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
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. In writing about The Wind’s H! … Continue reading
Watching TWS’s Plot Twist‘s unlikely rise to the top of the Korean charts has been an absolute joy. The digital charts tend to be a tough place for boy groups — especially rookies with a bright pop sound. However, the song has caught on and truly lived up to its name sake. This is a … 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
All the way back in 2019, BTOB’s Lim Hyunsik released a cool sci-fi concept album. Its unique artistic ambitions felt like a rarity in the world of idol soloists, and fans have waited a long time for a follow-up. I approached new single La Mar with built-up expectation, hoping for a follow-up with its own … Continue reading
The release of IU’s new album will be preceded by multiple tracks. We’ve already heard Love Wins All, which has promptly gone on to rule the Korean charts. Now it’s time for something a little more eccentric. Holssi (홀씨) ups the tempo just a bit, giving IU something groovier to play with. For as long … Continue reading
I wouldn’t say that (G)-IDLE’s Super Lady has grown on me, but I appreciate its bold EDM energy and commitment to old fashioned showmanship. With that said, the group feels far more at home on grittier material that evenly spreads its time between the members’ various tones. Revenge falls much more in line with what … Continue reading
After last week’s pre-release, iKON’s DK is back with the title track from first solo album. Groovin vaults him out from the murky mire of LTNS and deposits him in the club. The song’s minimalist sound is surprisingly effective. It’s more of a “vibe” track than a dance track, but DK’s smooth vocals glide over … Continue reading
Woollim Entertainment has dropped the ball when it comes to Golden Child solos and sub-units. The potential for fun mash-ups and interesting musical diversions feels endless, but the agency has a hard enough time even managing regular group comebacks. So instead of exploring new avenues for its talents, they give us the most predictable ballads. … Continue reading
For as popular as Cha Eunwoo is, I’m surprised it’s taken so long for him to make his solo debut as a singer. I guess with so many acting and promotional jobs coming in, he probably doesn’t have much free time on his hands! Despite Stay being his first official title track, Eunwoo has recorded … Continue reading
Across three releases, Aimers have shown plenty of potential but haven’t quite caught my ear. The teasers for new single Somebody hinted a potentially spectacular showcase, and against my better judgement I set expectations far too high. As such, the full song’s fragmented approach leaves me wanting. If the entire song had the driving energy … Continue reading
Boy group n.SSign debuted last summer with a ton of success and even more potential, but it was undercut by weird song choices. Their title track proved to be rather inscrutable — especially where debuts are concerned. I much preferred their gorgeous pre-release Higher and was excited to see a (so-so) Sweetune track among the … Continue reading
I chose The Wind as my favorite rookie of 2023 for many reasons. One of the biggest was their willingness to let their main vocal belt. But now that main vocal is gone, making future music a dicey prospect. New single H! TEEN both confirms my worries and offers an exciting offramp toward a reconfigured … Continue reading
There’s a specific style of J-pop performed by Korean acts (or Japanese acts fronted by Korean companies) that’s become ubiquitous over the past few years. Anything related to the Produce franchise or HYBE Corporation seems to be sucked into its orbit, and Mirae’s new Japanese single Running Up also fits within this framework. It’s characterized … Continue reading
Seven years after his debut with NCT U, Ten has finally released his first solo album. Talk about delayed gratification! He’s had plenty of solo singles throughout the years, but I can’t believe it took this long for SM Entertainment to give him something more substantial. He follows a lineage of male idol performers gone … Continue reading
I’ve listed my “top tens” for many artists, but it’s time to rummage through entire discographies and rank every single from worst to best. This feature will primarily tackle groups who have disbanded or gone on indefinite hiatus. It’s a way for me to re-evaluate my initial thoughts on their singles run. Don’t be surprised … 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
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. I’m one of those weird people … Continue reading
I’ve listed my “top tens” for many artists, but it’s time to rummage through entire discographies and rank every single from worst to best. This feature will primarily tackle groups who have disbanded or gone on indefinite hiatus. It’s a way for me to re-evaluate my initial thoughts on their singles run. Don’t be surprised … Continue reading
As Super Junior-L.S.S.’s releases have gone on, the material has felt more and more like a joke. Now, they’re saying the quiet part out loud with the appropriately titled… Joke. It’s hard for me to see this sub-unit as anything but novelty, and I guess novelty has its place in the pop landscape. Unfortunately, it … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 