A Ok-pop act’s title monitor isn’t all the time the most effective music on their album, even when it’s the one most individuals will hear. Typically, b-sides deserve recognition too. Within the singles-oriented world of Ok-pop, I wish to highlight a few of these buried treasures and provides them the props they deserve.

When writing about xikers’ Witch, I discussed that there are sometimes gratifying b-sides on the group’s albums even when their title monitor doesn’t attraction to me. That’s very true on their latest launch, the place Witch strikes me as one of many weakest songs. Compared, Bittersweet is a slam dunk title monitor if I’ve ever heard one.

I like xikers’ music most when it has a punk rock edge, melding crunchy guitar with their rambunctious efficiency model. Bittersweet capitalizes on this sound, including glam rock stomp and surprising theatricality. Proper from the beginning, the percussion hits onerous as the fellows mix melody and rap in seamless transitions that serve the instrumental nicely. The pre-chorus gives a shot of vocal firepower whereas the shouted refrain is fleshed out with sensible splashes of choral exclamations. These further prospers are the music’s secret weapon, including texture and musicality that assist set Bittersweet aside from related efforts.

The group has launched an prolonged video preview of this monitor on YouTube, making me hope it is going to ultimately obtain promotions. In spite of everything, this seems like xikers’ musical lane — one thing they do particularly nicely and will develop additional.

Grade: B+