I can’t overstate how much I adore JO1’s Born To Be Wild. I loved it from the start, but it’s grown into the kind of pop behemoth that spawns entire essays on this blog. From build to chorus to breakdown, the track is perfection and still gives me goosebumps every time it pops up on … Continue reading
It’s been fun watching Exile Tribe’s various groups find their niche. The artist collective is really diversifying its roster, tailoring different sounds to different strengths. Unsurprisingly, I’ve been enamored by Fantastics’ recent embrace of retro synth pop. They’ve been on an incredible roll of late, from High Fever to Play Back to Stop For Nothing. … Continue reading
Over the past few years, several Johnny’s groups have started recording more English-language material. This surprises me given the agency’s lack of access to English-speaking markets. Just like K-pop, I’m not sure I want these acts to be vying for international attention – especially if it means diluted the aspects that make them unique and … Continue reading
Ryuji Imaichi, from Exile Tribe’s Sandaime J Soul Brothers, has a flourishing solo career that’s largely passed me by. Depending on the song, I either love the unique tone of his voice or find it quite piercing. But when I stumbled upon the futuristic cover of his new mini album Chaos City, I knew I … Continue reading
Compared to last year, I’ve been kind of underwhelmed by 2021’s releases from Johnny’s Entertainment so far. One bright spot has been Snow Man, who are quickly becoming one of my favorite acts in the agency. That has more to do with their rag-tag, self-effacing variety appearances than their music, but January’s Grandeur has proven … Continue reading
Many K-pop idols end up branching out to Japan, but Rocket Punch feel uniquely suited for that market. Most of their title tracks have a very J-pop sound already, and Juri is a former member of Japanese group AKB48. It’s no surprise that Woollim is pushing them abroad this early, while senior groups Lovelyz and … Continue reading
Though it may not represent their definitive sound, 2019’s Wave is still my favorite ATEEZ single. It’s one of the most uplifting K-pop tracks in recent memory, with a brilliant build that saves all its vocal and instrumental fireworks for one knockout climax. New Japanese single Dreamers feels like a sonic successor, harnessing a tropical … 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. June 2021 Overall Thoughts So far, the rule of 2021 seems to be “expect the unexpected.” … Continue reading
Twice’s Japanese output has been a mixed bag, representing some of their strongest and weakest material. But, no one can argue with the group’s prolific work ethic. In addition to their nonstop Korean output, the girls will have released three full Japanese albums by the time Perfect World comes out in July. This newest album’s … Continue reading
Following the strong double punch of Don’t Call Me and Atlantis, SHINee refuse to release their grip on 2021. Prior to youngest member Taemin’s military enlistment, the guys shot a video for new Japanese single Superstar. The song itself has been available for weeks, but its promotional package is now complete. And while it may … Continue reading
Nissy has released a string of singles this year, forging a cinematic universe with a series of music videos that see him teleporting from place to place. This teleportation power seems to be fueled by angst, as there’s plenty of emotive navel-gazing to be found in the visuals. The video for new single Do Do … Continue reading
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. Yep, it’s another Produce 101 Japan … Continue reading
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
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 