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.
Until now, I don’t think I’d listened to an Xdinary Heroes album more than once all the way through. I’m not sure what happened, but the material on their just-released Troubleshooting finally clicked with me. I don’t want to rob them of their individuality, but this new material feels like an ideal entry point for those of us who are longtime DAY6 fans. Its overall sound seems to blur the lines between the two bands.
I really enjoy the 80’s hair metal pastiche Money On My Mind, but my favorite track comes right at the end of the album. Night Of Fireworks is a sonic shift for Xdinary Heroes — a little softer but no less anthemic than their best material. The percussion has a surprising brittleness, giving the track a different texture than most. But when it comes down to it, I’m all about melody so my favorite aspect of Fireworks is its chorus. I just love the structure here. It sweeps in with a sentimental sound, coasting downward in unexpected fashion. The guys sound confident and unguarded, adding plenty of heart to the performance. It’s not nearly as punchy, but the song would pair nicely with DAY6’s megahit Time Of Our Life.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.75 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Thank you for introducing this band to me. ‘Troubleshooting’ is great!!!
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I finally clicked with them with their previous album, to the point that I even saw them live when they stopped in Paris a few months ago! And boy did I enjoy that concert! I’m so ready to see them again if they ever come back! I really recommend “Freddy” with which they opened the night and the synth driven “Bad Chemical”!
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This is a 10, 10, 10 across the board for me. I enjoyed half of the last album, Freddy especially, but this one is solidly excellent throughout. Night of Fireworks is magical to this old midwesterner because it takes Cheap Trick and Raspberries power and melodies (originators of classics US power pop, natch) and filters them through a K-pop style and sensibility. So far, it’s my favorite K-pop song this year.
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Troubleshooting is really amazing! I’ve always been a fan of them but their music has always been too “much” for many people. I’m glad that this album is getting them more traction. I would recommend Man in the box and Love again for songs that might grow on you from previous releases.
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Money on my mind takes money out of my bank account.Overall, such a decent album with more than half of it can score above 8.
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