After 2022’s Vagabond, I found myself paying more attention to Trendz. Their agency smartly paired with producer LEEZ, who painted the group’s music with many sounds I loved in ATEEZ’s early discography. But though their songs were all very solid, none grabbed me with enough force to make Trendz an act I returned to often. … Continue reading
OnlyOneOf’s 2022 “Underground Idol” series gave them great focus, helping to carve out a sonic and thematic place for their music. Since then, their work has become more fractured. The abrasive Seoul Drift grew quite addictive over time, but their BL drama “Bump Up Business” was so cheesy I couldn’t even finish it. It’s probably … Continue reading
It seems SF9 have settled into a once-a-year-comeback pattern, giving them less chances to hit it out of the park. Last January’s Puzzle had its heart in the right place, but I found the repetitive rhythm of its chorus difficult to fully embrace. Bibora accepts Puzzle‘s baton but ups the tempo and maintains its focus. … Continue reading
![Buried Treasure: TXT x SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] – LEvel](https://thebiaslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/txt-x-sawanohiroyukinzk-level.jpg?w=290&h=290&crop=1 "Buried Treasure: TXT x SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] – LEvel")
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. Readers, this is why I’m always … Continue reading
Just yesterday, Kis-My-Ft2 released the video for their upcoming single Heartbreaker. And now, we have the solo debut from former member Hiromitsu Kitayama, who left the group earlier this year to join Hideaki Takizawa’s TOBE company. Needless to say, it’s been an unsettled year for us fans! While nothing about Heartbreaker bowled me over, RANSHIN … Continue reading
GreatGuys are one of those super underrated groups that occasionally pull a pop banger out of nowhere. I wouldn’t say any of their songs have permanent residence on my playlists, but every once and awhile they surprise me. New single Deep In Love is the biggest surprise yet. I love the production on this. I … Continue reading
Of all the BTS solo efforts, Jungkook’s music has connected most with me. Both Seven and 3D (minus Jack Harlow’s awful verse) have had unexpected staying power and I appreciate how they wear their influences on their sleeve. Both those songs hearkened back to early-2000’s sounds, but title track Standing Next To You mines earlier … Continue reading
In a K-pop year that’s been less than stellar, Golden Child arrive like a deus ex machina just weeks before we turn the page to 2024. It’s been an agonizing fifteen month wait for new music, but no other group of their generation has such a solid batting average on this blog. Since their debut, … Continue reading
Whether with protégés Ryugujo or her own band Queen Bee, I’ve fallen in love with Avu-chan’s songwriting. It’s fierce and cathartic — the perfect vehicle for a vocal that’s often combative and raw. Queen Bee’s music runs the genre gamut, but straight-ahead rock is a particularly satisfying match for the band’s charm. The excellent Violence … Continue reading
K-Pop debuts can be tricky things. At times, they’re the best song a group delivers. Sometimes, they’re the only song a group delivers! But, debuts can also be huge wtf moments in an artist’s career. In this feature, I’ll be looking back at debut songs through the prism of time, re-evaluating how well they hold … Continue reading
K-Pop debuts can be tricky things. At times, they’re the best song a group delivers. Sometimes, they’re the only song a group delivers! But, debuts can also be huge wtf moments in an artist’s career. In this feature, I’ll be looking back at debut songs through the prism of time, re-evaluating how well they hold … Continue reading
Ryugujo (龍宮城) are one of a handful of newer J-pop acts with permanent occupancy on my playlist. Year 0, Class 0, the survival series that formed them, remains my favorite TV show of the year and their partnership with Queen Bee’s Avu-chan makes them an exciting new voice in music. 2 MUCH leads their first … 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. The second half of summer has … Continue reading
TAN have done a nice job mining the sounds of second-gen K-pop to craft an appealing discography, most notably with debut single Du Du Du. That song (and others) gave me strong Beast flavor, but new single Heartbeat echoes classic SHINee. Or to be more specific, it feels like NCT’s 2019 version of 2013-era SHINee, … Continue reading
The Boyz are releasing their second full album in parts, starting with a collection targeted at bright summer sounds. I’ve been waiting for the group to return to this style for years. 2021’s Thrill Ride had the imagery right, but Lip Gloss nails the sound. I love when K-pop groups don’t take themselves too seriously. … 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 still in a haze over … Continue reading
Let me paint a picture for you: In the unlikely event that producers Sweetune are announced as part of a modern-era idol comeback, my entire base of operations goes on red alert. Lights flash, alarms sound and any outside activity freezes as the fist-pumping grandeur of The Chaser pipes through the overhead speakers. Okay, I don’t … Continue reading
I’ve been enjoying the heck out of The Wind’s early-Gfriendcore concept. In my eyes, they’re doing everything right so far. By working with a small, dedicated team of composers, they’ve quickly developed a signature sound characterized by buoyant production and big moments of exuberant catharsis. Last week’s pre-release Summer Vacation has grown into an undeniable … Continue reading
Apologies for the click-bait title. I don’t often use them, but I really wanted to share this track and I wasn’t sure how to do it. I don’t write “Buried Treasures” for J-pop, nor do I feature a countdown dedicated to Japanese b-sides. So, I thought I’d attempt to catch everyone’s interest before writing about … Continue reading
They may not be on everyone’s radar, but from20 and Hello Gloom from The Faker Club are two of 2023’s most consistently solid artists. Their creative partnership is firing on all cylinders, resulting in music and videos that often eclipse the material coming from K-pop’s biggest agencies. Not bad for an indie label founded by … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 