Xikers have already established a tradition of including at least one song on each album that I must skip for my own well-being. Last summer, that track was Koong. Now, it has a sibling. I appreciate the energy here and I assume that’s why it would appeal to some listeners. If you enjoy being shouted … Continue reading
It took me some time to come around to xikers’ sound, but their second mini album — and particularly the raucous energy of title track Do Or Die — made me a convert. As with any group debuting in the shadow of an ultra-famous agency senior, they’re at their best when blazing their own musical … Continue reading
Before I take a look at K-pop’s established artists, it’s time to spotlight this year’s fresh crop of talent! While 2022 was stuffed with girl group debuts, 2023 was dominated by boy groups. The ratio itself is pretty staggering, and much of this is likely due to the various spin-offs from MNET’s Boys Planet series. … Continue reading
The end of the year countdowns are finally here! As always, we’ll kick off with the big one: The Bias List’s top 50 songs of the year! Each day this week, I’ll be counting down ten of the year’s best, until number one is revealed on Friday. To be eligible for this top 50 list, … Continue reading
As per tradition, the next few weeks on The Bias List will be stuffed with all sorts of year-end countdowns, mostly concerning the year in K-pop but also encompassing J-pop, global pop and even Japanese dramas! Basically, it’s a chance for me to take stock of my year in fandom and celebrate the things I … Continue reading
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 2023 Overall Thoughts For the first time this year, I could have easily filled a … Continue reading
Despite my negative reaction to pre-release Koong, I’ve been playing Xikers’ new album quite often. Title track Do Or Die is fantastic, and songs like Run and Sunny Side are surprisingly groovy. Homeboy‘s hazy, downbeat sound is a surprising choice for follow-up single, but the song has grown on me with time. Homeboy‘s verses utilize … Continue reading
This year’s KCON will live in infamy for a number of reasons: outrunning the remnants of a rare hurricane on my way home, testing positive for covid a day after, etc etc. However, this craziness doesn’t mean I don’t have highlights and commentary to share! For the first time, KCON LA’s concerts extended to three … Continue reading
I was quite ruthless when writing about Xikers’ pre-release Koong, drawing ire from the their fan base alongside accusations that I “hated” the group. In reality, I very much enjoyed this spring’s Rockstar and I’m heartened by the fact Do Or Die brings them back to this guitar-heavy sound. This feels like a nice niche … Continue reading
Much of Xikers’ debut mini album felt like underwhelming ATEEZ cosplay, but follow-up single Rockstar stood out as an undeniable high point. Fresh and colorful teasers for their upcoming album have me cautiously optimistic, even if pre-release Koong is probably the worst K-pop song I’ve heard all year. Honestly, this borders on unlistenable for me. … Continue reading
I can’t say I’m enamored with Xikers’ debut mini album. Most of it still sounds like ATEEZ Jr. to me (which makes sense given its producers). But, the rollicking Rockstar easily stands as the group’s strongest moment so far. I’m glad it’s being promoted with a music video and would love Xikers to harness this … Continue reading
Every time I read the word “Xikers,” my mind immediately imagines an exaggerated Scooby Doo-esque character making colorful exclamations like “Zowwwee!” and “Gee willikers!”. That probably says more about me than the group in question. Xikers!! Xikers are the newest act from KQ Entertainment – home to the tremendously popular ATEEZ. With that pedigree, they’ve … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 