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.
Depending on how you look at it, IVE’s “quality over quantity” releases have either been brilliant or frustrating. Fewer songs have kept their burgeoning discography consistently strong, but there just isn’t a lot of music to listen to. When they finally get to release a full album, it’ll feel like a dam bursting.
IVE’s latest single album is another all-killer affair. After Like gets better with each listen, while b-side My Satisfaction offers a peek at an edgier side to the group. So far, they’ve been smart to play things down the middle – not too girl crush, not too cutesy. Their stylish sound is filling a hole in the market and they’ve been rewarded for standing out. My Satisfaction is a bit closer to something a group like BLACKPINK might record, but its industrial beat still feels quite fresh and unique. It’s ferocious in energy, but vocal-centric and experimental in its production choices.
IVE sound incredible on track, lacing each moment with charisma and drive. Even the taunting, chant-like hooks feel more fully-realized than most of their peers. And though the song doesn’t always follow expected structures, it’s smart to anchor itself with a few repeating instrumental features. The rhythm is downright aggressive at times, pummeling the listener with intensity. I love how the vocal melody of the chorus cuts this tension by forcefully interjecting itself between grooves. The arrangement gets even more crazy during My Satisfaction’s climax, ending the track on a theatrical note that heightens the key and finishes with a flurry of percussive piano.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.75 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Oh I am WAITING for an actual album that’s for sure – I wasn’t satisfied after WJSN got a single album after waiting so long since Unnatural either, Starship I love your GG music but give us some more 😭
Anyways, I really like the theatricality here! Particularly enjoy the low notes for the verses, the girls sound great.
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oh yeah.. meanwhile cavity got two full albums in the span of a few months and theyre not even half as successful as ive starship really needs to get their priorities straight
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I’m thinking Starship’s doing minimum effort, maximal return w/ Ive…why drop an album when you can get 2 songs per comeback and still get massive digitals and sales? 🥴 Then the eventual album will arrive after the hype train has reached a peak and the sales will be insane. BP marketing but slightly more tolerable because they still get frequent comebacks I guess? (and good music 🤫)
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I agree! I want to believe Starship is just very delicate to find music that suits the group’s identity given the immense popularity. One B-side per release is enough to sample how certain music style works for the group/fans/public. Unless the company has IVE concert in development, I don’t think they need an EP/album soon.
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love the utilization of the girls’ lower registers, especially Wonyoung’s. to think that over a year ago, she was being forced to sing in a high-pitched, cutesy voice in IZ*ONE.
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royal deserved buried treasure status too! it gives off major itzy vibes and i feel like that song would have fit the ‘checkmate’ concept more because chess = king/queen = royal
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IVE + Dreamcatcher + PIXY = “My Satisfaction”?
Yep.. ..that works for me just fine. Keep up the good work, ladies. Respect earned. /headbow
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Happy to see a buried treasure for My Satisfaction! The song has an angry magnitude which I had not picked up in IVE’s concept so far. And the last minute is everything.
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For some reason, IVE’s b-sides don’t work for me and unfortunately this doesn’t either.
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It’s definitely to IVE’s credit that I’ve liked all of their Bsides a lot and that my favorite ever songs of their is one of those – Royal from the last release – so it definitely frustrating that we’re three releases in and are still so short on quantity of songs. But it’s definitely worked to keep the intrigue up and raises the bar for when we do finally get a full mini album for them too.
This Bside is definitely in the top half of my preferences for them so that’s already a plus and makes this release duo my favorite overall one from them
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Nice! Similar vibes to Love Is Dead off of Purple Kiss’s latest mini, if a bit more restrained and slinky.
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anyone else think of thumbs by sabrina carpenter? just me?
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For me, this is currently the best b-side IVE put out. I find it more intense to listen to than Take It and Royal, but it ends on an anticlimactic note which softens it for me.
Hooks – 10
Production – 9
Longetivity – 9
Bias – 9
Total – 9.25
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