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.
Apart from its brilliant title track, AHOF’s first mini album was a slow burn success for me. I love it now, but the songs took awhile to sink their teeth in. In comparison, their follow-up feels much more instant. The music is still on the slower side (they don’t really do “dance” tracks), but the melodies are fantastic. And the singing? Well, the guys are singing and that alone is so refreshing.
I’m particularly taken with album opener Everything Is Love. Its catchy synth riff was first teased as an interlude/outro on the first album and I’m thrilled that the full song is even better than I’d hoped. This might feel like a random reference from the past, but the song reminds me of the sound Infinite’s Sungkyu pursued on his few solo albums. It’s a wonderful blend of rock and synth driven by generous melodies that burst at the seams.
Every song on AHOF’s album stretches over three minutes, giving the music space to develop into the satisfying crescendos you’d hope for. This goes to show the importance of having a single producer overseeing the process. It’s clear that EL CAPITXN is writing songs specifically for this group rather than simply sticking them with outsourced material that could have been performed by anyone. But, we must credit AHOF as well. Everything Is Love could have easily become a rote fan song in other hands. Their performance elevates it into something special.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.75 |
