Despite garnering huge success as part of idol group Wanna One, Ong Seungwu’s post-disbandment activities have focused more strongly on acting than music. His solo work has been limited to a fun (but forgettable) summer single and an OST for his drama At Eighteen. He’s yet to actively promote a song on music shows, and … Continue reading
My reactions to DreamNote’s singles have been pretty polarized so far. I was not a fan of their self-referencing debut, but follow-up Hakuna Matata wormed its way into my top fifty tracks of 2019. New single Wish (바라다) falls somewhere in the middle, borrowing elements from both songs without pushing the group’s sound in any … Continue reading
Say what you will about the effects of Produce 101 (and believe me, I’ve had a lot to say on the matter), but its influence has reignited interest in idol acts that fall outside of the usual group configurations. Both soloists and duos have seen a resurgence in popularity, offering the chance for popular trainees … Continue reading
VERIVERY were one of my top three rookies of last year, and much of that had to do with their distinct new jack swing sound. But, like almost every boy group in the history of K-pop, 2020 sees them “maturing” that sound into edgier territory. Not only have they switched styles, but they’ve brought in … Continue reading
Soloist Younha has had a long and illustrious career, filled with commercial highs and lows. But, her name has now been rocketed back to attention thanks to a feature from BTS’s RM. That song, produced by the brilliant Eden/Ollounder/Leez team, isn’t even her title track. Given its big-name collaborators and general awesomeness, it probably should … Continue reading
Before I get into my thoughts about Answer, I want to heap praise on ATEEZ’s Treasure series one last time. It’s been an incredible run, meticulously planned and artfully executed. The fact that their last album’s outro ended up being a teaser for Answer blows my mind, and the way that new release Action To … Continue reading
The release of a group’s first full-length album is a big deal, but the roll-out for SF9’s First Collection has felt simultaneously rushed and muted. Today was an especially confusing landmark, as we received the track list, highlight medley and music video all within hours of each other. And, the album’s not even out until … Continue reading
For my final year-end list, I like to shine a spotlight on Korean variety — a vital component of K-pop’s appeal. As always, this countdown is very much my own opinion, and has a definite idol group bias. This is a K-pop blog, after all! + Make sure to check out the rest of the … Continue reading
Despite its title, I’m quite confident that this list does not represent the “best” J-pop tracks of the year. It’s a much more filtered list than my K-pop countdowns, because I just don’t keep up with J-pop as strongly as I’d like to. So, what you’re getting here is twenty great tracks by artists that … Continue reading
We’re only two days into the new year, but K-pop has already delivered a new debut… of sorts. Top Gang feels more like a pre-release for boy group MCND, and the song was first performed on music shows last month. I’m not sure what MCND’s eventual concept will be, but I’m hoping that this track … Continue reading
Unlike many music markets around the world, K-pop rarely promotes follow-up singles beyond a special performance or two. That’s why I was surprised to see teasers for Dongkiz’s All I Need Is You. I neglected to feature this song as a buried treasure back in November, but now I don’t have to because it joins … Continue reading
In a K-pop world where Sweetune productions are becoming more and more of a rarity, the last bastion of reliably good Sweetune jams has fallen. Yes, boy group TST have moved on to new producers. And, like most groups who make this transition, their material has suffered. I appreciate what they’re trying to do with … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade. December 2019 Overall Thoughts December always feels like a throwaway month for K-pop, and this was … Continue reading
Honestly, I came into tonight’s festival feeling pretty pessimistic. KBS’s Gayo was largely forgettable, and tonight’s line-up was missing some of my favorite acts. But, MBC ended up balking expectations and being the most enjoyable of the three gayos overall. When I think about it, this isn’t too surprising. I’ve always loved MBC’s more intimate … Continue reading
2020 has a nice ring to it, and I’m optimistic about what the new year will bring when it comes to K-pop. It feels like we’re finally crawling out of some of the trends and approaches that I’ve been complaining about for years, leaving the future open for new ideas. With that in mind, I’ve … Continue reading
As is Bias List tradition, it’s time to take a look back at last year’s K-pop resolutions and see how many of them came true. As always, the results are a mixed bag, but on the whole I’m reasonably satisfied. Make sure to read through my 2019 hopes and wishes, first. And check back tomorrow … Continue reading
I often write about how important it is for a K-pop group to develop a signature style. But, there comes a point when repetition becomes self-plagiarism. This is where Momoland exists now. Ever since the viral success of 2018’s Bboom Bboom, each title track they’ve released has sought to replicate that exact sound. This was … Continue reading
You can’t have a K-pop comeback without choreography! However, this is not a list of 2019’s most difficult or technically impressive dance routines. I’m nowhere near qualified to judge that. Instead, these are the top ten performances that really stood out to me this year. Honorable Mentions Cosmic Girls – La La Love Dongkiz – … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! 3.6.5 (from XOXO / Growl – 2013) 3.6.5 feels like a good track to end this (seemingly endless) K-Pop A-Z segment. It’s not a complicated or groundbreaking song, but it’s an unusually potent burst of pop energy within EXO’s discography. The track … Continue reading
This is always one of my favorite end-of-year posts, as if gives me the chance to write about a vital facet of K-pop that I rarely touch on throughout the year. Visuals can make or break a song’s legacy, and these ten videos helped to improve and expand their already-strong soundtracks. + Make sure to … Continue reading
