Since the start of The Bias List in January 2016, I’ve always looked back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists each month. Now, it’s time to look even further into the past, one month at a time. And, yes, the top three rankings count toward The Bias List’s personal artist scorecard! December … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Deja Vu (from 4 Walls – 2015) Deja Vu is all about texture. Its synth backbone has a retro 8-bit appeal – fizzy and scuzzy but undeniably cool. This continues into the catchy pre-chorus, which utilizes a brighter synth note to distinguish … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Dangerous (from Pinocchio / Hot Summer – 2011) An undeniable product of SM’s patented SMP sub-genre, Dangerous pounds forward on crunchy rock guitar and icy synth accents. It’s a stomping good time, allowing the girls a chance to truly vamp it up. … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Cowboy (from 4 Walls / Cowboy – 2016) As experimental as J-pop can be, it feels like a wasted opportunity that Cowboy is f(x)’s only original Japanese track. As such, it’s got a lot to live up to. The song doesn’t disappoint, … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Chu~♡ (from Chu~♡ – 2009) As f(x)’s first comeback, Chu worked to extend the idiosyncratic electro-pop sound that had marked their debut. Its herky-jerky instrumental and seesawing hook combine to create a strange little pop truffle. Essentially, the song is an incredibly … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Chocolate Love (from Chocolate Love – 2009) Released by both f(x) and Girls’ Generation with different themes and arrangements, this “electro-pop” version of Chocolate Love is more suited to my personal taste. It comes across like many of SM’s girl group tracks … Continue reading
Weeks before making his military enlistment, Crush has released a mini album with a fun concept. With Her pairs the soloist with a different female artist for each track. I think this is a wonderful idea, as each collaborator could bring out a different part of his artistry, while potentially challenging themselves as well. The … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Cash Me Out (from 4 Walls – 2015) Melding an abrasive electro beat with a steady kick and a big, floor-filling chorus, Cash Me Out is an invigorating slab of quirky EDM. It doesn’t really get going until its bonkers post-chorus drop … Continue reading
To this day, my absolute favorite NCT track remains 2016’s Without You. That song spotlighted vocalists Doyoung, Taeil and Jaehyun without resorting to the kind of piano ballad usually reserved for vocal-driven tracks. In my mind, there are far more interesting ways to showcase your vocalists than a traditional ballad. Anthemic synth-rock is only one … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Calling Out (from Cinderella Sister OST – 2010) f(x) recorded quite a few OST tracks in their early days, and this ballad from Luna and Krystal showcases many of that format’s strengths and limitations. Many OST ballads are only as effective as … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Butterfly (from Red Light – 2014) In many ways, Butterfly (나비) begins like so many tracks from SM Entertainment history. Its core synth stomp has been popular with the agency since the mid-00’s, but f(x) soon take it in a different direction … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Boom Bang Boom (from Red Light – 2014) A sparse, mostly percussive dance track, Boom Bang Boom lives up to f(x)’s idiosyncratic reputation. It’s a song that thrives on competing textures, from the grimy verses to the skeletal beat drop that blossoms … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Beautiful Stranger (from Electric Shock – 2012) A unit track from Amber, Luna and Krystal, Beautiful Stranger makes itself known with a dramatic electronic opening before laying down its stomping beat. The song opens with a standout rap courtesy of Amber, followed … Continue reading
Is it weird that, even after the first note, part of me expected Hello (안녕) to be a cover of Adele’s 2015 mega-hit? To be honest, I wouldn’t mind hearing that. Instead, Chen’s latest release is the kind of ballad you’d expect this time of year in Korea. It’s been awhile since I’ve written about … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! Beautiful Goodbye (from Pinocchio (Danger) / Hot Summer – 2011) Opening with the chiming of bells and a dramatic English-language testament from Amber, Beautiful Goodbye stakes its claim on emotional resonance. Its slick mid-tempo beat is firmly entrenched in the mid-to-late 90’s, … Continue reading
Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. When listening to NCT’s Resonance Part 1, I’m struck with the … Continue reading
One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with f(x)’s A-Z reviews here! All Night (from Red Light – 2014) Sure, f(x) can get experimental. But, some of their most enjoyable work is also their most approachable. All Night continues K-pop’s love for everything retro, offering a roller-rink ready synth disco track. From its programmed … Continue reading
Fans have barely had a chance to breathe between SM Entertainment’s SuperM album and this new, ambitious NCT project. Resonance brings together all twenty-one members, plus two new faces, for part one of a compilation album that mixes and matches the guys into various units. Resonance will be promoted by two title tracks, and the … Continue reading
Since the start of The Bias List in January 2016, I’ve always looked back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists each month. Now, it’s time to look even further into the past, one month at a time. And, yes, the top three rankings count toward The Bias List’s personal artist scorecard! October … Continue reading
Like they did back in the winter of 2018, NCT is making full use of their malleable roster for a new 2020 project. Unlike 2018, which saw multiple title tracks unveiled over the course of several weeks, this album’s promotion seems to be occurring in a tighter timeframe. But, NCT has exploded in popularity over … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 