Over the past month, I’ve been digging deeply into the gargantuan discography of prolific j-pop group AAA. They’re an act I’ve been wanting to get into for years now, but never found the right entry point until hearing the insanely awesome double a-side Aitai RiyÅ«Â / Dream After Dream, taken from their equally immense 2011 album Buzz … Continue reading
Since their debut in 2014, Halo have been one of k-pop’s most underrated groups. But with their new Japanese single released last month, they’ve delivered just enough singles to qualify for a top ten countdown. Just like any artist with a relatively slim catalog, when I’m talking about their ten best singles, I’m literally talking … Continue reading
Over the past few years, B1A4‘s Japanese releases have become a welcome continuation of the sound they’ve established in Korea. The group self-produces almost all of their material, and that extends to music composed for the j-pop market. This has proven to be a treasure trove for fans like me, as it means more title … Continue reading
DAY6 had an incredibly prolific 2017, releasing two songs a month that were then compiled into a pair of full-length albums. However, this demanding schedule seemed to be taking its toll by the end of the year. Their music began to lose some of its edge, transforming into a ballad-heavy brand of OST-friendly rock. The … Continue reading
Since their return in late 2016, 100% have reinvented themselves as a stately, vocally-driven group. They picked the perfect collaborators in Sweetune, who have been solely responsible for the production on their last two Korean mini albums. Their Japanese work has been more of a mixed bag, with both How To Cry and Warrior sticking … Continue reading
Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-side tracks deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of k-pop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. EXO’s new Japanese album is absolutely fantastic from start 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. January 2018 Overall Thoughts It’s a brand new year, which means all possibilities are on the … Continue reading
Super Junior is home to many solo and sub-unit projects, but none has been quite as enduring as D&E. Composed of members Donghae and Eunhyuk, the duo has crafted an impressive discography of their own and enjoyed massive success in Japan. It’s worth mentioning that I didn’t consider the brilliantly bonkers Can You Feel It … Continue reading
UP10TION are one of those under-the-radar groups that somehow become more successful than any casual k-pop fan might expect. Their comebacks never receive all that much spotlight, but the group still manages to sell boatloads of albums. This trait extends to their Japanese promotions, which have a solid track record commercially, even if few listeners … Continue reading
Sometimes it feels like Monsta X and I are on a constant seesaw. I’ll love one single, then dislike the next. To be fair, their hard-edged sound was not designed for my particular musical taste. I understand why they’ve amassed such a devoted fan base, but I think they’re at their best when they blend … Continue reading
Sweetune addicts, we have something to look forward to! In about two weeks time, new boy group Target will be debuting with a mini album produced entirely by the legendary team. And if the undiluted, this-is-what-makes-Sweetune-great pop assault of Tempest is only a b-side, I’m hoping the actual title track will be amazing. But prior to … Continue reading
Japanese releases by k-pop artists can be very hit and miss, but if any agency has managed a consistently solid j-pop catalog for their artists, it’s SM Entertainment. They’ve nurtured massive success overseas with TVXQ, Girls’ Generation and SHINee in particular, and for awhile I’ve wondered why EXO haven’t been given the same Japanese spotlight. … Continue reading
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
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 