When it comes to my listening habits, the holidays are the only time I really make room for jazzy, coffeeshop-esque music. Coziness is a valuable asset throughout December, and some of my favorite winter songs adopt this style. Billlie’s Snowy Night won’t be climbing to the very top of that list, but it’ll definitely be … Continue reading
ATEEZ have been very intentional when it comes to their album series. Treasure had a beginning, middle and end, and Fever has followed the same approach. Kicking off in mid-2020, this project has sprawled across seventeen months. Now, we’ve reached its “epilogue” – an odds-and-ends release that wraps up the era. We heard pre-release title … Continue reading
With half of Winner currently enlisted, Kang Seungyoon and Mino have each delivered a full album this year. In Mino’s case, To Infinity is his third full-length, making him a prolific soloist. I haven’t connected with much of his music, despite enjoying a lot of his solo tracks on Winner albums. New comeback TANG!♡ (탕!♡) … Continue reading
TVXQ have been relatively quiet this year, both in Korea and Japan. That’s about to change, as each member is set to release solo Japanese work. Both Changmin and Yunho already have a J-pop mini album under their name – music that can be hard to find but well-worth searching out (Rock With U and … Continue reading
“Doughnut” is an odd title for a pop track – -especially a ballad. Apart from the fact that I prefer the spelling “donut” (because it somehow sounds slightly healthier), the metaphor itself is strange. Twice play with the idea of a doughnut hole referring to emptiness (my mind races toward the delicious spherical treat instead) … Continue reading
Those of you who follow The Bias List regularly know that I have certain pet peeves when it comes to music. I think we all do, and they’re not automatically a deal-breaker. But, layer enough of them on top of each other and you’ve got an impenetrable wall that makes it hard to objectively write … Continue reading
As one of K-pop’s leading acts, Seventeen never slow down. Fresh off the heels of last month’s Rock With You, they’re back with new Japanese single Power Of Love (あいのちから (사랑의 힘)). As expected of late November/early December, the track is a sentimental, seasonal ballad. Seventeen can rattle off this kind of song in their … Continue reading
It’s been more than a year since Cignature’s last comeback. In that time, the group has seen member changes and a reinvention in sound. Gone are the crazy days of Arisong (whose bonkers approach ended up being super fun), replaced by the much more subdued Boyfriend. K-pop reinventions aren’t rare, but how will a rookie … Continue reading
Just like last year, EXO’s Kai has returned at the tail end of 2021 to reassert his place in the industry. 2020’s self-titled debut proved to be a great success, drawing from different elements of modern r&b for a strong collection of songs. Even the subdued Mmmh ended up growing on me a lot. For … Continue reading
It’s been interesting to watch Korea’s changing approach to the Japanese market. There was a time when the biggest K-pop idols boasted equally huge J-pop careers. Acts like Girls’ Generation, SHINee and Kara released a ton of original Japanese music, often embracing local tastes rather than copying the exact sounds that made them popular in … Continue reading
When it comes to idols, putting a number in your group name is like the kiss of death. With few exceptions, these groups always seem to lose a member or two. Such is the case with GHOST9, who are now GHOST7 after the departure of members Dongjun and Taeseung earlier this year. Beyond that, the … Continue reading
Debuting all the way back in 2014, B.I.G have made it through the K-pop wringer. Across those years, they’ve delivered a few killer singles. But, their releases are few and far between and it’s been over two years since we last heard from them. Now down to four members (from an original six), the guys … Continue reading
As expected, ONEWE and ONEUS’s careers are closely entangled. I’m still waiting for another inter-group collaboration, but the acts often seem to release music within weeks of each other. In ONEWE’s case, Star (별) is a pre-release for upcoming projects, setting the stage for the return of their melancholic rock sound. It’s a very affecting … Continue reading
Ha Sungwoon has one of my favorite post-Wanna One careers, and that continued with August’s fun and funky Strawberry Gum. Recently, he’s announced his departure from Star Crew Entertainment — his agency since debut with boy group Hotshot. Before he moves on to other ventures, he’s put an exclamation mark on this era with the … Continue reading
With Fantagio Entertainment laser-focused on Astro, it feels like Weki Meki have often been tossed by the wayside. This is despite a strong discography with a few big highlights. It’s been over a year since their last comeback, which might as well be a lifetime in K-pop standards. Last year’s Cool was well-titled, establishing a … Continue reading
It’s such a joy to write about T-ara today. The group hasn’t made a comeback since 2017 – before many of today’s most popular acts had even debuted! K-pop’s constant changes and debuts keep it exciting, but there’s nothing like hearing from a veteran act. T-ara are such a huge part of K-pop history, and … Continue reading
In 2021’s steady stream of GOT7 solos, we’ve now arrived at Mark Tuan’s Last Breath. Mark opened his own studio and has been releasing a few singles this year. But, Last Breath could be considered his solo “debut” since it’s the first track to receive a music video that isn’t animated or tied up with … Continue reading
It’s not often that we see duos debut in K-pop, especially those who aren’t already related to an existing group or survival series. Lilli lilli’s name is stylized to look like a barcode, which matches the theme of their debut. I’m not sure what this is all supposed to mean, but it’s nice to see … Continue reading
I never wrote about ICHILLIN’s debut, which arrived just as the new school year was starting. To be honest, a look back at that song didn’t inspire much of a reaction. But, we all know first comebacks are equally as important as debuts, so it’s time to give follow-up single Fresh a chance. With any … Continue reading
I enthusiastically watched the entire NiziU project last year, happy to see many of my favorite personalities and talents make the final group. However, none of their post-show music has appealed to me. They’re one of those J-pop groups who pull a lot from K-pop tropes (JO1 and INI being other prominent examples), and this … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 