My anticipation for TVXQ’s long-awaited comeback was through the roof last year, but things didn’t go exactly as I’d hoped. Yes, the duo delivered two very solid albums, but each lacked the classic SM Performance sound that I’ve long associated with their music. Luckily, Yunho is making up for that with his (even longer-awaited) solo … Continue reading
Paired with the more uncharacteristic Breakthrough, Happy Happy is one half of a double-sided blitz from Twice’s upcoming Japanese promotions. The two songs come together to represent contrasting moods for both hot summer days and steamy summer nights. As you might have guessed from its title, Happy Happy is dedicated to fun-in-the-sun excitement, and falls … Continue reading
With a title like Breakthrough, you better have the goods to deliver. Thus far, Twice’s Japanese material has ranged from fair to frenetically frustrating. Last year’s BDZ hinted at some musical progress, but their immense popularity doesn’t exactly spawn motivation to change. More than a breakthrough, the group needs to take a sledgehammer to their … Continue reading
After the disbandment of Wanna One, many of its members had newly-formed groups to conveniently slide into. But, some of the most popular Wanna One personalities were heading back to an agency without any announced plans. In some cases (Kang Daniel), this resulted in a messy situation. For others (Ong Seungwu), it’s more of a … Continue reading
The smartest thing that ATEEZ have done so far is stick with the same team of producers for each and every track. Like many newer K-pop acts, they self-produce a fair share of their material, but the already-iconic ATEEZ sound is driven most strongly by behind-the-scenes talent in the form of Leez, Eden, Buddy and … Continue reading
I would not be surprised to see ATEEZ completely blow up over the next few years. They give me similar vibes to early BTS, both in sound and ambition. For their third mini album, the guys hosted a public vote between songs Illusion and Wave. Both would receive music videos, but only one would be … 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
As The Bias List continues to grow, I’ve been thinking a lot about my musical influences and preferences, and how my history with pop music has shaped the reviews that I write today. With this in mind, I thought it would be fun to take a day for a more personal post. More than anything, … 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. Teen Top’s new single Run Away begins to feel even more … Continue reading
I must be getting old, because I’ve got absolutely no idea who this HRVY guy is. For some fans, much of Don’t Need Your Love’s appeal will likely lie in the interaction between the British singer and NCT Dream. For me, the song is most notable for being the first Dream release not to feature … 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. There are few things I love more than a solid K-pop … Continue reading
As SM Entertainment’s most established solo artist, BoA has earned the right to release what she wants, when she wants. 2018 may have been underwhelming in many ways, but it gave us two BoA comebacks (with three promoted songs in Korea!), helping to cement her reign as the queen of K-pop. Comparatively, new self-penned single … Continue reading
There aren’t many pre-2012 boy groups left standing in K-pop, and even fewer that are still actively releasing music. With that in mind, you’ve got to give it up for Teen Top. Their output has never been the most popular or chart-conquering, but they keep chugging along with consistency. Run Away is taken from their … Continue reading
I am of the K-pop camp that firmly enjoys artists with a signature sound. Cosmic Girls established theirs right off the bat, and have been deepening that spacey, synth-dripped style ever since. Whenever they’ve gone off course (the Twice-esque Happy and bubblegum pop Kiss Me), their music has suffered. So, when it was announced that … Continue reading
Up to this point, fromis_9 have established an upbeat sound for themselves, pin-balling between hyper-cute quirkiness and more refined dance pop. Last year’s Love Bomb melded these two styles to great success, but new single Fun squanders much of that potential. While I can appreciate its bonkers approach to pop music, it’s the rare K-pop … 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. Though I don’t think I’ll ever enjoy ONEUS’s Twilight as much … Continue reading
The dissolution of B1A4 didn’t seem to send shockwaves through the K-pop industry last year, but it was a personal blow. At their peak, B1A4 were one of my top three bias groups, and offered a specific pop sound that no current act is tackling. Though they may still exist as a trio, the B1A4 … 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
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. May 2019 Overall Thoughts After an underwhelming April, the month of May began to right the … Continue reading
How to review a song like Summer Night (여름밤)? I deliberately steer away from this kind of subdued acoustic-pop because there’s just not much to write about it. Yes, this is a song. Yes, it has some vocals and a melody and even some instruments. And yet, I come away from Yoona’s new single feeling … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 