(G)I-DLE have quickly jumped to the forefront of this generation’s girl group landscape, but that kind of meteoric rise is not without its growing pains. February’s Senorita wasn’t as universally admired as their 2018 work, raising the stakes for its follow-up. New single Uh-Oh rights the ship to some extent, even if its retro hip-hop … Continue reading
This January, CLC out-(G)IDLE’d (G)-IDLE with the Soyeon-composed No. That quirky, attitude-driven track seemed to spark a sonic revolution in the group, drawing upon their charisma for an ear-catching performance. New single Me (美) harnesses that same vibe, but comes across as diminished returns. The first time through, it’s easy to compare Me to 4minute’s … 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. If you’ve seen my top three songs of March, you’ll already … 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. March 2019 Overall Thoughts After a slow start to 2019, March finally seemed to kick things … Continue reading
After last September’s Naughty Boy, I feared that Pentagon might end up chasing their own tail on a never-ending quest to replicate the structure and energy of 2018 hit Shine. This wouldn’t have been an utterly terrible fate. Shine was a fantastic song, after all. But, leader Hui has so much more to offer as … Continue reading
Cube Entertainment has a history of successful sub-units. Both Trouble Maker and Triple H brought together artists from different groups and gave them bold material to forge new avenues in their careers. Wooseok x Kuanlin is the latest in the agency’s sub-unit history, pairing Pentagon’s (very tall) rapper and Wanna One’s (very popular) youngest for … Continue reading
It’s been over six months since we’ve heard from (G)I-DLE as a group, but leader Soyeon has been a constant presence in K-pop since then. She featured in a special SM Entertainment project group last September and co-composed last month’s memorable No for fellow Cube Entertainment act CLC. I expect her star power to grow … 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 wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. A few of the b-side tracks on CLC’s 2018 Black Dress mini … Continue reading
It’s time to flash back seven years to 2012, an era of huge choruses, thumping dance beats and an endless supply of sci-fi influenced music videos. 2012’s charms were endless, but here are fifty of the absolute best singles. To be eligible for this top fifty list, songs must have had a Korean release as … Continue reading
It’s time to flash back seven years to 2012, an era of huge choruses, thumping dance beats and an endless supply of sci-fi influenced music videos. 2012’s charms were endless, but here are fifty of the absolute best singles. To be eligible for this top fifty list, songs must have had a Korean release as … 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. January 2019 Overall Thoughts Last year, January bucked expectations and became my favorite musical month of … Continue reading
If judged solely by the English-speaking corners of K-pop’s internet fandom, CLC might as well be the biggest girl group on the planet. In their four years of promotion, they’ve yet to enjoy any major milestones in Korea. However, they’ve amassed a dedicated international following eager to support the underdog. That fan base has strengthened … Continue reading
Debuting in 2016, Pentagon have finally amassed enough title tracks to be eligible for a top ten countdown. Of all the rookies in their generation, it feels like Pentagon have been on a roller coaster of highs and lows, finding both breakout success and frustrating hardships. Through it all, they’ve built a rock-solid discography, equally … Continue reading
In a preview of what will soon be facing all second generation boy groups, BTOB is rapidly decreasing in number as their members begin their mandatory military enlistment. It’s become common for artists to release a song or album prior to enlisting, and serves as a nice gesture towards their fans. It’s hard to fault what’s … Continue reading
2018 was a whirlwind year for Pentagon, presenting great achievements and unexpected tailspins. Their career trajectory in Korea seems impossible to predict, but they’ve come roaring back with their first original Japanese single. And Cosmo is a doozy. The song is completely confounding on first listen, and sounds nothing like any music the group has recorded … Continue reading
I may not be a trained dancer, but I do watch music shows each week! In 2018, intricate and catchy choreography continued to play a huge part in K-pop comebacks. Here are the ten routines that caught my eye this year: Honorable Mentions Seungri – 1, 2, 3! NCT U – Boss Seventeen – Oh … Continue reading
Unlike the past few years, no rookie really caught my attention in 2018. There were a few high-profile debuts, but most new acts came from very small agencies. Instead, this was a year where 2017’s rookies really got a chance to shine. In many ways, 2018 felt like the year of the project group — … Continue reading
The end of the year countdowns are finally here! As always, things kick off with the big one… The Bias List’s top 50 songs of the year! Each day this week, I’ll be counting down ten of the year’s best, until number one is revealed on Friday. To be eligible for this top 50 list, … Continue reading
The season of ballads continues to roll on, and it’s the perfect time of year for BTOB’s Lee Changsub to release his debut mini album. As expected, it’s a down tempo affair. But like Infinite’s Sungkyu, he’s gone for a rock-tinged sound that helps differentiate his own music from that of his group’s. Given this … Continue reading
The end of the year countdowns are finally here! As always, things kick off with the big one… The Bias List’s top 50 songs of the year! Each day this week, I’ll be counting down ten of the year’s best, until number one is revealed on Friday. To be eligible for this top 50 list, … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 