Two weeks after the release of their first full album, BOYNEXTDOOR are back with a surprise follow-up track. Though I enjoyed title track Viral quite a bit, most of the album is on the slower, sleepier side. Adios! was the only b-side that stuck out to me, so I’m glad it’s the one getting a … Continue reading
Kim Jaejoong’s iNKODE label has set itself the ambitious task of debuting two boy groups this year. The already-promoting KEYVITUP are meant to be the hip-hop group while VAYONN are tackling pop. My taste tends to lean in a very pop direction, so I’m curious to see what VAYONN have to offer. Their album is … Continue reading
CLASSy have removed the colon from their group name as a subtle rebranding, and to be honest that’s probably needed. They haven’t released new material since 2024 and even before that struggled to generate memorable output. I wrote reviews for every one of their singles and couldn’t hum any of them back to you today. … Continue reading
There are a number of acts who have debuted in the past few decades and have dozens of song ratings on this blog. I thought it would be fun to lay these ratings out in chronological order, line-graph style, and take a macro view of their careers so far. Then, similar to my “Underrated K-pop” … Continue reading
If you hang around K-pop fandom long enough, you’ll know that some truths are absolute. For example, when an agency announces that a boy group is showcasing a “new” sound or image, it almost always means they’re doing some form of dark and/or braggadocious hip-hop. It almost never means they’re doubling down on melody or … Continue reading
It’s unusual for a member of a popular K-pop group to cut ties before contracts are up, especially if they stick with the agency to promote as a soloist. From all accounts, Heeseung’s departure from ENHYPEN could be chalked up to creative differences. He wanted to release the music he was into. This begs the … Continue reading
As Hearts2Hearts’ career has blossomed, their music has taken a lighter turn. It seems that the understated moodiness of The Chase was a red herring and the girls have found much more success with buoyant fare like this winter’s RUDE. It’s no surprise, then, that new summer single Lemon Tang is their must bubbly, upbeat … Continue reading
Song covers can be tricky. Do too little to change the original and the whole exercise might feel pointless. Do too much and it’s bound to polarize opinion. TRF’s 90s hit Boy Meets Girl has already been covered dozens of times, partly because it’s an Avex standard alongside other oft-covered classics like Get Wild and … Continue reading
There are a number of acts who have debuted in the past few decades and have dozens of song ratings on this blog. I thought it would be fun to lay these ratings out in chronological order, line-graph style, and take a macro view of their careers so far. Then, similar to my “Underrated K-pop” … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I compile my top three K-pop title tracks and list a ton of honorable mentions. But each Sunday, I’ll offer a compendium of the week’s new releases featured on the blog. And even more than that, I’ll attempt to rank them from my least-to-most-liked. I invite you to share … Continue reading
In connection with my desire to fully keep up with the J-pop industry, I’m planning to do a weekly round-up of any new releases that have caught my ear. Some of these may have been covered on the blog already, but my hope is that this will become a one-stop shop for anyone interested in … Continue reading
There are a number of acts who have debuted in the past few decades and have dozens of song ratings on this blog. I thought it would be fun to lay these ratings out in chronological order, line-graph style, and take a macro view of their careers so far. Then, similar to my “Underrated K-pop” … Continue reading
The Bias List is a K-pop blog that also covers a fair amount of J-pop. But just like most music fans, I enjoy tracks from all around the world. So, I thought I’d start a monthly round-up of some of the non-K-pop songs that have caught my ear. No ratings — just highlights! February 2022 … Continue reading
There are a number of acts who have debuted in the past few decades and have dozens of song ratings on this blog. I thought it would be fun to lay these ratings out in chronological order, line-graph style, and take a macro view of their careers so far. Then, similar to my “Underrated K-pop” … Continue reading
A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. 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 you wouldn’t guess it from … Continue reading
It’s a day of long-awaited reunions in K-pop. Omega X may not have quite the legacy of Secret, but they’ve been out of the picture long enough to make Uncapped feel like a true comeback. This track brings together only seven of the group’s ten original members but successfully replicates their core sound. Uncapped is … Continue reading
There are a number of acts who have debuted in the past few decades and have dozens of song ratings on this blog. I thought it would be fun to lay these ratings out in chronological order, line-graph style, and take a macro view of their careers so far. Then, similar to my “Underrated K-pop” … Continue reading
Secret are one of those second-gen groups whose output completely pre-dates this blog. Over the years, I’ve reviewed exactly one of their songs through a retrospective feature, and to be honest their discography has never done much for me. Today, two of the group’s members (Hyosung and Jung Hana) have reunited alongside new member Yebin … Continue reading
There are a number of acts who have debuted in the past few decades and have dozens of song ratings on this blog. I thought it would be fun to lay these ratings out in chronological order, line-graph style, and take a macro view of their careers so far. Then, similar to my “Underrated K-pop” … Continue reading
USPEER debuted seventy-eight years ago and remained one of K-pop’s most confounding one-hit wonders. Okay… that might be a slight exaggeration. They actually debuted one year ago before dropping off the face of the earth as WM Entertainment underwent a major re-shuffling. The group now finds themselves under MW Entertainment (ran by former WM CEO … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 