Second Spin: Welcome to the "Paradise" of INFINITE's Underrated Tracks

Second Spin puts the spotlight on songs that have remained out of it. It’s the chance to showcase some of the unpromoted tracks that are overshadowed by the signature songs in the featured artists’ discography.

INFINITE comes across as one of the hardest working groups in K-Pop, releasing singles and album cuts in rapid succession and frequently going on a promotional schedule that keep Inspirits up on their feet. The group was recently “Back,” coming off the heels of their second full album “Season 2.”

Apart from this, INFINITE members are active in variety shows and more notably, as actors. Woohyun and Sungyeol are in the currently airing “High School Love On.” L and Hoya also had remarkable turns in different dramas.

It is in music, however, that INFINITE cements its mark in the industry. Though forming sub-units and infused with solo performances, INFINITE’s releases are cohesive and solid. They have also built a reputation for being one of the best precision dancers in an industry of precision dancers. When they come together, their promotional singles are unabashedly updated retro-electro-dance, but also buoyant and catchy, like how pop should be.

The same can be said for their unpromoted tracks, out here now to tickle Inspirits’ and Soompi fans’ toes for a Second Spin.

Any opinion expressed in this column is from the writer only and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Soompi Editorial Team and its management.

“Entrust” from “First Invasion” (2011)

“Entrust” has the summer-song feel to it, with the easy singing and its radio-friendly beat. The song is from their first mini-album, and is a nice complement to their “Come Back Again” and “She’s Back.”

“An Inconvenient Truth” from “New Challenge” (2013)

“An Inconvenient Truth” is the last track of the 2013 mini-album “New Challenge.” The quirky track talks about a guy speaking frankly of how other guys might misconstrue girls’ short skirts, long hair and friendly smiles directed at them. It is a fun song that has the trademark catchy rhythm from the group and is very easy to sing along.

“Feel So Bad” from “Infinitize” (2012)

“Feel So Bad” is carried by a piano tone underscoring the beats and the heavier electronic instrumentals. What makes the track also stand out is the clear and solid harmonization of the group in several verses, a skill that is more obvious in their slower songs and even in their promo singles “Paradise” and “Be Mine,” but may be taken for granted in some of their upbeat dance tracks.

“Julia” from “Over the Top” (2011)

This track, referring to a “Julia” talks about missing a person, now gone. It appears like INFINITE’s take on an old-fashioned boy-band type of a ballad song, a la ‘NSync or Backstreet Boys. The song is filled with INFINITE’s harmonizations, adlibs and “oh whoa~whoa~” and the higher, headier tones that gives off the feeling of longing.

“Going to You” from “Destiny” (2013)

“Going to You” has a similar feel to “Feel So Bad,” in its rhythm and the harmonic verses. The song’s palpitating beats, mimicking heartbeats, and its repetitive lyrics convey the nervousness of a man going after a lover he hopes isn’t completely lost yet.

“Shot” from “Inspirit” (2011)

Aside from “Man in Love,” the promo track of 2013’s “New Challenge,” it’s this track, “Shot” from INFINITE’s discography that carries and foreshadows the updated retro-electro-dance sound of succeeding releases that the group does so inimitably well.

“Reflex” from “Season 2” (2014)

It seems as time goes on, INFINITE’s sound goes more retro, as illustrated in “Reflex,” from the latest full-length album “Season 2.” The song carries the guitar riffs and beats from late 70s-early 80s disco, building on the feel that “Man in Love” rode on and “Shot” began showing shades of.

With sub-units and solo activities, INFINITE nevertheless has a deep bench to draw from of their own brand of pop music through some of their buried tracks.

Soompiers, any INFINITE tracks you think are worth a Second Spin?

hazelnutthursdays is the resident introverted fan girl. She loves catching a break on Thursdays (the not-quite-weekend) that she celebrates with a hazelnut-flavored (not-quite) skinny latte.