Those who have followed The Bias List for some time have gone on the SNUPER journey right alongside me. It’s a story that starts with Sweetune-fueled promise, climaxes with Sweetune-fueled …
Read More »[Review] HOTSHOT’s Taehyun makes solo debut with predictable but successful “I Wanna Know”
In theory, boy group HOTSHOT stood to benefit big time from 2017’s second season of ‘Produce 101‘. But despite member Sungwoon becoming part of WANNA ONE, the guys have struggled …
Read More »[Review] IMFACT’s “Only U” is solid, but could’ve been a lot more
After a series of scattershot singles, IMFACT hit pay dirt with last year’s “NANANA“. It worked within a now-familiar genre (deep house), but inverted the structure just enough to simultaneously make …
Read More »[Review] BAND-MAID scale their intensity back a bit to stellar results on “Bubble”
Since I latched myself onto the BAND-MAID bandwagon back in 2016, they’ve failed to disappoint with a release yet, which is something I know because that’s what I’ve been writing …
Read More »[Review] NCT’s Chinese unit WayV debuts on solid ground with “Dream Launch”
I vividly remember the disappointed groan I let out last March when it was revealed that NCT’s ‘Empathy‘ album would be filled with songs we’d already heard before. That groan returned a …
Read More »[Review] Hyomin finds something to build on with safe but solid “U Um U Um”
Generally speaking, the solo work of T-ara members has reinforced the notion that they work best as a group with Shinsadong Tiger helming the production. As no matter how much …
Read More »[Review] Seventeen give the typical winter release an interesting twist with “Home”
I’ve gotta admit, I was worried. When Seventeen started teasing “Home” as a mixture of “future” r&b (why is everything labeled “future” so hopelessly dull?) and more traditional balladry, I …
Read More »[Review] Cherry Bullet debut with fun “Q&A” that showcases future potential
The year of debuts rolls on with the first new girl group of 2019. Cherry Bullet hails from FNC Entertainment, home to AOA. Perhaps inspired by their seniors, the girls …
Read More »[Review] Chorus elevates Favorite’s “Loca” above generic, but not much further
Apart from having a notoriously difficult-to-google group name, Favorite haven’t done much to stand out in the crowded world of K-pop rookies. Their material thus far has been quite solid, …
Read More »[Review] ASTRO keep things interesting, but “All Night” unfortunately limits them by going mid-tempo
It feels like it’s been forever since ASTRO was active as a group. They released their ‘Rise Up‘ mini album last summer (led by the underrated “Always You“), but scheduling contracts prevented …
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