DKZ are the latest K-pop group to release an album called “Reboot.” For whatever reason, these “reboots” have a really great track record, resulting in super strong work from Wonder Girls, Golden Child and Treasure. But this time around, I’m not really sure what DKZ are rebooting. Title track Like A Movie sounds like it … Continue reading
Following 2020’s I:KAN, NINE to SIX debuts as DKZ’s second sub-unit, consisting of members Mingyu and Jonghyeong. And, they really don’t want you to give them a call… The chorus of Don’t Call Me might work as a combative answering machine message if you’re feeling especially surly. The song harnesses a rugged — almost industrial … Continue reading
It’s been gratifying to watch DKZ’s (formerly Dongkiz) glow-up. Their ascent has nothing to do with the quality of their music and everything to do with member Jaechan’s sudden popularity as an actor. But, that’s just how the K-pop industry works. However they needed to do it, I’m happy DKZ have found success. But, I’d … Continue reading
Every once and awhile, K-pop agencies make smart decisions. On a purely aesthetic level, Dongkiz’s upgrade to “DKZ” is very welcome. The industry has far too many idol groups with three-letter acronym names, but anything is better than “Dongkiz”! But, this rebranding goes beyond the name. DKZ has a new line-up, with former member Wondae … Continue reading
Over the past couple of years, Dongkiz have been one of my favorite way-under-the-radar groups. Last year’s Beautiful took them in an ill-advised “edgy” direction, but other than that their music has been a ton of fun. They really embrace K-pop’s inherent goofiness, even introducing a silly ghost mascot during some of their live stages. … Continue reading
I think it’s obvious that I love a good statistic. In addition to my core rating system, I’ve got my top three songs of each month, my yearly countdowns and more data breakdowns than anyone could ask for. None of these are perfect ways to categorize or quantify something as subjective as music, but they … 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. April 2021 Overall Thoughts 2021 continues to be a strong year for K-pop. When it comes … Continue reading
After a debut year stuffed with upbeat funk pop comebacks, Dongkiz explored edgier sounds in 2020. Neither concept has brought them much attention, but I think a youthful, exuberant style best illustrates their charms. New single Universe calls back to their 2019 era, albeit with much more generic trappings. Unfortunately, you can feel the budget … Continue reading
Well… 2020 was certainly different, wasn’t it? It was a year where the industry couldn’t function as usual, but that didn’t stop K-pop from churning out more music than ever. It was a year of unprecedented international success and rising album sales — just as most other music markets struggled to move physical product. It … Continue reading
It’s a K-pop tale as old as time: 1. Bright, funky boy group releases a few great tracks, to middling success. 2. Bright, funky boy group gets swept into the dark embrace of moody trap music. 3. Moody, trap boy group still finds middling success, because 99% of idol sales and charting has absolutely nothing … 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. July 2020 Overall Thoughts For the first time in months, I feel pretty good about where … Continue reading
Since their 2019 debut, Dongkiz have been reliable conduits for fun, upbeat pop music. Even though they hail from a comparatively small agency, their comebacks have been surprisingly frequent. Now the group is embarking on a sub-unit project, the first of which sees members Jaechan and Munik forming duo I:KAN for the retro New Jack … Continue reading
Looking back at this feature from 2019, it seems like I identified quite a few risers and few fallers last year. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for 2020. Most title tracks — even the ones I loved — just haven’t enjoyed the same staying power. I’m not quite sure why this is. Maybe it … 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 2020 Overall Thoughts I don’t know about you all, but my mind wasn’t exactly on … Continue reading
With so many of their peers heading down a darker, moodier route, Dongkiz have become a welcome salve for the boy group landscape. It’s hard to imagine anything called “Dongkiz” being the least-bit edgy, but that’s okay. Given all the chaos and anxiety floating around the world right now, I think we could all use … 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 2020 Overall Thoughts What a K-pop wasteland this January was. The new decade kicked off … Continue reading
Unlike many music markets around the world, K-pop rarely promotes follow-up singles beyond a special performance or two. That’s why I was surprised to see teasers for Dongkiz’s All I Need Is You. I neglected to feature this song as a buried treasure back in November, but now I don’t have to because it joins … Continue reading
This is always a difficult list to form. After all, there are way more b-sides than singles to choose from each year, and with K-pop’s love of promoting genre trends, the most interesting music is often hidden within albums that not every listener bothers to check out. Following up from yesterday, I’m counting down my … Continue reading
2019 was a huge year for rookie groups. In fact, I’d say that the year was almost driven by them. So many agencies unveiled new acts, offering a needed jolt to the industry. This makes for a highly competitive countdown, with lots of treasures to discover. Like usual, this list comes with some caveats. When … 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 