It’s a K-pop tale as old as 2016: group forms through (usually controversial) survival show, group sells a boatload of albums in preorders, group releases a song that fans complain about but stream anyway. Of course, there are exceptions, but it feels like these cobbled-together, made-for-TV acts take awhile to find their bearings. The newly-debuted … Continue reading
K-pop’s title tracks might gain most of listeners’ attention, but many album tracks are worth equal spotlight. I call these “buried treasures.” Beyond this, K-pop’s albums deliver thousands of additional tracks that settle for a more limited audience. It’s these songs that will become a part of my “battle of the b-sides” feature. In this … Continue reading
It’s the new year!! 2021 was a real mixed bag, but I’m optimistic about 2022. For my first post of the year, it’s time to look at some humble wishes for the K-pop industry. I apologize if this comes across as more of a rant than a celebration, but you know how I can be. … Continue reading
We’re down to the wire now with K-pop’s final year-end festival. MBC’s show is usually my favorite. It feels the most festive, bridging the gap between New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. It also tends to have the most robust artist line-up. Like every festival of the past two years, this one revolved around … 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. December 2021 Overall Thoughts After spending the past few weeks counting down everything under the sun … Continue reading
In a Bias List tradition, it’s time to look back at last year’s K-pop Resolutions and see how well my wishes fared. Tomorrow, I’ll kick off the new year with a list of ten new hopes for 2022. I have a notoriously bad track record when it comes to these wishes coming true, but it … Continue reading
Okay, I’ve had my fun (?) with these Universe releases and their half-mvs. Universe has actually gotten better at uploading the full videos to YouTube (whether we want them or not!), but it’s hard to get excited about a K-pop product that feels like a total afterthought. With that in mind, I’m going to let … Continue reading
I didn’t plan on making this post, but as I wrapped up the last of my K-pop specific countdowns for this year, I realized it would be fun to compile them together and see which overall comebacks came out on top. After all, a K-pop comeback is more than just the title song. So, I … Continue reading
You simply can’t have a great K-pop comeback without eye-catching choreography. With each passing year, it’s become more vital to the industry. Dance routines are excellent for a variety of reasons, ranging from intricate “how did they do that?!?” moments to simple point moves that become trendy touchstones. This list covers both of these extremes … Continue reading
Ahead of a new 2022 project, BamBam is closing out 2021 with pre-release single Who Are You. The song has already garnered attention thanks to a guest feature from Red Velvet’s Seulgi, but it deserves praise on its own merits as well. After a solo debut that felt a little throwaway, Who Are You takes … Continue reading
While I don’t incorporate a song’s video into the reviews on this blog, I’m definitely not immune to a striking visual. Music videos are a vital part of the industry, and it’s time to celebrate my favorites of 2021. 2021 YEAR-END MASTERPOST Honorable Mentions: ONEWE – Rain To Be U-Know – Thank U Kingdom – … Continue reading
This is one of those “unique to The Bias List” countdowns, since most end-of-year lists focus on the artists and not the behind-the-scenes talent. But, I’ve always been a sucker for a great songwriter. Few K-pop acts stick with the same producers for long, making it even more important to find your favorite composers and … Continue reading
After the borefest that was KBS’s Song Festival, I wasn’t really in the mood to see what SBS had to offer. But, the cheesy-fun introductory stage, where all the artists joined together to sing Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You, turned my frown upside down. We haven’t gotten many chances to see … Continue reading
Imagine a big bushy Christmas tree — or replace that with whatever decoration or tradition matches your wintertime festivities. Underneath are packages galore, each containing a winter-themed K-pop track. Some have been unwrapped early (Stray Kids’ Christmas EveL, Billlie’s Snowy Night, ONEUS/ONEWE’s Stay) but there are still plenty to go. After furiously opening each gift, … Continue reading
With the full YouTube release of every Universe MV a few weeks ago, I thought maybe the app had turned a corner. Unfortunately, Oh My Girl’s Shark brings us right back to where we started, with official “previews” on YouTube alongside an invitation to download Universe for the full experience. I guess this means my … Continue reading
Each year, it feels like my B-Sides and Album Tracks list grows stronger and stronger. Too often, K-pop agencies miss the boat on releasing these incredible songs as title tracks. 2021 was no different, revealing a host of gems that would have topped my Singles list had they been promoted. Instead, I’ve got two days … Continue reading
Each year, it feels like my B-Sides and Album Tracks list grows stronger and stronger. Too often, K-pop agencies miss the boat on releasing these incredible songs as title tracks. 2021 was no different, revealing a host of gems that would have topped my Singles list had they been promoted. Instead, I’ve got two days … Continue reading
“Brother” groups ONEUS and ONEWE have a history of collaborations, from a pre-debut single to a fun variety show. They also share real (twin) brothers. I’ve long hoped for another collaboration – perhaps a full album? In my mind, they need to unite their specific skills and release a full-on idol dance track backed by … Continue reading
Compared to his SHINee bandmates, Minho’s solo career has always gotten short shrift. Fans have made do with a digital single here and there, rather than the mini and full albums that carved out niches for Taemin and Key. Because of this, I’m not totally sure how a full Minho comeback would sound. Would he … Continue reading
2021 offered quite a few strong albums, enough for both of my categories to include numerous honorable mentions. Full albums were especially great this year — a trend I hope to see continue in 2022. Like usual, my top ten list is cut in half, presenting the top five mini albums and the top five … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 