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.
NMIXX’s first full album is very strong, which is all the more impressive when you consider how many tracks are on it. Of the twelve songs, only one or two feel like filler to me. There’s also a satisfying breadth of sound represented, even though all the material exists within NMIXX’s wheelhouse.
When I’m looking for standout tracks, I’m often searching for something big and ambitious that stops me in my tracks. Reality Hurts‘s sledgehammer electro stomp captured me immediately. This soundscape has become slightly more present in K-pop over the past year or two, but few mainstream artists are really going for it. Reality Hurts‘s production hits hard and never stops hitting even as it shifts gears for a jarring chorus drop. But most importantly, the song doesn’t forget to tether an exciting pop melody to its experimental frame. The melodic centerpiece here is super strong, allowing the listener to sing along even as the instrumental punches them aside the head. In the best way, this contrast reminds me of classic f(x).
Hooks
9
Production
9
Longevity
8
Bias
9
RATING
8.75