At the end of each month, I compile my top three K-pop title tracks and list a ton of honorable mentions. In 2025, I thought I’d try something new and add a weekly feature to supplement my monthly round-up. Each Sunday, I’ll offer a compendium of the week’s new releases featured on the blog. And … Continue reading
New & Noteworthy J-pop of the Week (August 24, 2025)
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
K-Pop Risers & Fallers: August 2025
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
BOYS II PLANET: Episode Eight Recap
PREVIOUS RECAPS: Episode One // Episode Two // Episode Three // Episode Four // Episode Five // Episode Six // Episode Seven As we enter the next round, Produce 48 alum star Jo Yuri arrives to go over the details of the Class Switch Position Battle. As usual during this point in the series, the … Continue reading
K-Pop Producer Spotlight: EL CAPITXN
If there’s anything I’ve learned from covering pop music for over a decade, it’s that songwriters and collaborators are just as important as the artists themselves. Though they often work behind the scenes, this feature is a chance to shine the light on some of K-pop’s most innovative and accomplished producers and composers. EL CAPITXN … Continue reading
Song Review: Stray Kids – Ceremony
Over the years, Stray Kids have grown into one of K-pop’s premiere groups. In fact, their popularity is so global that it almost feels as if they’ve transcended the industry altogether. Once upon a time, they also topped my year-end singles chart. Gosh, that seems like lifetimes ago. The group is back today with their … Continue reading
Song Review: NMIXX & Pabllo Vittar – MEXE
K-pop collaborations with global artists have become much more common over the years and exist across a wide spectrum. For every Rosalía and Megan Thee Stallion there’s a Maroon 5 and Alex Warren. NMIXX have already experimented with their music in many ways, so you’d expect them to choose an interesting collaborator as well. For … Continue reading
Song Review: Chanyeol (EXO) – Happy Accident (ft. Sole)
EXO’s Chanyeol is slated for another solo album soon, and today he’s teasing us with pre-release Happy Accident. Alongside female vocalist Sole, he’s delivered a vibey slow burn guaranteed to take the edge off any feelings you may be having today. Chanyeol’s singing voice has a very calming quality and works well within this sonic … Continue reading
Song Review: Teen Top – Cherry Pie
For the first time in years, I listened to Teen Top’s first full album No.1 yesterday. Apart from some classic singles, the album itself is just okay, but it opens with a hilariously overblown intro that made me miss some 2013-era K-pop’s inherent silliness. Teen Top are one of a few second-gen groups who still … Continue reading
Song Review: 8TURN – Electric Heart
In many ways, 8TURN’s December single Like A Friend was the smash that got away — a spring/summer track released in the dead of winter as everyone was cobbling together their year-end best-of lists. Making matters worse, the group never promoted it until weeks later. I haven’t listened to that song nearly as much as … Continue reading
Song Review: Moonbyul (Mamamoo) – Goodbyes And Sad Eyes
Moonbyul has proven to be one of the most prolific Mamamoo members, releasing multiple singles during each of the past few years. This music has covered a large amount of ground, making her solo career quite unpredictable. That chameleon-like quality continues on Goodbyes And Sad Eyes. Judging simply from its title, you’d expect some mopey … Continue reading
Song Review: Secret Number – Don’t Touch
I haven’t written about a new Secret Number track in almost two years. The group has never quite been able to crawl out of nugudom, but that’s not due to a lack of talent. Secret Number became known for their vocals early on and have been at their best when given material that spotlights that … Continue reading
Song Review: Kep1er – Bubble Gum
Kep1er’s most recent Korean title track Tipi-Tap felt like a non-entity — a song so slight that it tippy tapped its way from memory almost instantly. But after that, they released the surprisingly boisterous Yum in Japan. After performing that song at this year’s KCON LA, they teased new single Bubble Gum. This song exists … Continue reading
Song Review: Monsta X – Do What I Want
Monsta X are celebrating their tenth anniversary with their first album in two years. We’ll have to wait a couple weeks to hear the full project, but like so many others they’re teasing us with a pre-release today. While watching their set at this year’s KCON LA, I noticed how heavy it was on their … Continue reading
Song Review: Joy (Red Velvet) – Love Splash!
I don’t know why all these distinctly summer songs are releasing right before I have to go back to work for the new school year, but the timing is not to their advantage. Summer songs need weeks to brew and connect with all the great experiences listeners enjoy during the season. At any rate, Red … Continue reading
Song Review: CORTIS – What You Want
First impressions are important, and in K-pop they often come via pre-release. Big Hit’s new boy group CORTIS made a lousy first impression with GO! last week. However, I’d say a follow-up is even more important than the first impression. With new expectations and information driving the listener experience, this is where an artist either … Continue reading
Song Review: BOYNEXTDOOR – Count To Love
BOYNEXTDOOR made their official Japanese debut last summer, but it was with a re-recorded version of a single they’d already released in Korea. Count To Love is their first original J-pop single, and thus feels more like a proper step forward for them. It’s also the first BOYNEXTDOOR single to directly echo the sound of … Continue reading
THIS WEEK IN K-POP: Ranking the New Releases from August 10 – 16
At the end of each month, I compile my top three K-pop title tracks and list a ton of honorable mentions. In 2025, I thought I’d try something new and add a weekly feature to supplement my monthly round-up. Each Sunday, I’ll offer a compendium of the week’s new releases featured on the blog. And … Continue reading
New & Noteworthy J-pop of the Week (August 17, 2025)
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
Global Pop Round-Up: August 2025 Edition
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