To my memory, we’ve never seen a popular K-pop group split in half and re-debut as two separate groups within a week’s time. Such is the case for the newly-reconfigured ZEROBASEONE and AND2BLE, which takes four former members and adds another. Head-to-head comparisons between the two groups will be inevitable and I wouldn’t be surprised … Continue reading
As the first act to spawn from MNET’s new era of survival series, I.O.I made their debut the same year The Bias List was founded. For as much discourse as they drove, the group really didn’t last for long. Back then, this whole process was new — including contract negotiations. I.O.I released music for just … Continue reading
NCT’s Taeyong jumped right from military enlistment to the studio, or at least that’s how it feels based on the quick release of his new album today. Maybe he’d already been working on the project pre-enlistment. He’s already teased us with pre-releases Rock Solid and Storm, each showing different facets to his sound. Now, it’s … Continue reading
Even when Bigbang were at their commercial peak, solo efforts by the members were just as important and oftentimes even more popular. In particular, G-Dragon and Taeyang ruled the zeitgeist with their respective hits, and even a decade (or more) later that nostalgia comes rushing back as soon as I hear their voices. Taeyang has … Continue reading
JYP Entertainment has been on a roll this year and as the agency released great song after great song I made a silent prayer that one of those great songs would make it to ITZY. I’ve always liked this group, but my interest in their music has waxed and waned as they struggled to find … Continue reading
A new era begins today as ZEROBASEONE make their first comeback as a newly-reconfigured five-member group. We’ve seen this approach before with Kep1er, but this situation has an extra layer of interest because the remainder of the (former) group will be re-debuting as AND2BLE in a week’s time, setting up showdown of sorts. With this … Continue reading
SeeYa were a vocal-focused trio active from 2006 to 2011. They were a big part of the K-pop landscape at the time, but not an act I’ve ever featured here since their promotional time ended before the blog began. However, the ladies have reunited for their twentieth anniversary, unveiling a new full album and title … Continue reading
A&R teams are the unsung powerhouses of K-pop and in my mind Woollim Entertainment had the best, most consistent ear for picking great songs. That’s one of the reasons it’s been so depressing to watch the agency fold into obscurity. I’m still not certain they’re equipped to make a full comeback, but today we’ve got … Continue reading
Since their debut in 2022, YOUNITE has been one of those groups with little consistency across their discography. I’ll love a song, then I’ll hate a song, then I’ll love a song again. But when they hit the mark, their music can be fantastic. Fortunately, we’re in one of those eras today with new single … Continue reading
Fresh out of the military, NCT’s Taeyong is gearing up for the release of his new album next week. He’s one to offer many different pre and post releases, filming content for a number of tracks. Storm gets a “classy performance video” today, meaning it gets a truncated review on this blog as well. I’m … Continue reading
JYP boy group NEXZ are on the ascendance, and it feels good to write that. Though I enjoyed watching the group form on season two of Nizi Project, it took until last year’s Beat-Boxer for the music to fully win me over. That feeling extended to last month’s excellent title track Mmchk (one of the … Continue reading
Debuting boy group YUHZ come to us from survival series B:MY BOYZ. Like many new series-spawned groups, their contract is slightly longer (five years), which hopefully gives their agency motivation to promote them with longevity in mind. A song like Rush Rush could be considered low-hanging fruit for me. Even at its worst, a bright, … 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. Lucy’s new album is a bit … 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. I hate when I look at … 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. XngHan&Xoul’s new mini album feels like … Continue reading
1. All The Possibilities // 2. You, You // 3. Why You So Bad? // 4. Get It Now // 5. Fire Escape // 6. Back To Strangers BACK TO STRANGERS Back To Strangers is the shortest song on the album, but its brevity actually works. I’m not mad at an album ending on a … Continue reading
1. All The Possibilities // 2. You, You // 3. Why You So Bad? // 4. Get It Now // 5. Fire Escape // 6. Back To Strangers FIRE ESCAPE As No Tragedy plays on, I realize that after the first couple of tracks I more-or-less enjoy the rest of the music at about the … Continue reading
1. All The Possibilities // 2. You, You // 3. Why You So Bad? // 4. Get It Now // 5. Fire Escape // 6. Back To Strangers GET IT NOW I expect this to be the most divisive track on the new album because it plays with sounds and textures we haven’t heard from … Continue reading
1. All The Possibilities // 2. You, You // 3. Why You So Bad? // 4. Get It Now // 5. Fire Escape // 6. Back To Strangers WHY YOU SO BAD? Why You So Bad is the third English-language track from TWS, following Unplugged Boy on their debut mini and the awesome anime theme … Continue reading
After some time as a trio, Lucy have returned as the four-piece they’re meant to be. The group is celebrating with their second full album, which includes new tracks as well as updated versions of songs released over the past few years. Title track All Ages (전체관람가) sums up their appeal nicely. Opening with Gwang … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 