The Rose have been mostly absent from the K-pop industry for a few years now, completing their military service and moving to a new label after filing a lawsuit against their former agency. They managed to release a couple one-off singles during that time and frontman Woosung continued to grow his solo discography. But in … Continue reading
Mimiirose chose a daring time to make their debut, right on the heels of much-hyped releases from BLACKPINK and NCT 127. Complicating things even further, they’ve opted for a “half video,” which cuts off after the first chorus. Who knew the Universe app would have such influence? Seriously, I don’t get this tactic at all. … Continue reading
Gosh, it’s been ages since I wrote about a Kim Jaejoong track! He’s spent most of his recent music career in the Japanese market, but now he’s back with a full Korean album. To put it in perspective, the last time this happened The Bias List had only been around for about a month! It’s … Continue reading
It’s been a solid year for singles/albums from Johnny’s & Associates. As far as ratings go, I feel like I’ve given a ton of high-8’s but only a couple 9+ raves. Sexy Zone have been the recipients of two of those 9’s. Their Highlight album is aptly-named, giving us the excellent single Forever Gold and … Continue reading
There are many under-the-radar releases that don’t get coverage on The Bias List. Some aren’t featured because they’re not really an idol product. Some are honestly too boring to write about. Others don’t get reviews because their music video has about five hundred views (which leads me to believe no one would be interested in … 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. KBS missed a big opportunity by … 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. While I found ONEUS’s new title … Continue reading
I did not have “BTOB’s Lee Changsuk making a comeback with a synthwave song” on my 2022 K-pop bingo card! But, I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised. The genre has been a huge inspiration this year, both in K-pop and global music. Eventually it’ll wear itself out the way all trends do, but for … Continue reading
ONEUS seem to be waffling between aggressive, shout-along title tracks (ie: this spring’s Bring It On) and softer sounds. New single Same Scent catches them in a more reserved state, harnessing a groovy beat and tropical synths that revisit the sound of their 2020 track A Song Written Easily. Given my own bias, the whole … 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. Key never delivers a bad album. … Continue reading
Rather than develop a signature sound, Billlie seem to have developed a signature mantra: “keep things quirky and unpredictable.” From their verbose song titles to their genre-hopping sound, they’re proving to be one of the most interesting girl groups of this era. With such a wide variety of influences, listeners may not connect with every … Continue reading
After nearly a year’s hiatus, Key has returned with a new album. He pre-released the fantastic Another Life next week, which harnessed the synth-powered style that made Bad Love such a triumph. Title track Gasoline opts for a different sound, raiding the SM vaults to craft the kind of maximalist stomper artists like TVXQ used … Continue reading
When it comes to their music, Woollim Entertainment has been on a roll this year. Many of my favorite 2022 tracks have come from their artists. But, the agency tosses comebacks around haphazardly without much teasing or hype-building. If I had to choose, I’ll always favor song quality over robust promotions. But, it’s a bit … Continue reading
It feels like it’s been ages since Tempest made their early-March debut. The funky Bad News turned out to be a grower, though the group’s sound still existed within generic boy group tropes. But, at least they didn’t succumb to the shouty angst peddled by so many of their peers! That refreshing switch-up continues with … Continue reading
After nearly two years of singles, Hey! Say! JUMP are back with a new studio album. Filmusic is a varied collection of songs themed around movie genres. Its most successful moments come when the group tries on a hard rap/rock style, though the self-referential Get Out Of My House is also a treat (especially if … 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. Depending on how you look at … Continue reading
DKB have spent much of the year touring around the United States and will be returning to that vigorous schedule soon. I don’t always associate K-pop stardom with a ground-up, meet-the-people approach, but it’s a smart way for smaller groups to form lasting bonds with fans. I know I’m much more eager to support an … Continue reading
If my count is correct, it’s been 370 days since CIX released their first studio album. This makes for a surprisingly lengthy hiatus between comebacks. They’ve returned with a different sound, taking a few cues from their debut era but bringing a newfound sense of maturity. As a fully-realized song, 458 doesn’t always get there. … Continue reading
Compared to earlier eras, it’s been a dry few years for new music from Kis-My-Ft2. Their latest singles have trended toward balladry – often themes to romance-focused dramas. That’s all well and good (frankly, I’ll take whatever they want to give us), but I’ve been hoping for more upbeat material. After all, age and experience … Continue reading
These Universe releases just keep on coming! Once upon a time, I thought this might be some limited series and I’d be able to fudge my way through a handful of fun carnival game-esque “reviews” and call it a day. Almost two years later and I guess the joke’s on me… Anyway… we haven’t done … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 