Good things come to those who wait, and in the case of INI that means better music. I’ve been a fan of the group since their Produce 101 days, but their first year of releases left much to be desired. However, they’ve been on a roll in 2023, kicking off with digital single New Day … Continue reading
As K-pop’s boy groups rediscover rock music this year, Just B enters the fray with an advantage. Since their debut, they’ve traded in rock sounds — most notably on standout b-side Get Away. Their take on the genre tends to be a bit more bombastic than many of their peers, and that continues on new … Continue reading
Lim Young Woong is a chart behemoth in Korea, but I’ve never featured his music on the blog before. His beginnings in trot music marked him as someone just outside the idol landscape, but as soon as the first teaser dropped for new single Do Or Die my interest was piqued. He’s made a complete … 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. Though ONF’s new album is reliably … Continue reading
NCT 127 secured a Bias List first with the only “buried treasure” post published before an album was released. That’s thanks to b-side Angel Eyes, which was pre-released alongside a special performance video. To be honest, that song is much more my speed than most of the group’s recent title tracks. At this point, it’s … Continue reading
2023 has already seen a ton of boy group debuts, and the stream keeps on coming. Many of these acts have introduced themselves with a pre-release, building anticipation before unveiling their title track. 82MAJOR has a few familiar faces, including participants from Fantasy Boys and Show Me The Money. Sure Thing follows what I’d like … Continue reading
It was incredibly smart for ONF to enlist in their mandatory military service together, assuring they would return as a full group within two years. So many boy groups choose a staggered approach, which is fine if you actually release music during these configuration changes. But too often, this simply results in diminished returns. If … Continue reading
K-pop artists have a history with League Of Legends‘ themes and I don’t usually write about these songs on the blog. However, everything NewJeans touches seems to become a colossal smash so I feel a certain obligation to cover as much of their music as possible. And refreshingly, the anthemic Gods is a big sidestep … 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. In the history of The Bias … Continue reading
Jungkook has found a winning formula with singles that cater to Y2K pop sounds and feature a popular American rapper. His summer hit Seven proved more durable then expected, offering a breezy take on garage music with a simple — but addictive — hook. If Seven borrowed liberally from Fill Me In era Craig David, … Continue reading
More often than not, Kep1er’s b-sides tend to eclipse their title tracks. Check out Back To The City, Together Forever and MVSK to see what I mean. They’ve yet to promote a song that connects with me in the same way, but with a possible contract extension in the works they may have more time. … Continue reading
There are better people than me to recount the long, sordid saga of LOONA’s relationship with former agency Blockberry Creative. Suffice it to say, there are five members remaining and they’ve re-formed as “Loossemble” — one of the most unfortunate group names I’ve heard in some time. Fresh starts like this have worked for other … Continue reading
As global K-pop collaborations become more frequent, the pairing of talents matters more and more. Which artists can compliment each other and tease out new dynamics? When it comes to TXT, I found their pairing with Jonas Brothers quite cloying. In that case, the song highlighted a milquetoast, kid’s movie soundtrack vibe that some of … Continue reading
Given Johnny’s & Associates’ recent implosion, I’m paying close attention to Hideaki Takizawa’s newly-established TOBE label, which is becoming a home to more and more ex-Johnny’s talents. I have my own take on the J&A controversy (mostly, I’m irritated that the agency’s talents seem to be the ones paying for their late founder’s crimes), but … Continue reading
It’s getting harder to distinguish between a proper comeback mv and a “special mv” in K-pop, but BBGirls’ Lemonade deserves at least a brief write-up. Despite its repetitive structure, comeback One More Time ended up growing on me. It makes for a great singalong while driving! Lemonade is funkier and groovier, taking a more laid-back … 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. One of the composers I miss … 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’m sure readers are as tired … Continue reading
POW may not be debuting for another month, but they’re following a recent K-pop trend by pre-releasing a track to familiarize audiences with their style. This tactic may muddy the waters a bit, but it feels like a good way to announce yourself with relatively low risk and start building a fan base before that … Continue reading
Hur Youngji has had an unusual career path, joining girl group Kara in 2014 via reality TV series and releasing a few albums with them during the group’s twilight years. Then, she participated in their big reunion album late last year. In between, she’s acted, performed with agency-mates KARD and flirted with a solo career. … Continue reading
Well, isn’t this a nice surprise? Not only is this Weeekly’s first new track in ages, but it’s a fan song that’s actually upbeat and fun! Good Day (Special Daileee)‘s effusiveness won’t be for everyone, but I enjoyed its fizzy burst of pop melodies right from the start. The song’s EDM sound and chorused vocals … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 