TOO’s 2020 debut left me a bit cold, but their summer follow-up ended up being one of my favorite tracks of the year. Its bright, exuberant sound fit them especially well, and helped distinguished them from other boy groups. But, every rose has its thorn, and Count 1, 2 ended up being TOO’s final comeback … Continue reading
Many fans have wholeheartedly indulged in ENHYPEN’s Carnival, buoyed by the energy of title track Drunk-Dazed. But while I enjoyed the song initially, I’m finding myself less inclined to revisit it as time goes on. Oddly, the aspect that bugged me most upon first listen (its heavy vocal effects) is hardly an issue anymore. Now, … Continue reading
It’s always an odd choice to debut a sub-unit before the main group has yet to establish themselves. E’Last debuted last year, and quickly developed a dramatic sound that hearkened back to previous K-pop generations. They could do with another group comeback. Instead, four of its members have formed E’Last U and dropped The Beginning … Continue reading
TRI.BE debuted earlier this year, bolstered by the production power of Shinsadong Tiger and EXID’s LE. Though I liked Doom Doom Ta just fine, its legacy has been tied up with the group’s infuriatingly catchy catchphrase: “TRI.BE be da loca!” I find myself chanting it now and again, instantly embarrassed and annoyed. It’s a classic … Continue reading
It seems like all we’ve been doing this spring is watch SM idols enlist in the military. Most have graced us with a final album or single before taking their leave, and SHINee’s Taemin is no exception. Two weeks before enlistment, he’s delivered Advice. This marks his third album in nine months — a staggering … Continue reading
After a lengthy hiatus, fromis_9 seemed to find their sweet spot with last September’s buoyant Feel Good. They’ve stuck with the same composers for We Go, and that was a smart decision. Their music is at its best when it opts for a classic pop sound, foregoing girl crush or aegyo trends for a style … Continue reading
Rocket Punch’s music has kept me at a distance so far. Last year’s Bouncy was an addictive bit of noisy pop, undercut by vocals that occasionally felt strained and uneasy. And though I initially hated the cutesy follow-up Juicy, its sheer ridiculousness (mostly) won me over in the end. Now, the girls have aimed straight … Continue reading
Say you’re one of the biggest music agencies in the world and you’re looking to launch your next big girl group. What do you do? Saddle them with a Christmas song (in February!)? Toss them an old b-side from the soundtrack of a Fast & Furious spin-off? Both sound like awful ideas, yet this is … Continue reading
Johnny’s Entertainment has been oddly quiet this spring, and its few releases have felt pretty underwhelming. I’m shocked that we haven’t yet gotten a full album announcement from Snow Man, and we’re just now learning what Kis-My-Ft2 will be up to for their big tenth anniversary. Thankfully, there are a couple of single releases to … Continue reading
Before a new K-pop album is released, I habitually read its track descriptions (when they’re available). This can be dangerous, as my imagination can falsely extrapolate a single word into the most epic song ever recorded. But more often than not, these descriptions just use the same few trendy descriptors. So when Yuqi’s Bonnie & … Continue reading
As GOT7 members embark on their own solo careers, I’ll probably pick and choose which songs to write about. After all, The Bias List’s focus has always been idol groups, and labels like H1GHR Music begin to veer into different territory. But, it’s interesting to hear what idols are capable of when signing with a … Continue reading
With each new Universe release, I debate whether I should keep writing about these tracks or simply treat them as their own sort of b-side. After all, you can’t really consider them a “comeback” — especially since the full music videos are limited to the Universe app. And, none of the songs so far have … Continue reading
Though she doesn’t receive as much attention as some of (G)I-DLE’s other members, Yuqi has one of the group’s most compelling voices. And now, she has the opportunity to spotlight that talent with the release of her digital single Giant. Recorded in both English and Chinese versions, the song offers a shot of rock-infused inspiration. … Continue reading
Boy group Blitzers are the latest 2021 debut to throw their hat into the ring, joining this year’s rookie class with a boisterous blend of rap and rock. I’ve always enjoyed this genre mash-up, and welcome any attempt a group makes to stand out. To Blitzers’ credit, Breathe Again doesn’t simply regurgitate trends from their … Continue reading
Just over a month since their last group comeback, WJSN have unveiled their second sub-unit. The chic WJSN The Black consists of members Seola, Bona, Exy and Eunseo, and promises a groovier compliment to the Cosmic Girls sound. Debut single Easy fits that bill. It’s sleek and satisfying, even if it falls short of being … Continue reading
ONEUS’s Devil proved to be a polarizing comeback. While the album was super strong, its title track jettisoned much of the group’s usual charm for a harder blast of boy group posturing. But at the very end of No Diggity‘s music video, fans were treated to a teaser of funky bass. That flourish turned out … Continue reading
You’d be hard-pressed to find a bigger Sweetune fan than me. And with Han Jaeho and Song Sooyoon making a rare public appearance on web series MMTG last week, I’ve gone down yet another spiral of legendary Sweetune singles. As K-pop’s retro trend flourishes, I can’t fathom why agencies aren’t reaching out to the best … Continue reading
This past weekend, I wrote a few thoughts about the current state of K-pop’s girl group landscape. And, Oh My Girl are the antidote to almost every gripe I have. They consistently offer strong vocals, quirky, unique songs and a sound that’s all their own. With last year’s Nonstop and Dolphin, they were finally rewarded … Continue reading
With boatloads of preorders and hundreds of millions of views, there’s no doubt NCT have become SM Entertainment’s new alpha group. And with the announcement (ugh…) of “NCT Hollywood,” their influence will only grow. I wish I could confidently join the bandwagon, but the longer this NCT project advances, the more repetitive it gets. I … Continue reading
Some of my favorite Korean dramas are set within the music industry. And, given K-pop’s natural proximity to K-drama, I’m surprised we don’t see more of these crossover projects. The last one I remember was 2018’s Top Management, which spawned the fictional idol group S.O.U.L. That was such a fun series, and Get Myself With … Continue reading
