One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Calling Out (from Cinderella Sister OST – 2010) f(x) recorded quite a few OST tracks in their early days, and this ballad from Luna and Krystal showcases many of that format’s strengths and limitations. Many OST ballads are only as effective as … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Butterfly (from Red Light – 2014) In many ways, Butterfly (나비) begins like so many tracks from SM Entertainment history. Its core synth stomp has been popular with the agency since the mid-00’s, but f(x) soon take it in a different direction … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Boom Bang Boom (from Red Light – 2014) A sparse, mostly percussive dance track, Boom Bang Boom lives up to f(x)’s idiosyncratic reputation. It’s a song that thrives on competing textures, from the grimy verses to the skeletal beat drop that blossoms … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Beautiful Stranger (from Electric Shock – 2012) A unit track from Amber, Luna and Krystal, Beautiful Stranger makes itself known with a dramatic electronic opening before laying down its stomping beat. The song opens with a standout rap courtesy of Amber, followed … Continue reading
Is it weird that, even after the first note, part of me expected Hello (안녕) to be a cover of Adele’s 2015 mega-hit? To be honest, I wouldn’t mind hearing that. Instead, Chen’s latest release is the kind of ballad you’d expect this time of year in Korea. It’s been awhile since I’ve written about … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Beautiful Goodbye (from Pinocchio (Danger) / Hot Summer – 2011) Opening with the chiming of bells and a dramatic English-language testament from Amber, Beautiful Goodbye stakes its claim on emotional resonance. Its slick mid-tempo beat is firmly entrenched in the mid-to-late 90’s, … 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. When listening to NCT’s Resonance Part 1, I’m struck with the … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! All Night (from Red Light – 2014) Sure, f(x) can get experimental. But, some of their most enjoyable work is also their most approachable. All Night continues K-pop’s love for everything retro, offering a roller-rink ready synth disco track. From its programmed … Continue reading
Fans have barely had a chance to breathe between SM Entertainment’s SuperM album and this new, ambitious NCT project. Resonance brings together all twenty-one members, plus two new faces, for part one of a compilation album that mixes and matches the guys into various units. Resonance will be promoted by two title tracks, and the … 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! October … Continue reading
Like they did back in the winter of 2018, NCT is making full use of their malleable roster for a new 2020 project. Unlike 2018, which saw multiple title tracks unveiled over the course of several weeks, this album’s promotion seems to be occurring in a tighter timeframe. But, NCT has exploded in popularity over … Continue reading
You better believe the opening of Taeyeon’s new Japanese single got me all sorts of nostalgic. With a simple “C’mon girls, this is our generation,” I realized once again how much I miss Girls’ Generation being a force in K-pop. They’re often held up as the definition of a “Nation’s Girl Group,” and for good … 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. September 2020 Overall Thoughts Back in late winter, my reviews were often besieged with comments stating … 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. A few years ago, UP10TION were one of K-pop’s most promising … 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. SuperM’s new album is so loaded with content that it’s hard … Continue reading
SM Entertainment has always scheduled quick repackage releases, but Super Junior-D&E’s Bad Liar emerges in what feels like record time. Not even a month has gone by since the guys dropped B.A.D. But then again, SM’s release schedule has been unusually packed all month, and this frenzied rush doesn’t seem as though it will slow … 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! August … Continue reading
The road to SuperM’s first full-length album has been paved by two pre-release singles: the high-octane, polarizing 100 and the EXO-meets-NCT Tiger Inside. Both did a good job showcasing the grandeur that fuels the SuperM project, but now that we’ve arrived at the album’s official title track, it feels like the time to really throw … 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! July … 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! June … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 