Boy group Blitzers are the latest 2021 debut to throw their hat into the ring, joining this year’s rookie class with a boisterous blend of rap and rock. I’ve always enjoyed this genre mash-up, and welcome any attempt a group makes to stand out. To Blitzers’ credit, Breathe Again doesn’t simply regurgitate trends from their … Continue reading
Just over a month since their last group comeback, WJSN have unveiled their second sub-unit. The chic WJSN The Black consists of members Seola, Bona, Exy and Eunseo, and promises a groovier compliment to the Cosmic Girls sound. Debut single Easy fits that bill. It’s sleek and satisfying, even if it falls short of being … Continue reading
ONEUS’s Devil proved to be a polarizing comeback. While the album was super strong, its title track jettisoned much of the group’s usual charm for a harder blast of boy group posturing. But at the very end of No Diggity‘s music video, fans were treated to a teaser of funky bass. That flourish turned out … Continue reading
You’d be hard-pressed to find a bigger Sweetune fan than me. And with Han Jaeho and Song Sooyoon making a rare public appearance on web series MMTG last week, I’ve gone down yet another spiral of legendary Sweetune singles. As K-pop’s retro trend flourishes, I can’t fathom why agencies aren’t reaching out to the best … Continue reading
This past weekend, I wrote a few thoughts about the current state of K-pop’s girl group landscape. And, Oh My Girl are the antidote to almost every gripe I have. They consistently offer strong vocals, quirky, unique songs and a sound that’s all their own. With last year’s Nonstop and Dolphin, they were finally rewarded … Continue reading
With boatloads of preorders and hundreds of millions of views, there’s no doubt NCT have become SM Entertainment’s new alpha group. And with the announcement (ugh…) of “NCT Hollywood,” their influence will only grow. I wish I could confidently join the bandwagon, but the longer this NCT project advances, the more repetitive it gets. I … 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! May … Continue reading
Over the years, I’ve ranted about the state of K-pop boy groups more than a few times. But, I’ve rarely given the same focused critique to the industry’s girl groups. 2021 has been a strong year for the boys so far. At the same time, I haven’t been as impressed with many of its girl … Continue reading
Over the years, perfectly-scored, 10/10 songs have developed a sort of mythical status on The Bias List. I didn’t intend for this to be the case, but my hesitance to give full marks on release day has resulted in the concept of a “legendary song.” Last year, I inaugurated a handful of songs into this … Continue reading
Warning: This recap is not spoiler-free. Proceed at your own risk! Other Recaps: Episode One // Episode Two // Episode Three // Episode Four // Episode Five THE PRELUDE We’ve already reached the eve of Kingdom‘s final round. And to celebrate, the show is going to pause for a… sports day. Ironically, as much as … Continue reading
Some of my favorite Korean dramas are set within the music industry. And, given K-pop’s natural proximity to K-drama, I’m surprised we don’t see more of these crossover projects. The last one I remember was 2018’s Top Management, which spawned the fictional idol group S.O.U.L. That was such a fun series, and Get Myself With … Continue reading
After an explosion of popularity in the mid 2010’s, powerhouse vocalist Ailee has settled into once-a-year comebacks that highlight her strengths as both a balladeer and a dance artist. Even so, the newer material often lacks the spark that made past hits like U&I and Don’t Touch Me so addictive. Make Up Your Mind is … 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
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
Despite their huge boost in popularity, I haven’t yet had an excuse to write about Brave Girls this year. To put it briefly, I’m thrilled for the girls. Rollin’ was a total jam back in 2017, and more than deserves its delayed recognition. It just goes to show how many amazing K-pop songs fly under … Continue reading
Super Junior’s Yesung pre-released the emotional ballad Phantom Pain a little over a week ago, and as part of that review I expressed my hope for more upbeat material in the future. I suppose Beautiful Night is as good as we’re going to get when it comes to increased energy. Like his bandmate Kyuhyun, Yesung … Continue reading
Though they’re short two original members, Highlight have become one of K-pop’s longest-running groups thanks to a rebranding and revitalization in 2017. Perhaps unsurprisingly, their new single Not The End (불어온다) seems to spring directly from that year’s musical trends, feeling like an outtake from their earlier work rather than a new push forward. Highlight … 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
At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade. April 2021 Overall Thoughts 2021 continues to be a strong year for K-pop. When it comes … Continue reading
Warning: This recap is not spoiler-free. Proceed at your own risk! Other Recaps: Episode One // Episode Two // Episode Three // Episode Four ROUND TWO: MY FINAL RANKINGS One thing I’ll say for Kingdom is that it wastes no time getting started. Unlike the Produce 101 franchise, this series doesn’t spend endless minutes on … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 