Okay, the first thing that pops into my head when I see the title of this song is the classic Michael Jackson/Siedah Garrett ballad, which sets the bar pretty darn high. I have no reason to expect something similar, since pop music has moved on to a different palette of sounds in the past 30+ … Continue reading
The end of the year countdowns are finally here! As always, we’ll kick off with the big one: The Bias List’s top 50 songs of the year! Each day this week, I’ll be counting down ten of the year’s best, until number one is revealed on Friday. To be eligible for this top 50 list, songs … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! You Are My Destiny (Luna & Krystal) (from Chu – 2009) Previewing the sentimental style they’d bring to many OST releases, You Are My Destiny is a standard K-ballad performed by two powerhouse vocalists. In that regard, it’s an enjoyable showcase for … Continue reading
The end of the year countdowns are finally here! As always, we’ll kick off with the big one: The Bias List’s top 50 songs of the year! Each day this week, I’ll be counting down ten of the year’s best, until number one is revealed on Friday. To be eligible for this top 50 list, songs … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! X (from 4 Walls – 2015) Continuing the retro grooves that fuel most of the 4 Walls album, X brings us back to 80’s electro-funk in great style. The gurgling instrumental is immensely appealing, and offers a playground for the girls to … Continue reading
Though Taeyeon is still an idol performer by definition, her music has slowly transitioned to sounds I would expect from independent artists. While this has garnered her credibility in many circles, it’s not the type of thing I tend to gravitate to. It’s been over a year since a new Taeyeon release has really sparked … Continue reading
The end of the year countdowns are finally here! As always, we’ll kick off with the big one: The Bias List’s top 50 songs of the year! Each day this week, I’ll be counting down ten of the year’s best, until number one is revealed on Friday. To be eligible for this top 50 list, songs … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! When I’m Alone (from 4 Walls – 2015) With a co-writing credit from Carly Rae Jepsen (!), you might expect When I’m Alone to be an upbeat bubblegum pop song. Instead, this glistening, synth-fueled slow burn caps off the 4 Walls album … Continue reading
Start here for an indexed post of all of The Bias List’s end-of-year countdowns. This will be updated as new countdowns are added, and stickied to the front page for the rest of the year. Check back frequently as we approach 2021! And, feel free to check out the masterposts for the past four years at … Continue reading
It’s been a long wait for a new Sungkyu comeback – almost three years, to be specific. And though we got a taste of his voice on this year’s Relay and OST track Beautiful, his first post-military album felt like it kept getting pushed back. Now in the doldrums of December, Sungkyu has officially returned … Continue reading
The end of the year countdowns are finally here! As always, we’ll kick off with the big one: The Bias List’s top 50 songs of the year! Each day this week, I’ll be counting down ten of the year’s best, until number one is revealed on Friday. To be eligible for this top 50 list, … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Traveler (ft. Zico) (from 4 Walls – 2015) Traveler has a slinky dance beat that’s quite addictive. To describe the texture, the best word I can think of is “corrugated,” though I guess “oscillating” is probably the better musical term. Either way, … Continue reading
Well… 2020 was certainly different, wasn’t it? It was a year where the industry couldn’t function as usual, but that didn’t stop K-pop from churning out more music than ever. It was a year of unprecedented international success and rising album sales — just as most other music markets struggled to move physical product. It … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Toy (from Pink Tape – 2013) It’s not easy to stand out within the adventurous Pink Tape album, but I’ve always found Toy to be a particular highlight. I adore the fade-in that opens the track, making the chanted hook that follows … 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. Taking Sweetune out of the equation, I think that e.one may … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Thrill Love (from Hungry Romeo, Luxury Juliet OST – 2010) Another of f(x)’s many OST releases, Thrill Love has a bit of spark to it. It’s not a patch on their best work, but the effusive synth production gives it a fluffy … Continue reading
Earlier in the year, ONEWE added an EDM layer to their moody rock sound, delivering the potent End Of Spring. They followed this up with the relatively forgettable Parting. And now, nearly two seasons later, they’re back with a song befitting December. A Book In Memory (기억 속 한 권의 책) slows things down for … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! The Truth Is (Shh!) (from Juloring Animal Detectives OST – 2010) Earlier in this feature, I remarked on how unadventurous f(x)’s OST songs were compared to their album work. Well… I guess all it takes is a children’s animation to bring out … Continue reading
Upon first hearing GHOST9’s debut track Think of Dawn, I was disappointed that they seemed to be opting for a heavy, lumbering sound that had already been done to death. But in the context of the album, the song began to make sense and eventually grew into a 2020 highlight. This is the importance of … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Sweet Witches (from Pinocchio / Hot Summer – 2011) Sweet Witches is an off-kilter electro pop track with a bit of a lounge feel. It’s a real oddball, from its simple synth beat to its staccato melody. Almost the entire track hinges … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 