I haven’t been shy in voicing my displeasure/disinterest with K-pop’s current trend of beige, easy-listening girl group fare. The sound has become ubiquitous over the past year, dulling the excitement of many new groups. But within this sonic realm, ILLIT’s megahit Magnetic stood out as a solid example of the genre. Now they’re back with … Continue reading
*This was originally a “buried treasure” review, but now that we have an official mv, it’s been changed to a “song review” post. My rating hasn’t changed. It’s been quite some time since a Seventeen album has captured me, and new release Spill The Feels (such a cheesy title) is unlikely to break that trend. … 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
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Crossroads (from Labyrinth – 2020) What I said then: “My central issue with Crossroads is that it’s just too lightweight. Yes, there are string sections aplenty swirling around the bulk of the song, but the percussion is too thin and inconsequential to … Continue reading
By any metric, it’s hard to argue that Seventeen aren’t the biggest K-pop act currently active. With this in mind, I keep waiting for another new single to wow me in the way so many of their past songs have. Maestro‘s chorus was an unsatisfying tease while last year’s God Of Music was pleasant but … Continue reading
I’m not deep enough into the BTS fandom to know this song existed prior to today, and I’m not even sure it warrants a review given its irreverence. However, new BTS releases are few and far between these days, and this is technically Jin’s first (though not new) song since being discharged from the military. … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Apple (from Song Of The Sirens – 2020) What I said then: “Given 2020 K-pop’s urge to shift styles every three seconds, Apple is a remarkably consistent track. Its various elements lock together flawlessly, though the entire thing hits at the same … 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
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. September 2024 Overall Thoughts While the first half of 2024 was quite strong, these past few … Continue reading
Rather than contain my “Risers and Fallers” feature to a single post in June, I’m going to share a bite-sized version at the end of each month. This will let me account for more songs and make a nice lead-in to the monthly round-up post. I anticipate most of these ratings adjustments will be negligible: … Continue reading
The Chuseok-related K-pop drought ends today with the first solo debut from popular group TXT. Over the years, Yeonjun has become a sort of ‘it boy’ within his generation, so it’s no surprise that he’s given the chance to showcase his skills as a soloist. As always, I’m most interested to see what his music … Continue reading
When it comes to music I love, there tends to be two categories of songs. There are instant hits that capture my attention on first listen. Then, there are ‘stealth bombers’ that reveal their charms more gradually. Every single BOYNEXTDOOR song has fallen into the second category. In the long run, it doesn’t mean they’re … Continue reading
No K-pop group has grown on me more in 2024 than BOYNEXTDOOR. How’s that for a triple-rhyming statement? Seriously, though… when they debuted last year I wasn’t sure what to make of them, but with each comeback my interest and appreciation grew until I retroactively loved their entire discography. That’s a testament to the importance … Continue reading
From the moment they kicked their legs in the air to open Fearless‘s compelling choreo, LE SSERAFIM have displayed tons of potential and even more style. But too often, the group has been saddled with ultra-trendy material that feels like an echo of Western pop sounds rather than a guiding light forward. With new single … Continue reading
Rather than contain my “Risers and Fallers” feature to a single post in June, I’m going to share a bite-sized version at the end of each month. This will let me account for more songs and make a nice lead-in to the monthly round-up post. I anticipate most of these ratings adjustments will be negligible: … Continue reading
Acts within the extended HYBE universe don’t often lack promotion, but fromis_9 are an exception. Perhaps it’s their late move to Pledis Entertainment or that agency’s history of struggles with girl groups, but fromis_9 have fallen into the dreaded “one comeback a year” pattern. Whenever an artist’s discography starts to dwindle, it becomes vital that … 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
Many readers have been asking for it, and I’m finally ready to unveil this year’s Bias List Legendary Songs Inauguration Ceremony! A total of forty-nine songs have already been inaugurated as part of this feature, including a few J-pop highlights. As a rule, this ceremony only covers material released since The Bias List‘s inception (Jan … Continue reading
&TEAM’s pre-release Koegawari has snuck up on me to become a real sleeper hit this summer. I love the understated warmth of its rhythmic instrumental and the way its arrangement allows spotlight on the members’ vocals without needless studio effects. If Koegawari was a delicious appetizer, it’s now time for the main course. Aoarashi is … 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 2024 Overall Thoughts After a stellar June, July was always going to have a hard … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 