Kep1er’s future as a group remains unsteady, with activities set to end in early July unless their contract is extended. I’m not sure if we’ll get another Korean comeback before that point, but for now fans can enjoy a new Japanese album from the group. Some of their strongest material has been released in Japan … Continue reading
I feel compelled to open this song review with an apology to Lee Jinhyuk. I write about his comebacks because I write about any notable K-pop comeback, but he and I seem to exist on separate musical wavelengths. I’m not sure there’s ever been a Lee Jinhyuk solo track I’ve fully enjoyed. I loved him … Continue reading
I can’t overemphasize the shiver that went down my spine when I pressed play on PICKUS’s debut track Little Prince and was met with the tune from “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” Nursery rhyme interpolations are my kryptonite, and this set expectations quite low. Fortunately, the actual song is a fun blast of upbeat pop — … Continue reading
When writing about Yuqi’s pre-release Could It Be several weeks ago, I was hoping we’d hear more edgy rock influences from her title track. After all, 2021’s Bonnie & Clyde remains a high water mark for both her and (G)I-DLE. With the release of Freak, I (sort of) got what I hoped for, though it’s … Continue reading
Kim Woojin — formerly of Stray Kids — has crafted an enduring solo career, teaming with big name producers like Ryan Jhun to deliver solid grooves that echo the successes of other K-pop soloists. I Like The Way is the latest in this line and it’s as enjoyable as it is generic. There’s nothing here … Continue reading
TIOT made their pre-debut late last summer with a cover of Click-B’s Unbeatable. That was a great teaser, and now the group has returned with a new member and an official debut song. Rock Thang promises more distorted guitar and bad boy energy, but falls into too many current tropes to work. It took all … Continue reading
Now that the expansion of the NCT project has ended and its first member has enlisted in the military, I predict we’ll see more solo work from the guys. This has been a long time coming. There’s a wealth of talent under the sprawling NCT umbrella. Doyoung’s voice has always been one of my favorite … Continue reading
It took some time, but EPEX have finally found a sound that suits them. I’ve become more enamored with their newest title track Youth2Youth by the day, and follow-up Breathe In Love doubles down on its emotive, rock-infused style. Both songs have a satisfying arc, taking their time to deliver a full musical story and … 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
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. BOYNEXTDOOR don’t necessarily have a big … Continue reading
When compared to the length of Queen Bee’s history as a band, I’m quite a latecomer to their fandom. Super Memorial (超メモリアル) celebrates fifteen years of music, but it feels as if they’re just getting started. The band released my favorite song of last year and vocalist Avu-chan produces my favorite group of the moment … Continue reading
Looking back at the blog, I realize I haven’t written a full song review for a Bullet Train single since the group reconfigured with four new members. More than a decade after their debut, they’re now a nine-member act — including a new vocalist. I’ve been mixed on their more recent output, though last year’s … Continue reading
I have this odd trend of under-rated RIIZE’s title tracks when they’re released, only to end up loving them in a few week’s time. This was especially true with January’s Love 119 — a 2024 highlight whose chanted chorus put me off big-time when it first came out. New single Impossible will not have the … Continue reading
I haven’t been keeping up with idol band ONEWE and didn’t realize two of its members had been discharged from the military earlier this year. Yonghoon and Kanghyun are back for the group’s new track and they’ve certainly been missed. Beautiful Ashes (추억의 소각장) sees the guys continuing where they left off, though it’s a … Continue reading
New girl group Unicode is unique in that all its members are Japanese. I’m not sure how that’s going to serve them in an industry that feels quite insular, but their agency has been smart to give them a quintessentially Korean sound for debut single Let Me Love (돌아봐줄래). Most pertinent to my interests, the … Continue reading
In what’s becoming a clear pattern, ILLIT are the latest HYBE-associated K-pop act to see record-breaking success on the charts with their debut Magnetic. Many fans have become upset about their persistent comparisons to NewJeans, but although the details may be unique for each act, I think the observation is apt. We need a name … Continue reading
I don’t know if there’s actual correlation between the two, but ever since Johnny’s Entertainment rebranded into Starto Entertainment, I’ve had a hard time falling in love with their music. Maybe it’s an A&R thing, or maybe it’s simply a symptom of a changing industry environment. Whatever it is, recent songs by some of my … Continue reading
With the new LOONA-adjacent act ARTMS steadily releasing music, the renamed Loossemble are here to offer their own addition to the ever-expanding LOONAverse. Last year’s re-debut Sensitive showed promise, and new single Girl’s Night builds on that with a blast of feel-good fun. The song is still firmly within their wheelhouse, powered by muted synth … Continue reading
I may be showing my age here, but when I hear the phrase “Earth, Wind & Fire” I only think of one thing. BOYNEXTDOOR don’t strike me as the funk disco type, but they did begin to win me over with last year’s addictive But Sometimes. They’ve got a swaggering energy that feels more natural … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 