Sunmi releases new music so infrequently that even an under-the-radar duet like Lights Out (불이꺼지고) fills me with excitement. The song pairs her with popular rapper BE’O, whose performance here is halfway between a rap and croon. That fits the vibe of the track, which is smooth and unbothered by any need to deliver more … Continue reading
One benefit of shortening many song reviews is that I’m more likely to cover tracks I’d normally pass by. I didn’t follow MLD’s Dream Maker Project that formed boy group HORI7ON, but I’m always up for a new voice in K-pop. Unfortunately, there’s nothing new to see (or hear) here. Dash’s verses are by-the-numbers boy … Continue reading
Though I’ve found their Japanese work hit or miss, I appreciate that ATEEZ have stuck with their core production team regardless of which music market they’re targeting. Whatever I may think of their discography on a song-by-song level, it’s very consistent. Limitless switches things up by changing composers, though members Hongjoong and Mingi retain writing … Continue reading
I wrote about Bobby’s Cherry Blossom just yesterday, and now he’s back already with the title track of his just-released solo single. Drowning pairs him with vocalist Sole and ups the energy considerably. I didn’t expect to hear this style of city pop beat from him, but I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised given … Continue reading
To me, sub-unit projects are the perfect opportunity to make a big swerve and tackle a sound we can’t get in the main group. I feel like Chico Malo (나쁜놈) could’ve easily been a Mamamoo track, which is fine except I haven’t enjoyed most recent Mamamoo tracks. Melding traditional Korean elements with trap beats is … Continue reading
After much consideration, I’ve decided to change my approach to song reviews for the first time in Bias List history. From the outset of the blog, I settled on 250 words being the perfect length for a review. Three paragraphs felt not too short and not too long, and I’ve generally kept to that target … Continue reading
I remember being pleasantly surprised when Kim Jaehwan made his solo debut – not because of the by-the-numbers ballad he promoted but because of the breadth of styles he attempted on the b-sides. Since then, I’ve found him to be a compelling voice performing material that feels too middle-of-the-road and safe. That trend continues with … Continue reading
Late last year, Bobby and the other members of iKON left YG Entertainment to join a new agency. It was a smart move if they want to release new music with any regularity. Ahead of a teased group album this spring, Bobby has returned with his first solo work since 2021’s U Mad. When it … Continue reading
It’s been a week and I’m still recovering from the nursery rhyme assault that was NMIXX’s Young, Dumb, Stupid. Thankfully, it was only a pre-release and new single Love Me Like This will be receiving the bulk of their promotion. At this point, I’m not sure NMIXX’s music will ever be for me, but this … Continue reading
I wasn’t going to recap Boys Planet (and technically, I’m still not doing it), but I’m watching the series and thought others might appreciate a spot to discuss it. So, each week I plan on dumping a few of my random thoughts about the show. Again, this will not be a full, detailed recap. But, … Continue reading
The era of BTS solos continues with Jimin taking the baton as the next member to make his debut. He’s got a pretty good track record of his own, with 2016’s Lie a particular standout. His first mini album is scheduled for release later this month, but he’s dropped pre-release track Set Me Free Pt.2 to … Continue reading
It’s no secret what a huge fan of Golden Child I am. Their music regularly features in my top ten picks of the year and I’ve been championing their excellent discography since its debut. So, I’m not sure what it means when I say that Y’s If I Were The Wind (바람이라면) does little for … Continue reading
I’m a Woollim mega-fan, but I’ve been deliberately silent about the agency’s upcoming activity because I’m quite annoyed with the current state of affairs. Whether driven by budget, scheduling or staffing, it feels like Woollim has left us supporters in a lurch. Its artists have essentially gone M.I.A since mid-November and the upcoming enlistment of … Continue reading
I enjoyed Trendz’s last single Vagabond quite a bit, even if it pitched them as a younger iteration of ATEEZ. The guys have begun working with that group’s old producer Leez and it definitely shows in the music! But, Leez is an immensely talented composer so I’m happy his work lives on regardless of which … Continue reading
I’m a bit ashamed to admit I’d never heard of So!YoON! prior to the announcement of this collaboration with BTS’s RM. I don’t follow the Korean indie scene closely, but she seems to have carved out a nice niche both as a soloist and frontwoman of band Se So Neon. From what I can gather, … Continue reading
Prior to his solo debut in 2020, I had imagined this huge Michael Jackson style career for Kai. Big songs, showstopping performances and tons of theatricality. Reality hasn’t played out like that, as he seems more intent on pursuing vibey tracks that lean further into R&B. This is absolutely fine (who am I to tell … Continue reading
Kind of seems like a big deal, huh? I figured this milestone deserved its own post. Within the past hour, The Bias List notched its twenty millionth page view! If you visited recently, that visit might have been yours! In honor of this achievement, I thought I’d share the top ten most viewed posts in … Continue reading
I wasn’t going to recap Boys Planet (and technically, I’m still not doing it), but I’m watching the series and thought others might appreciate a spot to discuss it. So, each week I plan on dumping a few of my random thoughts about the show. Again, this will not be a full, detailed recap. But, … Continue reading
I’ve been a little hard on NMIXX’s music thus far, but it pushes a lot of my buttons in a bad way. I appreciate the ambition it takes to meld multiple sounds (and songs!) into one. I just don’t think the execution has been there. The music hasn’t showcased the group’s talent in a way … Continue reading
A K-pop act’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. Collapsedone is quickly becoming one of … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 