Battle of the B-Sides: Sonamoo, Lee Hongki, LE SSERAFIM, U-KISS, Kang Daniel

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!

Sonamoo – Sense Man (2016)

Time and place can greatly influence how I feel about a song. When this was first released, I’m pretty sure I dismissed it (I barely remember it now), but given our current backdrop of girl group sounds, Sense Man feels very refreshing. The instrumental offers a nice blend of barreling percussion and tropical synth and the chorus is quite sweet and addictive. It has retro elements that hearken back to earlier K-pop generations, but the slick performance helps this stand the test of time.

Lee Hongki – Let’s Seize The Day (2015)

It’s hard to believe FTIsland’s frontman ever put his name to something this EDM-influenced, but Let’s Seize The Day is a real treat. Its production adheres to the festival sound popularized in the early-to-mid 2010’s, leaving melody a secondary concern. Hongki also plays second fiddle to the electronic soundscape, his voice often warped to compliment the production. I wish the song had a bit more meat on its bones, but if you’re looking for some fun EDM this hits the spot.

LE SSERAFIM – Blue Flame (2022)

It feels like so long ago that I was genuinely excited about a LE SSERAFIM album. Their debut easily remains my favorite track-for-track project they’ve delivered and Blue Flame is a standout. The groove is funky and brisk, suiting the girls’ fashionable performance. I’m a big fan of the percussion. Its blend of tones and textures gives Blue Flame a sense of fullness that keeps the song interesting even as it cycles through its series of repetitive hooks.

U-KISS – Because I Love You (2013)

U-KISS are such an underrated group. Even though they were big in their time, I feel like too many K-pop fans forget they exist. They delivered surging electro dance as well as any of their peers and Because I Love You is a super solid example of this sound. What it lacks in originality it makes up in sheer flair. The instrumental pounds. The melodies build and payoff. The vocals burst out of the gate with confidence. What more could you want?

Kang Daniel – Save You (ft. Wonstein) (2021)

You can hear the western influence in this one. Its dramatic chorus isn’t what I immediately think of when I imagine a Kang Daniel song, but he pulls off the sound pretty well. There’s a resonance to the production that has a lot of potential. I wish they would have opted for something less trendy than trap beats, though. The song already feels a bit dated in this way. The choral elements are by far Save You’s most intriguing element and I would have loved to hear them developed in a more robust way.

Fifth: Kang Daniel – Save You (ft. Wonstein)
Fourth: Lee Hongki – Let’s Seize The Day
Third: Sonamoo – Sense Man
Second: LE SSERAFIM – Blue Flame

First: U-KISS – Because I Love You

Congratulations to U-KISS’s Because I Love You – the sixty-fifth 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!