Over the past few years, the Korean wave has seemed to slow in Japan. That’s begun to change as some of k-pop’s biggest acts make an overseas push. Twice is certainly leading the pack, enjoying instant success with October’s One More Time. And that’s really no surprise. Both their sound and image are perfectly positioned … Continue reading
As often happens this time of year, I’ve been poking around East Asian music from outside the k-pop industry. With new releases slowing to a trickle throughout December, it was as good a time as any to check in with Japan. And one of the most reliable providers of quality j-pop over the past few … Continue reading
Having released over seventy (!) singles, there aren’t many genres that BoA hasn’t tackled. But the electroswing of Jazzclub is definitely a new one. The single comes from her upcoming Japanese album, which will be her first full-length in any country since 2015. I can’t imagine that the entire thing will sound as distinctive as … Continue reading
Though the Bias List focuses almost exclusively on k-pop, many Korean artists make a foray into Japan as well. Those releases deserve their own countdown, paired with a number of their Japanese counterparts. Huge disclaimer with this countdown. I am a k-pop blogger, first and foremost. My j-pop exposure is limited, and tends to be … Continue reading
Hundreds (if not thousands) of songs are released each year in Korea, but only a fraction receive full title track promotion. This leaves behind many buried treasures in need of a spotlight. Here are forty of 2017’s best: NUMBERS 40-21 HERE + Make sure to check out the rest of the year-end countdowns here! 20. LOONA … Continue reading
Hundreds (if not thousands) of songs are released each year in Korea, but only a fraction receive full title track promotion. This leaves behind many buried treasures in need of a spotlight. Here are forty of 2017’s best: + Make sure to check out the rest of the year-end countdowns here! 40. TWICE – 24/7 A … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! 24 Hours (from For You – 2015) Coming off Dilemma’s hard rock stomp, 24 Hours reverted to a much more standard j-pop sound for their second original Japanese single. The song is overlong by about a minute, but it’s refreshing to hear Infinite … Continue reading
Currently, Snuper have become more popular in Japan than their native Korea. And while I’m happy for their success, this presents a problem when it comes to their music. While their Sweetune-produced k-pop material has been consistently fantastic, their j-pop sound feels worlds away. I’ve never really liked it when a group pursues such different … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Waiting For The Moment (from Air – 2017) Though I’m sure it was not designed as such, Waiting For The Moment has become Infinite’s swan song as a seven-member group. As such, its sound and message are fitting. The group hasn’t recorded all … Continue reading
There are few k-pop comebacks that feel quite as exciting as the forthcoming return of legends TVXQ. And while we still have a bit longer to wait for the duo’s upcoming Korean album, they’re already active again in Japan. As miffed as I may be that they’re promoting in a foreign country first after their … Continue reading
Now that three of its most popular members have completed their mandatory military service, Super Junior is wasting no time re-establishing themselves in multiple markets. This includes new material from sub-unit D&E, consisting of members Donghae and Eunhyuk. This duo has been a reliable source of upbeat, party-starting music in the past — most notably … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Toki (from Air – 2017) As one of only three new tracks released in 2017, the Japanese Toki more strongly represents current tastes in j-pop than Infinite’s own music. The funk-driven instrumental pulses with addictive energy, but the melody never quite finds a … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Love Of My Life (from For You – 2015) Infinite’s original Japanese work has often been a testing ground for new sounds, and Love Of My Life points toward a very promising direction. The guys go full lighters-in-the-air power ballad here, complete with … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with Infinite’s A-Z reviews here! Just Another Lonely Night (from 24 Hours/For You – 2015) Infinite’s original Japanese material has been hit and miss, with some of their b-sides eclipsing the actual singles. That’s the case with Just Another Lonely Night, which opens with an addictive vocal … Continue reading
As GOT7’s Korean output has continued to evolve, their Japanese releases have tended to stick to a similar pattern. For better or worse, they’ve developed a swag-driven j-pop persona that favors attitude and bluster over melody. This has resulted in a guilty pleasure or two, but never a song that can rival their best work. … Continue reading
Twice have always seemed perfectly suited to the Japanese market. Their sugary blend of chirpy vocals and catchphrase-ready hooks echoes much of what has made j-pop successful, and it’s no surprise that they’ve already seen success with re-recordings of hits like Signal and TT. But with One More Time, the girls have gone full tilt … Continue reading
MYNAME is one of those k-pop groups who have become far more popular in Japan than Korea. Their j-pop material has generally become more interesting as well, pulling strongly from dance and club music with a focus on big, sweeping choruses. But being Korean idols, mandatory military conscription is inevitable, and member Insoo is preparing … 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 2017 Overall Thoughts July is always the month I look most forward to when it comes … Continue reading
Offbeat j-pop group Bullet Train have really been pushing the boundaries with their more recent material, forging a path toward an everything-goes pop style that feels more divisive than much of their past work. New single My Buddy (mostly) dials down on the instrumental hyperactivity, painting a bright melody that fully embraces its own cheesiness. … Continue reading
Apink have been pretty prolific lately, routinely bouncing between Korean and Japanese comebacks. While I’m afraid this heavy work ethic has taken a toll on the general quality of their music, it’s nice to see a veteran group that still seems hungry for success. Their latest Korean song has grown on me, though there’s no … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 