For me, Weki Meki’s discography has been extremely hit or miss. For every Tiki Taka or Picky Picky, there’s a Dazzle Dazzle. Apparently, they love repetitive titles, as well! “Oopsy” might as well be a thinly veiled apology for some of their more regrettable material. In reality, it’s the title of their newest single, and … Continue reading
Boy group D1CE have been saddled with a horrible fate for any newly debuted rookie: the long hiatus. We haven’t heard from them since last July, sacrificing almost a year of unfilled potential. It’s hard enough to build momentum when you’re from a smaller agency, but lack of activity makes for an even trickier situation. … Continue reading
I nearly selected CRAVITY’s Cloud 9 as a “buried treasure” back when it was first released in April. I’m glad I didn’t, because now it’s been chosen as a summer follow-up single. And while the track isn’t anything revolutionary, its bright, upbeat sound is a welcome salve for all of the edgy, moody boy group … Continue reading
When it comes to sound and style, Nature have been on a roller coaster. As an under-the-radar rookie, they’re making a lot of the right moves, even if it doesn’t always result in the right songs. What I mean by this is that they’re taking chances. Whatever you might think of them, title tracks like … Continue reading
I always get a little nervous when it’s time for another Stray Kids comeback. I adore so much of their material, but their hard-hitting hip-hop sound can also be pretty hit-or-miss when it comes to my personal taste. I tend to enjoy their songs best when they incorporate an additional instrumental element, from psy-trance to … Continue reading
When we last met rookies AWEEK, they were thrilling us with the brisk dance track Breathe. Though I haven’t returned to that song as much as I would have thought, it still stands as one of 2019’s more refreshing efforts. New single 1.4.3 (Henry says hi!) opts for a brighter sound, delivering the kind of … Continue reading
After an uncertain 2019, IZ*ONE are back on track with the release of their second album this year. Though they’ve flirted with several different production teams, their sound has remained in the same general ballpark. For me, though, they’ve yet to replicate the taut momentum of Violeta. February’s Fiesta had its moments, but was a … Continue reading
I’ve not been shy when it comes to criticizing many aspects of Mnet’s Road to Kingdom, but I’ll be forever in its debt for gifting us ONF’s incredible remix of Rain’s classic mid-00’s track It’s Raining. This particular mix arrives at the perfect time. Its various pieces and approaches perfectly illustrate where I wish the … Continue reading
Since the start of The Bias List in January 2016, I’ve always looked back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists each month. Now, it’s time to look even further into the past, one month at a time. And, yes, the top three rankings count toward The Bias List’s personal artist scorecard! June … Continue reading
After the post about my most-played K-Pop and J-Pop artists last weekend, a few of you have requested to see some most-played songs lists as well. I’m certainly not one to disappoint! Before unveiling these, I want to briefly write about how I listen to music. I’m the kind of person who listens to A … Continue reading
I’ve spent the past few weeks poring over the performances of Road to Kingdom’s competing groups. But to be honest, I’ve always been much more infatuated with music – the actual songs – than all the trappings that go along with them. That’s why, even though ONF didn’t rank at the top for me this … Continue reading
Warning: This recap is not spoiler-free. Proceed at your own risk! Past Recaps: Episode Two / Episode Three / Episode Four / Episode Five / Episode Six This episode opened with Pentagon’s Hui recounting advice he heard from an elder — that you can tell if an idol group will be successful or not within … Continue reading
Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, 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. I think that Cosmic Girls’ Neverland is my favorite girl group … Continue reading
It’s hard to believe there was a time when Brown Eyed Girls were gifting K-pop with mainstream blockbusters like Abracadabra and ambitious opuses like Sixth Sense. The group – and its members – has since moved on to more niche material, including a genre-hopping covers album late last year. Solo releases have been infrequent, and … Continue reading
With Starry Night, Momoland has released one of those K-pop “special albums.” This always makes me crack up because “special” should mean something exciting. In the case of idol releases, it just means: “we ain’t promoting this.” That’s too bad, because although Starry Night is a mediocre pop song, it offers a refreshing departure from … Continue reading
Apart from the behind-the-scenes teasers unveiled throughout the week, I’m not sure if the release of My My was officially announced. But, its pre-comeback music video certainly took me surprise. It’s about time that K-pop delivered a welcome surprise, and I’m always up for a good pre-release. At least, I’m assuming that’s what this is? … Continue reading
DIA are back with their annual comeback, but this time they’re down two members. Apparently, this release operated on a volunteer basis, where willing participants chose to join promotions, and other members (Chaeyeon and Somyi) opted out. It’s a novel approach, and I’m all for artists have more control over their own career. But, this … Continue reading
Leading up to the release of her long-fabled full album, Chungha has catered to various markets. We had the energetic Stay Tonight for the dance clubs, the dull My Friend for the coffee shops, and now the upbeat Be Yourself for the… Sprite drinkers. Yes, this song is not only part of MNH’s ongoing New.wav … Continue reading
Despite its many units and incarnations, the NCT universe has remained pretty consistent in sound. This extends to its Chinese vanguard, known as WayV. Their burgeoning discography has been a sampler platter of SM Entertainment influences, tied together by an injection of distorted guitar and tight, layered vocals. New single Turn Back Time (超时空 回) … Continue reading
So far, 2020 has been pretty forgettable when it comes to new debuts. Most of the higher-profile ones have underwhelmed to some degree, and there have been a lot of solid-but-unspectacular, under-the-radar rookies who opt for trendiness rather than innovation. But, every once and awhile we get a CRAXY – with a song so bonkers … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 