In connection with my desire to fully keep up with the J-pop industry, I’m planning to do a weekly round-up of any new releases that have caught my ear. Some of these may have been covered on the blog already, but my hope is that this will become a one-stop shop for anyone interested in … Continue reading
Rather than contain my “Risers and Fallers” feature to a single post in June, I’m going to share a bite-sized version at the end of each month. This will let me account for more songs and make a nice lead-in to the monthly round-up post. I anticipate most of these ratings adjustments will be negligible: … 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
Fantasy Boys come from the MBC survival series of the same name — another 2023 debut spawning from a TV show. I didn’t watch Fantasy Boys when it aired, but appreciated the fact that it cast B1A4’s Jinyoung as a mentor. If only he could have been in charge of the group’s debut single! New … Continue reading
Despite having all the potential in the world, Yuju’s solo career thus far has steered closer to calming coffee shops than the big power notes fueling GFriend’s best material. New single Dalala ups the energy a bit, but succumbs to a subdued groove that threatens to fade into the background. There have been many songs … Continue reading
I got nervous the moment I saw the name of Tempest’s new title track. After all, when there’s a “vroom” in K-pop, a “skrrt” can’t be far behind! And with Yuehua Entertainment’s mixed track record of choosing songs, I never feel like I can count on their artists to release good music. Tempest has flipped … Continue reading
As expected, the popular Boys Planet series is set to spin off more than just its winning group ZEROBASEONE. EVNNE is the first out of the gate, comprised of members who didn’t quite make the final cut. They’ve immediately distinguished themselves from ZB1’s bright pop sound, debuting with their take on the brash Baltimore Club … Continue reading
Years ago, I used to refer to the impending autumn as K-pop’s “ballad season.” That’s changed recently, with many ballads replaced by more upbeat idol tracks on the charts. But with BTS’s V and EXO’s D.O. releasing solo music this month, we’re seeing a resurgence of slower material. Somebody is not a ballad, but its … Continue reading
In connection with my desire to fully keep up with the J-pop industry, I’m planning to do a weekly round-up of any new releases that have caught my ear. Some of these may have been covered on the blog already, but my hope is that this will become a one-stop shop for anyone interested in … Continue reading
The Bias List is a K-pop blog that also covers a fair amount of J-pop. But just like most music fans, I enjoy tracks from all around the world. So, I thought I’d start a monthly round-up of some of the non-K-pop songs that have caught my ear. No ratings — just highlights! February 2022 … Continue reading
We’re now at the point where I’m writing about these V solo songs out of sheer stubbornness. It’s like Pokémon — you gotta catch them all! Never mind the fact that I have nothing new to add to my existing thoughts. For Us is the fifth (!) music video to spawn from his debut solo … Continue reading
There are better people than me to recount the long, sordid saga of LOONA’s relationship with former agency Blockberry Creative. Suffice it to say, there are five members remaining and they’ve re-formed as “Loossemble” — one of the most unfortunate group names I’ve heard in some time. Fresh starts like this have worked for other … Continue reading
As global K-pop collaborations become more frequent, the pairing of talents matters more and more. Which artists can compliment each other and tease out new dynamics? When it comes to TXT, I found their pairing with Jonas Brothers quite cloying. In that case, the song highlighted a milquetoast, kid’s movie soundtrack vibe that some of … Continue reading
Given Johnny’s & Associates’ recent implosion, I’m paying close attention to Hideaki Takizawa’s newly-established TOBE label, which is becoming a home to more and more ex-Johnny’s talents. I have my own take on the J&A controversy (mostly, I’m irritated that the agency’s talents seem to be the ones paying for their late founder’s crimes), but … Continue reading
It’s getting harder to distinguish between a proper comeback mv and a “special mv” in K-pop, but BBGirls’ Lemonade deserves at least a brief write-up. Despite its repetitive structure, comeback One More Time ended up growing on me. It makes for a great singalong while driving! Lemonade is funkier and groovier, taking a more laid-back … Continue reading
It’s been a year since Mimiirose made their debut with the promising Rose. That’s a long hiatus for a rookie group, making follow-up single Flirting quite important. Listening to their first album, Mimiirose’s potential was obvious. Now’s the time to capitalize on that and remind fans why they’re a vital part of the K-pop landscape. … Continue reading
Project group EL7Z UP hails from this year’s Queendom Puzzle competition show, which aired its finale on August 15th. In only a month’s time, they’ve made their debut with Cheeky. That’s some quick movement! The group consists of members from Lovelyz, CLC, Rocket Punch, WJSN, Purple Kiss, H1-Key and woo!ah!. There’s clearly a ton of … 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. One of the composers I miss … 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. I’m sure readers are as tired … Continue reading
HYBE’s love for releasing multiple music videos from each project really messes with my review system! Do I write about every one of them? For a release as high-profile as V’s solo album, it seems silly not to. Yet, I find myself essentially copying and pasting my thoughts from song to song. I’m not sure … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 