NCT 127 secured a Bias List first with the only “buried treasure” post published before an album was released. That’s thanks to b-side Angel Eyes, which was pre-released alongside a special performance video. To be honest, that song is much more my speed than most of the group’s recent title tracks.
At this point, it’s hard to write about NCT’s titles without simply stating: “If you enjoy the NCT sound, you’ll probably like this one, too.” They’ve developed their niche over a period of years and are essentially delivering variations of it over and over. With this in mind, Fact Check is more engaging than the average NCT banger clanger. Its mix of vocals and rap feels more evenly spread and its insistent beat steers closer to funky than grating. In fact, the song becomes downright awesome from its bridge onwards. I’m always here for some good old fashioned SM vocal bombast. The go-for-broke theatricality of this segment reminds me of SuperM.
Gosh, I miss SuperM.
Fact Check‘s biggest liability is its chorus. It’s simply too repetitive and dull for me. I’ve never been a fan of braggadocios posturing (unless it’s really clever or weird) and I’m especially tired of NCT telling us how cool they are. After awhile, it becomes almost self-conscious. I’d much prefer they show us what they’ve got. That’s why Fact Check‘s final minute is so compelling. Imagine what a knockout this could have been with a robust chorus to match!
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8.25 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Glad to see a title track from 127 that you like for the first time in a while. I agree with the repeated chorus trend they’ve leant into recently but like you said, I’ve mentally subscribed to nct’s type of music so I tend to enjoy it regardless.
LikeLiked by 8 people
I don’t think I mind this one either. A couple more listens will tell me for sure. Though it’s super rap heavy (something I am biased against – I don’t have many of 127’s title tracks in my music collection, heh), something about the pacing or the delivery keeps me from disliking it outright. And goodness, the vocals are great when we get them, and it does seem a bit more balanced in that regard. Angel Eyes is by far and away my highlight, and it’s only been a grower. But this is okay!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Also, yes. Please stop telling me that you’re awesome, gentlemen. I want to hear that you are awesome without you trying to convince me verbally that you are.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m very into this! I generally like the noisy NCT sound, but the thing that tends to ruin their title tracks for me is when they throw in the kinds of English lyrics (such as ‘two baddies, two baddies, one porsche’, or ‘ayyyy we ballin’) that I can’t seem to get past and just enjoy the song. This one is miraculously free of such lines, so I’m a happy camper
LikeLiked by 3 people
it’s… not as bad as I wanted it to be (LOL). I love the little “Aaaah! (169)” sample.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I was wracking my brain to remember where I’d heard that sample! All I could think of was this:
And this:
(the second one doesn’t actually use it, though…)
Brings back nostalgia, for sure 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
yep my mind immediately went to Dilemma, it’s a childhood classic for me
LikeLike
just came back from listening to the album, and I would say it might one of their better ones? Space is pretty good ngl.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I like this very much, but the b-side Misty is absolutely marvelous, channeling 70s prog soul like EWF, Heatwave, late period Sylvers, many more, while still keeping their sound. I think I want more sophistication because they are more than able of handling it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It feels a little cheap and flimsy for SM though. I mean, SM usually turns the obnoxious brashness on NCT up to 11, and this one is placed at 9.
Often that 11 works, surprisingly well in a few cases. Here I feel like I am listening to the music from a cheerleading competition.
(…Y’all outside the US probably don’t know what I mean about cheerleading music, so here, here is a the first link that returned from a quick youtube search, and it is about typical.
‘https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAnJ7MU3fp0 )
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a typical reaction to a 127 title track but I don’t really love this on first listen lol… Second listen already getting into it more, but compared to Ay-Yo for example I think this one is a bit less interesting for me, especially bc of the chorus. Though just like you said, it really becomes great after the brige. The harmonies below the chanting along with the bassline have this weird sinister (??) vibe and I’m here for it. Anyways, I’m sure in a day or two I’ll be having this song on repeat, is the effect NCT has over me.
(I finally created a wordpress account so now you can see Beomgyu every time I post a comment, yayyy!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Alright, forget about a day or two; my head is already going, CHECK THE FACTS GO CHECK THAT, CHECK THAT, CHECK THAT. Something tells me I should indeed go check that.
LikeLiked by 3 people
To be honest, this song is decent. I like the instrumental here
It’s an 8 for me
LikeLiked by 1 person
Immediately reminded me of EVNNE’s Trouble. I think I prefer Trouble because the energy is punchier and the rapping is more gritty and constantly flowing, while the raps in this song are more like line, pause, line. The lyrics in Fact Check are kinda non-sensical, they’re so silly. But the theatrical rap bridge?? Can they please bring back SuperM superhero music??
LikeLiked by 1 person