I first wrote about XG’s Undefeated as part of my weekly J-pop round-ups back in April and I wasn’t too impressed. A few months later, the group has added a performance video to the song’s promotion, offering imagery beyond Valorant video game animations. Like many of XG’s hip-hop tracks, Undefeated opts for a trap beat, … Continue reading
K-pop’s title tracks might gain most of listeners’ attention, but many album tracks are worth equal spotlight. I call these “buried treasures.” Beyond this, K-pop’s albums deliver thousands of additional tracks that settle for a more limited audience. It’s these songs that will become a part of my “battle of the b-sides” feature. In this … Continue reading
K-pop idols thrive on building a steady, dedicated fan base. This is most often accomplished by a constant stream of releases and deluge of content. But within the vast K-pop industry, there are more than a few “one hit wonders” – acts who release one single or album and are scarcely heard from again. It’s … 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. Since it was so easily available … Continue reading
from20 and Hello Gloom have become unlikely conduits for fantastic, EDM-influenced pop. Both have released their fair share of highlights, with March’s explosive Mamacita standing as one of this year’s most addictive singles. The two work closely together under their self-established WAYBETTER label and now they’ve finally come together on a single. Your Love acts … 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
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
Sometimes songwriters do my job for me. If you’re going to call a song “Gibberish,” it had better buck expectations by not being the latest in the long line of ‘K-pop boys mumble and growl random things for two and a half minutes.’ Going into this track, I didn’t exactly have my hopes up. The … Continue reading
BTS members’ enlistment-era comebacks have been so meticulously planned that they even incorporate pre-release singles and music videos. Jimin returned late last month with the quirky Smeraldo Garden Marching Band, a song that sounded nothing like he’d ever recorded before. In contrast, title track Who sees him take on a more conventional dance pop role. … Continue reading
Stray Kids seem poised to dominate the second half of July with the release of new album Ate alongside a track on the sure-to-be-blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine movie. That corporate synergy even extends to the music video for title track Chk Chk Boom. Of K-pop’s many global successes, Stray Kids are at the tip top … Continue reading
Fresh off their springtime ballad Samidare, HYBE’s &TEAM have returned with digital single (and pre-release) Koegawari. The guys have upped the energy a bit this time, delivering a laidback summer track whose charms sneak up on you. Koegawari isn’t flashy, choosing instead to softly percolate until its sprightly chorus breaks through. The instrumental shimmers with … Continue reading
n.SSign milked everything they could from their recent album, releasing no less than three title tracks. Months later, they’re back again with repackage Tiger. Repackages aren’t as common as they used to be in K-pop, but they can still be an enhancement to an already successful work. Tiger (New Flavour) pulls a 180 degree switch … Continue reading
I never know whether or not to write about K-pop’s CF songs. You can’t really approach a commercial advertisement with the same criteria as a title track, yet as a piece of music these songs often follow the same approaches as other K-pop songs and occasionally eclipse them. TXT’s Open Always Wins is a collaboration … Continue reading
Since moving on from Wanna One, the quality of Ha Sungwoon’s solo career has been mixed. For me, his music peaked in 2021 with the one-two punch of Sneakers and Strawberry Gum. New single Blessed takes him down a more aggressive sonic route, but falls apart once it reaches its chorus. By now, anyone with … Continue reading
A Brave Brothers produced boy group should be guaranteed catnip for my personal taste, but I’ve had a hard time maintaining interest in DKB’s music. They’ve released some decent singles, but for every highlight there’s another head-scratcher. New track Flirting X offers a sonic makeover, painting them as angsty rock stars. This is a welcome … Continue reading
Earlier this year, Waker’s debut slipped between the cracks for many listeners. A complete lack of music show promotion probably didn’t help, but I want to go to bat for the song because I still think Atlantis is a 2024 highlight. The guys have now returned with a summer comeback, serving a Vanilla Choco Shake … Continue reading
With member enlistments and debuts of younger artists in the agency, NCT 127 are now in an interesting place as respected seniors at SM Entertainment. This transition offers plenty of possibility for shifts in sound and approach. New single Walk (삐그덕) feels quintessentially NCT yet softens the tone for a more straightforward, digestible package. Walk … Continue reading
Whenever a new boy group debuts with a bright concept, it feels like we’re running against the clock before they inevitably shift toward edgier sounds. I’m not too worried about TWS in this regard, especially since their exceedingly bright title tracks have been huge chart successes. But when they do inevitably move on to new … Continue reading
The members of YG Entertainment group Winner have become well known as soloists, but before today main dancer Lee Seunghoon (Hoony) was the only one without an official solo debut. My Type (딱 내 스타일이야) acts as a funky springboard for his first mini album, delivering a bright blast of groovy pop. Seunghoon gets to … 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
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 