Best of April 2021 B-Sides
We’re a quarter through 2021 now, which means two things: we’ve already received four incredible months of new K-Pop releases and we’ve got eight more to go! Here are some of The Kraze’s favorite B-sides from April.
“tear Of gOd” by OnlyOneOf
What nobody was expecting on April 8, 2021 was the pure sensuality exuded by OnlyOneOf’s Instinct, Pt. 1, but what it also exuded was tons of Freudian influence. While the title track “libidO” may show the most apparent Freudian influence, B-side “tear Of gOd” does so as well. The slinky dance track shows the group asking for forgiveness from God, with OnlyOneOf proclaiming, “I can’t stop my lust,” at the beginning of the chorus. To read our review on OnlyOneOf’s comeback, click here!
“SO WHAT” by STAYC
High Up Entertainment girl group STAYC also had a comeback on April 8, with the group releasing their single album STAYDOM. Even though this is only the second release from the group, it made an impact on the K-Pop world. Title track “ASAP” is a fun electropop experience reminiscent of ‘90s pop, but B-side “SO WHAT” is the track we had on repeat. For more about STAYC’s first comeback, check out our article here.
“Digital” by Kang Daniel
Following the pre-release of track “Paranoia” in February, Kang Daniel released YELLOW on April 13, 2021. With his “Paranoia” needing an “Antidote,” it makes sense that the track would follow as YELLOW’s title track. But where’s the starting point? That would be B-side “Digital,” a track that seems to be right from the ‘80s with its synthpop influences and a focus on upbeat music paired with more serious lyrics à la The Cure. With the completion of his color mini-album series now behind him, we can’t wait to see what Kang Daniel does next. Interested in reading what else we had to say about YELLOW? Click here to find out!
“TRASH” by Wheein ft. pH-1
Looking for a risque track that breaks the mold of how a female idol should act? Look no further than “TRASH” by Wheein featuring pH-1. Released on April 13, 2021 as part of Wheein’s solo debut Redd, “TRASH” is a sexy pop-R&B track described by staff writer Kelly as having “a relaxed dance beat that gives it an almost dreamlike quality.” Wheein even released a special video for the track! To read more about Wheein’s solo debut, check out Kelly’s article here.
“so let’s love” by DAY6
Wrapping up their Book of Us series, DAY6 released The Book of Us: Negentropy on April 19, 2021. Maybe this is our own bias, but it’s hard to not get instantly hooked into a DAY6 song that starts with Wonpil’s vocals, which is exactly why “so let’s love” is so addicting at first. The track is beautiful, soft, and slow, with an ability to help lull you into a sense of calm until Sungjin’s voice at the bridge changes the entire tone of the track and it picks up tempo. And we can’t forget the unexpected yet exciting guitar shred halfway through the track. Check out our review on DAY6’s seventh mini-album here.
“Remember Me” by penomeco ft. Hoody
penomeco surprised fans by announcing on Instagram that he’d be releasing a new album on April 20, 2021, followed by an announcement that he had signed with P NATION. Titled Dry Flower, the entire album is perfection from beginning to end. The double title tracks are fun, but B-side “Remember Me” featuring Hoody is the true highlight. Their voices work together beautifully, and there’s always something so interesting in how penomeco can write these super upbeat tracks and then deliver them in this almost monotone way to really drive in the message of a song. For more about penomeco’s Dry Flower, read our article here.