Ok-pop’s title tracks may achieve 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 further tracks that accept a extra restricted viewers. It’s these songs that may turn into part of my “battle of the b-sides” function.
On this function, I’ll be placing on my A&R hat and taking a hear to 5 randomly-selected Ok-pop b-sides. I’ll write a mini assessment for every, together with a Bias Checklist ranking, and rank them from least to most favourite. The winner will be a part of a particular Bias Checklist B-side playlist. Consider it like my very own little company, hand-selecting songs I’d wish to pitch to my nonexistent artists!
You may take a look at all rounds of my Battle of the B-sides right here!
Yena – LXXK 2 U (2022)
It is a strong instance of the brilliant pop-rock sound Yena debuted with. She’s gone a bit quirkier than this since then, however her colourful vocal and character match this fashion properly. The track itself is extra easy than I would love and the manufacturing is equally unadventurous. It’s an honest b-side however lacks the wild sense of abandon that it might have. She additionally carried out this one on music exhibits, though it’s technically not a single.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Manufacturing | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 7.75 |
Lee Hello – What Is Love? (2021)
I really feel like I’m at all times speaking about “vibes” as of late. There are few artists vibier than Lee Hello, and that attribute doesn’t at all times go down properly for me. There’s no denying she has an exquisite voice, however a track like that is so muted that it nearly fades into the background. It’s vibe music via and thru, well-suited because the soundtrack to a second however not notably attention-grabbing by itself. It’s nearly troublesome to give you one thing to write down about this, actually. It’s simply so hushed and the melodies are so easy and repetitive.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Manufacturing | 7 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.25 |
Diva – Rumor (2001)
Ooh, we’re going far again in time with this one! Diva was an important first-gen group with fairly a number of highlights to their identify. When listening to early Ok-pop, I like to hint how its sounds influenced later generations. You may hear touches of Sistar and Lady’s Day and all these nice second/third-gen teams in Rumor’s melodies, although this track has an easier – extra primordial – execution. I’m most intrigued by the surprisingly sturdy guitar riff that opens the monitor and reappears a number of occasions. It nearly feels ripped from a unique track completely!
| Hooks | 8 |
| Manufacturing | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8 |
Kara – Binks (2010)
It’s at all times good to revisit some early Sweetune as a part of this function. Binks is much from Kara’s greatest track and finds the manufacturing staff working deep inside their treacly candy mode, however the melodies are sound and the manufacturing has that lush fullness you’d anticipate from a Sweetune monitor. Kara don’t ever get sufficient recognition for his or her vocals, however the beautiful mix of their voices actually makes this refrain come to life. I additionally love the electrical guitar that is available in for the track’s finale.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Manufacturing | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.25 |
The Boyz – They See Me Dream (2024)
The Boyz have launched among the greatest Ok-pop of this decade however their albums are additionally filled with music I discover much less intriguing. I’ve by no means discovered all of them that convincing on extra sultry, mid-tempo materials. They See Me Dream feels very very similar to album filler, pushed by a fitful sound that continually feels as if it’s going to construct to one thing greater than it does. This makes for a considerably irritating hear, although I take pleasure in among the textures they’re enjoying with right here.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Manufacturing | 7 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.25 |
Fifth: Lee Hello – What Is Love?
Fourth: The Boyz – They See Me Dream
Third: Yena – LXXK 2 U
Second: Diva – Rumor
First: Kara – Binks
Congratulations to Kara’s Binks – the sixty-eighth winner of my Battle of the B-sides!
Readers, what do you suppose? Did you uncover any hidden gems? Go away your personal rating within the feedback!
