You thought Stray Kids’ Side Effects was a wild ride? Well, you were right… and I dearly love that song. But, it’s got competition. I’ve wanted to write about Hey! Say! JUMP’s「I」ever since it was released last October, but couldn’t figure out a way to do it that would actually attract readers! So, I decided … Continue reading
I’ve reviewed every D-CRUNCH title track on this site, and I know that I enjoyed most of them. But, I can’t recall a single one. Sometimes that’s the way it is with K-pop – especially if you listen to every idol release you can. There’s such an over-supply of music flooding the market, and the … Continue reading
It feels like rumblings of a second Agust D mixtape have been circulating for years now. In case you didn’t know, Agust D is the name BTS’s Suga has taken for his solo work. His first mixtape dropped in the summer of 2016, and boy has a lot happened since then! It’s fitting, then, that … Continue reading
Despite a fair amount of online buzz, OnlyOneOf have largely flown under my radar. However, their 2019 title track Sage ended up growing on me quite a bit after watching it performed over and over on weekly music shows. I guess repetition will do that. Still, up to this point I think I’ve enjoyed their … Continue reading
Ex-Wonder Girl Yubin carved out a fun little niche for herself in 2018 with the retro releases Lady and Thank U Soooo Much. I hoped that she would continue down this road, but 2019 saw a return to more subdued fare with mid-tempo (and Yoon Mirae duet) Silent Movie. Now, she’s back with yet another … Continue reading
Okay, we’re going to switch things up a bit today – just this one time. R&B phenom Crush and Red Velvet’s Joy have released a single together, and like all the high-profile duets this month, it’s climbed straight to the top five of the charts. People clearly love Crush and Joy, I get that. I … Continue reading
Woollim Entertainment really missed the chance to give Lovelyz a comeback right after their stint on Queendom, but timing has never been the agency’s strength. However, the series finally gave more spotlight to the group’s individual members. Most casual fans probably have a set image of Lovelyz, but there are contrasting charms hidden within their … Continue reading
This has been quite the week for girl group debuts, hasn’t it? REDSQUARE is the third new act to emerge in the space of forty-eight hours. And like Woo!ah! and Secret Number, they come from a relatively small agency without the kind of clout that would render them instant successes. But of the three groups, … Continue reading
Originally scheduled for debut in March, COVID-19 pushed back Secret Number’s first single album to May. And, as any new act is wont to do, they’re confidently asking us: Who Dis? Extra points for the intentionally bad spelling and grammar. But though that title might conjure images of cringe-inducing “hip-hop hands” and misguided hair styles, … Continue reading
It seems like just yesterday that NCT Dream unveiled their newest mini album. The “Neo Zone” sure has been prolific lately, with member Haechan participating in a comeback each month since March. Punch arrives as a repackaged title track to NCT 127’s second full-length, and expands on their abrasive hip-hop sound. In doing so, the … 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. I wouldn’t normally feature a buried treasure on the same day … Continue reading
I have never wanted to be more wrong about a song. TXT were my favorite rookie act of last year, injecting some fun into boy group K-pop while most of their contemporaries opted for moody material. Based on their track record, I fully expected them to deliver my favorite single of 2020. I knew that … 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
Among many other issues, this year in K-pop has felt very underwhelming when it comes to debuts. This was to be expected after 2019 showered us with exciting new groups, but I’ve definitely been missing that super rookie energy lately. Instead, we’ve seen a handful of emerging acts from smaller agencies. Woo!ah! hails from new … Continue reading
I’ve written at length about survival series, along with my distaste for them and the culture they foster. Learning that Road to Kingdom would feature eliminations was a gut punch. That constant threat of danger is meant to make the series more thrilling, but all it does is frustrate. It’s absolutely cruel that these groups … Continue reading
Longtime readers of The Bias List will know how stingy I am when it comes to rating songs nine and above. But, there’s plenty of music that qualifies. In fact, I’ve got a playlist of over 600 of them sitting in my iTunes. The vast majority of these are singles or title tracks, but there … Continue reading
Rookie group UNVS had a promising debut this past February. But if I’m being honest, I haven’t returned to it since. Such is the challenge with new acts. There are already so many K-pop groups to follow, and unless a rookie promotes often and releases undeniably ear-catching material, they’re likely to fall by the wayside. … Continue reading
I watched J-drama Nobuta wo Produce for the first time last month and fell head over heels in love with it. Even since, I’ve been revisiting KAT-TUN’s (consistently fantastic) discography and remembering just how much I adore their music. At their best, they’ve delivered some of the most essential pop tracks of the last fourteen … 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. As usual, DAY6’s new album is far more exciting and adventurous … 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. Apart from atmospheric opener Moon Dance and obligatory ballad Must, I’d … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 