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.
It’s been a packed week for K-pop, but not a particularly strong one. Of the eighteen (!) K-pop reviews I published since last weekend, nothing scored above an 8.25. But once all the dust has settled, I think ZEROBASEONE released my favorite single and album of the week. In Bloom is slowly growing on me, and there are a few nice b-sides to explore as well.
The group has been performing the perky New Kidz On The Block, and that track would make a good follow-up single if their agency decides to go that route. But I’m even more interested in the album’s opening track — the curiously-titled Back To ZEROBASE. It’s refreshing to hear a new-gen boy group put vocals right up front, and this song is a showcase for the guys’ harmonies. The production mirrors In Bloom‘s skittering drum-and-bass percussion, but the sound fits much better here. The energy surges and swells without any big beat drop moment to bring it to a finale. Instead, the vocals act as the climax.
Back To ZEROBASE could push its strengths even further, but this is a promising route for the guys. I hope they continue to explore this emotional, ethereal sound as their discography grows. It could be a great niche for them.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
ZB1’s album and single has been my favorite this week too! props to their A&R team for this debut, honestly. I just saw the members say they want to try a dark sound/concept (R.I.P.), praying their company doesn’t listen to them for that and build upon the sound in their debut album instead (and go to the same producers at that)
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Wakeone please dont listen to them we dont want a dark concept 😭 or if we get one i hope its dark and elegant not noisy
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yeah if they ever go the dark route, I just hope it’s more melodic and not the chant/shoutfest we’re used to seeing boy groups do
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I could see them doing something along the lines of EXO’s Overdose/Monster or TVXQ’s Catch Me if they end up going dark, especially since there’s a bunch of talented and promising vocalists in the group.
But I agree, we’ve had too many dark and moody boy group songs nowadays and the bright concept of album fits them like a glove.
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the album*
So much for not being able to edit my comment to fix the typos smh
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I honestly wish that some K-Pop boy band would try dark dance-R&B these days, something like TVXQ’s Wrong Number or Mirotic, but given how much I loved Overdose and Catch Me back in the day, I don’t mind that!
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Guess you will be busier after Oh My Girl’s mini album is released…
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Ahhh im so happy you decided to do a buried treasure for this album I was so scared that you weren’t! And I’m glad it’s this song because this song is my absolute favorite of the album too! The vocals are SO heavenly and the dnb with the synth is just so ethereal and I also feel like we barely hear this kind of sound in kpop. Its such a perfect opener to me it really represents a start of a journey. I really hope they continue with this kind of sound through out their career because this would be such a perfect niche to occupy!
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Yasssssss. Yes. Yes, please.
What a clever combination of sung and melodyne harmonies with little skips and hops tucked in at a SHINee level of production, updated for the current contemporary sound.
Good stuff all around. This group be the new Golcha or ONF.
Flat 9 for me.
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I’ve loved this song since it was used in ZB1’s concept trailer and was hoping it would be on their album. It’s transcendent in a way that I don’t really find in Kpop. I was curious about who was behind this and found out that two of the songwriters, Will Lansley and John Morgan, are part of an electronica duo called Punctual. Their song “Out of the Blue” sounds a bit like this.
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This is my favourite from the album too. ZB1 seem to be one of the strongest vocal groups in a while. The album overall is a bit lighter than my current taste but there are some absolute gems on this album that I love. There’s something about this group that is very exciting.
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This song is an intro, it has no right being this good.
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This is such a pattern for me. I generally love intros and outros for albums, and wish they were whole songs of their own. At least this one is a decent length. Intros and outros are often full of the theatrical feel that I love in kpop.
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I’m starting to feel the same way. Recently, LE SSERAFIM released UNFORGIVEN, and Burn The Bridge was the best song on the album ~_~
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One of my favourite ‘songs’ is Ateez’s intro Propaganda from the album with Cyberpunk, Guerrilla, New World.
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An “intro” that’s longer than every song on NewJeans’ upcoming album ☠️
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Don’t come for nwjns necks like that 😭
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For real though, why is Get Up (the song) only 35 seconds?
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I’m really really happy to see all the positive comments here! I noticed when you said you thought In Bloom would be a grower and I thought so, too 🙂
Thank you for liking our zb1 everyone, I also hope we can go for 2.5 years while avoiding dark concepts 😭😭😭 it’s not a lot of time and I don’t want to waste it….
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