One song. Every day. Alphabetical order.

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Overdose (from Overdose – 2014)

Before Overdose’s 2014 release, the song leaked online. This is rare for a K-pop track — especially back then — and the fact that the comeback was postponed several weeks due to the Sewol Ferry Incident made it hard to resist the opportunity to hear it early. I gave in and listened to the leak. Initially, I was disappointed. After all, the track arrived on the heels of Growl and Miracles In December — a tall order, for sure. Thankfully, time has treated Overdose well. It remains a highlight in EXO’s discography, ahead of its time in many ways. The industrial percussion and handclap-like rhythm fuse with symphonic flourishes to create a dynamic, militaristic instrumental. At times, the song sounds like an emergency klaxon — blustering and cacophonous. But, it’s held together by Overdose’s taut, lockstep composition, which injects just enough melody to soften the song’s imposing aggression. This would be the last title track to feature all twelve original EXO members, as the group would soon experience a mass exodus (pun intended) throughout the rest of 2014. As such, it carries a slightly bittersweet sentiment, even if it’s a rock-solid swan song for the group’s original “K” and “M” configurations.

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