With its members in various states of pre and post military enlistment, Winner is currently in a bubble that’s allowed them to schedule a full-group concert for later this spring. I wonder if they’ll release new music to go along with this milestone? For now, we’ll make do with a solo single from the group’s … Continue reading
With K-pop’s “girl crush” sound and concept omnipresent over the past few years, it’s become abundantly clear which groups can pull it off and which feel less authentic. I wouldn’t call (G)I-DLE’s debut era “girl crush,” but their edgier energy certainly helped lay the groundwork. They’ve made their name on self-produced shots of calculated attitude. … Continue reading
Since returning as a soloist in 2019, Park Bom has had a rather infrequent run of singles. We didn’t hear from her at all in 2020, and her latest track dropped nearly a year ago. But, she’s back with Melomance’s Kim Minseok as a duet partner on the dramatic Flower (꽃). It’s always a treat … Continue reading
I don’t often write about Jay Park’s music on The Bias List. I guess he could still be considered an “idol,” but I’d classify his work as more straight-up R&B than K-pop. The lines are blurring more and more every year. However, a feature from the ever-popular IU warrants a review. Whenever I click on … Continue reading
To be honest, I completely forgot Kwon Eunbi’s Universe track was dropping today. You know I like to “celebrate” these releases with some insane funhouse game, but that takes a fair bit of planning. But then, I remembered these Universe reviews are supposed to be as half-assed as the music itself. That’s the joke! So, … Continue reading
In preparation for Kim Wooseok’s new single, I looked back at his previous solo comebacks and realized that none of them have made any impression on me. Yes, I reviewed the songs. But, they came and went so quickly that I hardly remember them. Beyond the bubble of Produce 101 hype, I’ll never understand Top … Continue reading
I don’t often write about K-pop’s many OST releases, but The Boyz have filmed an entire music video for their new track Echo. The song supports the Solo Leveling webtoon, and encapsulates my general feelings about The Boyz: they’re an immensely talented group with charisma to spare, too often let down by subpar material. This … Continue reading
Bang Yongguk released the exciting Race late last year, building upon the rock/rap sound of former group B.A.P. He also composed excellent material within this genre for rookie group Just B. The style is a perfect match for his low-toned voice, adding an interesting facet to more predictable hip-hop production. Because of this, I was … Continue reading
Nearly a year since their last album, Super Junior are back with a special single release. The Road: Winter For Spring is a mouthful of a title, promoted with the much more concise Callin’. It’s the kind of track that feels targeted toward fans, hinging on sentiment rather than the desire to compete with flashier … Continue reading
This seems to be the week of bonkers girl group releases. From NMIXX to Billlie to CRAXY, these groups are serious about their worldbuilding and intricate concepts. But so far, the music hasn’t always followed suit. Yes, the songs twist and swerve in unexpected (sometimes jarring) directions, but they’re all built on ultra-familiar, overused sounds. … Continue reading
With titles like O.O and GingaMingaYo (The Strange World), K-pop is in an… interesting place at the moment. I know K-pop fans tend to be young, but these nonsense words feel like we’re going all the way back to kindergarten! O.O was an unwelcome aural assault, but Billlie have already proven themselves an interesting rookie … Continue reading
It’s been a very slow month (or year?) for K-pop, but the arrival of new JYP girl group NMIXX feels like 2022’s first big moment. Debuts from agencies of JYP’s caliber always bring a ton of hype, even if the song itself doesn’t meet expectations. With O.O, NMIXX deliver an attention-grabbing track, but I expect … Continue reading
With their new album Be Together, BTOB join the ranks of post-enlistment boy groups. Not every act makes it to this point, with all current members back together after years of service. The album also follows last year’s Kingdom competition, where members Eunkwang, Minhyuk, Changsub, and Peniel showcased the group’s range and versatility. With that … Continue reading
There was a time when Bae Suzy’s presence felt inescapable in K-pop. As a member of girl group Miss A and a very popular actress, her career straddled multiple facets of the Korean entertainment industry, earning her the title of “The Nation’s First Love.” She’s still a notable presence in dramas, but it’s been four … Continue reading
It seems Astro have entered a phase in their career that favors sub-unit and solo releases. This tends to happen after a group has established themselves, and it’s fun to see the individual members showcase their unique charms. Recent months have seen albums from main vocal MJ and dance/hip-hop unit Rocky and JinJin, but sub-unit … Continue reading
Ha Sungwoon has released quite a lot of solo material, but his new material will see him operating under a new label. He’s recently signed with BPM Entertainment – home to VIVIZ as well. Sungwoon’s You is billed as a “special album,” which usually means no big promotional rollout. And, this style of song doesn’t … Continue reading
K-Pop debuts can be tricky things. At times, they’re the best song a group delivers. Sometimes, they’re the only song a group delivers! But, debuts can also be huge wtf moments in an artist’s career. In this feature, I’ll be looking back at debut songs through the prism of time, re-evaluating how well they hold … Continue reading
DAY6 are the latest act to navigate K-pop’s tricky enlistment-imposed hiatus. With member Jae taking his own leave from the group and Sungjin, Young K and Dowoon all currently serving, that leaves lead vocal/keyboardist Wonpil to pursue solo efforts. Unfortunately, the guy just tested positive for covid, forcing cancellation for most promotions of debut solo … Continue reading
After Changmin’s Japanese solo album last year, TVXQ’s Yunho is up next. The two previously released solo albums in Japan prior to their 2015 enlistment, and Yunho’s is well worth tracking down if you can. I’m forever salty that Bang wasn’t promoted as a single, and hope that the new album will contain something similar. … Continue reading
For me, Mark’s voice is synonymous with NCT’s music. Early on, he was in every unit, bringing a sense of cohesion to the sprawling project. I’m actually surprised he hasn’t released a solo song yet. But with the advent of NCT Lab – a platform for solo works from NCT’s many members – we’ve got … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 