Recently, Seventeen have established an unsteady alliance with vocal processing. It’s hard to determine whether this is HYBE’s influence or simply a progression in the members’ musical taste, but it has markedly changed the group’s sound. Judging by their past few efforts, it’s almost hard to believe this is the same group that gave us … Continue reading
H1-KEY debuted earlier this year with Athletic Girl, a song that flew under my radar at first but acquitted itself well during music show promotions. Still, it wasn’t memorable enough to offer any big expectations for the group’s comeback. Any expectations would have proven moot regardless, as new single Run drastically shifts their sound in … Continue reading
As a massive fan of K-pop’s summery tracks, I’ve been waiting for my song of summer to arrive. Usually, the month of June gives us one or two future classics, but we’ve yet to hear anything that competes with past years. So, when the highlight medley for VIVIZ’s new mini album dropped, my spirits instantly … Continue reading
With half of its members completing their military service, Winner have found the perfect window to release an album before another inevitable hiatus. When it comes to most groups, military enlistment feels like a huge upheaval of momentum and schedules. But, YG Entertainment makes its fans suffer through lengthy periods between releases anyway, so a … Continue reading
After WJSN’s victorious Queendom result, the group has made a long-awaited comeback. It’s been over a year since they delivered the high-octane dance pop of Unnatural, but they haven’t missed a step. Last Sequence builds upon that sound in blazing fashion, proving you don’t have to shout and chant to elicit big K-pop energy. WJSN … Continue reading
The other day, I was reminiscing about ENHYPEN’s October title track Tamed-Dashed. I realized I would’ve appreciated it even more if it had been released during the summer. But since K-pop boy groups are apparently limited to one sound only in 2022 (ie: shouting), we’re treated to the blustery Future Perfect (Pass The Mic) instead. … Continue reading
We’ll take a brief hiatus from the usual Sunday Open Discussion post today because my annual “Risers and Fallers” feature always spurs conversation. Every July, I like to take a look at which songs have either grown or sunk on my own playlist. With years of reviewing under my belt and a pretty solid understanding … Continue reading
Yesterday, I struck a disappointed note when rounding up this year’s strongest singles, and this albums list is going to be quite similar. 2022 has delivered some decent albums so far, but nothing close to a My Name/City Of ONF, Don’t Call Me/Atlantis, YES, Summer Queen, Gatcha or The Chaos Chapter: Freeze. In fact, I’m … Continue reading
Now that BTS are on group hiatus (or whatever HYBE wants to call it), it’s time for the members to further develop their solo pursuits. This kicks off with J-Hope, who already has several singles to his name. Ahead of his headlining performance at this year’s Lollapalooza, he’s set to release his first official album … 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 2022 Overall Thoughts I’ll be publishing my top songs of the first half of 2022 … Continue reading
It’s been years since I last wrote about a Heize track. She falls in a murky territory that’s not always covered on The Bias List: not an idol herself but often poppy enough to exist within that framework. Today, she’s out with her second full-length album, led by the funky Undo (없었던 일로). The genre … Continue reading
K-pop royalty Super Junior are returning with their eleventh full-length album (twelfth if you count 2015’s “special album” Devil). It’s set to be released in two parts, and new song Don’t Wait serves as a pre-release for the first half. New Super Junior material is always welcome, and I’m thankful for how frequently they deliver … Continue reading
Last time Sunmi graced us with a summer song at the start of the season, it came in the form of the glorious Pporappippam. That’s a high bar to match, and new single Heart Burn (열이올라요) doesn’t really try. Rather than offer another retro banger, the track takes a subdued, moody route – two descriptors … Continue reading
Rocket Punch’s Chiquita may not have enjoyed the staying power I’d hoped, but its super-powered synth remains an early-2022 highlight. It’s a sound I’d like to see the group pursue further, and new Japanese single Fiore moves them in a similar direction. It’s not as overtly-80’s in execution, but the song is at its best … Continue reading
A K-pop act’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. As brief as they may be, … Continue reading
The lines between music and advertisement have always been blurred in K-pop, making the industry’s CF track worth watching out for. In fact, I think last week’s Gatorade jingle was actually stronger than most official comebacks! The Pepsi/Starship collaboration continues with Blue & Black, bringing together Hyojung and Arin from Oh My Girl, Wonyoung and … Continue reading
Three years since his first album under the “Huta” stage name, BTOB’s Lee Minhyuk is back as a soloist with another full-length. Though I didn’t care for 2019’s Ya, the Hutazone album bore a few memorable b-sides that could have been great singles. I hope the same can be said for this new album, since … Continue reading
Every time I think OnlyOneOf are going to zig, they zag. I’m not sure how I feel about their unusual promotions, but at this point I’m just happy they’re still making music. Rather than opt for a traditional comeback this summer, each of the members will be releasing solo tracks – one each month until … Continue reading
Across their past few singles, fromis_9 have refined a light, groove-driven pop sound. The songs don’t have the personality that defined their earlier work, but they’re sturdy and insistently pleasant. From We Go to Talk & Talk to DM, the group feels established in both style and confidence. You know you’re gonna get a solid … Continue reading
It’s Sunday, which means it’s time to end the week with an open discussion post! To keep things civil, there are a few rules: Be kind and respectful to one another. Any harassing language will be deleted. This is not a place to state what you don’t like about me and/or my blog. Move elsewhere, … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 