Stray Kids have always been an idol group with a heavy focus on hip-hop, and their new repackaged album leans into that hard. I tend to prefer when their music takes an electronic bent, so I’m having a hard time connecting with many of the new songs. But true to form, the guys are unveiling … 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! July … Continue reading
Whatever happens going forward, I will always have a soft spot for Snuper. At their prime, the group delivered some of the best K-pop of this past decade. The frustrating irony is that most of that music has gone underappreciated and unknown, lost in the wake created by a-list acts with much bigger followings. But … 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
If I’m being honest, I’ve not been a fan of the English-language reworkings (or English-language originals) released by Arashi over the past few months. I appreciate their goal of global outreach during this final lap of their career, but after building decades of goodwill across hundreds of J-pop tracks, it feels odd to cap it … Continue reading
For better or worse, YG Entertainment has spawned its own sub-genre. We’ll call it “Teddysound.” It involves high octane verses underlined by aggressive electronic beats, a second verse rap switch-up, a hollow, chant-like chorus and a tacked-on, anthemic finale. At this point, it’s unwise to expect anything different from a YG title track, so we … Continue reading
I’ve always found it odd when acts release summer singles in September. Maybe it’s due to my occupation and schedule, but for me it feels like summer ends promptly at the end of August, blunting the effect of any new seasonal song. But Kis-My-Ft2 has been a longtime favorite of mine, and their music tends … Continue reading
After a 2019 reinvention that climaxed with the throbbing club track Sunset, KNK have been absent from K-pop’s comeback slate for over a year. They’re the kind of group I always find myself rooting for – the guys who have been through so much and seem destined to finally catch a break. To an extent, … Continue reading
A long hiatus can be devastating for a group, but can also spur a musical transformation that allows them to reach new heights. Last time we heard from fromis_9 was all the way back in June 2019, when they released the unrelentingly hyper Fun. I know that song has its fervent supporters (some of which … Continue reading
VAV’s Made For Two arrives on the heels of member Baron’s military enlistment, offering a needed salve to fans who are already missing him. Though VAV’s style has shifted to please musical trends, their title tracks have always been steered by jack-of-all-trades producer Ryan S. Jhun. At his best, Jhun has a gift for a … Continue reading
Episode One Recap // Episode Two Recap // Episode Three Recap // Episode Four Recap // Episode Five Recap // Episode Six Recap // Episode Seven Recap // Episode Eight Recap // Episode Nine Recap // Episode Ten Recap Part One: The judges (and Sunoo) take control This episode’s introduction makes it clear that the … Continue reading
As soon as I heard that Astro’s Moonbin and Sanha were debuting as a sub-unit, my first inclination was to hope for an opportunity to revisit the more upbeat material from their debut year. You know me… always looking for more bright, uptempo pop music! But as usual, placing specific expectations on a song before … Continue reading
When Stray Kids deliver a repackaged album, they’re not joking around. In Life comes armed with eight new tracks – more than some artists’ full albums! As an extension of June’s Go Live and title track God’s Menu, new single Back Door continues to explore the group’s abrasive blend of hip-hop, EDM and pop. But … 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! June … 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
Thus far, Ha:tfelt has run the gamut when it comes to song style, making it difficult to imagine how her new music might sound before hearing it. Maybe that’s why new singles always feel like an unexpected surprise, unleashed upon the world to little fanfare but great curiosity. New single La Luna (라 루나) is … Continue reading
One of my absolute favorite Mamamoo songs is 2016’s Woo Hoo, which wasn’t promoted as a title track at all. Instead, it was a CF release, tied to the release of LG’s G5 mobile phone. Sometimes, not having to conform to title track expectations frees a song. Composers don’t necessarily have to have choreography or … Continue reading
King & Prince’s singles run has pin-balled between extremes, from the fluffy cutesiness of songs like Cinderella Girl and Koi-Wazurai to the edgier Mazy Night and Naughty Girl. This is largely in response to the needs of the drama projects these songs are tied into, but this “grab bag” sense of concepts tends to be … 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. Upon my first listen to YooA’s debut solo album, I was … Continue reading
Episode One Recap // Episode Two Recap // Episode Three Recap // Episode Four Recap // Episode Five Recap // Episode Six Recap // Episode Seven Recap // Episode Eight Recap // Episode Nine Recap Part One: Mid-term Results I must’ve missed this last week, but I guess global fans are also voting to select … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 