I fell in love with Astro’s music over the course of their debut year. In fact, I picked them as my favorite rookies of 2016 – above even the much-hyped NCT. However, I’ve barely recognized Astro in their past two comebacks. It wasn’t just that their concepts had become “darker.” The music itself felt increasingly … Continue reading
When Rosé’s On The Ground was released, I noticed that quite a few fans seemed to prefer its b-side Gone. So of course, I immediately checked it out. But more than anything, the song just reaffirmed my disinterest in this style of pop. I can’t say I’ve listened to On The Ground much since its … 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! December … 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. WJSN have released yet another strong … Continue reading
When I first started blogging – gosh, over fifteen years ago at this point – K-pop wasn’t even on my radar. Instead, I was enamored with this small movement of Swedish synth-rock groups. It’s a sound I’ve always had a strong pull towards, so when a Korean act dips their feet into the genre it’s … Continue reading
Warning: This recap is not spoiler-free. Proceed at your own risk! Other Recaps: Episode Two // Episode Three Well… I’m back! Last year’s Road to Kingdom was a bumpy road for sure, with one particular pothole that still has me feeling PTSD. But, this time will surely be less dramatic. Unlike RTK, Kingdom will not … Continue reading
Given their vast array of members and talents, I’m surprising we haven’t seen many solo projects from Seventeen. The group is approaching its sixth debut anniversary, which seems like the perfect excuse to further explore this possibility. Perhaps the release of Hoshi’s mixtape Spider will be the fuel for that fire. Before getting into the … Continue reading
Taking BTS’s success out of the equation, it’s fascinating to trace how much their music has changed since their 2013 debut. As happens with many world-conquering pop groups, their sound expanded beyond a niche market, becoming more palatable to a wider audience. This has its upsides and downsides, but in general I think BTS have … Continue reading
3YE have released a variety of different title tracks, and each has drawn upon edgier sounds than many girl groups tackle. I think the trio are at their best when given an insistent electro groove, such as last year’s Queen. New single Stalker replicates this charm in bits and pieces, and is at its strongest … 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. March 2021 Overall Thoughts I’ve heard whispers around social media lamenting that 2021 has been a … Continue reading
“Park Bom comeback” is a statement that will always give me some thrill. 2NE1 were a vital component of my favorite generation of K-pop, and Bom’s unique voice contributed greatly to that appeal. But as with so many idols-gone-soloists, her own music can be hit or miss. That voice will always be enough to capture … Continue reading
T1419’s debut Asurabalbalta was one of the few K-pop singles that never grew on me. And, it definitely had the opportunity! I feel like I watched it promoted on music shows for months. To me, Asurabalbalta was emblematic of the worst “noise pop” that’s taken over certain sub-sections of the industry’s boy group landscape. Add … Continue reading
It feels like ages since WJSN made a comeback. I’ve missed their music, and consider them one of this generation’s most consistently great girl groups. Apart from a few notable offshoots, the girls have cultivated an identifiable sound and twisted it just enough to remain fresh. New single Unnatural twists that style a bit more … Continue reading
There’s so much to unpack when it comes to NTX’s debut. First, there are those uncomfortable teaser photos, where the guys cosplay as different “cultures” in the most awkwardly stereotypical way imaginable. Then, there’s the song’s nearly-eight minute music video, which opens with a lengthy credits sequence just as it should be drawing the attention … Continue reading
With Brave Girls’ unexpected resurgence, there’s been a renewed interest in Brave Entertainment as well. This puts DKB in an awkward position. Clearly, they’re not the Brave Sound group the general public is interested in hearing from at this moment, but that’s hardly their fault. I’m sure this comeback has been in the works for … Continue reading
With Baekhyun’s military enlistment just around the corner, EXO are set to temporarily lose yet another member. Despite the group having no comeback since November of 2019, he’s kept busy as a soloist and with SuperM. His solo work has been highly successful, but as much as I love the guy’s voice and general vibe, … Continue reading
It’s been a rocky road for rookie group Checkmate. With only two songs under their belt, they’ve already undergone major shifts in configuration. They debuted as five last September, but now they’re down to four with the departure of vocalist/rapper Nason and the quick arrival/departure of Haechang, who never even got to participate in any … Continue reading
Since her solo debut, Kim Sejeong has become synonymous with ballads. But now that Gugudan is no more, it makes sense that she would expand her palette and maybe even absorb some of her former group’s charms. New single Warning isn’t exactly adventurous, but it injects a welcome variety to her music, delivering the optimistic … Continue reading
Even before the formation of Winner, I longed for a Kang Seung Yoon album. His early solo songs – Wild & Young, Stealer, It Rains – hinted at a gutsy rocker. And paired with some of YG’s best in-house talent, the music itself was fantastic. So, I was kind of disappointed when Seung Yoon was … Continue reading
It’s been a challenging few weeks for fans of Kim Sung Kyu. His departure from Woollim Entertainment – after over a decade with the agency – throws into question the future of his solo work and of Infinite as a group. As consolation, he’s released one final album with Woollim, and it brings him back … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 