Fanxy Child is a hip-hop collective featuring members Zico, Crush, DEAN, Penomeco, Stay Tuned and Millic. To say it’s not my thing would be an understatement, but their first official single, 2016’s Bermuda Triangle, was surprisingly compelling even for those who don’t gravitate toward hip-hop. Much of its success spawned from the interplay between a … Continue reading
I’ll begin this latest Bias List screed by stating that I’m an avid watcher of K-pop’s survival series. From juggernauts like Produce 101 to barely-remembered blips like Under Nineteen, I love a good competition. And yet, I fear that the proliferation of these series is killing K-pop’s creativity. An Old-Fashioned Approach Back in the day … Continue reading
When it comes to pop music, everyone’s got their biases. But, being a fan of an entire agency is a uniquely K-pop proposition. It’s akin to being a devotee of Western companies like Marvel or Apple — knowing that your taste so closely aligns with their output that you’re bound to support anything they create. … Continue reading
It’s been over a year since IN2IT’s last comeback. While none of their material has bowled me over so far, I’ve felt a special kinship with the group ever since running into them at a Target store (!). In some ways, they feel like MNET’s forgotten child, given short shrift in favor of Produce 101-spawned … Continue reading
Prior to their full group debut today, Fanatics’ sub-unit Flavor delivered a quirky little synthpop song last November that hinted at interesting things to come. But as is the case so often with K-pop, the group has opted for a safer sound when it comes to their debut title track. Sunday is upbeat, bubblegum fare … Continue reading
Neither of JBJ95’s past title tracks were instant hits with me, but both proved to be growers over time. While trendy, their music doesn’t feel like typical idol fare, focusing on sentiment over performance-driven gimmicks. This approach isn’t very flashy, but it’s well suited to a vocalist/rapper duo like them. New single Spark (불꽃처럼) shimmers … Continue reading
I never reviewed Pink Fantasy’s 2018 debut, but I was definitely aware of the group. They’re hard to miss, as one of their members is obscured by a horror-show bunny mask that will apparently remain affixed to this “mystery performer” until Pink Fantasy reaches the number one spot on Billboard. So in other words, this … Continue reading
Oh My Girl are no stranger to the summer single, gaining popularity with their 2016 cover of K-pop classic A-ing. New single Bungee (Fall In Love) arrives as a repackage title track, contrasting May’s lush The Fifth Season with a more straightforward blast of upbeat pop. As someone who prefers when the group steers a … Continue reading
Over the past year or so, I’ve found myself more disconnected with Seventeen’s music. Their once unique blend of old-school funk and killer song construction threatened to be overtaken by current musical trends. I feared that they were losing what made them special in the first place. As a group who co-writes all of their … 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! Which … Continue reading
Boy group TRCNG has been M.I.A since the start of 2018, making them the male rookie with the longest hiatus — at least where groups from notable agencies are concerned. Of course, TS Entertainment has always been a mess. I fear that their mismanagement has sabotaged TRCNG before the guys even had a chance to … Continue reading
With over 2,600 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
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! Which … Continue reading
With over 2,600 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
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! Which … Continue reading
After a July with few newcomers, the ‘Year of Debuts’ rolls on with an August release schedule already flush with rookies. Leading the charge is Happyface Entertainment’s D1CE, composed of long-suffering trainees who have all been involved with survival series such as Produce 101, MIXNINE and BOYS24. This is the new reality for a lot … 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. July 2019 Overall Thoughts How do I adequately describe just how much of a crippling disappointment … Continue reading
Girl group Busters have been around since 2017, but this is the first time I’m writing about them here. As with most rookies from small agencies, their music has tended to blend in with the crowd, lacking any discernible identity of its own. This is despite a unique origin story. The group was formed to … Continue reading
Rookie group VERIVERY have spent nearly a year recreating the same title track with slightly different variations (or are they VERI-ations?). But once you accept that, their songs are a blast. In a sea of trendy musical mush, their brand of high-energy new jack swing is needed more than ever. The group’s new single album … Continue reading
With over 2,600 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
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 