Just a day after IU and Suga teamed up to deliver the kind of superstar collaboration that the digital charts wet themselves over, BOL4’s Ahn Jiyoung and EXO’s Baekhyun have paired to unleash some healthy competition. But while yesterday’s Eight bucked expectations as a driving pop track, Leo (나비와 고양이) sounds exactly how you would … Continue reading
Girl group fans will likely know Natty as a contestant in both Sixteen (which went on to form Twice) and Idol School (which formed fromis_9). She has the unlucky distinction of being eliminated in episode eleven of both series, which has got to be maddening. But now, after five years in the public consciousness, she’s … Continue reading
The global K-pop fandom lost its collective mind upon the announcement that IU would be collaborating with BTS’s Suga. And true to grouchy form, I received the news with a shoulder shrug, imagining the dull hip-hop ballads that usually result from these high-profile pairings. However, Eight (에잇) sounds nothing like I’d expected, and I say … Continue reading
If you’re anything like me, you’re very upset that legendary production team Sweetune has been sidelined from the K-pop industry for the past year or so. I’d kill for some new Sweetune music in 2020, but for now we’ll have to settle for past glories. I’ve combed my archive to bring you some Sweetune tracks … Continue reading
Idol rock band 2Z debuted earlier this year, and although I never wrote about their song My 1st Hero, I thought it was a fun 90’s throwback that stood out within the idol group landscape. Now, 2Z have returned with their first comeback, upping the intensity for the pounding Doctor. I’m not sure it’s the … Continue reading
I’ve noticed an emerging girl group trend that perches aegyo vocal performances over retro-inspired instrumentals that are much more interesting than the song they support. Just last month, Cignature’s ASSA and GWSN’s Bazooka suffered more from their groups’ delivery than the underlying production. I don’t think this is the fault of the girls themselves, but … Continue reading
More than almost anything else in the world, music makes me happy. There’s a certain indescribable rush that my favorite songs give me, and it can’t really be quantified. I don’t need a song to tell me to be happy. If it’s good enough, that thrill will come automatically. With that said, I certainly don’t … Continue reading
In an all-too familiar K-pop template, Astro’s increasing success has come with a shift in their music. Their once bright, energetic style has dulled to a generic, moody haze – the likes of which are peddled by so many other boy groups of this era. This transformation started with 2018’s excellent Always You, but took … 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! January … Continue reading
Gosh, I’ve been meaning to create this best-of list for years now. But now that AAA are on their way to a nebulous (permanent?) hiatus, it seems like a good time to look back at their best singles. For me, AAA are *the* co-ed J-pop group, impossible to fully replicate because their diverse set of … Continue reading
It’s been quite some time since I’ve written about a new Bullet Train track. To be honest, their music just hasn’t been the same since vocalist Koichi left. That’s no dig on the group’s remaining vocal Takashi, who has really kept their sound afloat. But, there’s just so much more you can do with two … 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 may be in the minority, but I firmly believe that … 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. It’s been heartening to watch Oh My Girl finally secure a … Continue reading
Over the years, I’ve been asked several times to create a post where I reveal my previously-reviewed songs that I would now bump up to a perfect, 10/10 rating, allowing them to officially join my Legendary Songs category. I guess it took a global pandemic for me to finally spend the time to compile this … 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. April 2020 Overall Thoughts With stay-at-home orders in effect all month, there was certainly time to … Continue reading
Boy group Noir has largely escaped my attention. I’ve written about most of their title tracks, but promptly forgotten about each one. When it comes to standing out in this generation of K-pop, you’ve got to have a distinct identity. Beyond overused labels like “dark” and “angsty,” I’d be hard-pressed to tell you much about … Continue reading
NCT’s rotational nature is in full effect this year, with the news that Mark would be re-joining NCT Dream later in 2020. Before that happens, the unit’s six-member configuration has returned with Ridin’, an urban dance song that builds upon the their current trajectory while drawing upon SM Entertainment’s musical past. The result is a … Continue reading
Last summer, GWSN completed their Park in the Night trilogy, which paired them primarily with producers Stupid Squad (who have one of the worst team names in recent memory). Now, the girls seem poised to evolve their sound, branching out with new collaborators and releasing a mini album that doesn’t define itself as a piece … Continue reading
Since her solo debut in 2017, Chungha’s popularity has steadily climbed. She’s arguably become the most successful female soloist in this generation of idol pop, with every title track lodging itself in the charts for months at a time. With this in mind, I’ve always felt left out from the party. Beyond a song here … Continue reading
In a perfect world, Oh My Girl would have had a big, Remember Me-style comeback track waiting to be released just after their successful run on last year’s Queendom. Maybe their agency didn’t expect them to do as well as they did, but waiting nearly six months to capitalize on their boosted profile seems like … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 