Buried Treasure: TWS – Maintain On

A Okay-pop act’s title monitor isn’t at all times the most effective music on their album, even when it’s the one most individuals will hear. Generally, b-sides deserve recognition too. Within the singles-oriented world of Okay-pop, I need to highlight a few of these buried treasures and provides them the props they deserve.

TWS’s Summer time Beat is a diverse album, nevertheless it’s tied collectively by the youthful vitality and character of the group. Regardless of having fun with each music, I don’t suppose there’s a b-side as improbable as Glowing Blue‘s First Hooky. Nevertheless, every sonic shift works surprisingly effectively (even the uncharacteristically swaggy Double Take). Other than the one-two punch of standout singles hey! hey! and If I’m S, Can You Be My N?, the album’s secret weapon is chief Shinyu’s deep, expressive rap voice. He’s received such a attribute tone and approach of phrasing that provides the music a ton of character.

I may have featured any music as a buried treasure (they’re just about all within the mid-8’s for me), however I discover myself coming again to the melodic, uplifting Maintain On (내가 태양이라면) most frequently. Co-written/produced by SM stalwart Kenzie, this music feels just like the soundtrack to a teen street journey film. Light guitar and tropical synth squiggles give it a summertime attraction, whereas traditional pop melodies praise TWS’s “boyhood pop” idea. Then, we’ve received a rousing post-chorus hook that delivers my form of tacky, self-empowerment bombast.

Although Maintain On isn’t as immediately flashy as different tracks on the album, it’s the music I can think about sticking across the longest. There’s one thing so timeless about its sound and its fleshed-out melodic construction could have you singing alongside all through the season.

Grade: B+