With many of the current dramas hitting the mid-section of their showing, we’re getting a richer crop of OST releases. Being a fan of OSTs in general, it’s always great to see some of the well-know OST fixtures make their appearance. That said, it’s actually a bigger delight when unexpected artistes surprise me with top-rated releases, showcasing a different side of their musical abilities.

Chang-min & Jin-woon‘s (2AM) “Saying I Love You”, Hotel King OST

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Neh-iSG-QV0]

It’s been a while since Chang-min and Jin-woon collaborated on an OST, the last being “Can’t I Love You” from the Dream High OST. It’s really neat that they get a chance to record a duet once again, and both their strong voices have a distinct colour to it, allowing them to gloriously play off each other.

Kim Jin-ho‘s (SG Wannabe) “Hurt”, Hotel King OST

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38j7arBFEmM]

The short intro with the strings sends such a thrill down my spine, and the whole song just screams epic. I appreciate how the song starts off with the chorus at the peak of an emotional high. The song alternates between a fast-paced chorus and tamer verses, which reflects accurately the emotional roller coaster the characters go through.

Ailee‘s “Day by Day”, Triangle OST

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBqUX_PccAQ]

Woohoo, Ailee is back with another OST! While Ailee’s recent title tracks usually fall on the side of fast-paced tracks, her OST releases allow her to flex her vocal chops wholly to tackle straight-up challenging ballads. “Day by Day” is one such ballad that showcases her amazing range and she once again never fails to impress me with her talent.

Every Single Day‘s “Rush”, Gap Dong OST

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlD4JDatPdM]

An indie band that participates actively in drama OSTs, I previously enjoyed their release “Echo” from the I Hear Your Voice OST. In this song, the dramatic instrumental track doesn’t fail to makes its appearance again, and the song fits the creepy suspense of Gap Dong perfectly.

Ladies’ Code‘s “Crazily Hooked”, Flower Grandpas Investigations Unit OST

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgKZe2V2Kos]

Kudos to Ladies’ Code for snagging their first OST release. I don’t really follow Ladies’ Code, but I definitely like what I hear in this track — melodious harmonization of the members without leaving out the unique tones of the individuals. Not to mention, this song has an addictive hook and is actually strong enough to feature as a title track.

Park Seo-joon‘s “Come Into My Heart”, Witch’s Romance OST

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvrnl9GsUtA]

Not many people know this, but Park Seo-joon actually made his debut in Dream High 2, which is somewhat of a testament to his musical capabilities. He’s not the best singer out there, but he definitely holds his own in this OST, a cut above most actors who attempt to sing. And of course, it’s all the more sweeter that this is his character’s anthem to invite his special someone into his heart; so ladies, we can all pretend he’s singing it to us.

Taeyeon‘s  (SNSD) “Love, That One Word”, You’re Surrounded OST

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDiLUn9MMis]

Aaandd… Taeyeon is back! She’s slowly establishing herself to be a cornerstone in the OST universe, releasing love ballads one after another. While the song is pretty much like any other OST ballad, her delicate voice make it for a much more enjoyable and pleasant listen.

San E‘s (ft. Miss $‘s Min-hee)”What’s Wrong With Me?”, You’re Surrounded OST

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViB5jH791Ec]

Probably my favourite out of this list, I was initially skeptical of the two names being placed side-by-side for an OST track. However, I was greatly taken aback by how much I started grooving to the song, no doubt due to the catchy chorus in Min-hee’s soothing voice. The presence of a rap made me doubtful at first, but somehow, San E makes it work.

(YouTube[1][2][3][4])