A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve.
I’m one of those weird people who listens to pretty much every major K-pop album, regardless of whether I enjoy the title track or not. However, I know not everyone is that insane! This makes title tracks very important, as they offer a gateway to the rest of the project. In playing things too safe with Killin’ It, P1Harmony may have turned off some potential fans.
Their full album is much stronger and more varied than Killin’ It would suggest. To me, they promoted one of the worst songs on the entire project. I’m much more enthused by the genre hybrids that come later in the track list. In particular, the stretch of songs from Countdown To Love to Let Me Love You is pretty stellar. I could have easily featured any of these songs as a Buried Treasure.
I decided to go with the track that kicks off this winning streak. Countdown To Love is a cool rock/hip-hop hybrid that takes advantage of the group’s great vocal textures and playful energy. There are a few jarring breakdowns I’m not crazy about, but the rollicking chorus compensates with a series of strong hooks. The vocal performance is particularly fun, bringing an extra flair to help the track stand out. I’d love to hear P1Harmony pursue this upbeat sound on future title tracks so a wider audience can appreciate what they’re capable of.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
