
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!
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Alison Goldfrapp – Find Xanadu
I didn’t love her last solo album as much as I’d hoped to, but this new single is very promising. I’ll always appreciate some spacey 80’s synthpop.
BÄMÄ – Torille (Amanda) (ft. Antero Mertaranta)
Yes, this is clearly a sports cheering song, but I love the anthemic chorus and the fact that it’s in Finnish so I can ignore what are probably pretty cliché lyrics.
Beks – Melodrama
It’s not as melodramatic as I expected given the title, but this is still a dance pop banger.
Blusher – WHATEVERWHATEVER
At this point, everything Blusher release is a bop.
Chrissy Chlapecka – Clam Casino
So many pop girls are trying to go country lately, but this is the closest I’ve heard to recapturing that great Shania Twain/Mutt Lange sound. What a big chorus.
Darin – Mimosa
A bit more subdued than I’d like from a new Darin song, but it’s nice to hear him singing in Swedish.
DE’WAYNE – june
More excellent Prince-esque funk meets punky rock from DE’WAYNE. I’m so excited for his album next month.
Dove Cameron – French Girls
I never expected to become a huge fan of Dove Cameron’s music, but she’s two for two on this new project.
Evelina – Kirsikat
You know I’m going to sneak in a banging Finnish dance track, right?
Full Circle Boys – M80
This new boy group has a ton of potential. M80 is their latest release but I think their previous single Skin is even better. It’s nice to see a Western boy band dance again.
Jelena Karleusa – Jedno Djubre Obicno
I loved Jelena Karleusa’s last two EPs so much that her new work is among my most anticipated of this year. For now, we’ve got this nice cover to tide us over. We need a new single asap!
KEiiNO – Unstoppable
Pretty much what you’d expect from KEiiNO. Super solid scandipop.
Kesha – Boy Crazy
The chorus is a sonic sugar rush.
LEXXE – Real Bob Mackie
This is a bit lighter and more tongue-in-cheek than her usual stuff, but no less impressive. She’s so underrated.
Madison Rose – Sinners
Madison’s been branching out with her sound lately and I’m not sure it’s what I want from her music, but I’m keeping an open mind.
Marcus & Martinus – Endless Summer
A bit generic, but a nice addition to an early summer playlist.
Neea River – I’m On The Run
She just keeps on churning out bangers. This is another fantastic one.
no na – Superstitious
I think this is the first Indonesian girl group featured on the blog, and I love this 80’s throwback sound. There’s even a bit of freestyle included here (a sub-genre I desperately want to become a modern trend).
PinkPantheress – Stateside
I remain unconvinced by her short, interlude-like songs, but this is easily my favorite so far. It feels more fleshed out and uses strong interpolations to its benefit.
Portion Boys – Vappupallo
Continues their wonderfully over the top schlock rock sound. I love them.
Punchbag – You Used To Be So Sexy
I’m really buzzing about this new duo. Their anthemic alt-rock sound is such a great throwback.
Snow Wife – Sweat
Oh this is so fun. It’s like Britney meets Drag Race. I love that stomping electro beat.
Sophie And The Giants – Bad Friends
This has a thumping, high-energy Eurodance sound that feels like an updated version of Vengaboys.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Vertigo
The mixing is a bit weird on this (the verses sound very low quality to me), but the chorus slams.
The Strike – The Getaway
I recently discovered this band and really like their anthemic 80’s rock sound. They have better songs than this in their discography, but this is the newest song they’re promoting.
Tears & Gearz – Delusional
After a few collaborations, Bias List faves Zee Machine and Bentley Robles have officially joined forces for side project Tears & Gearz. Very exciting!
Tom Grennan – Full Attention
This has a very early-2000’s Robbie Williams sound. His music never misses.
2BYG – Karma
Ooh, it’s nice to hear some new jack swing back in pop music.
Really great round-up this month. Boy Crazy goes crazy, Clam Casino is a better country send-up than The Giver (which is still fun but makes some weird production choices), and French Girls gives major Chromatica vibes (complimentary). Real Bob Mackie is just as lush and tightly written as LEXXE’s broodier works. You Used To Be So Sexy and Sweat are great mid-00’s throwback sounds to me.
The Knocks and Dragonette dropped another track, Thorn, from their upcoming collab album. I think it’s a better ballad than The Hero, but still vastly prefer all the other more upbeat songs. Hoping it’s the last song they drop before the album proper next month, it’s only nine tracks and we’ve heard five already.
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Ooo such a fun round up….here are some of my highlights from my playlist this monnth nick pls do tell what you think of these songs?
I’ve been getting into Azealia Banks and I absolutely love these
3 songs…
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=CW4Q7z6-gdw&si=n1ZGFdZr6aAg1ZZI
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=ojUWZny9adw&si=5cTFURq8MtmYI2UC
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=bSpVkdPo_go&si=DC8umpRwEOY5QQ6o
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=BzfvyuDKQn0&si=oxlAGhT5y2TrdXAM
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=j1wYtWLwnv4&si=LMlwlcAp8kmvIMzk
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=JzzLF2An83s&si=3giq2ok5GFSg2RBr
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=xC2VBEGJYDE&si=MNuD7HS1q0Yjd3ui
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=pCI3O6EGGSE&si=D_HLEDEjceKyQ5Yr
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=is77tL1yZg0&si=SbSCk1aQ9Sx1xHvr
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=vPYcdIZySHM&si=lLvrj3ZbQCE1zu0o
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The two songs I’ve been listening to the most this past week (neither are singles) are both from new albums that just came out. I especially like this one by Kali Uchis from her new album:
Nothing from Erika de Casier’s new album screams “single” to me, but I think this one’s my favorite from her new album. (If only the song were developed more):
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seeing how u discovered lebrock, what are your favorite songs from them so far? their 80s sound is just on top!
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It’s honestly hard to pick a favorite because I love pretty much everything, but the ones I seem to be playing the most so far are:
Dangerous Dreams
See Me
Heartstrings
In The Dark
Star
In Your Arms
Please Don’t Cry
Hollow
Interstellar
and Love:Nocturnal from their side project House Of Serpents
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I’m praying Full Circle Boys become more mainstream, I know them from this personally and they obviously have such potential.
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I’ve been loving on The Strike for about 5 years, and I did a double take when I saw The Getaway here!! LOVE that song, it’s up there with my favorites from them (Miles Ahead, Faint of Heart, Ghosts of My Hometown, Overtime, Just Friends, etc.). I’m curious now, what are your favorites from them?
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I’ve only listened to their discography one time through so far so I don’t have any favorites yet, but I thought all the albums were very strong.
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