News
Entertainment
Science & Technology
Life
Culture & Art
Hobbies
News
Entertainment
Science & Technology
Culture & Art
Hobbies
The Bias List | K-Pop Reviews & Discussion - Music
7 | Follower
THIS WEEK IN K-POP: Ranking the New Releases from May 25 – 31 | 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…
Song Review: aoen – The Blue Sun | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
If you would have asked me a few years ago what I thought about HYBE Corporation, I would've had a few choice words to share with you. But somehow, many of my favorite new K-pop acts have now emerged from HYBE. And given &TEAM's excellent musical track record, I was eager to see what the…
The Top Three K-Pop Songs of May 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. May 2025 Overall Thoughts The other day, I commented on Twitter/X that K-pop was struggling to…
New & Noteworthy J-pop of the Week (June 1, 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…
Reviewing One of My Favorite K-Pop Summer Albums: ASTRO – DREAM PT. 1 | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
While Astro's Dream Pt.1 was never specifically promoted as a "summer" album, it's one of the K-pop projects I most closely associate with the season and was released just before one of K-pop's most epic summers in 2017. More importantly, it's incredibly strong and represents a bubbly, ultra-melodic pop sound we just don't hear much…
Battle of the B-Sides: g.o.d, Red Velvet, GOT7, SF9, Dreamcatcher | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
K-pop’s title tracks might gain most of listeners’ attention, but many album tracks are worth equal spotlight. I call these “buried treasures.” Beyond this, K-pop’s albums deliver thousands of additional tracks that settle for a more limited audience. It’s these songs that will become a part of my “battle of the b-sides” feature. In this…
Song Review: KIIRAS – Kill Ma Bo$$ | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
It's an uphill battle for new acts from small-to-medium sized agencies, requiring most to deliver eye-raising material that seizes the K-pop conversation. Rather than focus on legitimately great music, many of these smaller acts opt for gimmicks or -- more recently -- bold statements designed to grab listeners' attention. The title of KIIRAS's pre-release certainly…
Song Review: Ten (WayV) – Silence | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Promotion of Japanese music is often unpredictable. Ten's Silence was released over a month ago as part of his first Japanese mini album but its music video has finally arrived today. I listened to the song back when it first came out and can't remember a thing about it, but sometimes extra promotion unveils aspects…
Song Review: N.Flying – Everlasting | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
It's crazy to remember just how huge N.Flying were in 2019 with their breakthrough hit Rooftop. For a short period, they were the K-pop band of note. Member changes and military enlistment complicated their run, leading to a precipitous drop in popularity with the general public. Now, their music feels almost interchangeable with their FNC…
Song Review: Fairy Mai – Light Please | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Indie K-pop artists are a dime a dozen, but the vast majority make music that sounds indie. Small ambition, subdued energy, etc. You know... coffeehouse vibes. Every once and awhile someone comes along with a bigger vision -- often emerging from unexpected places. That's happened here with Fairy Mai, once part of girl group eite…
Song Review: Dreamcatcher UAU – 2 Months | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
UAU is technically Dreamcatcher's first sub-unit, but with the group's uncertain future after half of the members chose not to renew with their agency, this project may become the most reliable Dreamcatcher content for the foreseeable future. The group's transformation from super-pop act MINX to J-rock inspired Dreamcatcher is well-known, and 2 Months sounds as…
Song Review: IU – Never Ending Story | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Chart titan IU is back with a special remake album, following up her original work last year. As much as I would have loved it, Never Ending Story is not a cover of the 1984 Limahl hit from the film of the same name. I mean... can you imagine?? Instead, this Never Ending Story was…
Song Review: Red Velvet – Irene & Seulgi – Tilt | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Red Velvet's Irene and Seulgi made their unit debut all the way back in 2020, spawning two singles backed by high gloss fashion and plenty of charisma. Five years later, they've returned with a new mini album and the club-ready title track Tilt. Along with Seventeen's Thunder, today seems to be the day for dance…
Song Review: KickFlip – Freeze | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Though I had waited years for KickFlip's debut, the resulting music left me mostly cold. It's clear that JYP Entertainment wants to give them a youthful, rebellious concept, but the songs felt like they could have been delivered by any other boy group of this generation and the hooks often grated when I wanted them…
Song Review: Seventeen – Thunder | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Seventeen are celebrating a huge ten year anniversary today. They were popular right out of the gate, but few could have predicted just how massive they've become. I remember staying up very late to watch the premiere of their first music video (the ebullient Adore U) ten years ago, but I've grown more distant from…
THIS WEEK IN K-POP: Ranking the New Releases from May 18 – 24 | 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 (May 25, 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: SHINee – Poet | Artist | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
SHINee have spent the last week celebrating their anniversary with the streaming of multiple concerts. This all builds up to a new single, written by (and featuring vocals from) their late member Jonghyun. Though Poet | Artist won't be promoted beyond a music video, it still feels more notable than a typical fan song. After…
K-Pop Risers & Fallers: May 2025 | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Rather than contain my “Risers and Fallers” feature to a single post in June, I’m going to share a bite-sized version at the end of each month. This will let me account for more songs and make a nice lead-in to the monthly round-up post. I anticipate most of these ratings adjustments will be negligible:…
Song Review: SMORZ – I Want You To | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
In the world of silly K-pop names, "SMORZ" is pretty cute but also ridiculous when you realize that it's a combination of "S'mores" and "Generation Z" and means that you'll want more of... Gen Z? This project group has debuted with an English-language EP, showcasing their global ambitions. K-pop in English always gives me pause…
Buried Treasure: i-dle – Love Tease | 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. I don't often enjoy i-dle's title…
RIIZE ODYSSEY: In-Depth Album Review – Another Life | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
RIIZE's new album has a very strong visual element, with music videos or shortened "track videos" for each song. Because of this (and because the album is so strong), I'll be working through the entire track list over the next few days. Make sure to check back often! 1. Odyssey // 2. Bag Bad Back…
RIIZE ODYSSEY: In-Depth Album Review – Inside My Love | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
RIIZE's new album has a very strong visual element, with music videos or shortened "track videos" for each song. Because of this (and because the album is so strong), I'll be working through the entire track list over the next few days. Make sure to check back often! 1. Odyssey // 2. Bag Bad Back…
RIIZE ODYSSEY: In-Depth Album Review – The End Of The Day | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
RIIZE's new album has a very strong visual element, with music videos or shortened "track videos" for each song. Because of this (and because the album is so strong), I'll be working through the entire track list over the next few days. Make sure to check back often! 1. Odyssey // 2. Bag Bad Back…
Song Review: Blackswan – I Like It Hot | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Multinational girl group Blackswan don't return with new music often, averaging about one comeback per year. This is a difficult approach for an idol group. So much of an act's success hinges on constant content for fans, but too often Blackswan's career feels like a series of fits and starts. Because of this, each song…
RIIZE ODYSSEY: In-Depth Album Review – Show Me Love | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
RIIZE's new album has a very strong visual element, with music videos or shortened "track videos" for each song. Because of this (and because the album is so strong), I'll be working through the entire track list over the next few days. Make sure to check back often! 1. Odyssey // 2. Bag Bad Back…
RIIZE ODYSSEY: In-Depth Album Review – Midnight Mirage | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
RIIZE's new album has a very strong visual element, with music videos or shortened "track videos" for each song. Because of this (and because the album is so strong), I'll be working through the entire track list over the next few days. Make sure to check back often! 1. Odyssey // 2. Bag Bad Back…
RIIZE ODYSSEY: In-Depth Album Review – Ember To Solar | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
RIIZE's new album has a very strong visual element, with music videos or shortened "track videos" for each song. Because of this (and because the album is so strong), I'll be working through the entire track list over the next few days. Make sure to check back often! 1. Odyssey // 2. Bag Bad Back…
RIIZE ODYSSEY: In-Depth Album Review – Bag Bad Back | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
RIIZE's new album has a very strong visual element, with music videos or shortened "track videos" for each song. Because of this (and because the album is so strong), I'll be working through the entire track list over the next few days. Make sure to check back often! 1. Odyssey // 2. Bag Bad Back…
Song Review: Baekhyun (EXO) – Elevator | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
EXO's Baekhyun possesses one of my favorite voices in K-pop, but our musical tastes don't usually seem to align. His solo work has favored the kind of slow, vibey sound that too often feels like background music to me, even as those vocals pull me back in fits and spurts. New single Elevator is no…
Song Review: RIIZE – Fly Up | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
RIIZE premiered their first full album in a slightly novel way, unveiling a forty-two minute long mini-movie incorporating each of the ten tracks. This followed pre-release Bag Bad Back, a song that has grown on me immensely. But more importantly, it means that I've been able to soak in title track Fly Up for a…
Song Review: VVS – D.I.M.M | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
New girl group VVS have dropped two pre-releases, both of which have landed with a dull thud on this blog. Now, it's time for their official debut. Given its predecessors, D.I.M.M doesn't have big expectations to live up to. This is to its benefit, as the song is not particularly good. The best thing I…
Song Review: i-dle – Good Thing | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Following their pre-release Girlfriend earlier this month, (G)I-DLE is back with their first new title track after rebranding themselves as "i-dle." This reinvention doesn't seem to herald a shift in sound, though each comeback tends to shift things around since they're known for experimenting with various genres. Teasers for Good Thing seemed to promise a…
RIIZE ODYSSEY: In-Depth Album Review – Odyssey | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
RIIZE's new album has a very strong visual element, with music videos or shortened "track videos" for each song. Because of this (and because the album is so strong), I'll be working through the entire track list over the next few days. Make sure to check back often! 1. Odyssey // 2. Bag Bad Back…
Song Review: Kim Jaejoong – Rock Star | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Despite many forces working against him, Kim Jaejoong has become one of K-pop's longest-running success stories. In addition to his music career, he hosts a fun online show and continues to be a successful actor. Through it all, his music hasn't changed much. At heart, he's still a rocker. Rock Star is aptly named, and…
THIS WEEK IN K-POP: Ranking the New Releases from May 11 – 17 | 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 (May 18, 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…
Global Pop Round-Up: May 2025 Edition | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
The Bias List is a K-pop blog that also covers a fair amount of J-pop. But just like most music fans, I enjoy tracks from all around the world. So, I thought I'd start a monthly round-up of some of the non-K-pop songs that have caught my ear. No ratings -- just highlights! February 2022…
Song Review: Lim Sejun (Victon) – Summer | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Victon's Lim Sejun kicks off his solo career under a new agency. He's one of a handful of artists to sign to Hello Gloom and from20's Way Better, turning the once-fledgling company into a boutique agency. His first single Summer takes advantage of these new connections, co-written/produced by both Hello Gloom and from20. In K-pop's…
Song Review: Lisa (BLACKPINK) – When I’m With You (ft. Tyla) | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Lisa's Alter Ego album has utilized a Western pop promotional roll-out, spawning new singles/music videos long after its release. Next Up is When I'm With You, a duet with South African singer Tyla. This feels like a natural pairing: two extremely charismatic artists "maximizing their joint slay," as they say. Such a big collaboration deserves…