Rookie group CLASS:y aren’t wasting any time. They’ve divided their debut mini album in two parts, releasing both within weeks of each other. Shut Down was unveiled only a month ago and it’s already time for their first comeback. I know the K-pop industry moves fast, but this feels like a new record! Shut Down … Continue reading
We’re at the point in the year when upbeat summer releases should start becoming more common. Given the season, I’m surprised May was filled with so many darker concepts. If you’ve followed The Bias List for long, you’ll know how much I love a summer concept album. I’ve got a whole playlist of these songs … Continue reading
Sexy Zone boast a wide gap between the cringiness of their group name (you’ll grow to love it!) and the quality of their output. Run is easily my favorite song so far this decade, but it’s only one of many strong singles. The guys are especially adept at retro concepts, and their new album The … Continue reading
May 31st, 2022 We arrived on the planet CRAVITY late last night and celebrated our successful voyage with an early sleep. No champagne for this team. Even if we had wanted a grand celebration, this planet’s quirky physics wouldn’t allow it. Gravity is constantly changing here. Our Mission Specialist dubbed it “crazy gravity,” or “cravity” … Continue reading
Back in January, Victon impressed with the brisk, powerful Chronograph. It still stands as one of the more memorable boy group comebacks of the year, forgoing many of 2022’s musical trends for a classic, propulsive K-pop sound. Four months later, the guys are back with (the stupidly-titled) Stupid O’Clock. With a title like that, you’d … Continue reading
Yesterday on the blog, we spent some time discussing genre and highlighting underutilized styles we’d like to see more often in K-pop. 90’s hip-hop came up as an option, just in time for NCT Dream’s repackage track Beatbox. This song has been pitched as a fun 90’s hip-hop throwback. This is some clever marketing but … 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. Once in a blue moon, you … Continue reading
As a supplement to my individual episode recaps, I like to take a look at the original songs that make up Queendom‘s finale. These were pre-released ahead of next week’s performances, which means we can judge them on their own merits rather than the effects-heavy stages that will no doubt bring a healthy dose of … Continue reading
Seventeen’s fourth full album was preceded by their first English-language single Darl+ing, released last month. That song felt very much like a placeholder, as many pre-releases tend to be. Now that anticipation has been built, it’s time for the main course. With Hot, the guys are back with a harder-edged hip-hop track (what else is … Continue reading
SHINee is one of those select K-pop groups whose Japanese output is on par with their Korean work – both in quality and volume. This extends to their solo projects, with multiple members making inroads to the J-pop market. On the heels of his latest mini album, Onew is set to release the Japanese language … Continue reading
It’s crazy how quickly time passes in K-pop. When looking back at BVNDIT’s discography, I hadn’t even realized their last release happened over two years ago. That’s an entire lifetime for some groups, and a real hurdle for those still trying to establish themselves. So, it’s no surprise to see BVNDIT opt for a reinvention … Continue reading
We have another 2022 debut on our hands, as BLANK2Y give a thumbs up to the K-pop industry. They’re the first idol group to hail from the recently established Keystone Entertainment. (Side note: it always surprises me when newish agencies debut groups with so many members. Isn’t that super expensive??). Some of the guys come … Continue reading
With (G)I-DLE riding high on the charts, Cube Entertainment has devoted much of their attention to them. But, the agency has another group waiting in the wings. LIGHTSUM debuted last year with the fun Vanilla before shifting toward slightly more generic sounds with follow-up Vivace last October. Since then, we haven’t heard much from the … Continue reading
After nearly three years as a soloist, Kang Daniel has finally released his first full album. That’s a huge accomplishment for anyone — let alone a guy who started his own agency and essentially manages his own career. Though I’ve not always connected with his music, I admire how often he infuses it with his … Continue reading
BoA’s career forms the architecture of K-pop’s success in Japan, and she’s rightfully celebrating her 20th anniversary in Japan with all the pomp and circumstance that milestone deserves. A title like “The Greatest” may feel a bit cringey as part of other acts’ discographies, but it suits BoA just fine. The real question is: does … Continue reading
It’s always gratifying to watch a group defy the odds. After exiting JYP Entertainment and embarking on solo projects, it would have been easy for GOT7 to dangle an unfulfilled promise of reunion before slowly fading into fans’ memories. Instead, the guys have joined forces for a new comeback just a year and a half … Continue reading
ONEUS and ONEWE in the same week?? It almost feels like we’re getting closer to a reunion of both groups, where ONEWE supply a killer track as ONEUS bust out striking choreography. It’s happened before, but I need it to happen for a promoted comeback. Until then, ONEWE are back with special single Roommate (룸메이트). … 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 I’m not yet sure how … Continue reading
It’s been a dispiriting run of boy group tracks this year. Musical diversity has taken a backseat to cut-and-paste sameness. Same beats. Same attitude. Same bluster. It’s becoming a real challenge to write about these songs in new ways. There’s nothing to analyze or wonder about, and the songs are so stitched together by corporate … Continue reading
Though GFriend may be no more, its members have kept busy in 2022. VIVIZ are wading their way through season two of Queendom and Yuju debuted as a soloist. Next up is Yerin, who has signed with Sublime Artist Agency and is out with her first mini album. Debut solo single Aria isn’t worlds away … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 