Omona Original: Best K-Pop Deep Cuts from October - December 2020
Previous Lists:
January - February 2020
March - June 2020
July - September 2020
With so many big names coming back in the last quarter of the year, I thought this list would be the largest of the 4. But I actually felt like a lot of the albums by the big-name acts didn't really have deep cuts/b-sides that stood out more than their singles, so this list is light the on names you might expect to see here (NCT, Twice, Kai).
OCTOBER
TXT - GHOSTING
(skip to 1:00)
Album: Minisode1: Blue Hour (Mini Album/EP)
Release Date: October 26, 2020
Lead Single: Blue Hour
Why Does "Ghosting" Stand Out?
So this song isn't the deepest of cuts, since the boys do seem to be promoting it and performing it on TV and radio. However, "Blue Hour" has been a stand-out pop song this year and I feel like it has overshadowed how lovely "Ghosting" is. It has an indie rock/shoe-gaze vibe to it that just feels so dreamy and fun and is a sound that isn't utilized nearly enough in K-pop. Even if you didn't love "Blue Hour", I'd still suggest giving "Ghosting" a listen.
October Honourable Mention: Drippin - Colours (I couldn't find an official upload of this song on YouTube but it's well worth checking out).
NOVEMBER
MONSTA X - 갈증 (GASOLINE)
Album: Fatal Love (Full Album)
Release Date: November 2, 2020
Lead Single: Love Killa
Why Does "갈증 (Gasoline)" Stand Out?
It's a great, bassy, groovy song with some lovely vocals brought to you by the one and only Kihyun. This album has a few other really nice songs (Nobody Else, Night View, Last Carnival) but this one feels like it could have been a single alongside "Love Killa".
DECEMBER
BOA - CUT ME OFF
Album: Better (Full Album)
Release Date: December 1, 2020
Lead Single: Better
Why Does "Cut Me Off" Stand Out?
This album is one of BoA's best in ages and the whole thing is really worth a listen. For me, "Cut Me Off" is a stand out - the disaffected, laid back, "I don't care" style of singing fits the theme of the song of a woman who is sick and tired of her relationship. The song builds slowly and steadily and never feels tempted to reach any big pop chorus - it's interesting and catchy enough as it is. "Honey & Diamonds" is my other favourite from this album.
IZ*ONE - SEQUENCE
Album: One-reeler / Act IV (Mini Album/EP)
Release Date: December 7, 2020
Lead Single: Panorama
Why Does "Sequence" Stand Out?
"Sequence" is the kind of interesting high-energy pop track that IZ*ONE is really good at. The chorus is so addicting and the sound effects sprinkled throughout the track are a nice touch without being too distracting or annoying. The energy continues to build and build right until the very end.
KIM SUNGKYU - DIVIN
Album: Inside Me (Mini Album/EP)
Release Date: December 14, 2020
Lead Single: I'm Cold
Why Does "Divin" Stand Out?
While "I'm Cold" got the lead single treatment, I feel like "Divin" has way more replay-ability. "Divin" keeps bringing me back, whereas "I'm Cold" falls flat. "Divin" is a really nice R&B track with a simple but lovely piano riff. The song works with Sungyu's vocal ability much more effectively than the lead single.
Shittysoup's Top 5 Deep Cuts from 2020:
5. Lovelyz - Dream in a Dream
4. SF9 - Fire
3. IZ*ONE - Daydream
2. Nu'est - Back to Me
1. Up10tion - Dawn (Dawn)
SOURCES: [M2] [Big Hit Labels] / [MONSTA X] [starshipTV] / [BoA] [SMTOWN] / [official IZ*ONE] [Stone Music Entertainment] / [INFINITE] [woolliment]
SOURCES - TOP 5: [Lovelyz][SF9][Jonas Blue][Mnet K-POP][UP10TION]
What did I miss, Omona?
January - February 2020
March - June 2020
July - September 2020
With so many big names coming back in the last quarter of the year, I thought this list would be the largest of the 4. But I actually felt like a lot of the albums by the big-name acts didn't really have deep cuts/b-sides that stood out more than their singles, so this list is light the on names you might expect to see here (NCT, Twice, Kai).
OCTOBER
TXT - GHOSTING
Click to view(skip to 1:00)
Album: Minisode1: Blue Hour (Mini Album/EP)
Release Date: October 26, 2020
Lead Single: Blue Hour
Why Does "Ghosting" Stand Out?
So this song isn't the deepest of cuts, since the boys do seem to be promoting it and performing it on TV and radio. However, "Blue Hour" has been a stand-out pop song this year and I feel like it has overshadowed how lovely "Ghosting" is. It has an indie rock/shoe-gaze vibe to it that just feels so dreamy and fun and is a sound that isn't utilized nearly enough in K-pop. Even if you didn't love "Blue Hour", I'd still suggest giving "Ghosting" a listen.
October Honourable Mention: Drippin - Colours (I couldn't find an official upload of this song on YouTube but it's well worth checking out).
NOVEMBER
MONSTA X - 갈증 (GASOLINE)
Album: Fatal Love (Full Album)
Release Date: November 2, 2020
Lead Single: Love Killa
Why Does "갈증 (Gasoline)" Stand Out?
It's a great, bassy, groovy song with some lovely vocals brought to you by the one and only Kihyun. This album has a few other really nice songs (Nobody Else, Night View, Last Carnival) but this one feels like it could have been a single alongside "Love Killa".
DECEMBER
BOA - CUT ME OFF
Album: Better (Full Album)
Release Date: December 1, 2020
Lead Single: Better
Why Does "Cut Me Off" Stand Out?
This album is one of BoA's best in ages and the whole thing is really worth a listen. For me, "Cut Me Off" is a stand out - the disaffected, laid back, "I don't care" style of singing fits the theme of the song of a woman who is sick and tired of her relationship. The song builds slowly and steadily and never feels tempted to reach any big pop chorus - it's interesting and catchy enough as it is. "Honey & Diamonds" is my other favourite from this album.
IZ*ONE - SEQUENCE
Album: One-reeler / Act IV (Mini Album/EP)
Release Date: December 7, 2020
Lead Single: Panorama
Why Does "Sequence" Stand Out?
"Sequence" is the kind of interesting high-energy pop track that IZ*ONE is really good at. The chorus is so addicting and the sound effects sprinkled throughout the track are a nice touch without being too distracting or annoying. The energy continues to build and build right until the very end.
KIM SUNGKYU - DIVIN
Album: Inside Me (Mini Album/EP)
Release Date: December 14, 2020
Lead Single: I'm Cold
Why Does "Divin" Stand Out?
While "I'm Cold" got the lead single treatment, I feel like "Divin" has way more replay-ability. "Divin" keeps bringing me back, whereas "I'm Cold" falls flat. "Divin" is a really nice R&B track with a simple but lovely piano riff. The song works with Sungyu's vocal ability much more effectively than the lead single.
Shittysoup's Top 5 Deep Cuts from 2020:
5. Lovelyz - Dream in a Dream
4. SF9 - Fire
3. IZ*ONE - Daydream
2. Nu'est - Back to Me
1. Up10tion - Dawn (Dawn)
SOURCES: [M2] [Big Hit Labels] / [MONSTA X] [starshipTV] / [BoA] [SMTOWN] / [official IZ*ONE] [Stone Music Entertainment] / [INFINITE] [woolliment]
SOURCES - TOP 5: [Lovelyz][SF9][Jonas Blue][Mnet K-POP][UP10TION]
What did I miss, Omona?