Ok-pop’s title tracks would possibly acquire most of listeners’ consideration, however many album tracks are price equal highlight. I name these “buried treasures.”
Past this, Ok-pop’s albums ship hundreds of extra tracks that accept a extra restricted viewers. It’s these songs that may develop into part of my “battle of the b-sides” characteristic.
On this characteristic, I’ll be placing on my A&R hat and taking a pay attention to 5 randomly-selected Ok-pop b-sides. I’ll write a mini assessment for every, together with a Bias Listing score, and rank them from least to most favourite. The winner will be part of a particular Bias Listing B-side playlist. Consider it like my very own little company, hand-selecting songs I’d prefer to pitch to my nonexistent artists!
You’ll be able to take a look at all rounds of my Battle of the B-sides right here!
Son Dam Bi – Even If It’s the Second Time (2009)
Son Dam Bi had a fairly good factor going along with her 80s-nodding synthpop largely produced by Courageous Brothers. Actually, she’s a kind of artists who had been huge in her time but largely goes unremembered now (at the very least by worldwide followers. I feel she’s way more identified in Korea). This b-side glistens with the retro sparkle you’d need from an 80s pastiche. At almost 4 minutes, it appears like an epic by immediately’s requirements. This runtime permits for loads of instrumental house that envelops the easy melodies with loads of texture. I simply need to dive into the track and swim round for a bit.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Manufacturing | 8 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
LOONA – OOPS! (2020)
LOONA had been actually forward of their time in terms of musical traits, and I believe that’s one of many many causes they’ve such a loyal fanbase. The muted palettes of their songs by no means appealed to me as strongly, even when I can respect what the producers had been going for. OOPS! is heavy on the sing-talk and chanted affirmations, which is one other strategy I are likely to wrestle with. I dig a few of the synth brass, however the percussion is a bit brittle and the hooks simply don’t do a lot for me.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Manufacturing | 7 |
| Longevity | 7 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7 |
fromis_9 – My Evening Routine (2023)
There are songs like this on most idol albums. It’s an opportunity to convey the tempo down and give attention to vibes or (ideally) vocals. My Evening Routine is what I’d name “music to check to.” In different phrases, it’s designed as nice environment to soundtrack any second you’d prefer to calm your thoughts. Your night time routine, possibly? As such, I view it as a purposeful monitor. It serves a objective, however I not often take heed to pop music with this objective in thoughts so it’s sort of misplaced on me.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Manufacturing | 7 |
| Longevity | 7 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7 |
MAP6 – Nearer (2017)
Oh wow, it is a blast from the previous! MAP6 barely launched any music, making it a small triumph that one among their few b-sides truly got here up on shuffle for this future. The track skirts the road between third and fourth technology tropes. The refrain has a really Beast/Spotlight-esque melody whereas the verses are extra fitful and centered on angle. I definitely favor the previous, however each approaches wrestle to congeal right into a satisfying entire.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Manufacturing | 8 |
| Longevity | 7 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.25 |
Twice – Do It Once more (2015)
It’s humorous… I bear in mind disliking most of Twice’s debut album when it first got here out. Trying again after so a few years as a dominant pressure in Ok-pop, it’s a bit unusual to listen to these formative tracks. I’m not an enormous fan of the singing type on this and a few of the digital samples are less-than-pleasant, however now that I do know the place the group was headed I can snigger off a monitor like this as enjoyable, unserious rising pains. It’s nonetheless not one thing I’m more likely to return to usually, but it surely’s received a little bit of groove to it.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Manufacturing | 8 |
| Longevity | 7 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.25 |
Fifth: fromis_9 – My Evening Routine
Fourth: LOONA – OOPS!
Third: Twice – Do It Once more
Second: MAP6 – Nearer
First: Son Dam Bi – Even If It’s the Second Time
Congratulations to Son Dam Bi’s Even If It’s the Second Time – the seventy-first winner of my Battle of the B-sides!
Readers, what do you assume? Did you uncover any hidden gems? Depart your personal rating within the feedback!
