” project. In late 2019, I took a deep dive into their discography and reviewed each and every track. Because of this, any new material will also become part of that page, meaning it’s time for another “in-depth album review” for the newly-released Don’t Fight The … Continue reading
Less that two years since the debut of CIX, C9 Entertainment have thrust another boy group onto the K-pop scene. I’m a bit surprised to see them emerge so early, but I guess the current idol landscape moves faster than ever. EPEX have already stirred up some controversy due to their album concept, which is … Continue reading
EXO were the second group featured in my “K-pop A-Z” project. In late 2019, I took a deep dive into their discography and reviewed each and every track. Because of this, any new material will also become part of that page, meaning it’s time for another “in-depth album review” for the newly-released Don’t Fight The … Continue reading
A year since their last comeback, idol band N.Flying have returned with their first full album. Full albums are a big deal in K-pop. At the very least, they represent a certain level of support from an act’s agency. But, they also offer the opportunity to stretch yourself and your sound across a wider expansion … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 