Buried Treasure: xikers – Bittersweet

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.

When writing about xikers’ Witch, I mentioned that there are often enjoyable b-sides on the group’s albums even if their title track doesn’t appeal to me. That’s especially true on their newest release, where Witch strikes me as one of the weakest songs. In comparison, Bittersweet is a slam dunk title track if I’ve ever heard one.

I like xikers’ music most when it has a punk rock edge, melding crunchy guitar with their rambunctious performance style. Bittersweet capitalizes on this sound, adding glam rock stomp and unexpected theatricality. Right from the start, the percussion hits hard as the guys blend melody and rap in seamless transitions that serve the instrumental well. The pre-chorus offers a shot of vocal firepower while the shouted chorus is fleshed out with brilliant splashes of choral exclamations. These extra flourishes are the song’s secret weapon, adding texture and musicality that help set Bittersweet apart from similar efforts.

The group has released an extended video preview of this track on YouTube, making me hope it will eventually receive promotions. After all, this feels like xikers’ musical lane — something they do especially well and should develop further.

Grade: B+