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.
SuperM’s new album is so loaded with content that it’s hard to complain, even when you reach its uneven portions. To me, much of the music sounds more like early-to-mid 2000’s American pop than K-pop, which is fine. It’s even oddly refreshing at times. But, my favorite moments are those that steer closer to the quintessential SM Entertainment sound. Yes, I’m one of those strange people who still thinks that 100 is one of the strongest tracks on the album. I have a feeling this controversial opinion will be discussed for years in my comments section!
Beyond the singles, there’s plenty to enjoy on Super One. Together At Home is one of the few songs sung primarily in Korean, which instantly increases its favor because I don’t have to worry about cheesy English-language lyrics. It’s just hard to feel the same emotion and credibility when a singer is performing a language they’re not fluent in. This relegates a lot of the album’s lyrics to pure lip service, which is one of the reasons a deliberately cheesy track like 100 goes down so well. It would be over-the-top stupid in any language, and it knows it.
Anyway, back to Together At Home, which — based on its title alone — sounds dreadfully on-the-nose. But, it’s actually one of the breeziest bits of uptempo pop on the album. It opens with a catchy chanted hook that forms the track’s anchor before segueing into a bass-driven verse. The instrumental is surprisingly gritty here, contrasted by bright synths that emerge to bring us into the pre-chorus. The production clears to skeletal electronics during this segment, which spotlights Baekhyun’s always-compelling vocals. This refrain almost functions as a chorus itself, driven by an addictive melody that’s repeated later in the track with a towering, layered arrangement. Together At Home never builds to anything more than a good time, but this kind of bright, summery pop music will never go out of style.
Hooks | 9 |
Production | 9 |
Longevity | 8 |
Bias | 8 |
RATING | 8.5 |
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Together at Home is arguably the only redeemable song that’s not Infinity or Monster. I’ve made up my mind after somehow making it through this album.. 100 is incontestably K-pop at its worst and be that as it may, it still stands out from an insipid and uninspired set of generic western-pandering rubbish.
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I actually think the album is nice though ?? Most songs are good, even by b-side standards although I found the album’s a bit too long with 20 songs. With that said, Together At Home and Wish You Were Here are my favorite songs of the album.
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I am this side of “100”, that side of “Ice Age”, and this side of “Fun!” for polarizing recent kpop songs.
So I will second that 100 is the best of the ones I have heard so far form the album
then Tiger
then whatever this one is, as it is meh.
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Apparently, I completely forgot about whatever that one was they did on the Ellen show, so clearly it must be between Tiger and this meh one here.
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Hey, me too! 100 and Fun are great for me.
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This album was a nice surprise for me, to be honest. Bops on bops! I love Big Chance, Step Up, Dangerous Woman…
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I will defend 100 till the day I die! Together at home is pretty good, I like repetitive choruses that just repeat a word (think Dolphin by Oh My Girl). Definitely a groovy song.
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OMG then you have to listen to Line Em Up. It has a simple drop but the instrumentation is KILLER. It’s got a pretty good groove and some nice flutes
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bro it’s such a good song! Deer loves you and this song
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Not my buried treasure choice (mine is better days or infinity), but the score is right 🙂
Oh FYI, Yan Zaman and Nick’s hype for Golcha has reached me (thanks, now I can’t be satisfied by it no matter how good it is 🙂 ), it better blow me away!
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I’m personally cultivating an army of Goldenness through this blog…
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It’s working 😀
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You’ve lowkey turned me into an Inspirit, am I going to adopt ANOTHER Woollim BG because of this blog?
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I became one independently but your blog keeps me fed. A great support for such a (relatively) small fandom 😀
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You’re doing god’s work!
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This sounds so fresh! SO FRESH! The song is out of the world!
I don’t know about any of you but I can hear funk!
I can’t decide between first and second version , both are too awesome!
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B Prevails! It’s better after a few listens
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YOU CAN’T SEE IT BUT IM SMILING SO BIG- the funk! the boys! I’m so hyped I could cry-
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I am so behind on the news about this comeback- bless you for posting it here
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I don’t know why 100 being one of the strongest songs on the album is a controversial take. It’s a great fucking song. I tell you, if you’ve heard it and haven’t found yourself randomly blurting “We go 100!” at the most random, inopportune times, you don’t have a soul.
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Hayoung of Apink was recently featured on a song I think you might like – https://youtu.be/y4hi4YcWyW4
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Oooh I actually love this song! I should probably check out the album.
For me, this is a perfect balance- a pleasant bop for any occasion, but not completely generic and forgettable.
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I really liked the album, it surprised me so much lol! This song is one of my favorites.
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One of my favorite tracks off an album that I LOVE! It’s my second favorite album of the year, after Monsta X’s All About Luv. I’m a sucker for those vocal hooks, here, in Wish You Were Here, & in Big Chance. I could also listen to Big Chance’s chorus all day. I’m just so satisfied with the album, with both the quality & quantity of the tracks!
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The fact that SuperM has more songs in an entire album than Blackpink’s whole career is quite something… anyways I enjoyed most of the songs in the album and I can’t believe how affordable it is in comparison to a Japanese release for a different group that I’m getting.
I think the other SuperM songs have a soft spot in my heart because they performed them during the tour!
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