One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! 24/7 (from Don’t Mess Up My Tempo / Love Shot – 2018) 24/7 rest largely on its titular hook. Even the instrumental revolves around the same melody. Because of this, the song is a little repetitive for my taste, without enough variation … Continue reading
Dear Bias List readers: this is the kind of beat that makes me deliriously happy. Growing up, Michael and Janet Jackson’s discographies were my definition of pop perfection, and that really hasn’t changed. Give me a bright, funky instrumental and I’m happy. Add a powerful kick and layers upon layers of rhythm and I’ve reached … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! XOXO (from Growl – 2013) XOXO lays out a solid groove and sticks with it for three minutes. It has an appealing, throwback charm even if its ambition is generally low. The percussive piano is a nice touch, but like so many … Continue reading
Though I never had a chance to cover it, EXID’s Japanese debut album bore some interesting fruit this spring. I especially enjoyed their willingness to explore a variety of retro beats, which has always been one of my favorite aspects of their music. With the group on indefinite hiatus, new J-pop single Bad Girl For … Continue reading
Even as the year comes to a close, Stray Kids keep churning out new material. Less than a month after their most recent comeback, the group has unveiled a mixtape project. Since debut, they’ve included a special mixtape track on the physical version of each of their albums, with some even being paired with music … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Wolf (from XOXO / Growl – 2013) I think it’s accurate to call Wolf EXO’s most polarizing title track. The song gets a lot of guff, labeled cheesy or cringey. And yeah, the wolf howls are a bit much. But, when you … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! With You (from Don’t Mess Up My Tempo / Love Shot – 2018) With You fades in with a beautiful tranquility that continues even as more instrumental elements are added to the track. The vaguely trip-hop beat feels unique within their discography, … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Winter Heat (from For Life – 2016) With all the winter songs EXO have recording, I feel like I’ve said all I can say about this kind of track. Winter Heat’s dynamic percussion allows it to stand out a bit, with each … Continue reading
Well, this song came out of nowhere! Boy group Cross Gene is facing a diminishing roster, with member Takuya the latest to exit in pursuit of new challenges within the entertainment industry. The group now stands as a quartet, and leader Shin Wonho is thankfully still among their ranks. Though he’s more well-known for his … Continue reading
Red Velvet’s ReVe Festival series has seem them blitzing through a variety of styles with all the whiplash of a good carnival ride. Though I wasn’t too hot on it in the moment, the polarizing Zimzalabim remains my favorite title track from the project. It encompassed their quirky “red” side, which has always been my … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! White Noise (from Ex’Act / Lotto – 2016) The first thing you’ll notice about White Noise is its odd, herky-jerky percussion that feels as if its constantly fighting to keep up with itself. This helps to forge experimental verses that take a … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! What Is Love (from Mama – 2012) I don’t often highlight vocal phrasing as a song’s greatest strength, but What Is Love is all about how EXO wraps their voices around the instrumental’s icy, alien-like beat. This is without a doubt my … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! What If… (from Exodus / Love Me Right – 2015) As someone who came of age in the 90’s, I have a total soft spot for this kind of r&b slow jam. For those of us who might remember, the vocal hook … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! What I Want For Christmas (from For Life – 2016) Is that a slight jangle of sleigh bells I hear? It must be Christmas. EXO brings us yet another holiday track with What I Want For Christmas, but it’s in the upper … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Walk On Memories (from The War / Power Of Music – 2017) Sometimes, it can be hard to distinguish these mid-tempo EXO r&b tracks from one another. Walk On Memories doesn’t do much that would set it apart from similar efforts. The … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Wait (from Love Shot – 2018) Wait feels like a song that belongs on one of EXO’s holiday albums. Over a subdued, acoustic guitar instrumental, the track brings unique texture to the group’s standard r&b balladry. It suffers from appearing so early … Continue reading
Despite the tense political climate between the countries, rookie K-pop acts are making Japanese debuts earlier and earlier these days. ONEUS haven’t even been around for a year and they’ve already released two J-pop singles. The first was a Japanese version of their Korean track Twilight. The second is 808, the group’s first original J-pop … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Unfair (from Sing For You – 2015) Promoted as a sub-title track alongside Sing For You, Unfair finds EXO at their least guarded, offering a loose arrangement perched over a swinging, piano-infused instrumental. The song gives the guys a chance to showcase … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Two Moons (ft. Key) (from Mama – 2012) As EXO’s earliest rap song, Two Moons had a precedent to set. To help accomplish that, the track enlisted SHINee’s Key as a counterpoint to Kai, Chanyeol and Sehun. I’m not sure he was … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here! Twenty Four (from For Life – 2016) I can tell you right now, I have absolutely zero interest in a trap Christmas song. Twenty Four’s concept feels like the worst of trend-chasing, and it results in a forgettable entry to EXO’s winter … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 