If I had a time machine, I’d go back to 2016 and tell myself that – in seven years – I’d be writing the words “& Jonas Brothers” in the title of a blog post on The Bias List. It’s been quite a journey, my friends. Who would have ever thought we’d end up here? … Continue reading
NewJeans kicked off the day with the release of an eponymous introduction track for their upcoming album. That Powerpuff Girls collab was mood-setting but ephemeral. It fully embraced the group’s stylized worldview. NewJeans are nothing if not cool. Sometimes, I think “cool” is put at a higher premium than anything else. I understand why this … Continue reading
Queenz Eye debuted late last year with a song I never covered on the blog. Now, they’ve returned with their first comeback and a new sound. Un-Normal feels decidedly normal to me — especially given current K-pop girl group trends. It’s the latest in a long line of groovy, mid-tempo pop/r&b jams. The other day, … Continue reading
With so many pre-releases, it feels like Kiss Of Life have already debuted several times over. But Shhh (쉿) is the big one — the song they’ll be performing and promoting and ultimately be remembered for. As such, it falls somewhere toward the bottom half of their burgeoning discography. It may have been naïve of … Continue reading
Mere days after SHINee and U-KISS released new material, Teen Top are the latest second-gen group to join K-pop’s summer line-up. I’m not sure what a “hweek” is, but I’ll gladly take any kind of hweek that results in all my old favorites returning to the industry! HWEEK (휙) feels like a companion to U-KISS’s … Continue reading
There will be no summer barbeques or afternoons at the beach for Jun’s Psycho. This song spends its time in a windowless room, chains and restraints attached to the walls. Summer fare this is not. Jun has recorded solo material before, most recently with last year’s Limbo. Psycho follows a similar vibe, though it’s more … Continue reading
Unlike every Johnnys group before them, Travis Japan’s debut year has been characterized by a stream of digital single releases. This is much more in line with Western pop roll-outs, and gives the group a chance to quickly display the various sides to their music. Luckily, Travis Japan’s singles keep getting stronger. Candy Kiss is … Continue reading
For the second day in a row, JYP Entertainment has dropped a pre-release for one of its groups. This time it’s NMIXX, who are due to make a summer comeback next week. Roller Coaster is one of two new tracks, and jettisons their “mixx pop” sound in favor of subdued dance music that’s much more … Continue reading
When it comes to music videos, JYP Entertainment reminds me of that famous Oprah meme: “You get a car! And YOU get a car! AND YOU GET A CAR!” The agency has become very generous when it comes to promotion, pairing so many of its artists’ b-sides and pre-releases with full music videos. On the … 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. U-KISS’s fifteenth anniversary album is slavishly … 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 like Sung Kyu’s Small Talk … Continue reading
1. Hard // 2. Juice // 3. 10X // 4. Satellite // 5. Identity // 6. The Feeling // 7. Like It // 8. Sweet Misery // 9. Insomnia // 10. Gravity GRAVITY Ah, the pensive album-closer. K-pop loves a pensive album closer. Here’s the deal: Whenever I see the title of this song, my … Continue reading
1. Hard // 2. Juice // 3. 10X // 4. Satellite // 5. Identity // 6. The Feeling // 7. Like It // 8. Sweet Misery // 9. Insomnia // 10. Gravity INSOMNIA Hard concludes with two slower, moodier tracks. In my mind, Insomnia (불면증) is the stronger of the two. After a suite of … Continue reading
XG are an interesting prospect. Managed by legendary J-pop company Avex, they’re finding much more success outside their home country than within. This seems to be by design, as they perform in English and target many K-pop venues and audiences. I haven’t seen them appear on any of Japan’s numerous music shows, but they’ll be … Continue reading
We have just over a week to go until the release of EXO’s long-awaited seventh full album, and the group has now unveiled two pre-release tracks. Following emotional ballad Let Me In, Hear Me Out picks up the tempo ever so slightly to craft a throwback summertime groove. I’m just… so underwhelmed by these pre-releases. … Continue reading
1. Hard // 2. Juice // 3. 10X // 4. Satellite // 5. Identity // 6. The Feeling // 7. Like It // 8. Sweet Misery // 9. Insomnia // 10. Gravity SWEET MISERY I’ve seen Sweet Misery mentioned as many listeners’ favorite track on the album, and I understand where they’re coming from. It’s … Continue reading
1. Hard // 2. Juice // 3. 10X // 4. Satellite // 5. Identity // 6. The Feeling // 7. Like It // 8. Sweet Misery // 9. Insomnia // 10. Gravity LIKE IT There are a few vibes (or if I’m being more cynical, “templates”) I tend to love when it comes to SHINee. … Continue reading
Every year around this time, a handful of idol groups release summer-themed albums. I look forward to these projects, as their bright, upbeat sounds tend to match my taste. WEi are the latest to embrace the season, unveiling the buoyant Overdrive (질주) to promote their sixth mini album. I should absolutely love this track. It … Continue reading
1. Hard // 2. Juice // 3. 10X // 4. Satellite // 5. Identity // 6. The Feeling // 7. Like It // 8. Sweet Misery // 9. Insomnia // 10. Gravity IDENTITY Five tracks into Hard, and Identity is where the album feels like it finally kicks in. Up until now, we’ve had a … Continue reading
NiziU’s second album is scheduled for release in mid-July, but its lead single has been unveiled early. Coconut is NiziU’s bid for a summer hit and contains many of the elements we associate with the season. I’ve had a hard time embracing NiziU’s music. Apart from the occasional standout, I find it too closely-aligned to … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 