The theme of this year’s MAMA Awards was “New-topia,” which sounds a bit chilling in a weird way. But, things were definitely new here. This was unlike any MAMA yet, lacking a live audience. But even though everything was accomplished on soundstages, I think the producers did a great job making this still feel like … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Step By Me (from Chu – 2009) Released as part of f(x)’s first single album, Step By Me only hints at the daring group they would become. Instead, it exists in the “cuter” range of the girls’ discography, offering a throwback rhythm … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Step (from Pink Tape – 2013) Step is the militant club anthem f(x) were born to deliver. It has personality for days, throbbing over brassy synths and distorted electronics. Much of the melody is targeted at the same endpoint, giving the verses … Continue reading
Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, 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. While BoA’s Better doesn’t have quite as many highlights as 2018’s … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Stand Up! (from Pinocchio / Hot Summer – 2011) Stand Up is the kind of cheery girl group song you’d expect of most K-pop acts. It actually feels a little more suited to the Japanese market than Korea. The melody is bright … Continue reading
I’ve been a little hard on NCT lately, but that’s only because I find their concept so promising. It borrows quite a bit from systems that the J-pop market has been using for ages, but has the potential to bring a uniquely K-pop aesthetic to the approach. That potential has popped up here and there … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Spread Its Wings (from God Of Study OST – 2010) A sub-unit track recorded for the God Of Study OST, Spread Its Wings brings together Luna, Krystal and Amber for a mushy mid-tempo that sounds exactly as you’d expect it to. For … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Spit It Out (from Red Light – 2014) Spit It Out’s introduction is quite exciting, unveiling an ascending bed of synths and vocals. This quickly collapses into an off-kilter rap before segueing into a rapid-fire melodic verse. The song moves at such … Continue reading
Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, 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 Kai’s debut mini album isn’t exactly the sound I’d hoped … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Sorry (Dear.Daddy) (from Nu ABO – 2010) This song title does not inspire confidence. Despite considering Madonna’s Papa Don’t Preach one of the finest pop songs in history, these kind of daughter-to-father tracks are usually way too sentimental for me. And, that’s … Continue reading
K-pop legend BoA has returned with her tenth Korean album, celebrating twenty (!) years since her debut. That kind of career is rare for any pop star, but the K-pop industry tends to be extra fickle. The fact that BoA remains such a dynamic presence is a testament to her skill, charisma and willingness to … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! So Into U (from Pinocchio / Hot Summer – 2011) So Into U has that classic “wet” sound I always associate with certain producers like Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and that alone gives it some welcome nostalgia. As far as the … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade. November 2020 Overall Thoughts November was absolutely packed with releases, and though only one title track … Continue reading
EXO’s Kai has been primed for a solo debut for years now. As one of the group’s most dynamic performers, it feels like the sky’s the limit when it comes to the showstoppers he could deliver on his own. And, the pre-release teaser film for his debut album harnessed that theatricality in exciting ways. Yet, … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Snapshot (from Pink Tape – 2013) The intro to Snapshot is among the cheesiest moments in f(x)’s discography, but it establishes the song’s vampy sound well. The jazzy verses have a vaudevillian appeal to them, though I’ve never been a huge fan … Continue reading
Since the start of The Bias List in January 2016, I’ve always looked back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists each month. Now, it’s time to look even further into the past, one month at a time. And, yes, the top three rankings count toward The Bias List’s personal artist scorecard! January … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Signal (from Pink Tape – 2013) Those who are loving K-pop’s current dalliance with disco music will find plenty to admire about Signal. From its wispy strings to its indelible groove, the song bumps with the best of them. Its instrumental remains … Continue reading
It’s that time of year again! Over the next few weeks, I’ll be looking at many of K-pop’s biggest agencies and offering my thoughts about how their 2020 went. First up is SM Entertainment. As usual, the thoughts are my own and aren’t privy to any insider information. I’m not taking into account things like … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Shadow (from Pink Tape – 2013) Shadow emerges as track two in the Pink Tape album, and has always suffered in comparison to Rum Pum Pum Pum. Under the hood, the song is almost as experimental, but the overall arrangement is much … Continue reading
NCT is absolutely stuffed with talent and personality. But, that only goes so far without strong songs to harness it. On the whole, both parts of the NCT Resonance album remind me of a b-side collection. They’re not so common anymore, but artists used to cobble together unreleased material and outtakes into a special album … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 