Taken together, IU’s past three singles (Blueming, Eight and Into the I-LAND) form an overarching sound that comes across as quite cohesive. They’re all feel-good, sing-along pop anthems, and I honestly can’t figure out why I haven’t played them more than I have. This style is a great match for IU’s vocal, and I’ll be … Continue reading
As usual, Golden Child gets the “bias group advantage” on this site. This means not only their title track and a buried treasure will be reviewed, but I’ll be taking a look at the entire new mini album YES. 1. YES. // 2. Burn It // 3. Cool Cool // 4. Round N Round // … Continue reading
Dreamcatcher have returned with the final installment of their Dystopia trilogy. This series kicked off with panache last year as title track Scream twisted their usual rock sound into something more theatrical. In contrast, new single Odd Eye is pretty much what you’d expect to hear from Dreamcatcher’s music – composed by their usual collaborators … Continue reading
It’s been over three years since iKON’s Bobby released his first solo album. I remember being hesitant about it before listening, but dual title tracks I Love You and Runaway totally convinced me otherwise – particularly the former. They brought a versatility that we hadn’t really heard from iKON’s music to that point, and fused … Continue reading
Like Irene and Seulgi’s Naughty last summer, U-Know’s Eeny Meeny is a follow-up track, released as part of his album Noir but only unveiled digitally today. Though this promotional tactic can be frustrating for completists like myself, the opportunity for more U-Know singles can never be bad. While last week’s Thank U truly harnessed the … Continue reading
Over the past few years, Golden Child have displayed a versatility in both concept and sound. This can be a dangerous road to travel, and oftentimes results in a hodgepodge discography that feels more intent on placating trends than developing a sense of artistic continuity. Yet, Golden Child have managed to forge an identity of … 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! April … Continue reading
A K-pop group’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. I feel like I’m constantly ragging … Continue reading
A K-pop group’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. ONEUS’s Devil is a great album … Continue reading
A K-pop group’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. U-Know’s first mini album True Colors … Continue reading
I can’t quite get a grasp on Pink Fantasy, and I’m not just talking about their weird “bunny mask” schtick (which is getting creepier and creepier, by the way). Across their small discography, the girls have returned with a number of different concepts, often jarring in their contrast. I think the most successful of these … Continue reading
Thus far, I’ve found Cherry Bullet’s music to be pretty hit or miss. They don’t have a large discography, and their title tracks tend to tackle vastly different sounds, making it feel that FNC Entertainment is trying everything they can in pursuit of a hit. But, this versatility has pushed the group toward K-pop’s retro … Continue reading
Girl group Berry Good are at that fateful crux in their career, seven years after debut. It’s the time when they’ll need to decide whether to keep going as a group or let their contracts lapse. Although they haven’t yet managed to break into the K-pop big leagues, they’ve released their fair share of solid … Continue reading
Chungha’s months-long rollout of singles has nearly reached its conclusion, with an album release just around the corner. Even if the quality of these singles has been mixed at times, I’ve been very impressed with their versatility and Chungha’s development into a well-rounded artist. New single X (걸어온 길에 꽃밭 따윈 없었죠) continues to grow … Continue reading
Despite boasting incredible album sales and hailing from a proven agency, I couldn’t find the reasoning to include CRAVITY in my “top rookies of 2020” list last month. To me, their music thus far has been the definition of “generic boy group.” It’s never been objectively bad, but CRAVITY haven’t yet released anything that sounds … Continue reading
Lately, I’ve noticed a worrying boy group trend. I like to think of it as “the Road to Kingdom effect”. It’s like a K-pop pissing contest, where comeback tracks have become little more than tools to showcase elaborate, badass performances. This shouldn’t be a bad thing, right? But we’re getting to a point where these … Continue reading
I always feel guilty reviewing Epik High comebacks. I know that they’re beloved for their artistry, and there are quite a few Epik High tracks and albums that I love as well. But over the past years, their music just hasn’t been for me. At a certain level – and especially when it comes to … Continue reading
After a debut year highlighted by an addictive deep house sound, AB6IX’s music faced growing pains in 2020. And with the departure of their leader, it felt like the group was at a crossroads. This resulted in a pair of comebacks that were polar opposites of one another, leading me to question exactly what AB6IX … Continue reading
U-Know’s second mini album is themed around the movies, with a series of cinematic teasers leading up to the release of new single Thank U. Known as a passionate performer, he’s the perfect conduit for an ambitious project like this, and his old-school sense of showmanship is always welcome in the K-pop industry. Thank U … 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! March … Continue reading
