I’ve compiled a “Best of J-pop” list every year since The Bias List started, but it always came from a very narrow point of view. In 2020, one of my personal resolutions was to follow the J-pop industry more broadly and (hopefully) expand my palette in the process. So while those past lists definitely included some epic … Continue reading
I’ve compiled a “Best of J-pop” list every year since The Bias List started, but it always came from a very narrow point of view. In 2020, one of my personal resolutions was to follow the J-pop industry more broadly and (hopefully) expand my palette in the process. So while those past lists definitely included … Continue reading
Billed primarily as a winter single, King & Prince’s I Promise is the kind of sentimental pop song you could listen to year-round. After a 2020 filled with diverse sounds, the track brings them right back to the sweet style found on their blockbuster 2018 debut Cinderella Girl. It’s nothing we haven’t heard before, but … Continue reading
The rollout for Hey! Say! JUMP’s new album has been kind of fun. A few months ago, they secretly uploaded a couple of music videos on youtube under mysterious pen names. Without revealing their faces, these “new” groups established a bit of buzz, though anyone remotely familiar with Jump’s vocals instantly knew it was them. … 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 2020 Overall Thoughts November was absolutely packed with releases, and though only one title track … Continue reading
SixTONES have taken the J-pop world by storm this year, and much of that is due to their ability to subvert expectations. Yes, they still brandish the elaborate costuming that’s become a hallmark of Johnny’s Entertainment acts, but their music has pushed toward a more international direction. I’m of two minds about this. I love … Continue reading
Arashi are putting a bow on their twenty-one year recording career, with what is assumed to be their final studio album This Is Arashi. It’s an odd hodgepodge of songs, including some of the group’s recent English work and even a Christmas track. So rather than feel like a cohesive project, the album plays more … Continue reading
It’s no secret how much I adored Sexy Zone’s Run. That song felt like the climax to years of musical growth for the group. And immediately after its release, fans were treated to the announcement of member So Matsushima rejoining the group after a nearly two year hiatus. New single Not Found finds Sexy Zone … 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. October 2020 Overall Thoughts After a fantastic September, October was another strong month. And, it was … Continue reading
Alongside Kissin’ My Lips, Snow Man’s new double a-side single includes Stories, which acts as the opening theme for anime Black Clover. Johnny’s Entertainment has a long history with anime, as does pretty much all of J-pop. Before even listening to Stories, you probably have a sense for how it might sound. And, you’d be … Continue reading
Snow Man debuted alongside SixTONES this January, ushering in a new era of Johnny’s talent. Both groups have gone on to enjoy incredible commercial success, proving that it’s time for the agency to open the floodgates and debut a few more of their promising junior acts (I’m personally waiting for HiHi Jets…). After a relatively … Continue reading
It’s been awhile! As I’ve started covering more J-pop singles on the blog, there haven’t been as many tracks to feature in a J-pop round-up. But, one of the purposes of this feature is to unearth buried treasures. The seven songs below are a mix of singles and b-sides that have caught my attention over … 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 2020 Overall Thoughts Back in late winter, my reviews were often besieged with comments stating … Continue reading
For me, A.B.C-Z have always seemed to exist on the periphery of the Johnny’s Entertainment roster, which is pretty ridiculous considering how integral they’ve been to the agency’s various pursuits. From stage plays to Shounen Club, the members are certainly not unknown. But, a lack of English subtitling and a comparatively small fan base makes … Continue reading
If I’m being honest, I’ve not been a fan of the English-language reworkings (or English-language originals) released by Arashi over the past few months. I appreciate their goal of global outreach during this final lap of their career, but after building decades of goodwill across hundreds of J-pop tracks, it feels odd to cap it … Continue reading
I’ve always found it odd when acts release summer singles in September. Maybe it’s due to my occupation and schedule, but for me it feels like summer ends promptly at the end of August, blunting the effect of any new seasonal song. But Kis-My-Ft2 has been a longtime favorite of mine, and their music tends … Continue reading
King & Prince’s singles run has pin-balled between extremes, from the fluffy cutesiness of songs like Cinderella Girl and Koi-Wazurai to the edgier Mazy Night and Naughty Girl. This is largely in response to the needs of the drama projects these songs are tied into, but this “grab bag” sense of concepts tends to be … 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. August 2020 Overall Thoughts At the beginning of the year, one of my wishes for 2020 … Continue reading
Don’t be put off by Sexy Zone’s cringy name. It’s basically become a self-parody by now, anyway. Their music holds a unique place within the Johnny’s Entertainment pantheon, going through dramatic shifts in sound. They took a few years to find their footing (if I ever have to hear Lady Diamond again, it’ll be too … Continue reading
Longtime readers of The Bias List will know how stingy I am when it comes to rating songs nine and above. But, there’s plenty of music that qualifies. In fact, I’ve got a playlist of over 600 of them sitting in my iTunes. The vast majority of these are singles or title tracks, but there … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 