One of the unique features of The Bias List is its “buried treasure” write-ups. I try my hardest to comb through every major K-pop album released each year and when a song catches my ear I highlight it on the blog. This countdown is an encapsulation of those write-ups, ranking my top 40 b-sides and album tracks of the year.
This countdown encompasses any track that didn’t receive a full music video. This includes album tracks, as well as songs that may have been performed but never actively promoted. It also includes Japanese b-sides from Korean acts. Just like the Top 50 Singles list, all songs here were released between December 1st, 2022 and November 30th, 2023.
Honorable Mentions:
U-Know – Relax
Key – Heartless
CRAVITY – I Can’t Fight The Feeling
WOODZ – Who Knows
Infinite – Time Difference
n.SSign – Melody
Lee Chaeyeon – Don’t Be A Jerk
HORI7ON – How You Feel
OnlyOneOf – blueblueseOul
Lucy – So What
Dreamcatcher – Demion
Somi – The Way
Seventeen – Back 2 Back
The Wind – Do It
40. TXT – GROWING PAIN
TXT crank the guitars all the way up for a return to their 2021-era rock sound. This goes harder than anything else they released this year. (full review)
39. NINE.i – LIKE CRAZY
NINE.i take a page from Seventeen’s funk bible, delivering a loose, freewheeling highlight with plenty of space for the beat to breathe.
38. TAN – TARZAN
A sub-unit track from members Taehoon and Jiseong, Tarzan hypnotizes with its repeated synth loop. Its simplicity is its biggest asset.
37. LE SSERAFIM – NO-RETURN (INTO THE UNKNOWN)
Catchier than any of their actual title tracks this year, No-Return paints LE SSERAFIM as heirs to catchy, 80’s-tinged dance pop. (full review)
36. CRAVITY – READY SET GO
Ready Set Go proves that OST songs don’t always have to be sappy ballads. This is as strong as any of CRAVITY’s singles, blasting forward on rock energy. (full review)
35. U-KNOW – SPOTLIGHT
I preferred many of U-Know’s b-sides to his title track this year, and this sleek electro groove would have made a great comeback.
34. IVE – BLUE BLOOD
Apart from the excellent I Am, Blue Blood stands as my favorite 2023 moment from IVE. It’s like an evolution of their atmospheric Love Dive sound. (full review)
33. VANNER – TBH
VANNER’s comeback album is strong all the way through, and this funky throwdown might be its biggest highlight. The chorus is such an earworm. (full review)
32. GOLDEN CHILD – BLIND LOVE
Golden Child didn’t deliver many b-sides this year, but this frothy slice of upbeat pop is a fantastic maturation of their bright sound. (full review)
31. TEEN TOP – NEXT TO YOU
Nothing beats a great melody, and the upbeat Next To You anchors its energy with a robust chorus that delivers a surging pop refrain. (full review)
30. THE WIND – WITH US
This is a style of saccharine fan song we don’t hear often any more, and I’m a sucker for the cheese. I love the melody, and the climactic power note is everything.
29. TEMPEST – EYE OF THE STORM
If Tempest must bring a harder edge to their sound, Eye Of The Storm is the way to do it. The rap verses are fine, but the chugging chorus is pure K-pop bliss. (full review)
28. TWICE – GOT THE THRILLS
Twice had a relatively quiet year, but this euphoric b-side made sure they were not forgotten. This is a sound the group has perfected and it’s satisfying to hear them luxuriate in it. (full review)
27. TREASURE – I WANT YOUR LOVE
Treasure delivered a classic, 2013-era electro banger in the spirit of past YG acts. In 2023, this decade-old trend reinvigorated itself into something quite thrilling. (full review)
26. PURPLE KISS – AUTOPILOT
Synthwave was still fashionable this year, and Purple Kiss proved themselves masters of it. I’d take Autopilot over any of their singles, honestly! (full review)
25. JINYOUNG – TOGETHER PROMISE
It’s like we’re back in 2014 with Jinyoung churning out fantastic songs for B1A4. I can’t express how wonderful it is to hear his voice again. (full review)
24. NCT 127 – ANGEL EYES
NCT 127 took a break from their abrasive sound to deliver a full-on 80’s rocker. It’s thrilling to hear the members’ voices over something so bombastic and cheerful. (full review)
23. KWON EUNBI – COMET
Kwon Eunbi pulls us back to maximalist, early-2010’s EDM pop with the surging Comet. It’s an underrepresented niche she’d do well to fill. (full review)
22. SHINEE – IDENTITY
This is classic funk-influenced SHINee, and there are few things better than that. It may not be their strongest work within this sonic realm, but Identity still hits hard. (full review)
21. THE BOYZ – FANTASIZE
If anything, Fantasize needs to be longer! Its mix of dancefloor beats, rock influences and breezy melodies is pure pop tonic.