Best of October 2024
October has been one of the strongest months for comebacks and new releases this year, not only for K-Pop, but for K-Rock and even J-Rock. With so many great tracks (and even more to come over these last few days of the month) here are some of my favorite October 2024 B-sides that you should check out.
“iNSTEAD!” - Xdinary Heroes, Yoon Do Hyun
With any Xdinary Heroes release, it's an exceptionally difficult task to choose a favorite B-side. All of their songs have their own unique character, vibe, and emotion that make listening to Xdinary Heroes an enjoyable (and sometimes emotional) listening experience. Having said that, from their latest mini-album LIVE and FEAR, the fifth track “iNSTEAD!” stands out as my favorite.
Not only the bands first ever collaboration (and with Korean rock icon Yoon Dohyun no less) but the dive into nu-metal and hardcore rock is always welcome in my ears. Xdinary Heroes' softer vocal approach perfectly complements the heaviness of the instrumentation and Dohyun's addictive vocal screams on the words “Bite my tongue instead” in the chorus; this is a style of music I'd love to hear more of within the K-Rock infused K-Pop world. You can check out my full review of the LIVE and FEAR mini-album here.
“Save You” - YUTA
When NCT member YUTA released his debut solo mini-album Depth, I was not expecting to love it as much as I do. As a casual listener of NCT (and all of the NCT subunits), I didn't know exactly what YUTA was capable of and Depth was a pleasant surprise that has made me want to hear so much more from him and the Japanese rock scene.
Unleashing a vast selection of rock styles through Depth, it is the third track “Save You” that has become my favorite B-side from the mini-album. This track projects a lot of rock nostalgia, taking me back to the music that would play on Kerrang! TV and Scuzz during my childhood. Through his gritty vocals and musicality, YUTA shines as a rockstar solo artist whom I can't wait to see progress with each one of his future releases, with Depth being one of my all-time favorite solo debuts.
“Flowers” - aespa
As a casual listener of aespa, the majority of tracks that I have heard (and enjoy) from them are the upbeat, energetic, lyrically repetitive ones that stay stuck in your brain for days after listening to them. However, when listening to their latest release Whiplash, the penultimate track “Flowers” immediately became my favorite song on the mini-album; a song that does not follow the aespa formula I described above.
With “Flowers,” aespa takes a relaxed R&B approach with the song's arrangement (composed of a guitar and smooth electronic beats) and the members’ soft vocal deliveries, making this one of my favorite tracks aespa have ever released. The song carries a heavenly girl group sound that feels nostalgic and comforting; I would love to hear more of aespa in this style.
Edited by Cara Musashi