Ryugujo are my favorite 2023 debut in any music market. I find the concept of a boy group taking on Avu-chan’s genre-bending, gutsy alt-rock very compelling and unlike anything else on the market. Part of the fun is watching them grow into this challenge. You don’t simply sing an Avu-chan track, nor are there many … Continue reading
“24K+” is the weirdest rebrand. It’s an offshoot of boy group 24K, who debuted all the way back in 2012. Yet, no original member remains and their new style/concept is markedly different from what 24K had been doing most of their career. I’d understand the slight tweaking of the name if the entity “24K” had … Continue reading
You’ve gotta hand it to JYP. He sticks to what he excels at… and often takes a mean promo shot to go along with it! I’m loving the styling and the pose of the picture above. It’s weirdly flattering, even if its inspirations lie in a bygone era. But really, JYP has made a late-career … Continue reading
The Boyz delivered one of my favorite sets of summer songs with the first part of their new album this August. This was somewhat unexpected — not because the group isn’t talented, but because I never know what I’m going to get with them. Of all the groups in their standing, I can’t pinpoint a … Continue reading
ZEROBASEONE’s Crush has grown on me a lot over the past few weeks, so much so that I hardly notice the momentum-shifting chant at its centerpiece. But for those who would prefer something a little smoother, the group has released a music video for the album’s opening track, Melting Point. This is much more in … Continue reading
Though this spring’s Bite Me was not without its issues, it went on to be a big hit for ENHYPEN by tapping into the Y2K trend and prioritizing a short-but-sweet song structure. The funky teasers for new title track Sweet Venom promised something even better, and HYBE-related acts have found recent success with MJ-esque throwbacks. … Continue reading
It’s not often that K-pop releases collaborations between its major agencies, but Nobody sees representative artists from SM Entertainment, Cube Entertainment and Starship Entertainment come together to deliver a theme for Busan’s bid to host the World Expo 2030. I didn’t know these things warranted a theme song, but I’m glad to have Nobody regardless … Continue reading
Over the past few months, I’ve had a horserace in my mind regarding which Bias List favorite would return with new music first: Golden Child or Kis-My-Ft2. It turns out Golcha emerged victorious, though Kisumai arrives right on their tail. But while Golcha’s recent efforts have been infrequent but excellent, Kis-My-Ft2’s recent material has been … Continue reading
As ONEWE’s activities wind down, rapper/singer/producer Giuk (formerly known as CyA) has been steadily crafting a solo discography. I never wrote about his spring solo debut, but the dramatic teasers for Scratch (내 영혼에 낸) caught my attention. I appreciate the direction Giuk’s taking his music, even if the songs could stand to be more … Continue reading
This year has been stuffed with new boy group debuts featuring Boys Planet contestants, but FNC Entertainment’s AMPERS&ONE caught my eye thanks to the bright, upbeat direction of their music. I’d love for K-pop to embrace a resurgence of thick synths and propulsive dance beats, and the teasers for On And On seemed to promise … Continue reading
Crush has been a reliable presence in K-R&B since his debut over a decade ago, scoring at least one big hit nearly every year. Last year’s Rush Hour paired him with BTS’s J-Hope and brought a renewed sense of funk to his sound. New single Hmm-cheat (흠칫) continues the party, borrowing from classic grooves to … Continue reading
The high points in Red Velvet’s discography are so high, but if I really think about it I haven’t cared for one of their title tracks since 2019. As with most groups approaching their tenth year in the industry, their comebacks have become less frequent, but today they deliver a wealth of new material on … 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 guess there’s an unspoken rule … 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’ll always be that person who … Continue reading
Omega X have been through the wringer over the past few years, so even if their music hasn’t always been my thing it’s hard not to root for them. Junk Food is their first comeback after their successful lawsuit against former agency Spire Entertainment and sees them continue to develop their noisy, bombastic style. What’s … Continue reading
Alongside fellow artists Jessi and Dawn, HyunA recently left Psy’s P Nation for a new label. She decided to sign with producer GroovyRoom’s AT AREA, and Attitude is the first taste of what the two may create together. With the ink still fresh on their partnership, I’m already excited for the music that may come … Continue reading
After two and a half years, Fantastics are finally (finally!) set to release their third album. Of course, there have been ample singles during that time, meaning we’ve already heard 95% of their upcoming Fantastic Rocket. Starboys is one of two new songs and introduces the album’s space exploration theme. Though it doesn’t match their … Continue reading
As always, being The Bias List‘s bias group guarantees an in-depth album review — even if there are only three songs! Let’s take a look at Feel Me’s two b-sides! Feel Me // 2. Blind Love // 3. Dear DEAR I read some pre-release promo that described Dear as a “Brit-pop epic,” which is definitely … Continue reading
As always, being The Bias List‘s bias group guarantees an in-depth album review — even if there are only three songs! Let’s take a look at Feel Me’s two b-sides! Feel Me // 2. Blind Love // 3. Dear BLIND LOVE Blind Love feels like a maturation of Golden Child’s bright, debut-era sound. It’s got … Continue reading
I’ll always root for a super-nugu group with an inscrutable name, and eite fits the bill. Debuting today, I know next to nothing about them beyond the fact that they’ve already surpassed expectations with their music. Independent Woman isn’t quite as spectacular as it could be, but it’s stronger than most efforts from their big-budget, … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 