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.
Overall, Twice’s new album is a strange grab bag of ideas. It’s got some of their worst material ever (Battitude) but also a few highlights. The quality that ties most of the songs together is their brevity. Like title track This Is For, these songs are short! In some cases, this works just fine. In most, it feels like a missed opportunity to flesh out the music.
Mars is by far my favorite track on the album and could have been a discography highlight had it allowed itself to fully spread its wings with a bridge and final chorus. Sonically, this song sticks out like a red herring within the album’s more muted palette. This is Twice at their poppiest, offering an explosion of synth and bounding beat. I’ve always appreciated this glossy pop sound on them, especially when it shines spotlight on their vocals. Mars‘ two-part chorus does just this, following a sprightly refrain with a powerful vocal turn. I love this sense of drama and need it to become a more common approach in their music again. Verse/chorus #2 are largely cut-and-paste from the first… and then the song is over, leaving an unfinished sense in its wake. That’s too bad because what we have sounds like an excellent demo that could be used as inspiration for future projects.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
