Although Block B sub-unit Bastarz’s 2015 mini album was heralded by its heavy hip-hop title track, the rest of the EP ended up being far more diverse in sound. With this in mind, the retro funk/jazz fusion vibe of Selfish & Beautiful Girl (이기적인 걸) isn’t as surprising as it first may seem. Co-composed by member … Continue reading
Fans of mega-successful project group I.O.I probably haven’t been very happy with me over the year, as I haven’t often been kind to their music. This is despite absolutely loving Pick Me and the Produce 101 series that spawned the group. Beyond that, it’s been hard for me to understand the hype. In general, the whole … Continue reading
Block B are a group who have become increasingly unpredictable in their output. While hip-hop will likely be at their core for their entire career, they’ve incorporated much more soulful elements into their music of late. And of course, when it comes to original j-pop releases from k-pop artists, all bets are off. Japan is … Continue reading
It’s hard to imagine what exactly SE7EN could do to usher in a career resurgence. He enjoyed a massive amount of success during his first decade as a solo artist, but a scandal and two years away for military enlistment have dulled his status as one of k-pop’s leading r&b acts. His pre-release back in … Continue reading
Usually, as an artist gains prominence and becomes more mainstream, their music follows suit. But with Crush, it feels like his output has become more idiosyncratic since his days as a relatively straightforward r&b artist. Though last May’s Woo Ah wasn’t quite to my taste, I could definitely appreciate its languid style. Fall (어떻게 지내) … Continue reading
Though they may not make the types of international waves that many idol groups do, female duo Davichi are an absolute force in ballad-heavy Korea. It’s hard to objectively review their music, as it’s like comparing apples to oranges when put next to the hip-hop and dance pop that take precedence each week on The Bias List. When looking at … Continue reading
The Rain (더 레인) is Ladies’ Code’s second promoted comeback after their return as a three-piece. Like it or not, the girls occupy a different place in k-pop than before the tragic accident that took two of their former members. In some regards, I understand that tragedy necessitates a more pensive sound, but I think … Continue reading
When it was first announced that 90’s superstars Sechs Kies had signed with YG Entertainment for their long awaited reunion, I couldn’t imagine what the resulting material would sound like. Sechs Kies older songs don’t really bear anything close to the trademark YG sound, though I suppose a focus on hip-hop creates some sort of through … Continue reading
Though several former EXO members have struck out on solo careers in China, Lay’s What You Need is the first major push from a current member of the group. Though he’s been less visible in more recent EXO tracks, SM Entertainment seems content to give Lay some freedom when it comes to his home country. What … Continue reading
Beyond being one of Korea’s leading solo artists, Ailee also has her own unique place in k-pop. Her American roots have influenced her sound, providing work that effortlessly straddles the line between U.S. Top 40 and more typical Korean fare. Bolstered by her soulful vocals, she provides a performance style that no other k-pop artist has … Continue reading
Girl group Dal Shabet were one of the first k-pop acts out of the gate this year, with their addictively fun Brave Brothers track, Someone Like U. Throughout their five year career, I’ve found Dal Shabet’s output to be pretty hit and miss. Someone happened to be one of their very best tracks. But new … Continue reading
In general, k-pop is in a transitional place right now. The old guard is slowly being taken over by the current crop of super rookies. With the likes of GFriend and Twice making such waves, what does a group like Apink do to prove that they’re still young and relevant? It’s a tough question, and … Continue reading
For SM Entertainment’s latest Station release, the agency give us a duet between artists from two of their most successful groups. First, we have Bada, who was part of their mega-successful, late 90’s girl group S.E.S. Joining her is Super Junior’s Ryeowook, who had a strong solo earlier in the year and is a self-professed S.E.S. … Continue reading
Soloist Jung Jinwoo rose to fame on the latest season of singing competition K-Pop Star, as the only male contestant in the live shows. He also stuck out as the series’ most current-sounding participant — a singer/composer with enough forward-looking quirk to fit right in with successful artists like Zion. T and Crush. It was … Continue reading
I’m noticing a new trend with Mamamoo. When it’s time for a comeback, instead of giving us the main title track right away, they’ve developed a pattern of dropping a series of pre-releases — some with music videos, and some without. Though the girls gave us unit tracks at the end of August, New York inches … Continue reading
In honor of the release of Infinite’s sixth mini-album, Infinite Only, I’ll be taking an in-depth look at each track. Every day this week, I’ll review one song, working through the album in chronological order. Eternity (intro) The Eye Air One Day TRUE LOVE Thank You Zero For the throwback r&b of True Love, Infinite worked with production … Continue reading
Nearly two years ago, Secret’s Song Ji Eun made her solo debut with the utterly addictive pop of 25. That track suited her light, girlish vocal tone perfectly, so I was a little worried when Bobby Doll (바비돌) seemed to be taking a darker, more midtempo approach. As with many of TS Entertainment’s most recent … Continue reading
Girl group DIA has been sampling the party platter of k-pop tropes, switching from one concept to another in their bid to find something that will stick. Trying on GFriend’s style back in June didn’t quite work, so with Mr. Potter (미스터포터) they’ve conjured up a track that recalls Red Velvet in their Ice Cream Cake days. Now, k-pop … Continue reading
When I think about Korea’s most boundary-pushing solo artists, both in terms of music and visual, two names immediately stick out. For the guys, it’s gotta be Xia (Kim Junsu), who favors complex, avant garde concepts and continually shifting genre influences. For the girls, it’s most definitely Gain, who pushes boundaries so consistently that it’s … Continue reading
A day after iKON’s Bobby released his solo single, fellow YG rapper Mino has unveiled Body (몸), which was billed as a slower, sexier counterpart to his label-mate’s boisterous hype track. This doesn’t necessarily seem like the more interesting description on paper, but in the battle of the solo tracks, I think Body just barely edges … Continue reading
