Buried Treasure: Woodz – Chaser

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.

When listening to the highlight medley of Woodz’s new album, the song that stuck out most was Kiss Of Fire. I hope we’ll be getting a music video for that one. It’s indeed fantastic. But soon after, Chaser races in and hits like a ton of bricks.

“Chaser” is a loaded term for me – at least when it comes to K-pop. Hearing the word, my mind immediately goes to my favorite comeback of all time. I can’t help but set expectations high. Thankfully, Woodz’s Chaser is very strong on its own merits.

I love rocker Woodz. He’s got such a great vocal tone for this genre. It’s gritty but not too gravelly. There’s an emotional rawness to his performance that lends authenticity to anthems. And when the arrangement layers his vocals, you get this gorgeous blend bolstered by so much texture. At times, this sound actually reminds me of Fleetwood Mac – a comparison I never thought I’d make when writing about K-pop.

Chaser thrives on a bounding pop/rock beat. It’s a fairly straightforward track, bolstered by a nonstop surge of energy that adds a driving quality to sell the emotion. As the song blasts into its chorus, crunchy power pop guitar joins the fray. This hook is so punchy and addictive, but Chaser doesn’t truly hit its peak until the final chorus, where Woodz’s performance grows even more dramatic. This is followed by a brilliant guitar solo that offers one last burst of catharsis. I would love to hear a future title track in this vein. With songs this good, it feels like his own “Crooked” may be just around the corner.

~