Kep1er’s future as a group remains unsteady, with activities set to end in early July unless their contract is extended. I’m not sure if we’ll get another Korean comeback before that point, but for now fans can enjoy a new Japanese album from the group. Some of their strongest material has been released in Japan — particularly this excellent b-side. Straight Line gives Kep1er’s sound an interesting makeover. It has its sleek, mature moments, but the overall arrangement is stuffed with so many sonic switch-ups that it’s almost difficult to appreciate its strengths. What opens as a slightly Lati ..read more

I feel compelled to open this song review with an apology to Lee Jinhyuk. I write about his comebacks because I write about any notable K-pop comeback, but he and I seem to exist on separate musical wavelengths. I’m not sure there’s ever been a Lee Jinhyuk solo track I’ve fully enjoyed. I loved him in UP10TION, but the solo stuff just isn’t for me. So, I’ll keep this short. New single Relax sees him in his element. It’s a bit silly and gimmicky, but the beat isn’t bad. The percussion is pitched at a frequency that’s a little grating, though its general vibe reminds me of Missy Elliott’s semina ..read more

I can’t overemphasize the shiver that went down my spine when I pressed play on PICKUS’s debut track Little Prince and was met with the tune from “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” Nursery rhyme interpolations are my kryptonite, and this set expectations quite low. Fortunately, the actual song is a fun blast of upbeat pop — a little rough around the edges but with its heart in the right place. PICKUS is a seven-member project group from MBC’s Fan Pick — a series I’d never heard of until today. Little Prince opens a bit messy, continuing to riff off its nursery rhyme influence before transitionin ..read more

When writing about Yuqi’s pre-release Could It Be several weeks ago, I was hoping we’d hear more edgy rock influences from her title track. After all, 2021’s Bonnie & Clyde remains a high water mark for both her and (G)I-DLE. With the release of Freak, I (sort of) got what I hoped for, though it’s dressed in a package that feels overmarketed and underdeveloped. One reason I love writing about K-pop is that I don’t have to be distracted by lyrics and can fully focus on the music itself. Add too much English and I find myself stumbling on words to the detriment of the song. Freak succumbs to ..read more

Kim Woojin — formerly of Stray Kids — has crafted an enduring solo career, teaming with big name producers like Ryan Jhun to deliver solid grooves that echo the successes of other K-pop soloists. I Like The Way is the latest in this line and it’s as enjoyable as it is generic. There’s nothing here we can’t get elsewhere on a bigger budget, but Woojin performs the material well and the track harnesses its insistent bassline with style. As far as songs of this genre go, I Like The Way is neither great nor bad. It hits all its marks, doesn’t do anything weird or fancy, and leaves traces of its gr ..read more

TIOT made their pre-debut late last summer with a cover of Click-B’s Unbeatable. That was a great teaser, and now the group has returned with a new member and an official debut song. Rock Thang promises more distorted guitar and bad boy energy, but falls into too many current tropes to work. It took all I had to keep Rock Thang playing after the first chorus. Yep, the song is driven by the same obnoxious boy group chanting that hinders so many modern tracks. You all know I can’t stand this sound. It’s like a thousand gnats buzzing in my ear at once, and really prevents Rock Thang from becoming ..read more

Now that the expansion of the NCT project has ended and its first member has enlisted in the military, I predict we’ll see more solo work from the guys. This has been a long time coming. There’s a wealth of talent under the sprawling NCT umbrella. Doyoung’s voice has always been one of my favorite aspects of the various units, going all the way back to 2016’s Without You. But if I have one overriding complaint about solo releases for K-pop vocalists, it’s that agencies rely too heavily on the artists’ skills to elevate boring material. Little Light (반딧불) tether’s Doyoung’s warm tone to a rock ..read more

It took some time, but EPEX have finally found a sound that suits them. I’ve become more enamored with their newest title track Youth2Youth by the day, and follow-up Breathe In Love doubles down on its emotive, rock-infused style. Both songs have a satisfying arc, taking their time to deliver a full musical story and soundscape. Breathe In Love has the benefit of time, since I’ve been living with the song for almost two weeks now. At first, I was disappointed that it didn’t keep its fast-paced, fully-charged energy throughout the entire running time. After all, too many slow-downs threaten to ..read more

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 what’s new in J-pop. With that in mind, here’s where you come in: I’m one person with one set of musical preferences, so please embed any other new J-pop tracks you’ve enjoyed in the comments so we can get a fuller spectrum each week. *And just like I do with my reviews, I’ll wait until full versions of songs a ..read more

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 Edition // March 2022 Edition // April 2022 Edition // May 2022 Edition // June 2022 Edition // July 2022 Edition // August 2022 Edition // September 2022 Edition // October 2022 Edition // November 2022 Edition // January 2023 Edition // February 2023 // March 2023 // April 2023 // May 2023 // June 2023 // Jul ..read more