When looking back at their discography, I released it’s been a couple of years since a ONEUS title track really grabbed me. Their music is always solid and they come back frequently, but their sound has been stuck in this nebulous zone since 2021, borrowing from various trends rather than developing their own perspective. Baila … Continue reading
Fantasy Boys come from the MBC survival series of the same name — another 2023 debut spawning from a TV show. I didn’t watch Fantasy Boys when it aired, but appreciated the fact that it cast B1A4’s Jinyoung as a mentor. If only he could have been in charge of the group’s debut single! New … Continue reading
Despite having all the potential in the world, Yuju’s solo career thus far has steered closer to calming coffee shops than the big power notes fueling GFriend’s best material. New single Dalala ups the energy a bit, but succumbs to a subdued groove that threatens to fade into the background. There have been many songs … Continue reading
As expected, the popular Boys Planet series is set to spin off more than just its winning group ZEROBASEONE. EVNNE is the first out of the gate, comprised of members who didn’t quite make the final cut. They’ve immediately distinguished themselves from ZB1’s bright pop sound, debuting with their take on the brash Baltimore Club … Continue reading
Years ago, I used to refer to the impending autumn as K-pop’s “ballad season.” That’s changed recently, with many ballads replaced by more upbeat idol tracks on the charts. But with BTS’s V and EXO’s D.O. releasing solo music this month, we’re seeing a resurgence of slower material. Somebody is not a ballad, but its … Continue reading
We’re now at the point where I’m writing about these V solo songs out of sheer stubbornness. It’s like Pokémon — you gotta catch them all! Never mind the fact that I have nothing new to add to my existing thoughts. For Us is the fifth (!) music video to spawn from his debut solo … Continue reading
It’s been a year since Mimiirose made their debut with the promising Rose. That’s a long hiatus for a rookie group, making follow-up single Flirting quite important. Listening to their first album, Mimiirose’s potential was obvious. Now’s the time to capitalize on that and remind fans why they’re a vital part of the K-pop landscape. … Continue reading
Project group EL7Z UP hails from this year’s Queendom Puzzle competition show, which aired its finale on August 15th. In only a month’s time, they’ve made their debut with Cheeky. That’s some quick movement! The group consists of members from Lovelyz, CLC, Rocket Punch, WJSN, Purple Kiss, H1-Key and woo!ah!. There’s clearly a ton of … Continue reading
HYBE’s love for releasing multiple music videos from each project really messes with my review system! Do I write about every one of them? For a release as high-profile as V’s solo album, it seems silly not to. Yet, I find myself essentially copying and pasting my thoughts from song to song. I’m not sure … Continue reading
In the lead up to his second mini album, EXO’s D.O. has pre-released the gentle I Do (별 떨어진다). If past songs are any indication, “gentle” is likely to be an apt descriptor for this album. Like many idols-turned-solo, D.O. seems to prefer this light, coffeehouse sound. But unlike some idols, D.O. has the vocal … Continue reading
While some BTS members have aimed straight for the top of the charts with their solo work, others have taken a more niche route that compliments their personal taste. In V’s case, that means an album of lo-fi, smooth jazzy sounds. It’s clearly a style he enjoys and it works well with his voice, even … Continue reading
What to do when you’ve been in the industry for sixteen years? FTIsland are elder statesmen of K-pop, respected for their consistency and longevity. It’s been a good six or seven years since their music has excited me, but I respect their dedication. New single Sage sounds much like you’d expect it to — an … Continue reading
Vocal lovers, unite! After terrorizing us with their baggy jeans, the NCT universe has paired members Taeil and Haechan for a jazzy midtempo that lets their voices shine. I’m not crazy about N.Y.C.T as a song, but it encourages you to lean back, put your feet up and enjoy its beautiful soundscape. SM Entertainment’s next … Continue reading
DKZ’s Jaechan recieved a big boost in popularity thanks to his starring role in BL drama Semantic Error, buoying the fate of his group alongside his own career. So, it only makes sense that he’d venture into solo work. After August’s pre-release Time, he’s unveiled his first title track Hello. Popularity aside, not every idol … Continue reading
Lee Chaeyeon’s Knock experienced unexpected longevity on the charts, lodging its catchy hook in many listeners’ brains. She’s found her niche in quirky dance pop, which perfectly compliments the musical perspective of her agency WM Entertainment. New single Let’s Dance seeks to build on this success by smoothing the edges and delivering an explosive energy … Continue reading
Xodiac’s music has been a mixed bag thus far. The chanted Throw A Dice sent my head spinning, while the fizzy pop of Special Love delivered a welcome sugar rush. Pre-release Lemonade lands somewhere in the middle, pulling elements from both extremes. On its face, Lemonade is a groovy mid-tempo with strong hip-hop elements and … Continue reading
After releasing the rocky Let It Be Summer last week, Young K is back with the title track to his first full album. Nothing But (이것밖에는 없다) tones things down, echoing the more pensive guitar rock of his band DAY6. I’m sure longtime fans will be delighted to hear this sound make a return, but … Continue reading
I didn’t write about Kim Sejeong’s late-August pre-release, but appreciated its lilting sound and Celtic influences. It certainly made me curious which direction she would take for the title track of her first full album. Thus far, her solo music has been all over the place, pulled together by the strength of her vocals. Top … Continue reading
Prior to the release of their new album this month, CRAVITY have shared the summery mid-tempo Cheese. That title conjures all sorts of… well… cheesy ideas in my mind, but the track itself is rather subdued. It’s certainly not among their strongest material, but the vibe is nice. I’ll echo a frequent Bias List critique … Continue reading
Generic as it may be, I still love Jeon Somi’s Fast Forward. It’s fun to hear club music infiltrate K-pop and she makes a convincing dance diva. Unfortunately, the rest of the album is grab bag of genres — some more fitting than others. This is evidenced by opening track — and follow-up single — … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 