This isn’t a uniquely K-pop issue, but I keep waiting for a male pop star to pick up the mantle of showmanship previously held by such titans as Michael Jackson and Prince. K-pop used to be a haven for this style of virtuosic pop star with ambitious artists like Taemin, but the new gen seems … Continue reading
New girl group Heart Of Woman has done a nice job promoting their debut album with multiple video clips. Some of these have been lower budget than others, but with visuals such an important part of today’s K-pop industry it makes sense to tie some sort of imagery to the music. And since there’s no … Continue reading
I’m no fan of MEOVV’s latest mini album, as it abandons most of the sounds I enjoy from their past music. However, its third track In My Hands stuck out as the obvious highlight to me so I’m glad they’ve chosen to promote it with its own video. Most of Bite Now is braggadocios bluster … Continue reading
Girl group RESCENE have gone viral several times in their career, but this latest boom seems to be sticking. Their 2024 highlight Love Attack has been lodged in MelOn‘s top ten for awhile now. In fact, as of writing this review, it just hit number one. Rather than attempt to steal that song’s spotlight with … Continue reading
Since 2024, TRENDZ have occupied a rare space in Bias List history. They’re one of the few acts to earn a top 5 place in a year-end countdown only to never grace those charts again. As is often the case for groups from smaller agencies, their success is entirely dependent on who they collaborate with, … Continue reading
While it’s important for any group to stretch their sound and try new things, there’s a certain point where a sonic shift completely abandons the identity that made that group fantastic to begin with. Such was the case with AHOF’s Sugar High, which repainted them as the kind of badass, chant-happy boy group that already … Continue reading
The phrase “summer special single” always catches my attention. Summer’s my favorite season for music and “special” implies that the song will be distinctly tied to the season. Today, we’ve got a “special single” from rookie boy group AmbiO, who debuted earlier this year. The song’s heart is in the right place, but its execution … Continue reading
Golden Child may be no more as a group, but occasionally we still get new music from its members. Sadly, the indie nature of this music comes along with clear budget restrictions and limited promotion. Listeners who weren’t already a fan of the group might easily miss a song like Blue Moon. Blue Moon comes … Continue reading
Monsta X’s Kihyun first promoted as a soloist back in 2022 but hasn’t made a comeback since. Much of that, I’m sure, is due to a lengthy military hiatus, but new single So Good picks up right where he left off. As expected, it’s a big, rock-fueled ballad. Kihyun has an excellent voice for this … Continue reading
VAYONN are the second new boy group to emerge from Kin Jaejoong’s iNKODE label, adopting a brighter sound palette than their hip-hop peers KEYVITUP. They teased their debut with the so-so Watta Day last month, and I suspect that song will play better in the context of an album. The bouyant MUAH! is their big … Continue reading
i-dle have a history of releasing summer songs, bending the season to their will for material that fits within their sonic wheelhouse. They’re no doubt hoping another summer release will reverse their chart fortunes and see them sitting comfortably in the top ten again. For that to happen, they’ll need something much more striking than … Continue reading
One thing about YG Entertainment is that they’ll always milk a mini album for all it’s worth. More often than not, YG artists film music videos for multiple tracks, extending their promo period. After the off detour that was Sugar Honey Ice Tea, BABYMONSTER are back again with a video for the summery I Like … Continue reading
I have questions about Howling Entertainment. They keep debuting new boy groups but rarely promote them. Waker have a couple mini albums to their name over a stretch of two-and-a-half years, but the newer Chaser hasn’t made a peep since their early-2026 debut. Now, we have Ascender, the agency’s third group in less than three … Continue reading
Those hoping Dreamcatcher offshoot UAU would pick up the rock torch and act as a continuation of Dreamcatcher Proper seem to be out of luck. Instead, UAU has adopted a more dance-friendly sound. This is in keeping with many Dreamcatcher’s b-sides, which just so happen to be my favorite songs from their discography. However, UAU … Continue reading
It’s difficult to know whether to write about a performance video, but the pre-debut of a new group from a major agency feels worth a few words. AEN is Starship Entertainment’s latest boy group, debuting less than a year after IDID. They’re co-managed by a Japanese agency with the idea of actively promoting in both … Continue reading
ONEUS have been operating as a four-piece for awhile now and it definitely feels like something substantial is missing without Seoho’s voice. Still, they’re keeping things chugging along with new Japanese release Under — a perfectly pleasant and almost immediately forgettable light funk pop track. This kind of a song is a dime a dozen … Continue reading
AOMG’s hip-hop girl group Keyveatz made their pre-debut back in April, setting the stage for today’s full debut. I couldn’t tell you much about that earlier track beyond that fact that I didn’t enjoy it, and OXY‘s title brings to mind the slang term for the well-known opioid that’s caused a wave of addiction over … Continue reading
Fresh off the massive chart success of I.O.I’s reunion, former member Choi Yoojung is back with her first new single since 2022. This time, she’s taking influence from another 2026 chart behemoth. Perfect Target (비장의 무기) feels like a natural successor to the second-gen nostalgia of Yena’s Catch Catch. I’m all for second-gen nostalgia, though … Continue reading
One benefit of a huge group configuration is that you can break into an almost unlimited number of solos and sub-units to promote while other members are on hiatus. Such is the case with Seventeen. They haven’t released a full-group track in a year but have debuted several pairs of members with varying sounds and … Continue reading
It’s a quick review today since I don’t usually write new reviews on Saturdays and it’s been ages since I wrote about boy group M.O.N.T. However, I figured some readers would appreciate hearing this song because it has a more classic K-pop sound that’s far from the trends of today. There are certain song titles … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 