Fresh off her stint with Refund Sisters, K-pop legend Uhm Jung Hwa has returned. And, she’s brought ‘sister’ Hwasa along for the ride. These two divas pair with rapper DPR Live for the retro-leaning Hop In (호피무늬). Last time Jung Hwa released a solo music video was all the way back in December of 2017, … Continue reading
I’m the type who likes to listen to every major K-pop album at least once. Maybe that’s a bit obsessive, but it guarantees that no buried treasures slip through my fingers. And although much emphasis is put on title tracks, more and more the best K-pop songs are relegated to b-sides. This countdown encompasses any … Continue reading
More often than not, December is a month where idols release their cozy, downtempo tracks that are perfect for fireside listening. My music taste is about as far away from this as you can imagine, but I suppose if I were to listen to this coffeehouse style, it would be during this time of year. … Continue reading
Compared to last year’s dynamite collection of albums, 2020 didn’t quite live up. But, that doesn’t mean there weren’t a few highlights. As usual, mini albums were generally stronger than fulls, which makes sense given how hard it is to retain a high quality across a dozen or more tracks. Like last year, my top … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! 4 Walls (from 4 Walls – 2015) I often wonder how I would have responded to 4 Walls had it been released before SHINee’s View. This song was originally meant for the guys, but it fits f(x) like a glove. Yet, I’m … Continue reading
As is typical with Big Hit-related groups, rookies ENHYPEN are following up their title track Given-Taken with a music video for another song from their album. If it were me, I would have chosen to promote 10 Months, but I’m clearly not in charge here. Instead, the video for the mysteriously-titled Let Me In (20 … Continue reading
A day after ranking my favorite rookies of 2020, it’s time to look at K-pop’s more established artists. This year, the criteria is the same as it’s always been: Quality of work Quantity of work Influence of work on the industry As usual, the first criteria far outweighs the next two, and is entirely subjective. … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! 12:25 (Wish List) (from Winter Garden – 2015) Unlike yesterday’s look at an f(x) holiday track, this write-up will be more favorable. 12.25 happens to be firmly ensconced on my own holiday playlist. I love its off-kilter sound, leveraging the infinite power … Continue reading
After a glut of high-profile rookies in 2019, this year felt more subdued. There were still tons of new acts, and many of them made it onto my “Top 50 Songs” countdown. But, most hailed from smaller agencies with less promotional power. Making a rookies list is a combination of looking back and looking forward. … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! 1, 2, 3 (from SMTOWN Winter ‘The Warmest Gift’ – 2011) Released as part of the special winter compilation albums SM Entertainment used to release, 1,2,3 is undeniably cheesy. It feels as if it was ripped from some imaginary Disney movie, down … Continue reading
A couple weeks after the MAMA Awards showed the potential of an audience-less, pre-recorded stage show, KBS went far less ambitious. Now, it could be argued whether this broadcast should have happened at all given K-pop’s surging Covid cases, but the producers opted to cobble together what they could. I’m curious why this year’s Gayo … Continue reading
The end of the year countdowns are finally here! As always, we’ll kick off with the big one: The Bias List’s top 50 songs of the year! Each day this week, I’ll be counting down ten of the year’s best, until number one is revealed on Friday. To be eligible for this top 50 list, songs … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Zig Zag (from Electric Shock – 2012) Zig Zag is a percussive beast, throwing all its weight behind the robust set of rhythmic elements that make up most of its instrumental. Even the swoops of distorted synth have a percussive drive. And … Continue reading
Okay, the first thing that pops into my head when I see the title of this song is the classic Michael Jackson/Siedah Garrett ballad, which sets the bar pretty darn high. I have no reason to expect something similar, since pop music has moved on to a different palette of sounds in the past 30+ … Continue reading
The end of the year countdowns are finally here! As always, we’ll kick off with the big one: The Bias List’s top 50 songs of the year! Each day this week, I’ll be counting down ten of the year’s best, until number one is revealed on Friday. To be eligible for this top 50 list, songs … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! You Are My Destiny (Luna & Krystal) (from Chu – 2009) Previewing the sentimental style they’d bring to many OST releases, You Are My Destiny is a standard K-ballad performed by two powerhouse vocalists. In that regard, it’s an enjoyable showcase for … Continue reading
The end of the year countdowns are finally here! As always, we’ll kick off with the big one: The Bias List’s top 50 songs of the year! Each day this week, I’ll be counting down ten of the year’s best, until number one is revealed on Friday. To be eligible for this top 50 list, songs … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! X (from 4 Walls – 2015) Continuing the retro grooves that fuel most of the 4 Walls album, X brings us back to 80’s electro-funk in great style. The gurgling instrumental is immensely appealing, and offers a playground for the girls to … Continue reading
Though Taeyeon is still an idol performer by definition, her music has slowly transitioned to sounds I would expect from independent artists. While this has garnered her credibility in many circles, it’s not the type of thing I tend to gravitate to. It’s been over a year since a new Taeyeon release has really sparked … Continue reading
The end of the year countdowns are finally here! As always, we’ll kick off with the big one: The Bias List’s top 50 songs of the year! Each day this week, I’ll be counting down ten of the year’s best, until number one is revealed on Friday. To be eligible for this top 50 list, songs … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 