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.
It’s summertime OST season, with TWS and ZEROBASEONE releasing similar songs within days of each other. Like ZB1’s effort, Brand New Day is an upbeat pop/rock offering stuffed with good vibes and buoyed by an exciting chorus. One of the reasons I’m so completely affixed to the TWS train is their diverse set of vocal tones. I love when I can instantly pick out the singers of an idol group because it adds so much character and transforms otherwise generic material into something special.
I don’t find TWS’s music generic at all, but this OST certainly leans in that direction (as is the case for most OSTs, honestly). The fact that TWS and ZEROBASEONE could easily interchange their songs isn’t lost on me, but the vocals here give Brand New Day that unmistakable, fresh TWS stamp. This is especially evident during the song’s buoyant chorus and brilliant, building flourish that closes the track. While not quite as good as their fantastically bouncy Bloom from a few weeks ago, it retains that song’s optimistic drive and makes for a nice summertime pairing.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
hey nick, have you heard cravity and fromis_9 albums? what are your thoughts? any buried treasures coming?
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Probably one for CRAVITY later in the week. I haven’t had the chance to listen to the fromis_9 mini yet but will today 🙂
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If anyone needs an introduction to “The OST Sound”, this is it. Major key. Bright and Brisk. Some group of musicians in Korea crank these things out. I am imagining that they have a whole stash of them, recorded with a guiding vocal so the Next Hot Kpop group can come in and record their vocal over it. And away they go!
I am thinking that in a year when we have so few happy clappy new songs to listen to, I am thinking I should spend time again in OST world to get my happy Kpop fix. This one is a good start.
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Idk how generic this one is but it’s always been a dear ost to me and an introduction to BTOB as a group, just like Scarlet Heart OST introduced me to Exo or Akmu (and I never watched Scarlet Heart to the end). That’s how I’ve actually been looking forward to OSTs for Good Boy more than for the drama itself lol
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