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.
At this point, it seems as if I’ll be reviewing every new TWS track. They haven’t yet released a song I’d rate below an “8” and that track record continues with new anime OST N.O.S.A. I can’t for the life of me figure out what those letters stand for, but the song itself is so much fun. What could have easily been a slight pop track (both in its content and running time) becomes something quite interesting thanks to its arrangement. N.O.S.A is not an a cappella track, but it’s performed in that style. Nearly the entire song is sung in vocal harmony, layering the guys’ voices in a way that sparks consistent interplay and surprising twists. As an avid viewer of TWS’s behind the scenes content, I know the members occasionally bust out harmonies like this while they’re going about their day (a couple of them are almost always singing, honestly). It’s nice to hear this funneled into an upbeat funk track.
Another thing I like about N.O.S.A is its wonky English. I generally prefer minimal English in my K-pop or J-pop tracks, but I have a huge soft spot for English phrases performed in novel ways from non-native speakers. It’s fascinating to hear the language twisted in unusual ways. For example, you’d never hear the word “gonna” delivered with a big pause between its two syllables, but that pause (and shift in tune) forges the chorus’s central hook. That phrasing tickles the ear in an unexpected way, making it strangely addictive. In a similar way, I want to praise Shinyu’s spoken word moments in this track. He simply has a great rap voice that’s so bright and colorful to listen to.
Basically, this song caught me off guard in the best way and I’m delighted to have it. It sounds like nothing else on my playlist at the moment.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 10 |
| RATING | 9 |
