Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, 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.
The first time through Seventeen’s new album, I was a little underwhelmed. I have a nasty habit of always comparing a group’s new work to the very best in their discography, and that makes it hard for music to thrive on its own terms. But though An Ode doesn’t offer any instant classics on the level of Very Nice or Clap, I’ve really come around to it as a body of work. Yes, the Pledis Entertainment, Bumzu-produced sound is getting a bit monotonous, but the album holds enough diversity to set it apart. Unexpectedly, I find Fear to be one of its weaker tracks.
When picking a song to feature as a buried treasure, I found myself stuck between Back It Up (from the group’s hip-hop team) and Lucky. The two songs run back-to-back on the album, connected by a similarly upbeat energy. Both push Seventeen’s music in new directions, which is part of the reason why I appreciate them. When it comes to reviews, I’m often hard on hip-hop, but it’s actually a genre I like quite a bit when it’s not beholden to trap and other overused trends. Back It Up harnesses an addictively aggressive groove, and is all the better for it.
Though I’d rank the two songs equally, I ended up deciding to feature Lucky. It brings all the members together for a potent dance track, but widens the typical Seventeen sound by enlisting the help of Monotree’s G-High. More and more, I’m eager for the group to start collaborating with new producers. I love how so much of their music is self-driven, but opening up the songwriting process to different voices might actually draw out unforeseen aspects of their talent. Lucky doesn’t go too far in this direction, but acts as a good first step. The song is slick and straightforward, forged from a 90’s club beat and blasts of jubilant brass. Most importantly, it lets Seventeen be funky again — without simply acting as a retread of past glories. More of this on the next album, please!
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
Be sure to add your own rating by participating in the poll below!
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I’m really thankful for this post in particular because I really didn’t have the courage to listen to the full album as I’ve kind of fallen out of love with Seventeen’s music. This is going straight in my playlist.
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Make sure to listen to Back It Up too!
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What are your thoughts on “Network Love”?
Really love that one!
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Based on the preview, I expected it to be my favorite. I still like it, but I wish the chorus was more than a trendy beat drop.
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Same here! This review convinced me to check out the album after all, and I’m glad I did.
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Interesting choice. I thought Lucky was very weak as compared to the other B-sides in the album.
Back it up is currently competing with Trauma as the best song from HipHop unit.
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Agreed on both counts (though I’d rank Check-In high in there as well). My favorite off the album is Lie Again–it’s sparse and straightforward, with enough melodic twists to keep things interesting. Pleasant and well-crafted.
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Mine too!! Seventeen should continue working with Simon Petren. I am a HUGE fan of both Habit and Lie Again.
How did you like 247? I think it’s my second favourite mainly because I was in awe at how clear the Performance Unit sounded in this song.
Check-in yes! I’m a bit saddened that they’ve stopped releasing mixtapes, Many of the songs on them were pure gold.
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I listened to everything and u must to because they make it with talent. Carat or not just support with you hearts and souls
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I really like Lie Again. That bamboo xylo synth sound is actually done well, someone could in theory cover it on an actual (wood) xylophone.
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I found myself enjoying Lie Again and Back It Up the most. Lucky felt like a little weak coming from Monotree but those three are the only ones I could save from the album.
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