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.
TWS's Summer Beat is a varied album, but it's tied together by the youthful energy and personality of the group. Despite enjoying every song, I don't think there's a b-side as fantastic as Sparkling Blue's First Hooky. However, each sonic shift works surprisingly well (even the uncharacteristically swaggy Double Take). Apart from the one-two punch of standout singles hey! hey! and If I'm S, Can You Be My N?, the album's secret weapon is leader Shinyu's deep, expressive rap voice. He's got such a characteristic tone and way of phrasing that gives the music a ton of personality.
I could have featured any song as a buried treasure (they're pretty much all in the mid-8's for me), but I find myself coming back to the melodic, uplifting Keep On (내가 태양이라면) most often. Co-written/produced by SM stalwart Kenzie, this song feels like the soundtrack to a teen road trip movie. Gentle guitar and tropical synth squiggles give it a summertime appeal, while classic pop melodies compliment TWS's "boyhood pop" concept. Then, we've got a rousing post-chorus hook that delivers my kind of cheesy, self-empowerment bombast.
Though Keep On isn't as instantly flashy as other tracks on the album, it's the song I can imagine sticking around the longest. There's something so timeless about its sound and its fleshed-out melodic structure will have you singing along throughout the season.
Hooks | 9 |
Production | 8 |
Longevity | 9 |
Bias | 9 |
RATING | 8.75 |
Grade: B+
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