It’s very rare that I’ll write a “buried treasure” or “in-depth album review” post, only to have that song given a full music video and promoted later on. So rather than have everyone sift through The Bias List archives, I’m going to re-post my original review of Breathe today, updated with the video. My thoughts … Continue reading
Enough of you asked for it, and who am I to deny? It’s time to dive deep into SHINee’s long-awaited comeback album Don’t Call Me, track-by-track. 1. Don’t Call Me // 2. Heart Attack // 3. Marry You // 4. CØDE // 5. I Really Want You // 6. Kiss Kiss // 7. Body Rhythm … Continue reading
I kind of feel like I willed this song into existence. Between my constant mentions of ONF’s electro-funk mix of It’s Raining last year, to The Bias List’s latest endeavor involving 90’s techno J-pop, I’ve all-but erected an imaginary shrine in honor of songs like this. And when even SHINee refused to bring the funk … Continue reading
If you were to map my musical DNA, a sizable portion would be indebted to 90’s J-pop. To me, this is a truly magical time in music, but it’s rarely discussed or shared outside of Japan. Being an aficionado of certain sounds within this era, I’ve tracked down hundreds of highlights over the years. And … Continue reading
Enough of you asked for it, and who am I to deny? It’s time to dive deep into SHINee’s long-awaited comeback album Don’t Call Me, track-by-track. 1. Don’t Call Me // 2. Heart Attack // 3. Marry You // 4. CØDE // 5. I Really Want You // 6. Kiss Kiss // 7. Body Rhythm … Continue reading
A K-pop group’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 would tell you that the … Continue reading
As usual, Golden Child gets the “bias group advantage” on this site. This means not only their title track and a buried treasure will be reviewed, but I’ll be taking a look at the entire new mini album YES. 1. YES. // 2. Burn It // 3. Cool Cool // 4. Round N Round // … Continue reading
A K-pop group’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. Dreamcatcher’s Road to Utopia is a … Continue reading
As usual, Golden Child gets the “bias group advantage” on this site. This means not only their title track and a buried treasure will be reviewed, but I’ll be taking a look at the entire new mini album YES. 1. YES. // 2. Burn It // 3. Cool Cool // 4. Round N Round // … Continue reading
Over the past few years, Golden Child have displayed a versatility in both concept and sound. This can be a dangerous road to travel, and oftentimes results in a hodgepodge discography that feels more intent on placating trends than developing a sense of artistic continuity. Yet, Golden Child have managed to forge an identity of … Continue reading
With over 3,000 songs on my iPhone’s “K-Pop Singles” playlist, I thought it would be fun to add a bit of unpredictability to my song review posts. So as a result, we have the “Random Shuffle Review” feature. The rules are simple. I fire up my playlist, press “shuffle,” and whatever song plays first gets … Continue reading
Nearly a year after withdrawing from girl group Keyakizaka46, former center Yurina Hirate surprised fans with a performance of her debut solo single on annual music broadcast FNS Kayosai. It was a show-stopping moment, befitting a song as bold and exciting as Reason For Dance (ダンスの理由). With her hard-hitting performance style and androgynous style, the … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Step (from Pink Tape – 2013) Step is the militant club anthem f(x) were born to deliver. It has personality for days, throbbing over brassy synths and distorted electronics. Much of the melody is targeted at the same endpoint, giving the verses … Continue reading
Some melodies are so instant and insistent that you come away from the very first listen with the hook rattling around in your head. This is often referred to as an “earworm,” and Japanese group BuZZ’s Sun and Love is the mother of all earworms. These guys have been around for a few years, but … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Pinocchio (Danger) (from Pinocchio / Hot Summer – 2011) I feel like repackage Hot Summer often steals the limelight from Pinocchio, but this track is far more quintessentially f(x). The stomping electro beat takes no prisoners, nudged along by the group’s rhythmic … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Papi (from 4 Walls – 2015) Papi is pure fun, indebted to nothing more than having a good time. It’s a monstrous dance track, thriving on a generous dose of electro bass and a chirpy synth loop. The chorus is instantly memorable, … Continue reading
Remember WARPs? They came out of nowhere last December with the brilliant Rock Tonight, which ended up being one of my favorite J-pop tracks of 2019. Then, they seemed to disappear off the face of the earth. This isn’t too surprising, as I’m sure the COVID pandemic played a part in derailing whatever plans they … Continue reading
LDH Japan has suddenly begun to blitz the internet with new music videos from its Exile Tribe acts, which is pretty exciting. Unfortunately, many of these have been in support of ballads that were digitally released months ago. But then we have Rising Soul – a new single by the agency’s popular Sandaime J Soul … Continue reading
One of the biggest benefits to GFriend upon joining Big Hit Labels has been the ability to expand their field of collaborators. While their sound hasn’t shifted drastically, bringing in producer Frants has been a goldmine for the group. This partnership kicked off with February’s extraordinary Labyrinth (which still should have been a single!). It … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Hot Summer (from Hot Summer – 2011) Originally a single by German pop group Monrose, I’ve always considered Hot Summer to be f(x)’s most approachable title track. That may be because the entire song is set up to support its catchy, angular … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 