It’s difficult reviewing a song by a bias group or artist, and Still I Remember (끄덕끄덕) is particularly tricky. On one hand, it’s the solo debut for Woohyun, one of the MVPs of my ultimate bias group Infinite. But it’s also a ballad from an album full of ballads, and I’ve never been predisposed to liking … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-side tracks deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. It’s been a couple weeks since Twice’s second mini album … Continue reading
Of the two title tracks that Akdong Musician released as part of their new mini album, How People Move is the looser, more fun-loving sibling. It’s also one of the most bizarre mainstream kpop releases we’ve heard in quite some time. On first listen, many portions of the song come across as improvised. Though it’s … Continue reading
Akdong Musician have long been a favorite of mine, and it’s seemed like a lifetime since they had a proper comeback. Though kpop as a whole continues to become more musically diverse, there are no easy comparisons to this quirky sibling duo. For their new album, we’re treated to double title tracks, with Re-Bye being the … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-side tracks deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. A rating in the high 8’s really doesn’t indicate much … Continue reading
Lovelyz are right at the top of the newer girl group pack for me. Their quirkiness and fizzy synth pop sound won me over instantly, but then they delivered the double sucker punch of Ah Choo and (the amazing) For You last year. That pretty much sealed the deal. When I heard they would be going more … Continue reading
Few groups have enjoyed as meteoric a rise as Twice has with their debut single Like Ooh Ah. It took me a long time to fully come around to Ooh Ah‘s charm, and if its longevity is anything to go by, I’m not the only one. Cheer Up feels as if it may achieve the same feat. On … Continue reading
It’s a tall order to follow-up a song as well received (and well-delivered) as Mansae. For me, it was one of 2015’s best singles, and established Seventeen as the top rookie group of the year. It also raised expectations almost impossibly high for their follow-up. Both Adore U and Mansae shared similar styles, opting for … Continue reading
BTS’ The Most Beautiful Moment In Life project has been such a triumph on all levels, and now they’re taking a victory lap of sorts by releasing the trilogy’s finale. The actual album (and presumed title track) won’t be released until early May, but with Young Forever, they’ve surprised us with a taster of what’s … Continue reading
Six weeks after coming back with double title tracks, Lee Hi is wrapping up her Seoulite promos with the release of a final single, My Star. The song sees a return to the retro soul-pop she’s known so well for, but how does it match up with her material from March? Pretty well, actually. My … Continue reading
When GOT7’s comeback was released in March, I wasn’t so thrilled with it. Fly has since grown on me, though I still think it’s one of their weaker title tracks. As indicated by the brief sample we were given, follow-up single Home Run seemed to promise something bouncier and more upbeat. The song has actually been … Continue reading
Before making their inevitable Korean comeback, AOA have released their second original Japanese single with Give Me The Love. I liked their first one well enough, but it had absolutely no staying power on my playlist. Give Me The Love seems to be the exact opposite. I was initially underwhelmed, but now find myself… well… … Continue reading
Block B get compared to Bigbang quite often. Some of the comparisons are fair, and many are not. They certainly have a sound of their own, but they do share a similarly annoying habit of taking long breaks in between releases. Prior to their March comeback, we’d gone nearly two years since hearing from them. … Continue reading
Given the purpose behind this track, I was bracing myself for a gag song, more concerned with cameos than music. Though I love Conan O’Brien, I definitely didn’t need him singing in a kpop single. Luckily, his portion of the audio is limited to a lame spoken intro (which honestly should have been kept exclusive … Continue reading
JYP (Park Jinyoung) is a legend in the world of kpop, and rightfully so. Not only is he the founder and head of his eponymous agency, but his career has continually forged the path of what kpop has developed into, starting in the 90’s and continuing to present day. He’s also a total character, and … Continue reading
I’ve always found SM’s “throw ’em out there” approach to debuting new groups to be kind of refreshing. There’s no endless countdown clocks or debut dates announced weeks before music is released. When they’re ready, they briefly tease and then just drop the music. Bucking industry trends, the first releases from their NCT boy group … Continue reading
Thank the kpop gods! We finally have an SM Station release that isn’t a lifeless ballad! This alone is something to celebrate, but the fact that Lil’ Something is a great song in its own right is icing on the cake. For those unfamiliar, Chen is one of the main vocalists in mega-group EXO, and Heize … Continue reading
Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-sides and album tracks deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I wanted to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. I find myself continually drawn back to DAY6’s … Continue reading
CF (Commercial Film) releases from kpop acts are often pretty flimsy, which makes sense because their whole purpose is to act as an advertisement for whatever product or brand a group is endorsing. Similarly, CF music videos are little more than extended commercials, usually with the product awkwardly shoehorned in. But, Mamamoo’s Woo Hoo is … Continue reading
I get the sense that CNBLUE’s Cinderella from last year wasn’t all that well-received. But, I appreciated the move towards a more synth/dance driven style and it actually got me more interested in the group than I’d been in quite some time. Nevertheless, You’re So Fine offers a sort of return to form, with its funky, … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 