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The Bias List | K-Pop Reviews & Discussion - Music
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Song Review: TIOT – Flex Line | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
When last we heard from TIOT (I swear... there are so many "T"-acronymed boy groups right now) they delivered the melodic pop rock of The Long Season. Though this song didn't do much to stand out from the pack, its sound pointed a very promising way forward for the group and grew more addictive with…
Buried Treasure: NCT Wish – Melt Inside My Pocket | 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. Listening to NCT Wish's new mini…
Song Review: Epic Travels (EPTS) – Tab Tab | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
I love being able to spotlight a severely under-the-radar act on this blog. Epic Travels quietly debuted last year but have since added member Sangil (formerly of Snuper!). If you need a catch-up on Snuper's extraordinary singles run, this blog will be a great resource. Epic Travels' new video for Tab Tab currently has just…
Song Review: Odd Youth – I Like You | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
As Top Media's first girl group, Odd Youth have their own path to pave. That path has been rocky so far -- at least musically. Their output has trended toward the garish, aiming for quirky but more often landing closer to cloying. It's nice to see a young group experiment with sounds. However, I'd prefer…
Song Review: UNIS – Swicy | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Girl group UNIS were one of a handful of survival series spawned groups who made their debut last year. Their two title tracks were solid but unspectacular. If you were to ask me to hum either one of them today, I don't think I could do it. New single Swicy aims to lodge itself in…
Song Review: Kai (EXO) – Walls Don’t Talk | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
EXO's Kai pre-released Adult Swim earlier this month, wasting extraordinary potential on a dull, spoken-word chorus. His actual comeback is still around the corner, but before that he's surprised us with another new track. Walls Don't Talk picks up the pace a bit and feels slightly more developed than its predecessor, but still delivers a…
Song Review: Kwon Eunbi – Hello Stranger | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
With DRIPPIN's future uncertain, Rocket Punch disbanded and the vast majority of Golden Child gone, I think Kwon Eunbi may be Woollim Entertainment's only active artist. What a sad state of affairs for an agency I dearly loved. Fortunately, her popularity remains high and strong management would likely fuel that ascent. I don't trust that…
Song Review: Kis-My-Ft2 – Glory Days | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
It's been tricky being a Kis-My-Ft2 fan lately. I've long held them up as my favorite J-pop group and recently ran down their entire discography when it finally made its way to streaming (check the posts out here and here!), but I haven't cared for any of their material in the past couple years. And…
Song Review: NCT Wish – poppop | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
NCT Wish had a moment last year -- starting with their excellent Songbird and continuing into their upbeat banger Dunk Shot -- where I could clearly hear the potential of a fun, youthful new generation of SM boy groups. But surrounding those songs has been material I've had a hard time connecting with. The music…
Song Review: &TEAM – Go in Blind | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
J-pop promotion schedules can be a bit weird, especially when compared to K-pop's tightly-wound logistics. &TEAM's new single doesn't officially come out until next week (at which point the full music video will be unveiled), but they've pre-released it alongside a performance video today. Since the full audio is out, this seems as good a…
Song Review: 82MAJOR – Takeover | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
82MAJOR have made their name on a quirky hip-hop sound that feels more fully-realized than many of their close peers. While none of their songs thus far have stuck on my playlist for long, I admire their consistency and willingness to play around within their genre. Their music is always fun, and that's no small…
THIS WEEK IN K-POP: Ranking the New Releases from April 6 – 12 | 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: NiziU – What If | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
It's getting more difficult to decide which songs to write a review for on this blog. NiziU's b-side What If (만약이라는 건 없어) is promoted by a "track video" today, which is basically a different term for a (somewhat budget) music video. I'm not sure whether the group will be performing this on music shows…
New & Noteworthy J-pop of the Week (April 13, 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…
Buried Treasure: AMPERS&ONE – I Know You | 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. This has been an extremely mediocre…
Song Review: XG – In The Rain | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
XG fans are spoiled for choice, as it seems the group are constantly releasing new material. They're currently on their world tour -- a fact I only know because every website I visit seems to be advertising this to me. In the midst of this, they've also released new single In The Rain. This track…
Song Review: from20 – Eye Candy | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
As a longtime fan, it's been thrilling watching from20 and Hello Gloom's Way Better transform from idea to boutique agency, swiftly collecting new artists like Pokémon. Their roster now holds five individual acts and today we have a new single from the one who started it all: from20. From20's music has been remarkably consistent so…
Song Review: Aimers – Starry Night | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Aimers are one of those under-the-radar groups who I've written about several times on the blog yet can't for the life of me remember. I know they've released music that I've (at least somewhat) enjoyed, but no song has taken hold in a way that would make me easily recall it a year or two…
Song Review: NEXZ – Simmer | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
New JYP global boy group NEXZ debuted last year but hasn't yet captured my attention with their music. This is despite watching and enjoying season two of the Nizi Project where the group was formed. Like fellow rookies KickFlip, it feels like JYP has saddled them with lesser material that regurgitates music from the agency's…
Song Review: Kang Daniel – Mess | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Rather than opt a full comeback just yet, Kang Daniel has followed up his latest tour with digital single Mess. Billed as a "special gift" for fans, the song sees him take on the subdued, angsty rock that has gradually become a large part of his discography. Fans of this style would likely call Mess…
Song Review: WHIB – Bang Out | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Last year, WHIB surprised in a delightful way with the bright funk energy of Rush Of Joy, instantly putting them on my radar. For new single Bang Out, it seems they got that "joy" stuff out of their system and are now back to typical boy group posturing. Groups like this are what I consider…
Song Review: Oh My Girl – Oh My | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Oh My Girl are celebrating their tenth anniversary with special single Oh My. Ten years is a huge accomplishment for any K-pop group, and Oh My Girl's career has seen distinct phases -- from quirky newcomers to "it" girls to veteran pop act. Oh My attempts to distill many of their influences into a refreshing…
Song Review: ifeye – Nerdy | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
You all know I love a bad K-pop acronym. The confusing name of newly-debuted girl group ifeye stands for "Imagine & Find Energetic Young Eyes." Um... creepy? For me, they're most notable for their partnership with producer Leez, who was partially responsible for guiding ATEEZ and Dreamcatcher's early career and has made great music for…
Song Review: Daesung (Bigbang) – Universe | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Bigbang's Daseung has been plugging away at his solo career during the past few years, but his most notable turn came as a guest artist on G-Dragon's chart-topping Home Sweet Home. The thirst for a Bigbang comeback is real, even if it means seeing the group as a trio. While we wait for that possibility,…
Song Review: Kep1er – Yum | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Beyond a return to fantastic songs, the number one aspect I've been missing in current girl groups is energy. STAYC's Bebe managed to overcome a spoken-word chorus through sheer, explosive verve, proving that a blazing dance beat can make up for so-so melodies. The same can be said about Kep1er's new Japanese single Yum. Even…
Song Review: AMPERS&ONE – Kick Start | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
AMPERS&ONE debuted in late-2023 with the energetic On And On and have largely maintained that upbeat sound since. Though this was a very solid debut, they've struggled to find material that matches or elevates its quality. Their music has been consistently solid but lacks the individual personality of a TWS or BOYNEXTDOOR. Kick Start is…
Song Review: Mark (NCT) – 1999 | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
For the long-awaited release of Mark's first solo album, he's promoting with a title track named after his birth year. Birthdays aside, 1999 was an awesome year for music. Everyone was in party mode due to the impending turn of the millennium. Pop music was diverse and dominant, with MTV and TRL serving as hubs…
Song Review: Moon Sua x Siyoon (Billlie) – Snap (ft. Sokodomo) | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Despite a promising start, girl group Billlie has experienced some growing pains as they attempt to carve out their musical niche in the K-pop market. Today, they've opted for their first unit track. Snap brings together lead vocal Moon Sua and lead dancer Siyoon on a hard-hitting hip-hop track. While it may showcase some skill,…
New & Noteworthy J-pop of the Week (April 6, 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…
THIS WEEK IN K-POP: Ranking the New Releases from March 30 – April 5 | 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…
Underrated K-Pop: Ranking Every Single by 4TEN/Poten | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
K-pop is littered with acts who – for one reason or another – didn’t get the full spotlight they deserved. I’ve spent plenty of time ranking and reviewed the industry’s biggest artists, but these underrated acts should never be forgotten. This feature will take a look at disbanded groups and rank/rate their entire singles run,…
Song Review: ARTMS – Burn | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
ARTMS's new single Burn was originally scheduled for release last week, but promoting a song with that title during South Korea's wildfire emergency would be quite insensitive so they wisely pushed the release back until today. It's ARTMS's first promoted work since last year's debut album and offers a sleeker, more mainstream sound. At its…
Song Review: ENHYPEN – Loose | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
I don't often review music that doesn't have an accompanying video, but every once and awhile big acts release a stand-alone single without the full promotion given to title tracks. ENHYPEN are preparing for their upcoming stint at Coachella and have released the English-language Loose prior to that milestone stage. To be honest, I don't…
Song Review: Kai (EXO) – Adult Swim | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
With Kai serving his mandatory military enlistment, it's been just over two years since I've gotten to write about one of his solo singles. But now that he's back, he's wasted no time getting into the studio. A new mini album is on the way with pre-release Adult Swim tiding us over in the meantime.…
Song Review: xikers – Breathe | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Xikers have a pretty crazy range when it comes to their song reviews on this blog. It seems that I either love or hate their material and there isn't much room in between. For every Bittersweet there's a Red Sun. For every Do Or Die there's a Koong. So, where does new title track Breathe…
Song Review: Close Your Eyes – All My Poetry | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Close Your Eyes is a new boy group formed through the audition series Project 7, which came to my attention because of contestant Shin Jaewon who had previously debuted with The Wind. Jaewon didn't end up becoming part of the group, meaning I'm not familiar with any of the actual members. Unlike most survival show…
Song Review: Solar (Mamamoo) – Want | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Last spring, Mamamoo's Solar dipped her feet into a more upbeat dance sound with the club-ready Colors. In general, the Mamamoo members have done a nice job experimenting with their solo material. And when you've got vocals as strong as they do, you can get away with interpreting just about any genre. This sense of…
The Top Three K-Pop Songs of March 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. March 2025 Overall Thoughts While this year in K-pop has not wowed me yet (not even…
Song Review: izna – Sign | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
New girl group izna made their debut last November with a song that never seemed to capture the public's attention in the way I'd expect from their pre-debut hype. Given this, I'm surprised they took so long to promote more music, but now they're back with digital single Sign. This song reunites them with famed…
Song Review: Tempest – Unfreeze | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion
Most of the acts who participated on last year's Road to Kingdom: Ace of Ace made quick comebacks soon after the series concluded. However, Tempest took their time, finally emerging with new music nearly five months later. Unfreeze arrives about a year since 2024's Lighthouse and is their first Korean comeback after becoming a sextet.…