Boy group Omega X has had a tough go of it, wrangling free from an abusive agency before briefly trying their hands at self-management. Now, they’re with new agency IPQ and seem to be stuck in a hiatus of sorts. You is the first new music we’ve heard in awhile and comes courtesy of sub-unit … Continue reading
A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. When listening to ILLIT’s new mini … Continue reading
Prior to Hearts2Hearts’ debut earlier this year, many K-pop fans were hoping they’d be branded as a new generation’s answer to SNSD. This has less to do with the girls themselves than fans’ longing for the high quality pop music and monocultural reach of SM Entertainment’s earlier generations. However, Hearts2Hearts went more niche with the … Continue reading
If NewJeans first popularized the subdued style of girl group pop/R&B that currently has a stranglehold on K-pop, ILLIT took that baton and added a chirpy, ‘beep beep boop’ type of chorus that has now become just as ubiquitous. Taken together, these trends have delivered a lethal blow to my own personal taste. To put … Continue reading
Since their debut in 2023, n.SSign have struggled to forge their own sound, shifting genres and energy with each comeback. For me, they’ve yet to better the stunning ballad Higher, which displayed a vocal ambition we don’t often hear in K-pop these days. New single Itty Bitty introduces a bit of bombastic funk but ultimately … Continue reading
XLOV debuted earlier this year with a concept that boldly challenges gender norms. This is an exciting development for K-pop and has potential to spawn equally exciting music. So far, the presentation has been more interesting than the songs, and that continues with the pleasant but slight 1&Only. Afrobeats has become a huge genre touchstone … Continue reading
I know that most (all?) fans would likely disagree with me, but my most enduring ATEEZ song remains 2019’s Wave. That track is not at all indicative of their overall sound — especially post-2020 — but has such a great build and glide that targets all my pop music pleasure centers. Because of this, a … Continue reading
After a burst of pre-releases last year leading to their first album, ARTMS have been relatively quiet. They released digital single Burn in early April, which also appears on their new Club Icarus. Now, we have that album’s title track to officially kick off promotions. So far, I’ve appreciated ARTMS’s artistic, genre-blending approach but haven’t … Continue reading
This is the month BTS fans have been waiting for, as all seven members will soon have returned from their military-imposed hiatus. New group music will undoubtedly be in the works, but prior to that the guys continue to chug along with solo projects. After a double shot of solo singles in March, J-Hope is … Continue reading
Girl group Primrose have had an interesting history, moving from duo to quartet and switching genres each time they’ve made a return. Last year’s Steal Heart was their most promising venture yet and new title track Cinema continues that winning streak despite an ultra-cheerful aura that could rub some listeners the wrong way. There are … Continue reading
Though they’re not technically what you’d call a “title track,” I often write about the signal songs of popular survival series. Since the first season or Produce 101 in 2016, these songs have become K-pop’s most reliable burst of high-drama EDM energy. They’ve basically become their own genre now, tied together by the same musical … Continue reading
A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. ITZY’s new mini album is strong … Continue reading
QWER have quickly vaulted to the status of Korean chart royalty. Their style of bright pop/rock made a major breakthrough last year with T.B.H and they’ve managed to keep that momentum going with follow-ups. If you squint just a bit, you can make out sounds from Bias List favorites GFriend and Lovelyz within their catalog, refashioned … Continue reading
Back in 2019, ITZY’s debut ushered in a wave of confident, attitude-forward girl group tracks. They’ve since shifted their style in a number of ways, which was evident on the couldn’t-be-more-different-from-each-other Gold and Imaginary Friend last year. It feels like they’ve only struck the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the genres they … Continue reading
HYBE has made an aggressive push into the Japanese market over the past few years, both debuting their own J-pop groups and deploying their Korean acts with original material. The latest to join this push is LE SSERAFIM, who previously released Japanese-language versions of their Korean hits. Different marks their first original J-pop track and … Continue reading
It’s been a very slow week in K-pop, so a surprise pre-release from ILLIT saves me from digging in the archives and writing about something old today. Their comeback is slated for later this month with title track Do The Dance, but prior to that they’ve debuted the “brand film” for album opener Little Monster. … Continue reading
A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. TWS’s first Japanese single Hajimemashite (Nice … Continue reading
If you would have asked me a few years ago what I thought about HYBE Corporation, I would’ve had a few choice words to share with you. But somehow, many of my favorite new K-pop acts have now emerged from HYBE. And given &TEAM’s excellent musical track record, I was eager to see what the … Continue reading
Though I had waited years for KickFlip’s debut, the resulting music left me mostly cold. It’s clear that JYP Entertainment wants to give them a youthful, rebellious concept, but the songs felt like they could have been delivered by any other boy group of this generation and the hooks often grated when I wanted them … Continue reading
Red Velvet’s Irene and Seulgi made their unit debut all the way back in 2020, spawning two singles backed by high gloss fashion and plenty of charisma. Five years later, they’ve returned with a new mini album and the club-ready title track Tilt. Along with Seventeen’s Thunder, today seems to be the day for dance … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 