K-pop’s title tracks might gain most of listeners’ attention, but many album tracks are worth equal spotlight. I call these “buried treasures.”
Beyond this, K-pop’s albums deliver thousands of additional tracks that settle for a more limited audience. It’s these songs that will become a part of my “battle of the b-sides” feature.
In this feature, I’ll be putting on my A&R hat and taking a listen to five randomly-selected K-pop b-sides. I’ll write a mini review for each, including a Bias List rating, and rank them from least to most favorite. The winner will join a special Bias List B-side playlist. Think of it like my own little agency, hand-selecting songs I’d like to pitch to my nonexistent artists!
You can check out all rounds of my Battle of the B-sides here!
Battle of the B-sides: Round Fifty-SixGlow (2019)
This is what I’d call a vibey b-side. It’s not designed to be the huge centerpiece of an album, but its breezy energy and solid, mid-tempo bounce is relentlessly pleasant. The group has definitely found stronger melodies than this (the chorus is particularly repetitive), but it’s difficult to dislike a song this chipper. This sound is also a great match for the lighter sides of the members’ tones.
Eclipse (2020)
This is such a signature style for GFriend. It’s ornate and lush while maintaining a sense of whimsy that prevents it from collapsing under the weight of its own fussiness. As with Glow, I don’t think this is one of the group’s stronger melodies. The song mostly traces lines we’ve heard before in their work. But, the package is wrapped in such lovely bows. It swells and surges and then pulls back when you don’t expect it to.
Wanna Be (2018)
It’s two times in a row we’ve had an OST song as part of this feature! Wanna Be is utter pop fluff, and that’s fine. It’s missing the weightier elements that often make GFriend’s music so enjoyable and that prevents it from being a discography standout. However, these songs usually have a specific mission when it comes to the drama scenes they’re soundtracking. Wanna Be casts off an innocent, carefree vibe with total confidence.
Fall In Love (2016)
Now we’re talking! Early GFriend has a special place in my heart, whether we’re talking about title tracks or b-sides. This isn’t even one of the stronger songs from their first album, but I love its refreshing sound and lush, melodic chorus. Seriously… that chorus just keeps going! When you think it’s finished, another sweet series of hooks rush in to keep the momentum aloft. All we need is a guitar solo and Yuju power note to seal the deal. Alas, neither materializes.
Gone With The Wind (2016)
Back in the early days of this blog, I didn’t write nearly as many “buried treasures” as I do now, meaning a ton of great 2016 b-sides passed by without a full review. Gone With The Wind is one of these treasures and replicates so many of the facets I adore about GFriend’s early sound. I love its off-kilter structure and unpredictable melody lines. Then, there’s that flawless blend of powerful and innocent – neither extreme overplaying its hand. And unlike Fall In Love, we get both a guitar solo and a Yuju power note. How spoiled we were!
Fifth: Wanna Be
Fourth: Glow
Third: Eclipse
Second: Fall In Love
First: Gone With The Wind
Congratulations to GFriend’s Gone With The Wind – the fifty-sixth winner of my Battle of the B-sides!
Readers, what do you think? Did you discover any hidden gems? Leave your own ranking in the comments!
Original Article
