Given the tragic news of Sulli’s passing earlier today, I debated whether to post normal reviews or wait until a later date. Unfortunately, we’ve been down this road before, but that doesn’t make it any less gut-wrenching or maddening. This industry, and online culture in general, has its problems and we all need to do … Continue reading
Latest Entries
K-Pop A-Z Review: EXO – The Eve
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! The Eve (from The War / The Power Of Music – 2017) Opening EXO’s 2017 album with a dark blast of creeping pop, The Eve takes an almost militant approach to its verses before pulling back to a vocal-rich pre-chorus. The chorus … Continue reading
Vote for the Next Songs to be Reviewed on THE BIAS LIST!
It’s your turn to have a say in the next K-pop tracks reviewed on The Bias List! I’ve selected twelve of the finest songs released before I launched this site, none of which have been reviewed yet. There are six tracks by female artists, and six by male artists. Here’s where you come in! Vote … Continue reading
Song Review: Heize – Falling Leaves Are Beautiful
I have a playlist on my phone called “K-pop for People Who Hate K-pop.” It’s stuffed with the least offensive music I can imagine, designed for use when in mixed company. K-pop’s wilder ambitions aren’t for everyone, and that’s okay. American-sounding, coffeehouse-type tunes that just happen to be performed in Korean tend to become affable … Continue reading
K-Pop A-Z Review: EXO – El Dorado
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! El Dorado (from Exodus / Love Me Right – 2015) A fan favorite, El Dorado is a perfect representation of EXO’s signature sounds. You’ve got the moody r&b of the verses, largely carried by the group’s smooth vocals. Then there’s the towering … Continue reading
Buried Treasure: ATEEZ – WIN
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. Rather than call All to Action ATEEZ’s first full-length album, I … Continue reading
Buried Treasure: ONF – All Day
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 can already tell that ONF’s Why is going to be … Continue reading
K-Pop A-Z Review: EXO – Drop That
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Drop That (from Countdown – 2018) For as bombastic as their music can be, EXO really don’t have that many straight-up party tracks. Drop That was clearly designed with concerts in mind — the kind of repetitive, high-energy song that spells out … Continue reading
Song Review: Jung Daehyun (B.A.P) – Aight
After the remaining B.A.P members left the hellhole that is TS Entertainment earlier this year, it seemed as if the group had essentially disbanded. We could certainly get a reunion in the future, but for now the guys are focusing on solo projects. For Jung Daehyun, that meant a mini album of ballads earlier this … Continue reading
K-Pop A-Z Review: EXO – Don’t Go
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Don’t Go (from XOXO / Growl – 2013) EXO’s first full album is flush with these kind of lovelorn mid-tempos. The truth is, if it wasn’t for their vocals, any boy group of EXO’s era could have tackled a song like Don’t … Continue reading
Song Review: Ladies’ Code – Set Me Free
This May, Ladies’ Code connected with producers 1Take and TAK to deliver the funky, brass-filled Feedback. It felt like a return to the group’s older sound — heavy on groove and sassy vocal delivery. The song emerged after an extended hiatus, which itself was preceded by years of more subdued material. If new single Set … Continue reading
K-Pop A-Z Review: EXO – Diamond
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Diamond (from The War / The Power Of Music – 2017) Undoubtedly one of EXO’s more polarizing tracks, Diamond sees the group move past their signature style and into a swag-heavy blend of EDM and trap. After an exciting, melodic build up, … Continue reading
Song Review: Stray Kids – Double Knot
Over the past few months, Stray Kids’ experimentation with electronic influences has transformed their music into a vital, trend-setting part of the K-pop landscape. It’s easy to forget that, at their heart, the group thrives on a more straightforward hip-hop style, anchored by their trio of composers/producers 3RACHA. Personally, I prefer when Stray Kids pull … Continue reading
K-Pop A-Z Review: EXO – December, 2014 (The Winter’s Tale)
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! December, 2014 (The Winter’s Tale) (from Exology Chapter 1: The Lost Planet – 2014) Released as a special winter track on the group’s first concert album, December, 2014 is an easy EXO song to overlook. It’s a standard r&b ballad, driven by … Continue reading
Song Review: Kei (Lovelyz) – I Go
Compared to other girl groups, Lovelyz doesn’t often receive much attention for their individual members. Their music favors sentiment and cohesion over big, standout moments. But over the years, Kei has quietly become one of my favorite female vocalists in K-pop. As a singer, she’s the sort who gives 110% — almost to the point … Continue reading
Song Review: ATEEZ – Wonderland
ATEEZ have taken 2019 by storm, releasing a steady stream of music that has now culminated with their first full album. The fact that all of this has been accomplished in under a year is staggering – even more so when you realize that each and every track has been composed by the same small … Continue reading
K-Pop A-Z Review: EXO – Damage
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Damage (from Don’t Mess Up My Tempo / Love Shot – 2018) One of two LDN Noise tracks on the Don’t Mess Up My Tempo album, Damage is arguably the most hard-hitting Korean track EXO delivered in 2018. Its abrasive textures hearken … Continue reading
Song Review: Great Guys – Be On You
I know that I start every Great Guys review with a statement about how lame their group name is, but it just gets more ridiculous the more serious and brooding their music becomes. It fit the bright bounciness of this spring’s Dang, but seems at odds with the sexiness of new single Be On You. … Continue reading
Song Review: AB6IX – Blind For Love
Of all the K-pop songs that have grown on me this year, AB6IX’s Breathe has had one of the most impressive climbs. I was dismissive of the track upon release, describing it as “the kind of music you’d hear in the background at an H&M.” That’s still probably true, but the song went on to … Continue reading
Song Review: ONF – Why
Since their debut in the summer of 2017, ONF’s title track Why represents the only time the guys have made more than one comeback in a calendar year. That’s an insanely sparse schedule for a rookie group, driven by some factors that were out of their agency’s hands. Even this new mini album has been … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 