A K-pop group’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.
ONF’s new album is really strong, and I couldn’t decide between two tracks when it comes to “buried treasure.” Ultimately, I opted to go for the one that seemed to be getting the most buzz from listeners, but give me a sentence or two to write about how much I like Secret Triangle. Usually, I don’t care for upbeat songs that shift tempo for a beat-drop chorus, but I think Secret Triangle manages this structure well. And the guitar during its final moments? Completely epic.
Now onto The Realist, which is a more cohesive production. The song’s synthwave aesthetics seem to take heavy inspiration from The Weeknd’s After Hours album, but Monotree has always pulled from these textures so it doesn’t feel like a cash-in. The hazy synth that forms the backbone to the instrumental has an almost tactile quality, at once retro and futuristic.
The vocals are also heavily processed at times, but it’s all in service to The Realist’s overall effect. It has an amorphous appeal, as if the song could fold in on itself and disintegrate at any moment. This illusion of elusiveness is hard to pull off while maintaining a pop song’s integrity, but The Realist manages to feel at once dreamlike and urgent. I think this is due to its strong hook, which swirls throughout the track with a subtle intensity. However, the element that really steals the show is the electric guitar, which punctuates the bridge with a spike of neon-colored drama. With that said, I could do without the muted coda that ends the track (though I understand why it’s there from a storytelling perspective).
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 9 |
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The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I’m not a fan of this style – don’t like the Weeknd’s songs and don’t like this very much either. Not that it’s not a good song, just not to my taste.
I prefer Secret Triangle – the drop is not my favourite moment in the song but it’s not too bad. That guitar at the end is so cool- especially when it combines with the drop from before, this time underlined by a more uptempo beat. Can’t help but wish more of the song sounded like that.
Shoutout to Trip Advisor too, it’s bright and groovy, just how I like it.
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This is my favourite from the album, although there many other fantastic songs. This sounds like, as you mentioned, The Weeknd but I’m also getting some 2016 B1A4 vibes? Don’t know why lol. Either way, I love it.
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Not really surprised you picked this. It is a very ‘Nick’ song.
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Ikr, Nick’s tastes become clearer and clearer the more you read, so now we can guess his thoughts on songs
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Haha I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not!
I definitely have certain proclivities when it comes to sounds and styles, though…
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I think it’s a good thing; it makes me trust your opinion more. Plus, you always write your thoughts super well and sometimes you have exceptions that are pretty surprising
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Yes — agree or disagree, you can always rest assured that I have no ulterior motives! 🙂
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This is a song which I really love! Monotree works his magic here again, It seems like an expansion of ONF’s sound and that’s something which I really love about it!
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Wow, I really love this! Definitely wouldn’t have heard it if you hadn’t done this review – thank you!
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Oh yes, this is the song that called out to me during the highlight melody. I love the almost psychedelic feeling you get from it. And the electric guitar at the end is such a head banger. Solid b-side. Does not disappoint.
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I can’t imagine Nick choosing any other song than this one. At first I like this song the most, but later on I keep steering to the brighter tracks like Trip Advisor, and the ballad I.T.I.L.U., the strings sound so nicd there.
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nice*
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this reminds me of txt’s ghosting, which is always great to have more of!!
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I loved The Realist upon first listening, then Trip Advisor came and snatched my heart.
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Trip Advisor is great too! The kind of “great” that just gets better with each listen.
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It has now become my favourite song of the album!
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Nick! I just realized that you have been writing so much content about ONF! I am not complaining though, I really love the guys!
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