As usual, Golden Child gets the “bias group advantage” on this site. This means not only their title track and a buried treasure will be reviewed, but I’ll be taking a look at the entire new single album Pump It Up. 1. Pump It Up // 2. That Guy // 3. Lean On Me LEAN … Continue reading
When Weki Meki debuted in the summer of 2017, they billed their concept as “teen crush.” Over the years, their singles have occasionally lived up to that moniker. However, their recent one-two punch of Dazzle Dazzle and Oopsy strayed too far into cutesy chant-pop for my taste. New single Cool returns them to their edgier … Continue reading
As usual, Golden Child gets the “bias group advantage” on this site. This means not only their title track and a buried treasure will be reviewed, but I’ll be taking a look at the entire new single album Pump It Up. 1. Pump It Up // 2. That Guy // 3. Lean On Me THAT … Continue reading
For a group whose music should be conquering Japan, IZ*ONE’s J-pop discography has been very inconsistent. Debut single Suki to Iwasetai was an undisputed triumph, but follow-ups Buenos Aires and Vampire were both marred by awful production and halfhearted performances. Unfortunately, new single Beware succumbs to the same issues. It’s aptly named, as listeners should … Continue reading
After four years of steadily-increasing success, WJSN (Cosmic Girls) have unveiled their first sub-unit. The ridiculously-titled Chocome consists of members Soobin, Luda, Yeoreum and Dayoung, and promises a quirkier concept than the group’s usual space-and-fantasy themed material. As with all sub-units, the quality of Hmph (흥칫뿡) could go either way. Thankfully, the girls fully commit … Continue reading
Golden Child have spent the past year exploring a musical trilogy that pulled their sound in darker, angstier directions. This resulted in some stellar songs, but the Golden Child I first fell in love with made their name on a bright, energetic style. Once K-pop boy groups journey down a moodier route, they tend to … Continue reading
With over 3,000 songs on my iPhone’s “K-Pop Singles” playlist, I thought it would be fun to add a bit of unpredictability to my song review posts. So as a result, we have the “Random Shuffle Review” feature. The rules are simple. I fire up my playlist, press “shuffle,” and whatever song plays first gets … Continue reading
Back when Nu’est were really struggling commercially, they turned to Japan for the release of their Bridge the World album. Its overall sound is miles away from what the group is producing now, though I always thought that 2015’s Na Na Na Namida was an extremely underrated single. But, what a difference five years make! … Continue reading
Marking their fourth anniversary, boy group SF9 have released one of those “for the fans” ballads, though this time it’s anchoring a special single album. The guys are right to take a victory lap, as years of hard work have really paid off for them. Their success in 2020 has been a little surprising, and … Continue reading
New group WEi comes armed with an already-established fan base, thanks to its members gaining fame through the Produce 101 franchise. To be honest, they feel almost like a supergroup, cobbled together from ex-members of X1, JBJ, Rainz and 1THE9. Given this pedigree, WEi are guaranteed success – at least in the short term. The … 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! September … Continue reading
It’s been awhile! As I’ve started covering more J-pop singles on the blog, there haven’t been as many tracks to feature in a J-pop round-up. But, one of the purposes of this feature is to unearth buried treasures. The seven songs below are a mix of singles and b-sides that have caught my attention over … Continue reading
With over 3,000 songs on my iPhone’s “K-Pop Singles” playlist, I thought it would be fun to add a bit of unpredictability to my song review posts. So as a result, we have the “Random Shuffle Review” feature. The rules are simple. I fire up my playlist, press “shuffle,” and whatever song plays first gets … Continue reading
Over the past few years, BLACKPINK singles have devolved into a clear formula. Now, formulas aren’t inherently bad, but when you’re only releasing a handful of tracks and they all start to sound the same, it doesn’t make for a very interesting discography. However, after four years of inconsistent promotions, the girls finally have a … Continue reading
You better believe the opening of Taeyeon’s new Japanese single got me all sorts of nostalgic. With a simple “C’mon girls, this is our generation,” I realized once again how much I miss Girls’ Generation being a force in K-pop. They’re often held up as the definition of a “Nation’s Girl Group,” and for good … 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. September 2020 Overall Thoughts Back in late winter, my reviews were often besieged with comments stating … 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. A few years ago, UP10TION were one of K-pop’s most promising … Continue reading
For me, A.B.C-Z have always seemed to exist on the periphery of the Johnny’s Entertainment roster, which is pretty ridiculous considering how integral they’ve been to the agency’s various pursuits. From stage plays to Shounen Club, the members are certainly not unknown. But, a lack of English subtitling and a comparatively small fan base makes … 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. SuperM’s new album is so loaded with content that it’s hard … Continue reading
A little-known Swedish synth-pop duo called The Sound Of Arrows released an epic 2011 album called Voyage. It’s probably my favorite representation of this genre, at least within the last decade. Even years later, the Fear of Tigers remix of There Is Still Hope still reduces me to a shaking, sobbing mess in the corner … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 