I love a cool collaboration, and producer KERENMI has delivered with new single Adult. The track brings together Avu-chan from Queen Bee (the coolest J-pop artist of the moment, btw) and BE:FIRST’s youngest member — and self-professed fan — Ryuhei. I don’t know much about BE:FIRST beyond their music, but Ryuhei has already shown eclectic … Continue reading
Secret Number have averaged two comebacks a year, displaying a sonic versatility that makes their music hard to pin down. Not all of these songs have been equally successful, but I’m always curious to see what they’ll do next. New single Starlight gives them a spacey, synthy makeover. When this video first started, I thought … Continue reading
Despite my negative reaction to pre-release Koong, I’ve been playing Xikers’ new album quite often. Title track Do Or Die is fantastic, and songs like Run and Sunny Side are surprisingly groovy. Homeboy‘s hazy, downbeat sound is a surprising choice for follow-up single, but the song has grown on me with time. Homeboy‘s verses utilize … Continue reading
“Pre-debut” releases are quite confusing, but I guess it’s a nice way to introduce your group without the pressure of official debut promotions. The members of TIOT will be familiar to viewers of Boys Planet, and their song Unbeatable (백전무패) will be familiar to much older K-pop fans. It’s a cover of the 2001 track … Continue reading
For her second mini album, ex-GFriend member Yerin has gone down a trendy synthpop route. Despite being leveraged by every idol act imaginable, this sound still holds appeal to me. Its nostalgic vibe works especially well for soloists, letting classic melodies and chugging beats take center stage. Unfortunately, Bambambam (밤밤밤) feels like an amateur version … Continue reading
XG continue to make inroads into K-pop markets, most recently performing at this year’s KCON LA. I’ve struggled to connect to most of their music, but I think I’m in the minority. Their blend of hip-hop, dance and fierce attitude seems poised to make them favorites of international fans. New Dance is XG’s most straightforward … Continue reading
Freed from YG Entertainment’s clutches, iKON are now releasing music with greater frequency. Panorama arrives just months after the group’s latest album and sees the guys working with new collaborators. However, the track retains iKON’s classic sound. At its best, Panorama works as a pleasant, sing-song mid-tempo that showcases a lighter side of iKON’s musical … Continue reading
The slow-burn success of H1-KEY’s Rose Blossom was one of the year’s most surprising (and deserved) stories, and the group has taken their time to deliver a follow-up. Time To Shine (불빛을 꺼뜨리지 마) arrives courtesy of the same composer (Hong Ji Sang) and offers a sprightlier sound than its predecessor. This track forges an … Continue reading
NCT’s annual bring-everyone-together project promises two title tracks, with Golden Age up first. And when you think about it, this may just be the most NCT song yet. By attempting to smash together every aspect of their sound into a single three-and-a-half minute track, it certainly doesn’t lack ambition. But does the mash-up work? I … Continue reading
“Best Of” albums are far more common in the Japanese market than any other country I’m aware of, and that extends to K-pop acts. Ima (Even If The World Ends Tomorrow) (今 -明日 世界が終わっても-) is taken from Seventeen’s first “best of,” marking another stage in their successful career. And though the track was composed by … Continue reading
When it comes to her solo work, Girls’ Generation’s Hyoyeon has offered a sampler platter of dance genres. With new single Picture, she’s moved into dancehall sounds. This is a good match for her charismatic performance style, and she imbues an otherwise simple track with plenty of character. Picture has a dark, mysterious magnetism. Its … Continue reading
This year’s KCON will live in infamy for a number of reasons: outrunning the remnants of a rare hurricane on my way home, testing positive for covid a day after, etc etc. However, this craziness doesn’t mean I don’t have highlights and commentary to share! For the first time, KCON LA’s concerts extended to three … Continue reading
Back in 2014, I played AKMU’s debut album relentlessly. Their music felt so fresh and different, maintaining a pop edge while tackling quirky sounds and ideas that appealed equally to idol fans and indie aficionados. Since then, the duo has moved through an impressive breadth of styles, most recently on 2021’s Next Episode album. After … Continue reading
When it comes to upbeat boy group tracks, August has been very generous so far. Now, Peak Time winners Vanner join the fray — re-emerging with the funky Performer. Both sonically and thematically, it feels like a suitable statement of intent, even if the song loses some potency when it strays from its taut, propulsive … Continue reading
Riize is SM Entertainment’s first new, non-NCT boy group since 2016. That’s a pretty big deal. They share connective tissue with the NCT universe, as members Shotaro and Sungchan were previously included in NCT projects. But overall, this feels like an important step forward for the agency. In my mind, this important step will be … 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
Primrose debuted as a duo this January, became a solo act in March and are now a four-member group. That’s a ton of change for a rookie act! Eagle-eyed viewers may notice Hot Issue’s Nahyun and bugAboo’s Rainie among the new members. Somehow, Primrose has become a super group — collecting performers from fallen idol … Continue reading
Fans of Everglow have endured one of K-pop’s longer hiatuses. We last heard from the group way back in December 2021 with the bonkers Pirate. That’s more than enough time for K-pop trends to change completely and a whole new generation of talent to blossom. Within this re-envisioned landscape, Everglow are back to their old … Continue reading
It’s full steam ahead on the ‘aespa-conquers-international-markets’ ship with the release of another English-language single following last year’s Life’s Too Short. Earlier this year, they also dropped the Tetris-interpolating Hold On Tight — their best non-Korean track to date. I definitely underrated it back in March. Better Things isn’t as creative, but it’s a charming … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 