A K-pop group’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. 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. I’ve been watching season two of … 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. May 2021 Overall Thoughts 2021’s momentum stalled a bit this month. But, it wasn’t for a … Continue reading
I’m breaking my own rules and writing a review for a song that was released well over a month ago. I kept thinking Meguru Meguru (巡る巡る) would get an actual music video and I’d be able to feature it on the blog at that point. But, we’re stuck with a region-blocked lyric video for now, … Continue reading
It’s a good time to be a fan of Fantastics. We finally got a music video for their excellent single Stop For Nothing, along with a new b-side or two. And days earlier, the video for their entry in Jr.Exile’s Battle Of Tokuyo project was unveiled. Now, if they’d only throw us international fans a … Continue reading
It’s amazing how thoroughly this bass-driven funk sound has infiltrated K-pop and J-pop over the past few months. I’m certainly not complaining. It’s always been a favorite style of mine. And though nobody is approaching Prince-level funk workouts, the added injection of rhythm is a welcome turn for these pop-heavy tracks. Funk is nothing new … Continue reading
Johnny’s Entertainment has been oddly quiet this spring, and its few releases have felt pretty underwhelming. I’m shocked that we haven’t yet gotten a full album announcement from Snow Man, and we’re just now learning what Kis-My-Ft2 will be up to for their big tenth anniversary. Thankfully, there are a couple of single releases to … Continue reading
Over the years, perfectly-scored, 10/10 songs have developed a sort of mythical status on The Bias List. I didn’t intend for this to be the case, but my hesitance to give full marks on release day has resulted in the concept of a “legendary song.” Last year, I inaugurated a handful of songs into this … Continue reading
Exile Tribe’s Battle of Tokyo series continues with its second installment. This mix of animation and live-action has been quite cool so far, and I’m eager to see the rest of the series. Call of Justice finds personal favorite The Rampage joining the fray, bolstered by their familiar rock-meets-rap style. It’s an exciting jolt of … 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
When it comes to J-pop, I prefer to wait until music videos have been released before writing about the song. There’s an mv on the horizon for Fantastics’ Stop For Nothing, but it’s unclear when it will materialize. And, the song is too awesome to delay. Teasers have become such a big part of modern … Continue reading
Just over two months since his last single, Nissy is back with Say Yes. And with a music video that carries on the story of February’s Get You Back, he seems to be crafting a connected universe of songs. I wouldn’t be surprised if we heard from him again two months from now. This regularity … Continue reading
Monsta X have been building up to the release of their latest Japanese album, and recently unveiled its title track Flavors of Love. The song catches them in a lighter-than-normal moment, abandoning heavy production and stomping percussion for a laidback groove that shines focus on their vocals. This is a gratifying turn. The group has … Continue reading
Twice albums have become so omnipresent that even a normal hiatus feels endless. It’s only been a few months since the group made their return with Better, but it seems as if they’ve been gone for years. Apparently, we can look forward to a new Korean comeback in June. Until then, we have the Japanese … Continue reading
Exile Tribe’s 2019 Battle of Tokyo was one of the coolest, most ambitious J-pop projects in recent years. The collective’s four “junior” groups battled it out over a series of song collaborations, released subsequently throughout a single week in June. These were tied to big budget music videos that combined to create a (sometimes incoherent) … Continue reading
Seventeen have been consistent with their J-pop releases, crafting original material in addition to re-recording existing songs in Japanese. And rather than outsource the creative process, new single Not Alone (ひとりじゃない) is again composed by Woozi and Bumzu. Even so, this doesn’t come across as a leftover K-pop track pitched to the Japanese market. There’s … Continue reading
CIX’s Cinema has been a slow burn hit for me. I liked it when it first came out, but the song has had unexpected staying power on my playlist. So, I was excited to see the guys continue this lighter sound for their next Japanese release. All For You is an upbeat burst of brass-kissed … Continue reading
Whenever Exile drops a new single, it feels like we’ve reached the final boss level. With more focus on the various Jr. Exile groups, their releases are less frequent than in years past. But, Exile is still the pillar of the whole enterprise, pulling in performers from various units to create a powerhouse squad. To … Continue reading
Double a-side singles are common in Japan. Similar to Korea’s double title tracks, they offer a chance for J-pop acts to quickly grow their singles discography. NiziU have immediately followed Take A Picture with its coupling song, Poppin’ Shakin’. It’s becoming increasingly clear that the group’s hyper pop style is rarely going to be for … Continue reading
Taking BTS’s success out of the equation, it’s fascinating to trace how much their music has changed since their 2013 debut. As happens with many world-conquering pop groups, their sound expanded beyond a niche market, becoming more palatable to a wider audience. This has its upsides and downsides, but in general I think BTS have … 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 2021 Overall Thoughts I’ve heard whispers around social media lamenting that 2021 has been a … Continue reading
