There can often be a long lag between a J-pop song and its accompanying music video. I first wrote about Fantastics’ Tell Me when it came out in early June, but now that we have a video I can give it the full review it deserves. And I have to say, the wait was worth … Continue reading
Tag Archives: fantastics
2023 LEGENDARY SONGS Inauguration Ceremony
The annual Bias List Legendary Songs Inauguration Ceremony has returned! Yes, I’m a few months late on this, but it’s been a busy year of new releases and I was waiting for an empty day to compose this feature. It’s exceedingly rare for me to award any song a 10-out-of-10 rating on release day. Instead, … Continue reading
New & Noteworthy J-pop of the Week (July 16, 2023)
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 … Continue reading
Song Review: Fantastics – Black Magic (Battle Of Tokyo)
Debuting in 2019, Exile Tribe’s Battle Of Tokyo is one of the coolest projects developed by any entertainment company. It brings together the agency’s Jr.Exile groups under fictional guises in a futuristic battle royale. It’s a multimedia project, including videos, books and — of course — music. This week, the third chapter in the series … Continue reading
Top J-Pop Songs & Albums of 2023 (So Far)
I’m pretty obsessed with this list of singles and albums. I’ve been a J-pop fan for almost a decade now, but this year I’ve made a concerted effort to really dive deeply into the industry. Part of this initiative includes weekly J-pop round-ups that are posted every Sunday on this blog. My efforts have been … Continue reading
New & Noteworthy J-pop of the Week (June 11, 2023)
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 … Continue reading
New & Noteworthy J-pop of the Week (April 9, 2023)
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 … Continue reading
Song Review: Fantastics – Panorama Jet
Fantastics’ Panorama Jet first emerged in February and I included it in my “New and Noteworthy J-Pop” round-up back then. But, there’s no way I’m not writing about the song in more detail now that it has an official music video! I love this group too much. Their music never fails to energize and inspire. … Continue reading
New & Noteworthy J-pop of the Week (Feb 26, 2023)
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 … Continue reading
New & Noteworthy J-pop of the Week (Feb 19, 2023)
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 … Continue reading
The Top Ten Best Songs by FANTASTICS
As the brightest and most pop-informed act in Exile Tribe, Fantastics were always going to appeal to me. But over the years, they’ve gone on to become one my favorite groups of any genre. Because of this, I want to take some time to run down my favorite singles from their career so far. If … Continue reading
The Bias List’s Favorite Japanese Dramas of 2022
In the past, this feature included both Korean and Japanese dramas. But in 2022, I realized I’m much more of a J-drama person. Their way of storytelling (and shorter, punchier running time) fits with my sensibilities and I completed over two dozen series this year. So this year, I’m going to run down my favorite … Continue reading
The Top 50 J-Pop Songs of 2022: 10-1
Today is J-pop day on The Bias List and I’m counting down my eighty favorite songs of the year! Now that you’ve had a chance to check out songs 80 to 11, it’s time for the best of the best — my absolute favorite J-pop tracks of 2022. This year, it’s a great blend of … Continue reading
The Top 50 J-Pop Songs of 2022: 50-31
Today is J-pop day on The Bias List! I’m dropping eighty of my favorite songs from 2022 in one day. You may want to check out the honorable mentions first, but if you’re looking to dive into the proper countdown at once, you’ve found the right spot! Here are songs 50 to 31, presented with … Continue reading
The Top 50 J-Pop Songs of 2022: Honorable Mentions
Before I count down my top 50 J-pop songs of the year, I thought I’d blast you with a bunch of honorable mentions. J-pop can be notoriously difficult to find if you’re not already an active fan, and I figured readers who share my particular taste in music might appreciate having some extra recommendations. These … Continue reading
The Top Three K-Pop Songs of November 2022
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. November 2022 Overall Thoughts The calendar may show one month left in 2022, but the year … Continue reading
Song Review: Fantastics – Choo Choo Train
Occasional ballad aside, Exile Tribe’s Fantastics have had one of the strongest singles runs in years. Songs like Stop For Nothing, High Fever, Drive Me Crazy and Summer Bike still get tons of plays from me, and I’ve recently made it my mission to get to know the group better. It turns out the members … Continue reading
The Top Three K-Pop Songs of August 2022
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. August 2022 Overall Thoughts Too often this year, my monthly round-ups have been… kind of a … Continue reading
Song Review: Fantastics – Summer Bike
With retro synth emerging as a dominating trend of the past few years, it’s been interesting to see which groups fit it naturally and which feel shoe-horned in. Exile Tribe’s Fantastics have totally suited the sound – so much that I hardly want them to stray from it! 2020’s High Fever ended up becoming a … Continue reading
The Top Three K-Pop Songs of February 2022
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. February 2022 Overall Thoughts Oof. I predicted February would be slow, and unfortunately I was right. … Continue reading