2020 B-Sides: Second Quarter
As a follow up to last week’s article featuring the best B-sides from the first quarter of 2020, here are our choices for the second quarter.
April’s Pick: “Quiet Down” by NCT Dream
Released on the second to last day of April, Reload is NCT Dream’s fourth mini-album with “Ridin’” as the title track. Promoted alongside “Ridin’” was “Quiet Down,” an EDM and hip-hop song that features vocal harmonization in the chorus and a chunky synth beat while the verses are more lowkey, with just a buzzing loop played in the background. While it does incorporate EDM like a lot of K-Pop tracks do as of late, “Quiet Down” goes about it differently. There’s no building into a massive drop, rather just a steady beat throughout the track that helps drive the message of the track—rather than focus on the rumors spread by everybody else, quiet down and listen to NCT Dream. You can read our article on “Ridin’” here.
May’s Pick: “1 to 10” by DAY6
While DAY6 unfortunately didn’t promote The Book of Us : The Demon due to Jae and Sungjin focusing on their mental health, the album left a lasting impression on us in the month of May. While “Zombie” definitely got a lot of love (and an English release on the album), “1 to 10” was one we found ourselves going back to. With the group wanting the album to be a comfort for fans, this track is also comforting, especially because of the repeated line, “Nobody loves you more than me, baby.” The hypnotic synth beat makes it hard not to fall into a state of repeat with this B-side. All of the members’ vocals shine in this track, but like staff writer Kelly pointed out in her review of the album, Sungjin’s vocals truly fit this genre.
June’s Pick: “BUCK” by WOODZ ft. punchnello
Back at the end of June, WOODZ released his first mini-album EQUAL. After debuting in the disbanded group X1 and as a member of inactive boy group UNIQ, fans were waiting to see what WOODZ (real name Cho Seungyoun) would release next and EQUAL was an excellent start. The mini-album features almost every genre, with rock, pop, R&B, and ballads all present, but it’s the fun trap B-side “BUCK” that takes the cake. Featuring rapper punchnello, another favorite among The Kraze staff, “BUCK” is all about focusing on life and not money. It’s the repetitive beat, the childlike voice repeating after WOODZ at times, and the catchy chorus that gets inspiration from “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe” that makes this the perfect track for when you need to get something done. You can read our article on WOODZ’s debut mini-album here.