ZEROBASEONE’s jubilant Sweat premiered a few weeks too early to fully capitalize on the summer season, but offered a taste of the upbeat energy the group would pursue on their new album. Title track Feel The Pop retains an upbeat sense of joy, but tempers the intensity by returning to the muted palette of their … Continue reading
We are now four tracks into ARTMS’s debut album and my song ratings remain fixed in the “7’s.” I’m beginning to suspect their sound may not be for me. New track Air is unlikely to overhaul that, but we’re getting a little closer! Air is underlined by a percolating beat with touches of brass and … Continue reading
For awhile, there was some question whether BTS members would enlist in the military, given the breadth of their achievements and the valuable soft power they’d developed for South Korea. The enlistments ended up happening, but the music still flows during their hiatus as RM becomes the latest to release “new” material without being able … Continue reading
Somehow, Charlie Puth has become a go-to K-pop collaborator. He romped around with BTS’s Jungkook in 2022 and now he’s coaxed Stray Kids out of their typical hard-hitting style to craft something slinkier and understated. I enjoyed most of Charlie Puth’s 2018 album Voicenotes, but he’s also written a fair amount of songs that are … Continue reading
Alongside their full group comeback Maestro, Seventeen’s specialized units are also releasing music videos for their new songs. First up is the hip-hop team with LALALI. I’ve become increasingly weary of song titles that are little more than a series of “la las,” but this sub-unit has delivered surprises before. LALALI makes boisterous use of … Continue reading
BTOB’s Yook Sungjae has found great success as an actor and variety star, but hasn’t been as active as a solo musician. He made his solo debut in 2020, weeks before his mandatory military enlistment. Four years later, he’s back with a new single album and title track Be Somebody. Sungjae has a powerful voice … Continue reading
I considered relegating &TEAM’s Samidare to my J-pop round-up on Sunday, but the group is notable enough to K-pop fans to warrant at least a mini-review. After all, they’re the guys who gave us last year’s double whammy of Firework and Dropkick — both of which were 2023 highlights. As far as HYBE boy groups … Continue reading
Gosh, remember UP10TION? Their peak era seems much further in the past than it actually is. The group delivered a bunch of bangers and will eternally be part of my summer playlist with the classic Tonight. While promoting in the group, Lee Dongyeol went by the name Xiao. Now, it’s finally time for him to … Continue reading
“Baekho and BIGONE” sounds like the name of a really inappropriate sitcom, but it’s actually a pairing of two distinct artists. On paper, this collaboration feels very unexpected. How does the slinky idol pop of an ex-Nu’est member meet the rambunctious rock of an indie startup? They’re not even from the same agency, so I’m … Continue reading
It’s been awhile since we’ve heard from KARD’s BM. I haven’t written about his solo music since January 2022, but he’s back with a new track and a new collaborator. Nectar features Jay Park — a suitable sparring partner and likely inspiration for the future of BM’s work. Nectar feels equally indebted to both artists. … Continue reading
A week ago, EXO’s Doh Kyung Soo (D.O.) pre-released the fluffy pop track Popcorn, hinting that his new album might have a more upbeat twist to it. Title track Mars fulfills that promise, transferring the gentle, coffeehouse appeal of his music to a sprightlier sound palette. Mars is still very much within the “easy listening” … Continue reading
At their best, E’Last have offered an ultra-dramatic take on K-pop, fueled by orchestral strings and inventive song structures that feel almost like musical theater. Over the years, they’ve drifted from that early sound, most recently in the form of Kiss Me Baby‘s funk energy. New single Gasoline returns to darker textures but fails to … Continue reading
After completing their lengthy fantasy-themed series, Kingdom have undergone a branding change with new team name “The KingDom.” Apparently, their lore dictates they now exist in the present era where capital-letters-in-the-middle-of-words is completely normal. As cool as their fantasy influences were, I tended to prefer their more contemporary b-sides so this rebrand isn’t unwelcome. With … Continue reading
A few weeks ago, Mamamoo’s Solar released a teaser of what appeared to be her take on a drag anthem. That song turns out to be the opener of her new album Colours and hasn’t yet been promoted with a full video. Instead, we have title track But I — a total genre shift into … Continue reading
What did poor 82MAJOR do to deserve a comeback on the same day as both Seventeen and IVE? It’s hard to see how new single Choke (촉) doesn’t get lost in the shuffle, though maybe they’re hoping a rising tide will lift all boats. The song’s rubbery bass definitely deserves attention, even if the song … Continue reading
Best-Of compilation albums are uncommon in K-pop, but if any group deserves to have their singles bundled into an anthology it’s Seventeen. They’ve been releasing bangers since 2015, though I’ve found their more recent work harder to get into. This album features four new songs — each of which will be getting a music video … Continue reading
One thing about The Bias List is that — even if agencies are coming apart at the seams and the industry is on fire — I try my best to filter out the noise and laser focus on the music. I guess I’m that meme of the dog sitting at a table in a burning … Continue reading
That’s one heck of a song title, isn’t it? In my opinion, it needs at least four more exclamation marks. Love, Love, Love Love Love! is the third promoted track from n.SSign’s newest album, originally released all the way back in February. On first listen, it was my favorite of the three but that didn’t … Continue reading
ARTMS are blitzing the market with pre-release songs before dropping their debut album. At its best, this strategy offers multiple jumping on points for new fans. If one track doesn’t hit with you, another is bound to compensate. I’m still hoping this project will deliver a song or two for me, because so far I’m … Continue reading
I feel compelled to open this song review with an apology to Lee Jinhyuk. I write about his comebacks because I write about any notable K-pop comeback, but he and I seem to exist on separate musical wavelengths. I’m not sure there’s ever been a Lee Jinhyuk solo track I’ve fully enjoyed. I loved him … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 