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The Bias List | K-Pop Reviews & Discussion - Music
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Song Review: tripleS ∞! – Password | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Japanese tripleS sub-unit "∞!" debuted last year with the moody, hypnotic Untitled. It was one of the better tripleS title tracks, though I can't say it stayed on my playlist for long. Now, they're back with a jauntier pop song in new single Password. There's a joke going around about tripleS's strong reliance on "la…
Song Review: Primrose – Love Your Flower | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Primrose released a joy bomb of a pop song with the buoyant Cinema early this summer. That track had surprising staying power for me, powered by a splashy chorus and unabashedly upbeat energy. I'd have loved to see the girls continue down this musical lane, but instead they've returned with the more subdued Love Your…
Song Review: LUN8 – Lost | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Since their 2023 debut, LUN8 have tried on a variety of styles and even reconfigured their line-up. This has made it difficult to gain a firm grasp on the group, as Fantagio Entertainment simply seems to be throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks. The latest in this approach is a new single…
Song Review: ATEEZ – Ash | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
ATEEZ are out with their second full-length Japanese album today, compiling earlier J-pop singles alongside new material. After several years struggling to connect with their new material, the group's two summer singles subverted expectations and caught my ear. New track Ash does the same, opting for a sleek dance sound I don't always associate with…
Song Review: Doh Kyung Soo (EXO’s D.O.) – Dumb (ft. Penomeco) | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Just two months after releasing his first full-length album, Doh Kyungsoo has returned with a special digital single. Honestly, they should just tack it onto that album and call this a "repackage" the way K-pop used to do. Either way, Kyungsoo's discography can always do with more energetic material and Dumb sees him exploring crunchy…
Song Review: Yuqi (i-dle) – M.O. | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
A week ago, i-dle's Yuqi pre-released the satisfying ballad Gone ahead of her new single album. Though I enjoyed the song, I'm typically not a big ballad lover and rarely listen to them outside of the context of an album. Because of this, I was much more interested how her title track M.O. would sound.…
Song Review: IDID – CHAN-RAN | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
After a very long wait since their July pre-release Step It Up, Starship Entertainment's new boy group IDID make their debut today. Step It Up grew on me immensely and I've since gotten to know the group through their pre-debut variety content. Now all that's left to deliver is a great title track. Does CHAN-RAN…
Song Review: Jang Wooyoung (2PM) – Think Too Much (ft. Damini) | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
I don't have the hard numbers to back it up, but compared to groups their age it feels like the 2PM members have the most prolific string of solo releases. The guys continuously release material in both Korea and Japan, and even if many of these songs fail to register with me in a big…
Song Review: BADVILLAIN – Thriller | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Spooky season is fast approaching, which means a song titled "Thriller" has me thinking of one thing only. Instead of an MJ zombie dance-a-thon, this Thriller brings us the return of girl group BADVILLAIN. It's been almost a year since we've heard from them on this blog, which might as well be a century when…
THIS WEEK IN K-POP: Ranking the New Releases from September 7 – 13 | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
At the end of each month, I compile my top three K-pop title tracks and list a ton of honorable mentions. In 2025, I thought I’d try something new and add a weekly feature to supplement my monthly round-up. Each Sunday, I’ll offer a compendium of the week’s new releases featured on the blog. And…
New & Noteworthy J-pop of the Week (September 14, 2025) | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
In connection with my desire to fully keep up with the J-pop industry, I'm planning to do a weekly round-up of any new releases that have caught my ear. Some of these may have been covered on the blog already, but my hope is that this will become a one-stop shop for anyone interested in…
Song Review: Nana (After School) – GOD | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
It's always nice to hear from an old friend. Nana has a special place in my heart for several reasons. First, she was a member of the fantastic After School and their quirky sub-unit Orange Caramel. She also co-starred in the first full Korean variety show I ever watched: 2014's Roommate. So, seeing her name…
BOYS II PLANET: Episode Eleven Recap (Ranking the Debut Concept Battle) | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
PREVIOUS RECAPS: Episode One // Episode Two // Episode Three // Episode Four // Episode Five // Episode Six // Episode Seven // Episode Eight // Episode Nine // Episode Ten I’m trying something different this week because I honestly don't have the time to watch the entire episodes of this series at the moment…
Song Review: BamBam (GOT7) – Dancing By Myself (ft. TIMETHAI) | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
GOT7's BamBam has explored a variety of sounds during his solo career -- some more successful than others. He has a new EP on the horizon and today we get the first taste of his first work under a new agency. Dancing By Myself is well-positioned for global appeal, sung mostly in English and harnessing…
Song Review: Chaeyoung (Twice) – Shoot (Firecracker) | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
A few days ago, Twice's Chaeyoung pre-released the first taste of her debut solo album with Avocado. Depending on your taste, that track either felt refreshingly new for K-pop or like a bit of a snooze. I fall in the latter category, though I did respect its unique tone. Pre-releases are afforded some leeway when…
Buried Treasure: Wendy (Red Velvet) – Existential Crisis | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
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. Based on Wendy's past solo work,…
Song Review: Wendy (Red Velvet) – Sunkiss | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Red Velvet's Wendy made her solo debut four years ago and most of her work has been some form of ballad (Wish You Hell notwithstanding). I've always been a proponent of big-voiced pop stars using that big voice over fast-paced, energetic material. There's nothing better than power notes anchoring a banging dance track, and I'd…
Song Review: AxMxP – I Did It | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
FNC Entertainment is one of the few large agencies continually debuting new bands. They've make it their specialty ever since the days of FTIsland and CNBlue, and with the major success of acts like DAY6 there's clearly still a market for this sound. New K-band AxMxP (pronounced "A.M.P" and standing for "Amplify Music Power") makes…
Song Review: Dayoung (WJSN) – Body | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Those of us begging for a WJSN comeback have been tossed the smallest bone by Starship Entertainment today. The agency has unveiled member Dayoung's first solo single with almost no promotion or build-up. However, beggars can't be choosers and I'm happy to see WJSN back in any capacity. I wouldn't expect member solos to uphold…
Song Review: ALL(H)OURS – Ready 2 Rumble | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
I know I don't speak for all K-pop fans, but I am tired -- so tired of being yelled at by overly aggressive boy groups shouting alongside cacophonous instrumentals. Previously, ALL(H)OURS found a nice middle ground between noise and sleek structure, delivering the standout singles Shock and Gimme Gimme. But with new track Ready 2…
Song Review: Yuqi (i-dle) – Gone | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
i-dle's Yuqi has a solo single album scheduled for later this month and has kicked off promotions early with pre-release track Gone. Much of Yuqi's music has passed me by, but I absolutely loved 2021's Bonnie & Clyde and her track Fly To The Youth (written for agency juniors NOWZ) was an early summer highlight.…
Song Review: CIX – Wonder You | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Earlier this year, CIX's Thunder became a favorite of many fans. I liked the song too, though it has enjoyed little-to-no staying power on my playlist. Still, its crunchy electro funk felt like a nice makeover for the group's sound. That sense of bombast seems to be a one-off as new single Wonder You (니가…
Song Review: Haechan (NCT) – CRZY | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Nine years after debuting as part of NCT 127, Haechan is finally releasing an album of his own. He's a huge R&B fan and worked with a small team of collaborators to craft a suite of songs that honor that genre. It's a sign of shifting generations that the template for male soloists has gone…
Song Review: Momoland – Rodeo | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Momoland are back! I repeat: Momoland are back! This is not a drill. After their disbandment in 2023, the group have proven that nothing is ever really dead in K-pop and have made a return with new single Rodeo. This is their first new music in nearly four years -- a time period that represents…
Song Review: CORTIS – FaSHioN | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Given Big Hit's track record, my expectations for new boy group CORTIS were high. Sadly, I haven't been able to connect with any of their pre-release material. If I ignore the English lyrics of What You Want I can almost appreciate its 90s stoner rock pastiche, but songs like GO! leave me completely cold. Now,…
THIS WEEK IN K-POP: Ranking the New Releases from August 31 – September 6 | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
At the end of each month, I compile my top three K-pop title tracks and list a ton of honorable mentions. In 2025, I thought I’d try something new and add a weekly feature to supplement my monthly round-up. Each Sunday, I’ll offer a compendium of the week’s new releases featured on the blog. And…
New & Noteworthy J-pop of the Week (September 7, 2025) | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
In connection with my desire to fully keep up with the J-pop industry, I'm planning to do a weekly round-up of any new releases that have caught my ear. Some of these may have been covered on the blog already, but my hope is that this will become a one-stop shop for anyone interested in…
Song Review: DAY6 – Dream Bus | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
I listened to DAY6's new album yesterday and thought -- as I often do with their albums -- that almost every b-side was stronger than the title track. Luckily, the guys are promoting double titles this time and have quickly followed up yesterday's Inside Out with a video for album opener Dream Bus (꿈의 버스).…
BOYS II PLANET: Episode Ten Recap | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
PREVIOUS RECAPS: Episode One // Episode Two // Episode Three // Episode Four // Episode Five // Episode Six // Episode Seven // Episode Eight // Episode Nine We've hit another ranking announcement episode, which means I will forgo a longer recap in favor of a quick summary. This week's episode is over three hours…
Song Review: DAY6 – Inside Out | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Ahead of their fourth full-length Korean album and tenth anniversary, the members of DAY6 re-signed their contracts with JYP Entertainment. And why wouldn't they? The group has seen a massive rise in popularity over the past few years as their solid discography continues to grow. But with increasing success, it can feel like the band…
Song Review: aespa – Rich Man | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
It may simply be my exhaustion with current K-pop trends speaking, but I feel like agencies often learn the wrong lessons from their successes. aespa's most successful title tracks have hinged on varying levels of repetition, but ever since last year's Whiplash it feels like SM Entertainment has been on autopilot with the group's material,…
Song Review: X:IN – RRRUN | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
I haven't checked in with multinational girl group X:IN since 2024 on this blog, though they've released material since then. Their early reviews ranged from a peak of 6.5 to a low of 2.75 (!) for the unintentional comedy of 2024's My Idol. I'd say they have nowhere else to go but up, but let's…
Buried Treasure: ZEROBASEONE – Star Eyes | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
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. ZEROBASEONE's last two mini albums were…
Song Review: Hyolyn – Shotty | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
What to do with a K-pop song titled "Shotty"? It certainly doesn't fit within the Korean lexicon, and if you google the word its technical meaning is medical jargon for "small, hard, and round lymph nodes." I highly doubt Hyolyn has been inspired to sing a song about lymph nodes, so I assume she's modified…
Song Review: ZEROBASEONE – Iconik | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
With the end of ZEROBASEONE's contract looming in the (very near) distance, fans are concerned this might be their last comeback -- at least in their current iteration. It's impossible to know for sure what the future holds, but the guys are no doubt throwing everything they have into their first full album and the…
Song Review: Monsta X – N The Front | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Monsta X are celebrating their tenth anniversary -- a huge milestone for any group. Album promotions kicked off with pre-release Do What I Want last month and now they're back with their title track N The Front. It's a Dem Jointz production, whose work I haven't always gelled with. But if anyone's going to carry…
Song Review: Chaeyoung (Twice) – Avocado (ft. Gliiico) | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
It took awhile before members of Twice embarked on solo careers, but we're now at a stage of their career where that feels like an appropriate extension of their brand. I can't say I have any particular allegiance toward one member or another, but Nayeon's solo work has been most suited to my pop-loving taste.…
Song Review: Stray Kids – BLEEP | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Each time Stray Kids release a new album, they tend to film music videos for multiple tracks. As my interest in their music has waned over time, I haven't always written about these follow up songs -- especially now that I have a weekly post where I can spotlight any notable b-sides. Album opener BLEEP…
Song Review: ILLIT – Toki Yo Tomare | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
ILLIT made a sneaky Japanese debut with a soundtrack song, though their 2024 mega-hit Magnetic was also omnipresent in Japan. Like fellow HYBE artists TWS and BOYNEXTDOOR, their sound feels tailor-made for J-pop so it's nice to hear them leaning into that on new single Toki Yo Tomare. After being somewhat hesitant about ILLIT last…
The Top Three K-Pop Songs of August 2025 | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
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. August 2025 Overall Thoughts In the immortal words of BABYMONSTER: "Sheesh!" Based on recent history, I've…