Pepsi certainly has some sway over the K-pop market, don’t they? Last month, they gave Ong Seungwoo a solo (semi) debut with the Energetic rip-off Heart Sign, and now they’ve gathered two popular idols from different agencies for a performance-focused duet. Cool Love brings together Hongbin from VIXX and Hyungwon from Monsta X. Neither idols … Continue reading
So far, 2019 has been an odd year for K-pop. If I were to sum it up, these first six months have pinballed between “thrilling” and “frustrating.” Taken as a whole, I think 2019 easily usurps 2018 at this same point. But, many of my favorite songs were released in close proximity to one another … Continue reading
VIXX’s Leo made his solo debut last summer with the Taemin-esque Touch & Sketch. Now, he finds himself in the same place as many of his third-generation K-pop peers: counting down the months until mandatory military conscription. VIXX has already seen its leader, N, enlist earlier this year. Leo is only four months younger, so … 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. VERIVERY had a b-side on their debut mini album called Alright. … 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 2019 Overall Thoughts After a March that included some of my favorite songs of the … Continue reading
Immediately after listening to VERIVERY’s new single From Now (딱 잘라서 말해), I could imagine the number one criticism it would garner: It sounds the same as their last song… and the one before that! Fair enough. But for me, this isn’t a problem. In fact, at this stage in their career I’d consider it … Continue reading
Ravi’s Tuxedo is a frustrating song. It has a ridiculous amount of potential, and in many ways feels like the strongest solo work that he has released yet. But, the entire track is undone by its constant use of unnecessary vocal effects. Full disclosure here: I’ve never been a huge fan of Ravi’s rap style. … Continue reading
One of my wishes for 2019 was to see more bright concepts from boy groups. Newly debuted VERIVERY are the first to wholeheartedly jump into that sound this year, building on 2018’s retro-leaning Super Special with the cheerful Ring Ring Ring. As the younger brother group to Jellyfish Entertainment’s VIXX, you might have expected them … Continue reading
In the battle of the end-of-year music shows, KBS’s Gayo Daechukje has always felt like the forgotten middle child. SBS boasts the bigger stage and MBC is bolstered by a longer list of performers and the added excitement of New Year’s. In contrast, KBS’s special often feels more like a typical weekly music show. Last … 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
Disclaimer: As with my write-ups on the Big Three agencies, this is written from an outsider’s perspective. I’m not privy to any business-related financial information beyond what any other fan would know. The purpose of these articles is to examine how well these agencies are serving their artists and the general k-pop fan-base. If you’re … 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. November 2018 Overall Thoughts November is always packed with comebacks, but rarely have we seen one … Continue reading
Gugudan’s unique “acts” concept has allowed them to explore a variety of styles since their debut in 2016. While this diversity can be exciting and unpredictable, it makes it difficult for the group to forge an identity of their own. Are they girl crush? Are they quirky? Are they innocent? Jellyfish Entertainment doesn’t seem to … 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 2018 Overall Thoughts September’s usually a pretty slow month, with the Chuseok holiday holding back … Continue reading
2018 has been pretty light on debuts from K-pop’s bigger agencies, making me wonder if the industry’s rapid proliferation has started to slow. This is advantageous for rookies currently seeking to prove themselves, but there are few things more exciting than a knockout debut. I’m cautiously optimistic that Jellyfish Entertainment’s new boy group VERIVERY will … Continue reading
It’s hard to believe that VIXX have been a part of the K-pop landscape for six years already. That’s senior artist territory, and they continue to lead the pack with their dynamic concepts and ever-shifting genre experimentation. With this elder statesman status comes inevitable solo work. The group’s rapper, Ravi, has already released a few … Continue reading
Before there was Gugudan, there were Sejeong, Mina and Nayoung, who made a splash during the first evaluation of Produce 101 season one. Their performance unleashed vocal firepower, but their work in Gugudan has mostly failed to show this off. However, that’s what sub-units are for. On one hand, the fact that Gugudan has spawned … Continue reading
During the years of 2013 and 2014, VIXX delivered a string of hits that, taken together, represent one of modern k-pop’s strongest imperial phases. This isn’t to say that their post-2014 material is bad (Dynamite and Chained Up would certainly argue to the contrary), but over the past two years their sound has taken a … Continue reading
Looking back on my past reviews of Gugudan’s discography, I’ve been a little hard on the group. I’ve never actively disliked one of their songs, but every time they make a comeback I feel like they’re failing to live up to their potential. The “series of theatrical acts” conceit that fuels their music is wonderfully … Continue reading
Boy group VIXX has settled into a comfortable stability, having cultivated a sizable fan base that seems pretty committed to supporting them. But there’s still room to go higher, as last month’s viral MBC Gayo performance proved. Just because a group has established themselves doesn’t mean they should stop challenging new things. Part of that … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 