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!

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Battle of the B-sides: Round Sixty-Three

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fromis_9 – Promise (2021)

This song seems topical at the moment, given the fact that fromis_9 performed their last stage as a Pledis Entertainment group this week at MBC’s year-end gayo. The group has many great b-sides to their name, but unfortunately my shuffle button picked a somewhat dull offering. Promise has a few nice melodic turns and the subdued, jazzy vibe of the instrumental sets a cozy mood. However, this style of song will never be my thing.

Hooks	7
Production	7
Longevity	8
Bias	7
RATING	7.25

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AOA – Super Duper (2018)

This wasn’t a title track but was promoted on a few music shows when it came out. I’m very fond of AOA’s discography and they have a few mid-tempo tracks in this vein that are quite good. However, those songs had Brave Brothers’ deft production hand working behind the scene. Super Duper lacks the killer hooks to make it a highlight. The “super duper du” phrase feels awkward and unintentionally funny. It’s catchy but not particularly thrilling.

Hooks	7
Production	8
Longevity	7
Bias	7
RATING	7.25

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Kep1er – LVLY (2023)

The rhythms in this track are so gen 4 / gen 5 coded, instantly placing Kep1er in their girl group era. LVLY has nice energy but meanders a bit much for my taste. The verses cover a lot of ground but the chorus spends too much time literally spelling out its hook in a sing-talk style that fails to land for me. I don’t know why I’m averse to this style of songwriting, but it feels like a waste of an otherwise engaging instrumental.

Hooks	7
Production	8
Longevity	7
Bias	7
RATING	7.25

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Twice – Sweet Summer Day (2020)

Stick around long enough as a K-pop group and you’ll eventually get to your requisite new jack swing track. Sweet Summer Day melds that genre with Twice’s sweet melodies and cheerful vibe. Muted keys add to the texture, giving the song a bit of contrast. As far as Twice songs go, this lacks the punch of a killer title track, but its warm chorus and fun, chant-along bridge make for a very solid album closer. It builds to quite a fervor toward the end.

Hooks	8
Production	8
Longevity	8
Bias	8
RATING	8

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miss A – Love Is U (2013)

Well, this battle is entirely made of girl group songs! This one comes from a totally different generation than its competitors and you can hear that in the way it’s produced. There’s a timeless quality to the instrumental, preferring drums, guitar and strings to trendier synth fare. I wouldn’t call this miss A’s best song by a long shot, but I enjoy its focus on vocals and the ascending melodies during the verses. And although the chorus is a bit too repetitive for its own good, the live band feel of the arrangement compensates.

Hooks	8
Production	8
Longevity	8
Bias	8
RATING	8

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My Verdict:

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Fifth: Kep1er – LVLY
Fourth: fromis_9 – Promise
Third: AOA – Super Duper
Second: miss A – Love Is U

First: Twice – Sweet Summer Day

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Congratulations to Twice’s Sweet Summer Day – the sixty-third 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!