TAN debuted earlier this year with the groovy Du Du Du. That track went on to be a big grower, refreshingly old-school in its approach with a focus on slick vocals. Better yet, its intro Fix You pointed toward a group capable of making excellent dance music. The guys have pushed further in that direction … Continue reading
I’ve always been a proponent of keeping K-pop weird, but sometimes these agencies come up with ideas that are better left on the cutting room floor. Perhaps inspired by the legendary (for all the wrong reasons) A.I. group Eternity, new debut Superkind has a “virtual idol” among their ranks. Maybe it’s my age showing, but … Continue reading
Over the past few years, Starship Entertainment’s Pepsi (or in this case, Gatorade) CFs have become a reliable summer tradition, bringing together a diverse array of artists. Apparently, they don’t have to be part of Starship’s roster to participate. And in the case of Move Like This, they don’t even have to be professional singers! … Continue reading
Most years, K-pop debuts are a huge source of inspiration, offering new energy and new ideas. 2022 has seen some notable debuts, but most have been cut from the same musical cloth. With the arrival of MLD Entertainment’s Lapillus, I’m more convinced than ever that the industry is simply devoid of musical innovation. Hit Ya … Continue reading
It’s post-Queendom comeback day, as LOONA join fellow competitors Kep1er with new music. Both groups have returned with summer themes, though they’ve taken different routes to get there. While Kep1er’s Up bounded forward with explosive energy, LOONA’s Flip That offers a more subdued house beat. “Subdued” hasn’t been an element of LOONA’s title tracks for … Continue reading
After debuting at the start of 2022, the MNET-spawned rookie group Kep1er took a detour via the company’s own Queendom competition, further building their fanbase as they competed with senior acts. Now, it’s time to get back to the music with the summer-themed Up. I’m more than ready for a great 2022 summer track, and … Continue reading
“Sweet,” you say? Universe app, you say?? I think it’s time for a recipe: Hooks 7 Production 7 Longevity 8 Bias 7 RATING 7.25 Continue reading
Dawn’s verses in old Pentagon songs were always interesting and quirky. So far, his solo career has felt like an expanded version of those verses, zigging this way and that but always anchored by his colorful personality. He has a way of making the most ridiculous ideas work because you get the sense that he … Continue reading
BDC continue to be a mystery. They’re not listed as a temporary project group, but their treatment thus far has suggested a quickly approaching expiration date. Despite releasing the super-solid Intersection trilogy of mini albums, Brand New Music has never attempted to push them as a big, ongoing group in the same way as AB6IX … Continue reading
Sometimes I forget ex-Snuper member Sebin is part of Omega X. Revisiting 2016’s K-pop releases yesterday, I realized yet again how desperate I am for some Snuper-esque Sweetune pop in 2022. Quick! Get Sebin on the phone with his old collaborators and work out a deal. After all, Omega X’s agency has opted to switch … Continue reading
Like most new K-pop groups, DRIPPIN debuted without a signature sound or concept. Their career has been a revolving door of styles as Woollim searches for the one that will stick. The group is now lodged in a multi-part series of albums under the title Villain. Like 99% of their peers, this has painted them … Continue reading
While I haven’t been sold on Pixy’s title tracks thus far, last year’s b-side turned English-language single Bewitched hinted at a more beguiling sound. By dabbling in dynamic electronic textures, Pixy found a niche worth exploring further. So, when teasers suggested new single Villain might build on this momentum, my interested was piqued. Opening with … Continue reading
The Bias List launched at the beginning of 2016, making that year’s song countdown the first I published in any meaningful way. I’ve since gone back to look at 2015, 2013 and 2012 (hmmm… I guess I need to fill the holes that are left…). Now that it’s been almost six years, I thought it … Continue reading
It’s been a long wait between bugAboo’s debut and their first comeback. Their self-titled track came out all the way back in October. Eight months later, we finally have Pop. Strangely, the song is not composed by agency-head Ryan Jhun (even though he composes pretty much every other K-pop track these days!). But, it continues … Continue reading
Wonho continues to be one of K-pop’s most consistent soloists, taking the reigns of his career by co-composing his work. This gives his music a sense of authenticity, but not the kind of “sit in the corner of a coffee shop with your guitar” authenticity that often colors our idea of a singer-songwriter. You can … Continue reading
I’m not sure what it says about the state of the industry, but some of the best K-pop tracks of the past few weeks have been given “dance” or “performance” videos rather than the full comeback treatment. Take Treasure’s rocky remix of Darari, for example. The guys didn’t really promote it, but the accompanying video … Continue reading
It’s been a pretty dire week for K-pop releases, and I’m getting a little tired of griping about things I don’t like when it comes to songwriting and execution. So, I want to flip the script and focus on the things that appeal to me in a pop song. I thought about making this the … Continue reading
Japanese tracks by Korean idol groups have been pretty lousy lately, but Stray Kids have the benefit of self-composition. The guys’ production unit 3RACHA has already dabbled in the J-pop market, including the production of a standout track for J-idol group JO1. New single Circus takes a high-concept approach, putting as much focus on its … Continue reading
As BTS’s popularity has skyrocketed, the frequency of their output has dwindled – a surprising approach for an act as in-demand as they are. The past nineteen months have seen occasional solos and collaborations, but only a trio of full-group tracks. Now, we can add several more to their catalog. Their multi-disc compilation album Proof … Continue reading
“Woo! Ah!” is the sound I desperately want to make after listening to a new K-pop track. But more often than not, those exclamation marks have been replaced with angry face emojis this year. Seriously… this is getting old. Just a day after Secret Number’s by-the-numbers boredom of Doomchita, we have another aural assault from … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 