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
I have… questions. First, on a gut level I just don’t understand the appeal of an AI popstar. So much of pop stardom (and especially K-pop stardom) is built around personality and charisma. Those aspects can be programmed to some extent, but computers are never going to be able to replicate the quirks and charms … Continue reading
A J-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 J-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. I don’t usually write “buried treasure” … 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. Forgive the obvious reference, but the … 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. It seems a little silly to … Continue reading
Since leaving iKON and YG Entertainment in 2019, B.I has worked more as a producer than a solo artist. He’s also uploaded music to the online platform Soundcloud, a long-standing site gaining popularity with idols and K-pop stars as a way to share unreleased material. His new EP Love Streaming is forged from those Soundcloud … 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. The best Pentagon albums thrive on … 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. As anticipated, DRIPPIN’s Young Blood is … 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. The Boyz’s Japanese releases are a … Continue reading
Since its release last summer, Jessi’s Nunu Nana has grown on me immensely. And, I suspect I’m not alone. After all, the song became a huge 2020 hit, and recemented her as the queen of K-pop attitude. It remains to be seen if new single What Type Of X (어떤X) will enjoy the same successful … Continue reading
Weeekly have quickly developed an enthusiastic fan base, and it’s easy to see why. Though their bright, bubblegum pop isn’t always for me, the girls boast skill and charisma for days. Debut single Tag Me was a ton of fun, and new track After School recaptures much of that playful hookiness. While the song is … Continue reading
While I cover just about every major K-pop release on The Bias List, there are naturally those that I look forward to more than others. And, I’ve been really curious to hear Mirae’s debut. Their opening teaser caught my attention, and I love that their Korean name translates to “Future Boys.” I just want to … Continue reading
Boy group MY.st debuted last spring, during the height of global lockdown protocols. To be honest, I can’t even remember the song, which tells you all you need to know about its impact. But, I’m always one for second (and third, and fourth…) chances, and when I saw that new single Dazzle (별이 쏟아진다) would … Continue reading
Rookie group DRIPPIN impressed me with their first mini album, but given Woollim Entertainment’s track record with boy groups, I was almost guaranteed to like their music. Still, Nostalgia had a gracefulness that set the group apart. Coupled with an excellent chorus, the song pointed toward an exciting future for DRIPPIN. Follow-up Young Blood isn’t … Continue reading
Super Junior have titled their milestone tenth album “The Renaissance,” which conjures images of regality and refinement. To me, the group have always been more about amiable, self-deprecating personality, which makes the concept feel like an odd fit. But as far as I can tell, the title has little to do with the music itself, … Continue reading
Years ago, K-pop legend Rain formed boy group MBLAQ. They found sizable success, and were followed by junior acts Two X and Madtown before the subsidiary J. Tune Camp went defunct. Now, Rain is back with the first idol group from his own R.A.I.N Company. Of course, times and tastes have changed since 2009. How … Continue reading
Though I never featured it as a “buried treasure” last year, I was really impressed by WOODZ’s album track Trigger. It built toward a stomping, bluesy climax bolstered by guitar. I mention this because new single Feel Like comes across as a natural extension of that song. This time, the entire track is driven by … Continue reading
Following in the footsteps of agency seniors Mamamoo, Purple Kiss preceded their official debut with several pre-releases. My Heart Skip A Beat and Can We Talk Again were polar opposites in sound and style, but both carried a mood that pointed towards a darker, edgier sound for the girls. Debut single Ponzona delivers on this … Continue reading
After a jolt of renewed interest from their stint on Road to Kingdom, Pentagon now face the tricky business of military enlistments. Jinho and Hui have already taken their enlistment hiatus, though the latter appears in new single Do Or Not’s audio and music video. In a way, that makes the track feel like the … 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
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 