After a somewhat messy departure from (G)I-DLE and Cube Entertainment, Soojin has returned as a soloist. Re-debut AGASSY sees her following in the footsteps of many girl group members turned soloists. Right away, the song and performance remind me of something we’d hear from Sunmi or BLACKPINK’s Jennie. AGASSY casts an evocative atmosphere, but I find … Continue reading
Earlier this year, Kiss Of Life preceded their debut with a series of solo tracks. Though they were of varying quality, these songs did a nice job introducing the members and building interest in the group. Funny enough, I found their actual debut less successful than many of these pre-releases. Follow-up single Bad News struggles … Continue reading
Kep1er’s burgeoning Japanese discography has already resulted in one of their best songs, so there’s reason to be optimistic about any new releases. Grand Prix has a fun racing concept and bouncy sound, but right from the start I knew it would be an uphill battle for me. As with many of their peers, Kep1er … Continue reading
Omega X have been through the wringer over the past few years, so even if their music hasn’t always been my thing it’s hard not to root for them. Junk Food is their first comeback after their successful lawsuit against former agency Spire Entertainment and sees them continue to develop their noisy, bombastic style. What’s … Continue reading
A.C.E are the latest boy group to make a long-awaited, post-enlistment return. We haven’t heard from them since 2021’s Changer, but now they’ve teased the release of a new album in the coming weeks. Before that, we have special pre-release single Effortless — an English-language track that’s very in line with current trends. For me, … Continue reading
Before the end-of-year countdowns next month, I like to take a look at many of K-pop’s biggest agencies and see how their year went. Obviously, 2023 is not over yet so any upcoming changes to an agency’s grade will be reflected next year. We’ve got a lot to pick apart over the coming weeks, so … Continue reading
GOT7’s Youngjae previously impressed with groovy tracks Vibin’ and Sugar, belying his main vocal status with more subtle turns that highlighted his skills as a performer. Do It is another restrained vibe, but this time the end product is just too slight for me. Do It would make for nice background music. It’s calming and … Continue reading
GreatGuys are one of those super underrated groups that occasionally pull a pop banger out of nowhere. I wouldn’t say any of their songs have permanent residence on my playlists, but every once and awhile they surprise me. New single Deep In Love is the biggest surprise yet. I love the production on this. I … Continue reading
Alongside fellow artists Jessi and Dawn, HyunA recently left Psy’s P Nation for a new label. She decided to sign with producer GroovyRoom’s AT AREA, and Attitude is the first taste of what the two may create together. With the ink still fresh on their partnership, I’m already excited for the music that may come … Continue reading
Though it took awhile to really hit me, ZEROBASEONE’s In Bloom proved to be one of the year’s most refreshing boy group tracks. Better yet, its accompanying album laid out a consistent style and vibe for the group, merging upbeat pop with hazy, subdued production. Remnants of that sound remain on new single Crush, but … 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
After two and a half years, Fantastics are finally (finally!) set to release their third album. Of course, there have been ample singles during that time, meaning we’ve already heard 95% of their upcoming Fantastic Rocket. Starboys is one of two new songs and introduces the album’s space exploration theme. Though it doesn’t match their … Continue reading
As always, being The Bias List‘s bias group guarantees an in-depth album review — even if there are only three songs! Let’s take a look at Feel Me’s two b-sides! Feel Me // 2. Blind Love // 3. Dear DEAR I read some pre-release promo that described Dear as a “Brit-pop epic,” which is definitely … Continue reading
As always, being The Bias List‘s bias group guarantees an in-depth album review — even if there are only three songs! Let’s take a look at Feel Me’s two b-sides! Feel Me // 2. Blind Love // 3. Dear BLIND LOVE Blind Love feels like a maturation of Golden Child’s bright, debut-era sound. It’s got … Continue reading
Of all the BTS solo efforts, Jungkook’s music has connected most with me. Both Seven and 3D (minus Jack Harlow’s awful verse) have had unexpected staying power and I appreciate how they wear their influences on their sleeve. Both those songs hearkened back to early-2000’s sounds, but title track Standing Next To You mines earlier … Continue reading
I’ll always root for a super-nugu group with an inscrutable name, and eite fits the bill. Debuting today, I know next to nothing about them beyond the fact that they’ve already surpassed expectations with their music. Independent Woman isn’t quite as spectacular as it could be, but it’s stronger than most efforts from their big-budget, … Continue reading
Thus far, VIVIZ’s career has been equal parts promising and frustrating. They have no obligation to continue the style of their former group GFriend, but it’s regrettable to see them tackling songs that feel smoothed of their individuality. As solid as their work has been, I can’t put my finger on what makes VIVIZ unique. … Continue reading
In a K-pop year that’s been less than stellar, Golden Child arrive like a deus ex machina just weeks before we turn the page to 2024. It’s been an agonizing fifteen month wait for new music, but no other group of their generation has such a solid batting average on this blog. Since their debut, … Continue reading
Earlier this year, NINE.i released one of my biggest summer standouts. A large chunk of New Mind‘s success was thanks to the Sweetune-produced magic of its title track Turn It Off, but the entire album was pop excellence. As always, this made me very eager for a follow-up. Luckily, the guys are happy to deliver … Continue reading
Epik High have a long history of notable collaborations, and many of their enduring classics feature vocals from some of K-pop’s most loved artists. But even with this in mind, I would’ve never expected them to pair with Seventeen’s Hoshi. When I see his name, I immediately picture exciting choreography. However, he proves an adept … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 