Another month, another Universe release. This time it’s VIVIZ, and I thought I’d revisit my carnival challenge last seen in the review of Oh My Girl’s Shark. After all, I like VIVIZ and I like Oh My Girl. They deserve the extra effort, even if Universe deserves nothing at all. So… step right up and … Continue reading
After a lengthy hiatus, girl group Elris reconfigured as “Alice” earlier this year. The rebrand was devoid of fanfare, as the group emerged with a barely-promoted ballad. It turns out this was just a teaser for their true comeback. New single Dance On re-introduces the girls with a bang, drawing upon K-pop’s retro trends for … Continue reading
When we last heard from EPEX, they were embroiled in controversy over lyrical content referencing a Nazi massacre. The agency quite rightly adjusted the lyrics, but this exposed issues with sensitivity and general global awareness — and that’s putting it mildly. New single Hymn To Love (사랑歌) eliminates all potential of controversy, seeing the group … Continue reading
ATBO were the unlucky target of a rather snarky review on this blog back in July. Their debut wasn’t atrocious or unpolished. It was just a copy-and-paste of boy group tropes. Listening to many highlight medleys this week, I’ve become more convinced that original ideas are scarce in modern K-pop. A majority of songs sound … Continue reading
When I first laid eyes on the tracklist for CLASS:y’s newest mini album, its length caused me to do a double take. Calling two tracks a “mini album” is quite a stretch — even for K-pop! But, the group has compensated for this brevity with a long-form music video that combines both tracks into one … Continue reading
When it comes to name changes, “T1419 to TFN” feels like a lateral move. T1419 sounded like a tracking number, but TFN is about as bland an acronym as you can get (it stands for “Try For New,” if you were wondering). I haven’t run the math, but I’d guess about seven out of ten … Continue reading
With WayV on a longer-than-expected hiatus and SuperM inactive, the always-beguiling Ten hasn’t had much time in the spotlight. That’s a shame for all of us. He’s long-since due for a solo album of his own. Instead, we’ve had a special single here and there and the occasional appearance on NCT’s Universe album. Last August, … Continue reading
OnlyOneOf’s Underground Idol project was on track to maintain its once-a-month course until the group took a few weeks to promote their Japanese single. Because of this, Rie’s long-awaited solo became even more long-awaited, pushed back an extra month. Now, it’s finally time to land back in the guys’ BL universe. The rock-tinged Because continues … Continue reading
K-Pop debuts can be tricky things. At times, they’re the best song a group delivers. Sometimes, they’re the only song a group delivers! But, debuts can also be huge wtf moments in an artist’s career. In this feature, I’ll be looking back at debut songs through the prism of time, re-evaluating how well they hold … Continue reading
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Pink Fantasy tend to re-emerge right when you need them. In this case, they’ve returned during the week leading up to Halloween. Their spooky sound and image are perfectly suited to the season. And unless I missed something, this is the group’s first release without the creepy bunny-mask girl. Has she finally been revealed? Or, … Continue reading
Jo Yuri’s Op.22 Y-Waltz series has moved from the major key of this summer’s Love Shhh to the “minor” key of her new mini album. This doesn’t bode well for me. I tend to be pretty biased toward the sound of a major key. What can I say? I’m a fan of upbeat sounds. New … Continue reading
Monsta X’s Kihyun made his solo debut earlier this year with a rock sound. Voyager showed promise, but it didn’t stick around my playlist for long. Luckily, he’s doubled down on its strengths for follow-up Youth. This time, the melodies are stickier and the overall sound is more upbeat. Kihyun has one of the more … Continue reading
Many times, context plays an important role in how I perceive a song. Take Mamamoo’s recently released Illella, for example. Had it arrived back in 2018 before the group’s music had made a sharp pivot into this style, I’d probably see it as a cool, attitude-first addition to their discography. But, the fact that it … Continue reading
ITZY have re-recorded many of their singles in English, but Boys Like You marks their first full foray into the Western market. We’re getting more and more of these English-language tracks from K-pop groups, and the most successful ones tend to be those that hew closest to the artist’s signature sound and strengths. I hate … Continue reading
WEi’s music has gone through several iterations since their 2020 debut. Now, it seems they’ve entered a stage where their agency has given up on crafting a unique identity. The group has always struggled in this regard. Despite a stacked line-up of talent and pre-debut notoriety, none of their title tracks feel unique to them. … Continue reading
Military enlistment is looming for some members of N.Flying, making this comeback their final group promotions before hiatus. It’s been awhile since we’ve heard from the guys, and even longer since I’ve connected with one of their singles. Waaaay back in 2017 and 2018 I was firmly aboard the N.Flying train. Hweseung had just been … Continue reading
Concepts are a dime a dozen in K-pop. They’re part of the idol equation, but rarely do we hear an actual concept album. AKMU’s Lee Chanhyuk makes his solo debut with a full-length that takes us through death and rebirth. As part of this “new” Chanhyuk, the music brings in flourishes of 80’s synthpop – … Continue reading
(G)I-DLE’s Tomboy has become an enduring 2022 hit, and I just don’t get the hype. But, the same could be said about the group as a whole. I try to be as objective as I can on a blog called “The Bias List,” but there are some acts that test that objectivity. (G)I-DLE aren’t for … Continue reading
Though Fearless could have used a bit more fleshing out in places, LE SSERAFIM’s mini album stands as one of the year’s strongest debuts. I found myself drawn to their aloof performance style and fashionable sound, and hoped their eventual comeback would build on the sound of b-sides like The Great Mermaid and Blue Flame. … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 