It’s been a “will they or won’t they” situation with Kep1er over the past few weeks. After all, acts spawned from MNET competition shows usually come with an expiration date. However, the group has bucked tradition and extended their contract — minus members Mashiro and Yeseo. Shooting Star heralds the release of their first full … 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. May 2024 Overall Thoughts There were a number of big-name releases in May, yet somehow the … Continue reading
In between comebacks, A.C.E have often released special singles of various genres. Most of these songs feel more like appetizers than full courses, allowing the group to dabble in different music markets with English-language performances. Supernatural arrives in an English and Korean version. I’ll be linking the Korean version because whenever given the chance that’s … Continue reading
On the heels of fellow EXO members D.O. and Chen, Suho has just released his newest solo album. This was preceded by Cheese, featuring fellow SM artist Wendy. That track, and new single 1 to 3 (점선면), borrow heavily from 70’s rock influences. While Cheese‘s influences felt more interesting that the song itself, 1 to … Continue reading
ARTMS have spent the past two months unveiling track after track from their debut album. To fully enjoy these pre-releases, it’s often felt like a doctorate in post-LOONA lore has been necessary. Most relied more on worldbuilding than nuts-and-bolts, satisfying song construction. But with Virtual Angel, ARTMS may finally have opened their world to the … Continue reading
There are a number of K-pop groups from the class of 2018-19 that I’ve fallen out with musically. ATEEZ and Stray kids immediately come to mind, with ITZY and TXT also losing some luster from their peak. Taking a look at my year-end countdown from 2019 depicts an alternate universe where these groups’ music ruled … Continue reading
Though I should know better by now, I’m still surprised at how well BABYMONSTER’s Sheesh has done on the charts — especially given its lukewarm-to-awful reception in many critical circles. This is a good reminder of the sway YG Entertainment still holds over fans, along with the broader fact that disgruntled internet chatter is rarely … Continue reading
As a casual observer, it can be difficult to remember where all the LOONA members ended up after the group’s dissolution. Some became Loossemble while others formed ARTMS. Yves joined neither, though she did have a hand in song composition for Loossemble. Instead, she’s embarked on her own with a new label and new sound. … Continue reading
I don’t always cover Jay Park’s releases on the blog since he’s long since shed the guise of “idol performer,” but it’s worth noting new single Taxi Blurr simply because of its feature. Girl group Kiss Of Life are rapidly gaining popularity, and member Natty has already proven herself a compelling soloist. Taxi Blurr rides … Continue reading
EXO’s soloists each have their own distinct sound, and Chen has become the group’s reliable balladeer. He has the voice to match, and his music scratches a certain sentimental itch that has made it a fan favorite. However, it takes a whole lot for a ballad to stand out on my playlist. When I love … Continue reading
Treasure attempted a reboot last summer but title track Bona Bona still hinged on many YG Entertainment tropes. The album itself was much more varied and pointed toward a sleek, nostalgic sound that worked well for the group. New single King Kong promises another reinvention and its sound nudges a bit closer to realizing that … Continue reading
Three and a half years since their debut, aespa have finally released their first full length album. Armageddon is led by two title tracks, the first of which has already become a major hit. Supernova embraced the K-pop maximalism of years past, making many wonder if Armageddon would follow suit. Instead, this track pulls back … Continue reading
Rather than contain my “Risers and Fallers” feature to a single post in June, I’m going to share a bite-sized version at the end of each month. This will let me account for more songs and make a nice lead-in to the monthly round-up post. I anticipate most of these ratings adjustments will be negligible: … Continue reading
Look at me introducing a feature in February 2023 and then not following up on it until fifteen months later. Oops! As a spin-off to my Battle of the B-sides feature, I’m pleased to announce the arrive of “Battle of the Title Tracks!” In this feature, I’ll be pitting three K-pop title tracks/singles against each … Continue reading
I don’t really take music videos or imagery into account when writing reviews on The Bias List, but when all is said and done I’ll likely remember this era of RM’s career more for the videos than the music. The one for new single LOST! is particularly evocative — quirky, surreal and suitably claustrophobic. Whether … Continue reading
It’s been a fraught month for HYBE, with NewJeans unwittingly stuck at the center of their controversies. Very little of this drama has anything to do with the group themselves and everything to do with the chaos swirling around them, but with a seeming cold war brewing between the NewJeans and ILLIT camps regarding plagiarism … Continue reading
Alongside their full-group comeback Maestro, Seventeen’s specialized units are also releasing music videos for their new songs. We’ve already heard from the Hip-Hop and Performance Teams, and now it’s time for the Vocal Team to bring this series to a finale. Sub-unit Seventeen BSS found tremendous success with a cheering song last year, and Cheers … Continue reading
When JD1 made his debut as a K-pop idol in January, I never realized how young he was. It wasn’t until I watched him on the TVXQ episode of Immortal Songs that I learned this guy is only seventeen years old (sixteen at the time!). Perhaps this would have been more obvious if he had … Continue reading
Ex-(G)I-DLE member Soojin made her solo debut late last year with AGASSY — a song high on atmosphere and low on substance. That description could match many K-pop tracks of the last two years or so, and new single Mona Lisa also fits within this realm. Everything about this song feels like a means to … Continue reading
The best thing a rookie K-pop group can do is develop their own sound that establishes them as a vital part of the industry. Just B have slowly been doing that, moving to rock influences to give their music an identifiable style. New English-language single Daddy’s Girl capitalizes on that approach. The first time I … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 