It’s not always appropriate or fair to compare different artists to one another, but you’ll have to indulge me on this. For the past few months, you’ve suffered through me ranting about how I wish SM Entertainment would lean further into the ambition of the NCT project, giving them a big, bombastic showstopper rather than … Continue reading
The year of random, sporadic Chungha releases continues, with an album finally in sight early next year. In 2020, she’s focused on showcasing her versatility as an artist, and this approach has been quite successful. Chungha is really growing into her own, unafraid to skirt between multiple genres. The most recent example of this is … Continue reading
NCT is absolutely stuffed with talent and personality. But, that only goes so far without strong songs to harness it. On the whole, both parts of the NCT Resonance album remind me of a b-side collection. They’re not so common anymore, but artists used to cobble together unreleased material and outtakes into a special album … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Rum Pum Pum Pum (from Pink Tape – 2013) Rum Pum Pum Pum is my favorite f(x) title track, and arguably the group’s crowning achievement. The song has everything I look for when it comes to f(x): a great melody, off kilter … Continue reading
While it might not be an official debut, My Heart Skip A Beat is the first taste of new RBW girl group Purple Kiss. Sharing an agency with Mamamoo, expectations are high for what these girls will eventually deliver. And, I wouldn’t be surprised if Heart ends up being a red herring. It comes across … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Red Light (from Red Light – 2014) Though I recognize I’m in the minority, Red Light is relatively low on my personal list of favorite f(x) title tracks. I find it an easier song to appreciate than to fully embrace. But to … Continue reading
Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, 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. Though OST releases frequently play it safe when it comes to … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Rainbow (from Red Light – 2014) Rainbow assaults the listener right from its first moment. This is noisy EDM at its most frantic, utilizing synth yelps as a through-line while the instrumental twists itself in distorted directions. The production is consistently harsh, … Continue reading
Shortly after their formative survival series concluded, JYP’s NiziU soared to the top of Japanese charts. They’ve been a fixture there for months, which only goes to show how powerful certain agencies are. I mean, the girls hadn’t even made their official debut until now! As with most survival series-spawned groups, it didn’t matter if … Continue reading
Despite woo!ah!’s exuberant name, their self-titled debut failed to elicit much excitement. But, rookie groups often take some time to get going, and that may be the case here. New single Bad Girl may not offer anything revelatory or new, but it already feels more assured. Like so many girl group tracks this year, Bad … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Puzzle Bubble (from Puzzle Bubble OST – 2011) Released as an OST for an online game, it’s hard to have very high expectations for Puzzle Bubble. The song is also known as Garagabana, which should give you an even clearer idea of … Continue reading
As a Sweetune fanatic, it’s been depressing to watch the production team fade into obscurity over the past two years. With retro pop the trend of the day, I want nothing more than their patented sound to make its way back into the K-pop mainstream. But alas, 2019 and 2020 have seen the team’s output … Continue reading
GOT7 will return next week with their fourth Korean full-length album, but prior to that they’re sharing pre-release track Breath (넌 날 숨 쉬게 해). Like most of the album, this song is self-penned – in this case by member Youngjae. I think it’s great for idol groups to move into self-production, but that alone … Continue reading
The announcement of NCT’s 23-member Resonance project sparked a lot of excitement, and much of that stemmed from how awesome their 2018 Empathy album was. Songs like Baby Don’t Stop and Boss are still in heavy rotation, and have become pillars of NCT’s discography. In comparison, Resonance hasn’t brought the same level of focus or … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Pretty Girl (from Pink Tape – 2013) Pretty Girl manages to make distortion sound a little bluesy, even as its ticking time bomb of an instrumental assaults us with frantic hi-hats and a hearty clap. The verses are comparatively reserved, but build … Continue reading
Since the start of The Bias List in January 2016, I’ve always looked back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists each month. Now, it’s time to look even further into the past, one month at a time. And, yes, the top three rankings count toward The Bias List’s personal artist scorecard! March … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Pinocchio (Danger) (from Pinocchio / Hot Summer – 2011) I feel like repackage Hot Summer often steals the limelight from Pinocchio, but this track is far more quintessentially f(x). The stomping electro beat takes no prisoners, nudged along by the group’s rhythmic … Continue reading
In the expansive hall of dubious K-pop group names, Bling Bling takes a prestigious place. It’s not a great idea to fashion your identity around slang in the first place. But, it’s even more baffling to use outdated slang. Bling Bling sounds pretty silly. Yet, I’ve learned not to dwell on misguided monikers. After all, … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Papi (from 4 Walls – 2015) Papi is pure fun, indebted to nothing more than having a good time. It’s a monstrous dance track, thriving on a generous dose of electro bass and a chirpy synth loop. The chorus is instantly memorable, … Continue reading
Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, 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. BTS’s BE has an air of finality to it, like the … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 