Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, 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. As has been the case with all of their post-2017 albums, … Continue reading
This may be the first time I’m writing about Tomohisa Yamashita on The Bias List, but don’t let that undermine my regard for him as a performer. Debuting as a member of boy group News, Yamashita released his first solo work in 2006 and eventually left News in 2011 to fully pursue solo activities. He’s … Continue reading
It’s not often you hear a new single that stretches on for nearly six minutes. Such is the age of streaming, and the time restraints necessary to craft a hit on platforms like Spotify. But although Official HIGE DANdism (Official髭男dism) have become the kings of streams in Japan, the Japanese market itself is still dominated … Continue reading
As someone who writes about K-pop every single day, there are few groups I’m not at least casually aware of. But beyond the idol world, Korea is bursting with all sorts of indie acts that don’t often enjoy the same promotion. That’s where youtube teasers come in, and every once and awhile one will catch … Continue reading
EXID may have gone on indefinite hiatus, with the majority of its members leaving their agency, but the group has one more project to unveil. Their second Japanese album arrives next month, spearheaded by B.L.E.S.S.E.D. It’s an unconventional swan song for the girls, but when have EXID ever been conventional? Their entire career arc was … Continue reading
It’s not unusual for an idol group to perform an OST track, but most of these songs are outsourced to producers who may or may not have a history with the group’s discography. Very few OST songs could be considered highlights within an artist’s catalog. More often, they’re generic pop tracks or melodramatic ballads. In … Continue reading
Mamamoo’s Hwasa has a really groovy track on her new mini album called Why. It would have made a great single, but she seems intent on embracing a more introspective route this time around. Though it was draped in the trendy musical trappings of this era, title track Maria was essentially a song written to … Continue reading
Somebody’s been listening to too much BLACKPINK. Honestly, I have a very low tolerance level for this specific kind of “badass” girl group track. “I’m so bad… look at me! Bla bla bla… twiddle diddle dum. I’m crazy and I ain’t sorry! Don’t you wish you could be like me? Dum dum diddle dum.” It’s … Continue reading
Not every survival series can be a massive hit, and 2018’s Under 19 struggled to attract a wide audience. This made the fate of debuting group 1THE9 a tricky proposition. Due to the confines of the series, their contract was limited to two years. And rather than capitalize on any hype the show may have … Continue reading
Given Apink’s continued success, it’s no surprise to see another solo release from Jeong Eunji. So far, her work has hinged on ballads and mid-tempos, but Simple’s summery theme seemed poised to deliver more upbeat fare. AWay certainly has more energy than most of her solo material, though the cathartic pop track still draws from … Continue reading
Dreamcatcher have yet to grace us with a follow-up to February’s excellent Scream, but they’re keeping fans on their toes with a special OST release for online RPG game Girl Cafe Gun. Tie-ups like this are common in J-pop, but not so much in Korea – at least not to the extent that they receive … Continue reading
There was a time when I actively looked forward to a Crush comeback. Songs like Hug Me, Oasis or the (incredible) New Jack Swing b-side Hey Baby pointed toward an artist willing to harness a sense of groove to craft dynamic r&b tracks. But over the past few years, Crush’s work has become synonymous with … Continue reading
It’s been almost a year since we last heard from Pink Fantasy – an alarmingly long hiatus for a rookie group struggling to gain a foothold in the competitive K-pop market. Worse yet, despite sharing the same name, this iteration of Pink Fantasy is actually a sub-unit consisting of only four of the group’s seven … Continue reading
Between their Mnet origins and questionable recruitment for Road to Kingdom, I brushed rookie group TOO off as yet another generic, talent-show spawned trend follower. But, their stint on Kingdom showed surprising promise, and with Count 1, 2 (하나 둘 세고) they’ve completely won me over. The song is a breath of fresh air, proving … Continue reading
Thus far, Jeong Sewoon’s title tracks have been split pretty evenly between ballads and dance songs. It should come as no surprise that I prefer the latter, even if I’m not always sure that Sewoon is a fitting conduit for the style. After many months since his last comeback, he’s unveiling his first full album … Continue reading
I’ve been pretty hard on EXO-SC’s music thus far, but that’s just because I adore EXO’s discography and it’s been difficult to see any sub-unit get sucked into the dreaded trap-rap wormhole. I get that SC is designed to be different than EXO’s core style, but hip-hop can be so much more diverse than what … Continue reading
By not promoting the excellent Labyrinth as a title track this February, GFriend are responsible for the year’s biggest missed opportunity. But, when the composers of new single Apple were revealed, it seemed that K-pop might see some justice after all. Among the thirteen (thirteen!!) names attached to the track, several were also behind Labyrinth. … Continue reading
Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, 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 I would hesitate to call SF9’s 9loryUS a “summer” album, … Continue reading
Despite their upbeat, self-praising name, Great Guys’ music has been inconsistent in both style and quality. However, I appreciate their willingness to try new things, and I’ve got to give them an “A” for effort with new single Run (내 심장은 널 향해 뛰어). Rather than opt for sounds that every one else is peddling, … Continue reading
Since their 2019 debut, Dongkiz have been reliable conduits for fun, upbeat pop music. Even though they hail from a comparatively small agency, their comebacks have been surprisingly frequent. Now the group is embarking on a sub-unit project, the first of which sees members Jaechan and Munik forming duo I:KAN for the retro New Jack … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 