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.
This is not a unique or surprising reference (in fact, I mentioned it just a few weeks ago on this blog), but when I think of 80s music one of my biggest touchstones is Don Henley’s The Boys Of Summer. I just love that soft, shimmering synth-rock sound coupled with absolutely perfect melodies. What’s more surprising is that the opening track of hrtz.wav’s new album echoes this approach.
I’ve been totally won over by this album. I still think this band is an awkward proposition on stage, but their hooky, melodic style works very well on record. Mind is perhaps the best example of this yet, offering a sticky melody underlined by that aforementioned mix of shimmering synths and galloping percussion. Frontman Riaan’s voice works so well over this material, adding a whispy texture supported by a subtle power that brings a bit of tension to the performance. If you’ve been on the fence about this band like I was, maybe this song will change your mind.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.75 |
Grade: B+
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Ooh, this is lovely. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
LikeLike
I could listen to this all day. It’s so good, the song and the album!
LikeLiked by 1 person
ooh this sounds so cute and lovely!! songs like these are why your buried treasure posts are so important because i usually never look past a title track of a so-so group i’m not interested in
LikeLike
Relaxing in a nice way. Synth + Rock are a good pairing. Now, I’m wondering who is the guy wearing the mask? Is it some complicated piece of lore? Will it be a mystery forever? Anyway, the song is good!
8.5(8,9,8,9)
LikeLike
This song is a bit too tame for my taste, but I agree that their latest album was very good as they were quite enjoyable. Speaking of korean band, I also recommended a rookie indie band called “can’t be blue”. They are the 2nd place winner of Indiestance 2024 (South Korea’s largest indie musician discovery and showcase program) and the first korean band to win Emergenza 2026 (world’s largest international live music festival and competition for independent unsigned bands). I really like their latest single Fxxkin Rockstar and their latest first major album ‘cant be blue’ was one of the best kpop album I heard this year.
LikeLike