I’ve always appreciated Woollim Entertainment’s ability to curate music that stays true to its artists’ personas. While so many others rush to jump on whatever’s popular at the moment, a group like Lovelyz slowly but surely crafts a cohesive discography that feels like an intentional body of work rather than a ‘try everything and see … Continue reading
JYP Entertainment has been on such a roll lately. Their all-killer, no-filler 2019 singles run has been strong enough that they even had me excited for new GOT7 music. If you’ve been reading The Bias List long enough, you’ll know that GOT7 have often become the punching bags for my trend-related complaints over the past … 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 was thinking about it the other day, and realized that … Continue reading
Last year, my favorite Seventeen song wasn’t a Korean title track at all. It was their first original Japanese single, Call Call Call, which harnessed the guitar-fueled dance pop sound that I love most from the group. Because of this, anticipation was high for new J-pop track Happy Ending. It’s been exactly a year since … Continue reading
A.C.E spent much of their 2018 on hiatus in Korea, touring the world with only a handful of songs to their name. I was lucky enough to see them twice last year, but as much as I love the guys, I have to admit there are only so many times you can hear the same … Continue reading
I wasn’t too kind with BVNDIT’s debut single Hocus Pocus, but it wasn’t because it was an objectively bad song. It just felt devoid of any unique point — like musical wallpaper that blended with every other like-minded, tropical-pop offering of the past few years. Luckily, BVNDIT have made a very quick turnaround with their … Continue reading
Since their return in 2016, Ladies’ Code have pursued a more muted, moodier pop sound. It’s been years since we’ve had a proper comeback from the girls, which makes it hard to predict where they’re at now when it comes to genre. Sure, leader Ashley delivered the under-cooked tropical pop of Here We Are last … Continue reading
When Winner first debuted in 2014, they seemed poised to become YG Entertainment’s answer to K-pop’s more “grown up” side – not exclusively ballad-centered, but not striving to compete with teenage hip-hop either. A lot has changed since then, and ever since 2017’s mega-hit Really Really it seems like the group has been stuck in … Continue reading
Though the girls have more or less denied it, there’s a chance that Me & You may be EXID’s final Korean title track — at least in the group’s current incarnation. This speculation comes after members Hani and Jeonghwa chose not to renew their contracts with Banana Culture Entertainment. Cross-agency reunions are not unheard of … Continue reading
Years after its debut, my favorite NCT-related track is still Without You. I get that hip-hop is much trendier and globally popular, but I will always be a proponent of big pop melodies and powerful vocalists. This style used to be a stalwart of SM Entertainment, but now that the NCT brand seems to be … Continue reading
Though most Weki Meki singles have ended up growing on me, they tend to have a knockoff quality that makes them feel like lesser versions of other girl group material. Almost two years in, I’ve yet to understand what kind of sound Weki Meki is meant to have. Many describe their title tracks as “messy,” … 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. In addition to crafting a very strong singles run, Oh My … Continue reading
RBW’s ambitious double debut of ONEUS and ONEWE has finally come to fruition! ONEWE had to wait a few months longer (and already seem to be getting less promotion), but technically they’ve already “debuted” twice — first as M.A.S 0094 in 2015, and then as MAS in 2017. They say the third time’s the charm, … Continue reading
Since their debut in 2015, WM Entertainment’s Oh My Girl have solidified a unique place within the K-pop industry. Blending ethereal soundscapes with quirky songwriting, the girls have a style all to themselves. Barring an oddly conceived sub-unit, they’ve also developed a near-flawless discography. Here are all of their singles, ranked up to the very … Continue reading
Taeyeon made her solo Japanese debut last year with the pretty — but extremely safe — Stay. That song jettisoned the funky backbone of Korean single Something New for straightforward, feel-good balladry. Judging from new single Voice, this middle-of-the-road pop style seems to be her go-to J-pop sound. There’s nothing wrong with a little adult … Continue reading
Lim Jimin made waves as part of musical competition The Fan, nearly making it to the final. Along with ITZY’s Yeji (who also competed), it was a foregone conclusion that he’d eventually be part of an idol group once the show was finished. I anticipate that his agency will take their time cobbling together their … Continue reading
When all is said and done, it’s starting to feel like 2019 will be known as the year of debuts and military enlistments. The number of high-profile enlistments that have occurred over the past few months has been staggering, as K-pop’s much-loved second generation of male groups take various forms of hiatus. There’s a new … Continue reading
Each time I write about an Eric Nam track, the first word that comes to my mind is “amiable.” It’s the perfect descriptor for his crisp pop sound. His music is inherently enjoyable — sometimes smooth, sometimes jubilant, but never demanding. It’s the K-pop equivalent of easy listening, and that doesn’t have to be a … Continue reading
There’s a certain ilk of K-pop girl groups who pursue a lush, fantasy-like sound and concept. Lovelyz and Cosmic Girls often fall within this style, but Oh My Girl are the undisputed champs of the fairy tale motif. They’re at their best when marrying this aesthetic to avant garde songwriting that pushes at the edges … Continue reading
Momoland have been in an odd state of flux lately. They made their last comeback with only seven of nine members, and that configuration seems to be sticking for new digital single Love Is Only You (사랑은 너 하나). Instead of returning as a full group, the girls have paired with Vietnamese singer Erik for … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 